One Of My Worst Cigar Fears Happened, Mold…

[LazyLightning]

This may sound overdramatic to some, but I feel sick to my stomach after finding this today.


And yes those are 12 Anejo sticks I got back in April of 20 iirc. I have to check my little book to verify, either way I’ve had them a while.

And I honestly have no idea how it happened, I have done everything I can think of to avoid mold, at all cost.

I have them stored in the center of the house, not next to windows, or doors. I only use Boveda packs, 62% currently and for the past 2 years, but have also used 65% before. I have 2-3 hygrometers in each humidor, that I calibrate at least once a year, but usually every 6 months. I quarantine everything in a special humidor, visually inspect all singles for mold/bugs, before they go in either of my bigger units. The only exception is boxes, in my other humidor, the footlocker. I open the box and give them a good look, but don’t take them out of the box. The temp is typically 68 in winter 69 in Sumer,,,etc, etc, etc… I’m doing everything I can think of/read about, to not let this happen, but it did.

Heck, I even throughly wash my hands before touching the inside of the humidors, or any of the cigars. Just to avoid introducing oils, dirt, etc…

I obviously took the Anejo sticks in the pictures out, have them in a ziplock. From here what should I do? As I’m sure many of you can sympathize with, there is a lot of money in those humidors, and this being the first time ever dealing with something like this, it’s got me concerned.

I really need some advice on how to proceed, so I don’t lose all my cigars and possibly the humidor.

Thanks!
Chris

[dinoa2]

In the past I have noticed some smokes with cedar sleeve have mold problems when I took the sleeve off. Don't know if that is a reason

[Tombstone]

I have been a just wipe it or nip the end off with a cutter and see how deep it is. If its just surface then I smoke away. I know there are plenty of people who are more sensitive then I am to mold. If it seems like its molding from the inside out then, it may be a lost cause. Based on the picture it may be just a little surface issue you have caught early and are saveable,

[KRam311]

I agree with both Ryan and Jerry- I have also noticed mold with cedar wrapped sticks. And just last week I had a stick (an Anejo actually!) that had a small amount of mold on the foot- I slightly panicked, but then cut about a quarter inch off and carefully inspected it. Looked good so I lit up and im alive to tell the story. That really sucks tho man especially with all the effort u put into avoiding such issues. Im guessing if u only noticed them on the Anejos that they got cedar wrapped while still too wet and the cedar trapped some moisture- just my thoughts. Good luck man!


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[josh lucky 13]

I will 2nd what others have said. I have had a few that I saw some mold left in a plastic bag that may have been too moist. I have wiped if its on the wrapper and it smoked fine. Another had some on the foot I trimmed a 1/4 inch no mold and I toasted the foot really well to kill anything before cutting the other end to smoke and I am still alive I think?

[WNYTONY]

Agree with everything already said. Have seen many instances of people saying they got mold with the cedar sleeves. Most check to make sure it's not throughout the whole cigars and smoke it.

[LazyLightning]

Appreciate the help everyone!

Out of curiosity though, wouldn’t the cedar wrapped Anejos have started to mold much sooner after getting them? I went back to my little inventory book, I’ve had them since April of 2020. Doesn’t that seems an awful long time, to suddenly have mold on the foot?

Aside from going through and inspecting every single cigar in that humidor, as well as it’s trays, and walls, etc… Is there anything else I should be doing? There are a couple hundred sticks in there. Should I be doing anything to protect them, or just leave them if a visual inspection turns up nothing?

I just want to stop it dead in its tracks, I’m sure you all can understand.

[josh lucky 13]

Spot checks a bit more often for a while. There is a good chance it has nothing to do with your setup and may have more to do with how they were stored before you got them. Mold is basically everywhere it just takes right conditions to spread. As long as it is not throughout the cigar you should be fine.

[LazyLightning]

I will definitely spot check more often, from now on. I looked through the humidor where the Anejo sticks were, and didn’t see anything on the cedar tray they were on. I also did a spot check of the cigars, especially the ones that were sitting up against them.

Should I take the cello off the sticks that the Anejos were sitting on, and up against? Or just leave them be, unless I see something suspicious?

I am planning to inspect EVERY cigar in that humidor tomorrow, as well as take all the trays out and inspect the wood all over. As bad as it hurts, it looks like those dozen Anejos all have it on the foot. So I will not be putting any of them back in.

I hate that I lost them, I had been letting them rest for the past 20 months. So it’s not just money lost, but time, and patience.

I’m also going to have to look through the footlocker. Take everything out of their boxes, and inspect everything. The Anejos had been in their since April 2020, I had only just moved them ( about 2 weeks ago ) to the larger unit, to start smoking them more often, since they were almost 2 years old.

[josh lucky 13]

Honestly I prefer cello on i have never seen a cello stick with mold. Cello is porous but I see it as extra protection. I don't think the sticks are a lost cause