Cubans and Aging

Joined Mar 2005
249 Posts | 0+
Alabama Gulf Coast
Still being new to and never having the pleasure of smoking a true Cuban cigar, are they that much better than other imports. From some of the other threads I have read, it's seems like a lot of risk and effort to get and enjoy a Cuban. But I guess any thing worth enjoying is worth a little risk.

Secondly, I have just a small desk top humidor and don't have a lot of space for long time aging. When buying aged cigars, generally how long do they age before being shipping to the stores.
 
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.
 
You're a lot closer than me, especially if you have a car. Just slip over the border for a cup of coffee, and have a cigar with it. You can get Cubans like running water up in Canada. You might pay a bit too much, but you'll get 'em, whatever kind of Cuban you want.
 
Thanks for input Bloof, and maybe some day we can all have an opprotunity to smoke a Cuban
 
HiTide: Yes they are better in taste. About aging? Well it depends on how old they are when you buy them, or how old you like to smoke them. Most Habanos taste better with at least 2-5 years on them. Some are good young, but have the posibility to become great classic smokes with some years on them. It just depends on your particular taste, but WTF do I' know I' got the palet of a billy goat :lol: !
 
their like 20 bucks each up there arent they? especialy right across the border i bet.
 
If you can find one in Canada for 20 you'd be lucky. When I was in montreal this winter I poked into a few ships quickly. Thirty five was a common starting price.
 
I was poking around in the old threads and found this one.
Bloofington said:
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.
Bloofington, what are some Cuban cigars you would recommend?

Anyone else have favorites?
 
necropheliac! let dead threads rest!!! monte #2s are great, and el rey del mundo choix supremes are a favorite among folks around here, ive only had 1 of each and they were fantastic. just bought a box of monte 2s, cant wait for them to get here.
 
As for contriband...

Montecristo #2, can never go wrong with that one.

Bolivar Belicoso Fino

Partagas Serie P #2 Possibly the best cigar I've ever had. That's over 26 years of cigars...

Hoyo de Monterey Epicure 2

Punch Punch

Ramon Allones Specially selected.
 
Cohiba, Romeo Y Julieta, Bolivar, and echoing everything that others have said. They're ALLLLLL good!!
 
I am partial to the Upmann No. 2 personally. As for aging, most non cuban manufacturers age their cigars after rolling for about 90 days but like Bloof says it depends. A lot of cigar makers now are using aged tobacco that has been aged up to 5 years before even rolling the cigar. Aging non cubans is good... but aging cubans is great.

One reason I prefer to age cubans more than Non Cubans is becuase the cuban government does not really age their tobacco for several years before processing it. Frankly they dont have the economy for it. The Limitada seriew may be the only exception.
 
Macallan said:
m A lot of cigar makers now are using aged tobacco that has been aged up to 5 years before even rolling the cigar.

One reason I prefer to age cubans more than Non Cubans is becuase the cuban government does not really age their tobacco for several years before processing it. Frankly they dont have the economy for it. The Limitada seriew may be the only exception.

Just recently there was a release of a PSD4 Reserva
it was rolled using aged tobacco.
The first time I know of a Cuban cigar rolled with all aged tobacco.

This to me brings up a new point one that I think could have it's own thread?

The point being that as a cigar ages the oils from the different leaves start to blend and mix - that is part of the majic of aging cigars it really can open flavor that were not there when young.

SO that said - does using aged tobacco still need time to let the
oils "marry" - ?
 
I think that they need the proper Resting period, not necessarily aging.... ....

Then aging, one way to tell for sure would be to smoke it like you would when sampling through an aging box, just keep trying them at different points and see what happens...
 
Lets see if I can raise some eyebrows on this topic. I've smoked my fair share of Cubans, cruise ships, Aruba etc. They really are not all that! There I said it. Kinda like an opus x. Great cigars, I love the H. Upmann and Hoya Demontary, (i don't know the spelling) but I love the Dominicans just as much, Davidoff Mill. is the most expensive cigar I have ever smoked. It's awesome! I love Ashton Vsg's, now that's a smoke! If you want some Cubans, don't spend a lot. Find a place or a way to pay retail for them and try some. To each his own. I don't pay more than retail for any cigars any more. Opus x is a good cigar, STRONG Flavor, but $30.00 no way! I just paid $25.00 for "God of Fire" and I hope it's worth it? I'm sure there good, but I bet for the $14.00 I spend on a Davidoff Mill. they cant compare. I'll find out.

Also, a lot of people will say "they must have been counterfeits" when I tell them I don't think all Cubans are "GREAT". Not true, I think they just suck like some cigars do! WHOA!! "I'll probably here it for that one"

Also you want to watch out for those cheapies, some are OK, but most are really bad!!!


As far as aging, I think most of your top choice brands are already good to smoke. Let them sit a couple of weeks after getting them, and them let the smoking begin. I like to keep some, just to have them. I like to smoke my cigars, cause they aren't doing me any good if I don't wake up one morning :shock: I don't even want to think what my wife would do with my stash of VSG's :cry:


Can you tell I've been hitting the scotch tonight?
 
I've smoked 10 cubans that I bought in Montreal. I'm assuming they were "real" I enjoyed them very much. They had a nice pepper taste to them, which I love. There were 2 of them that were OK, but I probably wouldn't buy them again. Taste is a personal thing. Most people I know really like the A. Fuente Hemmingways. They have a metalic taste to them, when I smoke them. Don't know why, but I just dislike that cigar.