Manufacturer and Buyer Aging

I think that in many cases, the new small boutique cigar companies use older tobacco that's been well aged and fermented properly. The faster the company grows and the greater the demand, the harder it is for them to do that. At some point they will have to start using newer tobacco or different tobacco and they'll have to start shipping them faster.

Remember when Cain and Nub were so amazing? A lot of people think it was the hype, but I think they hype was deserved. But the last time I bought a Cain and smoked it, I was totally disappointed.

When you go into your tobacconist, look for some companies that you don't recognize. Not just because it's different, but because that new cigar company has a lot vested into that cigar. They can't afford to make a bad cigar, because they're still trying to build their reputation. They're more likely to use the best tobacco they can afford and aged properly before shipping to the store.