Resting NCs

[K444HEP]

Morning All,

I am part of a Facebook group that seems unintentionally geared towards NCs. As someone that enjoys both CCs and NCs, probably an 80/20 ratio in favour of CCs, I have noticed a couple of people buying fairly cheap NCs and talking about resting them for a few years.

This came up in a slightly different context recently, but I am curious to know if there is any real benefit to resting NCs as it is my understanding they are ready to smoke immediately unlike CCs that many of us feel improve with age.

Perhaps my question is do all cigars improve with age, regardless of if they are CCs, NCs, High-End, budget etc. Would be very interested to hear opinions and experiences regarding this.

[Vitola]

Similar to yourself I enjoy both CCs and NCs, slightly more in favour the ratio being 70/30 towards CCs. I have probably only been seriously collecting for just over a year or so now, but I have managed to find some NC stock which does have couple of years age on them.

Most NC's I think smoke well straight away as the leaf appears in most cases to have already been aged for longer. I am keeping a few NC's in my collection purposely to age them and see for myself. I am at the level now, where most cigars I can keep for at least 6 months. I think muted flavours improve over time and stronger flavours slightly weaken - in general.

One thing I have noticed though, is the quality of construction and burn for NCs generally seems much more consistent from the start than the CC stock I have acquired. With certain CC stock, I am finding it definitely pays to dry box in the beginning, (the ones to me that feel over packed and too firm) otherwise they are unsmokeable. I haven't yet come across NC stock requiring dry boxing

[Alexw33]

I think the question is slightly misleading, “do all cigars improve with age” I would say no as this is dependant on many factors including individual preference. However if it stated “do all cigars change with age”, I would say yes.

I’m not very knowledgeable or experienced when it come to NC (or CC to be fair) but I don’t believe there is anything magic about Cuban tobacco that makes it change over time whereas all others do not. What I would say is that the biggest change (or quickest more accurately) occurs in the early days i.e. change between freshly rolled and one year old is bigger than that between one year old and two year old.

Because of this, and the fact that most NC already have some age on them before hitting the shelves, it is more noticeable in the early days with CCs. If for example the NC you buy has already been aged 5 years you may need to give it another 5 to discern the difference, whereas a 6 month old CC is going to change loads in as little as 12 months.

I might be wrong but this is just my view.

[K444HEP]

Because of this, and the fact that most NC already have some age on them before hitting the shelves, it is more noticeable in the early days with CCs. If for example the NC you buy has already been aged 5 years you may need to give it another 5 to discern the difference, whereas a 6 month old CC is going to change loads in as little as 12 months.

Good point; most NCs seem to be made with tobacco that has already been aged, I’ve never kept one around long enough to note any difference/improvement as I tend to smoke them almost immediately, or rather won’t wait to smoke them l like I do with my Cohibas, for example.

[7kingsguy]

Most nc tobacco is geared towards being ready to smoke, but that doesn't mean they dont get better with age.

I tend to find my bundle sticks are better after a year or two, much like a cuban l piedra. I also find oliva vs get better after a year.

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[ha_banos]

For Habanos

LE leaves are aged min 2 years before they are rolled.

RE are not, just special blends and vitolas AFAIK?

Reservas and gran reserva 3 and 5 years aged before rolled. Also selected leaves.

Here's the write up http://www.habanos.com/en/el-mundo-d...jas-de-tabaco/

Anejados program rolled and aged in boxes before releasing. Why was this programme not so well received? I mean we all age our own boxes, is this not the same?

Even LE loads of reviewers talk about still too young.

Regular new boxes are still wet from the rolling I guess?

Not read up on the various NC methods. So no idea how mature the tobacco is when it hits the shelves.

If you like it, get more. If you don't, don't.

Will take me over a decade to go through my collection. Done will fade, some may shine. I'll keep topping up as I go I guess. So a plethora of options!

[groundhog]

I have noticed a couple of people buying fairly cheap NCs and talking about resting them for a few years.Perhaps my question is do all cigars improve with age, regardless of if they are CCs, NCs, High-End, budget etc. Would be very interested to hear opinions and experiences regarding this.

Nope, nope and thrice nope.
A cheap NC will always be a cheap NC. If it's been in a humi for a couple of years, it'll just be a slightly older cheap NC.
It's like a bottle of Happy Shopper Merlot - you wouldn't cellar it, as it would still be a cheap bottle of wine.
I suppose the question is - how cheap?
If you're talking about cheap compared to cubans, then there 'may' be some merit. Possibly.
But if it's under five or so bucks (US Price), then I wouldn't bother.
Some NCs are already aged before release.
I bought a couple of boxes of custom rolls (from Little Cuba in Miami), which were rolled on my son's Birthday in 2014 - I smoke one every year on his Birthday - and they are improving with age, without doubt. But they weren't cheap.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - time helps draw out quality. But the quality has to be there in the first place.

[K444HEP]

Nope, nope and thrice nope.
A cheap NC will always be a cheap NC. If it's been in a humi for a couple of years, it'll just be a slightly older cheap NC.
It's like a bottle of Happy Shopper Merlot - you wouldn't cellar it, as it would still be a cheap bottle of wine.
I suppose the question is - how cheap?
If you're talking about cheap compared to cubans, then there 'may' be some merit. Possibly.
But if it's under five or so bucks (US Price), then I wouldn't bother.
Some NCs are already aged before release.
I bought a couple of boxes of custom rolls (from Little Cuba in Miami), which were rolled on my son's Birthday in 2014 - I smoke one every year on his Birthday - and they are improving with age, without doubt. But they weren't cheap.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - time helps draw out quality. But the quality has to be there in the first place.

Great explanation - you summed up succinctly what I was leaning towards.

It was always my understanding that NCs were every much good to go; I suppose we all have our own ideas of what is cheap, affordable, expensive, rip-off etc... but the sticks I was referring to are maybe ?4 or ?5 a piece.


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[7kingsguy]

My 2 dollar budget nc sticks improve hugely after a year, but i like them fresh anyway.

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