Which NCs are best for aging?

[JJG]

The whole concept of aging cigars really appeals to me. Despite the fact that I'm obsessed with tobacco, I only smoke a few cigars per week and because my consumption rate is so low, I can afford to buy the good stuff.

I know that full bodied smokes age the best but I'm wondering which specific brands, if any, are best for long-term storage. So far I've been buying as many Padron ani's, 26's and Pepin brands as I can afford but all the tobacco used in these cigars have a lot of age already. will they benefit from additional aging? if so, how long?

Other than Fuentes, which NC cigars age the best?

[mhillsing23]

I personally wouldn't age any NC but Padron Annis, Anejos and Opus. That is not to say that other cigars wouldn't benefit from some aging. But, let's say you are talking about 3 years of age, I would only age those three cigars. Personal opinion of course.

[boonedoggle]

I've actually taken a project upon myself to age some rather freshly rolled cigars my F.I.L. picked up while in the DR. They seem to have potential, so I'll probably test one out every 6 months. I originally started them on Thanksgiving day.

My understanding is that fresh, full bodied cigars are the best for aging...turn it into a side project. Good Luck!

[zemekone]

i have some 3 year old pardon 3000 and 6000 maddies that are smoking pretty good, but the best aged NCs that i have had are original release opus X and some older sharks... but i havent aged anything else...

[Andyman]

I have some mid to late 90's Padron 64's and they are past there prime.. I like most NC's with a year or two on them. Opus is probibly one of the only ones that "require" aging.. VSG's could probibly bennefit as well.

[Puffy69]

Originally Posted by Andyman

I have some mid to late 90's Padron 64's and they are past there prime.. I like most NC's with a year or two on them. Opus is probibly one of the only ones that "require" aging.. VSG's could probibly bennefit as well.

Opus sux young but after 3 to 5 years it gets really good and 10 years its a Very good smoke..just ask Catfish Mark..He hated Opus til he smoked an original release dc that Navydoc gave him and i watched that boy saver every inch of that smoke..

[Ivory Tower]

I'm thinking that some of the Padron thousand series, some of Pepin Garcia's creations, maybe some stronger Camachos. Can't think of anything else right now.

I haven't tried any Opus Xs or Anejos, but evidently they might be on the list as well.

[Eichen]

I can't say what's the best to age but I've always had good luck with Villazon cigars (Punch, Hoyo, JR Ult). IMO, these can take 3-4 years to really come into their own. According to others, these cigars still taste good up to about 7-8 years. If you like the Villazon profile, I'd check these out.

What else? Check out LGC; these are nice after a year or two. Padron K series is tasty after a few years. I've got Torano Signatures that are tasting great after 3 years...

I'd agree with the previous post about sticking to full bodied cigars for aging. OTOH, I think a cigar like Casa Torano might make a good candidate for age too. Although it's not strong, it's got a nice dense flavor with a fair amount of wood and perhaps leather (I can't remember exactly) flavors that might turn the cigar into something truely elegant after a few years. CAO Black might be similar (it's been years since I've had one of those). I wouldn't rule out some milder sticks with dense tannic and woody flavors.

You can also apply some MRN style storage tricks -- wrap boxes in foil and bag in ziplocks after sucking as much of the air out as possible (or vacuum pack), keep stuff in cello, tubes etc. If they work for Havs, why not NCs? I've got a few boxes tucked away this way (some Pepin stuff, JdNA and dare I say it, connies, namely). We'll see how it goes.

[volfan]

I would go with RP Edge, Padron Thousand Series and VSGs. Now, with that said, I would also lay some Montesino Sun Growns, Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino SG or RP Sungrowns down as well just to see how they do. Also, the LGC Serie Rs I have had with any age at all are freakin' awesome and I have heard that all LGCs age well.

scottie

[mosesbotbol]

Age whatever cigar you like to smoke. It's not going to "hurt" the cigar by having it age. What the cigar will be like 15+ years from now, who knows, but I doubt that will be a factor. Obviously, the big names would be the first pick to age like Davidoff, Ashton, Padron, AF, etc... The big names would have the most collectible aspect to them. Just start building a collection and then re-evaluate your situation in 10 years.

[drneves7]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Age whatever cigar you like to smoke. It's not going to "hurt" the cigar by having it age. What the cigar will be like 15+ years from now, who knows, but I doubt that will be a factor. Obviously, the big names would be the first pick to age like Davidoff, Ashton, Padron, AF, etc... The big names would have the most collectible aspect to them. Just start building a collection and then re-evaluate your situation in 10 years.

This kind of the theory I am going with I am still only a few months into smoking cigars but I have quite the small collection going. I am trying to get ahead of my smoking so I can let my sticks rest. Also I am aging the cigars that weren't that good or kinda harsh. Just hoping they get a little better if not I will wait a little longer. Just of a newbie

Dominic

[joed]

the ones made in cuba from cuban tobacco!

Sorry - but I've gone over the edge completely!

[JJG]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

The big names would have the most collectible aspect to them.

I agree. not so much the big name part but just the fact that if i'm going to store cigars long-term, they should be something special like a Padron ani or opus x. Right now all I have for aging are the Padrons and some Tatuaje tainos.

Many of the reviews I have read for the Tats mention the fact that they would age really well and probably be great in 2-4 years. I would also like to get some of the Opus x or Anejos but I haven't put the effort into tracking any down yet.

Eventually my goal is to age some nice boxes of Habanos but until then, I'll probably just stick with Fuentes and Padrons for long term storage.

[muziq]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Age whatever cigar you like to smoke. It's not going to "hurt" the cigar by having it age. What the cigar will be like 15+ years from now, who knows, but I doubt that will be a factor. Obviously, the big names would be the first pick to age like Davidoff, Ashton, Padron, AF, etc... The big names would have the most collectible aspect to them. Just start building a collection and then re-evaluate your situation in 10 years.

I have to concur completely with this suggestion. When I dove into the deep end of cigars about two years ago, I went from a single humi to a fridgador (and now a 2nd fridgador), and quickly filled it up with boxes of fairly pedestrian sticks...Padron X000s, Fuentes, Camacho Corojos, LGCs, etc. As I went along smoking these, I continued buying boxes of nicer things, although never depleting those original cheaper boxes. Today, I can dig into what's left of a box of two-year-old Camacho Corojo Churchills and find an amazing stick--one that didn't taste nearly as good as I remember the first one tasting. Same thing for most sticks, from cheapo Sancho Panza Maduro Maduros, to Short Stories, all the way up to Opus and Tatuajes. If you like a particular stick now, it's likely to improve within a year or two--and that might give all the incentive you need to invest in some pricier smokes (also called sliding down the slope). I guess my point, if I have one, is to get a box or few sticks of whatever you like--regardless of price--set aside, and see what happens. That's half the fun of cigars for me...seeing what happens.

[donp]

If you wanna get some info about aging NC's Palm55 is a good source to ask. He has posted many threads in here about NC's he has "rested" for looong periods of time, and has reported back about how good they became. Do a search of his posts and you'll come up with a lot of info.