The "Aging" Concept...

H

houdini

aNYthing
I understand that many of the great cigars we all smoke and love here argueably taste better with age....What I dont understand is when guys state that certain incredible cigars are horrible unless they have some age on them.

Thats not an incredible cigar to me. I expect a cigar to be a great one whenever I smoke it...If it gets better with age..cool! Its a contradiction to me otherwise. Any thoughts?
 
I agree with you to an extent, when it comes to premium cigars.

The exception for me would be the CFO Number 7's. Damn near unsmokable of the truck but after a month or so they make a 100% improvement. But that is pretty short term age compared to guys that are aging smokes for 2,3,4 years.
 
As far as I can tell, It depends on the palate. Once someone get a taste of a certain cigar with a little age, the palate get "spoiled" and then prefers the aged taste vs the "straight from the box" taste. I tend to be like you, I like my favorite cigars whenever - though those that have age on them are smoother and more flavorful, but I like 'em all. :tu
 
I think a cigar should taste good from the start,if it starts getting better every time I grab one out of the humi is just the icing.

It bothers me that I would need to age a crap cigar to make it better.
 
As far as nc's are concerned they come "aged" as opposed to cc's. I've had some really aged nc's and wasn't that impresed over one that has been in my humi for a month or two.
 
Anything under a year isn't aging, it's just getting it past a sick period or stabilizing it.

I find that any cigar benefits from stabilizing in a new environment before smoking.
 
I have to admit that I like my cigars newer. I've smoked a number of aged nc's and they don't compare to their reasonably fresh counterpart.
I like some firepower in my cigar though.
I can see where aging cigars to take some kick out of them would allow more people to enjoy them, and that's cool. But to say it makes them better? I'd agree with milder, but not so much "better".
I do buy wholeheartedly into letting a cigar settle after it's been shipped, although if it's been only a day and came half way across the state, I'll smoke one from a box as soon as they arrive. If they've been in the air, I'll give them at least a week in the humi before I touch them.
I'll also admit that I use the "aging" method to take some whallop out of cigars that are too overbearing for me. A month in a tray in my humi and a little air will tame a stick that I don't care for and make it very smokable.
A lot of new, less expensive cigars arrive wet and full of ammonia. Whereas they're totally gross right off the truck, a week or maybe a month or two will make them smoke beautifully.
The same cigar after a year is likely to be far more mellow, possibly to a point where I don't care for it anymore, but someone who doesn't like as bold a cigar may love it.
And the time will definately bring out certain nuances that were likely overpowered when they were young.
So, I think "better" is probably a poor description, and somewhat misleading.
Tamer, milder, older, more delicate, all those are probably a better fit. :)
Cool thing is that it's a tool that can be used to make the incredible array of cigar flavors out there even that much more vast. It's fun, and it's a nice addition to the hobby.
The cnobbery that surrounds "aging" is somewhat offputting, but it's going to remain. I just hope I can appreciate it for what it is rather than insisting it's somehow "better than".
 
I can't keep them around long enough to age for a long time. I guess you have to have thousands to do that. My habit and budget won't let me do that. I keep 300 - 400 and they get tapped into fairly quickly. I have some with a couple of years or so and they do smoke good but it's not significant enough for me to worry about it or intentionally buy them to put back. If I buy them I want to smoke them.
 
Budprince said:
As far as I can tell, It depends on the palate. Once someone get a taste of a certain cigar with a little age, the palate gets "spoiled" and then prefers the aged taste vs the "straight from the box" taste. I tend to be like you, I like my favorite cigars whenever - though those that have age on them are smoother and more flavorful, but I like 'em all. :tu
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I tend to agree with Bud. I remember the old comparison "Good, Better, and Best." We all would like our cigars to be "Best." If you smoke them right out of the box you'll tend to get used to "Good." I like my cigars "Better" to "Best" myself. I have some Good smokes that are in my coolador for over two years. I just love them that way, period! :tu
 
elderboy02 said:
I don't understand the whole aging thing. I am lucky if I can get a month on mine.
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Buy more cigars, and it won't be a problem. Color me "spoiled" on a lot of smokes. There are marcas and vitolas I like fresh (party shorts come to mind, though I have never tasted an aged one knock on wood), RASCCs, and those that are everyday smokers. Otherwise I try to buy aged.
 
I dont dispute that certain aged cigars are better....I just think that if a proclaimed "incredible" cigar NEEDS to be aged by the consumer, then its not an incredible cigar! An incredible cigar should be one that I could buy and enjoy today or 5 years from now.
 
houdini said:
I understand that many of the great cigars we all smoke and love here argueably taste better with age....What I dont understand is when guys state that certain incredible cigars are horrible unless they have some age on them.

Thats not an incredible cigar to me. I expect a cigar to be a great one whenever I smoke it...If it gets better with age..cool! Its a contradiction to me otherwise. Any thoughts?
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elderboy02 said:
I don't understand the whole aging thing. I am lucky if I can get a month on mine.
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If you take tomato sauce, herbs, spices, beef, etc and throw them all in a pot - heat until hot and then serve - hey it tastes good. But let that same sauce simmer all day long and then serve - wow - the ingredients have blended together for an awesome taste.

Same deal with tobacco. Aging does this.

That said - I very much like the "fresh un-blended" flavors of most smokes. Do I age cigars - yes, no, sometimes, not on purpose. Having a boat load of cigars makes it easier to age - even if by accident.
The major reason I will let cigars "age" if you will is that most are shipped way to wet and I simply do not enjoy a cigar that I have to relight, that tunnels, doesn't draw, etc etc. Letting them rest, age, what have you tends to help with these problems.

But - to each his own. It's your cigar - smoke it as you like!


Ron
 
RGD said:
If you take tomato sauce, herbs, spices, beef, etc and throw them all in a pot - heat until hot and then serve - hey it tastes good. But let that same sauce simmer all day long and then serve - wow - the ingredients have blended together for an awesome taste.

Same deal with tobacco. Aging does this.

That said - I very much like the "fresh un-blended" flavors of most smokes. Do I age cigars - yes, no, sometimes, not on purpose. Having a boat load of cigars makes it easier to age - even if by accident.
The major reason I will let cigars "age" if you will is that most are shipped way to wet and I simply do not enjoy a cigar that I have to relight, that tunnels, doesn't draw, etc etc. Letting them rest, age, what have you tends to help with these problems.

But - to each his own. It's your cigar - smoke it as you like!


Ron
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Agreed! But thats because youre making it. If I sit at a restaurant and pay for a complete dish....I expect the cook (manufacturer) to have simmered it to perfection for me.

:D
 
A couple days before I went to Germany, this past May, someone gave me a cigar from 2005. Before smoking it, he said that it had finally come of age. This cigar was one of the very best cigars I ever had.

When I arrived in Germany, I went to a very nice cigar store and bought 1 of these cigars for 15 Euro (around $25 USD) and was only able to get about half way through it before I threw it away.

The cigar I bought was from 2007 and it was horrible.

Since this Party Short is very well known and loved by most who smoke it, I doubt that there was a change in blend. I can only think that the age made all of the difference in the world.

About 8-10 months ago, I bought some bundles of Famous Nic 3000 and wasn't impressed when they arrived. I smoked one of these last week and liked it so much that I plan on buying 4 or 5 bundles the next time they go on sale.

I believe that age can make a big difference in some cigars.

Have a great weekend.
Ken
 
houdini said:
Agreed! But thats because youre making it. If I sit at a restaurant and pay for a complete dish....I expect the cook (manufacturer) to have simmered it to perfection for me.

:D
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Well okay then . . . insert "Wine" instead of sauce, herbs, spices, etc . . . :ss


Ron
 
houdini said:
I dont dispute that certain aged cigars are better....I just think that if a proclaimed "incredible" cigar NEEDS to be aged by the consumer, then its not an incredible cigar! An incredible cigar should be one that I could buy and enjoy today or 5 years from now.
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I disagree, but to each his own.

I can smoke an '08 Bolivar Petite Corona and it will be a very good cigar.

I can smoke a '97 Bolivar Petite Corona and it will be a great cigar.

I can smoke a '70s Bolivar Petite Corona, and have an incredible cigar.

Would that '70s Bolivar Petite Corona have been incredible in 1975? No. But it is now.....and that's my humble opinion and the reason why I smoke aged cigars when possible. I could give you dozens of similar experiences, but I doubt it will change your opinion as your mind seems made up. That's OK....to each his own, smoke what you like. :)
 
houdini said:
I dont dispute that certain aged cigars are better....
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I love this topic.

To your point......says who?
That is the bottom line on aging.
Says who they are better that way?

Is a BMW better than a Mercedes better than a Cadillac better than an Infinity?
All boils down to the person that owns it and their "Personal" tastes.
So is with aging.

Aged cigars are not better. They become different and if that different is what you like, then they are in fact better to you but certainly doesn't mean the guy next door has to feel they are better also.
Case in point, my 72 yr old dad who has smoked Cuba's finest since 13 or so. He does not like aged cigars. Someone must have failed to tell him they are better.:D

I happen to like some of the aged cigars I have had and at times, I have loved the fresh over the aged.
 
To those who don't age my only suggestion is this:

If you hate a cigar off the truck give it a second and third chance--bury it and forget about it.

Then you can attack the miserable manufacturer for selling you a lousy product while you puff on a magnificent three year aged smoke you forget was in the bottom of your humidor.

:)
 
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