Smoking rotation

[Silverstix]

So I’m just wondering - for those of you that have boxes of a cigar from various years….

 

….do you smoke from all of them whenever you feel like it? Go for the variety of different years and tobacco?

 

….do you smoke through the oldest box first? Try to get on a rotation of always smoking aged stuff?

 

….maybe something in between?

 

 

As my collection has grown, I find myself thinking about this stuff, and having a hard time committing to which direction I want to go. Any pros and cons are greatly appreciated!!

 

 

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[avaldes]

Any time I walk up, any cigar in my stash could be on death row. Totally depends on what I feel like that day. But there are certainly some, mostly older cigars that are reserved for a special occasion, or are sentimental to me.

[Ford2112]

Sometimes I will have a cigar in mind ,open the humidor unexpectedly grab something if my gut says to do so. 

[TheDonTX]

I think I have like 21 or 25 different types. Blessed but nothing near some of the gents on here. I only smoke once a week. I dont keep a log but can kind of remember when I havent had a certain one in awhile. This cycle helps me visit every cigar every 6 months. 

[rcarlson]

The Cigar Gods whisper to me from the heavens when it's time to pick.  Can't say how they go about it.  

But their voice does steer me away from the special aged sticks, unless I can manufacture some good event that the spirits agree "I deserve it" or something bad that they agree means. . . well, the same thing. 

Out of my hands.  I just do as I'm told.  

  

[BrightonCorgi]

For cigars I have duplicate boxes of, I smoke one box at time until gone; oldest to newest.  I no longer keep duplicate boxes (except for a few) in my cabinet.  Duplicate boxes are vacuum sealed in the wine cellar.

[OrangePaw]

My boxes are stacked oldest on top which I smoke first, probably 10+ different choices and I just let them speak to me in the morning and decide from there.  It seems to work out great!

[Silverstix]

cool, thanks gents for the feedback! 

I guess the good part about having, lets say 5 boxes of JL1 from 2016-2022, is that you can even sample from the freshies but you have enough of a base so that you will also always have some that are settled in nicely.

I'm a numbers guy and in my office we have the term "mental masturbation" which I think fits appropriately here as well 😆

[joeypots]

I’m usually smoking through 5 or 6 boxes regular production cigars. I sample to find boxes that are smoking well and finish them in order by date. I do try to smoke aged stuff but that’s just my preference. Ya gotta figure out what you like and then buy from experience. 

[jakebarnes]

I have 2 coolers. The first one contains the "needs time" boxes that need to be out of site and out of mind until they come around and certain reserves that I already have a box of (Like PLPC and RASS cabs waiting for their big brother to be finished and get called up to the main humidor). 

As for the second cooler: anything is fair game. It really is based on how I am feeling. Sometimes I go in with a plan, but mostly I just let the cigar gods tell me what I want. If I'm between a number of cigars, I utilize my wife as the picker of which one. As you can see, this is all a very scientific process. 

[cgoodrich]

I pretty much smoke what I feel like, but try to reach for older boxes first.

[Chibearsv]

I've got 2 mini fridges with either boxes that are smoking great or singles to try.  On top of those I have tupperdors with opened boxes that haven't impressed yet but I'll keep trying them a couple times a year.  Then I've got the tupperdors of unopened boxes, just because I think time won't hurt them.  As a result, I've got a mix of ages in each of the 3 categories and as others have already said, the daily selection is made by the voice in my head, or a higher power, or big brother talking through the chip they implanted when I got my Covid vaccination. 😁

[Chas.Alpha]

42 minutes ago, Chibearsv said:

... or big brother talking through the chip they implanted when I got my Covid vaccination. 😁

I was tracked by the upgraded chip that was implanted in the booster shot. This morning, the FBI raided my house, cracked open the safe and impounded my entire collection of Swisher Sweets! 😔 Back to smoking the products of Socialist/Communism...

[RDB]

I have two lists: ageing and smoking. Once I’ve tried a box I’ll decide which category it’s in. If it’s ageing, then I’ll make a note of when to try it again. Otherwise everything is in play, however the mood / gods take me.

[Fugu]

Different open boxes / years of the same cigar.

[targa88]

Typically my inventory (OCD spreadsheet also) is stored based on age:

Oldest in the front - freshest progressively towards the back.

Same marcas and vitolas together.

In the past it has always been an effort to age sticks over time - with the occasional tasting to determine how it is progressing.

Based on some of the commentary from friends about a certain box code(s) or age profile (young typically) will give them a try.

Rob, had alluded to,  many years ago that he would split cabs of PLPC = two different flavour profiles young versus aged. Some young boxes ( less than a year old have been excellent and quite surprising compared to the standard suggested age window 3-5 years)

Brief calendar notes about what has been smoked. However I have noticed over time that I smoke less and tend to stick with my favourites.

Some "rarities" are saved for special occasions.

Some which have been discontinued tend to be "hidden" in the back 

Never felt that I was deprived of choice...

[Ford2112]

I dunno, I have some '19 and '21 Monte 4 and both are smoking good right now. It's pretty subjective and all over the place with me.

[Silverstix]

Ya know what makes this even more difficult…..I like collecting them almost as much as I like smoking them!


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[cigaraholic]

I smoke the oldest box I have of something unless I run into a box I think needs more time. Lots of 14’s I held back on.

[GVan]

I enjoy the collecting - finding a CC on my list for a good price (which is getting difficult) is fun.  I enjoy them aging away, maturing, and sampling the flavors and the changes.  I too keep a spreadsheet of what’s smoking well and what needs more time.  
If all I’ve got is 45 minutes to an hour it’s one of the skinny, shorties - RGP, BCJ, PLP, Parti short or SCdlH Principi’s.  Principi’s or shorts in the morning with coffee - others in the afternoon or evening.  So, the time I have is a big factor.  
In the evening, it gets more interesting - and like many have said - walk up to the office humidor, stare through the glass and hope the cigar gods pick a good one!