LE ageing timeframes

[Bill Hayes]

I have a few LE’s and other cigars that have some age on them now and was wondering if anyone has had an experience with any of the below cigars in the last year or so. It would be interesting to know whether some of these cigars I may have left too long or some are in their prime. I was disappointed a while back when El Pres came down to Melbourne and I offered him one of my Partagas 2000 D4 LE’s that I’d kept and they had become quite underwhelming. My box of Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.2 Reserve Exclusive PUC NOV 01’ are more of a medium body afternoon cigar – Nice and even but I guess I was hoping for a bit more punch like in the No.3’s of 08’. A really lovely cigar though.

As an occasional smoker, I try to always make sure I have a good cigar to make the most of the moment and not waste it. I know every cigar is different and the only way I’ll know is to fire them up. But anyway, see below:

Cohiba Limitada Torpedo 01’

Cohiba Double Corona LE 03’

Cohiba Sublime LE 04’

Punch Super Selection No.1 08’

H. Upmann Magnum 50 08’

Cohiba Robusto 08’

Cohiba Esplendidos 01’

SLR DC 04’

Thanks

[markmurase]

This is an excellent, interesting topic. You've collected some magnificent cigars.

I look forward to hearing comments about how they are aging from our members who have far more experience than myself.

[Dimmers]

Guys my 2 cents - CoRo 2008s smoking very well ATM.

[CdnLimitada]

Can't help with what is smoking well in that group but WOW, that is a nice list!

[Pilgrims]

Hi Bill - good work on that lot

I would just be tempted to try them in turn, starting with the oldest - I tend to find with Wine and cigars the more you have raised expectation the more you can get disappointment, this is just a view I have no experience of those specific spokes.

[Chelsea8]

I have a few LE’s and other cigars that have some age on them now and was wondering if anyone has had an experience with any of the below cigars in the last year or so. It would be interesting to know whether some of these cigars I may have left too long or some are in their prime. I was disappointed a while back when El Pres came down to Melbourne and I offered him one of my Partagas 2000 D4 LE’s that I’d kept and they had become quite underwhelming. My box of Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.2 Reserve Exclusive PUC NOV 01’ are more of a medium body afternoon cigar – Nice and even but I guess I was hoping for a bit more punch like in the No.3’s of 08’. A really lovely cigar though.

As an occasional smoker, I try to always make sure I have a good cigar to make the most of the moment and not waste it. I know every cigar is different and the only way I’ll know is to fire them up. But anyway, see below:

Cohiba Limitada Torpedo 01’

Cohiba Double Corona LE 03’

Cohiba Sublime LE 04’

Punch Super Selection No.1 08’

H. Upmann Magnum 50 08’

Cohiba Robusto 08’

Cohiba Esplendidos 01’

SLR DC 04’

Thanks

Bill, your H. Upmann Magnum 50 was a 05' right or is it the regular production from 08?

[joeypots]

Depends on how they are stored. In a desk top that is opened every day or two or in original packaging in a cabinet humidor that is opened less frequently? I leave cigars in a cabinet and move them to my desk top when I am getting ready to smoke. Any loose cigars that are in my desk top for years seem to loose something. Thats just me.

On your list I know that the Cohiba DC EL and the '01 Esplendido are quite good now. Give the edge to the Esplendido.

[Stanislaw]

I was always under the assumption that all Cubans get better with age but since joining the forum I've learned that's not always the case. It would be fantastic if we could pool our information and experience and have an idea as to what's good aged and what isn't...

I recently switched from desktop humidors to a wineador (with cigars in original boxes) and am keeping fingers crossed that the wineador ages the cigars the way they deserve....

I have a box of Cohiba robustos dated October 98 and they continue to be amazing and I hope that doesn't drop off any time soon...

[Jeremy Festa]

Guys my 2 cents - CoRo 2008s smoking very well ATM.

I concur

[Bill Hayes]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Joeypots, you may be right. I mostly purchase singles and have a medium sized desktop humidor. Hopefully these great cigars haven't lost too much - only one way to find out

Chelsea8, I'm pretty sure my Upmann Mag 50 is an 08'. As a singles purchaser I sometimes lose track though.

Pilgrims, yeah, I've had similar experiences with wine where I haven't stored it correctly and it has become affected by heat. I have a 98' Wolf Blass Black Label and Grey Label that I'm sure are no good now plus a box of other premium wines that should have been drunk a long time ago. Anyway, my neighbour is sommelier at one of the fancy restaurants in Melbourne and we are setting aside a Monday afternoon to open the bottles one by one and hopefully find a gem in there. I think I might have to break out the Cohiba Torpedo 01' at the same time.

Cheers,

Bill

[Smallclub]

… Any loose cigars that are in my desk top for years seem to loose something. Thats just me.

No that's not just you. In my experience (with the first LEs - Partagas D3, Monte robusto, etc.) they loose a lot in strenght and intensity.

[frenchkiwi]

honestly, this is just my 2c but looking at those box dates i would want to smoke most of them, and sooner rather than later.

especially if just singles in a humidor.

on balance of probabilities, likely that only the '08s might still have potential for improvement *if* they have the right type of tobacco in them i.e. oily wrappers strong filler etc (e.g. Punch typically has the tannins to withstand the test of time but that's just a generalisation - touch feel smell the cigar in question to get an idea).

i think there's a verse in the bible that says "Let us Smoke our already well-aged Habanos now, for tomorrow we may die"

[maverickdrinker]

I've smoked the three Cohiba ELs in the past year. Reviews are on my blog or somewhere on FOH. (Can't remember where lol)

Hope they help...

[hanhan]

Cohiba Sublime LE 04’

Punch Super Selection No.1 08’

Cohiba Esplendidos 01’

SLR DC 04’

Thanks

I believe those in your edited list above still have the legs to go further, although smoking well now. Especially the Punch SS. The SLR DC also rewards patient ageing.

The Cohiba Robusto '08 is smoking well now but who knows, it might get even better. I'm betting on the latter and keeping one sealed as I already have an open one. Whether or not the taste improves or not, I am sure that you won't have any problems selling it on if you wished to do so in a few years.

[bugman78629]

WOW..............Nice list.

[Duxnutz]

From your list my only point of reference is Punch. My '02s are going great guns right now so buckle in and sit tight.

[Knvb]

I have a very limited 150ish storage and as such I buy EL's to smoke first. I know many will chastise me on this but I find they smoke amazing after very little age and I'd rather sit on reg issues.

[Bill Hayes]

I tried the Cohiba Robusto 08’ on Sunday. My brother in law smoked one as well. The smoke was quite refined and had the sharp edges taken off the taste due to age I imagine. It was very smooth and consistent throughout. The burn was great considering it was raining outside and the humidity level may have been high. My burn was crooked due to bad lighting efforts by me. Enjoyed it with some pinot noir. I didn’t get any Cohiba grass flavours but more leathery. I was hoping for some sweeter notes like dried apricots that I’ve heard these can get at their best but I did detect some dark chocolate notes in the middle third. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable cigar but as mentioned before, I think I have raised my expectations too high on a single cigar, especially as they were aged in a medium 100 stick desktop humidor that probably varied in humidity from 57 to 70 and in temperature as well. With this in mind, I’ll be attempting to smoke all the cigars on the list in my initial post sooner rather than later. Excuse the photo – I was a bit drunk when I took it.

[orangedog]

depends on what you like out of a cigar... I'm ok with flavor over strength. a strong cigar going mild works - but that is not for everyone.

Cohiba DC - worth trying one now and then sitting the rest for another year and reassess

Cohiba Sublime - smoke one now, be prepared to burn through the rest rather soon

Cohiba Robusto 2008 - quite good now, plenty of time left