Cigar aging experiment

[kiwiman911]

Wow ,now that is very interesting stuff and I can't wait to see the results...It takes a lot of balls to propose somthing like that to a bunch of people that have done something one way for allways( age cigars). Cigar smokers are not the most open or adventurous when it comes to tradition...we thend to do things one way because it's just done that way, period...

but for me ageing a cigar has to do whit the day and year it was bought: I bought some EL2010 for the birth of my niece so I can smoke one every year on her birhday and maybe she will whant one someday...

It has to do with a date and place and a feeling

So buying a box and ageing them in a month to what they would smoke in 5,10,15, or more years would not leave the same feeling even if they would taste the same.

I am very interested in the results for the science,but I will keep ageing my cigars

can't wait the meet for a nice CC and talk about this face to face Seb

kiwi

[dB69]

Yes, such a nice experiment! I hope all the best to your cigars and will be waiting for the results.

The traditional way to age cigars is very good for me because waiting is part of fun, but it wouldn't be a bad thing to have an optional quicker way also.

We are all living on the same planet. Good luck!

[PigFish]

I could pick this apart as a concept.

I could pick it apart based on method.

I could pick apart the theories, the processes and even the results... But I am not going to! (Well, maybe later... -LOL)

The point is, that some bloke has got the creative spark to question and test for himself. Like the experiment or not... the man is using his own brain and throwing down the gauntlet on the "party line" form of thinking.

For that mate I salute you. I would do things differently and some the same, but you got the nuts to put your name out there and be called a crackpot, and frankly it makes for interesting reading and conversation and that is what forum life is about. It is not about parroting the party line, or quoting some guru, it is people experiencing life and cigars and sharing it with others. I don't have high hopes for your conclusions, but what the ****, you got me and a bunch of others thinking about it and talking cigars. Would you guys rather talk gun control? -LOL

From one experimenter to another, hats off to you brother!

-the Pig

[tempbond]

Wow ,now that is very interesting stuff and I can't wait to see the results...It takes a lot of balls to propose somthing like that to a bunch of people that have done something one way for allways( age cigars). Cigar smokers are not the most open or adventurous when it comes to tradition...we thend to do things one way because it's just done that way, period...

but for me ageing a cigar has to do whit the day and year it was bought: I bought some EL2010 for the birth of my niece so I can smoke one every year on her birhday and maybe she will whant one someday...

It has to do with a date and place and a feeling

So buying a box and ageing them in a month to what they would smoke in 5,10,15, or more years would not leave the same feeling even if they would taste the same.

I am very interested in the results for the science,but I will keep ageing my cigars

can't wait the meet for a nice CC and talk about this face to face Seb

kiwi

Looking forward to it my friend !

[tempbond]

I could pick this apart as a concept.

I could pick it apart based on method.

I could pick apart the theories, the processes and even the results... But I am not going to! (Well, maybe later... -LOL)

The point is, that some bloke has got the creative spark to question and test for himself. Like the experiment or not... the man is using his own brain and throwing down the gauntlet on the "party line" form of thinking.

For that mate I salute you. I would do things differently and some the same, but you got the nuts to put your name out there and be called a crackpot, and frankly it makes for interesting reading and conversation and that is what forum life is about. It is not about parroting the party line, or quoting some guru, it is people experiencing life and cigars and sharing it with others. I don't have high hopes for your conclusions, but what the ****, you got me and a bunch of others thinking about it and talking cigars. Would you guys rather talk gun control? -LOL

From one experimenter to another, hats off to you brother!

-the Pig

Thank you for being opened minded enough to realize that I'm just seeing if this would work and that I'm not pretending to conduct a thorough double-blind experiment with protocols and 5000 test subjects so the results are significative. This is just light hearted fun ! And hell, if we can learn something at the same time, why not ?

As always, great to read you.

[TonyV]

I think i may try 1/3 of your experiment,the freezing part. i have a cab of Hoyo's epi# 2,from FEB 10-haven't touched one yet- a few #2's with a single band about 4 years old or so.I think i can put 6 sticks in the freezer for a month and see if they smoke and taste like their older relatives. So i'll be waiting for your results,to give this a shot.

[ckearns]

I wish you luck with your experiment. I think this is an interesting idea and I salute you for a) coming up with the idea; and putting this out there. I didn't enjoy reading through the other comments because I can't believe the amount of negativity you received from people. Then again, maybe we have different definitions of fraternity and constructive criticism.

[Smallclub]

… I can't believe the amount of negativity you received from people. Then again, maybe we have different definitions of fraternity and constructive criticism.

What I can't believe is the level of misunderstanding. Please point in the posts above where the criticism wasn't constructive.

[Tarks]

Some people don't take constructive criticism well.

Just because a few us are offering suggestions doesn't mean it's negativity. I am trying to help. If you didn't want feedback you would have posted this thread upon completion of your experiment.

[aes8]

Lighten up a little will you? This is just for fun, I'm not NASA ! As for my choice of cigar, I ain't rich, if I was I would have tried it with BHK 52s: would you have consired it more serious then?

No

[tempbond]

No

Would you care to suggest a marca and vitola you would consider as valid to make this experiment serious ?

[matt14]

I think you are being a little over sensitive to some guys comments. A few have posted their thoughts mine included. I am interested personally in the outcome and have my own thoughts on if it works why the reasons would be as I posted before, not a knock on what you are doing just my thoughts on the matter.

If it works out to your liking then its your choice as to wether or not you will plunge straight in and start artificially aging your stock. I would be interested in seeing what real age on an arificially aged cigar would do!!

Personally I wouldnt start pulling out boxes and going that way. But if you are looking at smoking a box over the next few months and this method works for you, then fill ya boots!

Myself I will keep mine in double ziplock bags slowly aging away, and keep a few boxes with Lisa out of reach for my twilight years.

[matt14]

Would you care to suggest a marca and vitola you would consider as valid to make this experiment serious ?

Party Short

[aes8]

Would you care to suggest a marca and vitola you would consider as valid to make this experiment serious ?

No.

[aes8]

Would you care to suggest a marca and vitola you would consider as valid to make this experiment serious ?

Ok, a few things.

First off I don't consider this a valid experiment. You are attempting to manipulate a chemical process that is tried and true over decades. It ain't broke, don't fix it. It seems that you are trying to produce "white gold". It just doesn't exist in that state on the molecular level for it to be truly gold. Maybe I feel this way because I'm old school but natural aging and proper storage produces some of the best and most incredible smoking experience. Please refer to the HU Miramar thread and countless others.

Second, this has been tried. Damn you if I just didn't spend 45 minutes in the book looking for the passage (that I still can't find) that passage on artifical aging. I will look this up to see if the passage elaborates on the details or not.

Third, This is a little off track here but I thought I should point this out to you. You can go tell me to screw off if you want and you would be justified, but as this thread reaches three pages, you do realize that you are being labeled as THAT GUY that freezes his cigars for months and then infuses them with MGS? You might be ok with this but please think about it.

Fourth, are you attempting this because you just don't have the patience? Or are you tight on space or budget limited and can't carry boxes for a deep sleep while still supporting a regular rotation? There are definately ways to work around space and budget. I'd be happy to share my thoughts on those issues with you.

Lastly, have at it. I hope it works for you, sincerly. As for me, I'll HERF with the FOGs.

[CanuckSARTech]

I agree fully with Smallclub's and Piggy's posts.

While this potential process isn't for me, it's still an interesting read nonetheless, and kudos to anybody, ANYBODY, who does something interesting and new for our passion/hobby, and is willing to share it with the BOTL community. And while I don't have high hopes for the result, and think that infusing anything or doing anything artificial to Habanos takes away from the tradition and pure naturalism of them, I'd have to agree with others who think that this potential does have some benefits maybe for some.

Now, all that said....

I think there's a number of people on FOH, not just or necessarily on this thread, for whom the terms "respect" and "constructive criticism" don't seem to be registering. As I've looked back on threads from the past six months, it's something I've really noticed from some newer members, and some original/older members as well. There's a....TONE to some posts and thoughts. While there might not be outright insults or stuff like that, there's stuff being wrote "between the lines". If someone puts something out there, and people criticize it, the nice way of writing stuff isn't being followed. Terse terms and tones are being used. I notice this a lot in the ShoutBox also - it's being used like a frathouse conversation point lately, with vulgar conversations and crass comments about anything and everything. TRUST ME, I'm anything but an alterboy or a collar-buttoned-up extreme conservative about things. But things are just getting a little bit too disrespectful, personalized, cheap-shot'ish, and playground child-like.

Let's all mature a little bit, and get back to some interpersonal respect and courtesy, and get back to the fraternity of FOH.

I think any further comments should be done and spoken for in this thread, until the home-experiment is able to be shared and discussed.

Cheers. Back to my new iPhone....

[Colt45]

I have a number of thoughts, but my main question would be what are you using as a control - that is, what will you be comparing the

test cigars to at the end of the experiment?

Look forward to the results.

Let's all mature a little bit, and get back to some interpersonal respect and courtesy, and get back to the fraternity of FOH.

There is no question that we've had a large influx of new members many of who seem to have given little consideration to bother taking the

time to have a look around and get a sense of the tenor of our forum - in essence, just carrying over what they're used to elsewhere. Long

time members don't get a pass, and have a resposibility to help set the tone.

I don't use the shoutbox, but the rules of simple courtesy that apply here on the main forum are in play on the shoutbox as well. Another issue

is language. It seems to be slowly creeping in on a more regular basis. The mods here have been directed by the forum owner, some time

ago, to simply delete offending posts. Not edit them - delete them. This includes abbreviations - @#*!, etc. As I've mentioned at other times,

we've no desire to be cops or baby sitters, and it's no issue with the vast majority of members.

In the end, our forum is what we make it.

[tempbond]

I have a number of thoughts, but my main question would be what are you using as a control - that is, what will you be comparing the

test cigars to at the end of the experiment?

Look forward to the results.

A fellow BOTL from the CA forum has kindly offered to send me aged JLP's Cremas to compare and I also have about 10-12 cigars left from that box in my humidor : so I will be able to determine if the experimental sticks taste as good as real aged Cremas, better than control cigars left in my humidor or just somewhere in between OR even if they end up being just not good !

[tempbond]

I don't even know why I'm writing this because you will only find something wrong with this too, but what the hell...

To Colt or other mods, hope what follows is ok. I think it's fine, but if you think different, I'll edit or remove the post. Thank you.

Ok, a few things.

First off I don't consider this a valid experiment.

Are you saying this because of the protocol parameters (which I know are far from perfect, but I never said they were)or just to give non-constructive comments?

You are attempting to manipulate a chemical process that is tried and true over decades. It ain't broke, don't fix it. It seems that you are trying to produce "white gold". It just doesn't exist in that state on the molecular level for it to be truly gold. Maybe I feel this way because I'm old school but natural aging and proper storage produces some of the best and most incredible smoking experience. Please refer to the HU Miramar thread and countless others.

Do you really think that I've submitted my whole collection to this process? I took the cheapest cubans I had and that's it. I'm TRYING something new just to say I TRIED. I have no expectations of success nor do I want to create white gold... I'm not trying to convert anyone to do this or pretend that this is the way to do it: I'm just having a little fun and decided to share it with you all.

Second, this has been tried. Damn you if I just didn't spend 45 minutes in the book looking for the passage (that I still can't find) that passage on artifical aging. I will look this up to see if the passage elaborates on the details or not.

What book? And even if it's been tried before, why can't i try ? Are you the cigar experiment police?

Third, This is a little off track here but I thought I should point this out to you. You can go tell me to screw off if you want and you would be justified, but as this thread reaches three pages, you do realize that you are being labeled as THAT GUY that freezes his cigars for months and then infuses them with MGS? You might be ok with this but please think about it.

First of all, you should get your facts straight: one group is in the freezer and another group has the MSG, not both (third one is heated). Second of all, why do you care if I'm labeled anything? I sure don't, that's why I shared what I was doing: I knew some would like it and some not, but who cares? Well...you do evidently !

Fourth, are you attempting this because you just don't have the patience? Or are you tight on space or budget limited and can't carry boxes for a deep sleep while still supporting a regular rotation? There are definately ways to work around space and budget. I'd be happy to share my thoughts on those issues with you.

Why am I attempting this? Why does anyone experiment on anything? To try something new, to satisfy their curiosity, to test a hypothesis... Again, I'm trying this on a few sticks that I won't miss much and I'm not predicting that this is going to be my new modus operandi. So for the last time, I'm having a little fun and sharing it with my buddies: if you can't understand that, I don't know what to tell you.

Lastly, have at it. I hope it works for you, sincerly. As for me, I'll HERF with the FOGs.

This was the last time I was "defending" myself. If anyone has a question, I'll gladly answer it. But if someone else asks WHY I did this, I'm not answering anymore.

[frankj1]

sounds like fun to me. would be pretty weird if the cigars came out great. The first scientists who tried cloning or stem cell experiments suffered through a similar barrage (still do)...but you're just screwing around with some inexpensive cigars, fooling around with some loose theories, and it all sounds like you are smiling the whole time. Your site ain't the NE Journal of Medicine after all.

The beauty is that you can toss them if they get ruined. But no one should feel their lifestyle is threatened. Even if it works well, no one has to do it! I might try a couple if it does work,though. What the heck, they're cigars, not first born children!

[aes8]

I don't even know why I'm writing this because you will only find something wrong with this too, but what the hell...

To Colt or other mods, hope what follows is ok. I think it's fine, but if you think different, I'll edit or remove the post. Thank you.

This was the last time I was "defending" myself. If anyone has a question, I'll gladly answer it. But if someone else asks WHY I did this, I'm not answering anymore.

Wow, being a little senstitive aren't we?

I'll take this as a "screw off" and let it be.

Best of luck

[Ginseng]

There is no question that we've had a large influx of new members many of who seem to have given little consideration to bother taking the time to have a look around and get a sense of the tenor of our forum - in essence, just carrying over what they're used to elsewhere. Long time members don't get a pass, and have a resposibility to help set the tone.

I don't use the shoutbox, but the rules of simple courtesy that apply here on the main forum are in play on the shoutbox as well. Another issue is language. It seems to be slowly creeping in on a more regular basis. The mods here have been directed by the forum owner, some time ago, to simply delete offending posts. Not edit them - delete them. This includes abbreviations - @#*!, etc. As I've mentioned at other times, we've no desire to be cops or baby sitters, and it's no issue with the vast majority of members.

In the end, our forum is what we make it.

Mmm hmm. Civility, gentlemen. Civility is a value here. If you haven't the time for civility, then this will become less and less the place for you. There is no room for FOGs or Noobs. There is, however, room for both fans and students of the Cuban cigar. And do keep in mind that frankness and constructiveness are not antithetical to civility. Being a curmudgeon is art. Being a snark is trivial.

As for this experiment, tempbond, I wasn't motivated to read it initially, but now I think I will. While it sounds, on the surface, to be somewhat flawed and/or misguided, I commend you for taking the initiative to actually do some empirical work. So tempbond, hang on to the good, and let go of the rest. While everybody's got something to say, few are worth listening to. Fewer still are worthy of taking to heart.

Wilkey

[tempbond]

Mmm hmm. Civility, gentlemen. Civility is a value here. If you haven't the time for civility, then this will become less and less the place for you. There is no room for FOGs or Noobs. There is, however, room for both fans and students of the Cuban cigar. And do keep in mind that frankness and constructiveness are not antithetical to civility. Being a curmudgeon is art. Being a snark is trivial.

As for this experiment, tempbond, I wasn't motivated to read it initially, but now I think I will. While it sounds, on the surface, to be somewhat flawed and/or misguided, I commend you for taking the initiative to actually do some empirical work. So tempbond, hang on to the good, and let go of the rest. While everybody's got something to say, few are worth listening to. Fewer still are worthy of taking to heart.

Wilkey

Thank you for your advice.

BTW, what does FOG mean ? English is my second language, so please don't laugh too hard...

And you seem to use noob in a pejorative way: doesn't it mean newbie, as in new to something and not knowing much?

[Ginseng]

A newbie is something we all are at one point, no matter the endeavor. A "noob" is a variant used in sometimes a playful way, in sometimes a pejorative manner. FOG is a term, an acronym, that is also multifaceted. In some circles, it is a term of respect. However, both Noob and FOG can be used to perpetuate/enforce a hierarchy or informal power structure. Something that frankly, IMO, has no place here.

I'll PM you the words used to construct "FOG."

Wilkey

[Fuzz]

A newbie is something we all are at one point, no matter the endeavor. A "noob" is a variant used in sometimes a playful way, in sometimes a pejorative manner. FOG is a term, an acronym, that is also multifaceted. In some circles, it is a term of respect. However, both Noob and FOG can be used to perpetuate/enforce a hierarchy or informal power structure. Something that frankly, IMO, has no place here.

I'll PM you the words used to construct "FOG."

Wilkey

And here I thought FOG meant; "Fist of Gunthix" (Runescape... yes I am a geek/nerd!), Field Operations Guide, or Fields Of Glory (PC game).

Guess I'll have to resort to Google to find out what it really means!