Aging recommendations for some of the more popular CC

[Maron76]

Hello my FOH brothers, I am running this poll to try and help members new to our hobby/obsession decide on some of their first box purchases. Not all our members are fortunate enough to be able to purchase a box of fine Cubans jut to put them down for several years before smoking one. I feel bad when I see posts about someone not enjoying a cigar all because they smoked them to soon unknowingly. So I plan to query our members every few days with a new cigar and keep an up to date list of the results. Similar to what the Czar crew is running right now (Thanks for the great idea Ghabanos). Remember when you vote that these would be boxes currently available if you were to order them from the Cigar Czar, so recent box codes.

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Previous poll result links:

Partagas Short

[jedipastor]

I'm looking forward to seeing others' replies, but in my rather limited experince, the BPC is one of the most versatile Habanos of all. They are quite smokable when young (I have some '09s that are starting to get good already), which is great. Then they get even better with few years of age. However, with even more age they are just phenomenal. So while I put "5+ years" for these to be at thier best, the BPC is not like so many other Habanos that are great with age but unapprochable until that time. The BPC is one of the few sticks (imvho) that can be excellent at nearly any time.

I'm not sure what the "ideal" age is for these (depends on the box, I'm sure), but last fall I had one from 1998 that was one of the best Habanos I've EVER had ... and that sucker had legs still: plenty of pepper and strength left in it after 12+ years!

I think that if you like the Bolivar flavor profile, the PCs are cab-worthy for sure. That gives you some to smoke while younger and some to age, all in one box. In fact, I'll probably be looking for a 2nd cab before the year is out.

[shrink]

... in my rather limited experince, the BPC is one of the most versatile Habanos of all. They are quite smokable when young (I have some '09s that are starting to get good already), which is great. Then they get even better with few years of age. However, with even more age they are just phenomenal.

That pretty much sums up my experience. When young, they are strong, spicy and fruity, with lots of twang. With age, they become darker, more brooding, with more fruit and seemingly even more strength, but less twang.

[Vortigan]

Hello my FOH brothers, I am running this poll to try and help members new to our hobby/obsession decide on some of their first box purchases. Not all our members are fortunate enough to be able to purchase a box of fine Cubans jut to put them down for several years before smoking one. I feel bad when I see posts about someone not enjoying a cigar all because they smoked them to soon unknowingly. So I plan to query our members every few days with a new cigar and keep an up to date list of the results. Similar to what the Czar crew is running right now (Thanks for the great idea Ghabanos). Remember when you vote that these would be boxes currently available if you were to order them from the Cigar Czar, so recent box codes.

I like this idea! I'll be very interested to see the results come in.Already seen some useful comments as The BPC is currently top of my thinking for my next box purchase,Choix Supreme not far behind.Not quite sure yet but having a month off,so to speak,for bank account purposes so a bit of time to think about it still.

[jedipastor]

That pretty much sums up my experience. When young, they are strong, spicy and fruity, with lots of twang. With age, they become darker, more brooding, with more fruit and seemingly even more strength, but less twang.

Great explainations. That echos my experience as well. Just plain top-notch cigars, period.

[beamer]

Smoked one last night from March 2010.

Lots of leather, earth, and coffee through the first third. Mellowed out for the second third with more cream and the slightest change from coffee to mocha. The final third was spicier, but harsh.

Not a bad cigar by any means, but could certainly use more age.

[Ghabanos]

That pretty much sums up my experience. When young, they are strong, spicy and fruity, with lots of twang. With age, they become darker, more brooding, with more fruit and seemingly even more strength, but less twang.

That's why I love this forum so much.

I'm not a big fan of bolivar or pc. But some of the sharing really encourages me to try them some more...

Thanks again Maron for perpetuating these polls

[riazp]

good when young, great with 18-24 months or so on them, exellent with 3+ years on them imvho

[Orion21]

I have always got a lot of sugar cane sweetness from the Boli PC. I think they are the best small cigar in the world. And the price is right as well.

[thechenman]

I find that Boli PCs can be harsh...overly so when young. I would put them to rest for at least 3 years, 5+ years would be ideal. That isn't to say you can't smoke them young like a Partagas Short...you just have to like the profile of the cigar at that age.

[bassman]

Not only a great smoke, but one of the most consistant cigars I've had from Cuba. I've smoked a lot of these & they rarely disappoint. Great fresh & great with some age. I'm currently alternating etween cabs from 2007 & 2010.

[lemmycaution]

I've been smoking through an 08 cab that has been amazing. So I guess my preference would be 3 years. Although, I've smoked them younger and enjoyed them.

[Ghabanos]

Not only a great smoke, but one of the most consistant cigars I've had from Cuba. I've smoked a lot of these & they rarely disappoint. Great fresh & great with some age. I'm currently alternating etween cabs from 2007 & 2010.

As u alternate, are the differences more obvious? Between aged and non aged...

[Maron76]

Great comments gents, keep them coming.

Instead of making a spread sheet of the poll results I think I will keep a running list of links to each thread. The comments for each one may be more helpful to some than just poll numbers.

[Guest RobinFadal]

Especially in the cold Canadian Winters when Esplendidos can cost you a couple fingers and toes.

LOL!

[goalie204]

Especially in the cold Canadian Winters when Esplendidos can cost you a couple fingers and toes.

if it was winter, ie freezing cold out, i wouldn't be freezing my nuts off trying to smoke a cigar, that makes it seem to much like an addiction..like a drug addict or something - willing to brave the elements for a fix. Fortunately I smoke indoors during winter anyway and stay nice and toasty