Aging Habanos vs. Nics and Doms

[Cigary43]

So essentially, I get a box with DEC 15 stamped on bottom. The cigars I should assume--typically--will be too harsh and young for enjoyment and need rest for at least 18 months before they're ready to smoke. And that's because they were rolled last month with last year's tobacco, and they need to 'mature' / 'rest' in order to become enjoyable. But if I took that same box, put it in a proper storage environment that's well regulated with temp and RH, and let it sit for 5-10 years, that would be considered 'aging'?

Generally speaking, NCs/DOMs in regular production are made with tobaccos that have already arrived at that 18-month (or longer) maturity point, and therefore need little or no rest before they smoke well?

And finally (please forgive long-windedness), it's been your experience that Habanos 'rest' to become better and more flavorful, whereas NICs and DOMs (typically) will lose strength and do not generally increase in flavor over time? I know I'm speaking in generalities, and there's no hard and fast laws for this process. Essentially, Habanos change their flavor profile over long periods of time but still retain strength, whereas NICs and DOMs tend to lose strength without gaining new flavor profiles over long periods of time?

Generally speaking just about any box of cigars that arrive at your place will have those "traveling blues syndrome" where they are taken out of their homes and then shipped to your home. If we're speaking of CC's this is applicable and you don't have to wait for 18 months...actually I encourage you to let it acclimate to their new humidor for at least 30 days...each day in transit is equal to one week of resting them. The other answer about resting and aging....Aging is going to give you what resting can't...character, more balance, more richer taste, quality....essence...why else would some of us lay them down for so long if there were no benefits? It's a long process for sure...it's not for everybody esp. when you consider the time invested....IMO the benefits are worth it esp. when you keep a good stockpile of cigars handy as you rest your chosen cigars.

You're right about the CC's gaining taste and quality over the years...I keep a coolerador for this specific reason and it's like opening up Christmas presents every time I go in there and get one.
The NC's don't really benefit from aging....at all because I've done it. When I moved to Ga. in 2007 I put down about 10 different brands of NC's to see how they changed and I smoked one brand in 2012 just to see what benefits it might have gained...it was more balanced for sure but it decreased in strength and I'm a full bodied cigar smoker...so here I have 10 brands of cigars ( total of about 150 cigars ) that are well balanced but lost their robust flavor and if one were to be a mild to medium smoker then you'd love these.

It's a good idea to smoke one cigar that you want to rest....smoke one in 30 days...the next after 90 and see what change you get....journal your findings each time you smoke one and you'll see within the next few months where they stand according to your own findings. Each brand has a 'sweet spot' taste and quality according to its time spent and you be the judge. This fits as to how many you want to purchase and how fast you smoke em up. Keeps you from over purchasing unless you happen to love that stick....I love RP Edge Maduro for example and could eat them from 60 days to 5 years.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

" From what I've read here and heard from experienced CC people, most CCs need 12-18 months until maturity. "
18 months could hardly be called maturity for Cubans.
They can go decades before declining.........
Non Cubans are rolled from longer aged tobacco,and they can benefit from time as well.
I have some 1995 La Gloria NCs that are still excellent,but they are a bit past their prime..........
all cigars age differently,there is no table or graph to refer to.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

What's some of the popular cigars that work well with ageing?

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[Mickeymorris626]

What's some of the popular cigars that work well with ageing?

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I find a lot of broadleaf ages well. I have half a box of OR Tat LCCs that like taste silky smooth crack!

I find a lot of sweeter leafs (San Andreas, Brazilian Mata Fina, ect) do not age well. I personally find they lose their sweetness for a more muddled flavor.