Van: appearance of plume on a Cuban cigar

[El Presidente]

1. What, if anything, does the appearance of plume on a Cuban cigar signify?

2. Are you aware of any proof that storing Cuban cigars in airtight containers and at lower temperatures retards and improves the natural aging process?

1. Van, I suspect 90% of what people believe is plume is actually low level mould Mould will develop at any temp so lowering humidity is the most important factor.

As for Plume it is in my experience a fairly rare occurrence. "Crystalisation of Oils on the wrappers surface" is what I have always been told. I have never seen it on a box less than 3 years old but I have seen it on both dark wrappers and light. In each case the wrapper had good levels of oil.

2. No proof although several local members do so. I have one client who stores 500 Boxes of R&J Churchills (buys a box each week and put's it to the bottom of the pile) so he is smoking 10 year old stock constantly (He has been doing this for 30 years). He stores them at 12 degrees Celsius and 65% RH. State of the art system. I find his 10 year R&J to taste like a 5 year old R&J. In his case I suspect the low temp has retarded maturation.

Now his storage is not airtight so I cannot add any real substance to your question (what's new )

I have doubts ....severe doubts about reducing airflow and cigars. I subscribe to the theory that wine and cigar storage are similar in requirements.

Dark space.

Cool 14 -16 degrees Celcius

Movement of air.

63-65% RH for cigars and 55% RH for wine (Ken may have an input).

In summary.....I believe that the "Natural Aging Process" should be ......ah.....Natural and not retarded. ;-)

[piranha]

» 1. Van, I suspect 90% of what people believe is plume is actually low

» level mould

Mold!! :-(

[El Presidente]

» » 1. Van, I suspect 90% of what people believe is plume is actually low

» » level mould

»

» Mold!! :-(

Piranha.....there is definately real examples of plume :-)

[Fatshotbud]

» » » 1. Van, I suspect 90% of what people believe is plume is actually low

» » » level mould

» »

» » Mold!! :-(

»

» Piranha.....there is definately real examples of plume :-)

And I have witnessed numerous occasions of folks that swore they had plume when it was definately mold

[Ben]

Plume = Bloom right?

To me a plume is what you get when you exhale, you know the smoky stuff :-)

[dragon]

<<< I subscribe to the theory that wine and cigar storage are similar in requirements.

Dark space.

Cool 14 -16 degrees Celcius

Movement of air.

63-65% RH for cigars and 55% RH for wine (Ken may have an input). >>>

I believe air movement should be kept at a minimum and just enough to keep the upper and lower portions of the humidor/cabinet at relatively the same temp and RH. I've never liked the idea of numerous circulation fans running constantly even for the largest of cabinets or even walk-in humidors.

I also agree with the 14-16C and 63-65% RH but I think with closed and intact boxes and very minimal air movement, up to 66-68% RH is also ok, especially at the lower temps.

It's also my understanding that some experienced collectors store their intact boxes in the high 50s with as low as 55-57% RH in order to actually stop or severely retard the aging process. I personally think that RH is on the low side and could possibly result in some very fragile or crackly wrappers.