Does aging 9 months matter?

[OSIRIS]

I've noticed that My Padrons and Sancho Panza Double maddies like to have a few months rest, but I think this is just that they are sitting in a stable environment and balance out. Actually pulled on of my Padrons from last year out and the cello is starting to yellow, thing was uber tasty!!

[Fortune500]

Necessity is debatable, but as a matter of practice, I rest almost everything at least 6 months, outside of NCs I pick up at my local B&M that I intend to smoke there. I just think it's good etiquette to smoke something you bought there at the shop.

I'm relatively new to cigars (less than two years seriously, like 3 casually), but I don't smoke that often, so it's not hard to wait 6 months, generally. Once you get that initial reserve built up it's not that bad.

I have found that aging really doesn't help my good cigars THAT much. These are in fact factory aged, and do most of their maturation there. I have found that actually my cheaper smokes do get better (albeit rarely "good to great") with age. I theorize that they're made cheaper and moved quicker to keep costs down, so the tobacco needs some time to reach its full potential. Just a guess, and just my rough observation though.

[krisko]

I think any better NC will not require aging because the tobacco is already aged. I think some cigars are rolled and then aged before sale (RP Vintage?). Cubans benefit because the tobacco gets very little time to age because of how cash strapped the economy is there.

I had some RP Fusion go a little funky on me after being in the humidor for about a year. I don't know if it was an isolated issue or my tastes changed or what.

[EvanS]

Depends on the cigar I imagine. Mostly I have not noticed much difference with most of my NC's after 1 year. But the JdN 1970 Antano was a huge exception. No longer the firecracker after 15 months, it is now spicy and leathery...very, very nice.

[fulloflead]

Just checking back in...

My R.P. Vintage 1990 & 1992s didn't seem to change, the Fusion is just as powerful as ever.

However, I'm SHOCKED at how 9 months has taken the edge off the Sun Grown. I felt they were a little too strong for me and harsh back when I got them, but they're nice and smooth now - maybe one of my favorite R.P.s now. Reminiscent of the Ashton Puro Sol.

I had some Hoyo Dark Sumatra that tasted a little better blended.

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[oldforge]

Originally Posted by EvanS

Depends on the cigar I imagine. Mostly I have not noticed much difference with most of my NC's after 1 year. But the JdN 1970 Antano was a huge exception. No longer the firecracker after 15 months, it is now spicy and leathery...very, very nice.

I have a few smokes left from a box of Machitos I bought in 2004. They still have a touch of spice but are very very smooth.

I am a big fan of aging for the stronger smokes.