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Cigars/Monte #2

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Expert: - 3/25/2009


Question
What does BAS MAY 08 on the bottom of the Monte Cristo #2's mean that I just purchased?  I also read that they need to age to improve.  Please help na newbie!

Answer
Hi Kyle,

That is the production box code that explains where the cigars were made (the factory) and what month and year it was made in.  There's a lot of factory codes and they occasionally change so to find out more about a specific factory code, search for "cuban cigar box codes" on google.

Yes, cigars normally improve with age so if you prefer, you can age these cigars for as long as you want in a humidor.  Most people prefer to age their cigars for at least 12-24 months before smoking them.  All cigars have already been aged for a short time so you can smoke these cigars straight out of the box (providing that they've been well-humidified) but aging them further will improve their flavours.

Hopes this helps, if you have any more questions, please feel free to search my question archive or email me in mid-april (I'm actually on vacation now so I won't be able to answer any more questions until I return.)

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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