Aged Habanos

[Here's Johnny]

I recently pulled out a H Upmann Con #1 from 98. It tasted rather unremarkable. I was really disappointed as these where among my favorite Habanos. I haven't tried one in over a year. Did my taste change that much? I didn't believe it was my taste buds. So I ordered another box with the same box code from the same vendor over a year later. they where incredible. What happened?

The original purchase was a split done with another outstanding brother on this forum. I only had 12 and no box. No big deal, I stored them in a singles drawer. Well I did some research. Do you know what I found out? Aged Habanos can and will loose much of their flavor in just a few months when taken out of thier box and stored as singles. Habanos in general will when stored at room temp and 65% to 70% RH reach thier potential in 2 to 3 years, When stored as singles. 10 years, when stored in boxes. To keep already aged singles from deteriorating you should keep them in an air tight zip lock with some cedar strips.

To age Cuban cigars for decades you should keep boxes in individual freezer bags at 55 degrees F and 55% RH.

Note: These opinions come from a very knowledgeable person in the world of Cuban cigars who most of us has heard of.

I thought all this was very interesting............What do you think?



This is a cut & paste from another forum.






Scott don't :gangfire: me for plagiarism!!!!

J

 

[smokem94]

That's very interesting and good to know as the majority of my singles are "special" cigars such as EL's and aged smokes. I may have to look at how I store my special singles if they are not going to be smoked any time soon?

 

[Prometheus]

had a friend try an Upmann and was both unimpressed and disappointed at the same time. I think his brain was set for a different flavor than what was going to be provided by the cigar. I've had that happen. Expecting full bodied and getting med to light, or vice versa. Then I have to readjust and calibrate the brian to pallette connection.

 

[N2Advnture]

Well I did some research. Do you know what I found out? Aged Habanos can and will loose much of their flavor in just a few months when taken out of thier box and stored as singles. Habanos in general will when stored at room temp and 65% to 70% RH reach thier potential in 2 to 3 years, When stored as singles. 10 years, when stored in boxes. To keep already aged singles from deteriorating you should keep them in an air tight zip lock with some cedar strips.

I'd be interested in reading this, what's the source?

TIA

~M

 

[Here's Johnny]

I don't know the origin of this information. Scott may pop on here and divulge .

J

 

[tobby4]

Yea good information, but i would like to see where it is froml...

 

[indyrob]

I'm pretty sure that there is a cyclic "lobe" in cigars flavor profile. Sometimes fresh, sometimes flat. I don't know how often/when it occurs, but I'm sure it does.

-AND/OR-

There has to be a certain point where the blend becomes neutral (peak marriage of blend), then starts to harmonize and becomes a cigar that we call "aged". I am pretty sure that this happens after a few years, but it really depends on the paticular harvest that the tobacco came from.

In both cases I think it's important to realize that a cigar that has been in a certain enviorment for (x) years has adopted it's enviorment (ie box/cab) into it's characteristics and the sudden change in the cigars enviorment(singles' drawer) is no doubtly going to have an impact on the over all taste until it has re-adjusted.

 

[rpb67]

I'd be interested in reading this, what's the source?

TIA

~M

I would like to read more about this as well.

Can you tell us/me were to find this information ???

 

[coma]

By no means am I pretending to know what I'm talking about, but I cannot beleive that the above statement can be true. I have been smoking habanos for a little, but in that time I have aquired both boxes and singles. In my singles drawers I have kept some of the more expensive and hard to find smokes, since I can only afford to buy a few and not boxes :tonguerol :rolling:
Anyway, I've had some sitting there for years and just last week I had one that had been sitting there and it smoked sublime.
Many things can impact the cigar, but I don't beleive that by just placing it in the drawer it will expire in just 2 years. Sure that it is better to store in boxes, but to think that in 2 years a cigar would expre and loose all of its flavor, I just cannot beleive it:nono:

 

[avid toker]

I agree with Albert (geez). Highly doubt that a cigar loses that much aging outside the box. Don't forget the source from where you obtained the cigars. Chances are they could have been stored improperly from the get go. Lastly, it's a good chance that maybe the cigar has entered some type of additional sick period as part of the maturation process. itchfork

 

[cvm4]

I have heard of this happening to true vintage cigars (early 85's and before) but never to '98 cigars. But, you do lend a point because the cigars were out of their original environment where they couldn't meld together anymore. And yes, IMHO, cigars will oxidize quicker because everytime you open the humidor you're stirring fresh air. Which is unlike what you'd be doing if you just opened the box to quickly get a single. All IMHO!

 

[Kingston]

I'd be interested in reading this, what's the source?

TIA

~M

I remember reading something to this effect written by a certain Encyclopedia author on another forum where he has his own "Corner"

 

[caudio51]

Some very interesting points. I think that a cigar aging in a box vs outside the box will have some differences due to it picking up flavors from other cigars it is stored around.

 

[indyrob]

Some very interesting points. I think that a cigar aging in a box vs outside the box will have some differences due to it picking up flavors from other cigars it is stored around.

Exactly.:thumbsup:

 

[caudio51]

Rob, you're about to break 1000

 

[sli38]

This was from me on another forum. The info did indeed come from a certain author who has his own corner...LMAO. I'm not saying I buy into all this. I will say There is a distinct difference in flavor between the 98 connies I just received and the loose 98 singles that where in my cabinet hummi ( exact same box code) and I detect a huge difference from what they used to taste like. Just food for thought.

BTW: I don't store anything in zip locks....yet.

 

[Kurtdesign1]

I'm no expert but I can say that I have experienced singles OF CERTAIN MARCAS that when are placed in singles drawers lose their flavors extremely quickly (when compared to other specimens from the same box, IN the box). I put the caveat on there because some have been so substantial that a little "open" time could smooth them out a bit more. EX: OLUL Monte Especial #1's. Fresh from the SBN they seemed still to have some tannic-ness. If I had to take a stab in the dark, I'd say another 20 years could really round them out...or for some relivance (sp?), 2 months in a 50 ct. humi could get rid of that harshness too (though sacrificing flavors)