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Has anyone noticed a difference in the quality of Drew Estate cigars since he sold the company to Swisher? Also, has anyone had issues aging DE cigars? I was just reading a Reddit post where several guys said the DE cigars are best when smoked fresh or within a few months of purchase. They went on to say they don’t age well, specifically the under crowns and liga privadas. I find this difficult to believe but maybe they know something I don’t. Anyone here have this issue? I have never had a problem aging any of my cigars.

AC

Yep Swisher

http://drewestate.com/drew-estate-returns-roots-announces-jonathan-drew-president-drew-estate-multi-year-deal/

I'be been smoking a batch of Undercrown Toros I purchased in July 2016, and I think they are good, considering I paid around $3.40/ea.
Not too big a fan of them ROTT, and have never let them go past 2 years, and usually start smoking them at 6+ months.
Z says they taste like wax paper..............luckily they don't taste like that for me.
I don't really notice a difference between say 6 months and 1.5 years.....but then I don't have a palate as refined as say........................Kohnhed.

They taste like burning beeswax IMO. I thinks it's the mineral oil they treat the wrappers with *cough cough* I mean a result of their superior tobacco.

DE makes really good stuff. STILL. Thing is, there's a lot of guys who were in on the ground floor smoking pre-release stuff (thanks thundergerbil) when Jonathan was just expanding ligas. IMO the quality went down after the storm that killed their production for like 2 years before the price hikes started with them. It didn't help that Saka said some rude stuff about people who legitimately didn't understand the price hikes. Add to that the production increases and people tastes changing, consistency isn't an easy target.

Also their stuff does NOT age well.

Z,

I think I might still have one or two of those pre-release cigars left. IMHO, I thought the older stuff aged fine, there was a sharp spicyness to the smoke that would fade out and was replaced with more of a creaminess as they aged, and since everyone is looking for different things, sometimes having what attracts one to a cigar be the first thing to change with age one gets disappointed.

I will also say, the last new cigar from DE that I smoked was the original commercial release L40. I don't remember how long ago that was. 6 - 7 years? So I have no idea what the new stuff is smoking like.

You are correct, long term consistency can be a hard target. Tobacco changes from year to year, it's even more fickle than wine grapes. Also, when you aren't a grower, you have to add in that you are the mercy of your suppliers.

I also see a misconception out there about "aging" . 1-2 years isn't aging. 5 isn't either. 7-10 is just scratching the surface.

So DE stuff doesn't "rest" well?