Aging made my CAO Golds taste worse!

[fulloflead]

I had a half-dozen CAO Gold Robustos for two years. After that time I swear they tasted harsher, less complex (flavorful) and just not as good as when I first got them. They used to be one of my favorite cigars. I'd smoked the rest of the box back two years ago and feel I'm quite fimiliar with them. I was SHOCKED at what they tasted like after two years of aging. Not terrible, exactly, but definately not the same mild, interesting cigar that had lots of interesting delicate flavors.

Now, they did "bounce" a little bit from humidor to humidor over that time as I upgraded humidors and moved things around. I can't say that they were at a stable humidity either, but they were usually at around 65-68%.

A bundle of Rocky Patel Connecticuts aged in the same environment for the last year improved SPECTACULARLY! (Another mild yet interesting cigar.)

If I had to GUESS at what happened to the CAOs (and I do mean guess), I'd say the different strength tobaccos in the blend aged differently with the milder, more delicate tobaccos losing their flavor while the more potent tobacco in the blend maintained it's strength rather than getting milder.

Any thoughts on why my CAO Golds got stronger/harsher/not as good after two years of aging?

[BigVito]

people have said NC don't age as good as CC. I never have them long enough to age

[Bax]

Could it be that your tastes have changed in that 2 years? Or are you smoking the same things you were back then?

[TripleF]

2 Years? I'm with BigVito.............mine barely make it 2 months in marination...

[sacmore21]

Originally Posted by Bax

Could it be that your tastes have changed in that 2 years? Or are you smoking the same things you were back then?

I agree with Bax on this. When I first got into cigars, I absolutely LOVED Arturo Fuente Double Chateau's. It was the first box I ever bought. It probably took me a couple of years to smoke them. However, during that time, my tastes changed. So, what had previously been my perfect cigar, was now bland and almost tasteless. I believe your tastes and interests have simply changed over time, and that the aging did not really have as significant an impact.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by BigVito

people have said NC don't age as good as CC. I never have them long enough to age

Aged Padrons are a wonderful cigar experience.

I agree that maybe your taste has changed over the years. I also used to like them but now I can't even taste them

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by Bax

Could it be that your tastes have changed in that 2 years? Or are you smoking the same things you were back then?

I agree, CAO Gold was my favorite when I started on Cigars. Now I am into much more full bodied cigars and almost 95% are Maduros.

[fulloflead]

I wish I'd kept one so I can buy a fresh one and compare.

Truth is, though, that I used to smoke exclusively mild cigars and now I like them kind of medium. So you'd think it would taste milder after all this time instead of stronger. No?

I still think it aged funny.

.

[chippewastud79]

I have heard that there is a ceiling for NC's and aging, between 6-12 months they will reach the peak and after that become harsh, less flavorful, boring, stale, etc.

Never kept them long enough either way.

[yazzie]

Age your CC's and smoke your NC's

[SR Mike]

I do not like these, your description of the Gold is exactly what they taste like to me. I find them to have a terrible flavor, bad construction, and harshness in the smoke. Just my experience.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

I have heard that there is a ceiling for NC's and aging, between 6-12 months they will reach the peak and after that become harsh, less flavorful, boring, stale, etc.

Never kept them long enough either way.

I have to disagree with that notion. Like I mentioned earlier, 2-4 year old Padrons are awesome. I have some Pepins going 2 years and they are outstanding and getting better! La Aurora 1495's, over a year old, they are awesome. Same with Torano's, VSG's, LFD's and more. They are all much smoother and richer. That is just my experienced with rested/aged nc's.

I have heard that after 10 years they tend to go downhill. Only time will tell.

[fulloflead]

Originally Posted by SR Mike

I do not like these, your description of the Gold is exactly what they taste like to me. I find them to have a terrible flavor, bad construction, and harshness in the smoke. Just my experience.

That brings up a theory slightly different and slightly better than the "do you smoke different cigars now" theory. I've smoked a LOT of cigars in those two years and my tastes may have gotten better. Two years ago I was comparing the CAO Gold to lesser cigars. Now I like Ashtons, Montecristo and other "better" cigars.

Could also be that I developed my taste buds to be more sensitive in the last year?

[BigVito]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Aged Padrons are a wonderful cigar experience.

I agree that maybe your taste has changed over the years. I also used to like them but now I can't even taste them

If I could hold to them