I've been buying some boxes for aging. But my next purchase will be more for ready smoking. So, what cigars are smoking good young currently?
I'm stowing away a box of esplendidos, coro, monti 2 & mag 46. I've read these should be aged at least 3 years. To keep my drooling to a minimum, what can I buy to pass the time? The Hoyo EL I've read is smoking real decent.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Drewman,
I smoked 2 monte PE's the week before last in Cuba (out of a new box of ten) and I found the smoke to be quite strong and harsh (which is generally the case with shorter smokes in my experience). I bought the ten to smoke during my week vacation but I could only get through the two. I was hoping that with age the smokes would mellow out but from what I've read this might be the best they are going to be? I really really want to experience enjoyability that many people are getting from these smokes right out of the box.
About the aging, is it absolutely needed? I mean, I've heard some cubans you can't even smoke so young... you'll put the smoke out before you finish. But give it 3,4,5 years and then they come around.
IME, the Bolivar Royal Corona is real nice young. If it's one year past the box code date, then you're in for a treat. Also, the Hoyo DC & Monte PE are good, young smokes. Good luck!
Originally posted by Drewman: About the aging, is it absolutely needed? I mean, I've heard some cubans you can't even smoke so young... you'll put the smoke out before you finish. But give it 3,4,5 years and then they come around.
In a word, YES. I don't think any Cohiba should be smoked young because they change so dramatically for the better. ALL cc's get better with a few years of age on them, IMO. RASS get amazing, so do Monte No. 2's. Just look at the tastings that CA does in their magazine of the aged smokes.
However, with all of that said, it's not NEEDED. There are alot of cc's that smoke well young and that will blow your mind on how good they are but to reach full potential they should be aged. That's half the fun of cc's, buy a box or two of the same thing and smoke one or two sticks at 6 months, a year, 18 months, etc. and find out for yourself how different the profiles of the smoke become. You'll be a little amazed I'm sure. I know I was.
Originally posted by Drewman: thanks, I'd like to try the monti 4.
About the aging, is it absolutely needed? I mean, I've heard some cubans you can't even smoke so young... you'll put the smoke out before you finish. But give it 3,4,5 years and then they come around.
Go for the Monte 4, they're very dependable and generally taste good even before the cigar shop door hits you in the arse. While cigars generally do benefit from some aging and I have a few boxes set aside for long term aging myself, the vast majority of cigars sold are smoked within hours or days of purchase. It's easy to forget, while participating on a cigar forum, that most people who smoke cigars do not take it as seriously as many of us here (I include me in that 'us'). So, buy some cigars (some good options listed above), smoke some now and, if you can, age some for a while. You'll smoke a very good cigar and, with luck, have some that a are maybe a little better a few months/years down the line.
"If it was raining soup, the Irish would go out with forks." Brendan Behan
Posts: 1426 | Location: Dublin | Registered: November 29, 2006
So the PE's won't improve with age? I'm baffled as to why the ones I smoked young seemed so harsh...
I wouldn't go that far. They'll most likely improve with age. If you just got them in, remember that they do need about a month of humidor rest time before you should even smoke one. The PE's I have smoked with less than a year on them have been great. I predict that the regular Edmundo ages great with that big ring gauge on them. I'm about to pull the trigger on 2 boxes of those.
based on my suppliers inventory, have a box of monti 4 (10 pack) & the hoyo regalos el on the way. I'll make sure to check in with updates as soon as they arrive.
Thank you for posting a question like this. I was wondering the same thing as I am pretty new to this forum. Within the coming weeks I am going to buy a box but not sure which kind. It is great when questions like this are answered so well by forum members.
Recently read a post (by RJ7x47 perhaps?) that Upmann Mag 46s are good in recent production. I had been aging some that I didn't want to touch so purchased a new dress box of recent vintage, and you know what? He's right. Veeery tasty and very little ammonia harshness. Which brings up a different aspect of the question. There's the matter of whether full flavor comes through w/o aging but also the question of whether a year or more are needed to eliminate harshness. I also recall reading in one of Suckling's columns a comment by one of his Hong Kong collector friends who says he loves Hoyo Petit Robustos so much he smokes them fresh despite some modest ammonia harshness in the first third. Finally, I am surprised there hasn't been much mention of the Partagas SD4 in this thread. Conventional wisdom is that they are actually BETTER when smoked fresh.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: carld,
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. My box of Hoyo Regalos EL 2007 & 10 pack of Monte #4 came in early this week. Hoyo EL 2007 Montecristo #4
Since I was looking for cigars that were ready to be smoked, I've smoked both during the week. I had the Hoyo Thursday & the Monte last night. Perfect smokes. I didn't find the Hoyo very complex, but it was delicious, burned great with a soft finish. The draw was almost to easy - with no tugging at all to get a mouths full of smoke. The box was LPM NOV - 07.
The Monte 4 was packed with flavor... for the price, size and freshness I was surprised with the loads of rich spice & coffee flavor. I'll be reordering a box of these next round.
There are a lot more to try off this thread. I'm new to aging and have a small batch going, it's nice to know while those sit tight there's plenty of great cigars from Cuba ready to smoke and enjoy today.
Great choices. My Regalos boxes are from July and May 07, but I find they have a very unique flavor profile, unlike any CC.
Both of your choices can also be aged to bring out more of the complexity.
quote:
Originally posted by Drewman: Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. My box of Hoyo Regalos EL 2007 & 10 pack of Monte #4 came in early this week. Hoyo EL 2007 Montecristo #4
Since I was looking for cigars that were ready to be smoked, I've smoked both during the week. I had the Hoyo Thursday & the Monte last night. Perfect smokes. I didn't find the Hoyo very complex, but it was delicious, burned great with a soft finish. The draw was almost to easy - with no tugging at all to get a mouths full of smoke. The box was LPM NOV - 07.
The Monte 4 was packed with flavor... for the price, size and freshness I was surprised with the loads of rich spice & coffee flavor. I'll be reordering a box of these next round.
There are a lot more to try off this thread. I'm new to aging and have a small batch going, it's nice to know while those sit tight there's plenty of great cigars from Cuba ready to smoke and enjoy today.
"Bud spelers of the word unight, and remumber: cabron is most abundent elemant in hte youknwverse"
I smoked 2 monte PE's the week before last in Cuba (out of a new box of ten) and I found the smoke to be quite strong and harsh (which is generally the case with shorter smokes in my experience).
I had the same problem with these. I smoked one about a month after I got them and it was real harsh. I am gonna wait about 6 months or so before I light another one up. I tried a monte #2 today that I got 2 months ago; box code was from July 07, and it was good but the others will get better. I would say an HDM petite robusto, after letting them sit for about a month would be a good choice for out of the box smokes.
