So to follow on - what Cuban cigars do need aging to get the best?

[TJCoro]

Vendor Be Gone!

After recovering from my amazement that this is how it's done and realizing I won't be getting a replacement, I let 'em rest for about 6 months before they became smokeable and yes...quite enjoyable.

I forgot to mention in the previous post that after my experience with the vendor, I never used them again and now only buy from those who provide box dates.



Bag Boy

[TJCoro]

And now, the rest of the story.

So finish the story then...did you manage to give them the time they needed & did that time give the promised improvement?

Haha! You know the answer to that, amigo.

But for the benefit of those new to the wonderful world of fine puros. The answer to both questions is yes.

After recovering from my amazement that this is how it's done and realizing I won't be getting a replacement, I let 'em rest for about 6 months before they became smokeable and yes...quite enjoyable.

And that, mis amigos, is how Bag Boy discovered the importance of buying aged puros. And by age, I mean one year of more.

The End.



Bag boy

[Simon Bolivar]

This reminds me of the time when I bought my first box of puros and they were just awful out of the box. I contacted the vendor to complain and he said they were "too young" and needed time before smoking. I distinctly remember thinking at the time - WTF??? How can they sell a product that is not ready to enjoy???
The vendor responded with "don't know, they just do" and went on to complain about Communist and the lack of quality control. I zoned out...

True story.

Bag Boy

So finish the story then...did you manage to give them the time they needed & did that time give the promised improvement?

[TJCoro]

Believe it or Not!

I agree with Gus, (thanks for explaining further your point), that it would be better if Habanos indeed sent their products out at their optimum ageing or at least with 2-3yrs age on them & that actually used to happen.

This reminds me of the time when I bought my first box of puros and they were just awful out of the box. I contacted the vendor to complain and he said they were "too young" and needed time before smoking. I distinctly remember thinking at the time - WTF??? How can they sell a product that is not ready to enjoy???
The vendor responded with "don't know, they just do" and went on to complain about Communist and the lack of quality control. I zoned out...

True story.

Bag Boy

[JoeyGunz]

if they sold aged sticks i suspect we'd get a further premium on price..... holding inventory costs.... see any new 'malt' distillery usually produces gin as well as it can go from still to bottle to shelf in days, it works their space and turns cash through the distillery while the whisky becomes whisky!!

For Example the Ramon Allones Hunters & Frankau Aniversario 225 Cigar

"In the traditional British manner, the cigars were then shipped to the UK and aged for a period of two years in a condition-controlled warehouse so that they would be fully matured before being released to the market."

They definitely commanded a premium for this.

[Emaresee]

I agree with Gus, (thanks for explaining further your point), that it would be better if Habanos indeed sent their products out at their optimum ageing or at least with 2-3yrs age on them & that actually used to happen. The Cuban's would keep then for a couple of yrs & then H&F would do the same so no one had to 'suffer; green sticks or boxes smelling of ammonia.

The late 90's Yuppie boom put a stop to that & as demand outstripped production, cigars started to be shipped as soon as they were boxed. The economic situation in Cuba, has meant they have never managed to get back to the state of keeping all boxes for a while, although some leaf is aged for the El ect.

The positive side of current events is that lot of people seem to enjoy smoking them you so now you have a choice to smoke them young or age them yourself.

if they sold aged sticks i suspect we'd get a further premium on price..... holding inventory costs.... see any new 'malt' distillery usually produces gin as well as it can go from still to bottle to shelf in days, it works their space and turns cash through the distillery while the whisky becomes whisky!!

[ha_banos]

Larnaca airport.

[PeeJay]

Mate of mine was smoking a Party P2 last night. Recently bought from an airport. Boy did it sound like it needed to hibernate!

Palma airport?

[ha_banos]

Mate of mine was smoking a Party P2 last night. Recently bought from an airport. Boy did it sound like it needed to hibernate!

[Simon Bolivar]

I agree with Gus, (thanks for explaining further your point), that it would be better if Habanos indeed sent their products out at their optimum ageing or at least with 2-3yrs age on them & that actually used to happen. The Cuban's would keep then for a couple of yrs & then H&F would do the same so no one had to 'suffer; green sticks or boxes smelling of ammonia.

The late 90's Yuppie boom put a stop to that & as demand outstripped production, cigars started to be shipped as soon as they were boxed. The economic situation in Cuba, has meant they have never managed to get back to the state of keeping all boxes for a while, although some leaf is aged for the El ect.

The positive side of current events is that lot of people seem to enjoy smoking them you so now you have a choice to smoke them young or age them yourself.

[ha_banos]

Yes. The point is whisky is matured for many years and ready to drink at POS.

One key difference is the consumer cannot further mature or age the whisky. Whereas with tobacco the product will continue to change with time.

Now the LE and Reservas are allowed to age longer before hitting the consumer. H&F will also hold onto stock to further mature it sometimes. I wonder how much old stock they actually have!? Would be interesting to know.

What makes Cuban tobacco different from tobacco grown elsewhere? Some of these are Cuban seed anyway! Are the other tobaccos matured longer than CC before POS?

(POS - point of sale)

[Gus Fring]

Its not for non Cuban cigars

That's why the majority of my sticks are NC.

[PeeJay]

Its not for non Cuban cigars

[Gus Fring]

You guys are missing my point. I think it's ridiculous (and bear in mind that this is only my opinion) that the expectation is that the consumer buys the cigars and then has to store them for years before getting the "best" of them. To my mind, this ageing should be done by the manufacturer so that their product is in optimal smoking condition from the point of sale. Sure, I can choose to smoke a young stick if I want, but consensus says that Cuban cigars are better with a few years on them, so in my opinion that's how they should be sold. To my mind, selling them while they're still sick is just plain lazy.

And as for my "pompous" comment. I work in an industry where the ageing and maturation of the product is done before the point of sale. I see it with my own eyes almost every day. The end product is in its optimal condition for consumption from the point of sale. From blended to single malt products; it's all carefully controlled and monitored so that the consumer only has to pop the cap and pour once he or she buys it. I don't see how it should be any different for cigars.

[PeeJay]

Saying "I are an engineer ... " is kind of pompous . Its also terrible English! images-1.jpeg