Mold on Foot: Total Loss or Cut & Burn?

[Cardinal]

There are mold spores on everything...but that's a lot of spores together in one place. Personally, I'd cry a little and let 'em go.

Did you check out the rest of the stash?

[Chad Vegas]

That's a damn shame! Chuck them, then run & check the rest of your stash!

[Brent Strande]

Well, I started inspecting... they were in a tray on the shelf above the first drawer









The back left of the tray had the water marks (back center of wineador)









I took everything out (spilled one container of KL in the process...









Here's what my KL setups look like. Cookie tray in bottom with ballet tight wrapped around it to prevent spillage and MOW Puro Authentico boxes for other levels.









Everything out and now I'm scared... I've found two more. WTH happened???









I think I spotted the reason: water marks coming from the fan...









Wife found a 32oz water cup with cut lemon and lime spilled on the back of it all dried up that one of the kids must have spilled. It appears the old fruit water went in and dripped through the fan into the trays up against the back of the humi. It was sometime within the last month but that's as close as I can be certain of.









I'm scouring all of these now... would freezing kill of any mold spores I couldn't see yet? What do I do to treat the sticks? Should I bake the cedar at low temps to dry/kill mold? Trying really hard not to be irrationally mad at the family right now - stuff happens, but this is a real kick in the nuts!

[Brent Strande]

It looks to me the Basin had a more severe case of foot fungus (Ewww) than the Anejo. Personally I would pitch them. I mean they are only cigars, right? I don't know the possible medical reaction smoking a moldy cigar could be, but why chance it? I have never had a moldy cigar, but I have read (on the Internet, so it has to be true) if on the wrapper, wipe it off and smoke it. If it's on the foot, throw it away.

If you do decide to pitch them, please dissect them and post some pics. I am curious to see if the mold is only on the foot or if it has moved up the cigar. I also would take all of the cigars out of your humidor and treat it for mold just to prevent further damage and a little peace of mind.

Will do.

Sad sight!

I agree with tossing them...

It's hard to do. I had to toss several A.F. Queen B's this past summer and it stung. But I agree that it's not worth the risk.

What do you use to regulate RH in your wineador?

I use KL and keep it around 62-64% and 68F

There are mold spores on everything...but that's a lot of spores together in one place. Personally, I'd cry a little and let 'em go.

Did you check out the rest of the stash?

Sure did - found a couple more (all in cello look fine so far)

That's a damn shame! Chuck them, then run & check the rest of your stash!

Yessir

[droy1958]

Well it's good that you found the source. That would un-button my caboose a bit...

[Zeede]

Ouch! I guess it's good that you found the source (and that you nor your methods are at fault) but dang that sucks!

[Sticky B]

I'd say just keep cutting down until you get no mold - that way you might salvage something. Otherwise, sorry for your loss - at least you figured out the source of the issue!

[tjhemp]

That is a damn shame. I agree with the others that at least you found the source and its not your fault. Cigars are replaceable so chuck the affected ones and move on. That would be my take on it.

[Brent Strande]

Live been reading elsewhere that wineadors sweat or form condensation inside. I've never known this to happen in these; what say you?

[FidelCastro]

Mold on the feet of our cigars can put the fear of God in us and when I have seen it in my stash I take my cutter and start working back to the head. When I don't see anything that hints of mold I quarantine that cigar(s) and give it a stern lecture about cigar hygiene and telling it to call me when there is a hint of that crap. I bet I've smoked cigars in the past couple of decades that had "some" mold on the foot and I'm still here and doing fine.