MichiganM
The One, The Only
Cigar aging is a subject that I have gone to great lengths to study recently...as my personal knowledge on aged cigars, particularly Cubans, is somewhat limited. I have read much of the MRN book and have found it to be fascinating. However, I do not know of any related book or anything close to a work that was prooduced in relation to non-cuban cigars. As to say, there is no book that I know of that goes as in-depth into non-cuban cigars (particularly the aging of such) that has been published. Perhaps, that is because the non-cuban cigar industry is not as rich in history (old) as the Cuban version.
This is what bugs me. The MINIMUM period of aging most vitolas is usually about 5 years in MRN's personal experience and opinion. Usually, he recommends 10-20 years to fully appreciate the work of art a cuban cigar can truly become. Usually anything less than 3 years is almost a waste. I am taking some liberty in my words, but also just a view of my take on the book in general.
Ok, so 5 years minimum....10-20 for true beneficial results. Cuban climate, as well as soil is thought to be better than non-cuban...or else Cuban cigars would not be as sought-after as they are. This is granted. People who age cuban cigars USUALLY (but not always) completely discount aging non-cuban cigars. This I do NOT understand. Why is because of simple physics. Is there something about Cuban soil that only permits cigars of that lineage to be better aged? Or is it perhaps that there is no book equivelant to MRN's in a non-cuban fashion that relegates non-cuban cigars to be "discounted"? Getting back to the original argument on mimimum age time. How many non-cubans are truly aged 5-10 years before being released?? I know of few. Those few are considered highly premium (Padron 64's etc). Am I getting to something there?? I think so.
Another way to look at it. How many on this board....and how many of your friends have smoked a 5+ year old Cuban cigar?? 10+ even? I'm sure there are a few of you, at least. How many of said smokers have honestly bought a box of Padron 2000's (just an example) and set it aside for 7 years? I have honestly never come across people that have the kind of non-cuban inventory to be able to rotate out 7 year old non-cuban cigars. I have heard of and seen inventories that allow cuban cigars to be aged for such a period and rotated out.
So, the point. I am putting together a diagram based on personal experience, heresay and many threads and posts on this and various boards that basically says that the reason people don't feel that n/c cigars are good aged is because nobody gives them the same chance as cubans. There are some reasons why. Aging cuban cigars has became exponentially more popular here in the United States in the past few years. I have seen this with my own 2 eyes. Is it because of the work of MRN? Perhaps, perhaps not. 5 years ago I heard of much less talk of aging cuban cigars here on the internet as well as among fellow smokers. Therefore, there isn't much experience with smokers here in the U.S. stocking vintage smokes simply because it is a RELATIVELY new concept. 20 years ago, I think you would find very few U.S. smokers with an inventory of aged Habanos. There has been no work, no large experiment (if you will) of aging large quantities of non-cuban cigars. Is there truly something about non-cuban cigars that makes them "un-ageable"???
Getting back to my original argument. I think the argument that non-cuban cigars do not significantly get better after age is simply not plausible if you belive the following 2 points:
1. Cuban cigars do get better after age.....AND
2. Pre-aged (Padron 64's) are highly sought after because they are better (i.e. taste better) than non premium non-cuban cigars.
How you can believe in 1 thing, and not the other I do not understand. I am not taking shots at anyone. I am simply stirring some thoughts in others and hope to engage in thoughtful rhetoric on this topic. I seen a lengthy thread regarding aging cuban cigars on another board that some of you belong to and it went on and on about aging cubans. There were even a few posts openly stating that non-cuban cigars do not age well. Show me your 10 year old Padron 2000's please!!! Yes, I know 10 years old is rediculous for some non-cuban brands since they aren't even that old, but you get the picture. How many people bought a box of Padron 2000's back in 1997 and are just now getting into them??
I hope I am making sense here. I feel that if you are a true aficionado of cigars, just as in wine (the old "only good wine comes from France" argument) then you would want to sample (and age) cigars from all over the world. To relegate cigars from one country as "good" is one's opinion. That is one thing that is so great about this hobby....."personal aquired tastes". HOWEVER, to relegate cigars from one country as being "ageable" and ALL OTHER cigars as "not ageable" is just plain simple minded in my opinion and truly doesn't make sense. Like I said earlier show me your 10 year old Padron 2000's that you've been aging next to the Mag 46's.......and also please tell me that Padron 64's are only good because of the blend...NOT the 5 year aging.
Something doesn't add up here. I hope all of you that have previously stated that non cuban cigars do not hold up to aging pine in. I only hope to add good rhetoric to this board.
Enjoy the thoughts....and I look forward to all of your opinions.
This is what bugs me. The MINIMUM period of aging most vitolas is usually about 5 years in MRN's personal experience and opinion. Usually, he recommends 10-20 years to fully appreciate the work of art a cuban cigar can truly become. Usually anything less than 3 years is almost a waste. I am taking some liberty in my words, but also just a view of my take on the book in general.
Ok, so 5 years minimum....10-20 for true beneficial results. Cuban climate, as well as soil is thought to be better than non-cuban...or else Cuban cigars would not be as sought-after as they are. This is granted. People who age cuban cigars USUALLY (but not always) completely discount aging non-cuban cigars. This I do NOT understand. Why is because of simple physics. Is there something about Cuban soil that only permits cigars of that lineage to be better aged? Or is it perhaps that there is no book equivelant to MRN's in a non-cuban fashion that relegates non-cuban cigars to be "discounted"? Getting back to the original argument on mimimum age time. How many non-cubans are truly aged 5-10 years before being released?? I know of few. Those few are considered highly premium (Padron 64's etc). Am I getting to something there?? I think so.
Another way to look at it. How many on this board....and how many of your friends have smoked a 5+ year old Cuban cigar?? 10+ even? I'm sure there are a few of you, at least. How many of said smokers have honestly bought a box of Padron 2000's (just an example) and set it aside for 7 years? I have honestly never come across people that have the kind of non-cuban inventory to be able to rotate out 7 year old non-cuban cigars. I have heard of and seen inventories that allow cuban cigars to be aged for such a period and rotated out.
So, the point. I am putting together a diagram based on personal experience, heresay and many threads and posts on this and various boards that basically says that the reason people don't feel that n/c cigars are good aged is because nobody gives them the same chance as cubans. There are some reasons why. Aging cuban cigars has became exponentially more popular here in the United States in the past few years. I have seen this with my own 2 eyes. Is it because of the work of MRN? Perhaps, perhaps not. 5 years ago I heard of much less talk of aging cuban cigars here on the internet as well as among fellow smokers. Therefore, there isn't much experience with smokers here in the U.S. stocking vintage smokes simply because it is a RELATIVELY new concept. 20 years ago, I think you would find very few U.S. smokers with an inventory of aged Habanos. There has been no work, no large experiment (if you will) of aging large quantities of non-cuban cigars. Is there truly something about non-cuban cigars that makes them "un-ageable"???
Getting back to my original argument. I think the argument that non-cuban cigars do not significantly get better after age is simply not plausible if you belive the following 2 points:
1. Cuban cigars do get better after age.....AND
2. Pre-aged (Padron 64's) are highly sought after because they are better (i.e. taste better) than non premium non-cuban cigars.
How you can believe in 1 thing, and not the other I do not understand. I am not taking shots at anyone. I am simply stirring some thoughts in others and hope to engage in thoughtful rhetoric on this topic. I seen a lengthy thread regarding aging cuban cigars on another board that some of you belong to and it went on and on about aging cubans. There were even a few posts openly stating that non-cuban cigars do not age well. Show me your 10 year old Padron 2000's please!!! Yes, I know 10 years old is rediculous for some non-cuban brands since they aren't even that old, but you get the picture. How many people bought a box of Padron 2000's back in 1997 and are just now getting into them??
I hope I am making sense here. I feel that if you are a true aficionado of cigars, just as in wine (the old "only good wine comes from France" argument) then you would want to sample (and age) cigars from all over the world. To relegate cigars from one country as "good" is one's opinion. That is one thing that is so great about this hobby....."personal aquired tastes". HOWEVER, to relegate cigars from one country as being "ageable" and ALL OTHER cigars as "not ageable" is just plain simple minded in my opinion and truly doesn't make sense. Like I said earlier show me your 10 year old Padron 2000's that you've been aging next to the Mag 46's.......and also please tell me that Padron 64's are only good because of the blend...NOT the 5 year aging.
Something doesn't add up here. I hope all of you that have previously stated that non cuban cigars do not hold up to aging pine in. I only hope to add good rhetoric to this board.
Enjoy the thoughts....and I look forward to all of your opinions.