Current cigars smoking well with minimal age question

[Tinny]

Recently stumbled into the world of Cuban cigars, I see that many if not most opinions here are that most Cubans require age to reach full potential. For those of us that are just getting started in collecting/ smoking, I was wondering out of the Marcas/vitolas that regularly show on 24:24 which would smoke well with minimal down time say 90 days. I would love to have the ability to enjoy current offerings while  I start the process of aging as well. Thanks! 

[NSXCIGAR]

90 days down would mean the cigars are no less than 8 or 9 months old and I'd feel fine smoking most everything regular production at that point except maybe ERDM CS or some Cohiba. Maybe PL Picadores I'd wait on also. Just some isolated cigars. Other than that smoke away. 

[Russell]

Smoke em all! Thats part of the fun for me. I’ll smoke it with less than a year, and then have one periodically to see how they are progressing as I get more gray hair 👨‍🦳

[Adisaputra]

Many new released CC are actually very good and you definitely can smoke young, assuming you dry-box them before you smoke. Even ERDM, based on my late experience with demi tasse. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Monecristo No.3s & Petite Tubos are safe bets for fresh cigars.  I'd put most tubos into the smoke young category.

[Fugu]

10 hours ago, Adisaputra said:

Many new released CC are actually very good and you definitely can smoke young, assuming you dry-box them before you smoke.

This.

Moisture is your challenge, not the cigars being fresh per se. Plus accumulated ammonia. Young cigars are pretty hygroscopic and retain a lot of water. I use to regularly 'sample' new cigars, current production, but then never smoke directly from the box or sticks coming out of a tubo. Apart from that, as for - "I see that many if not most opinions here are that most Cubans require age to reach full potential." - Truth! (if not yet truism)

[Bill Hayes]

Some of the classics seem to stand up fresh IMHO but will benefit from a couple of years down - Montecristo #2, #4 - Partagas D4 - Juan Lopez #2 - Bolivar Belicosos Finos, Bolivar Royal Corona - Hoyo De Monterrey epicure #2. That can give you an idea of different flavour profiles.

Cohiba, Por Larranaga, El Rey Del Mundo, Ramon Allones may need more time down and a little less so, Diplomaticos, Upmann, Punch and Romeo y Julieta. Of course there are a few within brands that are more approachable young. *I like strong flavours so take into consideration. I like Bolivar petite corona, Juan Lopez #2, Montecristo #2, Partagas D5 and Partagas Shorts, Bolivar Belicosos Finos.

[FDR]

It kind of varies wildly from batch to batch so it's hard to generalize in my opinion. With that being said, let me generalize by saying that I've consistently enjoyed Bolivar Royal Coronas after the 60-90 days in the humi. Zero harshness!!

[MrBirdman]

I think many Montecristo smoke best in their first 3-4 years, and I don't think there's any vitola in the line that improves much past 5 years (some will disagree of course). 

[Tunkat92]

I think many newcomers overthink this. My favorite part of smoking CC’s is experiencing them develop and age. Its simple buy a box let them a rest a month or two and smoke one, revisit every so often. You will eventually have a collection of aged and fresh cigars and enough experience to determine what will age well and what won’t. 

[puromaniac]

I got a box of PLB JUL 22 Monte PE from our host that REALLY surprised me and sent me hunting for more.

 

 

[Tradesman]

In my recent experience, most regular production has been very ready to smoke with 90 days down. That puts the rough box age around 8 months - 12 months. Those 90 days for the cigars to acclimate (ideally you're storing them dry at around 62%-65%) makes a HUGE difference to the overall enjoyment. Of course, it'll continue to get better with each 6 months that pass. But hopefully by then you'll have ready slightly aged stock that you can rotate with the fresh ones.

[joeypots]

The Partagas PSD#4, in my experience, is one of the best Cuban cigars to smoke young. It’s worth repeating that getting the cigar acclimated to a  RH something like 60-62% will make all the difference. 

[Tinny]

Thanks for all the info! Happy to hear I won’t have to wait years to enjoy some of the classics while figuring out what I want to stash away to age.