Expert: James Yee - 7/13/2007

Question
Mr. Yee, what is the longest length of time that a cigar can be preserved in a humidor? I realize that it would vary from cigar to cigar and humidor to humidor. But best case scenario, if i had the finest cigar and the finest humidor, what would be the longest i could expect to preserve it and still enjoy it the same as i would have had i lit it the day i bought it?

What would the name of that cigar be and any recommendations for the humidor?

Richard

Answer
Hi Richard,

Though a cigar's flavour would eventually mellow over years of aging, a cigar can be preserved almost indefinitely if it is properly stored in a properly maintained humidor; regardless of cigar or humidor brand.  Typically, aged cigars will reach it's flavour and strength peak at around 8-10 years of humidor aging and then the cigars slowly begin to mellow.  A cigar may also shrink a tiny bit as the cigar's natural oils is slowly extracted and crystallized (into plume/bloom) during aging.  This will cause a cigar's wrapper leaf to have a shriveled appearance after many years of aging.  (Don't worry, the crystallization of plume/bloom is a good thing!  It's a clear sign of a well-aged cigar.)  

Despite the loss of it's natural oils and the mellowing of flavour, a well aged cigar can still taste incredible and none of it's flavour will be impacted negatively.  I've smoked cigars that have been aged for 25 years before and because they were properly kept in a well-maintained humidor all those years, they tasted incredibly.  The cigar strength mellowed but the flavour became more defined.  

Any cigar can be aged for a long time but the best cigars to age are medium to full-bodied cigars that have dark wrappers and a nice oily sheen in appearance.  For Cuban cigars, Bolivar, Montecristo, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey and Cuaba age incredibly well.  For non-Cuban cigars, Fuente Hemingways, Opus X, Cohiba XV, Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 1066 and Padron maduros have lots of aging potentially.

Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask.

Regards,
James