Cigars that age well vs those that dont

[Havana Joe]

Anyone know of an existing thread or reliable place to go to see a list or discussion of sticks that age well vs those that just get muted in flavor? Maybe this can be that thread but was curious now that I have gone from smoking cigars to collecting them like a lunatic...
Ive noticed a few that with just 12-24 months on them have really mellowed out or completely lost the characteristics that made them enjoyable in the first place. For instance DPG Blue and DPG CCs that had that peppery start no longer do. Anyone else?

 

[e-man67]

For NC's that age well I would say Opus X..all sizes. I also had a really old azz LGC churchill (a non cuban one) that I kept on shuffling around the humi. The cello was a very very crusty yellow. I brought it and cuban RYJ corona outside over the summer since I thought I was gonna pitch the NC LGC after lighting it (I was convinced it would suck) but it was unreal...an hour of bliss..I could not concentrate on the book I was reading..blew me away..you just never know. Now I will say I think DPG stuff mellows too much..I like that pepper spice..it has it's place.

 

[Alwayslit]

expectation and storage can make a great cigar suck and unexpected cigar a winner.

 

[Jfire]

I love the ninja kick to the throat from Dpg. Some of his stuff may loose the punch but imo gaines a butt load of subtle flavors. Such as 05 blue labels.

 

[Havana Joe]

I love the ninja kick to the throat from Dpg. Some of his stuff may loose the punch but imo gaines a butt load of subtle flavors. Such as 05 blue labels.

I agree that they do change and the subtlety is a nice surprise. I was just shocked by some that all the upfront stuff that makes a particular cigar stand out and then its just a complete turn around... Keeps things interesting for sure. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[danthebugman]

Like all things it's going to be subjective. One person will say X cigar doesn't age well and someone will come along and say they love it with 2, 5, 7, etc. years of age. I don't think there's any one thread dedicated to listing what cigars age well, but if you do a little sluthing (try searching aging) there are several threads where guys have mentioned X cigar with so many years is really smoking great. Personally I hear Padron x000 age nicely, but I can never seem to keep them in my humidor very long :grin:.

Dan

 

[derfatdutchman]

Dan hit the nail on the head ageing is a very subjective thing. For me nc LGC's seem to age well, so does the Padron 0000 series. I have a box of Tat red band Artista's pushing 3 years old, they have lost some of the pepper but have become more complex over all.

The best advise I can give is to lay some of your favorite sitcks down for long term aging and see how they change.

 

[milo]

expectation and storage can make a great cigar suck and unexpected cigar a winner.

Well put, especially with regard to expectation.

 

[Deemancpa]

The terminology seems to be commonplace, let it age! I always smoke a few before the lay down phase. Nothing more unnerving then aging a cigar that doesn't smoke well out the gate.
Although, I'm not a huge fan of aging, most cc like PSD4, Esplendidos, and Lutsitanias, I like to have some age on them. Everything else is fair game.
When I went through my Rocky Patel phase, there were no benefits to aging

 

[JPManning]

just my opinion, but I don't like to age connecticutt wrappers, they go flat too fast, ligero seems to be very good at becoming more complex as the pepper dies down over time...just my experience.

 

[njstone]

To my tastes, Fuentes age very well. Honestly, I don't even care for an Opus, Anejo, or Hemingway Maduro fresh. After two-years of so, though, great stuff.

The last WOAM I had was fresh, and I hardly tasted anything. I JUST smoked an '06 now, and it was fantastic!

I also 2nd the nod for the Padron regular lines. I have boxes of 2000s and Londres with almost 2-years on them and they are just about ready to burn!

 

[njstone]

As to DPG sticks:

--The Tobacco Baez is getting better and better with age. Seriously, there is twice as much flavor as when I first got them, almost 2 years later.

--By many accounts, the El Centurion has become a fantastic cigar. I have some but haven't burned one yet.

--The My Father is much better with age, imvho. I had some from '08 and right now they are just so full of flavor it's crazy ... sadly, only one left

--I'll put another vote in for the Blue label with age. For whatever reason, I don't care much for that cigar young. I usually love Pepin's stuff, but that one just misses me. I had one a couple months ago that was like 3-years-old, though, and even as my 2nd stick of the day that was a fantastic cigar.

--Both the La Riqueza and El Triunfador (OG, Broadleaf) are much better after a year, and just plain awesome at 2 years.

 

[Havana Joe]

As some have said this is very subjective but I like to hear what others experiences are with giving there sticks a cedar nap. For many years I had a 50 ct humi that served me well. I have since graduated to a vinotemp and am enjoying the plusses/minuses of aging. Thanks all for the input, good stuff.

 

[kuzi16]

i find that in very general terms, the more powerful a cigar starts out, the better it will age.

the more mild a cigar starts out, the worse it will age.

this is due mainly to the fact that age will tend to mellow cigars and tobacco over time. since tobacco is a natural product it is in a constant state of degradation. how we control this process is the key factor between a good and bad cigar.
age is just part of that process. as the cigar gets older the essential oils break down further and further.

so in general terms, if you start with a mild cigar and let the oild break down, you wont have much left.


of course there are exceptions to the rule.
I feel (there is the "subjective" part everyone is talking about) that illusione, though a full bodied cigar, does better ROTT. Aged ones lose some of the flavor that i like...
the same with Liga Privada no.9
those are great ROTT. with anything over a year on them in my humidor, i dont like them anymore.

 

[Dave]

.... For instance DPG Blue and DPG CCs that had that peppery start no longer do. Anyone else?

Funny....DPG CC and DPG Blue are both great examples of two that I do not enjoy at all unless they've sat for a long, long time. AB Harvest '97 and CAO Criollo are two others. So, maybe its the edgy habano wrapper that doesn't agree with me when young....may have to put a little more thought into this.

RP Edge (both Corojo and Maduro) are great when I can get them at B&M within a couple weeks of receipt there. They get muted and boring if they sit for six months. JDN Antono, VSG and Oliva V are others that I find tend to diminish with age.

 

[CSMoFo]

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=34135

 

[Danilo]

To me, most pepin stuff ages nicely. VSG's with time are great, Opus/Anejo.
I think it's a matter of having an oily enough stick to start with, and give it time to mingle and get good.