Ageing Conundrum

[kern47]

What do you do when you think a cigar may have passed its 'best', for now?

I've been smoking some 2017 Fonseca No.1's which, based on the last smoke, may have tailed off a little at the 5 year mark, as opposed to what they were like at ~4 years old.

Just curious what others do at this point?

Do you smoke another one or two to confirm? Leave them for another year or two? Leave them for several more years to see if that changes anything? Or, for people with more experience than I have, does setting them down for another 'decent' amount of time yield better results?

I remember hearing about different stages of maturation, with the next phase being more like a decade long. But, is it worthwhile letting them sit? Or is it more a case of just keeping checking on them every few months/a year?



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[simwells]

Smoke another one or two in different circumstances and see, a single cigar is never enough to tell a huge amount really as being natural there’s not a lot of consistency in them.

For me at 4-5 years some milder smokes is as good as they get but that doesn’t stop me enjoying older mild cigars as a morning smoke. But it depends what you mean by being past their best if they’re starting to mute at 5 years I’m yet to find a cigar that was then better at 10, the best at 10 seem to be those that are really becoming good at 5 years. But ymmv


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[Stevieboy]

Smoke another to confirm and if you feel the same, give them another year or two

This happened to me recently with the Punch ManTau. When they first came out I couldn't leave them alone and fired through a box of 50 in under a year but at the 18 month point they suddenly started to taste a bit ropey. I've left them alone for another year or so and they're back to belong amazing again. Just my experience but I'm glad I held off to give them a chance to come good....

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[Shaun]

Cubans smoke better younger these days, IMO most are on a downward curve after 5-7 years now.

[ha_banos]

Cubans smoke better younger these days, IMO most are on a downward curve after 5-7 years now.

You should try one of these 2006 Tubos you sold me. Lovely!

[Niela]

I had a few boxes of some Olivas from 2006. They were absolutely stunning with flavours of dried prunes. Some of the best things I ever smoked. But after a couple of years, those flavours became less and less. They simply got over their peak.

I'd smoke some more and if you think they're past their peak, smoke them now. Same goes for cigars where you think nothing can be improved, flavours are perfect. Then smoke them while they're great.

[Simon Bolivar]

You should try one of these 2006 Tubos you sold me. Lovely!

Tubos age slower but more intense; if you keep them in the tubes with lids on of course.

[Simon Bolivar]

Cubans smoke better younger these days, IMO most are on a downward curve after 5-7 years now.

Indeed, much like French wine. The best clarets used to take 10yrs+ to be drinkable & lose the bitter tannins, now half that time or less is fine. That was a deliberate move, as in general wine drinkers haven't the patience, storage, money to keep or buy such aged wine, whether the Cuban's changed their blends to allow them to age sooner I don't know but if they could it would make sense. But when they are selling cigars with only 3months on the box, to wait 3yrs is still a long time for your avge smoker.

[vanbobble]

What do you do when you think a cigar may have passed its 'best', for now?

I've been smoking some 2017 Fonseca No.1's which, based on the last smoke, may have tailed off a little at the 5 year mark, as opposed to what they were like at ~4 years old.

Just curious what others do at this point?

Do you smoke another one or two to confirm? Leave them for another year or two? Leave them for several more years to see if that changes anything? Or, for people with more experience than I have, does setting them down for another 'decent' amount of time yield better results?

I remember hearing about different stages of maturation, with the next phase being more like a decade long. But, is it worthwhile letting them sit? Or is it more a case of just keeping checking on them every few months/a year?



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Feel free to send a couple and I will give you an honest opinion 😅