I’m not exactly a cigar newbie, but I certainly am far cry from being an “old stogie” considering that I only had my first cigar about five years ago. I’ve smoked plenty of cigars in those few years, enough that it’s difficult for me to find a cigar I haven’t had before when shopping at a cigar store. I’ve also been smoking cigars long enough to understand and appreciate how aging can radically improve a cigar.

Or so I thought.

You see, not too long ago, a package appeared in my mailbox from Chuck, a bona-fide FOG in the cigar world — and in that package were five very nice, obviously aged cigars. I had several of those very sticks in my humidor, most with a year or two of humidor time on them, and comparing side by side, I could visibly tell these cigars from Chuck were significantly older.

Then I lit one up, and the difference practically jumped up and slapped me in the face! Sure, it was the same brand and vitola I’d had dozens of times before, and yes the signature flavors were there, but it was a completely different smoking experience; the flavors were less separate, seemingly more blended together

Imagine cooking a perfect steak and then pouring a bit of quality steak sauce on it; now imagine marinating that same steak first, prior to cooking it. It’s the same steak with the same general flavor profile, but the marinated steak’s flavors are married and balanced in a much more pleasing manner.

That’s how a well aged cigar tastes; same general flavor profile, but with a more married, balanced, and smooth delivery of those flavors.

I think I’m going to have to develop a whole new level of patience to start really aging my cigars. A couple of years is nice, but a lot of years is much nicer.