New Cubans from a very good customer! - Updated, advice needed!

[Smallclub]

Ouch, the mold isn't too thick but it's near the foot? Untie the ribbon, wipe each cigar and air them.

Btw, using alcohol is totally crazy IMO, I've never had mould coming back after a good brushing?

[pedro]

Agreed just wipe the mold off with some paper towel and leave them in a new piece of tuppaware for a week never had mold come back after being wiped off.

[monkey66]

Ouch, the mold isn't too thick but it's near the foot… Untie the ribbon, wipe each cigar and air them.

Btw, using alcohol is totally crazy IMO, I've never had mould coming back after a good brushing…

Might sound crazy but it is not. Not regular alcohol but Isopropol. It is tried and tested by people far better than me. It leaves no traces or odour and used in moderation is perfectly safe. It also means the mould can never return as it kills the spores (as I understand it) so is common practice for long term storage.

I cannot however argue with your experience Frank and if you have never had mould return with a simple cleaning then this may well more than suffice.

[JamesA]

Thanks for the input guys, i'll have time to check them all over properly tomorrow night. Really disappointing ive got this on my first box of 'top quality' sticks
Given they are only a few months old, came from a proper shop and have only been in the UK for a couple of months, any idea what could have caused it to happen?

[Funkilee]

Each mold which is basically a fungus has its own niche environment, they survive by breaking down organic matter, obviously the inside of the box provided that exact environment and this particular mold is rather fond of cigars

...and to be fair who can blame them?

oh, and obviously they all like damp!!

[tippexx]

I don't think damp caused it. The ambient humidity in Havana is perfect for cigars, humidity in the UK has fluctuated over the last few months but has been reasonable averaging 70?. I think the problem has rapid change in temperature. If your friend brought them back in a suitcase it would have been stored in the cargo hold where air pressure and temperatures can be very low. Sudden wide variation in temperature creates spikes in humidity which kick-start mould growth. What I think you have is transit mould.

Brush it off with a dry cloth or a small brush. It's up to you if you use an alcohol, I do because the brushing cannot fully reach under the band where mould might still lurk. I don't use anything special, Ronsonol lighter fuel is available at most supermarkets, it's light, evaporates very quickly and leaves no odour or trace.

[Eddie]

I had some light mold on cigars from Cuba, they were brought from a casa and transported in hand luggage. The humidity in Cuba this time of year is over 80% so it didn't surprise me. I whipped them off and its sorted now I've got the humidity down in the "humidor"

[Puff Scotty]

Ouch, the mold isn't too thick but it's near the foot? Untie the ribbon, wipe each cigar and air them.

Btw, using alcohol is totally crazy IMO, I've never had mould coming back after a good brushing?

Definately + 1...All of the Isopropyl alcohols contain acids, the Aliphatic compounds in lighter fluid are nothing but hydrocarbons + acid...all very detrimental to the oils in cigars...

[tippexx]

Comes down to choices Dave. Oils or Mould. I don't know anything about hydrocarbons or acids, I don't soak the cigars, I just dampen a cloth and then lightly wipe them. Colour from the wrapper will stain the cloth and I guess that IS the oils .... but sometimes it's a price that has to be paid.

[JamesA]

Always good to have a healthy debate about a topic! I can see the reasoning on both sides of the alcohol or not question. A lite wipe over the outside us bound to remove some I the oils' but overall, given the quantity of tobacco in the cigar, would it be noticeable? I guess the only way to tell would be a blind tasting on 2 cigars from the same bundle, one treated with alcohol and the other not.

Anyway, I want to put these down for a couple of years so I'll wipe them and air them first and see what happens over the next few months. If any comes back, I'll think again.

Luckily the siglo 4's are spotless and I've put them in a humi pouch on their own.

Will report back tonight when I get time to check them over individually.


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[Puff Scotty]

I have to agree that each must make his choice but knowing now that the aliphatic acids will be left on the cigar no matter how gently or quickly it is wiped has made me aware it's something I don't want near my cigars...Methane, propane, butane are just some of the examples of the compounds, Ronsonol seems harmless because it is a fairly odourless alicyclic compound which only means the carbon chains are in a different form, it still contain the other nastier elements....

[JamesA]

Well I've just spent some time going through them. Luckily not very many were affected and the pictures made it look a lot worse than it was due to the flash I guess. Anyway, all nice and cleaned and I'll let them air in an open tupperware box for a few days before I seal them up and get the humidity right. Does that sound right?

One other minor complain I have now I've opened them up is that 5 of the cigars are quite badly pinched where the ribbon was tied round them. Is this normal and will they recover? Also the foot of a 6th stick is quite badly damaged. Strikes me a little more care could be taken with the packing given this is a premium brand!

[tippexx]

Is this normal and will they recover?

Yes. I seem to remember Ajay writing something and describing it as 'banana bending' caused by the cab and ribbon. Quite coveted apparently.

[Smallclub]

One other minor complain I have now I've opened them up is that 5 of the cigars are quite badly pinched where the ribbon was tied round them. Is this normal and will they recover? Also the foot of a 6th stick is quite badly damaged.

Yes it's normal, and they don't even need to "recover", they will smoke fine. For the damaged foot you can use "El Torcedor" cigar glue or pectine.

[smokin_e2011]

There is no need to use anything really, apart from a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe them down, and if the mold is still not coming off, a minimal amount of distilled water on a cloth will remove it....
Also i never put them back into a humidor straight away i let them rest in a cedar box (old cigar box) wedge a piece of wood or card at the lid to keep it slightly ajar to allow the air to circulate and all will be good, keep a check on them and introduce them back to the humi once there in shape.
This method has always worked for me...