Which NCs age well?

[bigloo]

Originally Posted by JJG

This thread got me thinking...

We all know that CCs are better for aging because the tobacco is often more fresh, and it's generally accepted that most NCs are made to be smoked right away. In most cases the tobacco used in NCs is already aged to some degree. and from what I understand, Opus Xs are also made from tobacco that is several years aged.

so why is it that Opus are generally considered a good candidate for long term aging but other NCs made with aged tobacco are not? I know Opus are full flavored in strength and maybe 5-10 years would mellow them a bit, but it stands to reason that other strong NC cigars made with aged tobacco should also be good candidates for long term aging. right?

I think aging achieves two effects. The first is for "fresh" tobacco that is still fermenting (CC). The next is to allow the cigar to continue to mellow and meld flavors (both CC and NC). Stronger cigars (Opus) will mellow with age giving a different experience. As I stated, I like some age on cigars as it reduces the pepper flavor (as least IMHO).Cigars which are already mild tend to become very boring. I was gifted a Excalibur Dark Knight, not a cigar I usually crave, but this thing has cello so yellow you can barely see through it... I am waiting for a great day to smoke it and plan to smoke it with a fresh one. I will report back when I do.