Last things first. How long a cigar is aged before shipping to the distributors is strictly according to the manufacturer's designations for THAT particular cigar and that can vary WIDELY. I always let cigars sit at least two weeks in my humidor(s) before trying one. At that point I usually decide to let them sit two or three more months. At that juncture, I can make a decision as to whether I should let them sit another month, two months or even two years. I have four desk tops. As long as they are well maintained, it's okay to use them to keep cigars as long as you want, decades even.
I have twenty Macanudo Vintage 1984's, representative of a full box, but not from the same box, same shipment though, that I've been aging for five and a half years. A friend paid for them. We're going to age them a full ten years and try to sell them on e-Bay just for kicks. I'm sure we'll get several times what he paid for them. I bought a box or two in the summer of '99, then he bought two or three just after that from the same place. They were going real cheap at the time, $75-150 less per box than other discount web sites. We decided to keep one of the empty boxes, and age twenty cigars in a humidor, and then sell them as a full box in ten years, like I said, just for kicks. We will be honest about them not all coming from the same exact box, and that they were stored in an ordinary desk top humidor, although I assure you, they're in good condition. I don't know if they have any flavor left, but they're in good condition. :cryinlaugh: But they're for collector's purposes at this point. I doubt if any collector would be fool enough to smoke one thinking it'll taste good. :cryinlaugh: :sm_angel:
As for Cuban cigars, don't buy most of what you hear about a lot of bad Cubans going around. You'd be surprised at how many people only THINK they've had real Cubans. Are there bad ones out there? Sure. Bad rolls? Sometimes. But MOST of the Cubans that I have smoked and could be at LEAST 99.9% sure were genuine, were not only good, but great. In my opinion, and this is coming from a man who smokes 95% Non-Cubans, and doesn't go out of his way to get Cubans, still and all, there is NOTHING like a good Cuban cigar in the world of cigars. There is a uniqueness to the flavor profile, and complexity and depth of flavor that is ALMOST unmatched by Non-Cubans. That's only my opinion, and if I'm all wet, I'm all wet.
I get my Cubans purely through the kindness of and as a complete surprise from people who I have made the acquaintance of through my five years on the internet. These people have been quite thoughtful and very generous in sharing their blessings with me. I have, as a result, smoked real Cuban cigars from about 20-25 different labels. 80-85% of the Cubans I have smoked in 8 1/2 years of cigar smoking have been better than the best Non-Cubans I've had.
I have plenty of opportunity to get hooked up with "reliable" shippers of Cuban cigars, but I prefer to toe the line regarding those laws. I've still enjoyed some rare and wonderful experiences as a result of the kindness of those folks. I have a few left, so there's more Cuban to come.