SteveS wrote:there's a guy in your zip code who's got a tower, a mini fridge, and a big cooler he's willing to part with ... convenient source for you
That guy's stuff is all old; who'd want that ****?
Early on every time I'd grab a new to me smoke, most of which I'd gotten second hand with about 2 years on them, I'd try to find notes about them first. There were many stated to be harsh, overly spicy, or have some other nastiness. I'd light up and think WTF was that guy smokin?!? Then I learned more about resting & aging. When the Diesels first came out I tried one and loved it so I ordered some more. Tho I got a few pretty good cigars in my 'starter pack', that cigar was probably the one that really spurred me into cigar loving. Tho I kinda new better,when my order arrived I couldn't wait so I lit one hot off the truck, literally. The box was uncomfortably hot like the UPS guy had transported it in the engine compartment. I put everything away minus one Diesel for immediate consumption. It probably goes without saying that that was one **** cigar, it pained me to put it out. A couple weeks later they were good and just kept getting better. About a year in I decided to hang on to the last one for some real aging and when I went to get it several years later it was gone. I'm guessing one of my buddies grabbed it at some point and I didn't notice, but I still have some small hope that it's just hiding from me.
Another one that shocked me was the Gran Habano Vintage 2002. They're pretty, had good reviews, I found a decent price and bought 20 or 25. A few days later a friend was visiting and I grabbed two out for us, we admired the beauty and smell for a moment then lit up. They were horrible! Tasted like what a barn smells like or worse and I thought "damn that was a waste of money". Several weeks later I decided to try again before getting rid of them and they had become quite tasty. That same friend came over one day and I brought one out. He looked at me and said "if you wanted me to leave you coulda just said so". I convinced him to try it and it turned out to be a nomex stick (one you want to smoke to the nub and beyond).