Timeline for cigars?

[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......

[Island Epicurean]

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.