First Things First

[CuritibaRex]

Just a reminder for newbies here that after buying any Cuban-made puro cigar (unless you know the dealer is honestly certain of the production date,) the first thing one must do is put aside any excitement or anticipation for instant gratification; and store that stogie for at least 6 months (preferably twice that long or more.) Otherwise, one runs a distinct possibilty of drawing on disappointment.

Cuba's exporting programs (like everything else there) are state mandated. Quotas for sales are not subject to the discretion of individual manufacturers. So the need to get product "out there" to meet quota is more important than product aging to insure instant smokability. Though products may be - under best circumstances - aged sufficiently by the manufacturer prior to distribution, any season's storage time is subject to the production quotas of that season and more importanly the vagaries of unstable weather in that part of the world. Most Cuban cigars not sold person-to-person out of a B&M in Cuba are usually very fresh and the risk to consumers of experiencing ammonia by-product is high.

After spending the money, spend the time.

 

[ama]

Just a reminder for newbies here that after buying any Cuban-made puro cigar (unless you know the dealer is honestly certain of the production date,) the first thing one must do is put aside any excitement or anticipation for instant gratification; and store that stogie for at least 6 months (preferably twice that long or more.) Otherwise, one runs a distinct possibilty of drawing on disappointment.

Cuba's exporting programs (like everything else there) are state mandated. Quotas for sales are not subject to the discretion of individual manufacturers. So the need to get product "out there" to meet quota is more important than product aging to insure instant smokability. Though products may be - under best circumstances - aged sufficiently by the manufacturer prior to distribution, any season's storage time is subject to the production quotas of that season and more importanly the vagaries of unstable weather in that part of the world. Most Cuban cigars not sold person-to-person out of a B&M in Cuba are usually very fresh and the risk to consumers of experiencing ammonia by-product is high.

After spending the money, spend the time.

So you are saying that you haven't smoked a Cuban since like 2007?

 

[BubbaHoffman]

I thought they were illegal ?

 

[Hendy]

Yes, here in the United States these are illegal. But, we really appreciate the knowledge as any true cigar lover would.

Hopefully, some day, we will all be free to smoke wonderful tobacco's from all over the world without any political fences to hinder us.

Noticing your location, it makes absolute sense why you kindly provided the information you did. Again, much appreciated. But please keep in mind a majority of us are US Citizens and the origination of this site is US. Therefore, knowing it is an illegal act, we tend not to talk to much about it nor condone it.

Have a wonderful day, thanks again for the insight, and pleasure to meet you.

Hendy

PS: I hope I did not overstep my bounds here Mods.

 

[LTS 4 Bad Cigars]

Thanks for the heads up but now I am confused.

If the Behike is smoking as well as it is now, this six month rule does not apply in all cases. Are you being presumptuous of all ISOM's or are you speaking from your experience?

Lastly, where are you making your purchases from? In Country or out?

 

[CuritibaRex]

Sorry to take so long to get back into this thread. Glad to see it got some response. Please allow me to respond to those comments.

My OP was NOT meant to suggest that anyone break any U.S. laws about purchasing embargoed Cuban cigars. But, there may come a time you are gifted one by an acquaintence or a brother who perhaps purchased some while travelling outside the USA, but forgetting he had them when time to declare upon reentry and discovered his error while unpacking at home.

MY OP was based solely upon personal experience. I live in a country where CCs are legal. I buy a few and store on a rotational basis. I don't have money to burn, so I must be frugal in my purchases of cigars. Most of my stock is made up of Brazilian puros, most of which are aged sufficiently before distribution. Have never had an ammonia problem with those. I sometimes buy older CCs from my B&M when they can assure me they have sat on their shelf for over a year. However, I even store those I purchase in my humidor for at least a couple more months. I learned because I wasted a few expensive cigars a few years ago, by not knowing what I typed in my OP. I was initially just so excited to get some CCs that I wanted to light one up as soon as I got them home.

Yes, I realize that some people like the "bite" of a young cigar. I have heard from friends who have travelled to Cuba, where many of the locals do not like the smoothness from an aged cigar, preferring the young tobacco. I do not, however, feel the "average" cigar smoker would relish the ammonia bathes that I have tried to endure, only to throw away a couple $35 cigars, after only smoking 1/5th of it, thinking they were ready as soon as purchased.

But of course, nobody has to take my word for it.

 

[Bass man]

98 may be past it's prime, but 98 was also a year of over production & lack of quality control. Also, cigars with stronger blends tend to last longer. I have 97 Boli CGs and 92 Lusis that are still strong & complex.

 

[stogies&hoagies]

Sorry, gotta put in my two cents. I don't agree with waiting years.

In my opinion cigars released in recent years are fine to smoke whenever. I do adhere to a 30 day wait just so the cigars can stabilize after arrival. But I think it's unnecessary to wait years for all cigars to age. I don't think you'll be wasting your money. A young PSD4 for instance is pretty damn good. And the regional releases that have popped up in recent years are another example. They are good to go. Will aging benefit some cigars, sure. But it's not a deal breaker or a waste to smoke them young.

 

[Fox]

Sorry, gotta put in my two cents. I don't agree with waiting years.

In my opinion cigars released in recent years are fine to smoke whenever. I do adhere to a 30 day wait just so the cigars can stabilize after arrival. But I think it's unnecessary to wait years for all cigars to age. I don't think you'll be wasting your money. A young PSD4 for instance is pretty damn good. And the regional releases that have popped up in recent years are another example. They are good to go. Will aging benefit some cigars, sure. But it's not a deal breaker or a waste to smoke them young.

Agreed. Also, from a post by Rob Ayala back in 2007: "ALL cigars being rolled today are using three year old Ligero, two year old Seco and one year old Volado in their fillers. This is why cigars are smoking better earlier than previously. I personally inspected the markings of bales being used in the factories to verify this."

 

[CuritibaRex]

Agreed. Also, from a post by Rob Ayala back in 2007: "ALL cigars being rolled today are using three year old Ligero, two year old Seco and one year old Volado in their fillers. This is why cigars are smoking better earlier than previously. I personally inspected the markings of bales being used in the factories to verify this."

That may have been the case in 2007, but the last couple of growing seasons have been cut short due to an increase in tropical storms/hurricanes that have ravaged the island. We had a story in a local paper about 6 months ago about this subject of cigar tobacco in Cuba. (I thought I had posted it here in a forum thread.) Cuba's central planning has alerted 1/3 of the tobacco work force that they face lay offs in March or April, 2011, as a result of poor crop history the past few years. This means that in order to fulfill shipment quotas, younger and younger cigars must be released from warhouses for aging. Cuba is despearte for good growing conditions throughout this year!

 

[stogies&hoagies]

We had a story in a local paper about 6 months ago about this subject of cigar tobacco in Cuba.



Oh ok, so you believe everything you read in a newspaper? :applause:

Well, I bow to your superior knowledge. I still disagree though. I guess we'll just agree to disagree. You age yours however long you think best, and I'll smoke mine when i feel like it. Thanks for the input.

 

[dvickery]

CuritibaRex

a well thought out statement...thank you.

to the "newbies"(i hate this word but hey i am quoting)that this post is aimed at...it is wisdom. i firmly believe there is NO habano that would not benefit from (at least) 3 years of rest.

i have smoked a fair number of younger cigars(09's and 10's) in the last 2 months and find no reason to doubt the above statement...as good as they are now they will be better in 3 years.

AZCigarNut...i know we all like what we like...'98 may not be to your liking but i find them farrrrr from "past their prime"...i feel most of the 98's are not ready yet(strength still overbalances flavour)...for what its worth i think the best and most ready years just now to be in the '88 to '92 range of years...they have reached their peak in strength and power/flavours are in nice balance.

but hey the original post was aimed at newbies not the more experienced smokers...who know what they like.

derrek