How Cigars Are Aged

Time plays an important role in premium cigar production, but the word aging is often used too broadly. Tobacco can be aged before it is made into a cigar. Freshly rolled cigars need time to rest and stabilize after production. And finished cigars can continue to mature for months or years under appropriate storage conditions. These processes are related, but they are not the same. Understanding the difference helps explain what aging can—and cannot—do for a premium cigar.