If stored in the right humidity, cigars rarely go bad. However, if, as a cigar smoker you handle your cigars badly, your cigars are prone to going bad. Below are ways in which you may identify a cigar that has gone bad.
Bad Smell Coming From Your Cigar
If your cigar smells moldy or stale, it definitely has gone bad. And you cannot expect a great cigar smoking experience if your cigar smells bad. To avoid purchasing or smoking bad cigars, always smell them before you purchase or smoke them.
Cigar Dryness
If your cigar’s too dry that it does not retain any humidity, then it should be declared bad. This is because, dryness in a cigar causes it to lose its essential oils. Loss of these essential oils translates to loss in flavor. A bad cigar will be too dry to the extent that it is cracking. To prevent cigars from going bad due to excess dryness, always ensure that you store them in the right humidity. This can be done by always ensuring that your hygrometers are calibrated.
Taste of Your Cigar
A cigar should always feel good in the mouth. Cigars that have gone bad will always have a stale taste. Other times, your cigars may also have an aftertaste similar to that of soil or dirt. If this is the case, then your cigar has definitely gone bad. The reason for cigars going stale is improper storage. Improper storage of cigars causes them to dry out and therefore lose their flavor and nicotine content. To avoid a situation whereby you cigars go stale due to improper storage, always ensure that you store them in a humidor.
Cigar Mold
As your cigars mature, you will most likely witness bloom on their wrappers. Bloom is usually a fine powder that develops on the surface of your wrapper as your cigar ages. Bloom is always a good sign, it indicates that your cigar is maturing properly. However, for other cigars, instead of bloom, mold is noticed. Mold unlike bloom is usually bluish in color. The presence of mold on your cigar is an indication that your cigar has gone bad. Mold is mostly caused by excess humidity in your humidor.
There are some people that may confuse an aged cigar and one that has gone bad. But the difference is simply in their taste, feel, appearance, and smell. It’s advisable that you always store your cigars properly, in the right humidity so they can mature properly instead of going bad.