"Cooked tobacco " and ageing....your thoughts?

[El Presidente]

Capero No.1, I believe. I seem to recall reading Robaina hated it.

Correct Matt. It was a hybrid of Criollo '98, Habanos 2000 and Corojo '99. I understand it was discarded for the 2009 crop but Punch Joe can clarify once he returns from overseas next week.

[shrink]

Matt: thanks for the thoughtful and detailed post. IME, everything you say is true. I've had much the same experience with my cigars, year-by-year and marca-by-marca. Recently, I've been very pleased with all the 2008 Upmanns and Partagas I've had.

Like you, I am entertained by those who are still skeptical of any Habanos that smokes good young. These are mostly guys who have been smoking for more than a decade, and have substantial aged stock. They find it very hard to believe that any Habano that tastes good when young will age well.

BTW, Matt... remember those early '05 Juan Lopez No. 2 that were so harsh and tannic that we thought they'd never mature? Well, I tried one the other night, and while it hasn't "peaked" yet, it was like smoking bittersweet dark caramel. A long, rich finish. I'm cravin' another already.

[Colt45]

Like you, I am entertained by those who are still skeptical of any Habanos that smokes good young. These are mostly guys who have been smoking for more than a decade, and have substantial aged stock. They find it very hard to believe that any Habano that tastes good when young will age well.

Perhaps the "hobbyist" - the person who has enjoyed the whole aspect of acquiring and aging their own cigars, to enjoy later themselves - might fear

they will lose, to a degree, this part of their hobby.

And perhaps for the collector / speculator, they might fear they stand to lose $$$, if there ends up being less need for aged cigars.

[Jimmy2]

I say out with the old in with the new !!

Change is good and I like what I am seeing over the past 3 years you have to live for today and not worry about what will happen down the line.

Some fear change and may realize they may not have something special after all.

[Sandman]

Like you, I am entertained by those who are still skeptical of any Habanos that smokes good young. These are mostly guys who have been smoking for more than a decade, and have substantial aged stock. They find it very hard to believe that any Habano that tastes good when young will age well.

This is exactly what is going on. I have been saying this since 06, and honestly I am entertained by it also, and I feel bad for those guys. Oh well.

[El Presidente]

As a lover of many young cigars (that sweet brashness) I am often in a situation where when others find out I am smoking an eg, 07 RASS, they look at me like I have two heads. I like 5 year old RASS and 1 year old RASS and 10 year old RASS and they each bring something to the table in terms of personality.

[Jimmy2]

There are two flavor profile's when it come's to cigars young and aged its all personal choice one is not better than the other.