How do you know what's going to taste good in 2008?

[Addiction]

On May 12th I officially celebrate 1 year in " this thing of ours." I've seen a bunch of personal changes for me. I've gone from the guy who looked for everything in maduro and 60 ring to a lover of complexity over power. Ive gone from an nc champion to a plan to fewer than 20 ncs and flooding mu humis with isoms. And I've always wondered how people buy smokes for four years from now but I've also begin to cautiously lay away treasures for the turn of the decade.

Some of my choices were too easy. Davidoff Intenso Robustos made the cut, as did the Diademas Finas. The are both so excellent now almost no speculation is required to see those both becoming great. The choice of two Opus boxes was based on the 2005 gof, you can taste the opus in that stick and see what an opus could be with enough time to achieve some balance. My
love for the 80th made me put a box down but I don't have high hopes. I think Padron tabacco is worked very hard as it is and fear that time diminishes rather than improves the high end stuff from them. And since I just lucked up on 2 boxes of Wolters Gold Medals that semi-legendry smoke was an easy one to put down for 3 more years.

I've got others in mind. I'm on the hunt for a second box of Edmundo Dantes even tho I've never lit one (a situation i will rectify this weekend) and there will be 3 boxes of Cohibas salted away (I own some Genios that are unsmokable right now, also throwing down some Secretos and one other) but as yet I've identified nothing else except a box of sharks perhaps.

So what do you look for in making a choice to lay a box down?

[icehog3]

Perhaps a new vitola from a favorite marca. Reviews of cigar potential from knowledable smokers I trust or have similar tastes with. Previous experience with a cigar and hearing the '08s are smoking well fresh, or seem to have potential in their opinions. Or just 'cause I want some. There may be a science to it, but some of it it dumb luck too...you can never be certain how a cigar will develop with age.

[[OT] Loki]

by smoking them and deciding

[gnukfu]

Originally Posted by Addiction

So what do you look for in making a choice to lay a box down?

My age versus my life expectancy!

[Sandman]

I smoked an 08 RASSC last night and was quite surprised how good it was. The last third was a little bitter, but overall was a very tasty smoke.

[cbsmokin]

I would stick with what you know and like. Some years are bound to be a little better than others, but if they are from a consistent manufacturer they should age well.