BENN Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 This is something I find very interesting, what is your definition of a vintage cigar? A minimum of year on it? From a certain year? Any demand on quality?
Orion21 Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 A really easy definition is any cigar made in a year that is not easily obtained. Example, a Bolivar Royal Corona from vintage 2004. The word "vintage" is commonly used with cigars to denote they have been aged at least a few years.
canadianbeaver Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 Interestingly enough, the go-to guy for this topic is here right now. Dball...
cigcars Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 I'd always associated "Vintage" (when it comes to Cubans) as being from the 1960's and earlier
Michel1968 Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 Besides the correct usage of the word 'Vintage' as written by Orion, 'Vintage' is a word that mainly excists in the minds of marketing scum. It has develuated much too easy and quickly making people believe a 5 year old stick is 'vintage' and in the same perspective some vendors selling their 2 year old stock as 'aged'. I follow a few basic lines: <3 years = fresh >3 - <5 = young >5 - <10 = matured (altough I understand this is not the correct usage of 'matured') >10 - <20 = aged >20 vintage
canadianbeaver Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 Jeez in that case I am 2.5 x vintage Agree with Windmill Michel.
dvickery Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 have never seen/read a definition of "vintage" that i find acceptable. derrek
Charltonc Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 I read on another board that vintage is when the blends changed in 1996.
mk05 Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 I read on another board that vintage is when the blends changed in 1996. What do you mean by blends changed
Puros Y Vino Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 What do you mean by blends changed Wasn't that around the time the "Corojo" leaf stopped being used due to disease?
Smallclub Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=106005&hl=vintage http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=81474&hl=vintage http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=65296&hl=vintage
Puros Y Vino Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 The points made by Rob in this post are excellent.
CaptainQuintero Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 I must be on my own here, I just see the word vintage as interchangeable with crop/released/made/rolled etc ie I think the 2010 vintage coming out of Upmann was fantastic, the 2012 vintage of tobacco looks like it is great but maybe not as excellent as the stuff being made in 2011, but that might just because it was almost shocking how good the 2010/2011 vintage was and we are just used to the high quality coming out.
Puros Y Vino Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 I must be on my own here, I just see the word vintage as interchangeable with crop/released/made/rolled etc ie I think the 2010 vintage coming out of Upmann was fantastic, the 2012 vintage of tobacco looks like it is great but maybe not as excellent as the stuff being made in 2011, but that might just because it was almost shocking how good the 2010/2011 vintage was and we are just used to the high quality coming out. By definition vintage mainly focuses on the production date or a bottle of wine, a year's growth, etc. The first part of the word "Vin" from "vinium" Actual definition. vintage vin·tage 1.the wine from a particular harvest or crop. 2.the annual produce of the grape harvest, especially with reference to the wine obtained. 3.an exceptionally fine wine from the crop of a good year. 4.the time of gathering grapes, or of winemaking. 5.the act or process of producing wine; winemaking. 6.the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use: a hat of last year's vintage. Points 1 - 5 are related to wine. Point 6 "allows" for the expanded use of the word to other areas. So, perhaps when it comes to cigars, any year is referred to as a vintage. For example I have a box of PSD4's from the 2009 Vintage. And I'd assume that it can be synonymous with "aged" as well.
CaptainQuintero Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 So, perhaps when it comes to cigars, any year is referred to as a vintage. For example I have a box of PSD4's from the 2009 Vintage. And I'd assume that it can be synonymous with "aged" as well. That's pretty much how I've just automatically always seen it yep
CanuckSARTech Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 Agreed here. For cigars, I look at it similarly to rum, cars, etc. All a bit blended up.... "Vintage" only refers to the year that it was from (similar to the various aspects of Frank's definitions). "Aged" is 5 years plus for me. After that, it's just references to the length of aging - 10 years aged, 15 years aged, etc., etc. Once it hits 20 years, it's "antique". Other than that, I think the only other real defined age terms, as it refers to Cuban cigars, are "the Golden period/age" of the mid-/late-90's, and then "pre-embargo".
GammerSmokes Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 I have a Hoyo du Dauphin vintage 1998 - is it really vintage?? iExplore on my Tappytalk part duex
canadianbeaver Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 Technically you may be right Frank, just as a diamond is a shape on a playing card but that does not mean I will marry you if you give me one when you propose on your hands and knees. A label such as Vintage on a cigar implies that you are attaching a percieved value and attribute to it among collectors and those who appreciate its taste and cache. To say a cigar is vintage to me and then I find out it came out 5 years ago, along with thousands of others, would tick me off. JMO.
mk05 Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 For me, there will be a quantitative and qualitative explanation of the term "vintage." Firstly, I define it as how much of you here have. However, then I take it further - not a specific time like 20 years - where the cigar matriculates into a state where there can be no further refinement. It doesn't have to be an expensive cigar to be "vintage." A '98 HdM du Dauphin or Des Dieux would absolutely be considered nearing "vintage" for me, since they are excellent with that age. Generally, a good cigar with the legs for aging will last the 20 years and come into balance well. However, some will just expire. So for me, it's when I feel that a cigar reaches its pinnacle.
sharks Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 For me, 5+ years = aged 10+ years = vintage 20+ years = take a chance and hope it still tastes something Im with you Bastian.
GammerSmokes Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 Cheers MK05, I can now rest easy! iExplore on my Tappytalk part duex
Charltonc Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 I believe the blend change was in 96, so I would consider that a new vintage, 97- current, but they could be broken up by year. Some people hate 98-01 cigars for the draw and construction issues; I have had lots of luck with 98 and 2001. My favorite cigars right now are SLR serie A from a fifty cab from 01 and SLR lonsdale from a fifty cab from 98.
Charltonc Posted November 1, 2012 Posted November 1, 2012 Wasn't that around the time the "Corojo" leaf stopped being used due to disease? I believe so.
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