What aging affect on cigar?

[yossie]

As You know, Aged cigars from PCC will come in Czar next week, I know people want it even with premium. But I wonder why people would like to pay the premium on aged cigars. I beleive These are something different from young cigars that I smoke.

So, Let me know What aging affect on cigar for me!

[El Presidente]

There are aged and vintage. 5-8 years of age is my preference for many cigars as it brings out the characteristics of those cigars.

An example is Cohiba Robusto. 5-8 year CORO's are honey & milk coffee laced. There is a depth of flavour, an intensity and complexity which even the best young CORO struggles to come close to. If anyone remembers last years 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI....you will know what I mean.

There are some cigars such as Upmann which need the 5-8 years to really begin to shine (recent magnum 46 and magnum 50 have been an exception). I am not even sure how you begin to describe a 5-8 year old Sir Winston. Cigar Magic.

Some cigars need longer than 5 years (La Gloria Cubana and Sancho Panza come to mind).

In esssence, time puts a microscope on flavour intensity during this period. I find someof the characters I love about 5-8 year old cigars begin to disappear in 10+ year old cigars (not all...some get better still) but at 5-8 years of age you are seeing clean intense flavours. At 10 years (in many cigars) you are appreciating the smoothness and nuances......but sometimes I miss the intensity.

[n2advnture]

There are aged and vintage. 5-8 years of age is my preference for many cigars as it brings out the characteristics of those cigars.

An example is Cohiba Robusto. 5-8 year CORO's are honey & milk coffee laced. There is a depth of flavour, an intensity and complexity which even the best young CORO struggles to come close to. If anyone remembers last years 2003 Cohiba Siglo VI....you will know what I mean.

There are some cigars such as Upmann which need the 5-8 years to really begin to shine (recent magnum 46 and magnum 50 have been an exception). I am not even sure how you begin to describe a 5-8 year old Sir Winston. Cigar Magic.

Some cigars need longer than 5 years (La Gloria Cubana and Sancho Panza come to mind).

In esssence, time puts a microscope on flavour intensity during this period. I find someof the characters I love about 5-8 year old cigars begin to disappear in 10+ year old cigars (not all...some get better still) but at 5-8 years of age you are seeing clean intense flavours. At 10 years (in many cigars) you are appreciating the smoothness and nuances......but sometimes I miss the intensity.

Great analysis Rob.

Too bad you never see 5-8 year old Coros (or PSD4s) on any aged or vintage lists

Aging from new is the basic and most over looked aspect of the hobby IMHO (and the 2nd most enjoyable part behind smoking them and just in front of smoking them with a friend).

I'll buy boxes of Coros and PSD4s with no intention of cracking the first box for a min of 3 years.

~Mark

[Colt45]

So, Let me know What aging affect on cigar for me!

Yoss, I guess you're just going to have to acquire a box and see for yourself

[anacostiakat]

Great analysis Rob.

Too bad you never see 5-8 year old Coros (or PSD4s) on any aged or vintage lists

Aging from new is the basic and most over looked aspect of the hobby IMHO (and the 2nd most enjoyable part behind smoking them and just in front of smoking them with a friend).

I'll buy boxes of Coros and PSD4s with no intention of cracking the first box for a min of 3 years.

~Mark

I try to follow this rule of thumb in general. Following Chuck's 2 box buying regimen allows one to "try" some from different time frames while stashing one.

I too find that I like them between 3 - 8 years best. But I am having an 11 year old Lusi right now and it is quite enjoyable.

[yossie]

I try to follow this rule of thumb in general. Following Chuck's 2 box buying regimen allows one to "try" some from different time frames while stashing one.

I too find that I like them between 3 - 8 years best. But I am having an 11 year old Lusi right now and it is quite enjoyable.

I'm afraid of getting bored the hobby... So, I don't like to purchase 2 boxes at one time .

[anacostiakat]

I'm afraid of getting bored the hobby... So, I don't like to purchase 2 boxes at one time .

Don't be scared!!!

[CigarmanTim]

Great analysis Rob.

Too bad you never see 5-8 year old Coros (or PSD4s) on any aged or vintage lists

Aging from new is the basic and most over looked aspect of the hobby IMHO (and the 2nd most enjoyable part behind smoking them and just in front of smoking them with a friend).

I'll buy boxes of Coros and PSD4s with no intention of cracking the first box for a min of 3 years.

~Mark

You Gawd!!! I haven't the will power let alone the moola to do this. On my knees paying homage

[Colt45]

I'm afraid of getting bored the hobby...

Interesting. I always find it a bit curious when people refer to smoking cigars as a hobby.

[Guest rob]

Interesting. I always find it a bit curious when people refer to smoking cigars as a hobby.

Eating, breathing and sleeping are some of my favourite pastimes...

[Ken Gargett]

Great analysis Rob.

Too bad you never see 5-8 year old Coros (or PSD4s) on any aged or vintage lists

Aging from new is the basic and most over looked aspect of the hobby IMHO (and the 2nd most enjoyable part behind smoking them and just in front of smoking them with a friend).

I'll buy boxes of Coros and PSD4s with no intention of cracking the first box for a min of 3 years.

~Mark

it makes for an expensive for years when one first gets into it but it really is worthwhile. rob's analysis very good. it is really worth making the effort.

if we are talking coro's, i love them and a young one is terrific but the review from a week or so ago of one from 2000 will give you an idea of what can happen. from memory, i gave it 97, which i would not imagine doing for a young one (unless lots of drinks were involved). what it had become made it all worthwhile!!

[PigFish]

Interesting. I always find it a bit curious when people refer to smoking cigars as a hobby.

I am my cigars custodian. I would say that I consider "cigar husbandry" a hobby! Smoking is a necessity but being a steward is an enjoyable chore, a responsibility... a hobby. -Piggy

[Colt45]

Rob and Piggy, I'm afraid my relationship with cigars is much more elementary - I smoke because I enjoy the flavor of a good cigar.

[PigFish]

Rob and Piggy, I'm afraid my relationship with cigars is much more elementary - I smoke because I enjoy the flavor of a good cigar.

Ross when I look in the mirror I see a fat, bald guy looking back at me! -LOL

I don't want to rain on your parade my friend but when I look at your post numbers, approximately 4800, our newest moderator, me thinks that cigars mean more to you than, "they just taste good." I like chocolate milkshakes but I don't post on the internet about them! You get my drift? I am not call'n you a liar... but I am just say'n!!! -LOL

Save that kinda' talk for your wife. I ain't buyin' it! Cheers, mate. -Ray

[Guest rob]

Piggy is right, Ross. You, like all of us here, have a cigar hobby.

As pathetic as it may seem (to those in the real world) to admit we enjoy fermented, rolled tobacco products... it is a fact that we do.

The taste and sensory pleasure is just the final step in hobby.

[Ginseng]

Piggy is right, Ross. You, like all of us here, have a cigar hobby.

As pathetic as it may seem (to those in the real world) to admit we enjoy fermented, rolled tobacco products... it is a fact that we do.

The taste and sensory pleasure is just the final step in hobby.

Ummm, sickness is more like it.

Case in point. A few days ago, I encountered a Partagas Lusitanias that was too tight to smoke. So I peeled off the wrapper, unrolled the binder, and split apart the bunch. I took crumpled leaves from the bunch that were still in little straw shapes, some were pale and drier to the touch, some darker, more pliable and thicker, and lit them on one end and stuck the other end in my mouth so I could smell the tobacco burn. I couldn't draw of course, but the smell of smoldering leaf was comforting to me. I found it to be fragrant, pungent, and nearly as enjoyable but in a strange sort of way as smoking.

Wilkey

[Habanos2000]

Ummm, sickness is more like it.

Case in point. A few days ago, I encountered a Partagas Lusitanias that was too tight to smoke. So I peeled off the wrapper, unrolled the binder, and split apart the bunch. I took crumpled leaves from the bunch that were still in little straw shapes, some were pale and drier to the touch, some darker, more pliable and thicker, and lit them on one end and stuck the other end in my mouth so I could smell the tobacco burn. I couldn't draw of course, but the smell of smoldering leaf was comforting to me. I found it to be fragrant, pungent, and nearly as enjoyable but in a strange sort of way as smoking.

Wilkey

C'mon guys, hobby? sickness?? How about this?:

Definitions of addiction on the Web:

being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming

an abnormally strong craving

[DrunkenMonkey]

I find someof the characters I love about 5-8 year old cigars begin to disappear in 10+ year old cigars (not all...some get better still) but at 5-8 years of age you are seeing clean intense flavours. At 10 years (in many cigars) you are appreciating the smoothness and nuances......but sometimes I miss the intensity.

Señor Presidente (and whoever else wants to comment on this), Not to take things off into another tangent, but I would be interested in knowing more about some of these cigars which continue to improve with more age. For example, I was thinking of trying to find a box of cigars that had my daughter's birth month on its box code (July 08), perhaps to save for her wedding. Which cigars should I look at? I was thinking of 898s, but having never smoked such an old cigar, I wouldn't know. So which cigars, in your experiences, have been the ones that get better still after more than 10 years?

[kyee]

I've smoked cigars from the 90's and even 80's that blew me away. Nothing I've smoked from recent releases even comes close to the complexity, flavour, and fullness of well kept, aged cigars. The same analogy can be made of fine wines. It takes years for the flavours to settle down and marry.

[Colt45]

Well.......... I do enjoy the forum and all I've learned here

As for being made moderator, I can't recall anyone ever accusing Ayala of having sound judgement...............

[Colt45]

Señor Presidente (and whoever else wants to comment on this), Not to take things off into another tangent, but I would be interested in knowing more about some of these cigars which continue to improve with more age. For example, I was thinking of trying to find a box of cigars that had my daughter's birth month on its box code (July 08), perhaps to save for her wedding. Which cigars should I look at? I was thinking of 898s, but having never smoked such an old cigar, I wouldn't know. So which cigars, in your experiences, have been the ones that get better still after more than 10 years?

To my recollection, I've smoked only one cigar from 2008, so I could not comment on specific cigars. Very generally speaking though, I'd look

for a cigar which exhibits some kind of characteristics which would lead you to feel they have the capability for long term aging.

For me it might be depth on the palate, good body, youthful sharpness, disjointed flavors. Rob has used the term "mongrel", others have used

"attitude". Also, the debate is open as to how Habanos will age since they've started using all aged fillers - will they peak sooner, or will they

age just as gracefully.

Having said that, the P 898 might be a great choice - they are great cigars. But off the top of my head, I personally would look at the Upmann

Sir Winston. My suggestion would be to find out what's available in your desired box code first, then take it from there.

[PigFish]

To my recollection, I've smoked only one cigar from 2008, so I could not comment on specific cigars. Very generally speaking though, I'd look

for a cigar which exhibits some kind of characteristics which would lead you to feel they have the capability for long term aging.

For me it might be depth on the palate, good body, youthful sharpness, disjointed flavors. Rob has used the term "mongrel", others have used

"attitude". Also, the debate is open as to how Habanos will age since they've started using all aged fillers - will they peak sooner, or will they

age just as gracefully.

Having said that, the P 898 might be a great choice - they are great cigars. But off the top of my head, I personally would look at the Upmann

Sir Winston. My suggestion would be to find out what's available in your desired box code first, then take it from there.

DM,

The above is sound thinking. My belief is that no one can predict how age will affect a cigar; not with any certainty anyway. Like your daughter (no deliberate demeaning comparison intended) each personality will develop differently. In general, good aged cigars are sublime but no one can make guarantees.

My suggestion is this. First before stock dries up get Rob to send you a bunch of singles for the month and year. In my opinion lesser ring cigars are more pungent and therefore have a greater possibility to stand up against father time. Smoke through those and chose the most pungent of the lot. I believe a strong cigar has the ability to hold up over time. A weak cigar will never be anything but. Since Rob is close to his stock he can help narrow things down but by looking at month codes your chances are lessened by the day.

When you have made your selection buy two boxes. Smoke a cigar a year from one box to celebrate her birthday. Save the other for the special day that you anticipate whatever it may be. Cheers, Piggy

[PigFish]

Ummm, sickness is more like it.

Case in point. A few days ago, I encountered a Partagas Lusitanias that was too tight to smoke. So I peeled off the wrapper, unrolled the binder, and split apart the bunch. I took crumpled leaves from the bunch that were still in little straw shapes, some were pale and drier to the touch, some darker, more pliable and thicker, and lit them on one end and stuck the other end in my mouth so I could smell the tobacco burn. I couldn't draw of course, but the smell of smoldering leaf was comforting to me. I found it to be fragrant, pungent, and nearly as enjoyable but in a strange sort of way as smoking.

Wilkey

Okay... Wilkey has gone over the edge! Step away from the computer Mate... and don't go near the window... no, stay away from the window, I said! -LOL

[DrunkenMonkey]

Colt and Piggy,

Thanks for the great advice. I really appreciate it. I'm going to be starting my singles research on this project soon. Tough job, but someone has to do it.

[aavkk]

I was thinking of trying to find a box of cigars that had my daughter's birth month on its box code (July 08), perhaps to save for her wedding. Which cigars should I look at?

Personally, I would take a very close look at some of the last Punch SS#1's. Im not sure if July 08's are available but I would go this route for 3 reasons.

1. The blend on this cigar is one thats made for the long haul- Its a complex smoke that while tasty young develops beautifully with additional age. I wish I could say firsthand but others can attest that examples of these from the 80's are smoking beautifully now.

2. The 50 cab will give you the ability to smoke them from time to time and still likely have plenty left 25 years from now.

3. When you smoke these 25 years from now you will be smoking a long since discontinued Habanos legend- you will certainly have a classic cigar in your possession.

Whichever cigars you choose the sentiment is fantastic and good luck!