How do you know how old your cigars are?

[hp-^]

I hear mention of aging cigars to improve their quality, but is there not a blank spot from the time before you bought them; which would make it very difficult and almost definatly impractical to figure out how old they are?

After you solve that, how do you go about finding the optimum age for the specific brand? I imagine it varies.

Thanks in advance to those who lend input, and since I'm feeling rather cheerful today, a thanks to those who don't reply at all. It's your lucky day.

Side rant: I want to buy a box of Zino Connoisseur's (became interested after reading a thread here) from the U.S., and the shipping + taxes costs one and two-fifths more than the cigars themselves. Isn't that terrible? Why do they want me to burn my money away ;) ? Thanks for listening. . .

[TheSilentChamber]

Boxes should have a date code. Most cigars are said to peak around 5-7 years, and start a steady decline after. As for knowing how long to age each brand, sample one every 6 months or so till you think its hit its peak.

[bigpoppapuff]

the decline is slight....hardly steady...your information is incorrect....if cigars are kept properly...they'll last for years.....

[Mazeman]

Am I missing something?

I know cigars can benefit by "settling" a little in the humidor (to even-out their moisture/texture), but beyond that, do they really improve that much with time? I know you can keep them indefinitely if properly stored, and retain their quality,.... but IMPROVE?

I have some fine single malt Scotch carefully stored for a future date, but I realize it won't be getting any better; only more rare. I also have a nice bottle 2000 Bordeaux (the year of my marriage) that I do expect to get better, but that's a different thing.

Where do cigars really lie in their ability to improve with age?

[TheSilentChamber]

I didnt mean once they peak they will plunge, I mean they will stedaly decline indefinatly and never peak again.

With age the flavors will mellow and change.

[Krautle87]

Am I missing something?

I know cigars can benefit by "settling" a little in the humidor (to even-out their moisture/texture), but beyond that, do they really improve that much with time? I know you can keep them indefinitely if properly stored, and retain their quality,.... but IMPROVE?

I have some fine single malt Scotch carefully stored for a future date, but I realize it won't be getting any better; only more rare. I also have a nice bottle 2000 Bordeaux (the year of my marriage) that I do expect to get better, but that's a different thing.

Where do cigars really lie in their ability to improve with age?

Basically a very strong or harsh cigar will get more smooth and mellow with age.

[Kayakinboy]

Am I missing something?

I know cigars can benefit by "settling" a little in the humidor (to even-out their moisture/texture), but beyond that, do they really improve that much with time? I know you can keep them indefinitely if properly stored, and retain their quality,.... but IMPROVE?

I have some fine single malt Scotch carefully stored for a future date, but I realize it won't be getting any better; only more rare. I also have a nice bottle 2000 Bordeaux (the year of my marriage) that I do expect to get better, but that's a different thing.

Where do cigars really lie in their ability to improve with age?

First off, Only CUBANS have box codes. Other cigars in your humi you might want to figure out a scale for. seperate them, blank band with the purchase date on them, something. I would only age the cigars that you didn't like that much off the bat. Opus is good due to the oily wrappers. DCMaximus are good to age, but I can't keep them that long. I won't smoke Fuente SG's without 6 months at least!

As for the "better with age", just go grab a cigar Aficionado and look at the older reviews...