Why We Age Cigars

You may wonder why someone would choose to age cigars in a humidor. Similarly, you may wonder why cigar boxes are stamped with a date code on the bottom. Knowing the age of a cigar can be a crucial element to the enjoyment of the hobby.

Generally we are taught that fresh is best. However this is seldom the case with wine and the same can be said with cigars. As it turns out, tobacco has many of the same properties of a fine spirit, and the process of aging it can be vital to bringing out some of its finest qualities.

All tobacco is aged in its raw leaf form before it is ever rolled into a cigar or even processed for cigarette or as pipe tobacco. This initial aging gets rid of a lot of the moisture and removes most of the unpleasant vegetal qualities. Once a cigar is rolled it is basically ready for sale, but such cigars are not going to represent their true potential. Many cigar stores or cigar factories will have someone rolling cigars (often referred to as a torcedor in Spanish cultures) directly in the front of the store. A good cigar roller is a true artisan – and watching them work is a fascinating treat – but smoking a freshly rolled cigar is not a great example of what a cigar can truly be.

Many cigar brands age their own cigars in house for years at time to create something special. The aging process reduces the grassiness and allows many of the undertones to come closer to the forefront. Aged cigars are more consistent from their first third to the nub with flavors continually intensifying as the cigar burns. Not all cigars benefit from prolonged aging. A mediocre cigar at its outset typically won’t become a once in a lifetime experience after a couple of years in a humidor, but a great cigar will often become even better after lying down for a few years.

So when it comes to cigars and aging, there are two options: one essential and one optional. Though it’s essential to age tobacco for varying durations prior to rolling, and the manufacturer will typically choose to age them before selling, it’s optional to age it at length after it’s purchased at the consumer level.

For many, cigars are one of life’s great pleasures. Denying yourself a cigar simply because it is young is doing yourself a disservice. Buy a box and enjoy a few cigars right off the bat while waiting for their brothers to blossom even better with age.

–  Sean Douglass