DAMN!!! MOLDY G & H DARK PLUG
- Thread starter burleyboy75
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What a drag! Sorry to see that. Yeah, throwing away would be what I’d do. That’s pretty quick turnaround, was the plug super moist?
I'd cut it off along with a bit of the underlying tobacco, eyeball it closely, sniff what's left, pretend that it's OK, then see what it tastes like in a pipe. I'd give what's left a 50/50 chance of being OK. Any indication of mildew, hurl it. I had a whole pound of Yale Mixture mildew once. Rather disappointing, ain't it?
If after that it looks and smell ok I would not smoke right away but put in a new clean jar and let sit there for at least 6 months. If it will be still fine then I would smoke.
I did that with a Kendal plug and it worked. I agree chances are probably 50/50
Not a bad smell that I noticed. I cut it off and rejarred. I put in quarantine. I know general consensus is toss it, but even just curiosity has me wondering if more spores will come.
A whole pound? ah man. This was only 4 oz with only a little age. It sure is a kick in the nuts at any rate, but sure could have been worse!!
thanks for the suggestion! i washed jar, dried out, and put back in. i got plenty of other stuff to smoke. Ill double back and report what happens then! G and H for you too?
Always sad to see this. It is a sad day when tobacco is lost to mold. I wish you luck in saving as much as you can!
That’s a drag, but I’d go with the quarantine as well.
One thing I do (when I’m thinking of it) is after washing a jar and prior to filling, I’ll put a splash of Everclear (or high percent isopropyl alcohol) in jar, and with lid on but about half turn from tight, shake it around so interior and lid/seal get hit then dump contents and let air dry.
One point I’d make is that saying you got “moldy XYZ tobacco” infers XYZ was the source.
I noticed you said it was 4oz, which isn’t an amount that the mfr packages, so the contamination could be at manufacturer, at retailer that repackaged, or at end user’s handling (as opposed to scenario of popping a tin/bag and finding mold inside).
One thing I do (when I’m thinking of it) is after washing a jar and prior to filling, I’ll put a splash of Everclear (or high percent isopropyl alcohol) in jar, and with lid on but about half turn from tight, shake it around so interior and lid/seal get hit then dump contents and let air dry.
One point I’d make is that saying you got “moldy XYZ tobacco” infers XYZ was the source.
I noticed you said it was 4oz, which isn’t an amount that the mfr packages, so the contamination could be at manufacturer, at retailer that repackaged, or at end user’s handling (as opposed to scenario of popping a tin/bag and finding mold inside).
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I had something similar with my jar of Germain's Special Latakia Flake. But I noticed a tiny fruit-fly come out with it and thought it might be the reason, so I excised the fluffy growth and re-jarred it, sans fly. However, checking again, one other occurrence, so it might be mould. I've repeated the action; mental note to smoke this stuff as soon as the cooler weather gets me in the mood.
Ugg, I should not say this but in 30 years, ive yet to have any mold issues with pipe tobacco. I had an entire humidor of great cigars, about 40 of them, grow white hair! At first I thought it was cobwebs, but no, it was mold. I threw them all away and wiped the humidor down with bleach. 
And these were not new cigars, they had been in there for about 3 years untouched and nothing added.
Its been fine for the last decade.
Ive heard of many pipers just cut the mold off and smoke it. As far as I know most of them are alive....one died, but it was unrelated.....I think.
Quarantine is your best option. At worst you just lose what you thought you already lost. At best you haven't lost what you thought you already lost. Dang, im a wordsmith.
And these were not new cigars, they had been in there for about 3 years untouched and nothing added.Its been fine for the last decade.
Ive heard of many pipers just cut the mold off and smoke it. As far as I know most of them are alive....one died, but it was unrelated.....I think.
Quarantine is your best option. At worst you just lose what you thought you already lost. At best you haven't lost what you thought you already lost. Dang, im a wordsmith.
Bummer but it happens. Last year I had to pitch a 2oz plug I had barely smoked a quarter of because it got The Mold. Twas a sad day :,[
thanks for the everclear tip! And correct, this was bulk purchase.
Ive heard GH uses less preservatives, but youre correct. There are a lot of variables for sure.
While GH&Co do say their blends are meant to be smoked fresh, that does not mean they can’t or shouldn’t be stored.
I reached out to SP. I know c & d offers replacement, but this, Im not sure.
thanks! that's disappointing especially something like germains. Im always amazed what flys can sneak into.