Certainly this was more the case over the last three years as some brands rushed their product to market to satisfy us rabid leaf lovers. Aging, or allowing the quality cigar to rest, is the only way to achieve the smoothness we cigar aficionados seek. Some cigars, however, will never benefit from aging. If the tobacco has been improperly selected and processed, for instance. But most good cigars from quality manufacturers will benefit from a minimum of six months of age in a Spanish cedar-lined humidor.
More time is better when it comes to aging fine tobacco.
I require our Black Label cigars to rest in cedar for a minimum of 12 months prior to release. Then you can figure out how long they need to sit. Oh, and big-time kudos go to La Flor Dominicana and Daniel Marshall who put a date on their boxes. Here's hoping that other non-Cuban manufacturers will have the cajones to follow suit. Can't Figure Figurados Something that bugs the jeebers outta me is the interchangeability of cigar size and shape names.