Does aging 9 months matter?

[RUJohnny99]

Originally Posted by KASR

I'll have to disagree...but only a little: Gurhka seem to really benefit from a 6+ month(s) nap.

Gurkha claims their Legends series are aged 8 years, yet the difference in 8 years & 8 years, 6 months is amazing. I could only imagine how harsh those suckers were 3 years ago.

[Navydoc]

The only NC I've ever tried that benefited from aging is an Opus X, anything else tastes the same as the day I bought it Now CC's on the other hand

[zmancbr]

Originally Posted by Spect

Aging helps in Opus & Pepin.

I would also argue that 5 vegas and Gurkhas get better with a short period of rest say 6-12 months.

I am currently aging some anejos for awhile so I will keep everyone posted of those when aged.

[heatmiser]

Originally Posted by Darrell

I have only found aging benefits Habanos. I have some NC's which have over 2 yrs of age on them and they don't taste any different than the fresh ones to me.

I have no experience with Habanos nor aging cigars but am very interested on how aging can only benefit cigars from Cuba. What do they do different there that would cause this?

[rumballs]

if they are really really fresh to begin with, it might.
otherwise, probably not.

[carbonbased_al]

Originally Posted by heatmiser

I have no experience with Habanos nor aging cigars but am very interested on how aging can only benefit cigars from Cuba. What do they do different there that would cause this?

They do nothing different. Doesn't matter where the cigar is rolled, it's still made from tobacco. And all tobacco changes over the course of time, for better or for worse. I've had plenty of cigars made outside of cuba that improved significantly with age.

Many NCs are rolled with tobacco aged much longer than havanas, so you get the sick period much less in NCs.

[Spect]

If ONLY Cubans benefit from aging, Cuban tobacco is magical or maybe you don't have a subtle enough palliate/done it enough/done it with a wide range of Marcas, etc. Think about the Fredster BTT, Fred seemed to like aged tobacco.

[wh0re]

Originally Posted by Spect

If ONLY Cubans benefit from aging, Cuban tobacco is magical or maybe you don't have a subtle enough palliate/done it enough/done it with a wide range of Marcas, etc. Think about the Fredster BTT, Fred seemed to like aged tobacco.

Exactly, it doesn't make any sense that only CC's would benefit from aging. It's all tobacco, it's all going to benefit from aging.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by carbonbased_al

They do nothing different. Doesn't matter where the cigar is rolled, it's still made from tobacco. And all tobacco changes over the course of time, for better or for worse. I've had plenty of cigars made outside of cuba that improved significantly with age.

Many NCs are rolled with tobacco aged much longer than havanas, so you get the sick period much less in NCs.

This is why aging changes/improves Havanas. The tobacco is much younger. Tobacco in NC cigasrs is typically already aged.

[ChasDen]

So far in my limited experience I can tell the difference from resting but not aging. I believe most stores especially mail order outlets keep their stock on the wet side. Larger outlets move a bunch of cigars. Let’s say their stock rotates at most yearly but more than likely monthly or slightly more. From the time it is shipped from where it was rolled and stored until the time you get it, it may have been transported 3 times and stored for a short period of time in 3 different environments. Allowing the cigar to rest in a constant environment for a few weeks to a few months allows it to stabilize and achieve the proper moisture content. I have tried cigars right off the truck that had great taste but an "edge" to them. Smoked another one 4 weeks later and the "edge" was gone.

Chas

[yazzie]

For CC's aging most certainly helps in the taste, burn, and stablization. In just about every box of CC's I have purchased, I have smoked 1 or 2 as a baseline (Some more as I couldn't resist ). I'll revisit each box in a few weeks to a few months and in almost 100% of the time, the CC's burn and taste better than when I first received them......

[wharfrathoss]

it's different w/each cigar-if RP ain't full of BS about how aged the tobac he uses is, then 9 months shouldn't make much of a difference w/"5yr old+" tobac-as far as other cigars, i'd say it depends on how old the tobac is when they rolled the stick

[PUFFNMO]

I am also of the opinion that age benefits all cigars, Cuban as well as non-Cuban. They are indeed all made of tobacco, and where that tobacco comes from is not that relevant.

For me, 9 months of rest will take a bit of edge off of the flavor and aroma, but I have found that at about 2 years the benefits become more noticeable. At that point many of my rough tasting hard-edge smokes turn the corner and start to become smooth and mellow.

A lot of this has to do with personal taste of course. I do not really want to smoke the "throat rippers" which are so popular right now. For me, a stogie has to be smooth, mellow and flavorful, as well as balanced. By balanced I mean that no one characteristic should leap out, pushing everything else into the background. JMO. Larry.

[kas]

Originally Posted by rwhit37

I think it is hit and miss. I find that cigars that are somewhat harsh fresh mellow and out and become great sticks. LGC, Pepin, Tatuaje, Trinidad, Joya de Nics, Opus, RyJ EL '07s to name a few. There are some out there that befit from age you just have to find the right ones.

Amen on this and I agree with that list of examples. Aging won't turn a dog rocket into a gem, but it can help some good cigars become very good. I have 7-8 LGC corona gordas remaining from my initial box purchase in 12/05. They became noticeably better with a year on them and are now marvelously smooth.

[andrewsutherland2002]

What about aging at the factory, like a certain cigar has been aged for 3 yrs before it is delivered to us?