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Cigars/moldy cigars

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Expert: - 7/22/2007


Question
I've discovered what I think is mold on a few cigars in my humidor.  What steps can I take to remediate the problem and save the rest?

Answer
Pete,
If there is just some light mold on the outside of the cigars you can simply wipe them off and smoke them. If, however the cigars have molded from the inside out they will be musty tasting and not good. Cigars get moldy for 2 reasons - either your humidor is too humid or the manufacturer packed the cigars too wet. There is nothing you can do about a manufacturer problem except return the cigars to where you bought them. Your main concern is to insure that your humidor is right. If you're using a distilled water/polypropylene glycol solution with 10% polypropylene, you have minimal chances of over-humidifying the cigars. Some makers of solutions use 20% polypropylene which I believe is too much. The Madeline brand is the best on the market in my opinion.

Bill Finck Jr.

Cigars

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Bill Finck Jr.

Expertise

I'm a fourth generation cigar maker and have spent 25+ years operating our factory as well as a mail order cigar company. I belong to cigar manufacturers associations as well as retail cigar associations so I'm usually up to date with current events relating to cigars. I've smoked the majority of brands on the market and would be happy to share my opinions of them with you. Since I live in the U.S. I have very little experience with Cuban cigars, but other than that I know a least a little bit about almost every brand of cigars on the market.

Experience

In addition to growing up in and now managing our cigar factory for 25+ years, I've spent time in many factories in Honduras, Nicaragua, The Dominican Republic and Mexico. BR>
Organizations
Cigar Association of America, Retail Tobacco Dealers Association

Education/Credentials
BS Texas A&M University

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