Aged Cubans specific flavor

[smbauerllc]

I have noticed that all the aged Cubans I have had that were 10 plus years old, and especially with Vintage ones, all had a specifics taste in them unique to only ones over 10 years old, and was in addition to the other regular flavors of the marca/vitola.

 

I'm unable to really describe the flavor except for maybe like old, very dry wood or kind of like cardboard.

 

Anyone else notice this and able to describe the flavor better?

 

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[Bijan]

I've had a few cigars from 98 to present.

Haven't noticed anything consistent like that across the board. I think that old blends were more tannic and some of those cigars haven't lost that property even with age. To me they're a bit bitter, astringent, and sometimes woody but that depends on the Marca.

[smbauerllc]

I've had a few cigars from 98 to present.
Haven't noticed anything consistent like that across the board. I think that old blends were more tannic and some of those cigars haven't lost that property even with age. To me they're a bit bitter, astringent, and sometimes woody but that depends on the Marca.

Interesting.
I only notice this unique flavor in Cigars over 10 years. Under that I don't notice even a hint of it.
And Vintage Cigars from the 40's to 60's I have had really have it

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[Puros Y Vino]

That sounds like "mustiness" to me.  A bit of wood and cardboard at times, but mostly when cold.  I notice it in cigars >20 years old but not across the board.  I'm not sure if it's related to particular cigars and their blends or storage conditions. 

[smbauerllc]

That sounds like "mustiness" to me.  A bit of wood and cardboard at times, but mostly when cold.  I notice it in cigars >20 years old but not across the board.  I'm not sure if it's related to particular cigars and their blends or storage conditions. 

Yeah, that's a good description of it.
Its pretty mild in most aged Cubans but very noticeable in Vintage ones, granted all the Vintage Cigars I have weren't high end even when new, so they aren't really very special with all the age like high end ones would be.
Still very fun to smoke a 60 year old Cigar regardless and I am glad I was gifted some to experience

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[sonarman81]

Like Olor tobacco? Has that mushroom like taste. 

[smbauerllc]

Like Olor tobacco? Has that mushroom like taste. 

I think mustiness is the best description. Just kinda like old, long stored blankets or such have.

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[Islandboy]

I’ve only had a handful of cigars aged beyond 15 years, but I too have noticed a common flavor theme despite marca - like fine cocoa powder and a hint of apricot.

[smbauerllc]

I think most cheap aged cigars have this flavor, but not quality aged cigars


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The Vintage Cigars I have were definitely cheap Cigars when they were made in the 40's and 50's, so I understand it with them.

But the others have been good quality cc's.

Members on another forum I posted this on are all saying that its from improper storage, but we are talking about roughly 20 different Cigars, from 4 or 5 different people from all over the country, and I only taste it on ones over roughly 10 years.

I just feel that the odds are against every Cigar, and every person I got them from, all stored all of them improperly, but i fully trust the knowledge of the members saying this, so I'm quite perplexed

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[Corylax18]

8 minutes ago, smbauerllc said:

The Vintage Cigars I have were definitely cheap Cigars when they were made in the 40's and 50's, so I understand it with them.

But the others have been good quality cc's.

Members on another forum I posted this on are all saying that its from improper storage, but we are talking about roughly 20 different Cigars, from 4 or 5 different people from all over the country, and I only taste it on ones over roughly 10 years.

I just feel that the odds are against every Cigar, and every person I got them from, all stored all of them improperly, but i fully trust the knowledge of the members saying this, so I'm quite perplexed

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70 years is a long time for a cigar to bounce around. Everyone you got them from may have stored them perfectly. The people they got them from? Or the people that those people got them from? Its impossible to know for sure. I would agree though, it still seems a bit un likely they would all have seen improper storage at some point. 

I don't smoke a ton of Vintage stuff, but I have smoked cigars from the 50s, 60s, 80s and early 90s within the last 5-6 years. I cant say I've noticed any one flavor that was the same between all those cigars. 

[smbauerllc]

70 years is a long time for a cigar to bounce around. Everyone you got them from may have stored them perfectly. The people they got them from? Or the people that those people got them from? Its impossible to know for sure. I would agree though, it still seems a bit un likely they would all have seen improper storage at some point. 
I don't smoke a ton of Vintage stuff, but I have smoked cigars from the 50s, 60s, 80s and early 90s within the last 5-6 years. I cant say I've noticed any one flavor that was the same between all those cigars. 

I agree about the Vintage ones completely.

Its the more recent, quality Cigars like PSD4 'S, Esplendidos, etc that have over ten years that I taste it with that cause me confusion

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[Bijan]

37 minutes ago, smbauerllc said:

I agree about the Vintage ones completely.

Its the more recent, quality Cigars like PSD4 'S, Esplendidos, etc that have over ten years that I taste it with that cause me confusion

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I have definitely not had it with 2007 CCEs and 2008 PLPCs. While a bit different they haven't been night and day different from more recent examples (let's say with 3-5 years age).

I have had 2007 RyJ Petit Coronas that were stored in cardboard pack that are very bland and cardboard tasting. Still have a lot of them left.

[smbauerllc]

I have definitely not had it with 2007 CCEs and 2008 PLPCs. While a bit different they haven't been night and day different from more recent examples (let's say with 3-5 years age).
I have had 2007 RyJ Petit Coronas that were stored in cardboard pack that are very bland and cardboard tasting. Still have a lot of them left.

I dont get the taste with ones under 10 years old.
I agree that the difference is not overly dramatic to me either.
Yeah, none of the ones I'm referring to even come in cardboard packs. So that's not the cause

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[Bijan]

11 minutes ago, smbauerllc said:

I dont get the taste with ones under 10 years old.
I agree that the difference is not overly dramatic to me either.
Yeah, none of the ones I'm referring to even come in cardboard packs. So that's not the cause

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I just meant that the one case I got of such different flavours in 10-15 year old cigars was almost definitely due to storage. In my case cardboard pack.

That's my experience. Most of the 15-20 year old cigars I've had are discontinued ones that I haven't had more recent examples.

[smbauerllc]

I just meant that the one case I got of such different flavours in 10-15 year old cigars was almost definitely due to storage. In my case cardboard pack.
That's my experience. Most of the 15-20 year old cigars I've had are discontinued ones that I haven't had more recent examples.

I understand.
Same here, most of the aged cigars I have been given I have never had a recent one of so its impossible to tell the differences

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[joeypots]

Storage is key with aged cigars, 5 years +. The twenty year old Cuban cigars I've  smoked had a kind of finesse that echoed the young cigar but was a bit milder and much, much smoother. I count under one year old cigars as fresh, up to 5 year old cigars as young, and cigars 5 + years old as aged. ( I think of vintage as a date) I think most cigars in my humidor hit their peak at between 5 and 8 years. Young cigars are great but they need to be at a stable RH for a good while, 90 days will usually do it.

I've made the mistake of buying old cigars that were kept in cardboard packs. Each and every one was terrible. Aged cigars that have been kept in tube in a humidor can be increadable. I don't buy aged stock often, it's risky as hell. One has no way of telling what the provenance of an aged cigar is or how it's been stored. poorly stored cigars, in my experience, taste like paper.  I buy and keep my own and I've had great luck with regular production Cuban cigars that I keep at about 62%RH under 70 degrees F. My .02$

[Cazador]

I get a faint cardboard taste from any aged cigar that has been stored in a dress box.  I do not get it from aged cigars from cabinets.

[Nevrknow]

Those last 2 posts are why I keep looking for unused/older wood boxes to age what I buy in dress boxes. Take pics of the codes on the boxes then in the bin they go. 😃

Anyone emptying any boxes ( wood ) soon let me know please. 😀 I have a use for them. 

[Habana Mike]

5 hours ago, Nevrknow said:

Those last 2 posts are why I keep looking for unused/older wood boxes to age what I buy in dress boxes. Take pics of the codes on the boxes then in the bin they go. 😃

Anyone emptying any boxes ( wood ) soon let me know please. 😀 I have a use for them. 

I have dozens and dozens that will see the trash bin soon. You are welcome to them for shipping costs.

[PigFish]

i regularly smoke cigars 20yo. All of these cigars are one owner cigars.

I have never been one much to hazard guesses on 'aging.' I see a lot of myth and variable there. I can tell you this... If the cigars tasted like cardboard I would soak someone  on BR for them and buy better ones. 

I would generally agree that there is not an 'aged' taste. Now that I have said that, I will counter it some by saying that there was a period where the aged cigars that I acquired from others, some had an uncanny redolence to what I call 'dope smoke.' I have never smoked dope, but the sickly sweet smell that would surround you during concerts of the 70's reminds me of that taste. It was the first thing that came to mind when I smoked those cigars.

JMHO... Both the olfactory sense and the taste from these cigars is from memory. I don't taste it much these days in cigars that I have tended myself. But I cannot say that I never taste it. It shows its head now and again, sometimes even in newer cigars.

-Piggy

[smbauerllc]

On 6/20/2021 at 5:43 AM, joeypots said:

Storage is key with aged cigars, 5 years +. The twenty year old Cuban cigars I've  smoked had a kind of finesse that echoed the young cigar but was a bit milder and much, much smoother. I count under one year old cigars as fresh, up to 5 year old cigars as young, and cigars 5 + years old as aged. ( I think of vintage as a date) I think most cigars in my humidor hit their peak at between 5 and 8 years. Young cigars are great but they need to be at a stable RH for a good while, 90 days will usually do it.
I've made the mistake of buying old cigars that were kept in cardboard packs. Each and every one was terrible. Aged cigars that have been kept in tube in a humidor can be increadable. I don't buy aged stock often, it's risky as hell. One has no way of telling what the provenance of an aged cigar is or how it's been stored. poorly stored cigars, in my experience, taste like paper.  I buy and keep my own and I've had great luck with regular production Cuban cigars that I keep at about 62%RH under 70 degrees F. My .02$

I agree with everything you said, great post.

I will say, I shouldn't have used cardboard as a description of the taste, that really isn't it. I just always struggle with explaining something I taste in a cigar.

Someone else said that they knew what I was referring to and called it mustyness, and I think that's a much better descriptor.

Just have an old taste to them, especially the Vintage ones I have from the 40's and 50's.

As far as storage history or provenance, I have no clue, as all were given to me by about 5 different members on several forums.

I do keep thinking that the odds that all of them improperly stored the Cigars over the years seems a bit unlikely to me but certainly possible since I have no possible way of knowing.

 

15 hours ago, PigFish said:

i regularly smoke cigars 20yo. All of these cigars are one owner cigars.
I have never been one much to hazard guesses on 'aging.' I see a lot of myth and variable there. I can tell you this... If the cigars tasted like cardboard I would soak someone  on BR for them and buy better ones. 
I would generally agree that there is not an 'aged' taste. Now that I have said that, I will counter it some by saying that there was a period where the aged cigars that I acquired from others, some had an uncanny redolence to what I call 'dope smoke.' I have never smoked dope, but the sickly sweet smell that would surround you during concerts of the 70's reminds me of that taste. It was the first thing that came to mind when I smoked those cigars.
JMHO... Both the olfactory sense and the taste from these cigars is from memory. I don't taste it much these days in cigars that I have tended myself. But I cannot say that I never taste it. It shows its head now and again, sometimes even in newer cigars.
-Piggy

Interesting description.
Always amazes me how every person always tastes and smells almost completely different things in the same marca and vitola.

Its so subjective that detailed reviews beyond "it was good/great" or "it sucked", is basically ignored by me as I never taste the same things.

Also why I don't really do longer reviews on anything, especially since I have trouble putting the tastes into words to begin with.

Whenever I post a daily smoke in those threads, I keep it to naming the marca and vitola, and just if I thought it was good or bad, and a sentence or 2 about the burn, draw and construction.

More than that is beyond me, and basically useless to anyone else anyway

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[CaptainQuintero]

  I think the difference mainly for me is that there is a dryness of smoke to seriously vintage cigars. It's certainly not a negative feature and I don't mean there's a physical drying of the mouth, it's more like the flavours lose that moist mouth texture and feel dry, compacted? It could be with the physical changes of the cigar as they become harder over the years and shrink? There isn't that moist background to the smokes. It's a difficult one to explain, the closest I've got it with new cigars is when I've lowered the r/h to 52%. So the more I think about it, the more I lean to it being related to moisture content in the leaf or cigar as a whole.

  The best I've had have consistently been RyJ from the 60's: full of dense jammy fruit, coffee and herbal sweetness. But there has been that dried, concentrated flavour delivery 

[smbauerllc]

  I think the difference mainly for me is that there is a dryness of smoke to seriously vintage cigars. It's certainly not a negative feature and I don't mean there's a physical drying of the mouth, it's more like the flavours lose that moist mouth texture and feel dry, compacted? It could be with the physical changes of the cigar as they become harder over the years and shrink? There isn't that moist background to the smokes. It's a difficult one to explain, the closest I've got it with new cigars is when I've lowered the r/h to 52%. So the more I think about it, the more I lean to it being related to moisture content in the leaf or cigar as a whole.
  The best I've had have consistently been RyJ from the 60's: full of dense jammy fruit, coffee and herbal sweetness. But there has been that dried, concentrated flavour delivery 

Good to know since i actually have an RyJ from 1961 to try eventually

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[BrightonCorgi]

Some will have musty and woodsy notes others can be papery and much there.  The nicotine doesn't ever seem to go down.  I take the musty and woodsy due to slow form mold and decomposing tobacco.  I like those flavors in a cigar.  I could be totally off why they taste like that.  The papery light is just the end state of aging; a little too long.

The only common theme I see in aged cigars 20+ years are the aftertaste is cleaner and room is less "stinky"; more perfumed smoke odor.

 

8 hours ago, smbauerllc said:

...Just have an old taste to them, especially the Vintage ones I have from the 40's and 50's.

Old has a taste beyond just cigars.  It's a descriptor of its own.