Is is necessarry to age NC's?

[Lance]

Like the topic says. Other than bringing them home, and let them sit for about a month to adjust to a desired humidity, is it beneficial to age non cubans for years, like people do with cubans.

[ComicBookFreak]

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


CBF

[SeanGAR]

People don't talk about ageing NCs as much in part because you don't often know when they were rolled. I smoked a 5-7 year old inexpensive nicaraguan puro that was unrecognizeable compared to the same sticks fresh (and much better as well). Noticed the same thing with Boli Fuerte 554s that I smoked within a couple of months of purchase and one that sat for a year plus .. aged sticks are smoother and much better. Not all Cubans age the same so it is likely the same with NCs, where some age much better than others.

[illuminatus]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

People don't talk about ageing NCs as much in part because you don't often know when they were rolled. I smoked a 5-7 year old inexpensive nicaraguan puro that was unrecognizeable compared to the same sticks fresh (and much better as well). Noticed the same thing with Boli Fuerte 554s that I smoked within a couple of months of purchase and one that sat for a year plus .. aged sticks are smoother and much better. Not all Cubans age the same so it is likely the same with NCs, where some age much better than others.

What he said. And Sean, it's great to see you back and posting again, hope you enjoyed the trip!

[Stogiefanatic182]

I try and let any stick I get sit for at least a few months before touching them because like some have already mentioned it cant hurt it, it can only help it taste better.

[plexiprs]

All cigars or anything with tobacco can have a "sick period" where the moisture caused fermentation continues and causes the release of ammonia like odors and/or tastes. The thing with NC's is most have spent some time "resting" already and may be outside their individual sick period.

I like all mine to be at the same temp and humidity as the rest of my stash. I let EVERYTHING that I buy rest 2-3 weeks to join the family so to speak. If gifted with a stick, or impulse buying at the cigar club, I'll smoke without knowing the age, but I sniff for the "bad" smell before lighting.

Some seem to get better with more time like others mentioned. Some seem to loose their luster like some PAN/PAMs I've tried. The thing is proper storage conditions are esstential. Aging a cigar at 50% humidty is just making kindling or incense.

[RPB67]

If I buy Non Cubans like Padrons,Opus Anejos, Astons Etc ....

I always let them age at least a few month to settle. I like aged Opus and I have a box of Padron #9s that have been sleeping for two years now.

I will let you know how they are in another two years when I break them out.

[floydp]

Most things tobacco are like some of us old farts that hang out in the trees here. Better with age. Gran Habano #5's mellow and become very good smokes. A Punch double maduro isn't even the same cigar after a year or even longer. ERDM's robusto's are quite good young but boy are they better with age. I smoke a rediculous amount of Padron's that I start firing up a week after I've put them in the humidor so it makes it hard to get any age on them. I was lucky enough that Mocobird sent me some 5 year old 2000's and 3000's and I'm here to tell you they were much better. Enough so that I bought a whole box of 3000's I are buried deep in my humidor just for that purpose. Anita doesn't like Padron's so there safe So in a long winded way I guess I'm saying, yeppers they do get better with age..

[dadof3illinois]

I agree with what everyone is saying here. I think about every cigar can get better with some age.

Sean made a statment about how good a nicaraguan cigar was after it was aged. I've had the same experience with nicaraguan cigars with age. The few that I've had are some of the best cigars I've ever had (top 20) including non-NC's.

[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.

[opus]

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 just date them for the month and year I acquired them.

[TypeO-]

Originally Posted by opusxox

I just date them for the month and year I acquired them.

I do the same thing, at least on the sticks I have with cello. I usually remove a few cigars that I intend to smoke in the near future from the cello. In this case, I just have to remember when I bought the cigar or look at its mate still in cello. I also keep a spreadsheet with details on the cigar, purchase date, # of days in humi, etc.

Since I've acquired most of my 500 cigars in the last three months, I don't really have a 'long term' game plan. What I do tend to do is keep any newly acquired purchase in my humi for at least a couple of weeks before smoking. You can't assume that the cigar has been treated right. Did the B&M just get it? If it was just put in the B&M's humi, how long was it in transit? Etc., Etc. One example...I bought a box of Rocky Patel 1992 Vintage cigars. I bought it right out of my B&M's humi. I couldn't wait to try one so I lit one up a day after purchase. It was the dryest thing I ever smoke; like sucking through a straw.

[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.

[partagaspete]

AS I read this thread I see adefinate yes it is good to age your NC's as well. From a personal standpoint I had a Box of Punch Gran Puro Sierra's. WHen they first came out and they were really strong and really spicy, pure black pepper. Well I smoked my last one two weeks ago and it was completely diferent. Nutty, with some spice, and much smoother. But to tell you the truth I liked them both equally...just different in this particular case.

Me recommendation smoke some and age some. That is what i a doing now as a relative newbie.

T

[shakespeare]

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