question about cubans

[kchunk]

...I'd like to know what cigars especially benefit from aging - ISOMs or otherwise. I'd think that if someone were to invest money in a high end box of cigars of any kind, they'd be prone to invest the time as well.

Hi all. I realize I'm replying to a fairly old thread but the info here is timeless and I have some input.

This past summer on vacation my brother brought along a few RyJ churchills from our favorite ISOM. These were the first Cubans I've tried and was quite impressed, so much so that when I returned home I did a little research and picked up a box for myself. Not knowing I needed to age these things I promptly cracked open the box and lit up the first one. I have no reason to doubt their authenticity but I was not impressed with the first smoke. The burn was only OK (like the ones we had on vacation) but the taste was not what I expected. Strangely, I was really enjoying the smell of the cut end as I was making my way through this churchill but the last quarter I started detecting ammonia.

I must say by this time I was thinking I had bought a box of fakes despite no evidence other than the taste. Tankfully, after a brief search through this forum, it appears that this is a quite normal condition for smokes purchased from this island.

Anyway, the box is resting comfortably (minus one smoke), and we'll give it another try next summer after a little aging (of course I'll still be opening them once a week just to sneek another delicious whiff). FYI the date on the box is May 06.