How Long is Too Long?

[DSegal]

I have accumulated more boxes than I will smoke in the next 2-3 years. Some Anejodas or Reservas, but some regular production boxes ranging from 2011, 2014, etc. When I pull out a stick I haven't enjoyed for a long time, I find that some are better than I remembered, but some really aren't. I recall reading El Presidente saying that SLR Regios may be at their best 60 days through about 2 years from the box date. That made me wonder. Are there other sticks that seem to have a short peak aging time? Do some cigars decline with age? Or just not get any better? Just wondering what experience everyone's had with their own collections, and what everyone's sense of peak aging time is. Thanks as always.

[RDB]

I think it hugely depends on your personal preferences and also the storage conditions for the cigar. For example I’m loving a box of 2015 Regios at the moment. Of course, once you get out to 10+ years things might be different and I can imagine some stuff becoming washed out.

[SenorPerfecto]

I've always thought anything over 9" is too long, but I guess it depends on the couple.

[Monterey]

Cigars will fade over time, eventually being fairly tasteless at some point..  I tend to smoke all my cigars between 4-8 years depending on the cigar.

[DSegal]

25 minutes ago, Monterey said:

Cigars will fade over time, eventually being fairly tasteless at some point..  I tend to smoke all my cigars between 4-8 years depending on the cigar.

I better start smoking more.

[DSegal]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

I think it hugely depends on your personal preferences and also the storage conditions for the cigar. For example I’m loving a box of 2015 Regios at the moment. Of course, once you get out to 10+ years things might be different and I can imagine some stuff becoming washed out.

I know this site takes a low view of Anejados. I personally like the smoothness of them--to me, that is what an Anejado highlights, the smoothness of aged Cuban tobacco. But yes, they do often have that washed out taste. Today I smoked a VR Famoso and the sweet chocolate is so focal. It would be interesting to see how a cigar of that profile handles the years. I've never smoked a Famoso older than maybe late 2017. I have two boxes of Partagas Coronas Junior, 2014 and 2015. Those are two of the boxes I'm worried about letting go too long.

[Arctic Dude]

1 hour ago, SenorPerfecto said:

I've always thought anything over 9" is too long, but I guess it depends on the couple.

I've been telling all the ladies 4" !!! 

[Puros Y Vino]

I started smoking cigars back in 2009. So anything I've bought since then has been aging and I've been sampling them through the years.  Many have become smoother and more refined but none have hit a wall in terms of flavour.  Withe one exception. A fiver of 2001 Punch SS1's are kinda bland.  But I've also smoked cigars from every decade starting in the 1920's.  And most have been excellent with a few mindblowing.  There have been some disappointments, but overall the experience has been positive.  When it comes to you own cigars. Keep sampling them over time. If they hit a point where they just do it for you. Keep smoking them!    No sense it waiting additional time.

[CaptainQuintero]

  Don't stress much about it, I've had cigars from the 60s that have been bursting with flavour and had lots of legs left. As long as you keep your storage conditions well then you'll be fine.

  Remember that cigars aren't made in a machine with identical ingredients, some will just be poor regardless. The cigars you had that you weren't impressed with could have been bad wether you smoked them fresh or in 50 years time: it was always going to be bad. You can have a perfect cigar that would be great fresh or 40 years down the road. The only thing you can do is keep your preferred storage conditions.

  You're probably going to get 25 different smoking experiences from a box of cigars wether the box is fresh or 50 years old. You'll more than likely get the same number of bad and great ones no matter how long you age.

  The only stipulation is that you enjoy  those characteristics that tobacco gains from age. If you live for big boisterous, in your face cigars ala Padron then you're going down the wrong street 

[JohnS]

As @bundwallah and @CaptainQuintero have stated above, the issue of flavour as a Habanos cigar reaches post-ten years of age is nearly always negligible as an issue of concern. Heck, within a 7 to 10 year window you won't get expiry in a Habanos cigar. In regards to peak or optimum flavour, well yes, that is subjective.

As a hypothetical example, if I were to put up my remaining sticks of 2009 Trinidad Robustos Extra and 2009 La Gloria Cubana Tainos cigars in the trading sub-forum, I would be inundated with interested parties for a trade. Of course, I'm not going to do that because these sticks have been sublime since I cracked both boxes open in 2019 (Yes, I waited until they hit around the ten year mark).

[Fugu]

44 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Heck, within a 7 to 10 year window you won't get expiry in a Habanos cigar.

This, exactly. And should you do, it is not the fault of the cigar!
 

[Fuzz]

I've recently handed out some pre-2009 cigars, no complaints so far.

 

[teamrandr]

If you store them correctly they should last for decades.  Is there a peak?  That is really subjective.  Cigar smoking in general is subjective.   

[Mikeltee]

I think with long term storage a lower temp and higher humidity would help preserve it more, however its hard to gauge how long a box is going to last. We all go through phases of amount bought and amount smoked. You can turn over some good coin if you are worried about it. You can possibly get 2 fresh boxes if you sold the aged one as 5ers or sampler packs. Being new to the game, this is mainly what I shop for and there is not enough to go around. Hopefully soon we will all have the option to sell a box from your stash at home on the auction site.

[d2d4]

This last week I Smoked a 2001 RyJ EL Robusto I picked up in Amsterdam late 2002  Still as good today as they were at the 2 year mark. No sign of decline. Have tried 5 year old smokes that fell far from grace. Each is different I think. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Comes down to the cigar.  Some blends fare better with aging than others.  Have to keep in mind when you think that box will be in its prime and store in the cabinet where it makes sens.  Similar to wine. 

[anacostiakat]

And there is the rub isn't it?  Some improve.  Some don't.    I have boxes 10+ years that are fantastic.  Some are fine great 2 - 3.  I smoke some ROTT.  It really is dependent on the cigars.    Not a uniform product so this should not be a surprise to anyone. 

[dar24601]

I think of it like this.   Aging doesn’t make a cigar better or worse it just changes them.  Taste is subjective so only way to find out is trial and error.  Smoke one jot down some notes then smoke another in 6 mo, take notes and see if they are heading a direction you like.  

[joeypots]

Storage make a huge difference in how the cigar changes over time. A tubed cigars left in a cabinet humidor, for example, will age differently than the same naked cigar left in a desktop that is opened 4 times a week. If you want your cigars to age slowly deprive them of oxygen. I think most of us are looking to get rid of that young harsh aspect of the cigar that can mostly be attributed to moisture. So drying out the cigar may be the first stage of aging, around here it's referred to as acclimating. Getting your cigars to a preferred RH may completely change your smoking routine. I have often been surprised at how harsh a wet cigar smoked. Once you get the cigar acclimated to your RH preference aging begins. Old timers used all sorts of ways to keep cigars from oxidizing, wrapping boxes in wax paper works pretty well. Now people shrink wrap and use food vacuum sealers to slow down the maturation process. I like most cigars at about 5 years  but some are better held longer and some are great much younger. It's just a matter of preference. I tend to hold boxes for a while and begin sampling about every 6 month or so. When they are  "there" I tend to burn through the box pretty fast. But that's just me.

[Cubatabaco]

As [mention=6763]bundwallah[/mention] and [mention=9174]CaptainQuintero[/mention] have stated above, the issue of flavour as a Habanos cigar reaches post-ten years of age is nearly always negligible as an issue of concern. Heck, within a 7 to 10 year window you won't get expiry in a Habanos cigar. In regards to peak or optimum flavour, well yes, that is subjective.
As a hypothetical example, if I were to put up my remaining sticks of 2009 Trinidad Robustos Extra and 2009 La Gloria Cubana Tainos cigars in the trading sub-forum, I would be inundated with interested parties for a trade. Of course, I'm not going to do that because these sticks have been sublime since I cracked both boxes open in 2019 (Yes, I waited until they hit around the ten year mark).

So you're saying that I should open my box of 2005 Tainos?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[JohnS]

4 hours ago, Cubatabaco said:

So you're saying that I should open my box of 2005 Tainos?
 

Oh I'd say they'd be truly ready! 

[DSegal]

Thanks everyone for your perspectives. I will stop worrying about the 5-10 year window and just start smoking more.