Suggestions for optimum pleasure. :|

[njstone]

I'll agree with the others. Like I said, Padrons are good OTT in my opinion, as are CAO, Rocky Patel, and pretty much any Pepin-made stick. Tats are similar to Padrons in that although the tobacco used isn't aged much compared to some others, the quality of the tobacco itself is so good that the sticks taste great right away. The only thing about Tats is that they sometimes arrive "wet," so I've heard--never had that problem myself.

If you smoke something that uses well-aged tobacco (i.e. an Rocky Patel Vintage or Olde World Reserve), then the need to age it yourself is much less--as is any benefit you'd get from further aging.

I have noticed a lot of "in between" cigars that don't seem to smoke that well OTT, but are great after just two months or so. These include the Perdomo ESV (a current fave), 5 Vegas, Alec Bradley Harvest '97, and NUBs (tons more I"m sure).

Some sticks that I've personally noticed improving a lot with age are the Edge Lite, H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon, and of course Padron (just had a 2-year-old 2000 natural the other night...sweet Lord, what a fun cigar!).

 

[BrandonJ]

I'll agree with the others. Like I said, Padrons are good OTT in my opinion, as are CAO, Rocky Patel, and pretty much any Pepin-made stick. Tats are similar to Padrons in that although the tobacco used isn't aged much compared to some others, the quality of the tobacco itself is so good that the sticks taste great right away. The only thing about Tats is that they sometimes arrive "wet," so I've heard--never had that problem myself.

If you smoke something that uses well-aged tobacco (i.e. an Rocky Patel Vintage or Olde World Reserve), then the need to age it yourself is much less--as is any benefit you'd get from further aging.

I have noticed a lot of "in between" cigars that don't seem to smoke that well OTT, but are great after just two months or so. These include the Perdomo ESV (a current fave), 5 Vegas, Alec Bradley Harvest '97, and NUBs (tons more I"m sure).

Some sticks that I've personally noticed improving a lot with age are the Edge Lite, H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon, and of course Padron (just had a 2-year-old 2000 natural the other night...sweet Lord, what a fun cigar!).

They are just amazing aren't they? I realize my palate is quite inexperienced but when I smoked one of these ugly little aged things it tasted like heaven. What are they like three bucks a stick?! Granted there must be a premium placed on keeping them at the right temp/rh for aging. Maybe somebody trustworthy with the space should buy forty of these boxes and age them and sell them three-four years down the road at a premium.

HA! :halfgrinw

 

[Daviso27]

I just bought a box of Londres and plan to tuck away just 5 of them to see if the cheapies age well, and smoke the rest of those puppies up.

Padrons age very well...Those cheapies, 2000, 3000, the Londres are very affordable making the ageing a little easier, "you just set'em and forget'em!"

I picked up a bundle of londres maddies from one of our brothers and they were aged roughly 3 years (smoked 'bout 3 of them very nice), I have some 3000 maddies in the humi that have bout 2 years on them, but I remember, when I purchased the box at a Padron event, I opened it and smoke one right out the box...Some say thats a "no-no," on the other hand, If you dont smoke sticks at different age points, you wont know if the ageing process is worth it.

 

[Craig Mac]

Maybe somebody trustworthy with the space should buy forty of these boxes and age them and sell them three-four years down the road at a premium.

As long as they aren't trying to sell them here......

 

[BrandonJ]

As long as they aren't trying to sell them here......

Of course not, they should give them away here!

 

[Craig Mac]

Of course not, they should give them away here!

Not saying that, just a fair value not necessarily a "premium" $$$

 

[BrandonJ]

Not saying that, just a fair value not necessarily a "premium" $$$

Oh I didn't mean mega bucks, sorry for the confusion. I wonder what would be fair for something like that. Perhaps $1-2 a stick? I would certainly pay that, just for the care alone. Has anyone here ever calculated how much time in care and money goes into properly stored cigars? I imagine its a lot easier if you have an environmentally controlled warehouse, but the climate systems must cost a fortune. Sorry I ramble a lot.... Just fascinated by many aspects of cigars....


I wish it wasn't 30 degrees, boy I have a craving.

 

[Proud Bear]

Wait, what was the original question...... Oh yea!

I don't know how new you are, but I would absolutely suggest samplers and a singles section of your humidor. Depending on what you have tried already, there may be thousands of blends and vitolas to go through. One thing that I agreed to myself not to do was to get stuck into whoring a brand (yes, I failed miserably like all the rest... Damn you Pete!), and I love going into a B&M and letting my eyes do the purchasing. I always walk out with stuff I haven't tried. This should captivate your interest long enough to have some boxes age pretty well.

Another thing I've spoken with guys about is multiple box purchases. When you find a vitola you like, pick up more than one box. Put one away long term and pull from the open one.

I would say that any cigar B&M has probably been aged for a little bit of time, and I've (almost) never had a stick that was improperly stored when I purchase from a store.

Bear

PS- Nice to see someone with the same name as me!

 

[BrandonJ]

Bear,
Awesome advice, my eyes are sure bigger than my wallet and lung capacity at this point. There are going to be some lessons learned for sure. I think that is all part of the process, and really its quite fun. I already have quite an extensive list of things I really hate. I am pretty new to the hobby as far as collecting and having things on hand. I have had my fair share of cigars over the years, but was limited always to a small desktop humidor(20ct). So a cigar here and there with a friend, get them as gifts, etc. I have always appreciated a fine smoke, but now I am passionate about it. Last summer got me hooked. All winter I have been researching on here, setting up my coolidor(150qt) and large humi.(they are primed and ready for sticks.) I am very excited.

Wait, what was the original question...... Oh yea!

I don't know how new you are, but I would absolutely suggest samplers and a singles section of your humidor. Depending on what you have tried already, there may be thousands of blends and vitolas to go through. One thing that I agreed to myself not to do was to get stuck into whoring a brand (yes, I failed miserably like all the rest... Damn you Pete!), and I love going into a B&M and letting my eyes do the purchasing. I always walk out with stuff I haven't tried. This should captivate your interest long enough to have some boxes age pretty well.

Another thing I've spoken with guys about is multiple box purchases. When you find a vitola you like, pick up more than one box. Put one away long term and pull from the open one.

I would say that any cigar B&M has probably been aged for a little bit of time, and I've (almost) never had a stick that was improperly stored when I purchase from a store.

Bear

PS- Nice to see someone with the same name as me!

 

[njstone]

Also, you could start an ISO thread for some aged sticks...there are plenty of people here with sticks that you'd like that already have 2 or more years of age on them. You could trade for some, and see what you think!

Also, sometimes you can buy sticks with age already on them. CI sometimes sells CAOs with age--I bought some Golds from 2002, Criollos from 2004, and Italias from 2006.

You sometimes get lucky with aged stock at cigarbid, but in my experience the big boys like CI, Famous, etc. have such rapid turnover that things are usually pretty new.

 

[njstone]

Bear,
Awesome advice, my eyes are sure bigger than my wallet and lung capacity at this point. There are going to be some lessons learned for sure. I think that is all part of the process, and really its quite fun. I already have quite an extensive list of things I really hate. I am pretty new to the hobby as far as collecting and having things on hand. I have had my fair share of cigars over the years, but was limited always to a small desktop humidor(20ct). So a cigar here and there with a friend, get them as gifts, etc. I have always appreciated a fine smoke, but now I am passionate about it. Last summer got me hooked. All winter I have been researching on here, setting up my coolidor(150qt) and large humi.(they are primed and ready for sticks.) I am very excited.

Many of us have been down this path, brother--and let me say this: SLOW DOWN! I bought a rediculous amount of sticks, all in the same few month period, many of which I have YET to even try! Get samplers, trade for a few sticks, etc. When you find something that you really like, get more. Otherwise you'll end up with a HUGE stash of sticks that you kind a like, and THEN you'll find the sticks that you like the most and wish you had more of, lol.

Sorry if that's already obvious to you, I don't mean to treat you like a noob or anything (I'm one myself still). But I for one over-purchased in my hysteria, and now have tons of cigars and no budget left, and am forced to only trade for the sticks I still want.

On the plus side, my collection will end up getting a lot of age by default :ccool:

 

[BrandonJ]

Please I appreciate any and all advice. I am forced to slow down after this last purchase(via my uncle sam savings account, IE tax refund), I just wanted to get going for what I knew I liked. I realize with 100% certainty my palate will probably change, but I think that is where the fun really begins. I cant wait to trade sticks, I am really interested in what other people like and why, compared to something that I may like. I invested a lot in super premiums because I know even if my tastes change, they sure as hell wont be very hard to unload...

Many of us have been down this path, brother--and let me say this: SLOW DOWN! I bought a rediculous amount of sticks, all in the same few month period, many of which I have YET to even try! Get samplers, trade for a few sticks, etc. When you find something that you really like, get more. Otherwise you'll end up with a HUGE stash of sticks that you kind a like, and THEN you'll find the sticks that you like the most and wish you had more of, lol.

Sorry if that's already obvious to you, I don't mean to treat you like a noob or anything (I'm one myself still). But I for one over-purchased in my hysteria, and now have tons of cigars and no budget left, and am forced to only trade for the sticks I still want.

On the plus side, my collection will end up getting a lot of age by default :ccool:

 

[Craig Mac]

Good point NJ, it is easy to get caught up in the buying aspect, the [ame="http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=23224"]Fiscal Responsibility - BOTL Cigar Forums - Brothers of the Leaf[/ame] thread is always good to read as a reminder

 

[BrandonJ]

That is a great thread. Thank you Craig Mac.

I can see how quickly one can over extend themselves with this hobby. I also agree with the statement made about the friendships being the primary component of the cigar hobby. I have already met some amazing guys.

I refuse to carry credit cards, I think they are awful, horrible things. I keep one in the house in a safe incase of emergencies. When I was younger I fell victim to easy credit, took years to sort out while I was saving for my house.

Good point NJ, it is easy to get caught up in the buying aspect, the Fiscal Responsibility - BOTL Cigar Forums - Brothers of the Leaf thread is always good to read as a reminder

 

[CWS]

I like what you did. An assortment of quality cigars in quantity. Other than the Tempus which IMO are disgusting but others seem to like a lot a very good list. This will allow you to rotate between sticks to smoke, trade with others and still have a nice stash. Well done

 

[BrandonJ]

CWS,

Yes I believe i've seen the posts from you describing them as bleak? :rofl:
So I know, what to NOT bomb you with one day!
I enjoyed the tempus very much. I really dig the creo!

Yes, I am done for quite some. I should be able to trade quite a few things for the HTF stuff, considering winters are for nothing but aging, I should be able to stretch this batch for a very long time.

I like what you did. An assortment of quality cigars in quantity. Other than the Tempus which IMO are disgusting but others seem to like a lot a very good list. This will allow you to rotate between sticks to smoke, trade with others and still have a nice stash. Well done