Special Occasion - 17 years away.....

[Chrisso]

Good morning Brothers!

I have a question for you experts, and am looking for your suggestions.

My wife and I had our first (maybe only) child in January of 2011. I have tossed around the idea of trying to acquire a box of Chohiba 1966 Edición Limitada 2011's. and letting them rest till he turned 18.

First off, I imagine this is a horribly long time to let a cigar age. I have never smoked a CC, nor do I own one, so I am aware that the challenge of retrieving this item will be difficult, and pricey. My wife has given me the ok, if its what I would like to do. I would very much like to do it, however the funds need to be properly raised, and Im not entirely sure its a great idea to let these babies rest for 17 years?......

How do you brothers suggest going about celebrating an occasion like this? I would really like to have the discipline to buy these, let them rest, and roast the first one with my son when he is of age. Im not entirely too sure I could hold off that long, Lol! But I love the idea, and believe I can make it happen for my Son. Right now (hes not a teen and I dont want to kill him) hes the coolest person in the world. I would love to do something like this.

So now that you all know what I would like to do, what do you all suggest? Is this a pointless venture? Should I wait another ten years, and buy the next anniversary and let rest for 8?

Just trying to plan ahead, and organize this thing.

Thank you in advance for your help, suggestions, and slap across the face!

Regards,
-Chrisso

 

[CO Smokes]

Never had a 1966 so I can't really give my opinion of how they'd do over 17 yrs. there are plenty of cc's however that could easily stand up to that amount of time. Some of the more experience brothers can weigh in and let you know what they think but personally, I'd go for something like a box of partagas Lusitanias, cohiba Siglo VI, or H. Upmann sir Winston

 

[sneak_a_cigar]

IMO it should be his choice to smoke or not. I wouldn't attempt to pressure him to start smoking on his 18th birthday by making big plans now.

Just my humble (possibly unwelcome) advice.

 

[Chrisso]

Thank you CO Smokes!

Im certainly not apposed to selecting something different. I just figured, for the "special occasion" and all, that it wouldn't hurt to go "balls to the wall" with the selection. Ive read nothing but fantastic reviews on that particular cigar, which is why I selected it. That and its got the "pretty 2011" label on it. (so the wife says).

Thanks again for your input brotha! I feel slightly more comfortable with the question now, knowing that its a possibility to age some cigars that long and still enjoy it.

Obviously the last thing I would hate to find out is that the cigar after 18 years passed its prime!

Im certainly open to additional suggestions, and opinions from more experts!

-Chrisso

 

[Chrisso]

sneak_a_cigar,

I think that comment goes without saying. Thank you for your input sir.

All opinions are welcome. I certainly wont make him do anything he wont want to do (other than get shots, and stuff).

If he were to choose to not partake in the action, then I certainly will welcome them all to myself.

-Chrisso

 

[Alwayslit]

Smoke one a year on the birthday and share when he is 18.

 

[Knickerbocker]

I think it's a cool idea, I would definitely want to get a 2011 EL since that is the year of birth of your child. I mean no one can really predict how any cigar is going to age after 18 years. come back then and give us a review please!

 

[bundwallah]

Go for it. A box of 1966 shouldn't set you back too much if you know where to look. As for aging 18 years. They should be fine. I've smoked Cuban cigars 12 - 40 years old that have been fantastic. One caveat, and maybe some others can chime in. I'm hearing from some that EL's don't age as well as regular production. I'vd recently had a 2004 Sublime that was very good but not great. I've also noticed that older Cohiba Genios from 2007 are starting to lose something. Consider setting aside a BHK56 box from 2011 as an alternative. I bet those will age beautifully.

 

[Scroni]

I would see if you could get your hands on one to try first if you can (any of them if you haven't had them before). No point in spending the time and money aging them if you don't like them.

 

[AlohaStyle]

I personally have a sealed box of CoRo's from Oct 2008 which is my daughters birthday, and I will be getting another box of CoRo's from March 2012 which is my son's and will be saving them until they are 18. I don't expect my daughter to want them, but I will crack it open on her birthday and do my own celebration. If she wants to take a puff, great but I don't think that will happen.

Same thing for my son... I will crack it open on his birthday and if he wants to join his old man in celebrating great. At the very least, I will have some damn fine cigars in 18 years! I love me some CoRo's so that's why I went with that.

EL's haven't been around that long so no one really knows how well they age long term. CoRo's and some other classic cigars like H.Upmann Sir Winston's, Partagas etc are proven to age well.

 

[StogieNinja]

Smoke one a year on the birthday and share when he is 18.

Awesome idea. And, if it's a 25ct box, you can both enjoy one on his 18th, 19th, 20th, and finally on his 21st birthdays!

 

[Chrisso]

These are all fantastic ideas guys! Thanks!

I have found one place that seems to allow you to purchase them individually, but I am uncertain of its legitimacy. Again, I havent ever had a CC, nor purchased one, so there will be some trial and error I assume.

Id rather not make an error when spending this amount though. I would sleep better on a $200 or possibly $300 a box, if it were a knock off. But the prices Im seeing for these little guys is twice that!

Thank you again for your help gentlemen!

-Chrisso

 

[Chrisso]

Jim,

Thank you so much for your ".01" input as well.

From some of the things Ive read around, Im starting to contemplate buying a less expensive CC that ages well, as you suggested. However, like you said, I have plenty of time to research, etc.

Im actually interested now in buying a nice box of something, and roasting it up on his birthday each year. That in itself is a special occasion considering the trials my wife and I had getting pregnant.

Im glad you suggested not buying singles, as I was about 7 days out from doing so...... Im curious what your experience was during that? However I understand not being able to post about it here on the forum.

Thank you everyone again for your input. Im so glad I havent jumped the gun and just ran buying fakes, or something stupid just yet.

So thank you all again!
-Chrisso

 

[Tobacco Giant]

I save 2 sticks from every box I buy and plan on saving them until I can smoke them with my son in 16 years. If he's not into cigars than I'll just smoke them myself, lol.

I'll probably even wait until he's been smoking a few years so he can appreciate how well they've aged (or how tasteless they've gotten!).

 

[SurpriseMVP]

I would get a box of Jan 2011 CoLa or Sir Winston. As far as EL's go I have had some as old as 05 and they were just flat. I do have a box of 1966 that I bought for my birtday this year and have saved 5 of them to smoke over the next 5 years. Hopefully age will help these out as I was left unimpressed by the ones I've had so far.

 

[orangedog]

I would respectfully disagree with my buddies AZCigarNut and SurpriseMVP. Go with the 1966s. Here's why.

First, you get the 2011 on the band. This is probably the only time that the second band matters, to cement the celebration from a specific year.
Second, while there are good, practically reliable heuristics, on aging and what cigars will age, we don't really know. I haven't been overly impressed with the 1966, but that doesn't mean they won't get all QdO on us and turn into mild but really elegant smokes. No way to know right now. Yeah, they aren't firing on all cylinders, there are pros and cons.
Third, there is some heft that will carry over 18 years. You'll be able to say "this is a Cohiba, only released in this year." Even if Cohiba is knocked off the pedestal over the next two decades, you can say "these were the top of the top of the cigar world when you were born".

For purposes of celebration and speculation on aging, I think these are the way to go. Is a box of Sig VI tubos or Sir Winnies a safer bet for quality of aging and flavor... probably. More than probably. But guess what - in 5 years you're going to have a massive cabinet humidor full of that stuff and the 1966s will sell for double. Buy a box now, set and forget.

Thank you and goodnight!

 

[mthhurley]

I'm in agreement with Orangedog here. This is a highly sentimental value item. That second band is most important and just that he'll get to say he has "Cohiba's" from when he was born, there's immense value in that. Whether or not they are awesome when his time comes wont matter...it's that you had the forethought to do it. He wont be an aficionado at that point anyway.
I would tell you to do this without hesitation because I did not. And I find myself on the hunt to try and find boxes from 2003 and 2005 now to tee this up for my two boys down the road.

 

[gibbleguts]

My only thoughts on the 1966's coming around is that they are fantastic really young. By really young I mean fresh off the floor young but turn flat within a little time. I am not sure how they will turn out but i did pick up 50 of them based on my first tastings.

 

[maverickdrinker]

My son was born in 201o and I picked up a bunch of 2010 EL montecristo grand edmundos. I plan to smoke one on his birthday as well as have a few boxes to give him if he wants them.

If you are looking for something with the year he was born, id recommend that you pick up the 1966s. I've been smoking older ELs lately and I have to say they were underwhelming. Makes me concerned how the grand edmundos will age longer term.

If you are looking for ageability factor then, I would recommend either Cohiba lanceros, esplendidos, or siglo VIs. Better safe than sorry.

The good news is that 2011 was a great year for habanos. Good luck!

 

[Pooh Bore]

I would go for something that has aged well in the past from the regular production. Pick up a box with the same box code as the month and year of the birth.

If I hadn't left it so long I would have gone for sir winstons or Siglo VI for my children