i had an interview with Pete back in May 2008 and we got into the 'myth' of aging (cigarjack.net). As previously stated, Pete told me he makes his cigars to smoke now! that's how i smoke them. however, i have aged tats simply because i haven't got around to smoking them. i definetly can tell a difference. in particular, the 03 cojonus and franks are more smooth, without sacrificing flavor. i sure do like a fresh tat though!! nice edge to them!!
Tatuaje and aging...
- Thread starter Kurtdesign1
- Start date
I don't count aging as being a few months or a few years.
Bottom line is that Tatuaje hasn't been around long enough to know the ultimate effects of aging. Try them in 6 + years and see. An eight to ten year old cigar is a good time to judge the initial effects of age, IMO.
I have a few boxes from 07. Some Noellas and some Especiales (still one of the best cigars on the planet IMO). I can say they have certainly mellowed with age, and some of the more caramel and sweeter notes have developed and the spice and woodiness has diminished. Whether this is a "good" thing is up to the individual consumer.
But bottom line is that not enough time has ellapsed since Tatuaje's introduction to test their aging potential against much of Cuba's offering (which I use as a benchmark to judge aged tobacco)
Of course, this is just my experience and opinion. Yours may vary...
Bottom line is that Tatuaje hasn't been around long enough to know the ultimate effects of aging. Try them in 6 + years and see. An eight to ten year old cigar is a good time to judge the initial effects of age, IMO.
I have a few boxes from 07. Some Noellas and some Especiales (still one of the best cigars on the planet IMO). I can say they have certainly mellowed with age, and some of the more caramel and sweeter notes have developed and the spice and woodiness has diminished. Whether this is a "good" thing is up to the individual consumer.
But bottom line is that not enough time has ellapsed since Tatuaje's introduction to test their aging potential against much of Cuba's offering (which I use as a benchmark to judge aged tobacco)
Of course, this is just my experience and opinion. Yours may vary...
Kurtdesign1
The Thinker
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2004
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- 1,415
A valid point about the ULTIMATE effects of aging but I'm not being anywhere that specific. Just looking for some perspective, that's all
indyrob
BoM Feb '06 & Sept. '08
Noella's are perfect candidates for long term aging. I do agree that when Tatuaje was getting tobacco from the market it was a little better but also a little inconsistent. I think that with Pepin having his own farm it has improved a lot- both in quality and consistency.
njstone
BoM January 2010
I wonder how Pete would respond if you brought this up to him and then asked him to comment on the Drac and Black Tubo, both of which he asserts really need additional aging.
I understand fully that people's tastes vary in terms of fresh/aged, but if Pete himself things they need to age, then why not hang onto them for a while? With the Drac I get the constrains of a "Monster" release at Haloween. But for the Black Tubos?
I wanted to ask him this myself the other night when we were talking about aging, but didn't get a chance. But I do wonder if it will hurt the Black label's popularity and ultimate sales to have a young product release like this. It seems like there would be sufficient benefit in holding onto them for a year or so before releasing them in this case.
I personally am not bent out of shape at the thought of letting the Tubos sit a year--I'm just glad I got some and in the mean time can find some robustos somewhere. Like others have said, many people buy Cubans knowing they will be sitting a long while.
Great opinions here, I love this thread. I've just gotta say though, IMHO, any cigar isn't worth purchasing if it isn't good right out of the box. Not to say aging doesn't help, but I would never buy a cigar I don't enjoy now hoping a few years makes it better.
I agree on both. Great thread and that if I wouldnt smoke it now I wouldnt buy it for later. Thanks for all the info.
tubaman
3 Time BoM
Well you would miss out on quite a few good CC's then. Some are notorious for the need to age to make them smokeable. Since NC's use tobacco that has been aged more before construction, they generally taste better ROTT than a CC. This is less prevalent however with some, but not all, of the more recent production (last couple years.) It's the same with wine, some really need to age before drinking, but once they get to the point of readiness, it's nirvanna!
indyrob
BoM Feb '06 & Sept. '08
The majority of CC's fall into the same category as vintage wines; with a reference year, and how they are processed.
The majority of NC's would fall into that same category as a non vintage wine; no age statement and processed for consistency through the years without a hic-up in taste/quality. Saying that a Bordeaux is fine as soon as it's bottled isn't wrong but it would definately improve over the years into something wonderful.
I'm in Nica driving from the airport to the factory but I wanted to comment. Typing on iPhone so quick answers.
The statement about the tobacco being higher quality before is funny. The tobacco we are using now is by far better. I'm still laughing about that statement.
Tatuaje cigars and all the brands that are made for me will always benefit with age. The statement I made was they are ready to smoke fresh out of the box but will age beautifully. We make these to smoke right away but they will continue to change in good ways during aging. Bagfullofpings, I think you misunderstood a little. No worries.
When we make cigars, we make them to smoke but we also look to the future of the cigar to make sure the tobacco has enough structure to hold up during long term aging. I like the fresh but I like them also with a year and more on them. The 2003 boxes I have are still smoking good and that's almost 7 years later.
Hope this helps.
Pete
The statement about the tobacco being higher quality before is funny. The tobacco we are using now is by far better. I'm still laughing about that statement.
Tatuaje cigars and all the brands that are made for me will always benefit with age. The statement I made was they are ready to smoke fresh out of the box but will age beautifully. We make these to smoke right away but they will continue to change in good ways during aging. Bagfullofpings, I think you misunderstood a little. No worries.
When we make cigars, we make them to smoke but we also look to the future of the cigar to make sure the tobacco has enough structure to hold up during long term aging. I like the fresh but I like them also with a year and more on them. The 2003 boxes I have are still smoking good and that's almost 7 years later.
Hope this helps.
Pete
BrooksW
BoM June '09
To touch on an above comment. All cigars should be good of the bench and aging is good for them but if a cigar sucks off the bench, there is no amount of age that will help it.
I could debate this subject for years and newer Cuban cigars are the perfect target. Padron cigars will also come up in the conversation. If anyone meets up with me, ask me to explain.
You have to have the best of both worlds like a great wine otherwise you are selling crap.
Rob, NC's are similar to CC's. You are using a box date as a guide for CC's and we do that also for our cigars but that is not a true guide for vintage. They are all a blend. The only cigar that will be a true guide of vintage in our industry including the Cuban industry is my La Verite project. It's the only cigar you can really put a date behind like a vintage wine. A true vintage cigar.
Pete
I could debate this subject for years and newer Cuban cigars are the perfect target. Padron cigars will also come up in the conversation. If anyone meets up with me, ask me to explain.
You have to have the best of both worlds like a great wine otherwise you are selling crap.
Rob, NC's are similar to CC's. You are using a box date as a guide for CC's and we do that also for our cigars but that is not a true guide for vintage. They are all a blend. The only cigar that will be a true guide of vintage in our industry including the Cuban industry is my La Verite project. It's the only cigar you can really put a date behind like a vintage wine. A true vintage cigar.
Pete
