Sick period

[Taino]

When aging cigars, many of them go through what is called the "sick period" or what I call the "cologne period", they acquire a funny taste that resembles me children cologne.

My question is when have you found (more less) the sick period starts in your cigars? (from date in the box) and for how long?

[Fatshotbud]

» When aging cigars, many of them go through what is called the "sick period"

» or what I call the "cologne period", they acquire a funny taste that

» resembles me children cologne.

»

» My question is when have you found (more less) the sick period starts in

» your cigars? (from date in the box) and for how long?

I have had to put cigars down that were very young (< 1yr of code) and older (to ~3 yrs of box code) - but not sure this is what others are considering sick. Definately sick to me anyway with strong ammonia odor and funky harsh taste.

It is my understanding these starting periods vary and are subject to repeat on a less intense level later on in their age.

Wouldn't ring gauge and length (over all size ratio I guess) also play a factor on when and for how long a cigar is unpalatable?

[El Presidente]

Sick periods for me fall into two categories.

1. Flavourless/lack of complexity

2. Ammonia/Tannic

Good cigars fresh can become flavourless at 3-6 months. Takes a good 12-18 months to come around. A further 12-24 months to blossom.

Ammonia/Tannin laden cigars are crap up front. They take 5-8 years to come around and when they do they can be marvellous. However...Ammonia laden young cigars can also be due to poor fermentation. They smell like rot. These never come good.

[aavkk]

Pres, are there specific smokes this occurs more likely in? I have heard that D4's have this very often.

[Taino]

I wouldn't put ammonia in to the sick period, as I would say it belongs mainly to cigars with some young tobacco or not well treated.

The cigars that go through what I call sick period (maybe I'm wrong), are flavorless and lack of complexity, but also have this very characteristic strong flavor, maybe floral don't know, but I call it cologne flavour, a really bad one... at least to taste.

[Colt45]

» The cigars that go through what I call sick period (maybe I'm wrong), are

» flavorless and lack of complexity, but also have this very characteristic

» strong flavor, maybe floral don't know, but I call it cologne flavour, a

» really bad one... at least to taste.

A strong sourness or herbal quality? Along with a lack of any other prominent flavor, to me this

shows a cigar that more than likely will require at least a couple of years to start coming around.

Of course, that's a generalization.

[n2advnture]

» When aging cigars, many of them go through what is called the "sick period"

» or what I call the "cologne period", they acquire a funny taste that

» resembles me children cologne.

»

» My question is when have you found (more less) the sick period starts in

» your cigars? (from date in the box) and for how long?

My "rule of thumb" is smoke them within 3 months of the box code. After that, wait 12-18 months min.

~Mark

[aavkk]

» » When aging cigars, many of them go through what is called the "sick

» period"

» » or what I call the "cologne period", they acquire a funny taste that

» » resembles me children cologne.

» »

» » My question is when have you found (more less) the sick period starts

» in

» » your cigars? (from date in the box) and for how long?

»

» My "rule of thumb" is smoke them within 3 months of the box code. After

» that, wait 12-18 months min.

»

» ~Mark

Thats exactly what someone else told me at the Havana Dreams herf when Lisa came through NYC. I just smoked a D4 from AGO 07 and it was fantastic. Hopefully mine wont be subject to the "sick" period.

[n2advnture]

» Thats exactly what someone else told me at the Havana Dreams herf when

» Lisa came through NYC. I just smoked a D4 from AGO 07 and it was

» fantastic. Hopefully mine wont be subject to the "sick" period.

Funny you mentioned the PSD4's because typically I specifically point them out in that advice. Smoke them within 3 months or wait at least 18 months on them.

Wonder why you don't EVER see vintage stock on PSD4s?

1.) Most people smoke them fresh

2.) Those who take the time to age them won't EVER give them up

~M

[El Presidente]

» Pres, are there specific smokes this occurs more likely in? I have heard

» that D4's have this very often.

It is a million dollar question for which answers are completely subjective.

Personally I almost always smoke young stock as it is the nature of the job. I have not notced D4's being particularly susceptible to a Sick period (more than any other).

There are some cigars that I have seldom been able to enjoy young. Most LGC fall into this category as well as Vegas Robaina and Upmann.