Posted: 5/30/2013 9:23:12 AM EDT
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So I've had my Ave Maria Reconquistas sitting in my humidor for over a week. Took one out to enjoy and half way through it started tasting like absolute shit. I almost hurled in my mouth. I noticed my maduro's have this shiny crystal like sheen to them when I put them up to light. Since I'm a newb I figured I'd ask is this possibly a sign of mold? I dug around the internet very concerned but I think I have plume/bloom. I didn't see any mold anywhere on them at least not yet. Checked the foot on all of them and they all looked good.
So in that case I'm wondering why did it start tasting like absolute shit? I'll get pics up in a second but I wanted to get some opinions of more experienced members here to just confirm my cigars aren't going bad. Humidor is sitting at 72/68 right now because I have no AC due to being in Germany. I got a fan pulling in outside air attempting to cool the room down a bit. Are my cigars at risk? I've had the temperatures fluctuate a little from 65, to 68 and now 72 since we are rolling into summer here. Am I at risk for mold right now? 
As you can make out there is a sheen/crystal like fuzz on it. Just curious if they are good still. |
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So I've had my Ave Maria Reconquistas sitting in my humidor for over a week. Took one out to enjoy and half way through it started tasting like absolute shit. I almost hurled in my mouth. I noticed my maduro's have this shiny crystal like sheen to them when I put them up to light. Since I'm a newb I figured I'd ask is this possibly a sign of mold? I dug around the internet very concerned but I think I have plume/bloom. I didn't see any mold anywhere on them at least not yet. Checked the foot on all of them and they all looked good. So in that case I'm wondering why did it start tasting like absolute shit? I'll get pics up in a second but I wanted to get some opinions of more experienced members here to just confirm my cigars aren't going bad. Humidor is sitting at 72/68 right now because I have no AC due to being in Germany. I got a fan pulling in outside air attempting to cool the room down a bit. Are my cigars at risk? I've had the temperatures fluctuate a little from 65, to 68 and now 72 since we are rolling into summer here. Am I at risk for mold right now? http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/gun_control/webcam-toy-photo9_zps44632ab0.jpg You need to post a pic so we can help you determine what it is. In my experience, bloom has never been a bad thing and in fact, when I get bloom....I reserve those sticks for special occassions. Lucky for me the end of a workday can be a special occassion!!! As for mixed taste in similar cigars...it happens...don't be too alarmed. NOW....for the really bad taste...that is not normal and would make me concerned as well. As for your stats on the humi...no cause for alarm there either. 72/68 aint too bad...not the "ideal temp & RH" but as we can and will telly, we all see that....and we have different opinions on what the best is based mostly on what we like. I dry box premium sticks for a day if I plan to smoke but have no hesitations grabbing something and running outside. It is ALL....ALL personal preference. Snap some pics...I know you can post them and we will see what's up.....what concerns me is that you have not been at this long and bloom takes some time to appear....so....you see where I am going... Echo PsS. I have your address right..... 
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Still not so clear but.....does it brush or wipe right off?
If so...it's mold. Bloom is more of a "part of the wrapper" thing... If it's mold....not time to freak out.....you are in that box all the time so you are paying attention. Move it away, wipe it off and smoke it next but keep a close eye on the others in that compartment... |
| Yes it does brush/wipe off. However I wiped them off this morning and when I came back from work noticed the same sheen was on them again. As I said it only seems to be on the Ave Maria's. The mutineer you see sitting in there is just fine. Maybe because it's a drier maduro? I noticed the Ave Maria's were pretty moist already when I stuck them in the first time. |
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AND.....the brings me to another point....
You mentioned that the Ave's were wet??? When you received them...was there a humi pack with them? I had a brother send me a few rather expensive cigars and the pack exploded during shipping and I have more than once opened up a box to find moisture or liquid in a baggie. Usually its from an over-zealous dose of PG solution in a gel pack. But if I get a "moist" cigar or pack of cigars, I dry box them for a week before I put them in the humi and then...I separate them just to be safer. Just my routine, might not work for you but it has served me well. Echo |
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Message received.........his box was damaged during shipping and was soaked!
So his cigars were not over-humidified.....they were WET!!! That will lead to -problems all around. I am surprised they didn't bloat and burst! I will take care of him....rest assured guys!!!
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I just hope I didn't lose these as they weren't cheap. I have other ones that I did not have room for at the time that have been sitting dry for about 2 weeks now in their box. I'll stick those in since they should be dry enough and keep an eye on them. When the others are ready I will stick them back in.
But if you look real close at the pick of the stick laying down off towards the sides out of direct light you can see the sheen I was talking about if you look carefully. That is what I was talking about. |
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I think you need a travel box.....I wonder where you could find one????
If they look at all suspect, PULL THEM OUT.....simply putting them in a ziplock bag for now is OK. Toss a paper towel folded up in the bag and let them go for a few days. It will not hurt them and just may help you out. You will have replacements on the way soon. Echo |
Also upon further inspection it seems more like a dust more than anything else. Even feels like dust but the humidor stays closed except when I go in it to add or take out. I'm still going to play it safe but being as impatient as I am this is going to be hard. 
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Too close in the last pic..... Set the cigar on the desk and grab a clear pic.....if you are using the PC camera, it may be tough......... And put a shirt on before you send FRIGID into another goat-humping bout!!! Stick it round eye 
I'm guessing mold from what you say. wipe em off & Smoke faster. |
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A sheen as in reflecting light is oils. Tobacco oils. If it is an actual powder/crystal that wipes away like dust without leaving marks on the leaf it is bloom (the crystallization of tobacco oils). If it is splotchy, furry and leaves a slight discoloration when wiped away it is mold. You keep saying sheen which makes me think it is just an oily cigar. Especially since you state you wiped them off (no more sheen) and it was back when you got home. You definitely don't have bloom/mold with that description. As for tasting like shit. Can you be more descriptive? Did you smell/taste bitter ammonia flavor? If you are smoking a cigar and it starts to get bitter, try putting a flame to the foot and blowing through the cigar. If you get a torch effect off the bottom where it will continue to blow flame as long as you blow, and usually of a purple color Edit: This is called a flaming purge. That is all ammonia burning. Means your cigar is sick. Give it more time. Edit: Over humidified cigars will also lead to that strong bitterness. Will also lead to a hotter smoke, swelling/wrapper splitting while smoking and extreme burn issues as you continue (going out). |
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A sheen as in reflecting light is oils. Tobacco oils. If it is an actual powder/crystal that wipes away like dust without leaving marks on the leaf it is bloom (the crystallization of tobacco oils). If it is splotchy, furry and leaves a slight discoloration when wiped away it is mold. You keep saying sheen which makes me think it is just an oily cigar. Especially since you state you wiped them off (no more sheen) and it was back when you got home. You definitely don't have bloom/mold with that description. As for tasting like shit. Can you be more descriptive? Did you smell/taste bitter ammonia flavor? If you are smoking a cigar and it starts to get bitter, try putting a flame to the foot and blowing through the cigar. If you get a torch effect off the bottom where it will continue to blow flame as long as you blow, and usually of a purple color Edit: This is called a flaming purge. That is all ammonia burning. Means your cigar is sick. Give it more time. Edit: Over humidified cigars will also lead to that strong bitterness. Will also lead to a hotter smoke, swelling/wrapper splitting while smoking and extreme burn issues as you continue (going out). So they are just oily.... Ok that makes me feel much better. When I say it started tasting like shit I meant it got extremely bitter. The only issue I had aside from taste was an uneven burn that I had to touch up 3 times until I hit that massive bitter wave, |
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Like mentioned earlier....
These sticks were...well...soaked. I think that added to the oily appearance and rapidly developed the mold you found. Separate and smoke rapidly. I will make sure you have a few Ava's to replace those nasty sticks. And a few you just might like as well. Echo |
| If the taste is more piss than shit, I'd say ammonia that sometimes comes out of cigars that are "green" and need to age. Young cigars just out of plastic from shipping will taste 1000% better after a few months of rest in a humidor. Not much help if you want/need a decent smoke now. |
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Yes it does brush/wipe off. However I wiped them off this morning and when I came back from work noticed the same sheen was on them again. As I said it only seems to be on the Ave Maria's. The mutineer you see sitting in there is just fine. Maybe because it's a drier maduro? I noticed the Ave Maria's were pretty moist already when I stuck them in the first time. Maduros take longer to age, or don't age at all, simply because maduros are artificially cured. See below. Cigar 101 edit: spelling edit 2: congrats on your bloom! I managed to score a Hemingway Short Story from the BX that had a good amount of bloom on it. It was very, very sweet tasting and was probably the best cigar I've had to date. |
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Yes it does brush/wipe off. However I wiped them off this morning and when I came back from work noticed the same sheen was on them again. As I said it only seems to be on the Ave Maria's. The mutineer you see sitting in there is just fine. Maybe because it's a drier maduro? I noticed the Ave Maria's were pretty moist already when I stuck them in the first time. Maduros take longer to age, or don't age at all, simply because maduros are artificially cured. See below. Cigar 101 edit: spelling edit 2: congrats on your bloom! I managed to score a Hemingway Short Story from the BX that had a good amount of bloom on it. It was very, very sweet tasting and was probably the best cigar I've had to date. Not all maduros are artificially cured, usually those are the " cheap" ones. Plenty of good naturally aged maduro out there. I'm smoking a padron 3000 maduro right now. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| So I smoked one of the reconquistas that I had in the bag and it tasted great. Had burn issues but others who have had them said they did as well. Apparently they used tobacco in them that has been aged anywhere from 7 - 10 years before they make them so on top of the 1 year of aging before I purchased mine they got a bit of time on them so it would make sense why I saw bloom on them so soon. |