Like most of the finer things in life—wine and women, to name a few—cigars improve with age. Various strands and tobacco blend together in the rolling process, during which each cigar is bestowed a unique aroma and flavor.
At this point, the oils from different tobacco leaves begin to marry. This process continues, and over time the stability and complex intricacies of the smoke improve. Aging cigars takes precise timing, patience and accurate climate—but it is well worth the time and effort!
The best Nicaraguan cigar manufacturers will receive the leaves from the growers, roll the cigars and then hold them for 1-2 years before shipping. Chamuco Cigars only sells cigars that have had time to mature, while some manufacturers will sell them directly—before the aging process—because of the high demand for cigars.
Even an aged cigar should be fresh, but how do you tell if a cigar is fresh? Give it the “pinch test,” by lightly pinching the cigar between your forefinger and thumb. Ideally, it should feel firm but bounce back. If it’s spongy in some areas or feels like a piece of (dead) wood, it’s not fresh.
