Cigars for INFO

[CgarDan]

I don't think ths link has been posted yet. No entry, obviously, cause it ain't mine, but it's another opinion.

http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/aging/index.html

Great link. It is actually the same one Basil posted in week one

[cls515]

Cigars: The Early Years
Cigars should only be smoked within a few weeks of being rolled if you are hoping to get a new or freshly rolled type of flavor. Generally, experts agree that most cigars embody a better taste after their first birthday.

Two years is usually the best time to smoke Habanos, Hondurans, Dominicans, and most all light smokes; this is usually the peak time where these cigars are most flavorful.

Between two years and five years is where most other cigars peak - they become the high school quarterback, the prom queen, the senior class president. The stronger bodied cigars - the Havana Bolivars, for instance - are thought to generally age better over a greater duration of time, and peak during these "toddler" years.

Between 7 and 10 years, most cigars get set in their ways, watching the evening news while eating TV dinners. In a nutshell, they mellow out. For most people this is equated with having too little flavor.

As a followup, some cigars of known age were smoked and compared to dated reviews of cigars with known birthdays to contrast tastes of cigars with differing age. However, one must note that construction issues such as using different tobaccos in different years can account for the differences in tastes. In addition, all of the cigars with my smoking notes were smoked within the past week. Now, on to the cigars:

1. Partagas 898 Varnished (MPC OCT04) - The cigar has about two years of age and was an interesting smoke to say the least. Plume is present. The cigar had a nice vanilla character to it, with changing spice complexity. For instance, in the first 1/2", a peppery character was noted, while in the next 1/2" was a developing spice. The next inch carried vanilla, spice, hints of cedar, and a flash of orange.
A. (Cigars-review.org) Box ZFI SEP 05. This cigar really needs to be described in thirds. First third, mild/medium with a delightful and straightforward aroma that is clean on the palate. Second third, Amazing complexity with medium body. Every draw exhibits new flavors, and the flavor develops slightly with each. Last third, full body with powerhouse old school havana taste, almost knocked me out. Overall, an incredibly complex cigar that should improve well with age. The overwhelming majority of positive reviews is a testament to the quality of this cigar. - Submitted by peteando on May 4, 2006
B. (Cigars-review.org) Box code JNL DIC04. Just got a box last week and let them rest for a whole 5 days! As soon as I took the first puff there was the sweetest taste I have ever had in a cigar. Tastes of fruit and a little spice were throughout this gem. A true Habano. I will def. be getting another box of these beaut\'s. - Submitted by CIGARHead on May 5, 2005
In comparison to the reviews of approximately 1 and 0.5 year old cigars, one can see that some spices developed in the first third of the cigar aged 2 years.

2. Cohiba Siglo VI (ROA ENE06) Smoked this cigar with about 0.5 years of age. I can't say I was disappointed with it, as it is still my favorite cigar, but it was not the monster I've had before. The disinct Cohiba flavor was present, but the spice and complexity was not there. In previous smoking experiences, the spice was evident at the very start. In contrast, this cigar was pretty one dimensional, just a good smoke. There were flashes of complexity with some spice trying to break through, but like I said, it was not the monster of before. Still at 0.5 years, a great cigar, and still my favorite Cuban.

3. H. Upmann Sir Winston (ECA AGO01) This cigar has about 5 years of age and was very complex. The first inch was peppery that developed into a spicy character. The underlying flavor was very nice and woodsy. About halfway through the cigar changed its character to a very smooth, hard to describe flavor. It was kind of a salty, silky smooth woodsy profile with very little spice. In the next couple of inches, the spice reappeared to let you know it never left but was just hiding in the background. An awesome smoke but a little longer than what I like. But for occassions when you have the time, it is a highly recommended smoke.
A. (Cigars-review.org) Just cracked an 03 box. Starts off smooth, fresh, and mellow but not boring at all. Builds steadily to rich and complex about half way through. After that, I kept insisting to myself that it couldn't possibly get any better after every puff... and after every puff it just kept making me a liar. By about three quarters of the way through, I was getting a cool, rich, spicy smoke that was so thick I swear I could almost bite it. By the end, it was only dignity that kept me from fetching a pair of nose pliars and using it as a roach clip. - Submitted by greg258 on September 9, 2005
In comparing the two reviews between cigars of 3 and 5 years of age, one can see spices present in the 5 year old evident earlier in the smoking experience.

In conclusion, aging cigars can bring about flavor profiles, most notably a spicy character from this review. Generalizing the info, at 0.5 years of age, the complexity is not fully developed and just a good flavor profile is present. At 2-3 years of age, the complexity is coming around but not fully developed, and at +3 years the complexity is becoming more refined.

[basil]

cls515 - outstanding reviews.

A couple of comments/questions. I'm aware that box dates are packing dates and not necessarily manufacture dates. But, dates printed on boxes are the only reference. I've assumed that the cigars are packed pretty soon after manufacture, but also have wondered if that is in fact the industry/company practice. Is there ever a substantial amount of time (a year or more) that passes before the cigars are packed in boxes?

Your thoughts?

[cls515]

Thanks Basil. I would think they are packaged soon after rolling. I'll try to find out and get back to you.

[CgarDan]

CLS515 Amazing review indeed and in fact it makes you the winner for WEEKk # 4

Please PM me your name and addy and sticks will go out early next week

[cls515]

Awesome thanks.

[Shelby07]

Great link. It is actually the same one Basil posted in week one

Oops! Sorry.

[CgarDan]

Hey Chet, your prize went out today. Sorry for the delay DC# 0306 0320 0003 9162 9127

[cls515]

No worries. Let me guess, Opus and Fuente Short Story? Ha ha. Smokes came in the mail today. I wasn't anticipating so many, thanks.

[cls515]

I had the pleasure of talking with a friend who is knowledgeable about aging Cuban cigars and here is some information she shared with me: It's interesting because, as with wines cigars do tend to develop in character and style with age. However, there are some cigars, generally with smaller ring gauges that are not made to age and should really be enjoyed now. You would also be surprised at how many people actually enjoy a really young large cigar, simply because the flavors are so raw and filled with punches. For a cigar like the Magnum 46, which does tend to gather in strength with age (hence the name), when young, it's actually a delightful smoke filled with tasty notes of fresh fruits, caramel nuts and chopped wood.