Often times people will ask how to age a cigar and even if it’s necessary.  Cigars are just like an aged scotch or wine – they simply get better over time.  Fortunately for the cigar enthusiasts you don’t have to wait years on end to get a nice aged cigar.  Here are few tips on how to get a nice aged cigar.

Why do cigars get better with age?

Many, but not all, premium brands of cigars are made with aged tobacco which is great – you already have a head start on the aging process.  Most cigars are blends of different tobaccos and that is what gives them their unique flavors.  Allowing the cigars to age even a month or two after purchasing them gives more time for the flavors of the different tobaccos to blend together creating deeper and richer flavors – even in mild cigars.  Think of it as a good marinade or slow cooked meat, the longer the flavors are together in the right conditions the better they get.  You can think of your humidor as a slower cooker that adds flavor and complexities to your cigar.

Can you age your cigars too long?

One thing to keep in mind is that all cigars will age at different rates, so the length of time that it takes depends on the blend of the cigar.  For example a full bodied cigar is going to age much longer and have the flavors increase much more than a milder cigar.  It also depends on how long the tobacco and the cigars were aged before you bought them.  On average though, it is recommended to age your cigars a minimum 2 to 3 months after purchase.  Most experts agree that the sweet spot in aging your cigars is 2 to 3 years, and some even say 10 years depending again on the brand and the blend.

What aging a cigar will NOT do.

As a rule of thumb, if you do not like the taste of the cigar, allowing it to age is not going to make it more to your liking.  Aging the cigars enhances the flavors in the tobacco and if you already don’t like the cigar, chances are you will not like it after it’s been aged.  The aging process will however, make an ‘okay’ cigar much better and it will certainly make your favorite cigars absolutely fantastic.