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What should a newbie buy for future use?

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OK, this likely to be guaranteed to be a dumb one. But I'm reading more and more about cigars that are better with a bit of age. If you were to recommend to a newbie to pick up a few sticks as they're starting to stash in the humi what would they be? The thought is that they may not be appreciated by a newbie now, but in a couple years that smoke may be epic about the time the newbie's ready for it.

What do you wish you had bought a few of when you were getting started?
 
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My father Le Bijou torpedo, or some Pardon 26s or 64s. Wish my first box would have been Habanos, if only to let them sit. Monte 2, RASS, Boli, etc.
 

mdwest

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Here's what I do (started doing as a newbie.. and still do today)...

Simply find a cigar you like.. something you have smoked 3 or 4 of.. and have consistently had a good experience with... then go buy a box (cheaper that way anyway)... and throw it into "storage".. leave it alone for several months... then pull one out and see what you think.. leave it alone another several months.. then pull another one out and see what you think.... do this over the course of 3 or 4 years.. keep notes if you want to.. and compare them..

When people talk about aging NC's.. its really a wholly different thing than when people are talking about aging CC's.... guys who age CC's speak in terms of years (typically several.. even decades for the really dedicated.. ).. often when someone is talking about an aged NC they are speaking in terms of months (are looking at how something has changed over the last 6 months.. or 18 months.. etc.. you dont find many people smoking 8-10 year old.. or even 5 year old NC's... but that is very common in the CC world..

Depending on how much you smoke.. and how much you change up what you smoke (wide variety, etc..).. its possible a box will last you a couple of years (or longer) without even trying to age it (Ive got 3 different NC boxes in my humi right now that Im not necessarily trying to "age".. but they are all over 2 years old now.. and are over 3/4 full... I really like the sticks.. but just havent gotten around to them often enough.. My guess is that by the time the last stick is gone from each box.. at the rate I am going... they'll be 4-6 years old..

you'll also hear people talking about NC's "aging out".. essentially they reach a point where they start loosing ground instead of gaining it... If you reach the point where your box is going downhill rather than up.. you know its time to finish it off (I guess... I have never personally experienced this.. Ive had boxes that cease to improve.. but Ive never had an "old" stick get worse on me unless there was a storage problem or something like that..)....

Something else to remember is that most quality NC's are already "aged" when you get your hands on them.. and are several years old before they ever make it to the B&M shelves.. whereas the tobacco in most CC's is much "younger" when they get shipped from the factory to the retailer..
 
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ENV

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Dave hit it right on the head. Couldnt have said it any better,

All I will add is an echo

NCs: Opus X and Anejos are the primary sticks I have heard of people really aging

CCs: Pretty much all
 
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Good info md, anything specific to aging cigars, temp, rh? Or is it just leave it in the humi for a long time?
 

ENV

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Good info md, anything specific to aging cigars, temp, rh? Or is it just leave it in the humi for a long time?
I like 65*/65RH

My B&M likes 65*/67-69RH

For CCs people like 62-65RH and 65 degrees
 

StogieNinja

Derek | BoM June 2014
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Honestly, as a new smoker, I wouldn't buy much to "age" (or "rest") at this point. Your palate is going to change drastically over the next year or two, and most of the cigars you might like now, you may not like in a year or two as your palate acclimates to your new hobby.

I'd recommend going slow, avoiding impulse shopping at the bargain sites, and using forums like this to get recommendations based on what you've already smoked and liked/disliked. Buy fivers of those, and sample them at 3 or 6-month intervals. There's no point in stocking up on a cigar you find you dislike.

It's tough for a noob. I remember the frustration of thinking I needed to stock up NOW so that they'd be waiting for me when I was ready. Here's the rub: some of those aged out, and went flat. Some of them shined after a year or two, and then went flat. Some haven't shined yet!

What I would look for now are inexpensive but quality cigars that have profiles you enjoy, and let them rest for 3 months - they're generally already ready to smoke, they just need to acclimate to a proper smoking rH, as most shopes (both B&Ms and online outfits) tend to keep their stock around 70+%, which is too high. For most NCs, that's enough to help the flavors marry and they improve (I'm thinking staples like the Oliva G, Undercrowns, Fuente 858s, Padrons x000's). As you slowly (keyword: slowly) accumulate a cigar stash, some will age longer and you'll have plenty to smoke that are ready. As you slowly sample a wider and wider range of things, you'll develop a better idea of what you're going to enjoy long-term, and after a couple years, you'll be ready to start putting things away for a while.

As in most things in life, cigar smoking is a hobby that rewards patience. Take it slow, ease into it, and you'll be rewarded.
 
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I second everyone who has said Opus and Anejo's as they can sit for a prolonged period of time and really turn into excellent cigars. I would also throw Ashton VSGs into the discussion. Time makes these sticks very memorable IMO. Grown by Oliva, assembled by Fuente and put in an Ashton box. Doesn't make a lick of sense to me, but damn are they good with a couple years on them!
 
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