Not a new one: Aging Is in the Eye of the Beholder

[Glass Half Full]

So, I had an unusual cigar day (for me).  I started @ 10 am with a zoom herf with @cigarnv during which we enjoyed my second ever, best-ever cigar:  the LE Selectos Finos.  It could not have been better.  Even the coffee pairing was wonderful.  It was a 2011, as many know.  

This evening, after dinner, I very much enjoyed an HU Mag 46 (kindly gifted from @yadegari6).  ...And later enjoyed a delighful PL Panatela (2018).  

Obviously unfair comparisons, on price, age, on everything...

But personally I believe those latter cigars have greatness in them in the future.  IMO not at all in the caliber of LESF ...but there is a time and place for all good things, and many cc's improve greatly.  

The experience reminded me of recent discussions of how best to store things.  It leaves me thinking that consistent RH and temp are the key, ...though I am less convinced of the "vanguard" view of vacuum sealing, ...at least not until the cigars' flavors hit your own personal assessment of maximum potential.  (And I personally have been notoriously bad at determining when that is.)

I don't mean to be stirring up a "bees-nest" of replies.  Just wanted to offer that it may be a personal decision about whether to age "traditionally" (in good conditions) vs storing in vacuum sealed bags.  

For a while, after reading much of the discussion, I was tempted to go with vacuum sealed bags, but my ongoing experiences with well-aged, well-kept cigars (granted only since 2000) suggests that it might be best to keep on with proven practices.  Again, that is just my opinion.  

No doubt there are as many opinions on "best" storage conditions as there are people who enjoy cigars.  My personal view is 62%RH and ~65 degrees F for CC's (and 69-72% RH for NCs), but it's all personal preference.  I just realized that I'd left something unsaid. 

Edited May 22, 2023 by Glass Half Full
clarifying

[NSXCIGAR]

I'm not an aging absolutist by any means. I've had a lot of cigars with age that I would just as well prefer ROTT. 

[gormag38]

10 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I'm not an aging absolutist by any means. I've had a lot of cigars with age that I would just as well prefer ROTT. 

I have found the same thing on my end as well. Who knows if the caliber of leaf is just that much better these last few years, but some of the mid 2000's, 2010s sticks I've had are good, but don't stack up to some of the newer stock I've had. (>2019)

[Ford2112]

I've smoked some 21 and 22 stock that are as good as some of my good aged stock. I burned through a newer box of Corona Claros that needed very little down time and were consistent 92 to 94 point cigars.

[NSXCIGAR]

First, I don't think there's too many cigars that change much within 3 years. So I'd be looking at aging at least that long. I would put the QdO Coronas in that category. They can be good ROTT and 3 years won't change much. 5-10 years they can really develop. 

A few cigars that I would say do benefit from less than 3 years would be SP Beli, CoLa, Monte PE and PLMC. I wouldn't smoke any of those ROTT. 

Some cigars taste the same to me with 10 years as they do ROTT. Some of those would be most San Cristobal, Party Shorts, BRC, Connie 1. 

[Ford2112]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

First, I don't think there's too many cigars that change much within 3 years. So I'd be looking at aging at least that long. I would put the QdO Coronas in that category. They can be good ROTT and 3 years won't change much. 5-10 years they can really develop. 

A few cigars that I would say do benefit from less than 3 years would be SP Beli, CoLa, Monte PE and PLMC. I wouldn't smoke any of those ROTT. 

Some cigars taste the same to me with 10 years as they do ROTT. Some of those would be most San Cristobal, Party Shorts, BRC, Connie 1. 

Thanks for your insights . I don't have the experience nor the time or patience for aging cigars longer than say 5 or 6 years. My loss I suppose but I don't feel like in missing out so I can live with it. I admire the folks here with their giant aged cigar portfolios. I got back into the game too late I'm afraid.

[NSXCIGAR]

On 5/22/2023 at 10:37 PM, Ford2112 said:

...I admire the folks here with their giant aged cigar portfolios. I got back into the game too late I'm afraid.

Honestly, as I mentioned above there really just aren't that many cigars I smoke regularly that I find improve that much with serious time. I really don't buy QdO, ERDM or CoLa or things like that so I never have really had a need for long term storage.

The closest would be LGC, and the MdO4 is basically unavailable and I've only got one box of Turquinos. Or Sir Winston which again isn't easy to come by. I could see maybe buying PLPC but I never have. I don't like BBF typically but I have had some excellent ones at 10+ years old. 

So for me, long term aging just isn't something I feel the need to do. Aside from the fact that I'm not the most disciplined when it comes to holding off.