When to open 'em?

[grumpybaldy]

I'm building my (so far very modest) collection of boxed cigars. I'd be grateful for more experienced thoughts on how long until the following are (a) worth starting and (b) would be ideally left until?

H Upmann Half Coronas - box date July 16

RASCCs - box March 16

Bolivar Belicosos Finos - box April 14

HdM Petit Robustos - box May 16.

Thanks

[mcdee]

A- you could give them all a try now. Some people prefer younger cigars, others don't. It's all down to personal taste ( I personally think your BBFs are in the best position to be a decent smoke).

B- 2021.

[TJCoro]

Age Old Question.

I'm building my (so far very modest) collection of boxed cigars. I'd be grateful for more experienced thoughts on how long until the following are (a) worth starting and (b) would be ideally left until?

Thanks

Without getting into the specifics for each puro you list, based on what I've learned from my studies of don TJ's journals, as general rule - no puro should be smoked in the first year; minimum for storing and aging - 3 years. After that, the longer the better, with few exceptions, according to some.

Coro Aging Strategy: Before the don and the bulk of the familia Coro left on their definitive journey into the unknown and unknowable, they taught me this simple method for building up a stock of aged puros. Take two sticks out of every box you buy, label them with the brand name, date and factory code, then set them aside for aging. This way, you can enjoy the majority of you purchases now, while knowing that a few are set aside to develop over time.

And if you take two out at the begining, you won't miss them....much.


Bag Boy

[Shaun]

I would start testing them, they may smoke great young and you could be missing out. I wouldnt just set aside boxes to age for years without trying, IMO a better strategy is to keep trying every 6 months until they hit the sweet spot but of course there will be many who disagree with that!

[TJCoro]

More than one way to age a kat!

I would start testing them, they may smoke great young and you could be missing out. I wouldnt just set aside boxes to age for years without trying, IMO a better strategy is to keep trying every 6 months until they hit the sweet spot but of course there will be many who disagree with that!

Haha! Show me the man who puts down a box without trying one or five, and I'll show you a man with unimaginable will power!



Pregunta por favor: what happens if you run out of sticks (smoking 2/year) BEORE they hit the "sweet spot?"(Although, I LIKE the way you think, chico!)




Bag Boy

[Emaresee]

Haha! Show me the man who puts down a box without trying one or five, and I'll show you a man with unimaginable will power!



Pregunta por favor: what happens if you run out of sticks (smoking 2/year) BEORE they hit the "sweet spot?"(Although, I LIKE the way you think, chico!)




Bag Boy

that would be me.... although I am paranoid I am going to open up these boxes one day and find a pile of dust from leaving too long!!

[TJCoro]

Days of Wine and Puros!

that would be me.... although I am paranoid I am going to open up these boxes one day and find a pile of dust from leaving too long!!

There's always one!

Actully, that would be me, too...but only when I bought TWO BOXES of the same puros - smoke one entire box (except for two sticks) and put the other down. But the days of two-box purchase are long gone, loooong gone. (Sad).



Bag Boy

[Shaun]

Pregunta por favor: what happens if you run out of sticks (smoking 2/year) BEORE they hit the "sweet spot?"(Although, I LIKE the way you think, chico!)
Bag Boy

Unlikely for me Amigo! I prefer younger cigars to really aged ones, maybe my palate just cant pick out any tiny nuances in flavour

[TJCoro]

Bag Boy Ball Drop!

Unlikely for me Amigo! I prefer younger cigars to really aged ones, maybe my palate just cant pick out any tiny nuances in flavour

No doubt, chico. Some folks (me included) just don't have the necessary skills or tools to fully appreciate or distinguish the subtle nuances of a well-aged puro..... or a fine bird for that matter.


But beyond the flavor enhancments derived from aging, what I mostly enjoy is the silky smooth texture achieved in a properly aged puro. Sweeeeet!

But hey, mi amigo....that's just me.

G'day!

Bag Boy

[PeeJay]

No doubt, chico. Some folks (me included) just don't have the necessary skills or tools to appreciate or distinguish the subtle nuances of a well-aged puro..... or a fine bird for that matter.

Or the imagination in a lot of cases judging by some of the reviews I've read!

[thedame007]

Or the imagination in a lot of cases judging by some of the reviews I've read!

Pass the cream

[dvickery]

This works for me !!!

Rule of thumb ... I will try a box at (about) 5 years ... another try at (about) 10 years ... and so on .

you need to stash a lot of smokes tho .

been doing this for (about) 3 decades .

derrek

[Simon Bolivar]

Haha! Show me the man who puts down a box without trying one or five, and I'll show you a man with unimaginable will power!



Pregunta por favor: what happens if you run out of sticks (smoking 2/year) BEORE they hit the "sweet spot?"(Although, I LIKE the way you think, chico!)




Bag Boy

Will power? It's not so hard not to touch your cabs for 5hyrs or longer, once your collection reaches a certain size, you will have plenty to smoke, whilst waiting for the aging process to work it's magic.

I Agree withthe basic idea of trying one every 6months but once you have done that a few times with each vitola, you'll know roughly when oyu want to start the next box & I'd bet it will be after 3yrs, if your collection & will power allows.

[TJCoro]

Dream Weavers!

Will power? It's not so hard not to touch your cabs for 5hyrs or longer, once your collection reaches a certain size, you will have plenty to smoke, whilst waiting for the aging process to work it's magic.

I Agree withthe basic idea of trying one every 6months but once you have done that a few times with each vitola, you'll know roughly when oyu want to start the next box & I'd bet it will be after 3yrs, if your collection & will power allows.

The operative phrase being "once your collection reaches a certain size."

Now, storing a full box for aging may be easy for seasoned puro collectors like you and don TJ, but for youngsters like me and the other puro knewbees around these parts with our home-made mini-humidors, keeping our sticky mitts off a newly purchased box of puros ain't so easy.

Will power, indeed!

Bag Boy

[Simon Bolivar]

I understand that's will power is not so easy when you're starting out. I mention it gets easier so for those who aspire to grow their collecction over time, so they can appreciate see the main benefit.