Timeline for cigars?

**hevyboy** · 07-16-2005, 04:46 PM

Hey guys! I am a newbie, been enjoying the hobby only a few months.
How long do you need to keep cigars in the humidor before they are
ready to smoke?

**MMAB** · 07-16-2005, 06:05 PM

depends what you buy.

If you are fortunate to be able to buy Cubans, assuming you live outside of the USA, it is my understanding that most Cuban cigars should be aged further. About six months I think. Someone correct me here please if needed. CC?

However, if you live in the USA the cigars you'll most likely buy are Dominican or Nicaraguan or God forbid Mexican (ugghhh!

Sorry, I can't stand Te-Amos)

Most of these SHOULD be OK right out of the box. BUT, I don't believe that. I may be wrong but it seems to me that many manufacturers are shipping very wet (humid) cigars. Arturo Fuente for example. They're a great cigar but unfortunately they don't taste good right out of the box. I've found that a resting period of about one month does them a world of good. Fuente has been shipping their cigars with one of those little Humi-Paks enclosed. I'm not so sure that's really a good thing.

The "resting" period thing have is one you'll have to decide for yourself. Many cigars are fine right from the box. Others seem to need a little time to stabilize.

**Lopaka** · 07-16-2005, 07:30 PM

I think it also depends on were you get them also. If you are getting them from a good Cigar Shop that takes care of the Humidors, you can smoke them that day. (I've been lucky and found these on the road

) However, just like mentioned above, all depends.

**Bkcloud114** · 07-16-2005, 11:31 PM

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** · 07-17-2005, 01:09 AM

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** · 07-17-2005, 06:26 AM

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** · 07-17-2005, 12:45 PM

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** · 07-17-2005, 02:06 PM

Thanks to all you guys for the info.

**MMAB** · 07-17-2005, 08:21 PM

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** · 07-17-2005, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by 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

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** · 07-17-2005, 09:21 PM

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......

**Island Epicurean** · 07-19-2005, 08:36 PM

Proper aging of cigars is an absolute must...... While your local shop may have aged them for a short to medium period, you should store them for at least another 6 months.

Personally I like to store non-cubans for about 9-12 months before smoking. As for actual Cubans, (They are legal here in Canada), I usually leave them in excess of a year. Cuban tobacco needs proper aging to release all the flavors and they continually change with age. (They can be completely different cigars with age!)

As a general rule, I would say that of you are not sure of the age of your cigars, age them for 6-12 months for non cubans and in excess of a year for cubans. As a general rule, the longer the better. (Unless you drool on them while you wait.

)

Here is a little test. Take a cigar that is fairly common, (A Jose L Piedra for example), store one of these stogies for approximately 18 months. Once the time has passed, go back to your cigar shop and buy a new one of these cigars. Try smoking both of them and you will see the flavor difference.

Good Luck and happy smoking.