Aging

[Emaresee]

I appreciate that this is a topic where there is a lot of opinion available. What I am seeking is a bit of science, IF it is out there.

I was reading a CA article which quoted the 'rule' of 70f / 70% for aging. But also read an old post here where a Mayfair merchant apparently favoured 60/60 for the long sleep.

Can anyone share insights/ evidence/ explanations of why 70/70 is optimum, or otherwise?

Many thanks!

Matt

[PeeJay]

I appreciate that this is a topic where there is a lot of opinion available. What I am seeking is a bit of science, IF it is out there.

I was reading a CA article which quoted the 'rule' of 70f / 70% for aging. But also read an old post here where a Mayfair merchant apparently favoured 60/60 for the long sleep.

Can anyone share insights/ evidence/ explanations of why 70/70 is optimum, or otherwise?

Many thanks!

Matt

You answer this in your own post without realising it Matt. Cigar Aficionado is an American magazine and they prefer their cigars wetter than us, simples

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[ValeTudoGuy]

Cigars rely on natural plant oil for flavour, the oil is constantly evaporating in tiny amounts along with the transfer of gasses that takes place naturally.

It would appear that at 70/70 the loss of oil is about as slow as its going to get without endangering the cigar from excess temp and humidity.

Below 70% you will speed up that process. Though I would suggest you will lose more water than oil in the early stages effectively concentrating the oils.

Fermentation also plays a factor. From my experience of brewing alcohol, cultures that cause fermentation react differently at different temperatures. One thing is pretty sure though and that is for the best flavours to develop fermentation is best done more slowly and allowed to be done completely.

The cultures in Cigars are unlikely to be as refined as those in wine.... But its not unlikely that the producers have a good idea what humidity and temperature range they work best at.

I firmly believe that cigars in the mid 60's mostly smoke better than 70%. However the few cigars im ageing I am sticking to my theary of slow and steady.

[Emaresee]

cheers [MENTION=13402615]PeeJay[/MENTION] and [MENTION=13402510]ValeTudoGuy[/MENTION] interstingly one of my favourite lessons from, oddly, keeping marine aquaria years ago its that in the main its only bad stuff that happens fast, good stuff takes time care and attention!

[TonyN]

It's all personal in my opinion bit like we all don't have the same taste concerning cigars.

[tippexx]

I appreciate that this is a topic where there is a lot of opinion available. What I am seeking is a bit of science, IF it is out there.

No, unfortunately Newton and Einstein passed on cigars.

But as a basic. If you bought a 'new' box today. Call it Monte 4 Jan 16. Keeping them at 70/70 would be about the best bet. However in 4 to 10 years when your aging has reached 'potential' it is the worth considering dropping the ratios. Temperature in the home environment isn't so easy to control or keep consistent, but humidity controlled down to 65 or even 60 should be achievable.

But if all your stock is fairly recent I wouldn't worry yourself, just keep to 70/70 and carry on enjoying your smokes.

[Ranks]

Thanks that was a great read and very informative.

[Krist]

I remember once speaking to the gents in JJs and I was told that they keep their ageing rooms at a much lower humidity, talking about sub 60% and cooler. That way the ageing as i would imagine the 70/70 rule slows the ageing right down as the heat isn't there to speed evaporation.

I think this may be for very long term ageing though.

[TonyN]

Apparently they store their cigars in 2 walk in humidors one at lower humidity and one higher
to please all customers some like them a bit drier where other prefer them a bit moist.

[zencohiba]

I'm hoping to start long term ageing this year and was aiming at a 65% target. If in doubt go straight down the middle!

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[Simon Bolivar]

My advice is indeed stick to around 65%. With fluctations in weather of temp & humidity, your likely to be within a 63-67%range in reality. I personally find 70/70 too wet for smoking let alone storing, can cause many more complaints of plugged cigars, especially in the sub 42RG. When you say long term aging do you mean 3-5yrs or 10-20? Only the latter I would suggest is likely to benefit from 60-63%. I have now aged several boxes for 10yrs+ & that is my experience.

[zencohiba]

Hopefully the 3 to 5 yrs range. My willpower won't be strong enough to keep them for longer than that!

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[Simon Bolivar]

Aye, that's what I thought you'd be aiming for; you teally need a aizable collection before you cab wait 5yrs plus to crack a box; the size required of course reflects what your annual consumption is as well as your ability to resist sampling them!

[Emaresee]

My advice is indeed stick to around 65%. With fluctations in weather of temp & humidity, your likely to be within a 63-67%range in reality. I personally find 70/70 too wet for smoking let alone storing, can cause many more complaints of plugged cigars, especially in the sub 42RG. When you say long term aging do you mean 3-5yrs or 10-20? Only the latter I would suggest is likely to benefit from 60-63%. I have now aged several boxes for 10yrs+ & that is my experience.

through a pause in smoking for about a decade I have aged the best part of 2-3 boxes for that term. I think the effect of meaningful sleep time has somewhat spoilt me... i really do like sticks with some age! However, in more recent times I have seen smokes I actively disliked really open up after a years snooze, so its not all about the long haul.

As with others in this thread, 3-5 seems a sensible ambition. I consume at a very moderate pace, so that plus getting ahead with some box purchases ought to make this an achievable reality. In truth my ambition it to build the back bone of a collection that will take me into the years where buying premium priced indulgencies is a very second tier priority!!

I am doing much the same with wine too... Both collections are not to be held in aspic mind you... I need to enjoy them on the way too!!

So I think I am going to pursue Boveda pouches at 69 and 65... in smoking and storing vessels respectively. According to their own info means that in imperfectly sealed units may deliver up to 5% lower RH than the stamp on the pack says. 69 for humi, 65 for lock&lock, tupperdor, scubador etc.

Very much appreciate the input all, thank you
Matt

[TonyN]

We all have different opinion when it comes to ageing cigars maybe it's my age.
At the risk of sounding like your grandmother, you could be hit by a bus tomorrow…then what? You get the idea. In other words, smoke ’em if you got ’em and enjoy ’em, but age them on a per-cigar basis. You’ll eventually know which cigars improve best or least by experimenting with different time periods. Two to three years max? Perhaps. But four to five years or more? I think that’s pushing it.