Have never aged any cigars, but...

[allusred]

Have never aged any cigars, but...just found some that have lain unnoticed for a fair while.
Total surprise a five pack of cigars that I've no memory of having.
Found in backyard shed where they lain forgotten since Spring or Summer 0f 2010.
Neither heating nor cooling, thru those changes of the seasons.
Five cellophaned ceder wrapped cigars in a cellophaned "five pack" no openings to the package.Cigars feel firm not hard decent amount of give, do not look or feel dried out. Nor too soft.
One of those little sticker on the pack: E2-14.
The cigars are Robusto sized, likely Maduros. Labels 5 Vega 'A'
Cello on the five pack in more brown than yellow.

As said I've never aged any cigars...amazed to find these still looking fit to smoke.
Cant do a pix right now.
Should I open the pack smoke one now, then do pixs tomorrow ?
Or wait, get pixs Saturday before opening the pack and smoking one of these cigars ?

Don't really want to expose these cigars to this change of enviroment too long before smoking.
And yeah kinda want to burn one right now.

Any ideas?

No, not that one...just should I smoke one now, do pix tomorrow or wait until Saturday to smoke one after getting pix.

By the way they were in an otherwise empty cigar box on a shelf right against the Northern side of the uninsulated shed all this while.

Think many would say that the 'storage" conditions and the time span should mean these are well beyond saving, let alone smoking.

[Brimy]

I say, "Smoke one now"!!

[Scott W.]

Smoke one, got nothing to lose

[FireTom]

Smoke one now then let the others rest in some proper accommodations for a bit and see what the difference is.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Emperor Zurg]

Since they're still in production, if I were the curious type (which I am, although usually not so much about cigars), I would order a new 5 pack of the same cigars so I could try a fresh one and an aged one side by side. Might be fun to see how much of a difference there was and if I found them better or worse than fresh ones. But since I'm not all that curious about cigars, I'd probably smoke one and toss the rest in a humidor where I'd forget about them again.

Oh, and the pix... I would forego the pics entirely. We all know what a 5 Vegas Serie A looks like and I'll take your word for it on the brown cello. :D

[SoCal gunner]

Smoke one NOW!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190720/a8a8a1c15127483dd560a51e67e23668.gif

[Regiampiero]

There has been a huge push lately from youtubers advocating not to age, I can't figure out why. There's definitely seem to be something fishy about it, but we all know here (and other forums like this) that aging is not a joke or trivial. There's many many cigars that taste 100 times better after a few years, and many of us have tested this time and time again. Having said that... I'm not suggesting every cigar needs aging or that they will get better, but when it comes to inexpensive sticks there's no arm in seeing if you have a gem in the rough given some time.

I say smoke them in the next couple of weeks and see if they're substantially better than you remember, and if so get a box and put it away every year if you enjoy them.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[allusred]

Smoke one now then let the others rest in some proper accommodations for a bit and see what the difference is.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Thanks for a good suggestion, however I don't have the time to do this.

[allusred]

There has been a huge push lately from youtubers advocating not to age, I can't figure out why. There's definitely seem to be something fishy about it, but we all know here (and other forums like this) that aging is not a joke or trivial. There's many many cigars that taste 100 times better after a few years, and many of us have tested this time and time again. Having said that... I'm not suggesting every cigar needs aging or that they will get better, but when it comes to inexpensive sticks there's no arm in seeing if you have a gem in the rough given some time.

I say smoke them in the next couple of weeks and see if they're substantially better than you remember, and if so get a box and put it away every year if you enjoy them.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Thanks for the good suggestion, but don't have the time to do this.

[allusred]

Update.

Took me a bit longer to find the time to smoke one of these.
This pix is of the 5 pack prior to opening, last night.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/IIlVkh.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pnIIlVkhj)

This shows the pack opened and the one smoked last night.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/Plkuvy.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmPlkuvyj)

Here's how it smoked...after that long time exposed to changes in temp, humidity.
Cigar firm not too hard, not soft spongy.
Cut, lit easily.
Good amount of light blue smoke.
Open draw, no hint of dryness nor of bitterness.
After a minute or so, mild medium.
Id' say it would compare to an average mild/medium cigar just purchased.
The "storage conditions" these cigars laid forgotten in over this long time, might be the way to age these cigars.
No maintenace start to finish.

After an inch or so no bitterness at all.
Sharp burn line.
If I've ever smoked one of these it would have been four or more years ago and I don't remember that at all.
It has a dark wrapper, kinda silky feel...started to think I may have missed smoking a decent cigar in these.
Fact, this is not a stale cigar.
Wondering how a fiver of say RASS would have fared if left in the same conditions for this long.
Rested the cigar in the ashtray for a minute or so and it did not go out, no need to relight, burn line staying sharp.
Final thought...a decent (good) cigar smoke right down to the nub.
~~~~~~~~~
Burning a second one right now...it's smoking just the same as the first.
Never expected these would worth lighting up.

[Regiampiero]

Update.

Took me a bit longer to find the time to smoke one of these.
This pix is of the 5 pack prior to opening, last night.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/IIlVkh.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pnIIlVkhj)

This shows the pack opened and the one smoked last night.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/Plkuvy.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmPlkuvyj)

Here's how it smoked...after that long time exposed to changes in temp, humidity.
Cigar firm not too hard, not soft spongy.
Cut, lit easily.
Good amount of light blue smoke.
Open draw, no hint of dryness nor of bitterness.
After a minute or so, mild medium.
Id' say it would compare to an average mild/medium cigar just purchased.
The "storage conditions" these cigars laid forgotten in over this long time, might be the way to age these cigars.
No maintenace start to finish.

After an inch or so no bitterness at all.
Sharp burn line.
If I've ever smoked one of these it would have been four or more years ago and I don't remember that at all.
It has a dark wrapper, kinda silky feel...started to think I may have missed smoking a decent cigar in these.
Fact, this is not a stale cigar.
Wondering how a fiver of say RASS would have fared if left in the same conditions for this long.
Rested the cigar in the ashtray for a minute or so and it did not go out, no need to relight, burn line staying sharp.
Final thought...a decent (good) cigar smoke right down to the nub.
~~~~~~~~~
Burning a second one right now...it's smoking just the same as the first.
Never expected these would worth lighting up.Good review notes, and exactly what I'd expect from an aged maduro. I do this a lot with full body sticks and I'm never disappointed, the investment is always worth it. Light sticks are not worth the time though as they tend to loose that little flavor they have.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[FidelCastro]

Aging is a process that is not just a fad....I've been doing this for decades and there is a process as to what Aging is...what it does and why people do it. Its a common practice with CC's....with NC's it is common as long as they are full bodied and complex. Aging will change the character and balance of a cigar....this is why they are "aged" and again when I use the term "aging" means a process....stable environment with stable RH over the term with stable temps. Aging is not just warehousing for 5 years or more.....resting is considered 1 - 5 years....aging is 5 and more.

If one is going to age cigars then it's a good idea to know that particular brand well....if you don't then you're just guessing what the benefit is going to be over the term and most likely it will not meet your expectations unless you have indulged in the art of "aging"....it requires a ton of patience....work and vigilance and not for the hobbyist who doesn't know enough about the process to have accrued that particular wisdom. Example: I like to drive fast but don't have the experience of driving a race car so can I take the Family Truckster out on the track and run the dog$hit out of it thinking I can do 1/4 mile in near record setting time....doesn't work that way and neither does Aging. When you make a mistake in 5 years of aging....you've wasted 5 years of time and you could have bought "aged" cigars and tasted them and compared what the difference is. Mild to medium cigars do not benefit from aging....not for the most part even though there might be anomalies out there. Take it from one who has done this for at least 2 decades....with CC's and NC's.

[Emperor Zurg]

Bah. I don't age cigars. I ignore cigars. Some of them get 'aged' by default (read neglect).
I root thru a humidor (or makeshift equivalent) for something to smoke and sometimes find something with brown cello. It's all good.

I do age Virginia pipe tobacco. Mmmmmm... virginia... I'm smoking 5yr old Virginia/perique as I type. But this is the wrong section for that...

Appreciate your review tho :)

[FidelCastro]

Bah. I don't age cigars. I ignore cigars. Some of them get 'aged' by default (read neglect).
I root thru a humidor (or makeshift equivalent) for something to smoke and sometimes find something with brown cello. It's all good.

I do age Virginia pipe tobacco. Mmmmmm... virginia... I'm smoking 5yr old Virginia/perique as I type. But this is the wrong section for that...

Appreciate your review tho :)

Aging is not for the regular hobbyist as you know...just like being a "coffee snob" is not for those who love their Folgers or Yuban....some will become a full blown hobbyist in either way...wine, fishing, sports, etc. and try to squeeze out as much enjoyment as possible. Some are content to just sit back and enjoy the simple life of " just enough ".....and that's perfectly fine as well. I know for me that enjoyment and process of any particular hobby is in the mechanics of looking for the best experience.....my pipe hobby is another OCD enjoyment in Mr. Toads Wild Ride of Life.

[Emperor Zurg]

Aging is not for the regular hobbyist as you know...just like being a "coffee snob" is not for those who love their Folgers or Yuban....some will become a full blown hobbyist in either way...wine, fishing, sports, etc. and try to squeeze out as much enjoyment as possible. Some are content to just sit back and enjoy the simple life of " just enough ".....and that's perfectly fine as well. I know for me that enjoyment and process of any particular hobby is in the mechanics of looking for the best experience.....my pipe hobby is another OCD enjoyment in Mr. Toads Wild Ride of Life.

I try not to obsess over any hobby. There's a point where enough is enough. Getting all obsessive over it makes it less a hobby and more a burden IMO. I don't want an aging vault filled with thousands of dollars worth of expensive cigars that I have to worry about the perfect temp and humidity or a possible beetle infestation (or drywood termite) that might destroy them all. Nope, not for me. I'll leave that to others who are far more into it than I ever want to be.

[Old Smokey]

I bought a few boxes to age 5 years ago and am planning to smoke a few very soon and see how they are coming along. I decided to do this after smoking a 7 yr old Anejo Shark and it was an incredible cigar experience. We will see if it is something I can duplicate.

[Tombstone]

Update.

Took me a bit longer to find the time to smoke one of these.
This pix is of the 5 pack prior to opening, last night.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/IIlVkh.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pnIIlVkhj)

This shows the pack opened and the one smoked last night.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/Plkuvy.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmPlkuvyj)

Here's how it smoked...after that long time exposed to changes in temp, humidity.
Cigar firm not too hard, not soft spongy.
Cut, lit easily.
Good amount of light blue smoke.
Open draw, no hint of dryness nor of bitterness.
After a minute or so, mild medium.
Id' say it would compare to an average mild/medium cigar just purchased.
The "storage conditions" these cigars laid forgotten in over this long time, might be the way to age these cigars.
No maintenace start to finish.

After an inch or so no bitterness at all.
Sharp burn line.
If I've ever smoked one of these it would have been four or more years ago and I don't remember that at all.
It has a dark wrapper, kinda silky feel...started to think I may have missed smoking a decent cigar in these.
Fact, this is not a stale cigar.
Wondering how a fiver of say RASS would have fared if left in the same conditions for this long.
Rested the cigar in the ashtray for a minute or so and it did not go out, no need to relight, burn line staying sharp.
Final thought...a decent (good) cigar smoke right down to the nub.
~~~~~~~~~
Burning a second one right now...it's smoking just the same as the first.
Never expected these would worth lighting up.
Thanks for the report. That is a cigar I enjoy nice to know it is quite hardy.