Cigars Need a Nap, You Say?

peter4jc

We've all heard someone say it, in fact, I just said it today, "It's still new, and it'll be better with some rest."

But how do you know when a cigar will actually improve with some age, or if it's tasting crappy when new because it's actually a crappy cigar?

What is it about the flavor that tells you it'll be good? Or, do we just assume that it'll get better after a while?  Is it just wishful thinking, because we paid $12 for a trusted boutique brand and don't like it, that a year will magically transform it into a better cigar?

Talk amongst yourselves.

Yakster

Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb...

Peas and carrots, peas and carrots...

I've heard stronger cigars usually benefit from rest.  Any cigar with ammonia notes from fermentation should get more rest.  Milder cigars may fade with rest.  I think rest knocks off the sharp edges, allows the flavors to blend, and in the case of cigars in the sick period of fermentation gets rid of ammonia notes.

ForMud

I've often wondered how would I remember what it tasted like a year ago to know if it improved or not...Even with taking notes, your taste might have changed.  

Patrickbrick

That answer is simple, ask Nick.  He "Smokes cigars and knows things".  Seriously though just intuition, if you know what you like, one can guess how it will change.  

First_Warrior

I do know from rolling my own cigars that a month of resting makes quite a bit of difference. I think resting mellows the ligero a bit and like Yakster said takes the sharpness out. Aged tobacco seems to have more flavor.

Markwell

I think a lot of what you can expect from rest would be as stated above: a more rounded and more flavorful cigar. I'll also add that age will give you a more complex profile. 

Bob_Luken

I look at it as a happy accident. I don't age cigars, I just forget about them. As I write this I'm enjoying a 601 blue maduro with four years on it. I got a box at auction because it seemed a good enough price at the time and also because I had enjoyed at least one previously. Well, I wasn't that crazy about them after they came in.  So I tried one every so often. The verdict? This cigar has never been as good as it is now. It's not fantastic at this point, but it sure seems a lot better now than before. Do mediocre cigars become excellent cigars with age? No. Do excellent cigars become magically delicious with age. No. But if you were to pair it with Dragons Milk who knows what you'd say about it. That stuff is a hot sexy side-chick to any cigar. No. I am not pairing my 601 with Dragons Milk,......maybe next time though.

peter4jc

I understand cigars improving with age, and have experienced it over and over.

The question is how do you know if it will improve?  How do you know if it's just a crappy cigar that will stay crappy, or if it's crappy because it's new and will improve. 

Yakster gave some insight referring to the ammonia flavor and the sick period if it's too new.  But let's say that period is over.  Can we still accurately say whether or not it will stay crappy or improve, and how do you know?

Bob_Luken

     
I need a nap. 

peter4jc

Me too.

ForMud

I guess the only way to know for sure would be smoke a fresh one then follow with a little age on it, then one with a lot of age to it.
I could see doing something like that with a stick you really like and smoke often to find out the best aging time. But that's a lot of work to do just to find out it's still a crappy stick.

dirtdude

I don't think a ****/crappy ( guess I can't say that) stick will improve with age but there are some inexpensive sticks that way outdo themselves with a little age.

peter4jc

So another way to phrase this is, let's say you have a stick and are wondering if it would merit a 5'er or a box. But you can tell it's not ready yet. Can you predict what it'll be like down the road? 

Stubble

peter4jc said:

So another way to phrase this is, let's say you have a stick and are wondering if it would merit a 5'er or a box. But you can tell it's not ready yet. Can you predict what it'll be like down the road? 

No.  You'll never know what a goat's ass tastes like till you lick it.

peter4jc

^^^ Have you told Daisy I'm coming down to visit?

NorCalR1

peter4jc said:

So another way to phrase this is, let's say you have a stick and are wondering if it would merit a 5'er or a box. But you can tell it's not ready yet. Can you predict what it'll be like down the road? 

I usually buy them in 2’s smoke one right away and smoke the other 3 months later. Not much of a wait but I figure if I don’t like it after trying it twice then it’s a pass for me. I also look for reviews from others

First_Warrior

I date all my cigars when i receive them. 

Amos_Umwhat

First_Warrior said:

I date all my cigars when i receive them. 

So, dinner and a movie?  

Significant3

Amos_Umwhat said:

First_Warrior said:

I date all my cigars when i receive them. 

So, dinner and a movie?  

So,
first base is hold them, feel them
second base is get to smell the wrapper and foot 
third base is smoking them
home run is Monica Lewinski

Bob_Luken

First_Warrior said:

I date all my cigars when i receive them. 

I highly recommend this because when you finally get around to smoking it or giving it, you'll know exactly how long it's been instead of guessing. Two years can seem like four but why guess when you can know? I used to put stickers on all of them and then I stopped doing it as much and now I wish I hadn't slacked off.  

Gray4lines

I guess the cigars I know will be good with age I actually smoked an aged one first.  The first CAO Brazilia I smoked was from the very bottom of a box at a B&M and you could tell it had some years on it. Fantastic. Going back to "fresh" Brazilia's you can really tell how they smooth out over time. Padrons too. There can be some weird flavors or bitterness that come out.

I guess for me, I have to like the cigar "fresh" and most all improve a lot with some age.  To me, a good candidate for aging is something with a really solid profile that I enjoy, but possibly with some harsh edges. Padrons, the CAO, some pepin blends stand out to me as fitting that.

Rhamlin

A dog **** will still taste like a dog **** a year from now. Only milder.