EAR: Tobacco Beetle and freezing cigars question.

[El Presidente]

EAR: Email Assistance Required.

 

" ....you know my thoughts on freezing cigars. I can taste the difference. I know you see plenty of boxes but I am wondering when is the last time you actually saw a live beetle from a box of PCC supplied cigars?" 

 

I am going to break this one up into two questions:. 

 

1.  When is the last time you have seen a live tobacco beetle in a Cuban Box of cigars outside of Cuba. 

2. Do you notice a subtle (or not so subtle) change in flavour of your cigars after you freeze them?

 

[Stanislaw]

As far as beetle suspicions go:  As a veteran New Yorker it's my duty to be neurotic and anxious about EVERYTHING and I had one "event" back in 2015 where I thought there was a beetle holes...turned out my cat was using my Monte 3 as a toy. 

Flavor being affected: I noticed a significant difference in flavor when I smoked a Monte 2 from a box that had arrived via my local postal carrier during a heatwave. I pulled one before putting the rest into the freezer and that first Monte was so amazing I couldn't wait to smoke another from that box, however the two I've had from the box since were significantly less interesting. Two years later and so far still haven't gotten the same experience from those sticks but I'm a patient man.

[El Presidente]

12 minutes ago, Stanislaw said:

As far as beetle suspicions go:  As a veteran New Yorker it's my duty to be neurotic and anxious about EVERYTHING and I had one "event" back in 2015 where I thought there was a beetle holes...turned out my cat was using my Monte 3 as a toy.

[chris12381]

Last critters I saw were in a SEP 12 box of Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 2, which I bought from a well-known and respected online vendor in 2017.  

[riderpride]

Haven't seen anything since a box of Cuaba ELs from a trusted source. Barely saw the hole under the lower band but the little dude was on the underside of the lid.

I've frozen everything since then and haven't noticed a change in flavours. It's too big a gamble to not do it even if you adhere to temp and humidity suggestions - nature is full of exceptions. One beetle would drive me nuts and my OCD would have me checking constantly.

It's just not worth the hassle or gamble.

Cheers!

[Lucas Buck]

Almost 25 years collecting and never once seen the little bastards. Knock on wood! I do keep my humidor at 65/65 though which theoretically wouldn’t allow them to hatch. 

[Li Bai]

Never seen one but I've had cigars with a few beetle holes, I can recall a box of RASC I purchased in a very well known B&M in Neuilly-sur-Seine during the early days of COVID and at least 5 sticks were damaged.

At that time CCs were nowhere to be found here and I didn't even think about inspecting the box when I found it. All the cigars have been good anyway, so no big deal.

I used to freeze boxes systematically and I've never noticed any change flavor-wise.

[Fugu]

You might need to break it to him, his cigars have already been frozen once. 😆

So, if he deems detecting a systematic difference, it likely is due to his particular modus operandi, not due to the freezing process per se.

[Fuzz]

1. Have seen dead ones, but never a live one in over 30 years.

2. Never noticed a change in flavour. Then again, I rarely if ever smoke cigars fresh.

[Capn_Jackson]

Found a dead one once, but have never seen a live one (that I can remember).

As for flavor difference, it may sound nuts but I actually enjoyed my cigars MORE after I started freezing sticks.

However, I wouldn’t want to try freezing if I didn’t have a freezer that can reach -20 Celsius within a few hours. My OCD necessitates the freezing, but I’m also nervous the entire time they’re in there.