Aging Progression of Montecristo #4s.

[suggs]

I've only ever had one box of 4s. I don't have the box anymore, but from what I remember, they're an October 2014 production. I smoked most of the box within the first couple of months mostly because I really liked it being something of a "transition" stick into CCs, with earthiness and some spice that I tend to associate with Nicaraguan tobacco. Anyway, I noticed a few in my singles drawer so I thought "what the heck, let's see how these guys are." I get midway through and I'm seeing a lot of custardy, creamy cocoa, something I don't remember being there before and something I associate more with other vitolas in the marca.

My question is this: how do #4s typically age for you all? My tastes have changed quite a bit, since coming into the CC world, and I *was* gravitating away from #4s...but this cigar is making rethink this. Thoughts?

[IanMcLean68]

Ive been smoking CC's for about 11 years now and Monte 4s have always been in my rotation.  They really have improved in consistency over recent years.  I guess it was one of the first Cuban cigars I tried that I really liked, and so it is one of those cigars that I have always had a bit of a fondness for.

They certainly do improve with age.  I have a new box from 15 that I won't touch for at least another year.  I am currently smoking through a box with code OTS NOV09, and I can say they are still improving with age, and are smoking really well right now, and I would rank it up there with any good PC.  I think this box was maybe a bit more full bodied that the Monte's of more recent times, but now the earthy notes have settled, and the creamy coffee and cocoa notes have really come to the foreground.  I think like most CC's, the flavours and complexity become more clearly pronounced with age.  I really don't think, from personal experience,  that you can go too far wrong laying a good box of 4s down.

[NSXCIGAR]

I've never really seen much variation in blends between the No 1, 3 and 4. I've been a regular smoker of No 3 and 4, more so the No 3 lately as I'm just finding Marevas a bit too short for me these days and have really been revisiting my love for Coronas. But I would expect the 1/3/4 to all age similarly.

I find that since about 07 Monte 1/3/4 improves pretty linearly. I haven't had any from 07-09 lately so I can't tell you how they are performing at the 8-10 year mark. But I know from smoking some 5-7 year old Montes that they were very good and seemed to really be improving. I'm very interested to see how these do in the 10-15 year range and beyond. 

FYI, I think there was a lot of crap Monte from 01-06 and I really don't think the quality was there to start with. I don't recall really getting regularly good Monte until about 06-07, so anything from that period may not be the best example of what a well-aged Monte can be.

[El Presidente]

Good quality 4's (silky wrapper, well rolled, barnyard and sweet spice aroma at cold) age well. For my taste 3 years does it. 5 years at an outside. This is only because I treasure that deep cocoa kick more than I treasure that silky Monte smoothness that comes with extended aging. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Age them as long as you can or want.  If you they beyond your aging preference, you'll have a high demand cigar someone will pay a premium for.

[HoyoFan]

I have to agree with the above. I just had one from a May 15 box and it's just starting to get good. I can tell in another 6-12 months wonderful things are going to happen