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Cubans and aging...

DiamondogDiamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
Gentlemen I was at a HERF last night with about 35 others, mostly Canadians but a few American brothers made it up as well as the guest of honor from Austrailia and master cigar roller Hamlet from the Partagas factory. I was fortunate enough to be seated with 2 American brothers, we started up conversation got smoking, out came the collections....I'll tell you that my collection didn't see the light of day! First up from my new American friends were Cohiba Gran Reservas, then we got in to the Cohiba Sublimes, the Monte Sublimes, then for fun they started breaking out the stuff from the 80's, Monte's, Punch, Por Larranaga, Cohiba, then we took a little trip to the 70's again with the Monte's, Punch etc...and as if that wasn't enough out came a Pre embargo cigar...Gentlemen, I am completely speechless as to what I thought was a fine well aged cigar. The cigars I was smoking last night were so far above any quality of Cuban or non Cuban cigar I have EVER smoked. To convey the difference is pointless, these cigars were on such a level, absolutely unreal, the most aged cigars in my collection are hitting that 6 or 7 year mark now, I now truly understand that is just a short nap as good as they are now they will become so much better. What a wonderful experience, hopefully not the last. That experience definately renews my comittment to seeking out the finest cigars in the world and having the patience to allow them the time they need to become the cigars that are every bit of the hype and then take it up 2 notches...

Comments

  • JudoChinXJudoChinX Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 775
    I don't think I can put into words just how jealous I am.
  • jr_p951jr_p951 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,121
    Very few people get to experience cigars that have aged for 20 year, even fewer for cigars rolled before the Embargo! 40+ years of aging on a cigar...I'm not sure I can even imagine smoking that kind of cigar. Like ribs or Momma's cooking...the time invested makes a world of difference.
  • roland_7707roland_7707 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,647
  • fla-gypsyfla-gypsy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,023
  • RoyalCigarsRoyalCigars Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 106
    Sounds like you enjoyed yourself! So what did you smoke that night, and where was this HERF? If its not too far I might come out one day. If your still looking for the Cohiba Gran Reservas let me know.
  • DiamondogDiamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
    RoyalCigars:
    Sounds like you enjoyed yourself! So what did you smoke that night, and where was this HERF? If its not too far I might come out one day. If your still looking for the Cohiba Gran Reservas let me know.
    We smoked all of the above as well as some BHK's that were fantastic...the HERF was in Toronto and was arranged to celebrate the guest of honor on a world tour...I have a few of the CGR's but am looking for more, even a box if the price is right, can you send me the info, thnx.
  • jj20030jj20030 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,448
  • The SniperThe Sniper Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,910
  • grannejagranneja Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 382
    Sounds like .it was an awesome experience. I van only imagine how one of those tasted.
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
  • Gurkha Man!Gurkha Man! Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 232
  • DiamondogDiamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
  • RhamlinRhamlin Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,530
    I'm still at that point where cigars aged over a year seems unattainable. Maybe someday.?
  • j0z3rj0z3r Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 9,403
  • denniskingdennisking Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,681
  • DiamondogDiamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
    The difference in these cigars was just mind boggling....now, are all my cigars gonna get that kinda time on them no but I now see the benefit of the cigars that I really really enjoy buying a couple boxes allowing 1 or 2 to age and replacing a smoking box as I go....
  • blurrblurr Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 962
    I have to ask the question I'm surprised nobody has asked yet. Does this just confirm that the Cuban cigars of today truly have lost so much of their flare, and todays Cubans are merely a shadow of their former selves. Or is it truly that the 20 to 30 years of aging has made that much difference. I have to imagine if you have 6 or 7 yr old CC's they should be pretty well aged, that leads me to believe what you are experiencing along with amazingly aged smokes is the pinnacle of Cuban Cigar art, an art which has long since deteriorated (thanks Fidel) I've read & heard people say CC's still have a few shining stars, but the truth is the mass exodus after nationalization has slowly degraded them to the point where the best cigars nowadays come from outside of Cuba. I'm just asking, i have no opinion on this since I've still never even smoked a Cuban.
  • KriegKrieg Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,068
    Diamondog:
    Gentlemen I was at a HERF last night with about 35 others, mostly Canadians but a few American brothers made it up as well as the guest of honor from Austrailia and master cigar roller Hamlet from the Partagas factory. I was fortunate enough to be seated with 2 American brothers, we started up conversation got smoking, out came the collections....I'll tell you that my collection didn't see the light of day! First up from my new American friends were Cohiba Gran Reservas, then we got in to the Cohiba Sublimes, the Monte Sublimes, then for fun they started breaking out the stuff from the 80's, Monte's, Punch, Por Larranaga, Cohiba, then we took a little trip to the 70's again with the Monte's, Punch etc...and as if that wasn't enough out came a Pre embargo cigar...Gentlemen, I am completely speechless as to what I thought was a fine well aged cigar. The cigars I was smoking last night were so far above any quality of Cuban or non Cuban cigar I have EVER smoked. To convey the difference is pointless, these cigars were on such a level, absolutely unreal, the most aged cigars in my collection are hitting that 6 or 7 year mark now, I now truly understand that is just a short nap as good as they are now they will become so much better. What a wonderful experience, hopefully not the last. That experience definately renews my comittment to seeking out the finest cigars in the world and having the patience to allow them the time they need to become the cigars that are every bit of the hype and then take it up 2 notches...
    Sounds like you had once in a lifetime moment there, I would have given anything to be able to try something like that. Congratulations
  • KriegKrieg Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,068
    blurr:
    I have to ask the question I'm surprised nobody has asked yet. Does this just confirm that the Cuban cigars of today truly have lost so much of their flare, and todays Cubans are merely a shadow of their former selves. Or is it truly that the 20 to 30 years of aging has made that much difference. I have to imagine if you have 6 or 7 yr old CC's they should be pretty well aged, that leads me to believe what you are experiencing along with amazingly aged smokes is the pinnacle of Cuban Cigar art, an art which has long since deteriorated (thanks Fidel)
    It is in my limited understanding about ISOMs that the Cuban cigar quality did go down for awhile. But the island is starting to come out with great cigars of old. For example, the BHK.
  • DiamondogDiamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
    blurr:
    I have to ask the question I'm surprised nobody has asked yet. Does this just confirm that the Cuban cigars of today truly have lost so much of their flare, and todays Cubans are merely a shadow of their former selves. Or is it truly that the 20 to 30 years of aging has made that much difference. I have to imagine if you have 6 or 7 yr old CC's they should be pretty well aged, that leads me to believe what you are experiencing along with amazingly aged smokes is the pinnacle of Cuban Cigar art, an art which has long since deteriorated (thanks Fidel) I've read & heard people say CC's still have a few shining stars, but the truth is the mass exodus after nationalization has slowly degraded them to the point where the best cigars nowadays come from outside of Cuba. I'm just asking, i have no opinion on this since I've still never even smoked a Cuban.
    I don't think so at all....I have some Partigas P2's that have that kind of age as well some Cohiba Siglo VI, they are phenominal smokes now with 6/7 years on them and completely worthy of smoking...the difference I am talking here between a phenominal cigar and what I experienced on the weekend, the difference was staggering thats how much better the cigars got with that much added time, I for one before having tried a cigar with that much age on it thought after a certain amount of time the aging would have no value and in fact hurt the cigar, NOT SO lol of course some will age better than others etc....The Cuban cigar business is alive and well I have absolutely no doubt in that....
  • BigT06BigT06 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,899
  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
  • docbp87docbp87 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,521
    I am so jealous of all of you that made it to that herf. To have both Rob and Hamlet at a herf, as well as all of the other Canadian FOH there... man. Looks like it was an amazing time. Jealous as hell! Wanna send me some of those Hamlets?
  • ENFIDLENFIDL Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,836
    Steve that's amazing brother! I've always wondered what it would be like to smoke one that had that kind of time put into it and that's fantastic to hear. Thanks for the story!
  • NightHawkNightHawk Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 246
    i know isoms have historical and cultural advantage to all other country's cigars, but i wonder if some great nicaraguan cigars will age into phenomenal smokes after decades pass??
  • RhamlinRhamlin Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,530
    I've been doing a little reading up on cubans. I sounds like a lot of what decides if they turn out good is if they had a great crop or a mediocre crop since they are puros. And it seems sometimes they aren't getting the aging they really need due to the great demand for them.
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    NightHawk:
    i know isoms have historical and cultural advantage to all other country's cigars, but i wonder if some great nicaraguan cigars will age into phenomenal smokes after decades pass??
    ive had the opportunity to smoke a DPG Blue with about 5 years on it. that ages very well and i suspect that it will turn out that after a decade or two it will be be fantastic as well. i have an el cobre with 5 years on it and another one destined for 10 years. so... i guess we will find out.
  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
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