Do you freeze sticks from our host?

[SCgarman]

49 minutes ago, ThePolskiOgorki said:

I freeze everything no matter what the source. 

Absolutely!!! It is cheap insurance and does no harm to the cigars.

[HoyoFan]

Those that freeze have you ever noticed that it affects flavor?

[SCgarman]

Just now, PadronFan said:

Those that freeze have you ever noticed that it affects flavor?

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Nope. And several cigar companies including some NC brands freeze their sticks prior to distribution.

[Merovius]

I don't, Habanos SA flash freezes for me...at least they claim they do.

This has been the subject of debate for a long time. I know plenty of brothers that do, and I've even froze a few bags myself. I don't like what it does/can do to the aesthetic of the cigar and belive it affects the profile. Though I have smoked plenty of good sticks that went through the process.

If it gives you peace of mind, might as well freeze.

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[oliverdst]

I freeze just customs.

Otherwise I just keep the cigars sleeping for 2-3 weeks in a separated humi.

[DoubleDD]

Everything. 

[airtrade]

I freeze all customs. Not many habanos.

Last problem was in some NCs about five years ago. Nothing since.

[busdriver]

I saw an infestation in my fathers humi. It stemmed from sticks purchased in Cuba, which are not frozen by HSA.  They were stored at 80 F for a time.

I also had a beetle hole in a H Upmann Mag 56 that I got through a trade.  I am 99% certain it was a beetle hole as it was identical to the infested cigars I had seen.   I froze it, smoked it and it was phenomenal!  

[demer]

I dont freeze but my basement stays 65 degrees and my RHis between 62-65.

[sam]

No.  I haven't seen a beetle in years. ---sam

[seattledude]

I always freeze them. My Freezer is at - 15 F so it really doesn't take long.

Once cigars cool from their ambient temp to -15 F, they only need to be there for one hour for 100% kill rate.

But I just double bag and they go in freezer from noon until midnight and then in the fridge overnight. In the morning they go on my desk for few hours. Then get close inspection of each one and back in the box and then to Cooler that stays 64-65% RH. I dont have A/C in the house and I dont care about temp swings much at all.

I once got box from the online source (not from Prez) and it had couple beetle holes in cigars. It was Cab of 50 RASS. It went back to the source very quick.

So now I only buy from Prez, but still freeze them all. Cheap insurance and it does not affect the taste in any way shape or form.

[Orator]

Never

[semifan1]

Never have, but sometimes I wonder if I should just for the hell of it.

[NJP]

Never. 

[Scott08]

Never have and have never had a problem. 

[Fugu]

Almost never, apart from the odd custom or direct import...(which is a minute proportion of my stash)
When cigars arrive at my home, they have usually already been frozen two times...

Finding a beetle hole does not mean you actually got a beetle (actually the hole indicates that the beetle has hatched and is gone...). These traces mostly, if not always stem from storage in Cuba, e.g. in the escaparate or following, before being frozen there. So no need to panic. And eggs you wouldn't see anyway. So from that reasoning, if you don't trust the system, either freeze all your sticks or none, and not only if you spot a hole or a dead bug.

I avoid freezing as much as I can, since the process inevitably means stress for the cigar. Mechanically, depending on the pract. handling, and you always get (usually unnoticed) condensation inside the box during the steep cooling process. So it is not as unproblematic a some like to think.

[IMAMonster]

Freeze everything. Better safe than sorry!

[undertowed]

Usually freeze, Better safe than sorry in my opinion but i'm totally ignorant if it really does help or not...

[wabashcr]

1 hour ago, Fugu said:

I avoid freezing as much as I can, since the process inevitably means stress for the cigar. Mechanically, depending on the pract. handling, and you always get (usually unnoticed) condensation inside the box during the steep cooling process. So it is not as unproblematic a some like to think.

I've been told over and over that freezing doesn't hurt the cigars in any way, but I can't help but think of it in the way you describe.  I know it is recommended to bring them back to room temperature slowly.  But on a molecular level I would have to think there is some effect of freezing.  It's a shock to the cigar in any event.  

I don't freeze.  I inspect and try to keep my temperature down around 65-70F.

[Gusmab980]

I didn't even know people would freeze their cigars so I never have and I have never even seen a beetle.

[Merovius]

9 hours ago, busdriver said:

I saw an infestation in my fathers humi. It stemmed from sticks purchased in Cuba, which are not frozen by HSA.  

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/2390

[Guest MrRobusto]

Never have froze them, haven't had any issues. But I do let them stay out of the humidor for a bit before putting then in, just to let them acclimate to room first. 

[irratebass]

Like a few others, I freeze everything from any source....better safe than sorry.....never had an issue.

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[HoyoFan]

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/2390

The issue for me with this is that clearly people have received cigars with beetles since 2006 which proves that freezing at the source isn't a full proof method until it gets to its destination

[garbandz]

Anything direct from Cuba I will freeze.