Beetles and New humidor

[rhcolbert]

Good news first. Finally have a temp control environment for my cigars. This has been a MAJOR issue for me. We used by big furniture looking one as an end table for the bed. Prob is that our bedroom temperature fluctuates too much during the summer.  I can't manage it effectively, so wife okay with this solution purchase!

bad news.  Only been warm a brief bit thus far in Atlanta.  Was playing the usual box jenga and decided to put anything less than 20 cigars in the drawers. 

Got to a 2010 RyJ belicoso box and noticed several where they had small wrapper splits.  Looked like they were a tad over filled and a bit of over humidification had burst the seams here and there.  

Then I see a few of those tiny bastards crawling in the bottom of the box.

defcon 1 time.  Major inspection of everything.  No beetle holes so they pulled a sneak attack. No other cigsrs affected. Just a few from that box. 

All it took was a couple of warm days to almost lose one of my prized boxes. These cigars turned out amazing, and apparently the beetles thought so too.

pure miracle I just had enough of the temp issue and decided to do something when I did. This coulda been so much worse. 

Smoking the most beat up one now, rest in freezer for now.  

[rhcolbert]

...andcto follow up, still a damn great smoke even after being molested by the enemy! Sweet fruit with hints of cream.  Whileva bit milder than I like now, it's such a nostalgic smoke for me.  Back in 06, these were the first "expensive" Cubans I had ever picked up more than 10 of. 

Tossec the box wirh the beetles into the fire pit too.  Salem witch punishment for them!

[Ivaylo]

do you freeze all your boxes before you put them in the humi?

[rhcolbert]

 

2 minutes ago, Ivaylo said:

do you freeze all your boxes before you put them in the humi?

Now, yes. These were back from 2010. So I wasn't as savvy or aging much at that time. Buying and smoking when they came in so didnt need to.  I bought this box wirh intentions of smoking then took a six year hiatus from cigars. Unintentionally aged and forgot they probsbly didn't go thru the proper cigar CDC protocol. 

[JamesKPolkEsq]

I was under the impression that SA freezes everything that gets off the island these days, is this not the case?

[rhcolbert]

8 minutes ago, JamesKPolkEsq said:

I was under the impression that SA freezes everything that gets off the island these days, is this not the case?

I would be suspect of anything they say unless I saw the walk in freezer myself 

[Ivaylo]

24 minutes ago, rhcolbert said:

 

Now, yes. These were back from 2010. So I wasn't as savvy or aging much at that time. Buying and smoking when they came in so didnt need to.  I bought this box wirh intentions of smoking then took a six year hiatus from cigars. Unintentionally aged and forgot they probsbly didn't go thru the proper cigar CDC protocol. 

yeah i have the same humidor btw but I dont wanna take risks and always freeze my boxes vacuumed at -20C for 3 days. And i set it at 65degrees with extra 2 pc fans inside but temp still climbs at  the top at 71-72 degrees summertime. 

[rhcolbert]

Just now, Ivaylo said:

yeah i have the same humidor btw but I dont wanna take risks and always freeze my boxes vacuumed at -20C for 3 days. And i set it at 65degrees with extra 2 pc fans inside but temp still climbs at  the top at 71-72 degrees summertime. 

Moved it downstairs to a room with WAY more stable temp; air return is in the same room with a giant maple providing shade from the sun. Hopefully no more issues 

[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, JamesKPolkEsq said:

I was under the impression that SA freezes everything that gets off the island these days, is this not the case?

Export yes. 

However I doubt anything is ever 100% effective. It is Cuba not Germany. 

 I see some 20,000 + boxes a year for FOH and while I have seen a beetle hole here and there, I haven't seen a live beetle in years. Kudos to HSA

If your retailer has lockers permitting outside stock in, then there is a heightened risk. 

If there are "rolling exhibitions" in-store, then there is a heightened risk. 

 

[JamesKPolkEsq]

12 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Export yes. 

However I doubt anything is ever 100% effective. It is Cuba not Germany. 

 I see some 20,000 + boxes a year for FOH and while I have seen a beetle hole here and there, I haven't seen a live beetle in years. Kudos to HSA

If your retailer has lockers permitting outside stock in, then there is a heightened risk. 

If there are "rolling exhibitions" in-store, then there is a heightened risk. 

 

If you had to guess, when was the last live infestation you observed after opening a mastercase?

Edit: I guess I should ask if mastercases get shipped temperature controlled too...

[El Presidente]

Going back to 2005/4. I can't recall seeing anything "live" since. 

It was complaints from distributors that forced the hand of HSA. Some distributors had already taken to freezing stock upon receipt. 

 

[Versus1ss]

Good info, worries me from time to time but no whammies so far.


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[Fugu]

8 hours ago, rhcolbert said:

Then I see a few of those tiny bastards crawling in the bottom of the box. .....No beetle holes so they pulled a sneak attack.

you sure we're talkin bout beetles here....?

[Fuzz]

29 minutes ago, Fugu said:

you sure we're talkin bout beetles here....?

Thinking the same thing here. Could have been wood mites.

[Winchester21]

3 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Going back to 2005/4. I can't recall seeing anything "live" since. 

It was complaints from distributors that forced the hand of HSA. Some distributors had already taken to freezing stock upon receipt. 

 

I have a pilot buddy who is bringing sticks back directly from Cuba. Some from local shops some from duty free. Should I assume that these present a risk?

[El Presidente]

18 minutes ago, Winchester21 said:

I have a pilot buddy who is bringing sticks back directly from Cuba. Some from local shops some from duty free. Should I assume that these present a risk?

Huge. Nothing in Cuba retail is Frozen. Frozen is export only. 

Take it one step further. Head to a factory. Any. It doesn't take a great eye to count the beetles hopping around. 

[El Presidente]

21 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Thinking the same thing here. Could have been wood mites.

No holes and that would be my guess. If they were quick, "whitish" in colour, more than likely. 

[rhcolbert]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

No holes and that would be my guess. If they were quick, "whitish" in colour, more than likely. 

Not bettles after thinking about it calmly. They were WAY to small and a pale yellowish color, not dark brown. Tobacco beetles also do the most damage in larva/pupa stage. Wirh minimal to no damage and yet there being live bugs it doesn't add up. 

[Smallclub]

12 hours ago, JamesKPolkEsq said:

If you had to guess, when was the last live infestation you observed after opening a mastercase?

Try to find ONE picture on the web of an infestation that occurred after 2004/2005 in a box of reg. prod. habanos. Zero, nix, nihil, nada, rien, nichts…

IMO people are obsessed with a problem that has been solved at 99% (in regard to exported production).

[JamesKPolkEsq]

40 minutes ago, Smallclub said:

Try to find ONE picture on the web of an infestation that occurred after 2004/2005 in a box of reg. prod. habanos. Zero, nix, nihil, nada, rien, nichts…

IMO people are obsessed with a problem that has been solved at 99% (in regard to exported production).

Thanks for the good advice!

I figure Hefe was a good guy to ask, since he has had his hands in as many boxes as anyone.

[Fugu]

5 hours ago, sarkozy said:

Jefe-not Hefe

 

 

 

 

[rhcolbert]

Thread development amazing here ?

[Winchester21]

On 5/18/2017 at 4:13 AM, El Presidente said:

Huge. Nothing in Cuba retail is Frozen. Frozen is export only. 

Take it one step further. Head to a factory. Any. It doesn't take a great eye to count the beetles hopping around. 

I figured as much Keeping them away from the others  Good catch Thanks a bunch. You may well have saved me from a problem

[Shaunster]

Try to find ONE picture on the web of an infestation that occurred after 2004/2005 in a box of reg. prod. habanos. Zero, nix, nihil, nada, rien, nichts…

IMO people are obsessed with a problem that has been solved at 99% (in regard to exported production).

Not an infestation, but purchased from a london shop last year. 2015 stock.



I just froze them and smoked em over the next few weeks.. it was only a 5 box but a little concerning.

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[canadianbeaver]

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sing this

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Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
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His rival it seems had broken his dreams
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Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
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The story of Rocky there