How long to age a cigar

[El Presidente]

What I don't want is anyone saying 25 years

I am going to list 15 cigars (popular cigars) . Nominate the number of years before you think they are at or near their best.

Bolivar Belicoso Fino

Bolivar Petit Corona

Cohiba Robusto

Cohiba Esplendido

Diplomatico Number 2

ERDM Choix Supreme

Montecristo Number 4

Montecristo Number 2

Punch Punch

HDM Double Corona

HDM Epicure 2

Partagas Serie D No 4

Ramon Allones Specially Selected

Ramon Allones Gigantes

Vegas Robaina Famoso

[dragon]

Bolivar Belicoso Fino -------Good from the word go

Bolivar Petit Corona -------Never had one

Cohiba Robusto -------Best at 3-6 yrs.

Cohiba Esplendido -------Good from the word go

Diplomatico Number 2 -------Good fresh, best at 2-4 yrs.

ERDM Choix Supreme -------Never had one

Montecristo Number 4 -------Never had one

Montecristo Number 2 -------Too variable

Punch Punch -------Never had one

HDM Double Corona -------Best within 3 yrs. or less

HDM Epicure 2 -------Never had one

Partagas Serie D No 4 -------Best before roller applies the cap

Ramon Allones Specially Selected -------18 months-5 yrs.+

Ramon Allones Gigantes --------Dunno, I smoke them right away

Vegas Robaina Famoso -------Good from the word go

[Tampa1257]

» What I don't want is anyone saying 25 years

»

»

» I am going to list 15 cigars (popular cigars) . Nominate the number of

» years before you think they are at or near their best.

»

Bolivar Belicoso Fino 3-5

Bolivar Petit Corona 5-7

Cohiba Robusto 3-5

Cohiba Esplendido 5-8

Diplomatico Number 2 5-8

ERDM Choix Supreme (Never had one worth smoking)

Montecristo Number 4 3-5

Montecristo Number 2 5-8

Punch Punch 3-5

HDM Double Corona 5-8

HDM Epicure 2 3-5

Partagas Serie D No 4 less than 1 or 8-10

Ramon Allones Specially Selected 4-8

Ramon Allones Gigantes 5-8

Vegas Robaina Famoso 3-5

[CigarZen]

Excellent question Rob. And one I wish I knew the answer to. The difficulty comes from the variability. I think it depends on the raw material used, sometimes they are peak at different times. And add to this that packaging, I believe effects the aging -- loose cigar appear to age quicker than they otherwise would if left in the box, dress boxes more time and cabs the most. My guess is its about the amount of fresh oxygen they are exposed to. The temp also effects it -- lower is slower.

I have had examples of each when smoked fresh that were great and that sucked. As a general rule, if I lived in a perfect world were I got everything I wanted (and that's never going to happen) I would get at least 5 years on all of them except the hoyos, which can hit there stride earlier. So as far as near their peak... hmmm...

» Bolivar Belicoso Fino -- 5-8yrs

»

» Bolivar Petit Corona -- 5-7 yrs

»

» Cohiba Robusto --5-10 yrs

»

» Cohiba Esplendido -- 5-10

»

» Diplomatico Number 2 -- 4-6 (had some 01s that sucked until this summer and now are great)

»

» ERDM Choix Supreme -- 5-7

»

» Montecristo Number 4 -- 3-5

»

» Montecristo Number 2 -- 5-10

»

» Punch Punch - 4-7

»

» HDM Double Corona -- 3-5

»

» HDM Epicure 2 -- 3-5

»

» Partagas Serie D No 4 -- fresh is best

»

» Ramon Allones Specially Selected -- 6-8

»

» Ramon Allones Gigantes -- 5-10

»

» Vegas Robaina Famoso -- not had many, but based on other VRs -- 5 or more. 98 -99 unicos are going good, 01 DAs getting there.

As an aside, had an 01 La Punta last night. They were flat for long time. This ones was very good, and had a sweetness not previously exhibited. They still seem to have room to develop more.

NOW I JUST WISH I HAD THE PATIENCE (and pocketbook) TO AGE THEM LIKE THIS!!!! :-( :-(

[habanohal]

I havent Had many sick cigars. I dont have the patience to wait years to smoke a cigar. Some age 1 or more years in the humi while waiting ti be smoked. I do notice as time goes on that they do become much better, but as much as I smoke it gets hard to tell fresh from aged a few years.

I would say alot of the flavors that you taste also depend on what you have eaten before you smoke

[ehdg]

» What I don't want is anyone saying 25 years

»

»

» I am going to list 15 cigars (popular cigars) . Nominate the number of

» years before you think they are at or near their best.

»

» Bolivar Belicoso Fino

»

» Bolivar Petit Corona

»

» Cohiba Robusto

»

» Cohiba Esplendido

»

» Diplomatico Number 2

»

» ERDM Choix Supreme

»

» Montecristo Number 4

»

» Montecristo Number 2

»

» Punch Punch

»

» HDM Double Corona

»

» HDM Epicure 2 Great fresh but gets even nicer with some age.

»

» Partagas Serie D No 4 awesome Fresh & then again after abt 2 years.

»

» Ramon Allones Specially Selected

»

» Ramon Allones Gigantes

»

» Vegas Robaina Famoso Fresh but with age these things get very creamy!

Afew of these there are some mitigating factors before a decision can be offered up. Frist of on the BBF & Choix Supreme are these in dress boxes or Cabinet's?

PSD4's are fantastic Fresh or after atleast 2 years.

VR Famoso are good fresh but with age they get very creamy!!

Epi 2's when aren't they good!!:-P

[cf2112]

For me I like most with at least 2 years on most but some are good OTT. YMMV but My opinion of these is:

RASS & PSD 4 need 3 min and 5 is better.

CoRo's & Espy's I've had good fresh and great with 5 years.

HDM DC & Epi #2 smoke em if you got em.

PUNCH PUNCH 2+

BBF & Boli PC 3+

Dip #2 3+

Monte #2 & 4 who the hell knows propably the most inconsistant sticks

ERDM CS not a fan never had a good one

VR Famoso everyone raves on the 98's but I like the late 01's and early 02's I've got/had better

[wasch_24]

Bolivar Belicoso Fino - I have only enjoyed young ones with less than one year, although the oldest I have tried was 4 years

Bolivar Petit Corona - Young ones, < 3 years are too strong for me, I enjoy 7+ years the best.

Cohiba Robusto - Very young < 6 months or >3 years

Cohiba Esplendido - I have one 2004 that I have yet to light up

Diplomatico Number 2 - I have only had 4 year olds and I liked them just fine

ERDM Choix Supreme - >2 years

Montecristo Number 4 - I have enjoyed these with any age on them, young or old.

Montecristo Number 2 - I have probably tried these 10 times and enjoyed maybe one.

Punch Punch - >7 years...too strong for me otherwise

HDM Double Corona - Never had one

HDM Epicure 2 - I have only had 2 year olds...they needed more refinement.

Partagas Serie D No 4 - I have tried with < 1 year...< 6 months seems best

Ramon Allones Specially Selected - Any

Ramon Allones Gigantes - Never had one

Vegas Robaina Famoso - I don;t like these at all...too strong

[shrink]

Nominate the number of

» years before you think they are at or near their best.

»

» Bolivar Belicoso Fino - sometimes good fresh, but usually need at least a year, up to three years to shine»

» Bolivar Petit Corona - at least a year

»

» Cohiba Robusto - just don't ring my bell. god knows I've tried.

»

» Cohiba Esplendido - never had one

» Diplomatico Number 2 - mine are six months old, still not ready.

»

» ERDM Choix Supreme - what's this, a perfume?

»

» Montecristo Number 4 - eat 'em right out of the bag, with butter and salt.

»

» Montecristo Number 2 - roll the dice, bro'.

»

» Punch Punch - the longer the betta, but can be good in a year.

»

» HDM Double Corona - I age 'em in my mouth for a few seconds before lighting.

»

» HDM Epicure 2 - wait until the ammonia fades, then enjoy.

»

» Partagas Serie D No 4 - **** the ammonia, full speed ahead!

»

» Ramon Allones Specially Selected - OK young, but terrific with three to five years.

»

» Ramon Allones Gigantes - put 'em under lock and key, throw away the key, and spend a few years breaking 'em out.

»

» Vegas Robaina Famoso - like some girls, they're good at any age.

[stevejb]

» What I don't want is anyone saying 25 years

»

»

» I am going to list 15 cigars (popular cigars) . Nominate the number of

» years before you think they are at or near their best.

»

» Bolivar Belicoso Fino Not a fan of them at any age

»

» Bolivar Petit Corona at least 3 years

»

» Cohiba Robusto Fresh ones are tasty, but have had some w/ 7 yrs that are amazing

»

» Cohiba Esplendido Not enough experience with them

»

» Diplomatico Number 2Not a fan of this cigar. Too mild.

»

» ERDM Choix Supreme At least 3 years

»

» Montecristo Number 4Have liked the 98's a lot...04's not so much.

»

» Montecristo Number 2 I like them fresh but after smoking some from the 1970's I've been spoiled.

»

» Punch Punch 2 years seems about right.

»

» HDM Double Corona Garbage

»

» HDM Epicure 2 Garbage

»

» Partagas Serie D No 4 Either very fresh or 6 years+.

»

» Ramon Allones Specially Selected At least 5 years for me.

»

» Ramon Allones Gigantes Not enough experience with them.

»

» Vegas Robaina Famoso 3 years minimum

[ilikecigars]

after 15 yr.s i feel a cigar starts too lose something.

i either wait two weeks then start smoking them, lay them down for at least a yr. if i dont finish the box in a couple months...then any that i age long term its 10 yr.s minimum before i crack the box..this is only the cigars i feel strong emough too age well.

[El Presidente]

For what it is worth:

» Bolivar Belicoso Fino » Within 6 months or after 3 years.

Bolivar Petit Corona Good from the get go.

»

Cohiba Robusto Within 6 months or after 4 years.

Cohiba Esplendido 3 - 5 years

Diplomatico Number 2 Good from the get go.

ERDM Choix Supreme Good from the get go.

Montecristo Number 4 Good from the get go.

Montecristo Number 2 Within 6 months or after 3 years.

Punch Punch 3-5 years

HDM Double Corona Within 6 months or after 3 years.

HDM Epicure 2 Within 6 months or after 3 years.

Partagas Serie D No 4 Good from the get go

Ramon Allones Specially Selected Good from the get go BUT spectacular 5 years out

Ramon Allones Gigantes 3-5 years

Vegas Robaina Famoso Within 6 months or after 2 years.

[tmos]

Some heavy hitters posting on this thread. Too bad I haven't smoked that many vintage cigars. Guess I better learn to keep my hands off of them.