Grand Reservations

The following is an extract from my article for EGM Cigars. Read it in full here.

There’s a reason the process of ageing is synonymous with quality. As the old adage goes, the best things are born from it. The year on a bottle of wine will be of significant interest to the connoisseur. The casks used in the creation of that single malt you’ve been saving for a special occasion will typically run into double digits. Some of the best pieces of tailoring my father owns are older than I am. The point is, one cannot rush excellence, and when excellence has been created, it makes the experience that much richer.

If you’re anything like me, the terms reserva and gran reserva will likely give you goosebumps, whatever the context. These are the crème de la crème of Cuban heritage, presented annually to cigar aficionados the world over, in limited supply and usually at a price point that can only be considered an investment. These cigars are something phenomenal for the primary reason that the tobacco leaves are graded and then aged for a minimum of three years. Only when they are of a premium age, where the notes are so unique and interesting, will they be rolled to create truly remarkable sticks that one could only hope to one day own.