Recommendations on boxes for long term aging

[Bucky McSwensen]

Short version:  I am looking for recommendations of cigars that age well for 15-20 years.

Long version:  I have recently hit the hobby of collecting and aging cigars hard.  I like testing my own boxes every 3-6 months or so to watch them progress but I have started toying around with the idea of setting aside boxes of cigars with codes that match the dates of recent family and friends momentous occasions such as weddings or new children.  The idea here is to not even touch them and let them age for a special occasion or gift.  3 pack, 5 pack or tubos are great since I can bring them out for birthdays or anniversaries as they age along with the kid or couples.  Bigger boxes are good for a single occasion like a kids adult birthday (21 smoking age where I live), 20 year anniversary, or unexpected divorce celebration.  Worst case I burn bridges with these current loved ones in this time and have treat for myself!

So far I have been placing boxes that happen to match the dates from my random orders aside to leave untouched, and if I can I'll reorder one for me to dig into.  I have montecristo no 2, h upmann mag 46, and cohiba siglo ii right now.  I may keep hoping for random boxes to match the dates and have considered some sites with vintage stock if it's not breaking the bank.  Really excited for the locker auctions to open up but I have no idea how or when that will work.

The last thing I want to do is gift an expensive box of fine smokes that are 10 years past their prime.  Any recommendations from your experience of good sticks for this pipe dream?  Shorter aging times like 5 and 10 years would be good to know too but I feel like 5 years of marriage isn't that impressive.  Open to all thoughts and ideas.

Thanks!  -Bucky

[Markspring1978]

Just had this discussion last week, this thread might give you some ideas and thoughts along the same lines. 

 

[Bram Smoker]

Pretty good thread going on a similar topic from Thursday. Members giving their thoughts on what they would lay down for 21 years  

 

 

[Bram Smoker]

1 minute ago, Markspring1978 said:

Just had this discussion last week, this thread might give you some ideas and thoughts along the same lines. 

 

You are a little faster.

[Bucky McSwensen]

Oof.  I feel like a dingus.  That is indeed a great thread.  Appreciate the quick responses and guidance.

Just so I don't feel useless with this "repost" of a thread, does anyone have thoughts on gifting a whole box, small packs, singles, sharing a box I keep myself?  I dont want to gift an aged cab and find out it was stored poorly but feel its tacky as hell to control a gift due to trust issues

[MD Puffer]

I always enjoy reading about people's experiences and advice on aging, but the most patience I have is 3 years.  I've been buying more than I smoke over the past year- maybe I can reach 4-5 years if I restrain my self-indulgence.

[Toast & Taste]

I don't select my long term stuff based on special occasions. I have an ever growing long term aging inventory based on what I like. No target date for when I will raid them, and no set date for max aging. 

I gift boxes to people who I know will appreciate them and know how to care for them. This past weekend I gave my brother a box each of Siglo I and Siglo II.

Feels good to share quality smokes with people I care about. 

Big Al 

[Islandboy]

It seems to me my churchills and DC’s are taking the longest to settle down and lose their off-tastes in the final thirds, and they’re all pretty rich tasting to start of with (Sir Winstons, RyJ Churchills, HdM DC’s, Lusitanias). I’m guessing these would be great candidates for long-term down time. But then what the hell do I know - my oldest cigar isn’t even in kindergarten yet. 

[Lotusguy]

Once you have a few hundred boxes, long-term aging happens on its own

I used to seek out boxes for birth months, anniversaries, et cetera, but have moved away from that. It just became tedious to search out that one box on that day and smoke one. Thinking “oh, it’s my anniversary, I HAVE to smoke one of those” took the joy out of it for me.

Just my experience.

[Cubadust]

3 hours ago, Lotusguy said:

Once you have a few hundred boxes, long-term aging happens on its own

I used to seek out boxes for birth months, anniversaries, et cetera, but have moved away from that. It just became tedious to search out that one box on that day and smoke one. Thinking “oh, it’s my anniversary, I HAVE to smoke one of those” took the joy out of it for me.

Just my experience.

I feel the exact opposite. I enjoy seeking out the box I got for when my son was born and just smoke it that day. To each their own.

[99call]

The concept of blindly choosing a certain box as being 'special' just because you want it to be, really confuses me.  The best way to find an 'occasion box' is to be trying from numerous boxes. If a box presents itself as being

- full of an uncontrolled kaleidoscope of flavours

- rich and powerful (although this doesn't have to correlate with being full bodied)

- well made, rolled and packed

- strong aroma that suggests the need for continued fermentation

Put simply, if I find a box like this I will be happy to age it, and look forward to it, as I have some sort of idea that it has potential.   To just choose a box of DC's and sit on them for 20yrs make zero sense to me. 

I understand people like opening things and things being complete, but that complete item, could be a complete box of crap. 

I think a much nicer concept is to build someone a small collection of cigars you've found to be outstanding.  I.e buy a really nice small humidor, and whenever you come across and exceptional box of smokes, put a couple in that humi, and some tasting notes.  This will act as a nice time capsule. and if with your 21yr old son on his Birthday, you can sit down together enjoy a great selection, read the notes and discuss how they've changed improved etc etc

[BrightonCorgi]

Upmann Connoisseur's, Juan Lopez Selection and Fonseca No. 1's are all solid choices choices for currently available cigars for long term storage.  Upmann Noella would be good one too.

[Bucky McSwensen]

8 hours ago, 99call said:

I understand people like opening things and things being complete, but that complete item, could be a complete box of crap. 

I think that's the kicker for me here.  The mystique of "untouched" is just irresponsible and not worth the risk.  Could be cool but the payoff is small.  Now if I find a box of 10 or 25 that is on point, and it has that arbitrary date that matches my goal, I can stash that and no one will scoff at an incomplete box.

I still think the box date thing is cool.  Totally understand its arbitrary and dumb but I'm a sucker for proceduralizing joy sometimes.  I liken it to if a friend or family member is raising money for a thing and asks for 50 bucks, I'll likely pass.  But if I can donate $69 to a GoFundMe page and see that listed, then it's worth the cost for sure.  I fully understand I'm an idiot.

I think the more realistic thing is to share my stash how I feel.  Point out the box date if it's worth mentioning among my fellow peers who also get sentimental over arbitrary things.  But agreed it's not worth the pressure of overhyping a gift and then staring at them as they are forced to smoke a box of duds.

I could always sand the ink off the box and add my own date.  Mwahahaha

[99call]

6 minutes ago, Bucky McSwensen said:

9 hours ago, 99call said:

 

I think that's the kicker for me here.  The mystique of "untouched" is just irresponsible and not worth the risk.  Could be cool but the payoff is small.  Now if I find a box of 10 or 25 that is on point, and it has that arbitrary date that matches my goal, I can stash that and no one will scoff at an incomplete box.

If you like super tasty light to medium body cigars, and don't want to risk putting too much cash down.  £145 dollars will buy you a box of Fonseca 1.   I recon if you got them up to a decent RH then Vac packed them, you could get a very special box of cigars on your hands come the 15yr to 20yr mark.  

They are the poor mans Des Dieux, minus the heavy white woody flavours.........Actually thats unfair, they're a great cigar in their own right. 

[Derboesekoenig]

6 hours ago, Bucky McSwensen said:

I think that's the kicker for me here.  The mystique of "untouched" is just irresponsible and not worth the risk.  Could be cool but the payoff is small. 

It's a hand made product!!! This blows my mind because who knows how many hands touched the cigars before they even get to the consumer. And yet, people go crazy over "sealed" boxes. Makes zero sense to me.

Also, you can manipulate the stickers to where you can open it and reapply them, and no one will ever know. Just saying. Ok rant over.

[LGC]

It's a hand made product!!! This blows my mind because who knows how many hands touched the cigars before they even get to the consumer. And yet, people go crazy over "sealed" boxes. Makes zero sense to me.
Also, you can manipulate the stickers to where you can open it and reapply them, and no one will ever know. Just saying. Ok rant over.

I equate sealed boxes with marrying someone who’s saving themselves for marriage...

**Insert Forrest Gump’s famous line here***