Today's Cigar

I have been reading a bit about aging cigars both on this site and other general cigar info sites. So my question is this: is there any way to know which smokes would benefit from some time in the humidor and which ones would be better straight from the store?

Specifically (and wtf I’m looking to the resident Gurkha pro around these parts), out of the Gurkha Class Regent Torpedos, Master Select Robusto #4, Expedition Toro, and SE X-Fuerte Toros that just arrived, any thoughts on which would be best first and best later?

I remember you saying the X-Fuertes have had some wrapper issues and might benefit from some time (again, why?), but I was thinking about smoking one of each this week, one of each in a month, and one of each in 6 months (with the others for trades or whenever). Is that schedule a good one or should I go more time/less time in between? I’ve got 10 of the Class Regent and 5 of each of the rest, so I’ve got a little room to play around, though I’ll likely try to work a trade with my spare CRs.

I’m welcome to thoughts from all smokers more seasoned than I—which is just about everyone it seems, not just WTF, but he was the one who kept hyping up Gurkhas until I couldn’t resist.

AGING INFO LINK

is a good guideline. here is basically what i do.
1) if i get a box, i smoke 1 immediately (called OTT—Of The Truck) just to get a feel for the cigar. it may have burn problems: too wet or too dry, but i learn about the cigar. if it is grassy (young), i will bury it in my coolerdor, not to even think about for 6 months.
2) if i get a 5er or so, i generally let them rest in my humi for 2 weeks (unless i cannot bear waiting). this is to ensure they have the proper humidity. most online guys send them a little wet, which is smart, as the trip could be a dry one. so, if you live close, the cigars could be wet. i lived in texas, they were usually dry. just something to enhance my experience.
3) any time there is a new cigar on the market, i figure they have not been aged much. most companies want to make their money, so they pop them out there. i smoke the one, then another 3 months later, and another at the 6 month line. i have some that i got last May (new to the market)...i have only had the 3…i am hoping for another next month.
4) in my experience Maduro cigars do not change much for the better with age. maybe the inside of the cigar marries better (different tobaccos blend together), but that is it. HOWEVER, sungrown wrappers REALLY calm down…personally, i like the bite of a fresh sungrown…as far as aged sungrowns go, i am not sure, as i smoke them quickly (but i have a couple going the distance).
AND for MSP i would say that those gurkhas are good to go. the X-Fuerte is new to the market, so age would help (i have not had a wrapper problem, but from the feedback i have read, i am in the minority). since i do not like the expeditions, i am aging a couple as i heard they get better with time…it could not hurt. the class regents are good to go. i would smoke one TODAY!
AND REMEMBER, some of those cigars have been sitting on a shelf for a while, that is aging, too…you never know!

I find very little difference in cigars that are fresh or aged for less than a year. I ALWAYS let cigars “rest” when I get them for at least a couple of weeks to get to the correct humidity, but when I think “aging,” I think by years, not weeks or months. The difference between a cigar I let rest for three weeks and a fresh one is discernable, but the difference from a cigar smoked fresh and aged for three years can be huge.

i had a fresh cigar and i had his brother 3 months later…huge difference. for a vintage cigar, 3 months is nothing…like if i took a photo of you today, and again on july 26th…no difference really…but a baby…3 months later is HUGE! same thing, really.
but not all aging is for the better (as i said for sungrowns and MY tastebuds).

I aged a CAO GOLD for 9 months WOW what a difference. Cigars are just like wine some age and some do not I would say the most of the cigars the common folk get peak in about 2 years, but thats just my 2 cents