Cigar Rating Experiment – Part II
Monday August 14, 2006
It has only been one week in the humidor for my second tasting of the Flor de Oliva Gold cigar. We began this rating experiment to demonstrate the effects of aging on the taste of cigars. Every cigar ages differently, so the results of this test cannot by applied to other cigars. However, I can say from experience that the taste of most cigars will improve greatly after aging them for at least several months in a properly maintained humidor.
After one week, I did not notice any significant improvement in the flavor of this particular cigar. It is still much too early to jump to any conclusions, but hopefully, the taste of this stick will improve with further aging. And since the aging process can take several months to a year or more for some cigars, it is strongly recommended that you purchase your holiday cigars now, and begin aging them immediately. Remove all packaging, cellophane, cedar tubes, etc. and put the cigars in your humidor. This recommendation does not apply to boxes of cigars that you intend to give as gifts, but to cigars that you intend to smoke with friends and family around the holidays. You can buy and start to age them now, and thank me later.
Illustration: 2006 © Gary Manelski Licensed to About.com, Inc.
Results of experiments conducted during previous weeks:
After one week, I did not notice any significant improvement in the flavor of this particular cigar. It is still much too early to jump to any conclusions, but hopefully, the taste of this stick will improve with further aging. And since the aging process can take several months to a year or more for some cigars, it is strongly recommended that you purchase your holiday cigars now, and begin aging them immediately. Remove all packaging, cellophane, cedar tubes, etc. and put the cigars in your humidor. This recommendation does not apply to boxes of cigars that you intend to give as gifts, but to cigars that you intend to smoke with friends and family around the holidays. You can buy and start to age them now, and thank me later.
Illustration: 2006 © Gary Manelski Licensed to About.com, Inc.
Results of experiments conducted during previous weeks:
Comments
Cellophane on? Cellophane off? I thought todays cellophane was permeable, and was ok to leave on. I leave mine on to protect the wrappers. Should I take it off?
In most cases, take off the cello to properly age the cigars in your humidor. This also goes for tubes and other packaging, unless the cigars are flavored.
Sampler packages OK to remove cellophane and age also?
Yes, remove cello, tubes, and all packaging to properly age cigars. Exception is for flavored cigars. If you do not have a humidor and intend to smoke the cigars in a day or two, you may want to leave the cello on, so the cigars will not dry out. However, we strongly recommend aging your cigars in a properly maintained humidor.
I have a maintained “tupperdor” (a humidor made using a giant tupperware bin and proper humidification) and I store my cigars in quality cedar cigar boxes.
Are there any aging considerations for someone with this set-up as opposed to a standard humidor? Will the cello on/off issue be more important for me?
Thanks!
I would say the cello issue would be the same as if you had a standard humidor, since the cigars are in cedar boxes. Take the cello off to properly age the cigars. If you did not have the cedar boxes, then the cello issue would not be as important, since you could still store and preserve the cigars in tupperware, but without reaping the full benefits of aging them in Spanish cedar.