Timeline for cigars?

[Bkcloud114]

I have found that alot of the cigars I buy off the internet smoke and taste much better after sitting about 1 month...... The ones I buy from a real Cigar Lounge type of place seem to usually be just right.

[BigMacFU]

Welcome to the boards and to the hobby!

I think what your getting at in your question essentially deals with how the cigars will go through different relative humidities while in transit and so essentially, if you're excited to smoke the cigar, it should really only take a few days to a week in your humidor (depending on how stable your humidor is) to stabilize the cigars. Some companies ship cigars at higher RH's so they don't dry out during shipment, others can ship on the dry side. So, best advice is to allow the cigars to stabilize in your humidor for a few days to a week.

Now, when it comes to aging your cigars, then you're getting into the months range. Because tobacco continuously ferments, your cigars are ever changing in their flavor. A cigar that is aged will generally become more complex and evoke flavors that would not otherwise have had time to develop.

A great site on all things about cigar info, and also aging is here:

http://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#4.1

Scroll to the top to get to the index.

Again, welcome to the boards, enjoy your stay and let us know what your tastes are.

[Johnny]

Hi and welcome to the foum

I buy Cubans as I live in the UK and again it all depends. I bought a box of Trinidad Reyes and had one the day i got them. It was an exceptional smoke. Other Cubans though I've had have definitly needed at least a month in the humidor sometimes more. I agree that it depends alot on were they've been stored before and on storage during transit. If buying a box though just try one, if you like it then time in the humidor will just increase the flavours, if not good then give it a few months and try another and so on.

[CoventryCat86]

The whole "aging" of Cuban cigars is a matter of personal preference. I very seldom "age" any Cuban cigars I smoke. There are many brands that I prefer to smoke when they are less than a year old. They taste fine to me.

ANY cigar you buy that are shipped to you should sit in the humidor for a while (about a week) to stabalize. Most of the big internet retailers here in the US stor and ship their cigars very wet so they need to dry out.

Cigars you buy from your local shop are usually good to smoke right away but most shops still store them too wet for my preference. They all seem hell bent on the 70% RH which I think is too high. I prefer to keep my cigars closer to 60% RH. You wind up with a whole lot less burn problems that way

[hevyboy]

Thanks to all you guys for the info.

[MMAB]

CC!!!!

You made a spelling error!!!!

Now I've seen everything!

It's s-t-a-b-i-l-i-z-e....not s-t-a-b-A-b-A-l-i-z-e !!!

And you left the "e" off of the end of s-t-o-r- ... !

Well? What do you have to say for yourself?

I still love you though

[CoventryCat86]

CC!!!!

You made a spelling error!!!!

Now I've seen everything!

It's s-t-a-b-i-l-i-z-e....not s-t-a-b-A-b-A-l-i-z-e !!!

And you left the "e" off of the end of s-t-o-r- ... !

Well? What do you have to say for yourself?

I still love you though

WOW Baaaaaaaaaaaddddddddd Holy crap, I better break out my ole Speak n' Spell

Oh I forgot to say, as far as Havanas, since the boxes all have box codes, you know how old they are. Again, if they've been shipped to you it's best to let them sit for a few days to a week to stabalize.

[55Kingpin]

I like to "age" all of my cigars. My humidor gets "rotated" and usually I buy multiples of smokes I like.

If I like a particular stick, then I'll really like it a year or longer from now (esp. when it comes to ones from ISOM). I've got some sticks that have been sitting in my 'dor for at least 3 years, and I'm a pretty young guy. I hope to keep some sticks to celebrate certain events later on in life. I got a box of Esplendidos for my freshman year at college (4 years ago), and I have about half of it left. I plan to keep at least two sticks to celebrate MY son's graduation from college (I'm not even married yet!). So hopefully, I will be able to follow through with this plan.

As far as the earliest a smoke can be lit up.....it depends. Not only on what overs have already said, but also on your personal taste. To me, cigars and cigar smoking is a very personal thing where people have their own rituals and tastes.

Experimentation and experience will come with the passage of time......