So I have my cigars sitting in my Vino...

Originally Posted by bobarian

Given proper storage conditions cigars will be smokeable indefinitely. I have several cigars over 50 years old and a couple left from 1948, all have been stored carefully and still are great smokes.

I am curious though, after that long does the strength really mellow out? Would say a full bodied cigar become a more mild to medium cigar?

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by Wallbright

I am curious though, after that long does the strength really mellow out? Would say a full bodied cigar become a more mild to medium cigar?

That's a different question entirely and with no first hand experience on how my pre-Embargo's smoked when fresh I cannot speculate. I only know that aged Cuban cigars can be sublime. I have had several cigars from the 60's and 70's that were very strong. But I look more for complexity than strength which is why I smoke most Cuban's these days.

Aging cigars for 20+ years is a bit of a crap shoot, some can be great others just average. There is also no formula to know which current cigars will age the best. The current crops of tobacco's from Central America have only been around for 10 years or so. While some cigars may lose some of their punch and strength, hopefully what they gain in complexity will more than outweigh the loss of strength.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by Wallbright

I am curious though, after that long does the strength really mellow out? Would say a full bodied cigar become a more mild to medium cigar?

What Bob said above and additionally,

Yes, they tend to mellow but become more complex and refined. Although one of the strongest cigars I ever had was from 1973. There does come a time when the cigar will expire. Smoked part of a 1903 Partagas last year and while it still had something there, you could tell it was way past it's prime. I din't know how it was stored over the years but that is the key to longevity. I, like Bob also have a handful of cigars from the 50's that were kept very well and they are quite tasty.