Samplers and aging

[JWBurns]

My shipment will probably be in transit for a little while, as I reside on the East Coast of North America. I will lay them down until 21 February, then smoke 1 of my 3 Bolivars, probably the Petit Corona so I can save the Belicoso Fino and Corona Gigante. Then I will hold off for a few more weeks, should be good.

My initial 25 smokes will be gone fast, as I've only ever smoked Cohibas of various kinds over the years, so I need to find out what my favorites are. Other than Cohiba, I am a Cuban cigar rookie, but again I have smoked many legit Cohibas over the years.

You and I are quite similar my friend. I've only smoked a few Behike's, and am ready to try the other CC offerings. I just ordered the exact sampler and the extra singles as you (based off Rob's top 25 list) and I threw in an 8-9-8 for good measure.

I was itching to buy a box off the 24:24 list, but I think this is the best way to go first - see what I like and go from there.

[Fugu]

How exactly is organic matter affected by transit? Do the oils move around, or does the DNA get rearranged somehow?

My take on it, Clint, is that it isn’t just humidity, it is also, and perhaps even more so, temperature that has a major effect here.

Cigars may undergo considerably low as well as high temperatures (e.g. when in the direct sun in a trolley on an airfield or the like...) during shipping. In international transit and in particular when in a customs bond for clearing, this can last for extended periods of time (as someone says, even several weeks). As far as “organic matter” is concerned, such can potentially induce additional fermentation going on inducing the release of extra ammonia when subject to higher temperatures.

Further, when incurring deeper temperatures, as e.g. in the cargo bay of a plane, there could even be condensing conditions occurring. The low temperature will temporarily set the humidity out of balance, which has to find its way back to the cigars, and even more, needs to regain its homogeneous distribution within the tobacco.

You must live in a location where custom laws are more flexible or non existent. Here in AU you can expect delays up to 5 weeks. And if you buy from Rob he would recommend 30 days to sit...no I'm wrong.

For domestic (or within EU-) shipments this is mostly less of a problem. So I have to back Smallclub here – with no word did he say the 30-day rule of thumb renders useless – he sais it depends on the shipping conditions, and he is right of course. That would still comprise the 30 days option in certain instances. And for most Czar/FOH shipments to overseas, I guess you won’t be doing anything wrong with sticking to Rob’s recommendations.

Your refined process for aging sounds interesting, tell us how it goes in 4 years would love to here the outcome.

Also here, I go conform with Smallclub. Really no reason to be miffed if someone provides his view on a widely propagated misconception, only strong blends would age well. Some Seco-dominated blends can age wonderfully. Doesn’t need a strong cigar at all. Quite the reverse, a strong cigar might be nothing more than strong and in your face, of which sometimes a certain, the initially interesting part gets lost during aging.

I suggest you wait at least another 4 years, before you’ll see what he means.

Cheers

Paul

[jimsta10]

My take on it, Clint, is that it isn’t just humidity, it is also, and perhaps even more so, temperature that has a major effect here.

Cigars may undergo considerably low as well as high temperatures (e.g. when in the direct sun in a trolley on an airfield or the like...) during shipping. In international transit and in particular when in a customs bond for clearing, this can last for extended periods of time (as someone says, even several weeks). As far as “organic matter” is concerned, such can potentially induce additional fermentation going on inducing the release of extra ammonia when subject to higher temperatures.

Further, when incurring deeper temperatures, as e.g. in the cargo bay of a plane, there could even be condensing conditions occurring. The low temperature will temporarily set the humidity out of balance, which has to find its way back to the cigars, and even more, needs to regain its homogeneous distribution within the tobacco.

For domestic (or within EU-) shipments this is mostly less of a problem. So I have to back Smallclub here – with no word did he say the 30-day rule of thumb renders useless – he sais it depends on the shipping conditions, and he is right of course. That would still comprise the 30 days option in certain instances. And for most Czar/FOH shipments to overseas, I guess you won’t be doing anything wrong with sticking to Rob’s recommendations.

Also here, I go conform with Smallclub. Really no reason to be miffed if someone provides his view on a widely propagated misconception, only strong blends would age well. Some Seco-dominated blends can age wonderfully. Doesn’t need a strong cigar at all. Quite the reverse, a strong cigar might be nothing more than strong and in your face, of which sometimes a certain, the initially interesting part gets lost during aging.

I suggest you wait at least another 4 years, before you’ll see what he means.

Cheers

Paul

I try not to get baited in situations like this...

But you and your mate need to understand one thing, I was being generic with my original comment and wrote was to what I have researched, read, told, and recommended.

This thread was create by a new member, a person from the US. This person might not share or have the same views as from a person buying Cubians in EU. Shipping and packing arrangements will vary..especially when this person is buying samples from our host...which has recommended to lay it down for 30 days.

This basically means that I couldn't give a toss about your suppliers in the EU mate. I buy from our host and follow his instructions.

[Smallclub]

But you and your mate need to understand one thing, I was being generic with my original comment and wrote was to what I have researched, read, told, and recommended.

[Fugu]

I try not to get baited in situations like this...

Mate, there is no 'bait'.

You need to understand - this forum is about discussion. Discussion of personal opinions, views and even - occasionally - facts.

Cheers

Paul

[topdiesel]

Buy two of the sampler. Smoke one of the samplers within the first few months. Smoke the second sampler after a year. make purchases and smoke your cigars according to your taste preference. Once you start accumulating boxes, they will age whether you want them to or not. Some will not taste as good to you as they did when they were fresh and young. Make a note of those and trade or buy accordingly.

[JohnInCleveland]

Count me in the "let them rest" crowd. I try and let them rest at least a day for each day in transit, minimum.

For those who are talking about the difference in humidity, you're also forgetting the tremendous changes in temperature in transit.

The temperature in the cargo area, being unloaded and loaded in NYC, PA, OH, RI, they experience tremendous variations. A box I order from FoH has done more traveling than I have in my entire life. I'd rather err on the side of caution, personally...

[SipIt]

I've been known to get a little impatient and smoke some rott. I've found some to smoke great right off the bat and others smoke pretty crappy. I know what I'm in for by lighting one up right away and don't get bothered by the poor performing ones - just wait a while before having another and don't ever right it off because of one poor performance (if it performs great, yet you dislike the intended flavor profile, that's completely different).

As far as the OP, I wouldn't think twice about lighting one up on your birthday. There is nothing magical on day 30 vs day 25 (or whatever it is).

[Fugu]

Clint, it has to be expressed subjunctively of course, not due to expressing my unsureness but because the effects simply are conditional. Perhaps you were lucky so far, the better for you.

Let me give you a very current example: Just today, I received a delivery of a domestic order of a couple of boxes. We are currently facing temps of -7 °C during the day, the holds of long-distance trucks and delivery vans are not heated (for that reason, I usually avoid ordering anything when temps are so low, or when extremely high, but that was an order placed before Christmas). The boxes within the parcel were very cold (checked at about +5 °C). Therefore, although having been in transit for only three days, I won’t go and open the plastic-sealed boxes before tomorrow (for a check), and won’t smoke any of these before passing a minimum of 10 days to a fortnight. And this not due to plain believe but because I know from personal experience there is a high likelihood that these won’t smoke well. Same holding for undergoing the occasional high temp in summer, where I can tell from the smell already that I wouldn’t dare trying one ROTT. You will say, you really never had that? Under more moderate conditions, I could probably handle it like you, provided cigar conditioning would fall into my comfort zone, which it rarely does. So, I have to admit, I am very rarely tempted to smoke anything ROTT.

Just wanted to provide some input on potential effects that could influence smoking performance after transit, as you were questioning in a rather joking manner, what at all could affect organic matter. But granted, this might be the same as for the marca profiles. Some notice it and some are less sensitive, who would really know?