Mould on cigars.

[tommy_tucka]

So last night I transferred my cigars from zip bags and one of my cigars has some mould at the foot. I've left it out of my humidor. What steps can I take to rescue the cigar? Many thanks.

[sheppsea]

When you say at the foot do you mean on the wrapper at the foot end or actually on the foot (so covering the filler)

If it the former just brush off and smoke, if the latter its beyond saving I'm afraid

[tommy_tucka]

It's actually on the cigar itself.

[Simon Bolivar]

Take a hog hair paint brush & clean the mould off. Do it away from your humi so the spores don't go in there.

[sheppsea]

I assumed that

But is it on the wrapper or does it cover the filler at the open end?

If its like this it can't be saved

http://www.cigars4dummies.com/uploads/mold_on_foot-res.jpg

If its like this just wipe off and smoke:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/kuzi16/mold%20or%20plume/mold3_zpse38de62b.jpg

[tommy_tucka]

I think it's a goner. Weird because all the others were kept the same way in individual zip lock bags.

[cj121]

I'd brush it off, clip the foot off a little and smoke it soon. It may not have been affected yet, in terms of taste,but don't put it back with the others and be sure to set fire to it soon

[RobBooth]

I was just wondering myself if you could 'prune it back' from the foot until there was absolutely no sign of mold?

[sheppsea]

I don't know to be honest but personally I would be reluctant to do it

[cj121]

I was just wondering myself if you could 'prune it back' from the foot until there was absolutely no sign of mold?

I've done it before, and took about 10mm off, no dramas. I wasn't desperate for the smoke, but just tried it.

Tbh, I can't remember it (the mould) adversely affecting the taste. I'm still alive, but I do have a green furry bottom lip now

[tommy_tucka]

Lol. I'll let you know the outcome.

[Emaresee]

So, i am with cj here. A few years back i caught quite a tough break here. I fell foul of over enthusiastic charging of a humidifier, then some negligence. About ten sticks fell foul of mould...

So, without wishing to cause an uproar this is what i did about it....

firstly removed the sick sticks, and sequestered the fit sticks into temporary accomodation, with daily checks.
dried, then Reseasoned the humi, using water with the mould inhibitor in. I replaced the humidifier as i had not been using mould inhibiting fluid. Then when sure the clean sticks were clean, popped them back in.

as per the advice in postings above, i brushed off the mould from the sticks. What i did next will offend some sensitivities.... With a clean tissue, moistened with the water inc. antimould, i carefully wiped down the wrapper of each stick.

for those where the foot had caught some mold, i took a similar approach. Brushed it off, then patted the exposed foot with a clean moistened (with distilled water with mold inhibitor) tissue. The key was getting mould exposed to the fluid, but not soaked.

i then put them in a reserve humi, running at a lower humidity c55-60. Checking daily, then every two days, repeating the above as neccessary. After about two weeks, and 3/4 wipe downs, all was well. I would have certainly resorted to trimming had this not worked.

i left the recovered sticks in quarantine for about 6 months, letting them steadily work back up to the right humidity. And then put them back into my main humi.

heres the astounding outcomes.... All signs of mold gone, and remained gone through my ten year pause on cigars. I only split one stick at the foot, and it was minor. The remainder all recovered their sheen, and didnt suffer any discolouration.

i am paranoid about mold.... Most mold is pretty harmless, but the wrong mold is botulism! So wanted to be clear it was gone, or the sticks were to hit the bin. I can taste a tiny spot of mold on a piece of bread after its been toasted, so reckon i'm attuned to iffy flavours. I have mostly smoked them now, a few left buried in the depths of the humi... And i am yet to spot any change in taste, or any adverse effects!

this was a genuine pain to do, but it seemed to work..... Not saying its the answer, but figured i would share in case it might help ....best of luck!

[Horsebox]

Mould on cigars.

[MENTION=13436219]Emaresee[/MENTION] having read that (and seemingly everyone keeping their humidors at below 69%) by having mine at 72% I run the risk of mould.

[cigarmo]

Why do you have your humi at 72 ?

[Emaresee]

Mine bob around 69- 72 as i seem to enjoy smoking slightly wetter sticks....

my mould kicked in at 75-85odd.... Like i said over enthusiastic humi topping up followed by neglect!