Aunthenticity Verification

[Chè]

On the plus side, all 3 cigars in that box had plume on them. In fact, that's how I learned what it was. I got home, opened the box, saw white spots on the cigars and phone the B&M and said, "Hey, I think there's mold growing on my cigars!" LOL

Needless to say when the owner, Chris, explained, I was rather relieved and pleased......lol

Possible, but it probably was mold.

From what I've learned, "plume" is a temporary condition that occurs from sudden changes a cigar is exposed to. It could in fact be that the "sudden" change was your removal of the box or the change from the BM's atmosphere.

In the right conditions, you'll blink and find a cigar you pulled out to take somewhere with you suddenly has plume crystals on its surface. I've had the experience several times when the weather outside was extremely cold (for my location at least).

Plume is actually tiny crystals (looks like grains of salt) - once you've seen em', you'll be hard pressed to confuse it with mold ever again. My understanding is in rapid change, when oil and moisture on the outter wrapper surface recede, if conditions are ripe, the moisture recedes faster leaving the oil separated to crystallize on the outter surface. That trapped surface oil = "plume".

[ashauler]

snip......

From what I've learned, "plume" is a temporary condition that occurs from sudden changes a cigar is exposed to. It could in fact be that the "sudden" change was your removal of the box or the change from the BM's atmosphere.

In the right conditions, you'll blink and find a cigar you pulled out to take somewhere with you suddenly has plume crystals on its surface. I've had the experience several times when the weather outside was extremely cold (for my location at least).

Plume is actually tiny crystals (looks like grains of salt) - once you've seen em', you'll be hard pressed to confuse it with mold ever again. My understanding is in rapid change, when oil and moisture on the outter wrapper surface recede, if conditions are ripe, the moisture recedes faster leaving the oil separated to crystallize on the outter surface. That trapped surface oil = "plume".

X2 on the hi-jack.....my apology.

I've never heard this explanation of how plume forms and would be very interested in the source of that info.

From everything I've read, seen, and experienced true plume is a rare occurence, and forms due to the stability of the storage condidtions rather than some rapid or sudden drastic change in the cigars environment.

No expert here.

[buzz]

From everything I've read, seen, and experienced true plume is a rare occurence, and forms due to the stability of the storage condidtions rather than some rapid or sudden drastic change in the cigars environment.

Long-term storage at stable temperature/humidity (70/70 +/-) - this is what I have heard from multiple sources.

A Google search for plume yielded this, it may be helpful:



-Buzz

[mail man]

Long-term storage at stable temperature/humidity (70/70 +/-) - this is what I have heard from multiple sources.

A Google search for plume yielded this, it may be helpful:



-Buzz

You really are not right Buzz.

[ashauler]

You really are not right Buzz.

Pot vs. Kettle?

[mail man]

Pot vs. Kettle?

Well, I never did claim that I was "in the zone".

[Chè]

Fair point ashauler. The source of the information was the Honk Kong author. And while there are many opinions on the guy, some of which I won't argue are without merit, that aside there have been two occasions that stand out where I've witnessed plume form unexpectedly out of the blue. Both those occasions involved cooling - 1 on my own behalf / purposely, the other nature and the weather (from house & storage to destination that was approximately 30 degrees cooler than home). The "nature" occasion was with-in a 1 hour period, a cigar that had no plume was pulled out and to my surprise showed 7 -10 crystals up & down the wrapper.

In retrospect, of all you've heard over the years, I'm curious, beyond the opinions of it being perfect or extremely stable storage conditions yaddy yaddy yah, what exactly has been the explanation of what plume (the actual substance) is?

Another thing & JMHO... My experience is, it's mythical that plume represents some huge gain in strength, flavor or any other immediately discernible enhancement.

If the good Dr.'s theory is correct (about oil + moisture) and the phenomenon in general, you're probably looking at a cigar with significant oils present to begin with. Perhaps that's the explanation of the psychological belief that a pluming cigar is the Holy Grail?

[ashauler]

Fair point ashauler. The source of the information was the Honk Kong author. And while there are many opinions on the guy, some of which I won't argue are without merit, that aside there have been two occasions that stand out where I've witnessed plume form unexpectedly out of the blue. Both those occasions involved cooling - 1 on my own behalf / purposely, the other nature and the weather (from house & storage to destination that was approximately 30 degrees cooler than home). The "nature" occasion was with-in a 1 hour period, a cigar that had no plume was pulled out and to my surprise showed 7 -10 crystals up & down the wrapper.

Very interesting. Agreed on the varying opinions of the "all things cuban" dude and I'll not argue either side.

I will say that it get's pretty cold where I live, and I have taken many cigars on jaunts where the cigars in my possession experience large swings in temperature from their storage environment to their smoking environment.....and I have never seen this. Not saying it didn't happen, my experience just doesn't match yours.

A question I would have is, if the cause of plume is the rapid change in temperature of a cigar from it's storage environment to it's smoking environment, why is it so rarely observed? Certainly the situation you describe as creating the plume happens much more frequently than "perfect and stable" storage conditions.

In retrospect, of all you've heard over the years, I'm curious, beyond the opinions of it being perfect or extremely stable storage conditions yaddy yaddy yah, what exactly has been the explanation of what plume (the actual substance) is?

I believe plume to indeed be crystallized oil that has "oozed" to the surface of the wrapper.

Another thing & JMHO... My experience is, it's mythical that plume represents some huge gain in strength, flavor or any other immediately discernible enhancement.

I concur with this, however, due to my understanding of the yaddy yaddy yah, plume is indeed evidence of proper storage of the cigar over time. I further believe this "time" to be an extended period of time.

If the good Dr.'s theory is correct (about oil + moisture) and the phenomenon in general, you're probably looking at a cigar with significant oils present to begin with. Perhaps that's the explanation of the psychological belief that a pluming cigar is the Holy Grail?

I have not held this belief for quite some time now.