Resting
(If the carriage returns are screwed up in this message, it's because I'm incompetent.. sorry)
Another question for you guys...
What's all this about "resting" your cigars before smoking them? (Settle down, Madurofan -- I understand and can certainly appreciate the concept of "aging" a cigar - I'm talking about something different here). But I've heard it said, and seen on this forum, that you should "rest" a cigar in your humidor for at least 6 week before smoking it. Apparently this helps the flavors to blend, and removes some of the harshness of fresh nicotine.
But I've been wondering -- while these cigars may roll and ship from the factory in the same day, don't they spend a fair amount of time in transit, warehouses, and on the shelves of my local shop? Who's to say that the cigar I just bought this afternoon hasn't been sitting around for 3-4 months? Why is 6 weeks the magic number? Everything I've smoked to this point has been purchased sometime within the preceding 48 hours. Of course, now I've got the little humi all conditioned and it's stocked... most likely I'll allow at least one of those cigars to sit around for the next six weeks (especially since I'll be travelling to Colorado shortly sans smokes). I suppose at that point I will taste and understand the glorious benefit of this six-week "rest" but to me at this point, it sounds more like silly pretentious mumbo jumbo than anything else. Six weeks? Does it really make that big a difference? Six months or years, I could absolutely see that.. but six weeks?
This has bugged me because my perception of it goes against the grain of who I am as a person. I'm the least pretentious person you'll ever meet. If I like something, it's because it is good -- not because I look good with it. To pound this point home with a sledgehammer, my beer of choice is Schlitz (the beer that made Milwaukee famous.. not the malt liquor with the blue bull). For some reason I like a few sissy-Mary drinks like a good Mai Tai... I prefer a well-aged rum or tequila as a sipper over Scotch. And I like my stogies with a full body that socks you in the jaw and lets you know you're still alive. But I'll smoke 'em right outta the shop, dammit!
Yeah, so anyway... educate me on what I've missed with this resting thing. I promise I'll do my own research as well. Make me a recommendation, and I'll pick two of them up next week. I'll smoke one right away, and I'll save one for my birthday, which is in about 8-9 weeks. Then I'll compare.. what should I expect?
Thanks again, guys!
Another question for you guys...
What's all this about "resting" your cigars before smoking them? (Settle down, Madurofan -- I understand and can certainly appreciate the concept of "aging" a cigar - I'm talking about something different here). But I've heard it said, and seen on this forum, that you should "rest" a cigar in your humidor for at least 6 week before smoking it. Apparently this helps the flavors to blend, and removes some of the harshness of fresh nicotine.
But I've been wondering -- while these cigars may roll and ship from the factory in the same day, don't they spend a fair amount of time in transit, warehouses, and on the shelves of my local shop? Who's to say that the cigar I just bought this afternoon hasn't been sitting around for 3-4 months? Why is 6 weeks the magic number? Everything I've smoked to this point has been purchased sometime within the preceding 48 hours. Of course, now I've got the little humi all conditioned and it's stocked... most likely I'll allow at least one of those cigars to sit around for the next six weeks (especially since I'll be travelling to Colorado shortly sans smokes). I suppose at that point I will taste and understand the glorious benefit of this six-week "rest" but to me at this point, it sounds more like silly pretentious mumbo jumbo than anything else. Six weeks? Does it really make that big a difference? Six months or years, I could absolutely see that.. but six weeks?
This has bugged me because my perception of it goes against the grain of who I am as a person. I'm the least pretentious person you'll ever meet. If I like something, it's because it is good -- not because I look good with it. To pound this point home with a sledgehammer, my beer of choice is Schlitz (the beer that made Milwaukee famous.. not the malt liquor with the blue bull). For some reason I like a few sissy-Mary drinks like a good Mai Tai... I prefer a well-aged rum or tequila as a sipper over Scotch. And I like my stogies with a full body that socks you in the jaw and lets you know you're still alive. But I'll smoke 'em right outta the shop, dammit!
Yeah, so anyway... educate me on what I've missed with this resting thing. I promise I'll do my own research as well. Make me a recommendation, and I'll pick two of them up next week. I'll smoke one right away, and I'll save one for my birthday, which is in about 8-9 weeks. Then I'll compare.. what should I expect?
Thanks again, guys!
Comments
Now onto your question about resting. "Resting" to the best of my knowledge is not a technical term so peoples opinions may vary on exactly what it means but this is my take. Resting generally means they are letting it settle into their preferred RH. Most people have a particular RH they like to smoke their stick at. For example Kuzi likes his sticks at, I think, its 64%, I prefer mine at 70%. Kuzi could explain to you why he likes them at that RH but I'll tell why I like mine at 70. I've played with my RH a few different times I had it as low as 64 and as high as 72. I have personally found that at 70% my cigars seem to encounter less burn issues, again this is just my opinion. This is how I came to that conclusion though, I bought 5 RP Sungrowns all from the same box, smoked one before it ever hit my humidor, then stuck the rest in the humidor which was at 72% at the time and let them sit for a week and smoked another, a week later after changing to 70% smoked another then one at 68% etc. I found that the cigars burned the coolest with the least burn issues at 70%, so I try to maintain my cigars at 69-70%. Now all that said I don't buy into the six weeks thing, one week is plenty for me, if it takes longer than one week to get the RH right IMO then you need to look at changing your humidor setup. But everyone is entitled to their opinion and thats all this is is an opinion. Now some people talk about resting a cigar and they are actually talking about aging. IMO when you are letting a cigar marry thats aging.
Also I am a big advocate of smoking a cigar three times before writing it off, first straight from the B&M, second after a week(or whatever your resting time may be), third after a few months or years whatever you think is appropriately aged.
Finally I'll tell you that I regularly walk into the B&M pick up a stick and smoke it right then and thoroughly enjoy it. i just think to do a proper review, especially taking how it burns into consideration, you should let it rest. THats just my opinion but Ihope it was helpful.
I am growing quite a collection but I wouldn't say I intended to age them as much as they are getting aged because I can't smoke as quick as I buy lol.
Did what I said about resting making sense?
he he
6 weeks - 18 months is rest. (depending on the cigar)
1 year (yes i know this is shorter than 18 months) - 20 years is age
15 years (again i know its shorter) on could be "overage"
there is overlap because some cigars age faster than other due to how strong it is. a full bodied cigar will mellow, a very mild one will mellow all the flavor out.
overage is simple: cigars are a 100% natural product. from the moment the leaves are picked they begin to break down (no matter what conditions they are kept in). the longer they are in existance, the more they break down. a great cigar will "peak" in flavor and then go down hill.
slow aged.
post 700... Maduro will get to 800 before me.
I'm going offline for 10 days tomorrow. You should get 900 while I'm gone.
and a lot of posting.