I thought it couldn't happen to me . . . another moldy Shark

[dantzig]

I was recently given a couple Sharks by my Secret Santa. With all the posts about mold, I've been checking them for mold weekly. One of them started sprouting white stuff this week :mad: It's not completely coated so I'm going to freeze it for a couple days and smoke it immediately after it recovers from the freeze. It's brother which doesn't have any visible mold is going to get smoked ASAP.

Since moldy Sharks seem to be the rule and not the exception, is A. Fuente doing anything about this problem? Mine were stored at 65% RH and never should have developed mold in those conditions. I would be absolutely livid if I had purchased a box.

[Addiction]

Check your calibration again. I recently had an Anejo develop some mold because it was in my desktop and I had about 10 of those tubes in there from when I consolidated other humis. I'd bet the Anejos have a higher sugar content (due to the cognac barrels) and thus are more prone to mold. I don't know if there is actually a whole lot they can do about that.

[sirxlaughs]

My brother and I got in on a sampler that Holt's ran some time back to get the cameroon shark. My developed mold, while his didn't. When I saw the mold, I wiped it off and checked. I didn't even bother to freeze or wait. I smoked it right then. I remember it being pretty good, too. Maybe it's a conspiracy by the Fuentes to prevent people from aging their cigars. :r

[Addiction]

I was recently given a couple Sharks by my Secret Santa. With all the posts about mold, I've been checking them for mold weekly. One of them started sprouting white stuff this week :mad: It's not completely coated so I'm going to freeze it for a couple days and smoke it immediately after it recovers from the freeze. It's brother which doesn't have any visible mold is going to get smoked ASAP.

Since moldy Sharks seem to be the rule and not the exception, is A. Fuente doing anything about this problem? Mine were stored at 65% RH and never should have developed mold in those conditions. I would be absolutely livid if I had purchased a box.
I don't know that this is true, at least not in my experience. I have smoked at least a box, maybe a box and a half since Thanksgiving and I currently have 5 boxes. I've only seen one get anywhere near getting mold and I've been checking very religiously (couple times a week).

[sirxlaughs]

Check your calibration again. I recently had an Anejo develop some mold because it was in my desktop and I had about 10 of those tubes in there from when I consolidated other humis. I'd bet the Anejos have a higher sugar content (due to the cognac barrels) and thus are more prone to mold. I don't know if there is actually a whole lot they can do about that.

I don't know if it's an Anejo thing. I have a box of 55's from 2005 that's perfect. I have a few other random Anejos of different sizes from 2006 that are also just fine. I've only had the mold thing happen with the shark (as it seems many others have as well). I only started hearing/reading about it with the cameroon shark.

[Sauer Grapes]

One thing to remember is that the CT broadleaf maduro wrapper is more prone to mold than most other wrappers. Also, Anejos seem to ship a bit wet.

[Tour De Cigar]

I currently have 5 boxes.

can I have one of those boxes :ss

[worr lord]

No need to freeze it, just wipe down and light up. A little mold isn't going to ruin your cigars, and shouldn't make you lose any sleep :)

[Smoked]

You should probably send them to me. I have a very sophisticated system for getting rid of the mold for you....:ss

[nosaj02]

Looks like I have to leave work early to check my sharks!

[Funnymantrip]

Not to say I heard from a guy, who heard from a guy who heard from a guy. I have a good relationship with our local Fuente Rep who told me they were aware of the shark problem (obviously). They pinned it down to cigars not left in the mold long enough. It will be resolved.

[jkim05]

with the mold, i don't think freezing will help much. just separate it from your other sticks and watch carefully.

[neoflex]

with the mold, i don't think freezing will help much. just separate it from your other sticks and watch carefully.

:tpd: I was going to post the same comment on the freezing. No need, it's not like beetles. Have you taken the cedar strips off your Sharks? If not ditch the sleeves as this will help promote the growth.
For what it's worth, it seems this time of year my humidity runs a bit lower than usual but at the same time my sticks are more prone to mold growth at the same time. Weird nonetheless. Unless the mold gets some time to really take off, just wipe it off and torch it. If anything I would smoke the one with mold before the unaffected stick. I know I have had a couple sticks in the past that formed spores from time to time and after I wiped them it was not unusual for them to sometimes grow mold again. Resolve your problem and just smoke the bastage.:ss

[JDC20]

Since moldy Sharks seem to be the rule and not the exception, is A. Fuente doing anything about this problem? Mine were stored at 65% RH and never should have developed mold in those conditions. I would be absolutely livid if I had purchased a box.

Yes, Fuente is aware of the problem, steps are being taken. Many of the boxes this year were shipped without humidipaks.

Even though we hear a lot about this online, this a very small problem. After seeing 150+ boxes this year, I saw mold on only a very few, mostly due to the storage conditions at the store.

As stated the broadleaf is very susceptible to mold.

[JDC20]

:tpd: Have you taken the cedar strips off your Sharks? If not ditch the sleeves as this will help promote the growth.


Sharks don't have any cedar. :)

[wharfrathoss]

so much for "we never rush the hand of time" eh?

[Dgar]

Yes, Fuente is aware of the problem, steps are being taken. Many of the boxes this year were shipped without humidipaks.

Even though we hear a lot about this online, this a very small problem. After seeing 150+ boxes this year, I saw mold on only a very few, mostly due to the storage conditions at the store.

As stated the broadleaf is very susceptible to mold.


Other than leaving out the humi pac, could you elaborate on other steps Fuente is taking.

Thanks alot!

[smokeyandthebandit05]

I just checked my Shark and I dont see any mold but it does smell kinda funny. Almost like sweet ammonia? idk how to describe it

[smokeyandthebandit05]

Sharks don't have any cedar. :)


Mine came with a cedar wrap with a red ribbon around the bottom

[JDC20]

Mine came with a cedar wrap with a red ribbon around the bottom

Sounds like a #55. Sharks only have a red ribbon on the foot. Since the are Round to Square, it is hard to get the cedar to do the same.

[zmancbr]

Looks like I have to leave work early to check my sharks!


I was thinking the same thing...:r

Although I will stick it out until work is over hahaha. :D

[JDC20]

so much for "we never rush the hand of time" eh?

Don't necessarily see how this applies to this situation. The tobacco is still in top shape in terms of age and quality and believe me the cigars are not leaving the DR with mold, they would never pass initial inspection.

This seems to be an issue in transport somewhere.

[JDC20]

Other than leaving out the humi pac, could you elaborate on other steps Fuente is taking.

Thanks alot!

Extra inspections in the DR, spot checking boxes when they hit Tampa. I am not privy to all steps being taken in the DR, I just know that they are doing their part.

As far as I can tell it is a transport issue somewhere along the line, these cigars are not leaving the Dominican with visible mold.

Maybe they should discontinue them if the problem can't be fixed? :hn

[Deriffe]

No problems on any of my sharks from this year but I keep mine between 60 and 65%. Even checked all the anejo with cedar and no problems so far. They are getting wet somewhere in transit. Keep them a little dry for awhile and watch them. At the first site of mold, I would wipe them down and dry box them for a few days. Mold on a wrapper is no big deal. Mold in the filler is definately nasty.

[newcigarz]

You should probably send them to me. I have a very sophisticated system for getting rid of the mold for you....:ss

:tpd: Yeah me too. Light, Smoke, Repeat. :r

[dantzig]

Well I smoked the one without visible mold today. Removing the cello revealed a couple small spots where mold was starting to grow but it wasn't obvious yet. It was quite tasty, burned perfectly, and didn't seem too moist at all. I've calibrated my digital hygrometers and they're all within 2% accurate via the salt test so I'm sure than I'm not above 70% since they usually read 62-65%. It was in my Vinotemp with hundreds of other cigars, none of which have any mold so I'm sure that it's a Shark problem, not a humidity problem. My other Anejos are just fine.

Knowingly putting something with visible live mold on it in my mouth turns my stomach a little so the other one is staying in the freezer for a day or two (with the current weather, it might be better off outside :r).

Don't sit on your Sharks--smoke 'em now!!! :ss:ss:ss

[DOHCtorJT]

Checked my one lonely shark, no mold here!

[groogs]

Don't sit on your Sharks--smoke 'em now!!! :ss:ss:ss[/quote]

I am with you, I am smoking one right now.

[Dgar]

Don't sit on your Sharks--smoke 'em now!!! :ss:ss:ss

I am with you, I am smoking one right now.[/QUOTE]

If your sharks are okay now, I dont see any need to rush to smoke them.
I think as J posted above it's probably happening in transit,I have a few sharks with a couple years of age, and no mold. It seems it's the recent releases, 06 more than 07.

I'm just thinking out loud.... it seems the problem is found on the Sharks more than the others, so what makes them different ? The cedar wrap, could the cedar be absorbing some of the moisture in transit, maybe offering it some sort of protection n transit the sharks dont have??? I dont know, but I hope the Fuente's can get this straightened out, and I'm sure they do to. :)

[khubli]

went through and checked my Opus and Anejos today. Pulled the sleeves off most after seeing another post somewhere that showed mold on some 2007 Holiday release 46s. I'm glad to say I did not find any mold, but I did find some sap on some of the Opus from the Cedar. To pull the cedar off or not. I left the cedar on. I figure the sap is not going to hurt anything.

[Guitarman-S.T-]

I was recently given a couple Sharks by my Secret Santa. With all the posts about mold, I've been checking them for mold weekly. One of them started sprouting white stuff this week :mad: It's not completely coated so I'm going to freeze it for a couple days and smoke it immediately after it recovers from the freeze. It's brother which doesn't have any visible mold is going to get smoked ASAP.

Since moldy Sharks seem to be the rule and not the exception, is A. Fuente doing anything about this problem? Mine were stored at 65% RH and never should have developed mold in those conditions. I would be absolutely livid if I had purchased a box.
look into the shark process, A. Fuente knows exactly what they are doing.. and the general public should as well, it simply cannot be helped,nor improved, its inevitable.

The cigar and tobacco are aged in wooden barrels used for another process ... ( anejo ringing a bell in liquid form ;) ) they will be moist, so smoke'em up.. hell ive never heard of anyone actually waiting to smoke them before haha, aka- they probably dont last long enough to sprout the funk :ss

[physiognomy]

Just wanted to put out a pictorial warning... Check your Anejos regularly!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/439764528_4e00a9efde_o.jpg

These two were from last Feb, but I have had a #55 and a #77 from Dec with a small amount of surface mould (nothing like the #49s above). I will be watching the rest of mine carefully!

[MikeyC]

Do you guys think leaving the cedar cello on an Anejo helps or hurts with the mold issue?

[Guitarman-S.T-]

Do you guys think leaving the cedar cello on an Anejo helps or hurts with the mold issue?

personal preference. knowing its going to be a fairly moist processed cigar the ceder could add so much to the plus side.. but also concentrate moisture around a certain area, almost guaranteeing mold.

[williegstyles]

I have a couple of unopened boxes of Anejos from this year. Do you guys think I should open them and give them a good inspection.

[khubli]

I have a couple of unopened boxes of Anejos from this year. Do you guys think I should open them and give them a good inspection.

I would if not at the least to take the humidipaks out.

[Guitarman-S.T-]

I would if not at the least to take the humidipaks out.

Yes sir!
and dont be afraid to take off the ceder sleeve and give a few the check... i wouldnt be surprised if there's some sort of powdering substance on them...:tu

[neoflex]

Sharks don't have any cedar. :)

:ss Sorry brain fart!

[Addiction]

can I have one of those boxes :ss
If I get rid of any boxes you'll be among the first to know. But I wouldn't hold my breath on it, I love the blasted things.