My local favorite B&M is managed by a very nice lady. She's managed the store through 3 ownership changes in the last 7 years and while she doesn't know a lot about cigars, she knows how to manage a retail operation profitably. Without her the current owners would be out of business. We get along just fine, she gifts me the occasional free cigar and gives me a discount on some of the pricier sticks.

Here's the issue, the shop is kept at 70% humidity and about 68-70 degrees. The HVAC system flows in through a system of vents in a large duct pipe that runs along 1 wall. One corner of the shop always seems to be a lot more humid than the rest of the store and many of the cigars in that corner, particularly the ones without cello are moldy. We've probably all seen it at some time or other, little whitish gray starfish looking bumps about the size of a pinhead all over the wrapper. I actually picked up a box of Casa Magna Domus II took it over to her and said, "Hey Deb I think you have a little issue here."

Predictably her response was, "Oh that's plume!" She then proceeded to wipe it off with her thumb and show me that since it didn't leave any discoloration on the wrapper it must be plume. It's certainly not my place to tell her how to run her store so I let it go and just put the cigars back on the shelf but it just goes to show how pervasive this whole mold/plume issue really is.

Needless to say I avoid the cigars on that side of the shop as much as possible except that's where the majority of Tatuajes are kept!