I am a relative noob. But the one thing I have learned is that over time, lots of time, tastes evolve as much as a cigar. they become more refined, less tolerant of crap, AND able to discern subtle nuances of a stick that would be hidden from a less experienced smoker.
I went back and revisited some of the sticks that I got started on and couldn't even stand smoking them. I have learned to discern the crap, and moved up in the world. But I can't say that I've learned to fully appreciate the subtle nuances of some cigars. sure, i'll enjoy the cigar, but I'm still a little green. So although I have a few very nice sticks in my humidor... I'm still waiting a little longer for my palate to catch up with the level that I know those sticks will smoke at.
so whats that got to do with aging sticks? simple. start collecting the good stuff now. put it away for a bit, you don't need to start off your smoking career on the high end stuff, it is in my (very inexperienced) opinion, a waste of a good stick. Why smoke a $15 stick and enjoy it when you could have gotten the same enjoyment from a $10 stick? put the $15 ones away for aging, and wait for your tastes to mature. by that point, maybe a lot of those $5 sticks will be tasting rather boring and flat. GREAT. move on up a level to the sticks you've been aging. now you have nice aged stock AND the palate to fully appreciate them.
