Cigar Adviser

The Editors
Published in: October 1, 1999

Published September/October 1999

The Cigar Adviser Q: I recently discovered beetle damage in my humidor. Can I smoke the cigars with beetle holes in them? Do I have to worry about these cigars as well? Can the beetles get through the cellophane? While I was checking my cigars, I briefly mixed cigars from both humidors. Do I have to freeze the cigars from both humidors?   Also, I live in an attic apartment, but I can't keep the air conditioner on all day. What can I do to keep the temperature down in my humidors?   Prremsberg, Cigar Aficionado Online   There are three reasons why you'll have to throw out all cigars with holes: 1) The hole in the cigar indicates that a beetle has eaten its way out. Be aware, however, that the beetle who left wasn't necessarily the only one in that cigar. 2) The holes negatively affect the burn of a cigar by creating new, and unintended, air channels. 3) Beetles leave behind a fine black powder when they chew through tobacco. No matter how hard you try, you cannot purge it from the cigar, and it will certainly mar the smoking experience.   Ultimately, you must freeze all the cigars that were in contact with the damaged ones to kill any larvae left behind; otherwise, you invite another outbreak. While the beetle lives only a short time, it can do extensive damage. Not only can it eat through cellophane; it can even start chewing on the wood of the cigar box. (Visit our special online series on tobacco beetles at www.cigaraficionado.com)   Keeping your humidors in a temperature-controlled environment will prevent the problem from recurring. Try placing the boxes as far as possible from heat sources. Use a digital thermometer to determine if your chosen spot maintains a temperature below 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposure of your cigars to temperatures above that level is asking for trouble. If you still can't keep the heat down, you may have to consider storing your cigars in the refrigerator. It won't harm them, but monitor the humidity closely; refrigerators maintain a fairly dry environment.   Q: I recently visited a new cigar shop in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area. I was shocked to see "Cuban" cigars displayed and for sale on the front counter. When the store manager approached me, I asked him how he could legally sell Cuban cigars. He showed me a sign that read AUTHENTIC CUBAN REPLICAS, and went on to explain that they were real Cuban cigars, but as long as they were promoted as replicas he was within the law and could sell them. The manager also informed me that agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Drug Enforcement Administration visited him on a regular basis and they support his position. Is there a "replica loophole" in the law to allow the sale of Cuban cigars?   Name withheld Boca Raton, Florida   No. That store's manager either has a hyperactive fantasy life or he's lying.