aged cigars - thoughts?


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I have been fortunate in smoking some aged gems - my most memorable was a 1970's Cohiba Lanceros Diplomatic gift, the most outstanding cigar I have ever smoked.

But, as Stuart Fox was mentioned, I am reminded of an 80 year cigar that I smoked with his brother Robert and with David McGrane of Fox Cigars during a visit they ( and Dara, Stephan et al ) made to our pharmacy cigar weekend in August 2012.

 

It was a SOL Aromosos Imperiales from the 1930's, beautifully kept in cellophane and still going very strong.

Here the links to the event and below David's tasting notes.

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/201208-1930s-sol-aromosos-imperiales-review/

http://www.jamesfox.ie/blog/1930s-sol-aromoso-imperiale/#more-617

On the last day of our cigar weekend and after a beautiful Sunday morning in the vineyards, 20 of us gathered up for a brunch, which finished up with a tasting of some very rare cigars Nino shared with us; the Sol Amorosos Imperiales, which dated back to the 1930’s. 

Although most of us have had the chance to sample vintage cigars throughout the years, an 80 year old cigar is not something you would come across often and it’s enough to raise the levels of excitement in the party!

My first impression was the cigar’s dark brown colour. Having spent many years under cellophane this could be due in part to the normal decolourization of the cellophane. So, with apprehension, and with the greatest respect to this venerable cigar, I gently peeled the cellophane apart. The wrapping had indeed, after so many years, changed to a light tan colour showing the imprint of the Sol band in reverse.

For a cigar that was over eighty years old, it still had a wrapper that was in remarkably good condition with the natural oils of the rich brown leaf, together with sun spots, still evident. On gently nosing the cigar, I was taken aback by the strong aroma of camphor (moth balls). The condition was perfect, with just a little give when gently pressed. The view at the foot of this boxed press cigar showed a uniformity of the tobacco composition within the cigar. To cut, I used a double sided guillotine and a gentle flame gas lighter to ignite.

To my surprise, the first draw resulted in, not a hint of camphor, but of gentle tobacco flavours. After the first few draws, these flavours were joined by flavours of mixed herbs and nutmeg. This cigar was a pleasure to smoke as the draw was perfect. 

The cigar burned evenly throughout, holding its grey ash to approximately 4cm. The most noticeable feature of this ash was the absence of stalk.

All the while the flavours were building, until the last 7cm when the flavour of chalky spices engulfed the tongue only to sink back to a mellow flavour of sublime smoking pleasure.

It was only when I reached the final 3cm that we had to reluctantly part each others company.

My overall impression, despite its age the SOL Aromosos Imperiales was still a very fine cigar, a cigar with class, that gave me over an hour and a half of pure smoking pleasure.

 

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5b21194d8f2c5_ANSSOL0812017.jpg.7a278e8717813978c0d9cad6c53ad44e.jpg

 

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57 minutes ago, nino said:

I have been fortunate in smoking some aged gems - my most memorable was a 1970's Cohiba Lanceros Diplomatic gift, the most outstanding cigar I have ever smoked.

But, as Stuart Fox was mentioned, I am reminded of an 80 year cigar that I smoked with his brother Robert and with David McGrane of Fox Cigars during a visit they ( and Dara, Stephan et al ) made to our pharmacy cigar weekend in August 2012.

 

It was a SOL Aromosos Imperiales from the 1930's, beautifully kept in cellophane and still going very strong.

Here the links to the event and below David's tasting notes.

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/201208-1930s-sol-aromosos-imperiales-review/

http://www.jamesfox.ie/blog/1930s-sol-aromoso-imperiale/#more-617

On the last day of our cigar weekend and after a beautiful Sunday morning in the vineyards, 20 of us gathered up for a brunch, which finished up with a tasting of some very rare cigars Nino shared with us; the Sol Amorosos Imperiales, which dated back to the 1930’s. 

Although most of us have had the chance to sample vintage cigars throughout the years, an 80 year old cigar is not something you would come across often and it’s enough to raise the levels of excitement in the party!

My first impression was the cigar’s dark brown colour. Having spent many years under cellophane this could be due in part to the normal decolourization of the cellophane. So, with apprehension, and with the greatest respect to this venerable cigar, I gently peeled the cellophane apart. The wrapping had indeed, after so many years, changed to a light tan colour showing the imprint of the Sol band in reverse.

For a cigar that was over eighty years old, it still had a wrapper that was in remarkably good condition with the natural oils of the rich brown leaf, together with sun spots, still evident. On gently nosing the cigar, I was taken aback by the strong aroma of camphor (moth balls). The condition was perfect, with just a little give when gently pressed. The view at the foot of this boxed press cigar showed a uniformity of the tobacco composition within the cigar. To cut, I used a double sided guillotine and a gentle flame gas lighter to ignite.

To my surprise, the first draw resulted in, not a hint of camphor, but of gentle tobacco flavours. After the first few draws, these flavours were joined by flavours of mixed herbs and nutmeg. This cigar was a pleasure to smoke as the draw was perfect. 

The cigar burned evenly throughout, holding its grey ash to approximately 4cm. The most noticeable feature of this ash was the absence of stalk.

All the while the flavours were building, until the last 7cm when the flavour of chalky spices engulfed the tongue only to sink back to a mellow flavour of sublime smoking pleasure.

It was only when I reached the final 3cm that we had to reluctantly part each others company.

My overall impression, despite its age the SOL Aromosos Imperiales was still a very fine cigar, a cigar with class, that gave me over an hour and a half of pure smoking pleasure.

 

5b2119449985d_ANSSOL0812008.jpg.893e1656ba4d00de3d78c22b6f3e07b6.jpg

 

5b21194783bde_ANSSOL0812009.jpg.ec84511856d3545a2560cc858e4cf424.jpg

 

5b21194a9d9c9_ANSSOL0812010.jpg.c06c8f2dc90c9c626273571c87b71295.jpg

 

5b21194d8f2c5_ANSSOL0812017.jpg.7a278e8717813978c0d9cad6c53ad44e.jpg

 

5b21194fc83e3_ANSSOL0812019.jpg.b9ef3f092fb4098fde00da2bfcb70417.jpg

 

5b211952e3ef4_ANSSOL0812020.jpg.5530e1507078ffedf889e96aa6032770.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Bravo Nino! I’ve been reading your blog for almost 10 years. 

My experience with old cigars is very similar to my experience with old wine. If stored properly it is different than new. Some people love how it changes and some don’t. I tend to like middle age cigars the most, haha. They are distinguished in their character, but still retain many of the youthful qualities. A bit more toned down, more debonair and refined. 

 

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