Question for older BOTL

[Geaux]

I am finding that the best cigars I get, I'd like to age but never do because I can't find anything better in the humidor to smoke today - and the cigars I don't really like that much sit and age forever even though they may never benefit from age... So all my aged stock isn't that exciting and it is taking over my humidor.

 

Any thoughts/advice/encouragement?

[garbandz]

fire sale?

[Doctorossi]

If there's an "easy way", I haven't found it. Like diet and exercise, it takes dedication and self-control. Start softly, though- use El Pres' technique: smoke half of that new box you're excited about before you put the rest away and tell yourself it's off limits. It'll help reduce temptation.

[Dijit]

Delayed gratification brother. Will power is a terrible thing to waste and a beautiful thing to practice.

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[Philc2001]

A couple of things you might want to try;

1- When you come across a vitola  you like, order more to age

2- Trade/sell the vitolas you don't like for vitolas you do like; Everyone has different tastes, so it is likely that some botls out there have your affliction in reverse

Are you familiar with the trade forum?

[Dmpotocek]

I employ an out of sight out of mind tactic. I have my long term stock in a separate cooler that I keep tucked away.


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[BrightonCorgi]

Smoke 'em first or give them away.   There many who would delighted to smoke your sub par cigars; indulge them!

[JamesKPolkEsq]

Simply buy more cigars?

 

Input > output and you're golden... 

[jschrader510]

As a guy that has gotten serious about the hobby in the past 12 months, I've done a few different things to remedy the same situation. First, when I find something I really like, I buy more boxes to lay down(i.e. Monte PE, Mag 46, Monte 2 and HDM 2). I've also started to suck it up and buy aged boxes on certain items where I personally feel it is worth it (Monte 2 and HDM 2, CORO when they come up). This has given me a decent array of "smoking stock" to wait out my newer boxes aging.

All of this being said, the only true solution to have tons of optionality for aged sticks would be to buy additional aged stock in the near-term until everything ages, but I also don't want to spend my entire salary on sticks. I think the trading solution mentioned by guys is a great idea to get 5ers or singles of aged sticks to try. One other thing to mention is that occasionally Rob will come across stock that have a bit of age not listed as "aged" or "locker sales". I've tried to pick these up (Monte PE and JL #2 with 2014 codes come to mind)

[tsolomon]

You might want to give some of them a smoke and see if they have improved or your tastes has changed.  I find that cigars I didn't care for in the past have improved with age and I now have some really tasty cigars.

[Guest RobeAndSlippers]

Interesting. I have boxes that I've sampled that I know won't improve much with age... so those are my every day sticks: daily smokes, sticks I'll trade, etc. I also have boxes and customs that I know will only get better... so I set aside some for special occasions and others to age for 'life events,' gifts, and things like that. 

A fire sale might not be a bad idea: sounds like there are some that you're really just not into.

[mkz]

When you find a favourite cigar: Stock up. Buy more than you can smoke! 

[raymond5737]

Invite your "OLOGY" friends over for poker and a BBQ. Get them involved in reducing your boring stock.

[shlomo]

If you like the cigars you are smoking, then why age them? Smoke them now, who knows what tomorrow brings.

[Doctorossi]

35 minutes ago, shlomo said:

If you like the cigars you are smoking, then why age them?

Probably because he stands to like them even more.

[JohnS]

3 hours ago, Geaux said:

Any thoughts/advice/encouragement?

It's an old and common saying on our forum, but aging does not necessarily make ordinary cigars great...usually. (I grant that there can be exceptions, even if it's uncommon)

So why age? 

Aging can bring certain flavours to the fore whilst other dominant flavours recede, in certain cigars, or more often aging will refine your cigars, which is what Habanos cigars are mainly renowned for.

In the meantime, identify what you think will benefit from aging from hereon in, and either sell your older stock that you are not enamored with, or smoke them down, even though you know they aren't that great. And take comfort, we've all done the latter to make room in our humidor/s (well I know I have).

[Customsfan]

As crazy as it sounds, I have a buddy who has me to buy for him, and just hold 'em.  He's very busy and so am I.  Takes a while for him to get them.

[earthson]

Buy more than you can smoke. Throw some five packs onto orders when you're wanting to try something (who ages five packs!?). Buy aged stock.

[PigFish]

If it is really good smoke it.

If it is really mediocre, age it...

If it is really bad, trash it...

If is really collectable, sell it...

If it is really hot in a little red dress, %$(k it!!!

-the Pig

[polarbear]

Aging cigars is often over rated

I consider it more of an experiment than an expectation
If you find a cigar you love and its only 12 months old, why deprive yourself of the enjoyment it can provide on the off chance a few years buried in its box will make it better?

Worry less about what tomorrow will bring and more about what today has brought

I've seen a number of cigars I love loose the very profile I feel in love with after on a couple of years in the humidor
Just cause a cigar is old, doesn't mean it'll be good.

If you're on a modest budget and what you buy is often consumed before you can afford to re-order, don't loose any sleep over it
I'd rather have a good cigar today than the possible promise of a great cigar 5 years from now

A lot can happen between when you put that 5pack-box away for some sleep and the day when you may eventually crack it open again
Why risk it?

[RijkdeGooier]

For me cigars are good to smke after 5 years. So I have enough to hold me over until then. 

[canadianbeaver]

A bit off topic but today's word is whilst.

[earthson]

Gotta agree with @polarbear here. Some smokes seem to lose something when they start getting old - Partagas Shorts being a prime example for me. It's best to check in from time to time, unless you're experienced in the marca/vitola. I know my PLMC and HUPC will keep getting better, while I'm not convinced my SP Non Plus will.

[joeypots]

When I started with Cuban cigars I had quite a few  NCs. I slowly gave them away to friends when we had a group together for a smoke.  the cigars weren't bad, just not to my taste any longer. 

[fabes]

7 hours ago, earthson said:

Gotta agree with @polarbear here. Some smokes seem to lose something when they start getting old - Partagas Shorts being a prime example for me. It's best to check in from time to time, unless you're experienced in the marca/vitola. I know my PLMC and HUPC will keep getting better, while I'm not convinced my SP Non Plus will.

Don't lose hope on those SP!