Is this mold?

[TJCoro]

Howling at the Moon!

Im of the opinion that plume is rare and that most claimed cases I have seen are normally mould IMO.

The idea of plume bothers me too, why would it be a good thing to have oil crystalizing on the surface?

Surely it's just as likely to be related to swings in temperature?

Hi ValeTudoGuy!

I'm probably getting in over my head here, but I think you make some very good points! Why the heck would the secretion of oils on the surface of a cigar enhance the smoke...YUCK!

But if it's on the interwebs, it must be true. Right? And everything I've read on the internets and in posts found deep inside the UKCF archives indicate that the appearance of oil crystals on the surface of a cigar is a good sign that the cigar has been stored in optimal condition over a sustained period of time. A good thing? I dunno

Crazy, I know....but it's on the interwebs!

Ricky Bobby




Oh, BTW...last night with a Buck Moon (Full). Did anyone see it?

[PeeJay]

I can see where you're coming from RB, how can the escape and therefore loss of flavour bearing oils be a good thing?

[TJCoro]

It's So Crazy!

I can see where you're coming from RB, how can the escape and therefore loss of flavour bearing oils be a good thing?

Hey PeeJay!

Good to know someone sees what I'm saying! It's So Crazy!!!

Ricky Bobby

[Simon Bolivar]

Open an old box of well aged cigars & we have all found oil staining on the greaseproof wrapper or of an individually cellophaned cigar. This occurs due to some of the natural oils in the leaf coming out onto the surface. That's a fact & all of those of us that have aged or tried aged cigars know it. Whether that then means it's going to be a much better experience when smoked is the debatable issue. Sure our resident Canadian chemist can fill us in if the crystals give off any aromas when burnt? It is perhaps a sign that there was a high oil content in the tobacco to start with? All I know is the few I have smoked have all been fine cigars but they have probably been too few in number to come to any firm conclusions. However, I would be perfectly happy buying cigars that I can see plume on but wouldn't bother buying a cigar with mould on, unless it was very minor white, fluffy spotting; as I know from experience that will brush off.

[Simon Bolivar]

Im of the opinion that plume is rare and that most claimed cases I have seen are normally mould IMO.

The idea of plume bothers me too, why would it be a good thing to have oil crystalizing on the surface?

Surely it's just as likely to be related to swings in temperature?

But hey, my local shop has some pluming snickers bars, do you reckon I should offer him a good price to procure those prime bars?

Nah, I have to say it's yet more cigar community hocus pocus. Much like the proliferation of tasteless old sticks that get paraded as quality aged smokes.

Marc, ref your last line; Marc, 'tasteless old cigars' are tasteless. Well aged cigars, made with high quality Cuban tobacco & of good construction can be some of the best smokes you'll ever experience. I believe you have said previously you haven't had many 'old' sticks so perhaps you haven't been fortunate to try some really good ones so far? I respect your opinion enough that if you would like to swap a couple of your Havana's for a couple of mine, please contact me via PM. You could then review them & share your thoughts.

[ValeTudoGuy]

[MENTION=941]Simon Bolivar[/MENTION]

Im cartainly not saying that all aged Cigars are tasteless, Indeed my best ever cigar was an aged Bolivar DT.

To clarify what I was getting at is that im not convinced that all cubans stand up to it. For example I have a couple left of a box '99 Punch Petit Punch and they are now on the decline... They are no longer the cigars they were even a couple years ago.

[Simon Bolivar]

Think I probably had one of the same batch of Boli DT's Marc & they were indeed superb. Not all wines are worth aging just like not all cigars are worth keeping for yrs either. But like the best clarets, the Boli's, RA's, Cohiba's, Monte's & H.Upmanns certainly can be. There is always a tipping point when they start to fade & as with wine, that's the time to smoke them up. I have had some Havana's that have lost their umph in 10 yrs & I have been surprised of the strength left in one 80yrs old.
Anyway we seem to have digressed somewhat from the mould question
Here's as good an explanation & decent photos of the Bloom/Plume/Mould question as i have seen. http://images.google.de/imgres?imgur...ZGCSUQ9QEINTAH