Before premium cigars are shipped to tobacco shops, they should ripen for about six months in factories or in the distributors’ air-conditioned compartments. Due to the increasing demand for cigars, this ripening period has apparently not always been observed in recent years. Therefore, it is recommendable to store cigars after the purchase for another 3-6 months in the humidor. During the aging process cigars develop a smoother, more balanced flavor.
Some premium cigars develop a particularly fine flavor after several years of storage. In the end, the duration of cigar storage is a matter of individual preference. One should compare the changing flavor of the preferred cigar brands within different storage times, in order to determine the perfect aging time.
