How come you don't see more posts about aged NCs?

[Addiction]

I'm curious on this. I know at least 25% of the board believes NC to equal to CC. I mean we see this in posts all the time. But I really never see more than the occasional post about some one aging NCs. I mean sure you see the big three (Opus, Anejo and Padron) but its always a onesy twosey kind of thing. Everything else is more along the lines of "next year these Pepin Blues are going to be great" kinda thing where as the CC crowd is laying stuff away for the next decade.

So is there anyone buying NCs in quantity and laying them down for more than a nap?

[Fumioso]

I have a few NCs put away, but to be honest I haven't found much improvement over time with most NCs. I have a box of Camacho Havanas from '01 that are almost completely tasteless now -- they still have a really nice subtle aroma, but the flavor is gone.

Other NCs I have put aside out of curiosity: 05 SLR Cazadores (Honduran) 06 Padron 1964 Imperiales and 06 Aurora Cien Anos. And a throw box of various DPG blends -- Blues, Blacks and 601s.

[sikk50]

What I was told is that since the tobacco is aged prior to rolling NC's (not as common with CC's) they dont require as much aging. That they actualy will benifit more from just a couple years of age than with decades where they become bland.

NC's and CC's are entirely different animals.

[BigVito]

every aged NC was freaking great. I am odd

[mikeyj23]

A couple reasons:
1) To establish consistency from year to year, components of many NCs are already aged - anywhere from a year or two to [supposedly] 10-15.
2) Regardless of whether you believe noncubans are "equal" to cubans (whatever that means), their aging potential hasn't been proven as well. You could say this is a chicken-or-the-egg debate: noncuban aging hasn't been proven to help much because nobody does it, or nobody ages noncubans because it hasn't been proven to help. Whether the came first or not, the fact of the matter is still the same. While there are books and Encyclopaedias on Cubans and their aging potential and recommendations, nobody's considered noncuban aging that beneficial or important.

Exceptions:
Several on this board (NCRadioMan, MocoBird, Moki, RobinCoppell, others) have mentioned how much they enjoy aged Padrons. Others have found that Gurkhas, Tats, Pepins and Toranos have aging potential. Ultimately it all comes down to personal preference, but my over-riding personal opinion about aging, whether Cuban or non, is crap in=crap out, yummy in=yummier out.

[desame.one]

I've never had much luck aging anything. Six months is probably the longest I've been able to keep a few boxes untouched. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I decided to try and be a little more serious about it. With that said, I'll be stashing away a few boxes of Padron '26s and '64s here and there. I've been really enjoying the occasional Davidoffs that my old man has stashed away since the early '90s, so I'm also considering becoming a Davidoff whore in the very near future. I just don't know if I have the will power to hold off on smoking something for that length of time.

In keeping inline with the topic, most NCs are already aged. I know the Padron '26s have at least five years on them. '64s have at least four.

[groogs]

Most of the NC I smoke I like better fresh. I don't know if that is becuase the tobacco is already aged or not, it is just the way I feel. I am new to the CC's, so I will have to test the waters and see what I think of aged and non aged CC.

[Mr. Ed]

I've found that JdN Antano 1970's mellow out and become a much better smoke over time. Otherwise, the whole aging thing doesn't suit me. With cigars, i don't like planning years in advance.

[ScottishSmoker]

I have found that if you put a years worth of time on the La Aurora Cien Anos, it loses that "ashy" taste and mellows out really well...On the AF Anejos, they are very one dimensional after three years...a boring 1 dimiensional...as far as 1964 Padrons...Have to smoke them fresh..they lose everything over time

[scoot]

Originally Posted by Addiction

I'm curious on this. I know at least 25% of the board believes NC to equal to CC. I mean we see this in posts all the time. But I really never see more than the occasional post about some one aging NCs. I mean sure you see the big three (Opus, Anejo and Padron) but its always a onesy twosey kind of thing. Everything else is more along the lines of "next year these Pepin Blues are going to be great" kinda thing where as the CC crowd is laying stuff away for the next decade.

So is there anyone buying NCs in quantity and laying them down for more than a nap?

I think it has a lot to do with the status quo as far as CC aging versus NC. I mean that so far as aging CCs is so widespread that its almost a non-question and considered a necessary step in order to get the most out of their cigar. As far as NCs, better quality control and aging at the factory put a much more polished, immediately consumable product in the hands on the consumer. That said, I think that most smokers find that the majority of NC cigars perform so well fresh that many do not bother holding on to their smokes for much longer than a year.

As for me, when I get a chance and some room I'm gonna lay down a box of AVO smokes. I haven't quite made up my mind as to what series or vitola, but I would certainly love it to be the 787 Perfecto.

[oldforge]

Originally Posted by Addiction

So is there anyone buying NCs in quantity and laying them down for more than a nap?

Me--

CAO Brazilias (great at five years)
various Pepins (too new to tell yet)
El Rico Habanos Naturals (fantastic at three or four years)
etal

[TripleF]

I haven't been smoking all that long and all of the aged NC's I have received are not any better (IMHO) than the ones fresh out of the store. And actually I've had more burn problems with aged NC's.

But all in all, I don't think aging enhances NC's.

[MarbleApe]

I'm with the Fresh NC crowd on this one. Most NC's are in fact arleady aged, and only picked to add to a blend when at their peek preformances. The different tobaccos that go into a NC cigar are carefully watched over and tested time after time to achieve a certain taste/aroma/apperance that the artist wants to share with the world. It's an art form practiced over a lifetime. Some blenders have it, and some not so much for my taste. I guess I wouldn't take a Master Chef's signature dish home and throw it in the oven. If the dish/cigar doesn't suit my personal pallet, I order something different from the menue on the next go round.

[Coz77]

The only thing aging at this point is....ME. I say smoke em if you got em. Who knows... I might get sniped by a Uzi shooting yellow smiley faced mofo wearing a red bandana tomorrow Then all that hard work aging my cigars would render useless.

I go as far as to let the cigar acclimate in my humidor for maybe 2-4 weeks then its fair game.

[Volt]

For me, I just really started on aquiring any type of stash this year. Most of the NC sticks I like the most seem to state they are using aged leaves to make the cigars with. Is this the same as aging a cigar??? 5 years hanging or 5 years rolled in a box is still 5 years, but like i said I'm a noob.

#2 - Just can't afford nor do I have the space to store boxes and cabs for years.

#3 - I have never tasted in an NC what the CC smokers call "amonia" or the "grassy" flavors of a young leaf. So, mabe not the need to age....