Is is necessarry to age NC's?

[punch]

I have to agree with what is written here. Tobacco is tobacco, and in spite of what you may read, there is nothing magical about any location when it comes to how the plant behaves. I have found that the better NC cigars go through a sick period just like the Cubans, and they also improve with age. Some of the best cigars in my humidor or NC cigars that were rolled in 2000, and I have had a few given to me from a friend of mine that were rolled in 1997. Excellent! Like others have said, it would be a bit easier if the manufacturers date stamped the NCs like the Cubans. I was happy to see that the last box of RyJ (NC) that I purchased was stamped 2005 in addition to the usual cryptic factory code. Otherwise, I always mark the cigars I have for when they were purchased. I can be sure the big sellers from the big on-line houses are pretty fresh. It is the more obscure brands and the "specials" that become somewhat an unknown as to true age.

[txmatt]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Its tough to do it because there are no date stamps on NC boxes. I really wish they would adopt the standards that the Cubans have.

To answer your question... Aging can greatly effect the qualities of a NC. Just set a few of yours aside for a year or two and compare.

I date boxes when I buy them. Many Non Cuban boxes are dated, almost everything Kiki Berger's factory makes, several Santa Clara brands (Belinda, La Rosa Especial, etc).

I like to hold off smoking any cigar I get for at least 90 days, however lately I have been really enjoying smoking cigars I have held over a year. When I have had a substantial humidor space for awhile I hope to someday have a 5 year rotation like Moccobird does with his Padrons.

-Matt-

[Lance]

Well, I wasnt asking so much because I thought that NC's had some different physical qualities. I had heard that Cubans ship fresh, whereas NC's will be aged by the manufacturer for a while.

[ToddziLLa]

Originally Posted by shakespeare

Most definately yes. A cigar is a cigar... aging it is only beneficial.

Yup.

[Eichen]

Originally Posted by Lance

Well, I wasnt asking so much because I thought that NC's had some different physical qualities. I had heard that Cubans ship fresh, whereas NC's will be aged by the manufacturer for a while.

Some, like Padron, apparently release them soon after rolling -- more or less "fresh" (in a cA article recently). The reason for this is demand, just as it is with Cubans. Other brands are held back before sale for at least a year on purpose, like ERDM or JR Ultimate.

I don't necessarily know how long "X" mfg ages its cigars. I think there is an industry standard of something on the order of 60-90 days (allowing the blend to "marry", I believe). Of course there probably are exceptions. I'm sure there are others here who know more about this off the top of their heads. Anyone?

When it comes to NCs I've got a bunch of PGP Sierras sitting in my humidor that have been down there for at least a year. It may go quite a bit longer before I actually crack the box. When it comes to Villazon, I have more experience with products from this firm than others, I like their cigars at 2-3+ years. IMO, Punch Roths X are really good after 3 years of humi time.

[Navydoc]

Originally Posted by ComicBookFreak

Not necessarry, but all cigars benefit from aging. An Opus or Anejo is much, much better after a year for example.


CBF

You have the same avatar that Hollywood used to use......and I would add that 3-5 years on the opus as a minimum. Just my

[ComicBookFreak]

Originally Posted by Navydoc

You have the same avatar that Hollywood used to use......and I would add that 3-5 years on the opus as a minimum. Just my

Can't Remeber where I found it. In a google search, I think, and thought that it was cool.

CBF

[Hammerhead]

I know this question has been asked before, and the general consensus is that nearly all cigars benefit from aging. But I'd be curious to know which cigars benefit the most, and which ones benefit very little and are just as well smoked shortly after purchase.

For instance, there are those who claim that AF Hemingways don't benefit much from aging at all, some claim that in fact they go on a decline with age shortly after purchase. I find that hard to believe, but in the absence of any firsthand experience, or feedback from the FOGs here who I know we can trust, I'm still up in the air.

Do you guys think there might be any benefit to starting a spreadsheet, where we can track opinions on the benefits of aging by user and cigar? In other words, I could start an Excel sheet that enabled you guys to offer your experience?

For example, for the ERDM Robusto Oscuro, five different guys could have five different opinions on how many months to age it at a minimum, but if you average them all together and it lands at 14 months, then that's a safe guideline for those of us who just don't yet know, or have enough cigars in our collection to experiment with. That way, there'd be a guideline to know when each cigar has arrived at its 'optimized minimum' amount of age.

I'm willing to do the work if you guys are willing to help. Or, is this just more trouble than its worth?

[Eichen]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Do you guys think there might be any benefit to starting a spreadsheet, where we can track opinions on the benefits of aging by user and cigar? In other words, I could start an Excel sheet that enabled you guys to offer your experience?

That's a great idea. I honestly don't know if I would contribute or if my contributions would be useful since I smoke according to whims, not methods. I've never kept ageing notes. My experience is very anecdotal. In any case, it's a great idea and if you do go through with it, I hope many LLGs will add their impressions.

[Hammerhead]

Keep those cards and letters comin' folks. If the FOGs here collectively want to pool their experience on building a knowledge base of "minimum optimal" aging times for various cigars, I'll make the space on my server and publish it online for you guys to contribute and view.

Trick is we'd need at least a dozen or so FOGs contributing to make it worthwhile. Short of that, it's just another idea that would have no content and no value.

[singlguy9]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

I know this question has been asked before, and the general consensus is that nearly all cigars benefit from aging. But I'd be curious to know which cigars benefit the most, and which ones benefit very little and are just as well smoked shortly after purchase.

For instance, there are those who claim that AF Hemingways don't benefit much from aging at all, some claim that in fact they go on a decline with age shortly after purchase. I find that hard to believe, but in the absence of any firsthand experience, or feedback from the FOGs here who I know we can trust, I'm still up in the air.

Do you guys think there might be any benefit to starting a spreadsheet, where we can track opinions on the benefits of aging by user and cigar? In other words, I could start an Excel sheet that enabled you guys to offer your experience?

For example, for the ERDM Robusto Oscuro, five different guys could have five different opinions on how many months to age it at a minimum, but if you average them all together and it lands at 14 months, then that's a safe guideline for those of us who just don't yet know, or have enough cigars in our collection to experiment with. That way, there'd be a guideline to know when each cigar has arrived at its 'optimized minimum' amount of age.

I'm willing to do the work if you guys are willing to help. Or, is this just more trouble than its worth?

To answer your question about the Hemingways, I think you'll find more folks that err on the side of aging. I've personally smoked some right off the truck and some that were several years old. If kept at proper humidity, they do not decline IMHO.

As far as rating individual cigars based on age, I would recommend rating them for yourself (keep a personal journal or spreadsheet). Everyone I know has a different view on what a quality cigar is (type, size, body, aging, etc.). I think the longer they sit, the better blended and less bitter/green they'll be. Some folks have a different view. Some folks LOVE that green flavor, some HATE it.

The Hemmingways are a good example. Some people will swear they are only good for a little while. Some (which I am one) feel they improve over years of proper aging. It's all personal preference.

When I buy a box, I either save the receipt or date the box. I'll smoke one to see if I really like it. If I really like it, I usually smoke em' quick. If I sorta like em', I'll keep em' close to the top and sample em' from time to time to see if they're getting better. If they have that totally wet/tannic/new car taste, they go the bottom of the plie for at least six months, then I start over.

Good luck..........it's fun experimenting and sampling over the years.

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by singlguy9

Everyone I know has a different view on what a quality cigar is (type, size, body, aging, etc.).

Well, maybe, maybe not.

In the absence of empirical data submitted by each user to share their respective observations, we won't know for sure. Although you're right to the degree that there will be variances from one person to another, I suspect what will happen is that among experienced cigar smokers there will be a commonality of agreement on aging that will be +/- 6 months of each other's opinion on minimal optimum aging period for any given cigar.

The purpose of the exercise would be to serve as a benchmark by which both new users who are building collections, and veteran smokers who are unfamiliar with any given cigar, can benefit from the direct hands-on experience of others to take the 'guess work' out of the process and enhance the value of our collections by not "wasting" a cigar before it's ready.

Just my two cents. I figured it'd be kinda fun, but again, if we don't have enough collective wisdom to make it work, it's a waste of time.

[singlguy9]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Well, maybe, maybe not.

In the absence of empirical data submitted by each user to share their respective observations, we won't know for sure. Although you're right to the degree that there will be variances from one person to another, I suspect what will happen is that among experienced cigar smokers there will be a commonality of agreement on aging that will be +/- 6 months of each other's opinion on minimal optimum aging period for any given cigar.

The purpose of the exercise would be to serve as a benchmark by which both new users who are building collections, and veteran smokers who are unfamiliar with any given cigar, can benefit from the direct hands-on experience of others to take the 'guess work' out of the process and enhance the value of our collections by not "wasting" a cigar before it's ready.

Just my two cents. I figured it'd be kinda fun, but again, if we don't have enough collective wisdom to make it work, it's a waste of time.

You'd need to get a group of fairly dedicated members to agree to split several boxes of cigars; using the same box is critical to ensure flavor consistency and age of the cigar at the start of the experiment. Most of the time, flavors are consistent in the same box (sometimes not depending on the brand). I've tried multiple boxes of the same cigar that tasted quite different (all good, but different). They'd have to agree to smoke em' over time and report back with their experiences and when they thought it was the optimum time to smoke..........could take six months.........maybe a couple years. Interesting and tough.....but do-able.

[KnightKrusher]

Sounds like a good idea,what would you need from those that would be willing to help.

[palm55]

Originally Posted by Ivory Tower

Many times, NC cigars have been sitting in the humidor of your local tobacconist for at least a month, so you could safely bet they are OK on the aging. OK isn't always good enough and most NC cigars I've tried have smoothed out and become richer tasting after several months in the humidor. It all depends on the particular smoke, though. I think that Cubans we get are usually fresher because they come straight from some online retailer who is turning boxes over pretty frequently. The same probably goes for NCs bought online.

Excellent point on how long they've lived in the tobacconist's humidor!

I live in a semi-rural area, where it's 10 miles to the shop. I've always been alone in the humi-room, and can count on most of the smokes I see this week being there next week.

It's 35 miles to the JR shop... Great prices, but I pass on it... I like to know that I can smoke 'em when I get home!