Monday, November 29 1999
Aging is one of the most critical aspects of a cigar's overall body and flavor. All premium cigars are "aged" for about 6-8 weeks so they can dry properly and stabilize, which also affects the way they burn and draw. But by letting your new cigars "age-up" in your humidor, you can actually improve their character and flavor. Long-term aging under the "ideal 70/70" conditions (70 degrees temp/70% humidity) will, in many cases, allow the cigars to mellow, which can often help you better appreciate the "complexity" and nuances of the cigar's particular blend.
Keep in mind, however, that all cigars eventually reach their "peak" and overaging them will usually not improve them after a certain point, or in some cases, their character may actually begin to deteriorate. " Vintage" cigars, whose leaves have been aged for 3-4 years or more, are expected to be consistant in construction and flavor, but some additional at-home aging can turn a great cigar into an exquisite cigar. Remember, too, that you're dealing with a 100% natural product, so if you feel you've gotten a box that appear to be a little "green" upon lighting up, let them relax in your humidor for three months and try the cigar again at one month intervals until you feel it's flavor has improved consistantly.
