aging? really?

I believe that aging a stick can be a great thing.
~ 1998 I bought a BIG BOX of an inexpensive cigar "Mr. B's" I hated them when I got them. I was gonna toss them but the $ goin to the trash was not exciting. I had a lot of room in a reefrigador ( stand up freezer with reefer stuff taken out) so I put em in there. Well life was goin good and I bought more and more sticks so I forgot about the Mr B's. I was cleaning out the reefer and found these in ~ 2004. These smokes were golden. YES! From a sow's ear to a smoke of fine quality that I have savored for years..
I have noticed the "mellowing" of certain smokes after a few years or even months.
I don't think it is psyc...tho would I know????

Age em, Smoke em...whatever is flavorful to you.
Sometimes, based on demand the cigar makers sell the sticks to us BEFORE they are properly aged..
Seldom happens? Maybe :)

I now put the sticks in the reefer with the intent of "aging" only when I don't like a taste.
My palate is poor so I don't discern nuances like so many of you can. So I don't usually describe a smoke in that manner.

AGING is TRUTH!!!!
 
Legend said:
I know a lot of people here swear by "aging" a cigar. 6 months a year. "this cigar is really good with 6 months in the humi"
Click to expand...

My experience with most Pepin blends is that the flavor profile doesn't even begin to pop until the 6 month mark.
 
khubli said:
My experience with most Pepin blends is that the flavor profile doesn't even begin to pop until the 6 month mark.
Click to expand...
I would agree more or less. I had a box of DPG Blue Robustos from about a year ago compared to two just bought in August and the taste is different. As far as aging or resting is concerned, besides the DPGs I have found that the JdN Antano benefits greatly from some rest time.
 
But what is this difference in 'taste'? Is anything you find at first like the strange 'minty'/ammonia flavor? I would imagine the cigars I'm experiencing this with probably have had plenty of time sitting in the B&M's humi if not mine....
 
Aging for most NCs is a year after that you are more or less storing them and if you keep a mild or medium past 4 years you may be ruining it.

I have gotten in NCs that needed aging and this never fails to irritate me. I recently got in some 5 vegas samplers and when I tried one it was bitter. I guarantee that after 6 months or so that bitterness will be gone. I hated every ghurka dm until the last one that aged for 9 months and to my surprise it was actually quite good.

I don't mind aging the special event sticks but I hate aging the cheaper utility/everyday smokes. I basically want to buy the cheaper sticks as needed not have my humidor full of them waiting to be good enough to smoke.
 
mrreindeer said:
But what is this difference in 'taste'? Is anything you find at first like the strange 'minty'/ammonia flavor? I would imagine the cigars I'm experiencing this with probably have had plenty of time sitting in the B&M's humi if not mine....
Click to expand...

Try storing them at 60-65%, I often feel that taste is magnified when the cigars are too most :2
 
awsmith4 said:
Try storing them at 60-65%, I often feel that taste is magnified when the cigars are too most :2
Click to expand...

Thanks very much; I was beginning to think I was crazy (which still remains a possibility). What have you found was the best way to keep the rh that low? I'm pretty much stable at 70% - 72%. I'm using Xikar 50/50 in a regular 'ol humidifier in a 50-count humi.
 
What have you found was the best way to keep the rh that low?
Click to expand...


Oh Please NO!

Let me just step out of the way for the bead parade. I can hear the drums already. The three most common pieces of advice around here are use the search feature, buy 65 percent beads, and buy a cooler from walmart.
 
mrreindeer said:
Thanks very much; I was beginning to think I was crazy (which still remains a possibility). What have you found was the best way to keep the rh that low? I'm pretty much stable at 70% - 72%. I'm using Xikar 50/50 in a regular 'ol humidifier in a 50-count humi.
Click to expand...
PM shilala and ask him how beads can get you locked in @ 65% with VERY little maintenance.
 
Rolando said:
Oh Please NO!

Let me just step out of the way for the bead parade. I can hear the drums already. The three most common pieces of advice around here are use the search feature, buy 65 percent beads, and buy a cooler from walmart.
Click to expand...

I bought my cooler at Target. :)
 
Rolando said:
Oh Please NO!

Let me just step out of the way for the bead parade. I can hear the drums already. The three most common pieces of advice around here are use the search feature, buy 65 percent beads, and buy a cooler from walmart.
Click to expand...

Well Rolando already said it but 65% beads from Shilala, Heartfelt or Cigarmony. I have been using them for a while and have no issues like I did with foam or gel humidification systems.

Rolando do you have a better solution for keeping them humidified?
 
awsmith4 said:
Well Rolando already said it but 65% beads from Shilala, Heartfelt or Cigarmony. I have been using them for a while and have no issues like I did with foam or gel humidification systems.

Rolando do you have a better solution for keeping them humidified?
Click to expand...


No. I never had trouble with the foam or the gel but beads are better. I wasn't badmouthing the system. It is just funny to watch this question get answered because it is like peewee's fun house. 7-8 people will give the exact same response because apparently one person giving it is not good enough then 5 more people will do a :tpd: just to reinforce it.
 
Rolando said:
Aging for most NCs is a year after that you are more or less storing them and if you keep a mild or medium past 4 years you may be ruining it.

I have gotten in NCs that needed aging and this never fails to irritate me. I recently got in some 5 vegas samplers and when I tried one it was bitter. I guarantee that after 6 months or so that bitterness will be gone. I hated every ghurka dm until the last one that aged for 9 months and to my surprise it was actually quite good.

I don't mind aging the special event sticks but I hate aging the cheaper utility/everyday smokes. I basically want to buy the cheaper sticks as needed not have my humidor full of them waiting to be good enough to smoke.
Click to expand...

I actually feel somewhat opposite, if I pay a premium for a high end smoke (ie Padron 26) I expect that to be good off the bat seeing as I paid for the experience, however I am more patient with cheaper sticks as i feel they are possibly in need or a nap because of the low price. If a stick only cost $2-4 then it took 6 mos to make it desirable I am patient enough to wait because I feel as though my time has paid off.
 
Rolando said:
No. I never had trouble with the foam or the gel but beads are better. I wasn't badmouthing the system. It is just funny to watch this question get answered because it is like peewee's fun house. 7-8 people will give the exact same response because apparently one person giving it is not good enough then 5 more people will do a :tpd: just to reinforce it.
Click to expand...

How do you think post counts are built up:D
 
awsmith4 said:
I actually feel somewhat opposite, if I pay a premium for a high end smoke (ie Padron 26) I expect that to be good off the bat seeing as I paid for the experience, however I am more patient with cheaper sticks as i feel they are possibly in need or a nap because of the low price. If a stick only cost $2-4 then it took 6 mos to make it desirable I am patient enough to wait because I feel as though my time has paid off.
Click to expand...


I definitely get that but since I don't smoke a Padron 26 everyday I can keep a small supply for quite some time without chewing up a bunch of space.

Usually it is not a problem for me but this last year I gave away so many and smoke more than normal it hit my humis really hard and really made me notice the greener sticks more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top