• Luxury Now
  • People
  • Design
  • Films
  • Travel
  • Eat + Drink
  • VIP Events
  • Real Estate
  • About Nobleman
    • Subscribe / Shop
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Contact
  • SHOP
  • Luxury Now
  • People
  • Design
  • Films
  • Travel
  • Eat + Drink
  • VIP Events
  • Real Estate
  • About Nobleman
    • Subscribe / Shop
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Contact
  • SHOP
Aging Your Cigars The Proper Way

With Adequate Care, Your Precious Sticks Can Last You A Lifetime

Did you know that cigar maturation occurs in four stages? Today’s tidbit on aging will cover a brief outline of the first and second stages.  The early stage of maturation lasts typically between 3-12 months and is known as the “sick period.” One reason it goes by this nomenclature: if you smoke the cigar during this time, it will probably make you a little ill due to the amount of ammonia present in the cigar. It is at its height due to the accelerated fermentation that occurs when the moistened leaves are rolled to make the cigar, which renders the stick incredibly unpleasant to smoke, sharp to smell, and acrid-tasting. For a guaranteed enjoyable smoking session, cigars ready for purchase are “pre-aged” for 3-12 months. But if you so happen to be hanging out by a cigar-rolling expert, please do enjoy the stick within 48 hours of it being made.

By stage two, the vast majority of the ammonia produced during the “sick period” has evaporated. This is when many cigars are consumed and enjoyed by the most significant swath of smokers. During this stage, the tobacco still has power and singularities to it. Aging a cigar will round out the edges of its flavor profile. The overall flavor will be smoother with far less sharp, acrid notes. This will allow the core flavors of the blend to be front-and-center to your experience. At this point, flavors are a little sharper and tend to be more robust, with the smoke coming out thicker and more viscous.  The cigar in this case is commonly referred to as “full-bodied” or with a great “mouth feel,”  which has to do with the thickness of the smoke, not the flavor. It is due in part to the freshness of the amount of tobacco oils still present. The second stage typically lasts from one to five years, depending on the blend and the types of tobacco used.

Note: Many premium cigars use a combination of different aged tobaccos within their blend to create the fantastic flavors we now take for granted.

Don’t be intimated by the prospect of aging your stash. You don’t need to be a wealthy man with thousands of cigars in your collection to start. However, let’s talk about why we should age, even if for just a little while… Premium and rolled cigars are a luxury item and should be treated as such. Sure, having any old cigar while on the golf course or fishing is fine, but don’t waste great cigars on such occasions. Cigars are very delicate and because they are hygroscopic, they absorb water and other matters from their enviroment. This is why you should use only distilled water in your humidor.

Cello or no cello? I often get asked if you should take the cellophane off the cigar before storing it in your humidor. The short answer is to leave the cello on. The cellophane provides a breathable layer of protection for the cigar’s very delicate wrapper. It is much better to leave it on, as it has no ill effects on aging, yet can help protect your cigar as it gets bumped and jostled in your humidor. (Many collectors get a massive kick out of seeing the cellophane yellow over time.) Chances are that you don’t live near a tobacco field, and it’s very likely that your cigars have traveled vast distances to find their way into your loving arms, whether you purchased them in a store or online. Once you have the cigars in your grasp, they need to be laid down for a period of at least a few months, 30 days being the minimum. I give all new purchases three months in my humidor before I crack into them. This allows the cigars to “settle,” which is a process where they normalize to the relative humidity and temperature (assuming that your humidor is an optimal 68% humidity and 70F). If you consistently allow time for your cigars to settle prior to smoking, you will start to notice less burn and draw issues. Many times, a cigar is plugged because the humidity is too high, and the filler has swollen inside the binder causing a blockage.

Longer-term aging: If you have the patience for aging your cigars for a few months, start pushing extending it out to 3 to 5 years. There is no hard rule on how long it takes for your cigars to fully expel itself of the naturally-occurring ammonia during fermentation. The ammonia leftover in a cigar creates much of the harsh and sour notes you often experience. My trick is  to literally put my face in the box of cigars, breathe through my nose and mouth simultaneously, and wait to feel any sharpness on the inside of my nose, which would indicate traces of ammonia lingering. Once the ammonia has dissipated, the subtleties and subtext of the cigar can be easily experienced.

Follow these three easy steps and your cigars will taste significantly better and smoke better as well. Fair warning: once you start smoking aged cigars, you may never go back!

Words by Pierre Rogers

Share

Lifestyle

  • ISSUE NO. 21 ON SALE NOW

    BUY NOW
  • JOIN OUR VIP MAILING LIST

  • nobleman

    Luxury & Style for Gents
    On this Memorial Day, we gather to pay tribute to On this Memorial Day, we gather to pay tribute to the noble men and women who selflessly gave their lives in service to our country. Their courage, valor, and unwavering commitment to protecting our freedom will forever be etched in our hearts.
    Would you go vintage or modern? #nobleman #noblem Would you go vintage or modern?

#nobleman #noblemanmagazine
    If James Bond created a candle, this would be it! If James Bond created a candle, this would be it! The only candle that all gents should own.

Choose between two incredible scents at www.noblemanmagazine.com #nobleman #noblemanmagazine
    Tennis anyone? #nobleman #noblemanmagazine Tennis anyone?

#nobleman #noblemanmagazine
    “The advice that I would give myself is that you “The advice that I would give myself is that you just kind of have to keep going. You have to have an unwavering borderline delusional commitment to whatever you’re doing and really support yourself.”

@brandonsklenar for our NOBLEMAN exclusive in Issue 21. Order your copy at www.noblemanmagazine.com #nobleman #noblemanmagazine #brandonsklenar
    Anyone else with Italy on their mind? 🇮🇹 Anyone else with Italy on their mind? 🇮🇹
    Discover @costapalmas on the Sea of Cortez, where Discover @costapalmas on the Sea of Cortez, where homeowners enjoy a lifestyle elevated by Baja’s first luxury marina and enhanced by a sense of belonging.
#EastCape #LosCabos
    Welcome to the NOBLEMAN Lounge at the @officialnbi Welcome to the NOBLEMAN Lounge at the @officialnbibs - Thank you to all our incredible partners. 

@panerai @hydepark_jewelers @caskxofficial @tidellioutdoor @happyjewelers @thesettingwines @ferrariofnewportbeach @tequilakomos @astonmartinnewportbeach @revel.republic @wearetraffik #nobleman #newportbeach #boatshow #noblemanmagazine
    Epic night at the @officialnbibs + @nobleman party Epic night at the @officialnbibs + @nobleman party to kickoff of opening of the Newport Beach International Boat Show. The show runs all weekend long. Come visit us in the NOBLEMAN VIP lounge. 

Huge thanks to our partners:
@officialnbibs @revel.republic @wearetraffik @tidellioutdoor @panerai @hydepark_jewelers @noburestaurants @caskxofficial @thesettingwines @astonmartinnewportbeach @tequilakomos #nobleman #noblemanmagazine
    Experience fitness in a class of its own at the al Experience fitness in a class of its own at the all-new luxury gym, Club Studio. Located in Irvine, this gym brings together boutique fitness classes and luxury wellness amenities for an all-in-one gym membership. Offering a variety of ways to work out from weights and cardio to pilates, yoga, boxing, basketball, and even swimming in their full-size lap pool, Club Studio turns your workout into a luxury experience. @clubstudiofitness 

Check it out at clubstudiofitness.com #nobleman #noblemanmagazine
    Only 2 days left until the largest boat show in So Only 2 days left until the largest boat show in Southern California. This years event promises to be the most exciting boat show experience with some of the most luxurious yachts in the world.

Get your VIP tickets at www.nbibs.com and join us in the NOBLEMAN VIP Lounge at Lido Marina Village. #nobleman #noblemanmagazine
    Issue No. 21 featuring a @nobleman exclusive with Issue No. 21 featuring a @nobleman exclusive with @brandonsklenar - the breakout star of Yellowstone’s prequel, @1923official 

Order your copy at www.noblemanmagazine.com

Photography @johnrussophoto 
Interview @ocdoug 
Words @e.ungaro 
Styling @madeleinekennedy 
Styling assistant Grace Taylor
Grooming @timmuir801
Managing Editor @oclydia
Shot on Location at 1859 Bel Air | listed for $68M by @sally.forster.jones @compass 
#nobleman #brandonsklenar #1923 #yellowstone  #noblemanmagazine
    Follow on Instagram
  • Follow Nobleman On



  • 28241 Crown Valley Pkwy F, #444
    Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

  • Style & Substance

    NOBLEMAN celebrates the modern man. We inspire men to live life to the fullest and with purpose. It is the premier luxury lifestyle magazine specifically dedicated to the discerning man of today.

  • JOIN OUR VIP MAILING LIST

  • Nobleman Magazine

    About
    Advertise
    Media Kit
    Jobs
    Contact
    Shop
    Privacy Policy


© 2022 Nobleman Magazine. All rights reserved.