If you can't take the heat...

[Ratbert]

Hi,

First post...glad to be aboard and looking forward to discussing some smokes from time to time.

I read an earlier post about buying in hot weather and this was something that I never considered. I am having a cabinet built for me and was looking forward to stocking it. But, am I asking for trouble by buying when it's so hot? I'd hate to open the boxes and see that beetles had been boring their way through my cigars.

So, how do you guys handle this? Do you just pay for overnight shipping, or wait until cooler weather to stock up? Or, am I just conjuring up a problem where none exists?

It's hitting the upper 90s here every day and I'm afraid that a week or so on the road may spell disaster for my stogies.

Let me know your thoughts...thanks!

 

[Headbanger]

:welcome: to BOTL brother.

 

[Headbanger]

I would be careful if those boxes have to sit outside all day. Possible save your money and wait for the weather to break if buying in bulk. Mostly people under the notion tobacco beattle hatch when the temps start going over 75%.

 

[DocLogic77]

Welcome and IMHO it's best to stock in cooler weather. With that said I just bought 3 boxes about a month ago so what do I know.

 

[cvm4]

Welcome to BOTL!

 

[rpb67]

Welcome to Botl !

Just remember over 70 degrees can cause a beetle outbreak !

 

[N2Advnture]

Welcome BOTL bro!

~M

 

[Ratbert]

Thanks for the advice and thanks for the warm welcome also...nice to be among friends!

I have a couple of boxes on order and so I guess I'll cross my fingers on those and then wait for cooler temps to arrive before starting to really fill the cabinet. It'll give my credit card a chance to cool down as well!

Does anybody run their cigars through the freezer upon arrival, if beetles are suspect? I've never tried this but understand that it is sort of involved and you can ruin your smokes if you don't do it just right.

 

[tobby4]

Welcome... yes it is hot as hell here recently, and i usually wait until colder weather before i make purchases of my own....

I have heard the freezer idea, never used it so i dont know how well it works or anything....

 

[DocLogic77]

I know many freeze but I couldn't imagine doing so.

 

[avid toker]

Welcome Ratbert.
Yes, it's probably better to stock up on boxes during the cooler months. Why risk beetle outbreaks unless it's a special box you must have right away.
I don't freeze my cigars. Although I have no scientific evidence, I'm sure freezing the tobacco would have some ill effect on the cigars.

 

[Terrasco]

Hello Ratbert, nice to meet you. I am a newbie and I don't know as much as I think I do, but I read somewhere that most nc producers and distributors like Altadis, General,Viallazon, Swisher, Consolidated, JR, etc. freeze their cigars. JR has a huge industrial freezer in which they freeze cigars from other manufacturers.

If you are shipping or storing Habanos, then I would guarantee that they have not been frozen. They would have been fumigated but that does not kill the eggs. One source recomended microwaving to kill eggs, but that seemed like a really bad idea.

Not advocating freezing or not freezing just trying to be informational. Also, anybody who has left an otterbox in the car on a hot West Texas day would agree with me that the heat will affect the taste. I may have gotten off topic.

 

[caudio51]

Buy during the cool months if you can. I've never frozen a cigar....

 

[CWS]

Welcome to BOTL. I have frozen cigars that got too much heat. Once you have an outbreak, you get more careful. Sealed double freezer baggie, freeze for three days, (someone on this board has the temp to days chart), then I leave them in the frig to thaw slowly for two days. Let them rest from this pain and suffering for at least a month. I haven't had an outbreak since.

 

[sli38]

It's 95 here today..... time to turn on the Heier......

 

[cf2112]

Buy from vendors whose stock has been frozen, 5th Ave & Interbank (sp) freeze there stock before distributing. Others may as well.

 

[DocLogic77]

This whole beatle thing has be scared. I can't imagine freezing my cigars but if I had an outbreak I can see why people do.