Long Term Ageing of Diplomaticos

[Hohenthal]

Thanks to Mr. Ayala's and Smithy's video review on Dip 4 EMA ABR 08

I tracked down a box from the same batch, one of the last ones around after they were deleted .

I found them exactly as discribed, only a year later the sweet spice seems less strong as opposed to a certain acidity, not uncommon with Diplomaticos, which seems to get more in the front of the taste / flavour profile.

Is this just a phase, in other words, will the balance come back in the longer term,

or should I rather not wait too much longer with the rest of these?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[PigFish]

Different cigar on a different day mate. Not all cigars are the same, Diplomatico or otherwise. If cigars are smoking well, smoke them (all) if they satisfy...

-the Pig

[Hohenthal]

Different cigar on a different day mate. Not all cigars are the same, Diplomatico or otherwise. If cigars are smoking well, smoke them (all) if they satisfy...

-the Pig

What I meant, they were better a year ago -

are they likely to come back, or is this the first signs of them being past their prime?

Some marques have the reputation to peak soon and die young, others "have the legs" to go a long way.

Thanks, Alex

[Hohenthal]

I agree with Pig, if they are good now, smoke them now. If not wait and hope.

In my own opinion, a 2008 box of cigars, no matter what kind of cigar, is not past its "prime" only 3 years later.

True. Maybe it was just a silly thought.

Thanks

[PigFish]

What I meant, they were better a year ago -

are they likely to come back, or is this the first signs of them being past their prime?

Some marques have the reputation to peak soon and die young, others "have the legs" to go a long way.

Thanks, Alex

I understood that.

What I meant to say was, "Who said the cigars were the same in the first place?" Could it be you smoked a great cigar at first and a mediocre cigar the next time?

To each the sample size required to judge his favorite or less favorite cigar will be his own. The same would hold true for comparative change evaluations, if you believe in such things. I am saying that smoking a handful of cigars from a box does not definitively tell you what the rest of the cigars are like. Each smoker can proffer his/her set of beliefs; these are mine. My belief here is that you experienced random cigar variation and no conclusion can be drawn. (IMHO)

What is prime? No one can define it? I suggest, prime is the day you smoke it. What other data is there? If the cigars are good, smoke through them and enjoy them. You could be dead tomorrow! I am a man of experience in this matter... As our host Rob says; life is not a dress rehearsal.

Cheers mate. -Piggy

[baragh]

Smoked an 09 Dip 5 yesterday....was like eating a bag of mixed nuts I swear

Not really relevant to the conversation but I just wanted to put it out there

I agree that even cigars of the same vitola, same year, same box even can be wildly different

but then again having more input from lots of people can give us an idea of what to expect, even though our experience can sometimes vary wildly from that expection...

I will let you know in a few years time what my dip 5's are like when they're aged!

[Puros Y Vino]

FWIW. I have a 2001 box of Dip2's and they smoke beautifully. Smooth, creamy, some nuttiness, no harsh notes, slight caramel and leathery tastes.

[CanuckSARTech]

I'd agree with Frank here. I got a great Dip 1 from a member here on a trade. It was from 2002 or so, and it was exceptional. Smooth, refined, and well blended flavors.

Definitely worth hitting that 5-7 year mark with Dips. The 4's have a bit less tobacco to them, but I think they'd still be worthwhile.

Like everything else, it all depends on the box.

[Hohenthal]

Bottom line, what you are saying is:

stop worrying, embrace life.

I might want to get my act together, eventually.

Cheers, everybody

[Hohenthal]

Just had another Dip #4 out of that same box,

and although not the best one in terms of construction (dramatically underfilled), it was "spot on".

Sweet spice, coffee, cocoa, Paprika-Capsicum, etc.,

just beautiful - a companion cigar!

Cheers, Alex

[Rushman]

A cigar's enjoyment factor is related to so many external influences. Where you were, frame of mind, time of day, what you ate, who your with, etc..."better" is such a subjective term that nobody will be able to answer your question except for yourself.

What is prime? No one can define it? I suggest, prime is the day you smoke it. What other data is there? If the cigars are good, smoke through them and enjoy them. You could be dead tomorrow! I am a man of experience in this matter... As our host Rob says; life is not a dress rehearsal.

Cheers mate. -Piggy

Two great quotes, I just had to echo. Virually 100% of my smoking is in social settings. In my former life, in my local B&M, poker game, back yard bbq, etc. In my current life, sittin outside my store in PDC enjoying a smoke with my wife or a customer. Sure, I have had good smokes, bad smokes, great smokes and tracendent smokes. Having said that, and while life is too short to smoke a bad cigar (echoing the "this is not a dress rehearsal" manta), the people I smoke with, have conversations with, build friendships with ADD to the smoking experience for me. They can make a mediocre cigar tolerable, but more importantly, they can make a great cigar a trascendent expeience.

Being in mexico for however long I am here, I dont have the space to have a large personal collection. Thankfully the store acts as that walk-in humidor i wished i always had. I could care less how a cigar is going to smoke some years from now, because the box I pick from today wont be here that long - I only care how its going to smoke when I pick it up, clip or punch it and light that sucker up.

My experiences since my dramatic life change and move to mexico has solidified my opinion that I have to live for today and only today.

THanks for listening! Rush