Storing cigars - long-term storage and ageing
Storing cigars / The third and final part of our series on cigar storage is about long-term storage and ageing. Many aficionados know that cigars can gain character over time, but how exactly does this work? And what do you need to pay attention to if you want to store your cigars for years?
Store all three parts over cigars:
- Cigar storage theme week part 1: Storing cigars - a controversial topic with many opinions
- Cigar storage theme week part 2: Storing cigars - controversy and practice easily explained
- Cigar storage theme week part 3: Storing cigars - long-term storage and ageing
- All theme weeks
You can read about it here in the third part
Joya Nicaragua Antaño Gran Consul. There are also cigars that have already been matured, which you can buy and enjoy immediately.
Only Cuba cigars can be aged. Is that true?
No. Here is a fantastic example from Honduras: Maya Selva's masterpiece: 10-year aged cigar from Honduras
Why cigars get better with time
Tobacco is a living material that continues to mature even after production. During long-term storage, the aromas of the filler, binder and wrapper combine, often making the cigar milder and more harmonious. This process is similar to the ageing of wine: patience is rewarded. Ageing is particularly well-known and popular with Cuban cigars. Why? Because Cuba has too few resources and the cigars are made with tobacco that is slightly too immature. Depending on the format and brand, these cigars need to be aged for several years.
How long should cigars be stored?
The duration of storage depends on your preferences and the cigar itself:
- Light cigars: They often benefit from 4 to 12 months of storage.
- Long-term storage: High-quality cigars can mature for 3, 5 to 10 years or longer and develop more complex aromas. Particularly popular with Cuban cigars.
- Maximum maturation: At some point, every cigar reaches its peak. After that, the taste diminishes. It's up to you to find the perfect time. The oldest cigar I smoked was 146 years old. A La Corona from Cuba.
The right environment for long-term storage
If you want to store cigars for years, a stable environment is particularly important:
- Humidity: Keep the relative humidity constant between 65 and 67 percent.
- Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius. There are experts who store their cigars at 16 degrees.
Experiment with maturation
The long-term storage of cigars is also an adventure. You can actively experience the maturing process by storing several examples of a cigar and tasting them at regular intervals. Make a note of the changes in taste - this way you will discover how storage affects the quality.
Important: Always store with cellophane. If you have cigars without cellophane: put them in the aluminum tubo or in small plastic bags. Of course, store them in the humidor.
Humidifier
Boveda are ideal for table humidors. They are also often used for larger aluminum or plastic boxes, in which the connoisseur places several Boveda. There are many options, which you can find here in a Google search.
Hygrometer
Most hygrometers are useless. They only show an approximate value. If it shows 70%, the real value may be 65% or 85%, for example. Don't let them drive you crazy; you can tell for yourself whether the cigars are too moist or too dry.
Conclusion of part 3
Long-term storage is the pinnacle of cigar storage. With the right environment, patience and a spirit of experimentation, you can take your cigars to a new level of enjoyment. But don't forget: the perfect time to smoke a cigar is whenever you feel like it.
Thank you for being part of my theme week on cigar storage.
How long have you stored your cigars so far? Have you noticed any differences in taste? Share your experiences in the comments! 😊 Without registration, following this post.
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Hello, I've had 10 of the Partagas Anejados Corona Gorda from a box with boxing date 2007 individually in my table humidor since 2018. The humidity in the humidor (electronically humidified and according to the hygrometer) is always 67% relative humidity. It was clear to me that the cigars could lose flavor when stored individually, but I noticed that the cigars are now disgusting/undrinkable and only spicy/bitter. What could be the reason for this?
I also have a few Cohiba in the same humidor since 2018/19 (Esplendidos, Lanceros, Piramides Extra), do I need to worry?
It's my first humidor and I thought that I had always done everything right...
Many thanks in advance for the answers and kind regards
Benedict
Hello Benedikt
Hello and thank you for your frank comment!
First of all, it's completely understandable that you don't do everything perfectly right away with your first humidor - and your detailed description alone shows that you've put a lot of thought into it. That's already a good sign.
Regarding your problem with the Partagás Añejados Corona Gorda:
The cigars were probably rolled in 2007 (nobody knows for sure), but only came onto the market much later (2015/16). If you have been storing them individually since 2018, they are now around 18 years old - and that is a critical limit for many cigars (depending on the tobacco blend). Especially if they are stored individually in a humidor without a box or tubo, too much aroma can actually be lost over such a long period of time and the cigars degrade sensorially. This happens even after just a few weeks (I have been able to prove this in various self-experiments).
The fact that they now taste sharp, bitter and "disgusting" can have the following causes:
- Overstoring: Tobacco can not only lose its flavor over time, but can also taste musty, bitter or even "rotten" if it is stored for too long. But only if it is stored incorrectly.
- Individual storage: Without boxes, tubos or Zippo bags, cigars are definitely susceptible to negative changes in the long term.
- Too dry in between? Even if the hygrometer shows 67%: If there were periods with lower values, this may have had a negative impact on the ageing process.
About the Cohibas:
If they have also been stored individually, then they have almost certainly lost their aroma or at least lost a lot of it. If they still taste good, I recommend transferring them to tubes or boxes (or Zippo bags) to protect them.
My tip for the future:
- Always store Cuban cigars in their original boxes or tubos.
- Don't just rely on the hygrometer, but also regularly observe the smell, look and feel of the cigars.
You've put in a lot of effort - don't give up! Every humidor owner makes mistakes at the beginning. The important thing is to learn from them. 😊
HAPPY CIGAR SMOKE
Vasilij
Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Unfortunately, I only knew that cigars get better with age...
Now I also know that they have to mature in the boxes for up to 20/30 years or even longer.
Kind regards
Benedict
Tasting note H. Upmann Magnum 46 (stamped with September 2007) from 30.8.2024
This brand is inherently of medium strength at most. It has become even milder. This is not surprising, as mild cigars do not usually become stronger with ageing. Excellent draw, which is due to the ageing - there was a little crooked burn which I corrected immediately. The smoke was very pleasant on the palate. Many aficionados describe all kinds of flavors, which I have never been able to do. I can only write whether I like a cigar or not and the Upmann was a dream. It goes in a floral direction as wood and leather were absent. There was a balanced light creaminess and the reverberation was noticeable in my clothing a day later. I didn't recognize this aroma from any of my many previously smoked Havanas. In any case, this is not a cigar for a conversation, if only because it is not at all strong. You have to get involved with the cigar and then it will delight the palate in a beguiling and unknown way. The important thing, and this is my nature, is to smoke it slowly!
Even with this relatively inexpensive cigar, bought in March 2010 at CHF 10 each, it is definitely worth maturing it properly, preferably in a cabinet humidor with air conditioning. None of my many well-matured cigars has ever disappointed me. My problem is rather that I often don't dare to smoke one because they are irreplaceable. You will definitely experience a disappointment if you are distracted and/or smoke quickly, then a lot of flavor will certainly fall by the wayside and will probably lead to disappointment. I was perplexed by what the Magnum 46 gave me. Not strong or intense but very fine!
Thanks for your comment. I know that too, not daring to take a mature cigar out of the humidor because it is no longer made. But Cuban cigars have also reached their zenith at some point. I have already smoked various pre-embargo cigars. Some were just hot air, but most of them still had a wonderful aroma, subtle, but it was there. I wish you continued HAPPY CIGAR SMOKE 💨
I am a regular cigar smoker and unfortunately not a millionaire!
My everyday cigar is the Dominico from Villiger.
Last year, from May onwards, I started putting a pack aside every 2nd month.
Does anyone know how long I should let them rest?
This is a light to medium strength cigar. About 6 months and then test to see if you notice a difference. Always store with cellophane.