Hoyo De Monterey Double Corona MAR 15 (Vacuum sealed edition) (FFSJul24)

[Bagman]

I am currently putting a YouTube video together (I'll post it here when I do) on a how to and why of the art of vacuuming your cigar boxes for long term aging. Tonight, I shot the part where I cut open this 9 year old box. Aged for 2 years, vacuum sealed for 7. Thought I would put my findings here as it will take me awhile to put together the video. Trying to be thorough and create a very useful guide for everyone. I find I notice flavor notes more when I'm paying attention and writing them down. So it will be helpful for my video.

Anyhow, this is from a cab that was opened last year. I separated them into 2 25 boxes and resealed this box of 2015 to smoke this year.

Upon cutting the bag open and releasing the cigars back to the world for the second time, I was hit with a wonderful smell. Every time I do this I think to myself "My cigars have been stewing in this for years, not releasing this into the environment". All the oils remain and the cigar is happy.  Little did they know I was about to grab one, slice it's head off and light him on fire. The reward from a 9+ year nap

The easiest way to describe this cigar after lighting it up is smooth and full flavored. It has lost none of its flavor profile while smoothing out. This is how Cuban cigars should be smoked. Problem with aging cigars to get the smooth effect is a lessening of the flavors over time. Not in this case. Interesting enough, while doing my research for my upcoming video, I emailed Eddie Sahakian about it (as they are one of my favorite people on the aging front) and his response focused on his belief that the cigar won't age under a vacuum, so you need to time when you seal carefully. That has not been my experience as I experience ageing in a vacuum, just very slowly. But it got me thinking, vacuum sealing is still very much not fully understood.

Flavor notes. Marshmallow cream, coffee and almond. The smoothness of the cigar is making me retrohale much more often then I normally do. It is sort of a natural thing. As if my body senses the smoothness and just automatically has me retrohaling more.

A faint chocolate and cinnamon note is noted in the retrohale. As the cigar progresses, the cinnamon increases. Slight chocolate, cinnamon and marshmallow cream has me focusing on a hot chocolate/coffee drink. Amazing flavors.

The cigar is becoming more "chewy". The marshmallow cream is really becoming more of a mouth feel. Like how your mouth feels drinking milk vs water.

Almond and coffee fades away, chocolate increases along with spice and the cream. I'm getting a hint of pepper. This has me perplexed as normally pepper dies off in older cigars.  It isn't huge, it's just there.

[MedV3]

Incredible update! I have quite a few boxes vacuum sealed myself. Thanks for the review. Loved it.

[gormag38]

Just started sealing up some of my boxes. Definitely interested to see how your collection smokes for you. 

19 hours ago, Monterey said:

I emailed Eddie Sahakian about it (as they are one of my favorite people on the aging front) and his response focused on his belief that the cigar won't age under a vacuum

That's interesting that that's his take on it. I wonder if they have tried vacuum sealing some of their boxes before? Or if they're just basing it on principle? 

[hrs1]

Love the HdM DC!  Making me want to vacuum seal a cab or two (perhaps not in the actual 50 cabs?) - thanks for the review 🙏 

[RDB]

It makes sense to me that vac sealing would have an effect. Of course it’s not an actual vacuum in there, but will be much less transfer of air & volatile compounds in and out.

[chasy]

Have only had on HdM DC and it was phenomenal! Glad to hear your process worked!

[Redgoldband]

Curious if you vacuum-sealed them with a Boveda pack or anything like that. 

[Bagman]

On 7/9/2024 at 5:41 AM, Redgoldband said:

Curious if you vacuum-sealed them with a Boveda pack or anything like that. 

You do not include them. I'll go over the most common questions like this in my video.

[Redgoldband]

You do not include them.  I'll go over the most common questions like this in my video.

Much appreciated, sir!


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[Bagman]

On 7/8/2024 at 10:45 PM, gormag38 said:

Just started sealing up some of my boxes. Definitely interested to see how your collection smokes for you. 

That's interesting that that's his take on it. I wonder if they have tried vacuum sealing some of their boxes before? Or if they're just basing it on principle? 

He speaks in generalities, I really think he is going by what others have told him. Just a guess. Honestly, based on how they view aging (a time honored tradition of fine perfect aging via slow and stead methods) that vacuum sealing would be sacrilegious! Like using a blow torch vs a soft flame from a cedar strip for lighting your cigar!

As I mentioned before, I have 10 cigars vacuum sealed stored in my freezer. Really pushing the envelope on aging. I have no clue what to expect, but going for a 10 year test. Just because.

Someone here, new to vacuum sealing, is part of a 5 year vacuum study. If I remember correctly, he got Eddie to be part of the tasting panel. I disagree with the 5 year part (lost opportunity to do a 10 year+ test). The guy ridiculed me on vacuum sealing, then decided I may not be crazy. So he did a huge write up and carefully documented the process. Lots of cigars and lots of tasters (including Eddie). Should be interesting.

[Bagman]

On 7/9/2024 at 12:17 AM, RDB said:

It makes sense to me that vac sealing would have an effect. Of course it’s not an actual vacuum in there, but will be much less transfer of air & volatile compounds in and out.

There will be zero transfer of air and volatile compounds. It is indeed a full vacuum. Some of the cheaper bags though will have the issues you mention though.

[Timothy556]

When is the video posting?

[Bagman]

23 hours ago, Timothy556 said:

When is the video posting?

I have a few boxes ready for sealing at the end of this month, so it will happen just after that. So, 1st week of August.

[Timothy556]

Video up yet?

[Bagman]

1 hour ago, Timothy556 said:

Video up yet?

Not yet. Except for my wrap up chat, all the video has been shot and is ready. I'm writing the script tonight about what I want to cover and will shoot that video tomorrow. After that, all that is left is to learn how to merge videos and do some editing. This coming weekend is my goal.

I ended up doing another test (it was mentioned here in another thread) and due to a failure of one of my tests, I decided to let another test go for a longer period of time. 

There was a lot that I had t get right to make sure I was communicating everything correctly. Turned out to be a much bigger project then I thought.  Including having to delete the first bunch of videos I did because my address was visible in the background the entire time.  Rookie mistakes.

[benfica_77]

Looking forward to your video and findings! 

[Lt4-396]

@Monterey I'm very much looking forward to the video as I'm sure many of us are. Keep up the great and informative work.