How much to age which cigars?

[Nightwingvyse]

I have been making records of my cigars by date of purchase to keep track of how long i have had them, so i can age the more expensive ones.

I've tried to find as much information on ageing as i can, but the best i can find is the general technique for all cigars. What I'd like to know is how the specific cigar affects the minimum/maximum they should be aged.

I know that thicker cigars are generally best given more hard time, and assume their length affects it in a similar way. But there's also the question of brand, strength, region of origin, and the way the tobacco is grown.

Can anybody share any experience as to how all these things affect the amount of time they should be aged, and perhaps give some examples?

Thanks.

[Zigatoh]

It's not a science. That's the first thing. Ok well it probably is but I don't have the marbles to fathom it...

Put it this way, I've had initially strong BBFs which turned to past their best softies after 7 or 8 years, and completely middly of the road RyJ Ex 4's that were fruity flavoursome and beautiful after the same period of time, so it seems like a crap shoot to me!

The only thing I do know is there are those cigars that have an obvious 'tannin' (not sure that's really the right word but it seems to have been nicked from the wino's) flavour to them, a green or young flavour, often evident by a back of the throat feeling, that do benefit with a few years, try them every year or so to see how they're going kinda smokes.

Any information above and beyond this would be brilliant tho!

[Pleevy]

The only thing I do know is there are those cigars that have an obvious 'tannin' (not sure that's really the right word but it seems to have been nicked from the wino's) flavour to them, a green or young flavour, often evident by a back of the throat feeling, that do benefit with a few years, try them every year or so to see how they're going kinda smokes.

Thanks for that insight, I had my 2nd RASCC today as I wanted to see if it differed from the one I had yesterday. The main difference I noticed was the very slight harshness on the back of the throat, still enjoyed it, but Tuesdays was even better. Good to be able to nail down a sensation, thanks.

[TJCoro]

Thanks for that insight, I had my 2nd RASCC today as I wanted to see if it differed from the one I had yesterday. The main difference I noticed was the very slight harshness on the back of the throat, still enjoyed it, but Tuesdays was even better. Good to be able to nail down a sensation, thanks.

My God, Man! Those of some of the fastest aging puros I've ever heard about. You must have some kind of hi-tech, space age humidor!

Actually, what you experienced sounds like the benefits one would expect from sticks acclimating to their new home after sitting in the mail (post) for a few days/weeks - they do improve after a few days as they adjust to the temperature and humidity level in your unit.

As far as aging cigars, there is a vast amount of information on this topic which no doubt will be discussed on this thread. As a general rule, cigars under a year old (from the roll/box date) should be aged for a year or more to loose the ammonia taste/smell that results from the rolling process (when the leaves are dampened) which triggers another fermentation. Another thing I've noticed over the years is that Cuban cigars age far better than N/Cs. I wonder why that is? Could it have something to do the the way the leaf is prepared before it's made into a cigar?


BB

[Zigatoh]

Maybe I ned to clarify a bit, the 'tannin' reference does seem to be a common confusion with ammonia IMO, and while harshness can be a result of a cigar being too young, some cigars are just plain harsh but I do sometimes get more like an indigestion feeling at the back of the throat, like a small mix of acid reflux and needing to burp but not really either -
(I know I know, my descriptions leave a lot to be desired, wait for my first review... "like chewing on a christmas tree while sniffing a bottle of fresh horse sweat it was...") -
, that I have associated with the idea of there being ammonia in an 'underage' if you will cigar...

I may be wrong but it is something that I never get once the sticks have a year or two on them.

[SmokeyDave]

Don't most NC's use pre aged leaves far more, where the run of the mill Cuban uses two year aged?

I'm just going on remembering descriptions of NC's when browsing saying dates like 5 year filler 6 year wrapper, makes me think they have to do that to get any flavour out of them.

So to answer TJ's comment, is it because of the pre-aged leaves that makes NC's less suitable for sitting down?

[Nightwingvyse]

Another thing I've noticed over the years is that Cuban cigars age far better than N/Cs. I wonder why that is? Could it have something to do the the way the leaf is prepared before it's made into a cigar?

By that do you mean that ageing a Cuban does more good than ageing a N/C? Would this mean that ideally, N/C's should be given more time?

[Smallclub]

Maybe I ned to clarify a bit, the 'tannin' reference does seem to be a common confusion with ammonia IMO…

I don't want to be an elitist or a snob or whatever, but WHY do you have to mention the tannins if you don't know what they are exactly?
Tanins and phenols are present in tobacco leaves, no doubt, but one need to have very deep knowledge to be able to tell how they affect the taste of a cigar, how they will affect the aging process, etc.
On french cigar forums, where many posters have a solid background in wine tasting, you hardly see tanins mentioned…

just my 2 cents…

[Smallclub]

Actually, what you experienced sounds like the benefits one would expect from sticks acclimating to their new home after sitting in the mail (post) for a few days/weeks - they do improve after a few days as they adjust to the temperature and humidity level in your unit.

Exactly. Knowing the difference between "aging" and "acclimating"/"resting" is a pre requisit before listening to anything related to complex chemical components like tannins…

[Zigatoh]

I don't want to be an elitist or a snob or whatever, but WHY do you have to mention the tannins if you don't know what they are exactly?
Tanins and phenols are present in tobacco leaves, no doubt, but one need to have very deep knowledge to be able to tell how they affect the taste of a cigar, how they will affect the aging process, etc.
On french cigar forums, where many posters have a solid background in wine tasting, you hardly see tanins mentioned…

just my 2 cents…

I think it's very clear in my posts that these are just my opinions of flavours, and I even point out that there is commonly confusion between references to tannins and ammonia and so on, from me as much as anyone. I honestly haven't read many french cigar forums (read as ANY) so wouldn't know what they talk about but I have read a number of english/american cigar forums and it is a term that crops up a lot so again IMO is worth mentioning if only for discussion.

I also requested further information at the end of my post, if you have some great, if you do in fact want to be an 'elitist or snob or whatever' in opposition of the start of your post then please, carry on...

[TJCoro]

Time Will Tell!

By that do you mean that ageing a Cuban does more good than ageing a N/C? Would this mean that ideally, N/C's should be given more time?

Actually, as senor Daveyboy pointed out, it's probably because the tobacco used in N/Cs has been aged far longer than that used in Cubans. Consequently, there is more to be gained from aging Cubans than N/Cs, since the leaf used in the latter has been thoroughly aged before they are made into cigars. Therefore, based on my experience, aging N/Cs, no matter how long, adds little or no benefits to the smoking pleasure.

Well, that's what I think anyway.


Perro, el Perro

[El Catador]

Love it...

wait for my first review... "like chewing on a christmas tree while sniffing a bottle of fresh horse sweat it was...".

I'm sure I've had one of those... now, what was it..?
Anything 'horsey' has GOT to be Cuban!

Hmmn. 'Christmassy'.. you say?
Partagas... Por Larranaga..?
Am I close?
Is there a prize?

[Smallclub]

Actually, as senor Daveyboy pointed out, it's probably because the tobacco used in N/Cs has been aged far longer than that used in Cubans.

This is certainly one valid explanation; one other is the fact that cuban tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo has a much richer, complex chemical structure compared with other tobaccos…

[Pleevy]

My God, Man! Those of some of the fastest aging puros I've ever heard about. You must have some kind of hi-tech, space age humidor!

Actually, what you experienced sounds like the benefits one would expect from sticks acclimating to their new home after sitting in the mail (post) for a few days/weeks - they do improve after a few days as they adjust to the temperature and humidity level in your unit.

As far as aging cigars, there is a vast amount of information on this topic which no doubt will be discussed on this thread. As a general rule, cigars under a year old (from the roll/box date) should be aged for a year or more to loose the ammonia taste/smell that results from the rolling process (when the leaves are dampened) which triggers another fermentation. Another thing I've noticed over the years is that Cuban cigars age far better than N/Cs. I wonder why that is? Could it have something to do the the way the leaf is prepared before it's made into a cigar?


BB

As good as a space age Humi sounds, they were actually from 2 different forum members as it goes. I am not sure on the date of either but Styler said that the ones he sent me could do with a little bit of time in the Humi, me being impatient and inquisitive, I decided to dig in anyway.

[TJCoro]

Cream of the Crop!

This is certainly one valid explanation; one other is the fact that cuban tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo has a much richer, complex chemical structure compared with other tobaccos?

...That Too!