Expert: James Yee - 12/8/2007

Question
Hi James,

On a recent trip to Cuba I purchased a few different brands of Cuban Cigars in 5 packs to test different varieties and find my "favorite". I know cigars get better with age so I have a couple questions for you. 1. Can I determine the age of Cuban Cigar by the Clear hologram sticker on the box as this seems to be the only identifiable markings? 2. I just bought a humidor to store them and don't know if it is a good idea to store different brands together? 3. Should they be stored in or out of the cardboard packaging in the humidor? And finally 4. What is the maximum age to keep a cigar if stored properly?

Answer
Hi Cooper,

To answer your questions:

1/ Unfortunately, it's not possible to determine the age of the cigars by the hologram sticker.  Typically cardboard display boxes such as cardboard 5-packs and 3-packs do not have the date on the individual boxes but the date can be found on the bottom of the larger store display box that displays all the cardboard packs.  If you have the premium 5 pack samplers that are in a varnished, wooden display box, the date code would be stamped on the bottom of the outer cardboard box that the 5 pack is enclosed in.

2/ It's perfectly safe to store different brands of premium Cuban cigars together.  The individual flavours and aromas will not marry.  In fact, you can even store non-Cuban cigars with Cuban cigars.  The only type of cigars that you shouldn't mix with your premium cigars are the novelty "flavoured" cigars.  These cigars have powerful artificial flavours/aromas that can actually ruin your other cigars and even the humidor's interior wood.  Also, pipe tobacco shouldn't be stored in a humidor either.

If you're worried about your cigars being in close proximity with each other, you can separate them inside your humidor with cedar dividers or store them in individual humidor trays, drawers and compartments (if your humidor has them).

3/ It's purely personal preference.  These cardboard boxes are not 100% airtight so humidity can pass through them and keep your cigars well humidified.  For my smaller desktop humidors, I personally prefer to remove the cigars from the boxes but for the large cabinet display humidor, leaving the cigars in the boxes is purely fine.

4/ If you store your cigars in a properly maintained humidor, your cigars can age almost indefinitely but the flavours/cigar strength will eventually mellow over time.  Typically cigars reach their aging "peak" at around 8 years and begin to mellow around 10 years.  However, I've smoked 20 year old cigars before and after that much time, they can still taste incredible.

Hopes this answers your questions.  If you have any more qustions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.

Regards,
James