Question regarding taste/aging (San Cristobal/NC)

[miurajus]

My current wares of cigar information is largely based on the regurgitation and retention of internet forums.

Am I correct to understand that in the aging of a cigar, flavors can become more pronounced, easier to identify?

In addition to a smoothing out of jagged edges as well (flavor wise).

The reason I ask is because last night, (I'm deciding on what vitola for a box purchase), I smoked a San Cristobal monumento a friend gifted me. It has close to a year on it. While overall, I didn't care for the cigar as much as the clasico I had two draws in particular that were absolutely wonderful. Just 2. One of them most likely the best flavored draw I have ever had from a cigar in my limited experiences.

There was something a bit different (sensory wise, I knew it before I allowed my tongue and brain to process the flavor) and the flavor was very, extremely honed. I've never had this experience in a stick before.

This draw came close to the 2/3 3/3 mark. Which didn't fit with my logic train. I would think that if any portions of a cigar were to age before another, it would start with the foot. Am I wrong in this assumption?

Lastly, I have no idea how long the clasico (robusto) was sitting in a humidor (purchased online) and i definitely appreciated the construction of that cigar above the monumento.

I thought the monumento drew worse, burned worse and had less complexity. However, there were flashes of brilliance and I would assume it held it's sweet spot for a little longer in comparison.

What are your thoughts on the vitola's of the san cristobal line?

Summary:

Am I correct to understand that in the aging of a cigar, flavors can become more pronounced, easier to identify?

When a cigar ages, what portion of the cigar ages first (foot, head, etc.)?

What is your favorite vitola of this line?

Appreciate the insight, brothers.

 

[ciggy]

If it's a bitter and harsh cigar (still young) I'll let it rest for atleast a year before trying again. It's a crap shoot any other time. Some taste great right off the truck and taste can be such a subjective oppinion. My rule of thumb is atleast let it rest if I can be that patient.

 

[Psojka RP,601]

Yes, the longer you age the cigar, the chemicals that are in them right off the truck break down and the flavor becomes more apparent and complex. i try to let anything i buy sit a couple of months...esp. if i only have one bc i cant compare it to anything so the longer it rests, the better itll be in my opinion...as for what part ages first, i have no idea...gun to my head, id say the wrapper losses flavor first but dont quote me lol

hope i helped ya bro

 

[AlbanyCO]

Some cigars age like a fine wine, and others age like milk.

 

[kuzi16]

My current wares of cigar information is largely based on the regurgitation and retention of internet forums.

Am I correct to understand that in the aging of a cigar, flavors can become more pronounced, easier to identify?

In addition to a smoothing out of jagged edges as well (flavor wise).

age will mellow or relax harshness. this may allow other flavors to be noticed. age does not create new flavors or add flavor. cigars with way too much age on them can actually lose flavor to the point of not being as enjoyable.

The reason I ask is because last night, (I'm deciding on what vitola for a box purchase), I smoked a San Cristobal monumento a friend gifted me. It has close to a year on it. While overall, I didn't care for the cigar as much as the clasico I had two draws in particular that were absolutely wonderful. Just 2. One of them most likely the best flavored draw I have ever had from a cigar in my limited experiences.

There was something a bit different (sensory wise, I knew it before I allowed my tongue and brain to process the flavor) and the flavor was very, extremely honed. I've never had this experience in a stick before.

This draw came close to the 2/3 3/3 mark. Which didn't fit with my logic train. I would think that if any portions of a cigar were to age before another, it would start with the foot. Am I wrong in this assumption?

it is strange that it is only two draws.
one thought that has nothing to do with age is that those two draws were the only two draws that you were not smoking to fast. the cigar you are talking about is 7.25 x 49 and should take damn near two hours, if not more. if it took less than that you may be smoking to fast causing the cigar to burn hot and change the flavor negatively. you will know you are smoking a bit on the fast side by two things:
1) flavor
b) a visual.
when you smoke to fast the wrapper will burn a bit faster than the filler. this will leave a cone at the end of your cigar.


could your flavor experience have been from age? maybe.

When a cigar ages, what portion of the cigar ages first (foot, head, etc.)?

im not sure if one part ages faster or not... of if the difference in speeds would even be noticed.

What is your favorite vitola of this line?

Francisco - 5.5 x 44

 

[dpricenator]

Yes, the longer you age the cigar, the chemicals that are in them right off the truck break down and the flavor becomes more apparent and complex. i try to let anything i buy sit a couple of months...esp. if i only have one bc i cant compare it to anything so the longer it rests, the better itll be in my opinion...as for what part ages first, i have no idea...gun to my head, id say the wrapper losses flavor first but dont quote me lol

hope i helped ya bro

The age of a cigar would be measured in years, so 1 year 1.5 years, 3, 5, 10 etc. To say a cigar has been aging for 3 months, really just means you haven't gotten around to smoking it. While it is not a bad idea to let any "new" cigar to rest for a month at least before smoking it, i would not call that age. Just me maybe?


To the original poster. The cigars most of us smoke are a hand made product with so many variables possible, that no 2 cigars will be exactly alike. Now the only difference may be the line of the burn, or something menial. But I would never gauge a cigar, on one sample.

 

[shottabacardi]

aging is a strange thing in the cigar world, when you talk about aging a stick, you're really talking about a period of time from five to twenty-five years. there are four stages of aging,
1.Sick Period
at this stage the ammonia smell is still detectable in the cigar. it takes a year to two years to be completely rid of the ammonia produced as a byproduct of fermentation.
2. First maturation
during this stage the bitterness believed to be the taste of nicotine, becomes less as fermentation causes it to be broken down. as time goes by, fermentation slows down as fewer raw materials area vailable. the first maturity is when the cigar is most flavorsome provided that the bitter and tannic harsh taste mellowed out ta level that is not annoying to the smoker.for mild cigars it is 2-3 years in semi plain boxes, medium cigars around 5 years in semi plain boxes, and for stronger smokes around 7-8 years in semi plain boxes. bigger cigars will continue to ferment stronger for a long time
3. second maturation
this is a result of the degradation of tannin and the interaction of the ends products with the flavors generated by fermentation. all young cigars have a tannic taste and taste dry on the mouth.
4. third maturation
a result of accumulation of a finesse generated by mysterious chemical reactions between congeners, and everything else in the cigar. this begins to appear afters 20 years, and even then sometimes undetectable at 20 years minimum.
young cigars are punchy, fist maturation are "flavorsome", second maturation are "classy and elegant", and third maturation is "ethereal"

-Min Ron Nee
i reworded this for size, but if you really want to get into aging, i would suggest you read the book.

 

[Simoun]

The age of a cigar would be measured in years, so 1 year 1.5 years, 3, 5, 10 etc. To say a cigar has been aging for 3 months, really just means you haven't gotten around to smoking it. While it is not a bad idea to let any "new" cigar to rest for a month at least before smoking it, i would not call that age. Just me maybe?

No, not just you. It may simply be a matter of semantics, of course, but a cigar with less than a year on it, for me, has been "resting," not "aging."

That said, a matter of merely a few months can do wonders to a cigar that tastes bitter or has a disharmonious profile ROTT.