Your opinion on aging Vegas Robaina

[El Presidente]

Vegas Robaina were launched in 1997 and so a significant number of members have had some extensive experience in smoking and aging them over the years.

Personally I have always found VR to hit that sweet spot in the 4-5 year mark. It provides the perfect mix of full rich flavours while introducing that smooth/no hard edges nature. The exception to this is the VR Clasico and Familiar. Either can go 10 years + and be brilliant. Mind you...you have to find a box where 40% of the cigars aren't plugged ....first.

The Hoyo De Monterrey Le Hoyo line are aging classics (Dieux a perfect example). Por Larranaga another.

Vegas Robaina?

For those of you who have smoked Vegas Robaina for some time:

• Your experience and thoughts as to aging and when they are at their best (the different formats if you have the experience with them).
• What characteristics have you found with 5 and 10+ year old Vegas Robaina. What do you gain...and what do you lose.

[Rye]

All I have smoked from 97-02 (Clasicos, Familiars, Unicos &DA) have been fantastic and still had legs left IMO. The DA especially, and I wish the marca had a serious resurgence in reg prod.

Never could age a Famosos past a couple years as they seem to smoke so well young, where the DA and the thinner ones do need time (3yrs+) to develop to my preferred taste profile

Love the core flavour of wood, leather, & cocoa/espresso

[ayepatz]

Love the Famosos with about 2-3 years on them. Reckon they're good to go at that.

Got a box of Don Alejandro ORL SEP 12, which are not ready yet. Have been dipping in every six months, but they're still in a teenage sulk. Think they might need at least another couple of years. Interestingly, the wrappers are much darker and oilier now than when I first got them (not from our host) so I think they'll turn out nicely in the long run. Construction has been good throughout. Plenty of leather, cocoa and polished wood, but still unbalanced, with a harsh, bitter edge in the latter half.

[anacostiakat]

I hold onto both the Clasico and the DA; and have boxes past the ten year mark that smoke quite well. I like the way they smooth out while still retaining enough of their earlier flavors to be enjoyable.

[noreaster]

Have 2 boxes of '00,Clasicos and surprisingly none have been plugged...very smooth as well...

[Puros Y Vino]

I've smoke a few Clasicos from 1998 and some 5+YO Unicos which were heavenly. Otherwise I haven't dipped into VR's substantially besides stockpiling Unicos. The XV Aniversario Canadian RE has some great aging potential though.

[Dbone]

Im smoking a box of '08 Unicos at the moment Pres and I feel they are a little dull. Hard to say if that's from the age though, my guess would be no.

[zmancbr]

Honestly I don't like fresh VR. I know a lot of guys enjoy them, but for me I prefer a min 5+ years on them. As was stated above the 10-15 year old Familiar and Classicos are just brilliant and I hardly ever have draw problems with them. Every time I smoke a fresh VR I just cringe at what it can become the same as I do when smoking fresh QdO, LGC, or ERDM.

[cybermadhatter]

I really loved the 01 clasicos, went though 7 boxes.

Unicos from 01 were good, not great. 03-06 were better, as were 08-11 and 2013.

My 1997 famosos did Not age well. Not sure why.

I am not a da or familiar fan. The jubilaums are always good when I get to sample or smoke one.

I prefer aged erdm or slr.

[teamrandr]

Hmm maybe I should dip into my box of Maestros from '07......

[tmc123]

Have a box of Unicos from 2011 that are already losing some of the flavours I love. From my experience they tend to hit their straps in the first 3 years, then taper off a bit.

[ksblazer]

I really like the VR line and not sure why they aren't more popular on the forums. It does seem like they may have went through a rough run over the last few years and in general do need some againg 3+ years to come around. But I tried a recent Famoso and it was stellar. VR famoso cocoa and cranberry or pomagranite fruity tartness mixed in the final 3rd.

The 1999 and 2001 Classicos were excellent and one of my go to cigars. Still have some 2001's. Hoping my 2011 will become as good. Shame this cigar is now discontinued.

Familiar was probably my least favorite. But the last one I had (2008 I believe) was awsome.

2000 Famosos were loaded with cocoa and chocolate cake like flavors and as I mentioned earlier the 2014 I've had shows great aging potentual.

When on the DA's I had were splendid as well.

I would say when on they have the best rich chocolate/cocoa profile going on.

I really hope the VR's become more popular and wish they would get more talk on the forums.

[MrGTO]

I really like the VR line and not sure why they aren't more popular on the forums. It does seem like they may have went through a rough run over the last few years and in general do need some againg 3+ years to come around. But I tried a recent Famoso and it was stellar. VR famoso cocoa and cranberry or pomagranite fruity tartness mixed in the final 3rd.

The 1999 and 2001 Classicos were excellent and one of my go to cigars. Still have some 2001's. Hoping my 2011 will become as good. Shame this cigar is now discontinued.

Familiar was probably my least favorite. But the last one I had (2008 I believe) was awsome.

2000 Famosos were loaded with cocoa and chocolate cake like flavors and as I mentioned earlier the 2014 I've had shows great aging potentual.

When on the DA's I had were splendid as well.

I would say when on they have the best rich chocolate/cocoa profile going on.

I really hope the VR's become more popular and wish they would get more talk on the forums.

I glad you said that about the fruit profile in the famoso, all I heard about them was about their cocoa flavor. I was smoking one today and I kept getting a sweet fruit flavor after the first half.

[El Presidente]

I glad you said that about the fruit profile in the famoso, all I heard about them was about their cocoa flavor. I was smoking one today and I kept getting a sweet fruit flavor after the first half.

I don't normally get a lot of fruit flavour but it is one of my favourite profiles. Let me know what age you were smoking and i will try and revisit one from that period

[Habana Mike]

I'm a lover of the Clasicos, so of course they've been dc'ed......

Smoking a box from 2000 right now that are phenomenal, especially as only one out of the three I've tried has been tight so far - beating the odds .

Lots of rich and full flavors, a touch right of medium strength. Bit of spice, barnyard and very well balanced. Also the Cervantes vitola is right in my wheelhouse.

Have also been sampling a box from 2008, just prior to the drop. Also been a very good smoke.

Not been much for the Unicos or Famosos though the ones I've had are not bad.

The Dons too have been good to me so all in all, from my experience, the VR sticks I've smoked have aged pretty well whether 8 or 15 years old..

[bugman78629]

I've only tried a few, and they have been spot-on.....

[luv2fly]

Have not had any VR since 2008 but I remember them as being quite good. May need to get some and age them once I get my Avallo repaired.

[Smallclub]

In few words: the flavors get better with age, but the cigars lose too much of their strenght to my taste.