How long to rest CC?

[Exotic Pallet]

Grettings FOH community,

I just received my first CC from abroad. I’m extremely excited as I’ve been burned a time or two and have never tasted an authentic CC.

I’m wondering how long should I rest them before indulging? Picked up a nice starter pack, nothing crazy! Please let me know your opinion!!! Thanks 

[Lucas Buck]

Leave them for at least a couple weeks to acclimate to your desired RH. I prefer 60-62% but to each their own. Then smoke away! Of course the longer you age them the better they become. Enjoy!

[cigaraholic]

There’s no perfect answer to your question unfortunately. A day, a week, a month, 3-6 months, it depends on you. If it was me and I’d never smoke a “real” Cuban cigar I’d have already smoked a few. There are boxes I have smoked from the moment I got home from the post office and there are boxes a decade or more older that I have yet to smoke from. I would make one suggestion, the first cigar I would recommend you smoke is the Monte #3, preferably with a nice chocolate dessert and a coffee…if you like coffee. You should get off to a good start, you may or may not thank me later. 😜 Very rarely I have had a young Cohiba that wowed me, it happens, but usually they’re just a hint of what’s to come with age. The RyJ No.2 is a nice mild little smoke, no way to start your flavor town ride into bankruptcy. Those Monte 3s are loaded with flavor right now, enjoy the ride!

[zacca]

3 hours ago, cigaraholic said:

There’s no perfect answer to your question unfortunately. A day, a week, a month, 3-6 months, it depends on you. If it was me and I’d never smoke a “real” Cuban cigar I’d have already smoked a few. There are boxes I have smoked from the moment I got home from the post office and there are boxes a decade or more older that I have yet to smoke from. I would make one suggestion, the first cigar I would recommend you smoke is the Monte #3, preferably with a nice chocolate dessert and a coffee…if you like coffee. You should get off to a good start, you may or may not that me later. 😜 Very rarely I have had a young Cohiba that wowed me, it happens, but usually they’re just a hint of what’s to come with age. The RyJ No.2 is a nice mild little smoke, no way to start your flavor town ride into bankruptcy. Those Monte 3s are loaded with flavor right now, enjoy the ride! 

Not to derail OPs thread here but since you mentioned Monte 3s, I’m wondering if you can comment on how they age - specifically after 15 years. I’ve only heard their window is the 5-10 range and I’m looking at a vintage box, but for smoking purposes and I’m trying to gauge if there’s a good chance they’ll be flat/papery or still have life. 

[Exotic Pallet]

On 8/26/2025 at 1:22 PM, Lucas Buck said:

Leave them for at least a couple weeks to acclimate to your desired RH. I prefer 60-62% but to each their own. Then smoke away! Of course the longer you age them the better they become. Enjoy!

Thank you for the information! I keep them at 65/65. 

15 hours ago, cigaraholic said:

There’s no perfect answer to your question unfortunately. A day, a week, a month, 3-6 months, it depends on you. If it was me and I’d never smoke a “real” Cuban cigar I’d have already smoked a few. There are boxes I have smoked from the moment I got home from the post office and there are boxes a decade or more older that I have yet to smoke from. I would make one suggestion, the first cigar I would recommend you smoke is the Monte #3, preferably with a nice chocolate dessert and a coffee…if you like coffee. You should get off to a good start, you may or may not that me later. 😜 Very rarely I have had a young Cohiba that wowed me, it happens, but usually they’re just a hint of what’s to come with age. The RyJ No.2 is a nice mild little smoke, no way to start your flavor town ride into bankruptcy. Those Monte 3s are loaded with flavor right now, enjoy the ride!

I appreciate the insight! I am going to go with your advice in the Monte first. Probably give a a short time to acclimate! I’ll let you all know how it goes! 

[rcarlson]

If they just came in the mail, I wouldn't touch any of them for 30-60 days. If you doubt me, go ahead and try sooner then compare notes with one later. I've almost always regretted smoking before acclimatizing and settling down from the long journey.

Those Cohibas should be put away for a year or two -- or as long as you can stand it. The older the better.  

[Exotic Pallet]

10 hours ago, rcarlson said:

If they just came in the mail, I wouldn't touch any of them for 30-60 days. If you doubt me, go ahead and try sooner then compare notes with one later. I've almost always regretted smoking before acclimatizing and settling down from the long journey.

Those Cohibas should be put away for a year or two -- or as long as you can stand it. The older the better.  

Very interesting about the Cohibas, does that apply for all the sizes I have? The Siglo I’s are small, if that even matters. 

[rcarlson]

9 hours ago, Exotic Pallet said:

Very interesting about the Cohibas, does that apply for all the sizes I have? The Siglo I’s are small, if that even matters.  

Yes and no. In my experience, smaller requires less time to hit a sweet spot. However, Cohibas sweet spot regardless of size extends a long way out.   

[Exotic Pallet]

8 hours ago, rcarlson said:

Yes and no. In my experience, smaller requires less time to hit a sweet spot. However, Cohibas sweet spot regardless of size extends a long way out.   

Understood, thank you for the knowledge 🫡

[Ford2112]

I try and hold out as long as I can. And fail.

[lampo]

Patience is a virtue. But damn it's hard.

[Chucko8]

Try one of each now to set a baseline and then again in a few weeks. Check if you note any differences.

The longer you can wait the better but there's not too many there and will be hard to keep away from them no doubt. Just enjoy! 

[Connoisseur Kim]

I had an ROTT experience with H. Upmann Anjeados Robustos before, but I found it way too harsh for my palate (dat CC was still not a cup of tea even after some resting period though). So, I prefer to let CC hauls have 90 days of rest for more enjoyable CC experience.

[barrygoodvibes]

I cracked some Siglo II tubos about a month after I got them that were a year old (from box code date) and they were excellent. The Cohiba Robusto need 3-5 years, so I would forget about those. The rest of your stash is good to go in my personal palate opinion. I would keep your cigars in their original boxes / tubos / containers and let them rest. Don't remove them all and let them sit naked on a shelf. What you can do is take them out of the box or tube and put them on that shelf or in an empty cigar box on your desk 2-3 days before you want to smoke it. Before you smoke the cigar, you can press it between your fingers, and it should be like you are squishing dry leaves. If it is spongy and elastic, then that cigar is too wet and not ready to smoke and it will not taste as good and you will have draw and burn issues.

Also, I don't smoke right off the truck ever. Too many bad experiences and for an expensive cigar, I don't want to risk that. I let my cigars rest in my humidor for a minimum of three weeks before cracking them and I have had great results.  

At the end of the day its all personal, some people like a stronger profile and so smoking the cigar younger is preferable.  

I think that 90 days of rest for ANY cigar will always yield better results though, it will allow some of that ammonia to be released and for the cigars to really acclimate to your environment.

The good news is that these newer box codes from 23-24-25 have really been smoking excellent young, whether that's because Habanos is properly fermenting their cigars now for a longer period of time, or if this tobacco is just better because of that last hurricane or what not is yet to be confirmed, but it is a welcome development all the same!

Welcome to the wonderful hobby of Cuban Cigars!

[EdmundGTP]

I try to let everything new rest for at least 2-3 weeks, but there are exceptions at times. 

It's always interesting to me when a cigar sometimes goes from "meh" to great after sitting idle in the humi for some seemingly arbitrary bit of time. 

[barrygoodvibes]

2 hours ago, EdmundGTP said:

I try to let everything new rest for at least 2-3 weeks, but there are exceptions at times. 

It's always interesting to me when a cigar sometimes goes from "meh" to great after sitting idle in the humi for some seemingly arbitrary bit of time. 

Agreed. The most shocking to me was the HUHC. Waited three weeks. Lit one up. Tasted bland almost like a cigarette. Waited 90 more days…pure creamy powdered sugar bliss. 

[Mike Mecklenburg]

Hi Exotic Pallet, you have some first round of heavy hitters with all the Cohibas. I would wait a year or two before I would try any of them but that is just my opinion. For a CC newbie I can suggest the Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations. They are smoking good young, they are in tubes so they can handle the shipping and they don't break the bank. Good luck BOTL.

[El Niño]

12 hours ago, Mike Mecklenburg said:

I can suggest the Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations

I second this. HdM Coronations are lovely.

[Redgoldband]

I've found the following has worked for me: Let everything I receive rest in my humidor no less than 90 days. At 90 days, test one to see if it's smoking well. If it is, green light on that batch. If not, back into the humidor and revisit again in another 90 days. Age as much or as long as possible, and test when the spirit moves with the knowledge that: a) age may do this batch/stick wonders, and/or b) age doesn't make a bad batch/stick good. IME, sticks tend not to smoke as well as they could prior to 90 days rest. Oh, and dry box everything for at least 48 hours. 

[teamrandr]

Light one up tonight.

[El Niño]

9 hours ago, Redgoldband said:

Let everything I receive rest in my humidor no less than 90 days

6 hours ago, teamrandr said:

Light one up tonight

The duality of man.

[Exotic Pallet]

14 hours ago, barrygoodvibes said:

I cracked some Siglo II tubos about a month after I got them that were a year old (from box code date) and they were excellent. The Cohiba Robusto need 3-5 years, so I would forget about those. The rest of your stash is good to go in my personal palate opinion. I would keep your cigars in their original boxes / tubos / containers and let them rest. Don't remove them all and let them sit naked on a shelf. What you can do is take them out of the box or tube and put them on that shelf or in an empty cigar box on your desk 2-3 days before you want to smoke it. Before you smoke the cigar, you can press it between your fingers, and it should be like you are squishing dry leaves. If it is spongy and elastic, then that cigar is too wet and not ready to smoke and it will not taste as good and you will have draw and burn issues.

Also, I don't smoke right off the truck ever. Too many bad experiences and for an expensive cigar, I don't want to risk that. I let my cigars rest in my humidor for a minimum of three weeks before cracking them and I have had great results.  

At the end of the day its all personal, some people like a stronger profile and so smoking the cigar younger is preferable.  

I think that 90 days of rest for ANY cigar will always yield better results though, it will allow some of that ammonia to be released and for the cigars to really acclimate to your environment.

The good news is that these newer box codes from 23-24-25 have really been smoking excellent young, whether that's because Habanos is properly fermenting their cigars now for a longer period of time, or if this tobacco is just better because of that last hurricane or what not is yet to be confirmed, but it is a welcome development all the same!

Welcome to the wonderful hobby of Cuban Cigars!

That’s very good insight, I had read somewhere that the cigars take longer to age in the tubes and boxes so I removed them! Thank you for the insight! Have you noticed a difference between cigars you’ve kept naked vs tubed and boxed?

On 8/27/2025 at 1:58 PM, Ford2112 said:

I try and hold out as long as I can. And fail.

I’m trying to stay strong, lol!

9 hours ago, Redgoldband said:

I've found the following has worked for me: Let everything I receive rest in my humidor no less than 90 days. At 90 days, test one to see if it's smoking well. If it is, green light on that batch. If not, back into the humidor and revisit again in another 90 days. Age as much or as long as possible, and test when the spirit moves with the knowledge that: a) age may do this batch/stick wonders, and/or b) age doesn't make a bad batch/stick good. IME, sticks tend not to smoke as well as they could prior to 90 days rest. Oh, and dry box everything for at least 48 hours. 

That makes sense, looks like I need more CC in the rotation because 90 days is a while 😂

6 hours ago, El Niño said:

The duality of man

Lmao lol I’m thinking about it but don’t want to “waste” my money lol. 

12 hours ago, Mike Mecklenburg said:

Hi Exotic Pallet, you have some first round of heavy hitters with all the Cohibas. I would wait a year or two before I would try any of them but that is just my opinion. For a CC newbe I can suggest the Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations. They are smoking good young, they are in tubes so they can handle the shipping and they don't break the bank. Good luck BOTL.

Thanks Mike! I’ll have to grab some of those asap! What are the flavor profiles???

On 8/27/2025 at 4:10 PM, lampo said:

Patience is a virtue. But damn it's hard.

Very hard.

On 8/27/2025 at 8:35 AM, rcarlson said:

If they just came in the mail, I wouldn't touch any of them for 30-60 days. If you doubt me, go ahead and try sooner then compare notes with one later. I've almost always regretted smoking before acclimatizing and settling down from the long journey.

Those Cohibas should be put away for a year or two -- or as long as you can stand it. The older the better.  

Man a 1-2 years for the Cohibas??!!!

[Fuzz AI]

4 hours ago, Exotic Pallet said:

Man a 1-2 years for the Cohibas??!!!

5 or more if you really want them to shine. But that's just me.

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

5 or more if you really want them to shine. But that's just me.

Not just you. Me too (in general)!

[Mike Mecklenburg]

9 hours ago, Exotic Pallet said:

That’s very good insight, I had read somewhere that the cigars take longer to age in the tubes and boxes so I removed them! Thank you for the insight! Have you noticed a difference between cigars you’ve kept naked vs tubed and boxed?

I’m trying to stay strong, lol!

That makes sense, looks like I need more CC in the rotation because 90 days is a while 😂

Lmao lol I’m thinking about it but don’t want to “waste” my money lol. 

Thanks Mike! I’ll have to grab some of those asap! What are the flavor profiles???

Very hard.

Man a 1-2 years for the Cohibas??!!!

I'm a fanboy of Hoyo, and I have already put a dent into my Coronations (BRM December 2024). They have a solid Hoyo DNA profile (very creamy, sweetness, light cedar) and burn and draw are very well. I will take them out of the tubes for the long term.