Cigar age

[The Munt]

Just out of curiosity and because I've never smoked a Habanos with more than five years on it, does age make a huge difference? For instance (and this will be a layered question), I have three boxes of RASS (hypothetical). Box (A) has been resting for 12-18 months from its box-date stamp. Box (B) has been 'maturing' for 4.5 years. And Box (C) has been 'ageing' properly for 9 years. I decide to sample all three in a row--of course, thoroughly cleansing my palate in between each. To the untrained palate, will I notice distinct differences in profile and flavors across that 10-year span. Will Box (A) taste remarkably different than Box (C)? And finally, will Box (C) have the best flavors and profile of the three? I hope this question doesn't confuse the hell out of you guys!

And BTW, from all I've read about maturing/ageing, @Cigary43 and @Nacho Daddy have outlined all you need to know in a nutshell.

I see this would be a worthwhile experiment...

My only question would be how can it be fair... maybe my brains not working here but wouldn't BOX A,B and C all be different years and therefore different tobacco and therefore vastly different at the same age? Would be a tough one to measure I think. Unless we could snap freeze two of the 3 boxes and defrost after a couple of years... dunno...

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

I see this would be a worthwhile experiment...

My only question would be how can it be fair... maybe my brains not working here but wouldn't BOX A,B and C all be different years and therefore different tobacco and therefore vastly different at the same age? Would be a tough one to measure I think. Unless we could snap freeze two of the 3 boxes and defrost after a couple of years... dunno...

Sorry, man. I was having a hard time trying to figure out my actual question. To simplify, would a 10-year-old box of RASS be amazingly more flavorful and have an astoundingly more complex profile than the 1-year-old box? How much changes in the way of flavors, profile, complexity in that time? I mean 10 years is a big commitment. Is that commitment absolutely worth it in terms of the end result? To an average smoker with an admittedly 'untrained' palate like myself (no need to lie to myself and others, my palate is just damn unsophisticated. Not just with cigars but with bourbons, scotches, and wines! I'm a boar when it comes to life's finer pleasures! ), will that 10-year commitment really be rewarding?

And yes, in my convoluted hypothetical scenario above, each box would be from a different year. So Box (C) would be from 2006, Box (B) 2011, and Box (A) from 2014.

 

[The Munt]

From my experience, which is limited to say the least, CC's age well... I've never smoked a CC that has been too old or past it's prime.
Generally it mellows a cigar and makes it more consistent from start to finish, but it all comes back to taste. For example if you enjoy mild cigars, pretty much every CC will benefit from aging. You'll appreciate the slight reduction in body and mellow flavors.

NC's are a totally different animal though, I've probably only had 10 different NC's with more than 6 years on them, and of those 10 only 3 of them I considered better than the original. From my experience the Fuentes tend to age pretty well, as did the Padrons I've tried, but it's a hell of a gamble with so many years effort going into aging. Based on my own experience I'll be sticking to aging CC's, cos some of the NC's just age out and get beyond their prime, disappointing when you've been mothering a box for years.

@Mr. McSquirelly

 

[Jbay555]

I can tell you @Mr. McSquirelly - Padron 1926 with more than say 4 years of age was too "mellow" for me in comparison to "fresh" 1926 bands. All that nice Nica spice was completely gone. I have smoke some oldr CC sticks that had nothing left to offer as well. Especially from Hoyo de Monterrey and RyJ. I like some age on Trinidad and Bolivar though.

 

[Cigary43]

Resting Habanos for years is usually the right direction for hobbyists that are already familiar with that type of cigar. ...if one is not familiar then you're probably not going to see that much of a difference between a cigar that was resting for 1 year than one that was resting for 3. Like a wine sommelier who knows and has a lot of experience with particular wines they can account for subtleties. ...just like a Cigar Afficionado can tell differences and tastes of cigars.

Entering into Aged cigars is a whole new venture ...a different process of ensuring that cigars are maintained at optimum storage...not just being stored. Aging is 5 years or more...it is about detail...it's about dedication and knowledge of the cigar.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

"Will Box (A) taste remarkably different than Box (C)?"
Yes.a well aged cc will be noticeably different.
Fresh ccs have their appeal too,but do not have the depth and elegance of aged stock.
Concerning aging non ccs,I have some 15 and 20 year old stock that would amaze you.
My 2001 Camacho Corojo would knock you down when they were young.Now they are elegant and seamless.
My 1995 La Gloria Cubana are going down a bit,but still elegant and well balanced,with amazing aroma.
Aging NCs.....what you end up with depends on what you start with.

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

Yes.a well aged cc will be noticeably different.

Thanks. I've never smoked one older than 2 or 3 years, so I had no idea. Would you also say that Box (B), the box in maturation period, would taste a lot different than Box (C)?