Which NCs age well?

[cbsmokin]

I'm not sure about what NC do age well, but I know that Padron Anni's do NOT age well. Time makes them terrible.

[JJG]

a lot of NCs, specifically the higher quality (expensive) smokes already contain aged tobacco. that doesn't mean they won't continue to improve, its just that they are made to be smoked without additional age.

The only cigars I hear of people aging quite often are Opus. If you were to pick something for long term aging, I would get something complex and bold that's not going to lose to much strength over time. If you start with a mediocre box, you will likely be disappointed.

[Giant & 49er Fan]

Originally Posted by JJG

a lot of NCs, specifically the higher quality (expensive) smokes already contain aged tobacco. that doesn't mean they won't continue to improve, its just that they are made to be smoked without additional age.

The only cigars I hear of people aging quite often are Opus. If you were to pick something for long term aging, I would get something complex and bold that's not going to lose to much strength over time. If you start with a mediocre box, you will likely be disappointed.

Agreed! Opus must be aged. They are very green when they come out. SOUR! is the word that describes them

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by cbsmokin

I'm not sure about what NC do age well, but I know that Padron Anni's do NOT age well. Time makes them terrible.

Here is where subjective taste comes into play. I think the Padrons age wonderfully. I recently had a 6 year old '64 and it was sublime. Freaking fantastic. I rarely will smoke a Padron anymore without a few years on them. Also Pepins age very well, including Tats. They become much more complex and rounded without all the power. I've also got some old Torano Black and Silver 59's that are off the hook good, to me.

It's best not to take anyone's advice on the issue, imo. It's something you can only tell for yourself.

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Here is where subjective taste comes into play. I think the Padrons age wonderfully. I recently had a 6 year old '64 and it was sublime. Freaking fantastic. I rarely will smoke a Padron anymore without a few years on them. Also Pepins age very well, including Tats. They become much more complex and rounded without all the power. I've also got some old Torano Black and Silver 59's that are off the hook good, to me.

It's best not to take anyone's advice on the issue, imo. It's something you can only tell for yourself.

Greg makes a good point.

The only way I think you'll be able to tell is if you buy a few boxes, smoke a few fresh and write down a review, set them to age 5 to 6 years and then come back to them and compare notes. Otherwise it's just a crapshoot guessing what can and can't age and how you'll enjoy an aged cigar versus a fresh one.

If one were to make any attempt to find objective information from this anecdotal collection of subjective opinions, I would think it would be this:

Its hit or miss. It depends on the specific cigar you are talking about, the specific smoker, and (though it hasn't been mentioned yet) the specific aging environment (this might be why powerhouse cigars age better while milder ones lose their appeal). Further, I would doubt that anyone here could actually describe with factual confidence what is truly occuring during the aging process. So, all the variables are either very instance-specific or are unknowable.

Not to put anyone down, but if you are asking the question about aging, chances are you may not have been "around long enough" to be able to have developed your own subjective opinions about the specific elements (your taste, the cigars, the environment). Further, "your taste" may change over time, as will the cigars you have in the humi, as will the state of your humi. Gathering other people's opinions will give you a basis on which to build your own opinion. But, the moment you have your own opinion, I would discard everyone elses.

With that in mind I would propose a position at which to start, allowing you to best move forward and facilitate finding your own "sweet spot":

Rest your cigars, don't age them. Six to nine months should do.
Keep notes on how well the cigars faired.
Allow your cigars to only age by accident.
Appreciate those mistakenly aged cigars and allow your opinions about aged cigars to come from there.

Anyone back me up on this???

Cheers

John

Originally Posted by Cyanide

Rest your cigars, don't age them. Six to nine months should do.
Keep notes on how well the cigars faired.
Allow your cigars to only age by accident.
Appreciate those mistakenly aged cigars and allow your opinions about aged cigars to come from there.

Anyone back me up on this???

Add aged gifted cigars and this is how it usually works for me anyway.

[Da Klugs]

Age helps almost any cigar evolve so long as it has resonable materials as a starting point. Particular aging points may not have the flavors you prefer. The real issue is do you like the evolved flavors and can you appreciate it based upon how you smoke.

Aging in general positions us to experience more subtle or more intense flavors depending upon the cigar. What many of us are looking for in aging is complex flavors. Sometimes they come as intense sometimes subtle. Over time, either could be the description of the same cigar at different aging points. How you smoke may have a huge impact on your appreciation (or lack of) for those cigars who display more mellow and nuanced complexities.

Flavored air is how some cigars become, interesting crazy flavored air vs the intense experience of smoking most high end NC cigars cigars fresh. If you do not nasal exhale.. better off smoking a fresh Macanudo.