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From the knowledge I have gleaned from you fine folks, a lot of cigars improve with a long rest, while others just need a chance to acclimate to your humidor. In your opinion, what cigars are good to go ROTT, and what cigars only require a short rest? What do you consider a short rest versus a long rest? I'm looking forward to this discussion, as well as seeing where opinions vary.
There are two pieces to the question, I think.
One relates to humidity. I believe many online vendors keep their cigars a little more wet than I want (and a few shops, I guess). I've had way too many that just wouldn't burn right, and I had to light and relight over and over. My personal thought is that 8-12 weeks of rest seems to be enough to get cigars from wet to smokeable at my preferred humidity (65%). The trick is that I'm sure some cigars arrive at the house perfectly acclimated at 65-68%, but I've got enough stock now that I don't mind just letting everything sit for a while. So on this part, sometimes a cigar is perfect ROTT, other times it may take a few weeks or more to come down. I've heard of guys putting the cigars and a hydrometer in a ziplock or tupperware with the cigars for a couple hours, but I have no idea how accurate this would be.
The really tricky question to me is on particular cigars, and which benefit from a longer rest/aging. I've smoked a bunch lately in the 1-3 year old range, and very few of them have gotten worse in that time, but frankly I don't think most of them have gotten a ton better either.
A few do seem to benefit some though, especially my beloved Oliva Vs. A bunch of people talk about aging Fuente Anejos, and after a couple years I actually can tell a difference with them - I love them both, but not sure if I prefer the punchiness of the newer ones or the smoothed out older ones.
I'd basically think of under a year or 2 as resting, and more than that aging...I guess.
The darker the cigar, the longer it should rest IMHO
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I am a Hack. I'll smoke any cigar ROTT as long as it does not show up soaking wet from over compensating humidification from certain retailers.
I don't intentionally age very many cigars with Anejos and Opus thank I am doing intentionally and plan on waiting until they are 4 yrs old and giving them a try. I have some singles to smoke on occasion while I wait. Other than those the rest are fair game, but at my rate of smoking many of them will also be aged by the time they get their turn.
As far as resting, I usually wait a minimum of a month or two before smoking one unless it is something I am really excited to try. I have coming up on only 3 years of smoking cigars regularly and your question is one I really wanted to learn about. Which ones age well? Only time will tell. But if you buy a lot more than you smoke you will find out.
I'll tell you a cigar that surprised me with long term aging was a Te-Amo Maduro Churchill. They had 12-15 years aging and both of them were just delicious...
Hear you brotha! For now I have almost no patience for aging, the suspense gets me! I usually smoke CAO's ROTT & love every moment of it!Quote:
Originally Posted by OnePyroTec
I always allow 1-2 months rest minimum before burning. Probably just my OCD but I prefer that time so they can acclimate to the coolers. I can actually say that I never smoke anything ROTT.
With a few exceptions...I have found that most NC's do not seem to age gracefully, at least in my humble experience. With Padrons, Tats and Liga's I think they are best fresh. After 6 months they start to lose their appeal to me. While still good...after about a year they lose their luster & pop. The intense flavors I like those for start to go away.
Of course there are always exceptions. I had a LP UF13 that had over 2 years on it and it was wonderful. The box of Tat Jeckyll's are still smoking great.
But then I had a Padron Family Reserve with 2+ years that was well past its prime for me. It would have been ok if it was a $7 stick but at $31 it was very disappointing.
The one NC i have found seems to age well for me is the Ave Maria Reconquista. What was once a horribly overpriced stick when fresh slowly became outstanding after 2 years. I am curious to see how it is with 3 years. I find great enjoyment in
Now with CC's...my goal is to sit on them until I retire. Some 25 year old Cohibas will be nice
I'll just give you my rule of thumb without getting all sciency on you:
1) Cheap cigars, 3 to 6 months seems best and they generally don't get any better after that.
2) Quality cigars tend to improve with aging (multiple years or more) but the nicotine level abates in the process.
3) I just smoke whatever I have when I want it - I rest cigars but don't bother aging them.
I believe I read Padron ages their sticks before distribution. Does that sound accurate? If so, would that be why they don't seem to holdup?
Had some come in today, that likely qualify for a goodly bit of aging.
Not into long term aging, don't have the time for that, but resting, ok.
Nine hours later and one has been reduced to ashes...stretched my aging limits to the max.
The last few amazing smokes I've had were cigars that were aged over a year. At this point I believe the smoking experience can go from good to excellent with at least a year of aging. It will be interesting to see if any of my sticks get to two years and what they smoke like then.
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There are a few nondescript cigars that really caught my attention when I forgot about them and they got some unintentional age. NC Saint Luis Rey Maduro Rothchilds, Hoyo Excalibur #1 maduros and 601 Blues. So-so ROTT but with a couple years they are really good IMO. Also, Master Blends III and LADC Mi Amor are good to start with but excellent with 3+ years. All the Padron Anny's I've had I try to smoke quickly, the x000 series is good with 1-2 on them. I don't seem to keep them longer than that for some reason. :stogie:
A buddy of mine recently gave me a couple sticks that he had bought in the 80s. Excellent flavor, very well aged, but the vitamin N was near zero.
Paul Garmirian, a botique in McLean, VA, ages his cigars 5-7 years (some longer) b/f selling. They are quite nice, but a little pricey, so they're special occasion sticks for me. He says he has a warehouse "near the airport" (Dulles) where he ages them in a temp/RH controlled environment. It would be cool to visit that some day but I can see why they might want to keep the location a secret.
The Master Blend 3 is great with a birthday or three on them...Quote:
Originally Posted by jhedrick83
Does anybody have insight on the illusione R? To age or not to age, that is the question. Just got in a box last week.
IMO, they are awesome fresh and with a year or two still excellent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunther7912
I'm taking this question to refer to NC's.
As mentioned some sticks are aged before sold, Padron in particular (not sure who else does). LP and Fuente's are much better ROTT IMO, at most acclimated.
I also find that most of the "boutique" smokes just need to acclimate.
I've had a few aged (more than 2 years) smokes thanks to the generosity of a few fine Bums, but generally a nice long rest (12-18 mths). Most of the time my smokes acclimate a month or so, then they meet their death by fire.
I find that the less expensive smokes <$3, get better with at least a year on them. In particular, Obsidian, RB Genesis.
My experience has shown that NC's are better with rest of at least a month or at least 2 months. Trying to rush a cigar that just arrived at your home and smoking them ROTT tends to make them a bit bitter/ammonia/sick period. A week for every day in transit has been somewhat of a guide. If the cigar is one that is medium to full bodied more rest is suggested so that the tobacco acclimates to its new environment and at a RH that we like.
As far as CC's go it's a little different as I tend to keep them resting for at least 6 months to a year but I find myself sneaking in and smoking one or two. I cheat/it's what I do.