New purchase...

[Stormin691]

Hello everyone, I plan on making my first big purchase through Rob fairly soon (actually will be buying in increments)

Partagas 8-9-8

Romeo Y Julieta Churchills

Cohiba Robustos

Saint Luis Rey Double Corona

But as a rule of thumb was wondering how you all handle your boxes when you get them, I know most cigars get better with age but when can I expect to actually enjoy the first smoke from each box? Should I wait at least 6 months, a year, or pretty much right away? Or will that be a waste of a smoke and make a bad first impression.. All input would just be great... -Mike

[sounddust]

IMHO, there are no fixed periods for smoking a new box, as the conditions may vary for each, even those of the same marque, vitola and year. That said, I always just lock them up for about a month, before checking on each of them to see how they smell and feel. As long as there are no "sharp" odors and the stogies feel smooth and pass the pinch test, there shouldn't be any major issues with smoking them young, especially for the recent productions.

[android]

Hello everyone, I plan on making my first big purchase through Rob fairly soon (actually will be buying in increments)

Partagas 8-9-8

Romeo Y Julieta Churchills

Cohiba Robustos

Saint Luis Rey Double Corona

But as a rule of thumb was wondering how you all handle your boxes when you get them, I know most cigars get better with age but when can I expect to actually enjoy the first smoke from each box? Should I wait at least 6 months, a year, or pretty much right away? Or will that be a waste of a smoke and make a bad first impression.. All input would just be great... -Mike

30-45 after the long journey

[Colt45]

As the guys have suggested, a good month or so will allow the cigars to stabilize after the varying conditions of travel, and to acclimate to

your personal storage conditions. Having said that, they are your cigars, and if you want to try one right away, that's your prerogative.

Also, it might be a worthwhile experiment for you - try one upon delivery, make note of your thoughts, then try another 30 - 40 or so days later.

Have fun.

[jquest63]

No iron clad rule. I usually let em settle down for a couple of days after delivery and then have at it. Most CC's I've had smoke very well young. Typically, I try one every month to see if they improve. I've read and heard that some cigars improve with aging and found this to be true, with other cigars I've found little to no difference and with a few the flavors and aromas have become muted/less lively.

As taste is personal, trial and error is essential.

[stargazer14]

Jimmy will tell you to smoke ALL of them in the first 4 days - they were meant to smoked young ya know -

but I'd go with Colts thoughts - try one out of the mail, make some notes in yer head, and then see how much they improve in a month, you may be very surprised! I have found they do like to rest after shipping.

(Except those Punch Petit which were awesome between the mailbox and the house!)

[jeromeroselli]

Like stargazer said, try one right out of the gate. Then try one in a month.

If you try to smoke them within 1 month, you'll be wasting them.

[jstixrud]

Another vote for a month - minimum. They usually arrive on my doorstep a bit "wet". get them acclimated to your own storage conditions (you know, the conditions that "you" like best) and then take a sampling.

[habone]

El Prez told me to dry box them for a day or two out of the mailbox. They need to rest after their journey. Then put them in Humi and wait a month. Me, I dry box for a day, then I smoke one because I'm not a masochist, then I put them in the humi and wait a month. Why torture ur self for an entire month? Smoke Up!

[Ethernut]

Set a couple aside and smoke em, pak the rest away. What the heck right? They're yours! Enjoy em! I smoked a monte #2 once right out of shipping and it was fantastic..

[Stormin691]

Hey wow guys- thanks for all the opinions! Thats just what I wanted to read... I really do appreciate it. Hey Tom- I'm in Amityville... Looks like u escaped a little south huh? Well have a good one.. -Mike

[smll2]

El Prez told me to dry box them for a day or two out of the mailbox. They need to rest after their journey. Then put them in Humi and wait a month. Me, I dry box for a day, then I smoke one because I'm not a masochist, then I put them in the humi and wait a month. Why torture ur self for an entire month? Smoke Up!

Habone,

That's very interesting. I inspect and toss them in the Humi. If El Prez has a chance I would like to hear the logic behind that. You learn something new every day.

I'm new with CC's...I've found that I'm generally unhappy with the Cigar if I smoke right out of the mail box. Happier with 30 days....and 60 days is like going to Disneyland. I'm really looking forward to getting some age on the gars I'm stocking up on.

Initially it was difficult to wait...once you get some in storage...and you order more (LOTS)...it's easier to be paitient.

Good smoking to you.

Tom

[jeromeroselli]

Habone,

Initially it was difficult to wait...once you get some in storage...and you order more (LOTS)...it's easier to be paitient.

Tom that is the double edged sword, and the killer of us all......

[SamuraiJack]

My 2 cents: any cigar just don't taste right without at least 2 weeks in my humi, at my preferred humidity, after shipping.