LONG term storage of cigars in the freezer?

[Bagman]

I was reading an article about Cuba's plan post the end of the embargo.  Quality and availability will likely suffer for years once this happens.  Lot of us, myself included, build up a nice reserve to ride out any long period.  However, you can only store so many without fear of over aging.  I love my Montecristo #2 with 5 years of age.  At 10, they are too old for me. 

So I had wondered about freezer storage.  Assuming you did everything right:  Vacuum seal all air out, dedicate a freezer just to cigars that never gets opened (light/temp fluctuations removed) and properly prepped them for freezing and defreezing, could one freeze boxes and boxes of cigars and "freeze them in time".  Then pull them out 10 years later and properly acclimate them back (say a year in a humidor) and they would smoke like they were 5 years old, even though they would be 15 years old.

Over thinking things here and I have no plans to do anything, was just curious.  I googled for an answer, and searched here  but the responses were more about short term freezing.

[Randy956]

I was reading an article about Cuba's plan post the end of the embargo.  Quality and availability will likely suffer for years once this happens.  Lot of us, myself included, build up a nice reserve to ride out any long period.  However, you can only store so many without fear of over aging.  I love my Montecristo #2 with 5 years of age.  At 10, they are too old for me. 
So I had wondered about freezer storage.  Assuming you did everything right:  Vacuum seal all air out, dedicate a freezer just to cigars that never gets opened (light/temp fluctuations removed) and properly prepped them for freezing and defreezing, could one freeze boxes and boxes of cigars and "freeze them in time".  Then pull them out 10 years later and properly acclimate them back (say a year in a humidor) and they would smoke like they were 5 years old, even though they would be 15 years old.
Over thinking things here and I have no plans to do anything, was just curious.  I googled for an answer, and searched here  but the responses were more about short term freezing.

I’m not sure freezing will gain you much. However removing them from oxygen is probably your best bet.

We’re I you, I’d vacuum seal them for storage

[ayepatz]

Probably easier to cultivate a taste for aged cigars, remortgage your house, and buy as much as you possibly can from Rob now. 

Not that staff get kickbacks or anything...?

[Derboesekoenig]

End of the embargo? Ha! I don't see that happening anytime soon. "They" are still allegedly putting our Embassy employees in the hospital. 

[Bagman]

1 hour ago, Derboesekoenig said:

End of the embargo? Ha! I don't see that happening anytime soon. "They" are still allegedly putting our Embassy employees in the hospital. 

This wasn't about the embargo really, more about the merits of long term freezing.

[Bagman]

3 hours ago, Randy956 said:

 

I’m not sure freezing will gain you much. However removing them from oxygen is probably your best bet.

We’re I you, I’d vacuum seal them for storage
 

 

The problem with this approach is that you can't see if something is going wrong.  Mold could still develop, beetles could hatch.  Freezing removes these issues.

[bpm32]

I don’t know that I’d want to go so far as to freeze them, but I assumed that was why Min Ron Nee claimed to store his cigars at a surprisingly low temperature—to limit aging.

 

[Randy956]

The problem with this approach is that you can't see if something is going wrong.  Mold could still develop, beetles could hatch.  Freezing removes these issues.

Not really. The bags I’m thinking about are fairly clear.

Ask why a cigar goes stale. It’s most likely exposure to oxygen over time.

 

I’d also consider something like this, too

 

https://m.uline.com/h5/r/www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-19586/Desiccants/Oxygen-Absorbing-Packets-100-cc?sso=true&pricode=WB1262&gadtype=pla&id=S-19586&gclid=CjwKCAjwgr3ZBRAAEiwAGVssnTKK6tXIt_S3i7L6PZp37lrpLUa1nGcRug8oaIxl7Mek08Y5vf_opxoCocYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Bagman]

26 minutes ago, Randy956 said:

Not really. The bags I’m thinking about are fairly clear.

Ask why a cigar goes stale. It’s most likely exposure to oxygen over time.

 

I’d also consider something like this, too

 

https://m.uline.com/h5/r/www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-19586/Desiccants/Oxygen-Absorbing-Packets-100-cc?sso=true&pricode=WB1262&gadtype=pla&id=S-19586&gclid=CjwKCAjwgr3ZBRAAEiwAGVssnTKK6tXIt_S3i7L6PZp37lrpLUa1nGcRug8oaIxl7Mek08Y5vf_opxoCocYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That oxygen thing sounds like a good idea actually.  When I said you couldn't see what was going on, I meant vacuum sealing a box or cab.  Never thought of deboxing and vacuum sealing.  You are on to something! The downside is crushing cigars.  Have to be really careful.

All theory at the moment.   Thanks for your input!

[Bagman]

4 hours ago, bpm32 said:

I don’t know that I’d want to go so far as to freeze them, but I assumed that was why Min Ron Nee claimed to store his cigars at a surprisingly low temperature—to limit aging.

 

Never heard of this person.  Is their a link to this theory?

[bpm32]

15 minutes ago, Monterey said:

Never heard of this person.  Is their a link to this theory?

12 °C apparently

[fabes]

Here’s a good thread on long-term aging that hits on what you’re asking regarding slowing down the aging process. Worth a read!

 

 

[BinBin]

freezing isnt going to help much