What do you smoke when waiting for cigars to age?

[Kickback]

So there is so much mention of leaving the cigars you've just bought to age for years. I'm just wondering what on earth people smoke whilst this is happening.
Are there cigars you buy and smoke straight away or did you buy years ago and are just smoking those now whilst planning for future years?
Also who's to say what is the right time to age a particular cigar so it is at its best. I've seen many reviews which compare a 10 year aged to fresh and the differences seem to be smoother at the expense of flavour.
Thoughts?

[cigarmo]

Crack

[Simon Bolivar]

Good question KB. Simplest method for those on a 'modest' budget is to buy a couple extra sticks every time you go to the cigar shop & put those aside. If you buy a box put 3 or 6 aside, then try one a yr later, then 2 or 3 yrs later & see if you find them 'better.'
I would say up to 5yrs, Habanos cigars don't loose any flav but they do become more rounded & the harsher edges & ammonia smells of a green box have gone. 5-10 yrs the changes are slower & less marked & most would say that's the prime time for most of the Cuban brands. 10-20 yrs for the great ageing brands & you're getting to finesse, which might not suit you & you might think then a little bland if you're used to cigars 1-3yrs old but with experience, great ageing (& I mean the conditions of temp & humidity they were kept in, as well as the length of time kept), can produce amazing smokes.
The simplest solution to your question is to either swap or buy a few aged sticks from another member to experience the difference for yourself. If you are impressed with the difference from those you usually smoke, then you can start putting some aside but release some patience & funds will be required to age your own.

Send me a PM, when you can & I'll send you a wee aged sample in exchange for some of your fresh smokes.

[PeeJay]

Some Cubans smoke just fine when new like Vegueros, some people prefer new cigars and some people seek out aged ones. There is plenty of choice.

[handlebarpipe]

Good question KB. Simplest method for those on a 'modest' budget is to buy a couple extra sticks every time you go to the cigar shop & put those aside. If you buy a box put 3 or 6 aside, then try one a yr later, then 2 or 3 yrs later & see if you find them 'better.'
I would say up to 5yrs, Habanos cigars don't loose any flav but they do become more rounded & the harsher edges & ammonia smells of a green box have gone. 5-10 yrs the changes are slower & less marked & most would say that's the prime time for most of the Cuban brands. 10-20 yrs for the great ageing brands & you're getting to finesse, which might not suit you & you might think then a little bland if you're used to cigars 1-3yrs old but with experience, great ageing (& I mean the conditions of temp & humidity they were kept in, as well as the length of time kept), can produce amazing smokes.
The simplest solution to your question is to either swap or buy a few aged sticks from another member to experience the difference for yourself. If you are impressed with the difference from those you usually smoke, then you can start putting some aside but release some patience & funds will be required to age your own.

Send me a PM, when you can & I'll send you a wee aged sample in exchange for some of your fresh smokes.

Thanks for this information, most helpful.
Marc

[TJCoro]

Search About!

Why Wait? Head on out to your local tobac shops and search about.

I always look at the box dates when I visit a shop. I often find puros that have sufficient age on 'em (one or more years) to enjoy immediately. But when I do come across an older cigar, I always ask if the puro came in that box.

Reason? I've seen a few vendors who simply refill the existing boxs with newer sticks, rather than letting them sit around on the shelves half empty. Standard procedures, IMO, and boxes look better when filled, but can fool the unsuspecting buyer into thinkng they are getting an older stick. So always ask. You might be surprised by what you can find at your local vendors.


Bag Boy

[ha_banos]

You can usually find boxes a year or two old depending where you buy from. Airports tend to have new fresh boxes.

If you go nuts and buy a load of boxes all at once they'll all age together! :P

[PeeJay]

Why Wait? Head on out to your local tobac shops and search about.

I always look at the box dates when I visit a shop. I often find puros that have sufficient age on 'em (one or more years) to enjoy immediately. But when I do come across an older cigar, I always ask if the puro came in that box.

Reason? I've seen a few vendors who simply refill the existing boxs with newer sticks, rather than letting them sit around on the shelves half empty. Standard procedures, IMO, and boxes look better when filled, but can fool the unsuspecting buyer into thinkng they are getting an older stick. So always ask. You might be surprised by what you can find at your local vendors.


Bag Boy

I have encountered this in JJ Fox for example

[TJCoro]

Then there were two.

I have encountered this in JJ Fox for example

There ya' go! Confirmation from our prolific poster.

Bag Boy

[Kickback]

Good question KB. Simplest method for those on a 'modest' budget is to buy a couple extra sticks every time you go to the cigar shop & put those aside. If you buy a box put 3 or 6 aside, then try one a yr later, then 2 or 3 yrs later & see if you find them 'better.'
I would say up to 5yrs, Habanos cigars don't loose any flav but they do become more rounded & the harsher edges & ammonia smells of a green box have gone. 5-10 yrs the changes are slower & less marked & most would say that's the prime time for most of the Cuban brands. 10-20 yrs for the great ageing brands & you're getting to finesse, which might not suit you & you might think then a little bland if you're used to cigars 1-3yrs old but with experience, great ageing (& I mean the conditions of temp & humidity they were kept in, as well as the length of time kept), can produce amazing smokes.
The simplest solution to your question is to either swap or buy a few aged sticks from another member to experience the difference for yourself. If you are impressed with the difference from those you usually smoke, then you can start putting some aside but release some patience & funds will be required to age your own.

Send me a PM, when you can & I'll send you a wee aged sample in exchange for some of your fresh smokes.

Wow thanks for your reply and kind offer.
Will have to keep a few aside to see how they age and look for some sticks to smoke in the mean time. I think the box of Oliva G were too young as I had a fair few which tasted nasty (amonia) so don't want that again.

[PeeJay]

Wow thanks for your reply and kind offer.
Will have to keep a few aside to see how they age and look for some sticks to smoke in the mean time. I think the box of Oliva G were too young as I had a fair few which tasted nasty (amonia) so don't want that again.

An amaxing generous offer from Mr Bolivar but i would be surprised if the Olivas were too young. Non Cubans are sold ready to go unlike Cubans although I have encountered some that had an ammoniac tinge.

[dvickery]

To begin with ... I just smoked young cigars .

You don't have to do anything ... smoke what you got .

i always just bought more cigars than I smoked ... for a long time I was buying (about) 500 cigars a year while smoking (about) 150 cigars a year .

doesnt sound like much but try it for 25 or 30 years .

soooo...
1)aging changes cigars ... some people like those changes some people don't . Figger out what YOU like and go with it .

2)patience ... life ain't a sprint it's a marathon .

derrek

[Kickback]

So no straight to cigars people buy and smoke?
Everyone ages theirs or buys so many each month that the "collection" keeps growing and aging?

[Simon Bolivar]

Why Wait? Head on out to your local tobac shops and search about.

I always look at the box dates when I visit a shop. I often find puros that have sufficient age on 'em (one or more years) to enjoy immediately. But when I do come across an older cigar, I always ask if the puro came in that box.

Reason? I've seen a few vendors who simply refill the existing boxs with newer sticks, rather than letting them sit around on the shelves half empty. Standard procedures, IMO, and boxes look better when filled, but can fool the unsuspecting buyer into thinkng they are getting an older stick. So always ask. You might be surprised by what you can find at your local vendors.


Bag Boy

Good tip Snr BB, boxes can be topped up, hopefully not at LCDH's & main B&M shops but local tobacconists, sure it happens.
Another tip is when in a cigar lounge, check the dates shown for the singles available are current, I know at least one establishment which hasn't updated their menu for yrs!

[pootana]

I second on the vegueros I like them and don?t find an issue with the lack of age on them


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