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Commentary: Smoking Older (Cigars)

23 Sep 2014

aging-cigars-rack

With the recent announcement about General Cigar acquiring Toraño’s brands, it seemed like the perfect time to light up the oldest cigar in my humidor: an Exodus 1959 Silver Edition Churchill from 2005.

I didn’t set out to age it. It’s just a remnant from a box I bought shortly after we moved to Florida that I never got around to smoking. There may even be one or two more that I just haven’t run across. Though I enjoyed the Silver a lot, it—like a lot of other smokes—simply fell off my radar as newer cigars came along.

So, how was it? What did all that time do?

Well, as I so often end up with aged cigars, I’m not really sure. Obviously, I like the line. Back in 2006, I gave another Silver vitola four stogies. I liked this one, too. I just cannot say with any certainty that age had a lot to do with it.

I don’t recall enough details from smoking it before to make a legitimate comparison. That’s my biggest problem with long-term aging. I’m not disciplined or detail-oriented enough to do it properly.

In this case, the one thing that stood out was the Criollo wrapper’s pre-light aroma, a warm mesquite fragrance I don’t remember. Otherwise, I can’t say how much difference there was in the mild- to medium-strength and the flavors.

Another cigar I smoked recently had experienced considerably less aging, so it’s easier for me to gauge the impact of time. I have about a third of a box of Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Toros (6 x 54) coming up on a year of age. I smoked several shortly after buying the box, then occasionally. It has been a few months since I last had one of the Broadleaf-wrapped cigars. As with the Toraño Silver, I like the Reserva from My Father, having awarded it a nearly perfect rating in 2010.

The year of aging seems to have served it well, smoothing out any hints of harshness without reducing the power and melding the flavors into a terrific balance. In short, a great experience.

In this case, the humidor time did improve the cigar. Now, if I could just develop enough self-discipline to age more cigars the right way, perhaps I’d have more great smokes.

George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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