Aging Inspiration!

[CohibaBehike]

Anyone else find it absolutely inspiring to read MRN's Encyclopedia to age, research, and find rare cigars??? Everytime I read this book I just am amazed with how much is out there, and how I should be putting more boxes down for some of these flavor profiles that MRN discusses. I also like his take on aging and how tannins are broken down over time, and to be honest, I try to follow his steps to recreate what he gets out of his cigars in mine. Anyone have any thoughts on his book or similar experiences with anything that you have got from reading it?

[Colt45]

Don't own, have never seen or read the book. Like many things of this sort, it is fairly subjective - take and use what fits for you and your palate from

the book, here, etc.

While I would certainly not disregard the accumulated experience of others, I would also let experience be my guide - I'd be very hesitant to take any

one person's opinion as gospel.

[Ginseng]

Ahh yes,

I felt much as you did when I first acquired "the book." Excited at possibilities I never could have imagined. And then after about a half a year of intensive study, I put it down. I've only taken it down a handful of times in the last 2 years to look a few things up. Here's what happened with me.

1. I realized that there was a very real possibility that the cigars of today differ from those of of decades past and that those differences were not yet fully understood with respect to the effects of extended aging.

2. I admitted to myself that I was a "regular" taster at best. I'm plum average in a great many ways and even with practice, I knew that I could not physically detect the plethora of esoteric flavor notes that were reported by those blessed with "super taster" taste buds and that to seek it would be either intensely frustrating or self-deluding. I've smoked a lot of cigars from ROTT to over 30 years of age and, frankly, I prefer younger to middle aged cigars.

3. I made peace with the fact that I am an impatient person and that rolling the dice and waiting 10 years for the full flowering of a cigar would not make me happy. My children, I'm willing to grow with. Aging cigars is a consequence, not objective, of my stocking strategy.

4. I'm a middle-class guy, not a player, not a baller, and so acquiring the facilities and the cigars to roll stock for decades simply is not feasible. My oldest daughter's going to need braces this next year. Need I say more?

5. Live for today! Smoke today!

Now, don't get me wrong. The book is a fascinating read and I'm content to approach it as one man's account of his smoking life. I'm happy to leave it at that. Fascinating from a historical perspective. Filled with tantalizing insights. Yes, all of that and more. But as a practical guide. Not for me. Inspiring, but not my inspiration.

Wilkey

[android]

Ahh yes,

I felt much as you did when I first acquired "the book." Excited at possibilities I never could have imagined. And then after about a half a year of intensive study, I put it down. I've only taken it down a handful of times in the last 2 years to look a few things up. Here's what happened with me.

1. I realized that there was a very real possibility that the cigars of today differ from those of of decades past and that those differences were not yet fully understood with respect to the effects of extended aging.

2. I admitted to myself that I was a "regular" taster at best. I'm plum average in a great many ways and even with practice, I knew that I could not physically detect the plethora of esoteric flavor notes that were reported by those blessed with "super taster" taste buds and that to seek it would be either intensely frustrating or self-deluding. I've smoked a lot of cigars from ROTT to over 30 years of age and, frankly, I prefer younger to middle aged cigars.

3. I made peace with the fact that I am an impatient person and that rolling the dice and waiting 10 years for the full flowering of a cigar would not make me happy. My children, I'm willing to grow with. Aging cigars is a consequence, not objective, of my stocking strategy.

4. I'm a middle-class guy, not a player, not a baller, and so acquiring the facilities and the cigars to roll stock for decades simply is not feasible. My oldest daughter's going to need braces this next year. Need I say more?

5. Live for today! Smoke today!

Now, don't get me wrong. The book is a fascinating read and I'm content to approach it as one man's account of his smoking life. I'm happy to leave it at that. Fascinating from a historical perspective. Filled with tantalizing insights. Yes, all of that and more. But as a practical guide. Not for me. Inspiring, but not my inspiration.

Wilkey

Very well said Wilkey.

[Stalebread]

Well put, Wilkey and Colt.

I have the MRN book but I haven't looked at it in quite a while.

I guess the more experience I gain, the less I feel the need to check other resources.

Plus even when I looked more frequently at the MRN book I wasn't so sure that my tastes lined up with his, anyway.

By contrast, there are people on this and other forums whose taste does reflect my own as I've learned over a period of time. When I want to check my own experience against someone else's, those are the smokers I use as a reference, not MRN.

[Ghabanos]

Well put, Wilkey and Colt.

I have the MRN book but I haven't looked at it in quite a while.

I guess the more experience I gain, the less I feel the need to check other resources.

Plus even when I looked more frequently at the MRN book I wasn't so sure that my tastes lined up with his, anyway.

By contrast, there are people on this and other forums whose taste does reflect my own as I've learned over a period of time. When I want to check my own experience against someone else's, those are the smokers I use as a reference, not MRN.

True. All well said, but a very cool book nonetheless. I will pick up the ssecond edition when available.

Aside from tasting notes. There is tons of info...

[Vortigan]

Ahh yes,

I felt much as you did when I first acquired "the book." Excited at possibilities I never could have imagined. And then after about a half a year of intensive study, I put it down. I've only taken it down a handful of times in the last 2 years to look a few things up. Here's what happened with me.

1. I realized that there was a very real possibility that the cigars of today differ from those of of decades past and that those differences were not yet fully understood with respect to the effects of extended aging.

2. I admitted to myself that I was a "regular" taster at best. I'm plum average in a great many ways and even with practice, I knew that I could not physically detect the plethora of esoteric flavor notes that were reported by those blessed with "super taster" taste buds and that to seek it would be either intensely frustrating or self-deluding. I've smoked a lot of cigars from ROTT to over 30 years of age and, frankly, I prefer younger to middle aged cigars.

3. I made peace with the fact that I am an impatient person and that rolling the dice and waiting 10 years for the full flowering of a cigar would not make me happy. My children, I'm willing to grow with. Aging cigars is a consequence, not objective, of my stocking strategy.

4. I'm a middle-class guy, not a player, not a baller, and so acquiring the facilities and the cigars to roll stock for decades simply is not feasible. My oldest daughter's going to need braces this next year. Need I say more?

5. Live for today! Smoke today!

Now, don't get me wrong. The book is a fascinating read and I'm content to approach it as one man's account of his smoking life. I'm happy to leave it at that. Fascinating from a historical perspective. Filled with tantalizing insights. Yes, all of that and more. But as a practical guide. Not for me. Inspiring, but not my inspiration.

Wilkey

Very well said and I couldn't agree more,especially #5! I've learned through bitter,personal experience,as I'm sure a lot of us have,that life is very short and sometimes cruelly and unexpectedly so.I just don't have the ability,whichever way I look at it,to buy a box of cigars and plan on putting them down for X amount of years before smoking them.

[laficion]

.I just don't have the ability,whichever way I look at it,to buy a box of cigars and plan on putting them down for X amount of years before smoking them.

Yes, same here, In my cigar culture, aging my cigars was never a true priority.

Back in the 70's, the cigars you bought at the civettes,(tobacco shops) were already

aged by the retailer at least 1or2 years, he would not sell them before, plus, they were

still at the time, matured in Cuba for 1 year before being shiped. By the time you got to smoke

them, they had already gone through the sick period.Today, the tobacco itself is aged

in the warehouses because of the stock they have gathered. The only thing left today is

letting them rest the right time to allow the cigars to pass the sick period.

Of course aging your cigars is only going to better them, true, and to each his own, but for me,

I don't keep wines for 5,15, years and I don't age my cigars, 5,10 or 15 years, life is short, so why should I

do the aging while depriving myself of my cigars and then have someone else smoke them ?

I drink and smoke them now, If I want aged, I buy them already aged.

The only thing aging in my house, ...........................................Is ME.

[Ginseng]

I will pick up the ssecond edition when available. Aside from tasting notes. There is tons of info...

I likely will as well. If for nothing else than to ogle at the fantastic cigar photography.

...I couldn't agree more,especially #5! I've learned through bitter,personal experience,as I'm sure a lot of us have,that life is very short and sometimes cruelly and unexpectedly so.

That was on my mind but I didn't want to be morbid. But that was on my mind.

Yes, same here, In my cigar culture, aging my cigars was never a true priority.

Back in the 70's, the cigars you bought at the civettes,(tobacco shops) were already aged by the retailer at least 1or2 years...

The only thing aging in my house, ...........................................Is ME.

Indeed. I imagine much has changed since that time period. Personally, I just rediscovered the song "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band.

And on the last point...my kids are growing, my wife is aging, I'm getting older. Such is life.

The MRN book becomes a different kind of thing when one regards it as more aspirational than inspirational. It truly is like Harry Callahan said, "a man's got to know his limitations."

Wilkey

[Stalebread]

The only thing aging in my house, ...........................................Is ME.

I know what you mean.

Both me and my cigars are aging by default, not by intent.

And I'm not sure I'm through my sick period yet.

[Ginseng]

I know what you mean.

Both me and my cigars are aging by default, not by intent.

And I'm not sure I'm through my sick period yet.

* rimshot *

Wilkey

[PigFish]

Ahh yes,

I felt much as you did when I first acquired "the book." Excited at possibilities I never could have imagined. And then after about a half a year of intensive study, I put it down. I've only taken it down a handful of times in the last 2 years to look a few things up. Here's what happened with me.

1. I realized that there was a very real possibility that the cigars of today differ from those of of decades past and that those differences were not yet fully understood with respect to the effects of extended aging.

2. I admitted to myself that I was a "regular" taster at best. I'm plum average in a great many ways and even with practice, I knew that I could not physically detect the plethora of esoteric flavor notes that were reported by those blessed with "super taster" taste buds and that to seek it would be either intensely frustrating or self-deluding. I've smoked a lot of cigars from ROTT to over 30 years of age and, frankly, I prefer younger to middle aged cigars.

3. I made peace with the fact that I am an impatient person and that rolling the dice and waiting 10 years for the full flowering of a cigar would not make me happy. My children, I'm willing to grow with. Aging cigars is a consequence, not objective, of my stocking strategy.

4. I'm a middle-class guy, not a player, not a baller, and so acquiring the facilities and the cigars to roll stock for decades simply is not feasible. My oldest daughter's going to need braces this next year. Need I say more?

5. Live for today! Smoke today!

Now, don't get me wrong. The book is a fascinating read and I'm content to approach it as one man's account of his smoking life. I'm happy to leave it at that. Fascinating from a historical perspective. Filled with tantalizing insights. Yes, all of that and more. But as a practical guide. Not for me. Inspiring, but not my inspiration.

Wilkey

Jesus Wilkey... hats off to you sir. Knowing my political persuasion I avoid the term middle class. You are a first class individual, and that is what counts to me! Might I add one very bright SOB! -LOL

I have found few things to be reliably true about cigars, and many to be false! I have found many self-serving people in this hobby, many attempting to add value to themselves and to their collections of cigars. I am making no direct accusations or parallels just stating my opinion. Value is subjective. Taste is subjective. The value and taste of aged tobacco is subjective, sublime at best, overrated almost certainly.

Cigars as an interest, like other interests are filled with gurus, profiteers, honest people, naive people, knowledgable people and your occasional mountebank! It is also riddled with wives tales, half truths and misconceptions mingled in with the facts and empirical evidence.

I like the MRN book, it is a nice work as cigar books go. The opinions of the author, the tastes, conclusions and so forth are just one man's opinion and are worth no more to me than any other strangers' opinion. They are worth far less than my own experiences. I still like picture books and catalogues. Draw your conclusions from that!

I say taste with your own mouth, think with your own brain and process your own data. Adventure stories are great, but life should be experienced first hand.

-Piggy

[PigFish]

If I have said this once... I have said it 100 times. Aging is coincidental to hoarding cigars and the result of not being able to smoke them all in one day!

He who dies with the most cigars is still dead and all those cigar, the ones that were just too good to smoke, are just a line items on his estate! -The Pig

[Ginseng]

Jesus Wilkey... hats off to you sir. Knowing my political persuasion I avoid the term middle class. You are a first class individual, and that is what counts to me! Might I add one very bright SOB! -LOL

I have found few things to be reliably true about cigars, and many to be false! I have found many self-serving people in this hobby, many attempting to add value to themselves and to their collections of cigars. I am making no direct accusations or parallels just stating my opinion. Value is subjective. Taste is subjective. The value and taste of aged tobacco is subjective, sublime at best, overrated almost certainly.

Cigars as an interest, like other interests are filled with gurus, profiteers, honest people, naive people, knowledgable people and your occasional mountebank! It is also riddled with wives tales, half truths and misconceptions mingled in with the facts and empirical evidence.

I like the MRN book, it is a nice work as cigar books go. The opinions of the author, the tastes, conclusions and so forth are just one man's opinion and are worth no more to me than any other strangers' opinion. They are worth far less than my own experiences. I still like picture books and catalogues. Draw your conclusions from that!

I say taste with your own mouth, think with your own brain and process your own data. Adventure stories are great, but life should be experienced first hand.

-Piggy

Well said, Ray. I responded to the OP and you went and wrapped it up into something akin to The Smoking Life (of a Cigarist). Our little microcosm is really but a facet of the holographic whole that is all of modern life.

A good start to the day, I think. Worthy of a cigar. A good one.

Wilkey

[Vortigan]

He who dies with the most cigars is still dead and all those cigar, the ones that were just too good to smoke, are just a line items on his estate! -The Pig

Succinctly put! Like this a lot!

[Van55]

THe Encyclopaedia is, by now, almost completely out of date. It was published in early 2003 (or late 2002) and obviously contains no information on cigars since its publication.

The photography is stunning, and it's an excellent reference on the various marcas and vitolas that it does cover.

The tasting notes are subjective and are either those of the author alone or represent a consensus of his smoking friends and acquaintances.

I am glad to own a copy of the book, and I do pick it up periodically as a reference.

As for the rest, I agree that life's too short (espcially in my own case) to try to age boxes of cigars for decades. I am not swayed by MRN's tasting opinions -- I form my own. Or I did when I smoked regularly.