Resting your cigars

Q. I always read the customer comments before buying any cigar, but I continue to be puzzled by one recurring topic: “this cigar must ‘rest’ for a week/month/6 months/a year before it’s any good.” So the question is, why would manufacturers release cigars before they are any good?
– Curt G. in Lolo, MT
A. It’s not that they need time to rest before they’re “any good;” it’s just that premium cigars are temperamental (sort of), and seem to smoke and taste better once they’ve been removed from their box and placed in a properly controlled environment for a little while. Sometimes even just a few days will do it. The main thing is, the longer most premium handmades are allowed to “age” the more the tobaccos “marry” which tend to bring out some of the better qualities of the blend.

Try it yourself and compare a fresh out-of-a-new-box cigar with one from the same box that’s been sitting in your humidor for a few weeks. Then months, etc. You’ll taste the difference.

Finally, in most cases, the better factories will not ship until the cigars are “ready.” Their cigars tend to be much more consistent, too. However some just need a little more time. Remember, you’re dealing with an all-natural, handmade product, and even though the blend is identical in every cigar for that particular box, the leaves may respond differently during the curing and aging process.