While 2011 was a great year in the cigar business, 2010 was an outstanding year as well. As cigars age, their profile can change – in terms of flavor, burn, and draw. This can be both a positive thing or a negative thing. Aging certain cigar blends does not always guarantee a better cigar, but with many blends it can make a difference.
Below are five 2010 blends that I think really took to aging well. In some cases, these cigars were already ranked as top cigars in 2010. It is that aging took it to the next level and made some very good cigars released last year even better.
#5 My Father Limited Edition 2010
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| #5 My Father Limited Edition 2010 |
Last year, I ranked the My Father Limited Edition 2010 as my #18 of 2010. This was the first limited edition cigar produced by My Father Cigars. It was packaged in an individual coffin box and the cigars were rolled personally by Don Pepin Garcia and his son Jaime.
When I first assessed this cigar, while it had very good flavors, it had some minor burn issues and flaky ash. As some of these cigars were aged in 2011, the burn issues disappeared and the ash got tighter. The flavors got smoother making this an even better cigar experience.
A full review is available here for more details on my initial experience with this cigar.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Hybrid Ecuadorian Habano Rosado/Criollo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
The stick is only made in one size – this is a 6.5 x 52 – a long Toro.
#4 Nestor Miranda Art Deco
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| #4 Nestor Miranda Art Deco |
Last year, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco was ranked as my #28 Cigar of 2010. This was a collaboration by Nestor Miranda and Don Pepin Garcia. For Pepin fans, the blend of this cigar is a little different. In a press release Nestor Miranda explained, “We
wanted to get Pepin out of his comfort zone, which is using Nicaraguan
tobacco. He accepted the challenge and came out with an amazing blend
using 40% Dominican tobacco.”
Since this was a Top 30 cigar, it still had some very good attributes. As some aging was applied, the burn of this cigar got better. The flavors were more robust and smoother.
A full review is available here for more details on my initial experience with this cigar.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’06
Binder: Dominican Criollo ’98/Nicaraguan Habano ’00
Filler: 60% Nicaraguan Pelo de Oro and 40% Dominican San Vicente
Vitolas Available
Coffee Break: 4.5 x 50
Robusto Grande: 5.5 x 54
Gran Toro: 6 x 60
#3 A. Turrent Triple Play
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| #3 A. Turrent Triple Play |
Last year, this cigar was ranked as my #20 cigar for 2010. This was a triple maduro produced by Alejandro Turrent for Altadis.
Last year, this was a worthy cigar of being in the Top 20. When it was unveiled at the 2010 Cigar Dave Show in Charlotte, this cigar already showed signs of impeccable construction as it reflected with its outstanding burn and draw. It provided a wonderful experience right out of the gate. This experience has even gotten better as the cigar was aged into 2011. The flavors of coffee, chocolate, cedar, and black pepper are now more robust and smoother.
At this time there is no detailed assessment on this web-site. Cigar Coop hopes to have one soon.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: San Andres Morron
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua,
Honduras, and San Andres
Vitolas Available
Belicoso: 6 1/8 x 54
Gran Toro: 6 x 60
Robusto: 4 1/2 x 54
Short Belicoso: 4 x 60
Toro: 6 x 54
#2 262 Ideology
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| #2 262 Ideology |
Last year, this was the second blend released by Clint Aaron’s 262 Cigars. This particular blend came close to being an 2010 Cigar of the Year Honorable mention as it was a very good cigar. Almost a year later, I revisited this cigar and this cigar really impressed me! It clearly took a step to the next level. I mentioned this when I assessed this cigar back in September.
I particularly liked how not only the flavors got more robust, but they almost took on a three dimensional tone to them. A definitely spike in the complexity occurred over time. I picked up flavor notes of butter, nut, butterscotch, cedar spice, coffee, and char.
A full review is available here for when I revisited this cigar this past September.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Fillers: Nicaraguan, Mexican
Vitolas Available
Belicoso: 5 1/2 x 52
Box-Pressed Toro: 6 x 54
Churchill: 7 x 50
Corona: 5 1/2 x 42
#1 Liga Privada Serie Unico Dirty Rat
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| #1 Aged Blend for 2011: Liga Privada Serie Unico Dirty Rat |
Last year, the Dirty Rat was Liga Privada’s follow-up for my 2009 Cigar of the Year, the Liga Privada T52. The Dirty Rat came in at #22 for 2010 Cigar of the Year. When I ranked the Dirty Rat #22, I mentioned that this shouldn’t have been considered a disappointment – as it was a competitive year.
Time and age really worked well on this blend. With each smoke, it got better. While the flavor profile did not change, the flavors got richer, more robust, and smoother. I mentioned this when I put up the full assessment of this cigar last year following a pre-review. One year later, it got even better. For a full strength, full-bodied cigar, the balance between these two dimensions even got better. Hard to say where it would have ranked if I re-did the 2010 countdown, but it would have taken a major jump.
A full review is available here for more details on my experience with this cigar.
This cigar has been re-assessed as Memorable.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Stalk-Cut “American” (Connecticut) Habano
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: 5 different tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua (Esteli)
Vitolas Available
As with all Serie Unico Cigars, this is only available in a single vitola – a 5 x 44 Corona.
