A Box of Cohiba Esplendidos

[Uwiik]

I got a chance to buy a sealed box of 25' UAO SEP 18 (El Laguito) Esplendidos. The question is, will the Esplendidos last more than 20 years? With how rare and how expensive it is, and considering my smoking habit, I know that I will only smoke 1-2 sticks of the Esplendidos per year, so 25 sticks will last at least another 10-15 years from now and the box is already 6 years old as it is right now. I will of course vacuum seal the box, unseal when picking one up to smoke and reseal again for storage. Please advise and thanks in advance!

The dealer just dropped the box with me and I haven’t paid for it. I know it will be very hard for me to refuse it but I will refuse it if I have to smoke it all within certain period of time. 

[JohnS]

I have never had an expired Cohiba cigar. And I mean never. Even when aged 20 years. Other marcas? Yes.

[Arabian]

Rare? I've seen them in the shop before taking a long nap. An almost 7 years box, I'm not sure when they hit their prime. 

[BrightonCorgi]

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

I have never had an expired Cohiba cigar. And I mean never. Even when aged 20 years. Other marcas? Yes.

Have you had expired Churchills from another marca? I don't think I have ever had one.

[Uwiik]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Have you had expired Churchills from another marca? I don't think I have ever had one.

Not specific to the vitola but I have the exact same question on my mind. I don't have the experience to say anything and don't want to be called an overthinker. 😜

[chasy]

You can always choose to smoke more than 1-2 a year. If in 5 years they are magical, maybe you ramp up? Of you can try to offload half the box to a fellow BOTL?

[Uwiik]

22 minutes ago, chasy said:

You can always choose to smoke more than 1-2 a year. If in 5 years they are magical, maybe you ramp up? Of you can try to offload half the box to a fellow BOTL?

I still have obligations with the other special boxes, smoking too many special sticks in a year will make the experience somewhat ‘less’ special. 

[Dr Process]

Trusted BOTL feel the sticks should last the test of time.  
 

I know you’re trying not to overthink it.  
 

Friend, my advice, buy the box and enjoy with gusto! 
 

cheers! 

[BrightonCorgi]

@Uwiik You'll have no issue getting to the 20 year mark on the Esplendido. 30+ years is question we all hope to be healthy and read your update at that time.

[chasy]

42 minutes ago, Uwiik said:

I still have obligations with the other special boxes, smoking too many special sticks in a year will make the experience somewhat ‘less’ special. 

Then don’t buy it? 

[Ford2112]

Smoke those bad dogs. Every day is special IMO

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Have you had expired Churchills from another marca? I don't think I have ever had one.

Come to think of it, no...not really.

[Uwiik]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

@Uwiik You'll have no issue getting to the 20 year mark on the Esplendido. 30+ years is question we all hope to be healthy and read your update at that time.

Amen to that!!

[Uwiik]

8 hours ago, chasy said:

Then don’t buy it? 

Too late, I just unsealed it, dusted off some mold on two sticks and off they go to rest for 6 months. What I smelt just now was the most aromatic thing I ever experienced. I have a good feeling about this.

[BrightonCorgi]

6 hours ago, Uwiik said:

Too late, I just unsealed it, dusted off some mold on two sticks and off they go to rest for 6 months. What I smelt just now was the most aromatic thing I ever experienced. I have a good feeling about this.

The color is what I would pick if buying in person. Looks great.

[Uwiik]

6 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

The color is what I would pick if buying in person.  Looks great.

Thank you, I will smoke one when the house renovation is done, hopefully in exactly 6 months from now.

[Chibearsv]

After you smoke your first Esplendido, hide the box as best you can. My prediction, you will be reaching for them a lot more often than twice a year once you try one. I certainly don't have that kind of will power to hold back on them.  @Ford2112 is right, enjoy them. They are also the coolest cigar to share with a cigar smoking friend. I've met very few neighbors or local friends that have ever tried one before I gave them one. They'd all agree that it's the greatest cigar they've ever had. That's a great box to have acquired. Amazing that it was available.

[SUP8333]

Just do it! They are my favs to have on every special day, like waking up alive. 

[El Presidente]

8 hours ago, Uwiik said:

don't want to be called an overthinker. 😜

...you are way overthinking it    

 

[Puros Y Vino]

Been smoking Cohibas from 1993/5 and 2002. None have "expired" if anything they're getting better. Esplendidos IMO are blended to last. I wish I had a full box of them to sit on. 

[chasy]

Oh no! Please tell me you didn't open the box. The picture you shared clearly shows signs of plasterflasia in the wrappers. When they're that color it's a 98% the cigars are toast. Such a bummer.

[Richie P]

My fave cigar ever. Hands down. Have 2020’s and they are magical. Smoke it while you're here to do it. 

[Reuben]

One question. In the first pic were the serial numbers scratched off the security seal?  

[Uwiik]

8 hours ago, Reuben said:

One question. In the first pic were the serial numbers scratched off the security seal?  

It’s quite common with cigars from Hong Kong, I know my dealer is getting his stock from HK and Spain. It wasn’t scratched off, there used to be a price and store code label right where the seal is and when that label is peeled off by the importer here, the print on the seal always comes off too.

9 hours ago, El Presidente said:

...you are way overthinking it    

I tend to overthink everything, as an hawkeye admin you know I do 😆 You just have to deal with it and be healthy always because I am here for the long haul. ✌️😝