Moving cigars due to international relocation experiences

[ycchai]

So I'm contemplating (or rather I have to relocate soon) due to changes in work etc. I'm contemplating moving my collection (about 50 boxes) together with movers or air freight by themselves. I noted a couple of previous post on how to move them

https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/120424-international-relocation-and-cigars

https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/129435-international-relocation-and-cigar-collection

but I'm curious on what happened to those who did and if they have any experiences to share.

I'm not so concerned with the customs etc. as I have 1 shipment of tax free personal items but more of the container sitting on dock and ship during the 8 week transit and under the hot sun of 80-100F. A friend is telling me DON'T do it with ships as he only moves his stocks during winter months and through air. I'll probably vacuum seal all the boxes as I have the necessary equipment. But amongst the boxes, I have a few Monte box that experienced bugs after I got lazy to unbox when they arrived and left it at room temperature one too many days before i moved them into the temp controlled room. So these boxes present very high risk of more popping up once the temp gets warmer. I've asked around the movers but I don't think they have the expertise to move cigars

[NSXCIGAR]

 

[Duxnutz]

When I moved, I bubble wrapped boxes (which themselves each had a boveda inside of a ziplock bag w/ air removed) and put those boxes in a couple Coleman coolers. Checked them via air. Worked out great.

[BrightonCorgi]

How about freeze each box after they've sealed, but they are shipped?  I would pay extra and do an air freight instead of boat if you cannot ship through the winter.

[SCgarman]

Freeze all your boxes before they are shipped anywhere. Preferably 48 hours at below zero F. There will be no issues regarding beetles. Unfortunately extreme temps of 80 degrees F or higher open you up to mold issues. Is there any way to keep them somewhat climate controlled? I always kept my boxes in a large sealed plastic storage container in an air conditioned environment.

[NSXCIGAR]

8 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Preferably 48 hours at below zero F.

32°F should do it. Hard to get below 0°F without a commercial freezer. 

[SCgarman]

2 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

32°F should do it. Hard to get below 0°F without a commercial freezer. 

My chest freezer will easily achieve below zero F.  Even a dedicated stand up freezer will get really cold. The freezer that is part of your fridge, not so much.

[Edicion]

I'd check with transporters of frozen food across the globe. I'd look at using providers that offer or help with insulated containers and/or temperature-controlled units. Insulated containers can be packed with dry ice and can keep the heat away for extended periods of time.

Best of luck 

[Bagman]

19 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

32°F should do it. Hard to get below 0°F without a commercial freezer. 

They don't make a freezer that doesn't get to 0F.  I bought a cheapy for the garage and the default setting is -5f.

 

19 hours ago, SCgarman said:

My chest freezer will easily achieve below zero F.  Even a dedicated stand up freezer will get really cold. The freezer that is part of your fridge, not so much.

Even fridge/freezers get to zero.

[ycchai]

On 6/9/2023 at 7:07 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

How about freeze each box after they've sealed, but they are shipped?  I would pay extra and do an air freight instead of boat if you cannot ship through the winter.

Yeah I think I might ship by air. I'm actually hoping someone would give me insights of what happened when they did it by sea during hot weather. My cigar smoking buddies keep telling me don't try the freezing method because they said one shop they frequent tried to do that and the CC came out flat after that. I'm not sure if that's not been properly acclimatized after freezing. 

[BrightonCorgi]

6 hours ago, ycchai said:

Yeah I think I might ship by air. I'm actually hoping someone would give me insights of what happened when they did it by sea during hot weather. My cigar smoking buddies keep telling me don't try the freezing method because they said one shop they frequent tried to do that and the CC came out flat after that. I'm not sure if that's not been properly acclimatized after freezing. 

I bet a quarter of the members here freeze their cigars before long term storage.  I only do them with customs or if someone put something in my ear on a particular box, "beware". 

Air shipment; one and done in short order. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

On 6/9/2023 at 7:40 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

32°F should do it. Hard to get below 0°F without a commercial freezer. 

My standup fridge/freezer is set to 0°F(reedom) and will go lower if I desired. 

[SCgarman]

14 hours ago, ycchai said:

Yeah I think I might ship by air. I'm actually hoping someone would give me insights of what happened when they did it by sea during hot weather. My cigar smoking buddies keep telling me don't try the freezing method because they said one shop they frequent tried to do that and the CC came out flat after that. I'm not sure if that's not been properly acclimatized after freezing. 

If freezing cigars were harmful in any way, nobody would do it. Besides HSA, several large NC cigar brands freeze their cigars prior to being shipped to disrtibutors/retailers. Don't fall for other's nonsense. After losing several cigars to a beetle infestation years ago, I freeze all incoming boxes unless they have been previously frozen (i.e. Nudies from FOH). Never had a beetle outbreak since. Cigars all taste/burn as they should

[JY0]

50 boxes should fit in a large cooler or two. I’d take the precautions mentioned above and fly with them, as checked baggage. 

[Andy04]

It may sound dumb, but as shipment and port cleaning times are not easy to predict, to guarantee that your stock isn't exposed to excessively high temperatures, is there any reason you cant ship the cigars LCL in a reefer container?