An article on "Cellaring"

[Blaylock]

I read an interesting article today called “Worth the Wait”

The Cliff Notes:

*Tobaccos should be purchased for both immediate consumption and for their long term cellaring potential. In some cases the same blend can be used now, with additional supplies put away for the future.

*The single most important reason to acquire a tobacco, be it for now or for long term storage, is the fact that you enjoy the taste of the tobacco.

*Whether the least expensive or most exotic, the golden rule of tobacco tasting, which by the way is the exact rule used in wine selection, is if you like the taste, smell and general character of the tobacco (or wine), then it is a good blend.

*When cellaring, the trick is to taste the tobacco young and project what it will become in six months or six years, as the taste will change.

*Aromatics use low character base tobaccos and spray their top note or sweeteners, these tobaccos will actually decline in character over time so should be smoked when fresh.

* True cavendish processed aromatics, usually Danish produced, can be smoked now, but will continue to improve over a period of time of up to a year. After the first year, little change will occur and they will hold up for several years.

*Oriental natural blends (also English blends which are similar) will continue to change for several years if left to cellar under proper conditions.

*Virginia based flakes, cakes and loose blends will start to change the day they are packaged and continue for many years.

*Cool, but not cold, storage conditions will allow your tobacco to mature in a slow, even manner. The proper range is slightly less than room temperature (55 F to 65 F) for slow, steady maturation of tobacco. Tinned tobacco that is stored at a slightly warmer range, say 75 F, will mature quicker with only a slight loss in the overall final product.

*Long term maturation is best achieved through the use of a slightly loose packaging that contains some air. Example: McClelland tins are the perfect long (but not too long) term cellaring containers.

*"Drug store style" aromatics will hold for up to a year.

*Quality aromatics 2-5 yrs.

* Oriental style blends will need at least 1 year to soften with almost an indefinite period of time offered if you would like to hold these.

*Virginia based mixtures, especially pressed Virginias (cake, flake, spun disks, etc) offer the most drastic improvment with time.

*Three to five years will be a minimum age for softening Virginia based pressed tobaccos. While pressed Virginias will age well for 10 or 20 years, few of us have the patience to hold these tins for this long.

*Make sure that you date the tins in your cellar with the month and year of purchase.

The above is just a summary of the entire article so keep in mind some of the statements may seem out of context. I’d advise reading the entire article.

http://agingfaq.nocturne.org/articles/rhamlin-1995.txt

[morefifemusicanyone]

I've read the article before. It's good stuff. Thanks for sharing Blaylock!

Originally Posted by Blaylock

*Cool, but not cold, storage conditions will allow your tobacco to mature in a slow, even manner. The proper range is slightly less than room temperature (55 F to 65 F) for slow, steady maturation of tobacco. Tinned tobacco that is stored at a slightly warmer range, say 75 F, will mature quicker with only a slight loss in the overall final product.

I thought this quote was funny as room temp for me in MN in the winter is 58 F. My fingers get cold and numb when typing.

[Hydrated]

Originally Posted by morefifemusicanyone

I thought this quote was funny as room temp for me in MN in the winter is 58 F. My fingers get cold and numb when typing.

Yeah... it sometimes gets down to 58 degrees here too... oh wait... you mean INSIDE temperatures...

Nevermind... my bad!

[nate560]

hi i live on lake erie about 50 miles west of buffalo ny my basement where my cellar is kept is 59f now temp ouside today was 37 or 38f i think i will have to move it upstairs but will see i'll monitor the temp never had this problem in connecticut but retired and moved to our house here. does any one know what will happen if it drops below 55f thanks all happy smoking

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by nate560

does any one know what will happen if it drops below 55f

It will probably burst into flames...






In all seriousness, I think it is fine even down to freezing temps. I could have sworn I read somewhere about freezing baccy, maybe it was cigars though. I do believe that at lower temperatures sub 50's the aging process slows down. Aging is basically bacterium at work and they need oxygen and a modest amount of heat (i.e. energy). That's my understanding.

[dillonmcmurphy]

Hey thanks for the article. Good info!

[Blaylock]

Originally Posted by nate560

hi i live on lake erie about 50 miles west of buffalo ny my basement where my cellar is kept is 59f now temp ouside today was 37 or 38f i think i will have to move it upstairs but will see i'll monitor the temp never had this problem in connecticut but retired and moved to our house here. does any one know what will happen if it drops below 55f thanks all happy smoking

Hi Nate,

I believe 55-65 is the optimal for long term storage. Freezing is a good idea for cigars if you're worried about beetles, but not so good for tobacco. I think if you try to stay close to these ranges you'll be fine.

"Cool and dry is best. If you can keep it between 55 deg F and 70 deg F, you're doing well; perhaps a 65 deg F upper limit is better still." GL Pease

Here's a great site that talks about 'the optimum environment for cellaring', as well as a bunch of other useful information.

http://agingfaq.nocturne.org/cellaring.php#q2

[Phlegmatic]

This was interesting to learn about. Time to borrow cash from somewher and get a flake baccy stash!