Assessing Cigars to Age

[CanuckSARTech]

Some interesting and agreeable points, Piggy. And Mazolaman's point is something I've been finding I've been doing as well - I've always tried to specifically ensure I save the last 3 or 4 or 5 cigars from a box, and try to set them aside so that I can see what 3, 5, 7+ years do for them.

This brings about an interesting thought. Of the cigars that you buy, what average percentage do you end up setting aside specifically for aging?

I've found that I've always been in the 5 to 10% range (I set aside a box for a year off the truck initially, a bit longer if it needs it, but then enjoy said box over 1-3 years, and then all gone, except for the last 3-5 that I set aside to see what these are like at 5, 6, 7+ years). But, lately, only in about the last 2 or 3 years or so, I've found that I'm now buying about 300% of my annual consumption. I don't think I've really done this consciously - maybe it's a byproduct of Czar's marketing! But, I've definitely noticed that I seem to be buying things up, hoarding if you will, and have some definite duplicate boxes of great sticks that I know I've specifically bought with the main purpose of long-term aging. In the past, I've always just tried to get things ready to go for that "magic", ready-to-go (my observations) 3 to 5 year old timeline. But, I've recently begun buying and setting aside certain boxes, in duplicate amounts, so that I can have some stuff to enjoy and really only start to crack into them once they bypass the 5 to 7 year plus age (with hopes of 10 years, plus).

I can't remember really specifically planning or thinking about doing this. But I notice that the percentage of what I'm buying has definitely shifted from current/immediate consumption, to stuff for future consumption. Its probably about 80% of what I'm getting recently that I don't even plan on looking at to smoke for probably 5 plus years.

Thoughts on this? What are your percentages? Do you find that your percentages have increased or decreased recently, maybe due to the quality of the regular production sticks since 2006-ish??

[MontrealRon]

Some interesting and agreeable points, Piggy. And Mazolaman's point is something I've been finding I've been doing as well - I've always tried to specifically ensure I save the last 3 or 4 or 5 cigars from a box, and try to set them aside so that I can see what 3, 5, 7+ years do for them.

This brings about an interesting thought. Of the cigars that you buy, what average percentage do you end up setting aside specifically for aging?

I've found that I've always been in the 5 to 10% range (I set aside a box for a year off the truck initially, a bit longer if it needs it, but then enjoy said box over 1-3 years, and then all gone, except for the last 3-5 that I set aside to see what these are like at 5, 6, 7+ years). But, lately, only in about the last 2 or 3 years or so, I've found that I'm now buying about 300% of my annual consumption. I don't think I've really done this consciously - maybe it's a byproduct of Czar's marketing! But, I've definitely noticed that I seem to be buying things up, hoarding if you will, and have some definite duplicate boxes of great sticks that I know I've specifically bought with the main purpose of long-term aging. In the past, I've always just tried to get things ready to go for that "magic", ready-to-go (my observations) 3 to 5 year old timeline. But, I've recently begun buying and setting aside certain boxes, in duplicate amounts, so that I can have some stuff to enjoy and really only start to crack into them once they bypass the 5 to 7 year plus age (with hopes of 10 years, plus).

I can't remember really specifically planning or thinking about doing this. But I notice that the percentage of what I'm buying has definitely shifted from current/immediate consumption, to stuff for future consumption. Its probably about 80% of what I'm getting recently that I don't even plan on looking at to smoke for probably 5 plus years.

Thoughts on this? What are your percentages? Do you find that your percentages have increased or decreased recently, maybe due to the quality of the regular production sticks since 2006-ish??

I went through my binge-buying around four or five years ago, when I discoverd that CCs could be bought online, and in those days, shipments usually arrived safely. Since most of these cigars are now approaching what is, for me, the beginning of their plateau of maturity (5-8+ years), I will not lack for what to smoke for a long time. There are also, for current smoking, many boxes bought over a decade of annual vacations in Cuba. My purchases these days are limited to the occasional box of cheap vintage machine-mades, plus a few boxes to replace vanishing favorites, and the odd box that fills a hole in the collection.

So, also without any real planning, my situation is very similar to yours.

My purchasing, though, has slowed down mostly due to personal economic considerations,

exacerbated by the amazing quality of the 2009 vintage in Beaujolais...

[El Presidente]

So my question is, has anyone ever experienced a flat, lifeless, tasteless cigar improve and obtain flavour with age? I don't see how it's possible but maybe some of you have experienced it. I've had bold cigars mellow with some age but that's it.

LGC MO #2 comes to mind immediately. Some young Des Dieux as well. Predominantly seco laden cigars that transform into complex cigars over time.

[MontrealRon]

So my question is, has anyone ever experienced a flat, lifeless, tasteless cigar improve and obtain flavour with age? I don't see how it's possible but maybe some of you have experienced it. I've had bold cigars mellow with some age but that's it.

Some Punch cigars also seem to fall into this category, especially Punch Punch.

They seem to need a good 5-6 years for their flavours to begin to unwind.

[joeypots]

So my question is, has anyone ever experienced a flat, lifeless, tasteless cigar improve and obtain flavour with age? I don't see how it's possible but maybe some of you have experienced it. I've had bold cigars mellow with some age but that's it.

BBFs from around '02. I had a box that was devoid of taste that came around after a year or so. May well have been shipping sickness and the need to rest after transit, if you believe in such things.

[joeypots]

I'm not enamored of MRN's book, but there is some good information in there. He lists at least two cigars as his favorite cigar. He does say very clearly that little information about aging can be had from fresh cigars. A large percentage of his write ups state that 5 years is the minimum age for that cigar. I tend to agree. The tannic quality of most young Cuban cigars puts me off. It seems to me that most can not collect enough of a invitory to even begin to age cigars. Rob's concept of serious ageing, or true aged cigars (15years+). is pretty much out of the question for most people with five or ten boxes and is an entirely different thing than getting the cigars to a point where the tannic quality has diminished and the cigar has smoothed out. While some young cigars may be more approachable since the '06 changes, I think we have to differentiate between the period where the cigars are very tannic and harsh and the time when the flavor of the cigar changes in the later stages that true aged cigars go through.

[PigFish]

So my question is, has anyone ever experienced a flat, lifeless, tasteless cigar improve and obtain flavour with age? I don't see how it's possible but maybe some of you have experienced it. I've had bold cigars mellow with some age but that's it.

When I am introduced to the man/woman who can pick up a cigar and tell me that it is flat and lifeless prior to smoking it, then will believe in the theory that a flat lifeless cigar will get better over time.

How do you know that the cigar that you are storing is in fact flat and lifeless? You don't. You may think that you do, due to the fact that one you smoked before it was flat and lifeless. You may believe that you have evidence but you have no proof.

There are differences in cigars. But the only ones that you can measure objectively are size and weight and color.

So who here claims he or she can grab a cigar out of a pile and tell me it is worth aging? Once you have smoked it, the proof and the evidence is gone.

Having had my life threatened with health issues I have the ability to share a little insight with those of you who don't realize it. Your time on this planet if finite. You have no idea what will happen to your cigars tomorrow, or the next year. You also have no idea what will happen in your life. You may be dead tomorrow. With that advice smoke the cigars that you enjoy today. If you have a limited budget or limited room, sell or trade the cigars that you don't like to another who does like them. Life is too short to smoke a **** cigar, Cuban or otherwise! -Cheers, Piggy

[PigFish]

Piggy:

What you say makes alot of sense , there is no way to prove that ageing a cigar has ANY effect at all because you can only smoke a cigar once. While that may be true I think that some assumptions can be made that there are effects due to ageing. ( and yeah I know what assumptions can lead to...lol)

Although I'm very inexperienced with CCs I have smoked many NCs and have noted that you can buy a box or three of the same cigar and they can all have the same taste, more or less. (ie. Olivas, Padrons, Fuentes...etc) You can then let some of those cigars sit for a few months or even years and notice a significant difference in the flavour/body. I'm not saying that it's proof of an ageing effect because you are in fact smoking different cigars after the ageing, but it is pretty good circumstancial evidence I think that cigars can benefit or decline with age.

Mate... we all have our beliefs. I believe in the Lord above and that I can pick the best cigar off the table!!! The best cigar will be a thin ring cigar, assuming that there is one. (That is a gotcha' statement!)

I like to expose myths (what I call myths) of Cuban cigars. I am not the last word. It is all for the sake of academic discussion. We are all gonna' see these things differently. It is fun to get another thinking along the same lines, one they may not have considered if left to their own devices. That's it. By claiming not to believe in golden tongued gurus it would be pretty hypocritical to claim to be one. I don't make the claim and tend to challenge those that do.

My argument, hidden in all that bullshit, is that no one can pick the best cigar to age; we are all guessing. AND, that I don't believe that the aging process is elastic. I don't support the maturation cycle theory.

I can't speak for NC cigars. I don't like them nor do I smoke them. My opinion of the consistency and aging potential of cigars that I don't like and don't smoke is not likely information that will better anyone. This being a primarily CC forum, I assumed that we were discussing CC's and not cigars in general. I am happy to add the caveat to my posts that my opinion applies to my smoking and knowledge of CC's only. I know little or nothing about NC cigars anymore.

Cheers amigo! -Piggy

[CanuckSARTech]

Yes, I'll agree - Piggy doesn't know ****!

[PigFish]

Yes, I'll agree - Piggy doesn't know ****!

Yes, mate it is true. We don't share the same coterie. I don't know ****, Piss or Crap either. Next time I am in your neck of the woods you will have to introduce me! -Piggy

[CanuckSARTech]

Yes, mate it is true. We don't share the same coterie. I don't know ****, Piss or Crap either. Next time I am in your neck of the woods you will have to introduce me! -Piggy

LOL. Oh definitely, will do. As my wife likes to say, I'm the King of the Shitpile, and my mind is like a plethora of useless crap!

She does know me quite well....

Anytime you're this way, Piggy, I'll light up the BBQ and stock up the bar fridge...

[n2advnture]

...So who here claims he or she can grab a cigar out of a pile and tell me it is worth aging? Once you have smoked it, the proof and the evidence is gone.

Please let me preface this by saying that while I like to discuss all things cigars, I only truly know what I've experienced and don't claim to know half of what I should know.

Someone once said "what you don't know could fill a book" LOL!

With that said, if I were to pick a cigar from a pile and surmise that it has aging potential the proof would be at minimum, a box of 24 right behind the one that is smoke to lay down to age.

Just my $.02 though

[elderboy02]

Thanks for the great write-up!

[dB69]

Once there was a time when earth was flat. Or was it?

I know nothing, but I trust my senses. The result of my senses cannot be scientifically proved - at least yet.

My mouth, nose and brains are my properties. Someone else might have similar combination, or not, or something between.

I wouldn't be happy if I tasted only what is scientifically proved. My personal world would be quite flat that way.

Cubans taste good and the taste changes with time. Is the change noticeable, good or bad, depends on one's senses.

Would the taste of cigars develop in space in total vacuum in absolute zero degrees? Maybe not, or at least not as much (or similarly) as on the ground, I assume.

[Xikar]

Thanks Prez. Good article~