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| WHICH CIGARS AGE BEST? |
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Page 1 of 2  Plenty of highlights in the new European Cigar-Cult JounalLos Angeles, August 13 – What cigars age best and how long should they be aged? European experts gave their opinions in the summer edition of the popular European Cigar-Cult Journal, always in favor of aging. “The taste of vintage cigars is far better,” says Christoph Walters, the co-owner of the La Casa del Habano in Hamburg, Germany. He feels that brands with darker wrappers and fillers age best. Reporter Colin Ganley noted that “two chemical processes are responsible for taste over time. The first is the release of bitter tastes, such as ammonia through fermentation, which occurs after the cigars have been rolled. While most fermentation occurs when tobacco is in bails, the final rough edges can be smoothed as cigars naturally continue to ferment in their boxes on your shelves. “The other chemical process that changes the flavor of cigars over time is the marrying of tobacco oils within cigars. Each leaf in a cigar has a different flavor. Over time, the oils from those different leaves are given the opportunity to mix and combine, which changes the flavor profile for the better.” Simon Chase, the marketing director of British importer Hunters & Frankau, said that he thinks lighter-bodied cigars aren’t getting enough credit for their aging potential. He notes that some of his best smokes have been aged editions of milder Havana brands such as El Rey del Mundo and H. Upmann. If you’re thinking about aged and rare cigars, they can be found . . . for a price. The article notes that at the Casa del Habano in Hamburg, you can enjoy a 1989 Davidoff Dom Perignon (7 inches by 47 ring), considered to be one of the best cigars ever made in Cuba, for a cool 200 Euro each or about $300 U.S.. But that’s hardly the rarest or most expensive. A Dunhill Havana Club (9 1/4 x 47), discontinued since 1991, will set you back 250 Euro or about $372. There were a lot more highlights in a very enjoyable issue of the largest-circulation cigar magazine in Europe: The top scorers included: • 5 stars: Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Cortez (Dom. Rep.); Davidoff Limited Edition 2008 Reserva 12 (Dom. Rep.). |
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Did you know?
“Cellophane sleeves on cigars were introduced into wide use only in the 1940s.
