How old are cigars on average when they go on the market?

Very few manufacturers inform the consumer of when the cigars were made. Cuban manufacturers are the exception, providing a boxing date (month & year) on the bottom of each cigar box. From the time they're boxed, it may well be that only about four months will have passed before consumers have that same box in their hands; time enough for air shipment, reception by the importer and delivery to the specialist retailer.

With very few exceptions, neither manufacturers nor importers and retailers are able to mature cigars for any length of time. For economic reasons, all are dependent on the sales proceeds and as soon as the tax stamp is placed on the boxes, the price is set and the product must be sold at that price.

So, wherever possible, premium cigars should be matured in the aficionado's humidor for at least 6 months after purchase. Most premium cigars reach their taste peak only after two to four years.

Even when the tobacco has been sufficiently matured prior to rolling, the marriage of the tobaccos in the finished product represents an important step in the development of the overall flavour of the cigar. The waiting period required to allow that to happen is part of a process which wine connoisseurs have long since accepted. For wine, if it has not been aged properly, a connoisseur will generally consider it to be undrinkable and is likely to pour it down the drain.