Aging by default
 

I need some advice or opinions? I would really like to hear from someone who actually has "hands on experience" in this matter. What I would like to know is... do Padrons 26/64 and Ashton VSG's age well? Now before everyone rolls their eyes, let me explain why I ask this. First of all I completely understand that these cigars are aged by the manufacturer and are incredible smokes to be smoked right out of the box. However, my problem is that I always over buy more than I can smoke "in a lifetime"... having said that, has anyone been aging these far past the manufacturers perfection (1,2,3,4,5+years)? If so, are these worth keeping around? Did they become bland or did you in fact say WOW!

I would love to hear "hands on experience" but, I would also prefer your opinions as well. Please do not compare to CC's.

Thank you :tu

Re: Aging by default
 

I have a 64 and 1 VSG in the humi that are from 2003. Never got the balls to smoke em. I recently bought a padron sampler so the one from 03 has its days numbered. I'll keep you posted on how it tastes....

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Hey shadow king, thanks! Just what I was looking for. Don't rush it but i will definitely be interested to hear a review of your "extra" aged stogies :tu

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They're always worth keeping around! The problem is that they might not be what they are at their peak. Maybe smoother, but not as strong.

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Ive had other cigars that have several years of age on them (NCs) and they were fantastic... smooth and rich. I think for a cigar that has that much flavor to become bland would take 20+ years... A premium cigar ( like the Pardon anni) will most likely become smoother and more complex over time.

EDIT: I should have said that the lack of bite allows the complexity to come through... I would say that its always there, but "masked" by the bite

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This has been what I have heard. I have heard that some say after a year or so the padron's 26/64 go downhill and start losing there taste. However, I did find someone on another site that has had his Padron's for 10+ years and said that they are amazing. So I was just curious.

This is pretty much my thinking as well. I don't think they'll last me 20+ years, but possibly 10+. Thank you all for your input. Any BOTL here ever experienced a Padron 26/64 or VSG from when they bought it in the 90's and smoked it now?

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I was under the impression that the stronger cigars have the best chance of aging well. Opus X for example is the only NC I've ever heard of people aging for 10+ years. what would be strongest of the Padrons? the 26s? Those might be your best bet.

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There's nothing quite like an aged Padron. They are very good. As for the VSG's, I don't care for them until they have had a year or two under thier belt. Then they really shine, imo.

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I love the 64 PANs and have several different sizes (Presidente, Imperials and Principe) in my vino for over 6 years. I find that the sticks have mellowed over the years. I have read in several places that these sticks were meant to be enjoyed fresh and I have to agree. If I am ever in a "cigar bar" and they have these, I pick up a few and and extra to smoke that night. Of course the one I smoke is usually to wet but the ones I take home and let rest (not age) are wonderful.

Don't get me wrong, they don't get worse with age...they just mellow out. I feel they don't get any more complex as CCs seem to do with age. Just my :2

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Definitely have the Opus in there too. Yeah I kind of have a little bit of both ... maybe more on the 64 but who's counting :o

Thanks for your input. The Vsg's that I have probably won't goes as far as the padron. But its good to hear that after a couple more years they still "shine" ... that's probably the amount of time that they will last in my humi.

Thanks for your experience. I guess to someone a more "mellowed out" PAM 64 could be great or not so great. And to someone else a fresh kick to it may be better or not so better. That's why its hard to discuss these issues. When it comes to taste there are so many factors involved. Glad to hear of your long resting PAN 64's. Hope you continue to enjoy them :tu I will be down this road sooner or later with the PAM's 26/64's :D

Re: Aging by default
 

Just got done with that 64 Imperial Natural from 2003. Simply put....WOW!!!! I wasn't expecting much from it from past experiences with aged NC's. But this bad boy simply blew me off my feet. Perfect draw and burn the whole way. Nice white ash and had a thick aromatic smoke.

The first 10 minutes it didn't have much. But then I got hit with a nice cinnamon flavor that did not go away the duration of the cigar. No pepper hints at all. Every now and then I would get a nice undertone of a buttery flavor. But definately the cinnamon was the star of this smoke.

This is without doubt the best cigar I've ever had in my 6 years of smoking. I've had limited experience with CC's, and have yet to have one do what this one did.

I hope that helps Boss Hogg. I am seriously thinking about buying a box of these puppies and letting them rest for at least 5 years. Problem is, I don't have the room right now nor the funds. :hn I hope you do the same with yours, you won't be disappointed my fellow BOTL.

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Shadow king... that is outstanding! I'm glad you got to experience your finely aged Padron. That is news that just makes my day. :dance: :wo

Do you have more aging beyond this? So that was like a 10 year old NC :dr
Just like you, I have very little experience with CC's, but what a fresh breath of reassurance you have been to me. Thanks for you time and experience. I'll have to let you know how my experience is when I get there :tu

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I looked up on Pardon's website and their 64's are aged with 4 year old wrappers, so I guess it sorta made it a 10 yr old NC.

I have that VSG to smoke thats also 6 years old. It probably will meet its maker in the next month so I'll keep you posted on that one too.

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Yeah for sure let me know how it is. Hope it is as tasty as you described your Padron :ss

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One of our customers sent us a box of original release '64 PAN Exclusivos. We each smoked one about 5 months ago. It was incredible.

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I'm glad to hear of these good repports. Could you educate me on what original release is... year?

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So I have an alternative question to ask on top of this topic. Would using a food saver (vacuum sealer) help or benefit the many extra boxes of the 64 padrons that I have? Has anyone had experience in this matter? If so what is the process (ie. steps) involved? If the cigars are going to be sitting in the humi for 5-10+ years anyways, would it be better to do this? Since Padrons are already aged... I'm wondering if this would help slow down the process and preserve them better... for a latter time.

Is there any difference in using the vacuum seal vs. leaving them as they are in the box? Also, does the vacuum sealer suck out the moisture and leave dry cigars in a sealed environment?

Thanks for any input. I have been reading about this on the internet and am very curious about this.

Re: Aging by default
 

Boss, I have never done this. I would be scared to try it on such an expensive smoke. I am not even a fan of storing them in dress box unless you have a really large humidor.

A vacuum would counterproduct the efforts of a humidor I would think? If you have muntiple boxes you could always just try it on one and see if there's a difference.

Something else to think about: I always tend to check in on my resting cigars every now and then to make sure everything is running smooth. If you have it sealed in a vacuum, you might not be able to spot a problem until they are ruined. That would be heartache...

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Depends on how you smoke and what you like. Smoked a 64 principe nat that was 5-6 years old the other day. It was quite good.. but you still can't nose it and it doesnt have the depth of flavors .. in contrast to that which you asked not be be mentioned. Better than fresh if you ask me. Great aftertaste and mouth flavors. Had a very old Padron last year that everyone thought was vintage cuban so... :)

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This is true. The reason I was thinking of doing this is because I know at some point the Padrons (which are already aged four years) will go downhill at some point in time. The reason for the suggestion of the vacuum sealed box was to slow the extended aging process down. For ex. instead of five years in the humi (meaning a total of nine years) being the peak, the sealed box could then be saved and smoked at ten years in the humi (meaning a total of 14 years) at its peak. Hope that makes since :confused:

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Boss, I finally got the urge to smoke that VSG I had from 03. It was okay but not outstanding like the Padron was. To be honest, I was expecting a bit more out of it because of the VSG mystique. If you are still debating whether or not to long term your VSG's, I recommend going thru them.

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Still have a few PAMs from mid '90s, that would be '64 since '26 came out later, last one I smoked was about a year ago, a tremendous cigar. They age really well and develop more complexity. Strength wise, same as before (so far everyone who claims cigars "loose" nicotine as they age was not able to explain why and how, I had this conversation in my local B&M just a week ago).

Never bought VSGs so have no idea.

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Smoked a couple of Padron 64 Naturals that had 2 years storage on them. They were from the 4 pack sampler box. Both were absolutely great.

I also bought a big sampler of various aged smokes from JBI when we were over on CS. Some were very tasty and some had very little flavor. The tasty smokes were very good!

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Not trying to be rude, but what i the point of slowing the aging process? Why not just smoke the at 9 years? Or slow the process then... I just don't see what advantage is gained....

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Hey thanks for the heads up Shadow. I'll definitely be firing more of them up :tu

Hey thanks for your input. These (Padron) cigars are just great cigars to begin with. I'm expecting the best from them :)

Can't wait till I'm there... thanks for the input :tu

SmokinApe, don't worry your not being rude. The reason for the "experiment" was because I have enough stock of them that I don't think I could possibly smoke them all that early :r

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Hey Curt I can come by and help you burn through that inventory you got.:tu

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:r Gary you are welcome to stop by anytime :ss

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Do it like I do my wine,try one every year to determine how they are doing.If you notice any decline after a few years,smoke them up.
I have my last La Gloria churchill from 1995 to smoke this year in August.I got them from Ernesto as a gift and I have the control sticker that came in the box showing they were made in August of 1995,so I have smoked one each August since then,this year I will finish the box. I tried one on 6 month intervals for a while,then decided to make it an anniversary thing.They are still excellent,I think they are past peak,but still I enjoy the occasion.I also have a Flor de Allones from 1994 I was gifted,I will smoke it soon and do a review.

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Boss Hogg, I have no experience with aged smokes, NC or CC. I have a lot of experience with vacuum sealing foods and the process that entails. I don't know what the vacuum environment would do to the aging process, but I would be very worried about putting expensive cigars under that kind of pressure. Assuming you have a food sealer, you know the kind of pressure/stress that the vacuum-sealing process can do. I'd be worried about it crushing the cigars. Just my :2 .

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Thanks for your input. This is exactly why I'm sealing them... to slow that "decline" process down. For the most part I do what you do. On some of my cigars, I like to smoke them every three months. There are others that I smoke only once or twice a year due to short stock.

Well, I have been reading a lot about this on other forums and they have explained it pretty extensively. It seems to make since. I have a good sealer and from what I have experienced.. it doesn't crush the cigar box while sealing it. I would never seal loose cigar as this would completely crush them. Idk.. I'm hoping for the best :D. I appreciate your concern though... I can't even begin to think of the torture it would be if I ruin them after all. :tu