Smoking the aged stock... or let it ride?

[Lotusguy]

When you have a lot of stock they tend to age by default!

Bingo!

[Ken Gargett]

my view is that cigars are like wine in that everyone talks about aged wines/cigars but really we don't try them very often. some very much enjoy the older examples of either or both (whether it is a taste that develops or not is an argument for another time) while some prefer more youthful tastes. one of the great wine men i know simply prefers the taste of young wines more than older ones (with some exceptions).

i'd be trying a few of your older stock. you may find that you actually much prefer older or younger smokes. not much point in hanging on to boxes to age them if you actually prefer younger smokes. once you know, then make a decision.

[mk05]

...some very much enjoy the older examples of either or both (whether it is a taste that develops or not is an argument for another time) while some prefer more youthful tastes...

Well what's your perspective on this Ken, is it a refinement of a palate, or a predisposition?

[chr0nic]

Thanks for all the advice folks; even the 'late mail'- I appreciated it all.

Smoked a PSD4 from the aged sampler tonight and was so damn glad I did... I've had no love from fresh ones so far, and this really opened my eyes to their potential.

See you all round!

[nikesupremedunk]

Thanks for all the advice folks; even the 'late mail'- I appreciated it all.

Smoked a PSD4 from the aged sampler tonight and was so damn glad I did... I've had no love from fresh ones so far, and this really opened my eyes to their potential.

See you all round!

did you have any new D4's to compare? I have a box of '12's so I'm going to see what 5 year difference really is like.

[MrGlass]

This question made me think of this post: http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=102032

Nick.

[chr0nic]

did you have any new D4's to compare? I have a box of '12's so I'm going to see what 5 year difference really is like.

I do have a few new ones that I picked up from ElPrez's 'robusto sampler'. I was keen to see what all the fuss was about- everyone seems to love PSD4's... I smoked a couple of them and was a bit 'meh' about them. Not bad- don't get me wrong- but there wasn't a wow-factor. But hey, if there was ONE cigar that just happened to be the best for every single person in the world I imagine there would be far less to chose from.

This question made me think of this post: http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=102032

Nick.

A very sobering read. Thank you for the link, I doubt I would have come across this otherwise. Cheers mate... and RIP Tampa.

[Ken Gargett]

Well what's your perspective on this Ken, is it a refinement of a palate, or a predisposition?

to be honest, a degree of both perhaps. i'm more confident saying that with wines than cigars, though. natural human tendency with wines is to first go with sweeter, more in your face styles. as you start to understand what you are drinking, and to enjoy and appreciate it more, most then tend to drier styles and less obvious blockbusters, to wines of elegance and interrest.

but no right and wrong. some people remain very happy with big bold unsubtle styles. doesn't mena that they are not good wines, just different.

i suspect the same for cigars, though i've seen less evidence of it.

[marty922]

I do have a few new ones that I picked up from ElPrez's 'robusto sampler'. I was keen to see what all the fuss was about- everyone seems to love PSD4's... I smoked a couple of them and was a bit 'meh' about them. Not bad- don't get me wrong- but there wasn't a wow-factor. But hey, if there was ONE cigar that just happened to be the best for every single person in the world I imagine there would be far less to chose from.

G'day Ryan,

Sounds like your's was a very similar experience to mine. My first current production PSD4 was 'meh'. My second was much better, but still didn't set me off.

Several months later I tried one of the aged PSD4's from the sampler and 'WOW' - I was sitting on the edge of the foreshore at Lakes Entrance, it was dark and bloody cold (2 or 3 degC) but it didn't matter. I was totally engrossed with the cigar. Now, I don't know my arse from my elbow when it comes to describing cigar flavours (other than the very obvious pepper), so I won't try to - but it certainly lit my fire. So much so that I ordered a new and old PSD4 pack from Di the next day

I've since tried the aged JLS2 and thought it was pretty good. However, the Punch RS11 was awesome. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts when you get to it. Thinking I need to get a few more of those somehow. The Boli CE was pretty much plugged, I gave up after about an inch and had exerted enough suction to start a Harley.

Anyway, as you can tell from the above, I'm in favour of trying the aged stuff - you don't know what the fuss is about until you've tried them

Cheers!

[mk05]

to be honest, a degree of both perhaps. i'm more confident saying that with wines than cigars, though. natural human tendency with wines is to first go with sweeter, more in your face styles. as you start to understand what you are drinking, and to enjoy and appreciate it more, most then tend to drier styles and less obvious blockbusters, to wines of elegance and interrest.

but no right and wrong. some people remain very happy with big bold unsubtle styles. doesn't mena that they are not good wines, just different.

i suspect the same for cigars, though i've seen less evidence of it.

I would agree with your assessment. When I first started on wines, I really enjoyed big lush cabs and rich straight grenache. Big bold flavors. Then my friends tried to steer me into their world of Gaja and whatnots, the leather, minerality (prob their favorite thing)...pretty much everything that has completely turned me away from the world of wines.

Same was true - for me at least - with cigars. I always looked for the very full, rich, thick, creamy mocha/chocolate flavor, which I think is pretty much what all newbies look for in a cigar. I think this is also the reason behind Monte's popularity with general smokers - especially the #2. I must have smoked Monte and Hoyos religiously for a good time period. Then I took that leap I refused with wine.

Once I decided to get serious with cigars (as in from something I just do once in a while to being an active participant in the cigar lifestyle), I started to find that I began to appreciate various flavors and subtleties. Vintage being the prime example.

In the past, I rather liked the raw, unrestricted flavors of young cigars and traded the jet fuel-like sensation through the nose to attain it. But now, I enjoy that very delicate whisper of flavors, decomposition of smoke as it travels through the palate, and the distinctive finish that old cigars give you.

But I also do go back and forth, seeing if I'm missing out on flavor with the new vints, gauging the vintage year, pretty much what my friends do with their wine hobby.

So yes, I would agree with you and echo, "smoke what you like, and like what you smoke."