⚠️This fact has been debunked
Research shows cigars and wine have completely different aging timelines. Cigars typically age optimally for 6 months to 5-10 years, while wine can age anywhere from 1 year to several decades depending on the varietal. The claim of equivalent aging times is inaccurate.
It takes the same amount of time to age a cigar as wine.
Do Cigars and Wine Take the Same Time to Age?
You've probably heard someone at a cocktail party claim that aging a fine cigar takes just as long as aging a vintage wine. It sounds sophisticated, but it's completely wrong. While both products do benefit from careful aging, their timelines couldn't be more different.
The Cigar Aging Reality
Most premium cigars reach their sweet spot after 6 months to 5 years of aging. During this time, the various tobaccos—wrapper, binder, and filler—marry together, smoothing out harsh edges and developing complexity. Some exceptional cigars can improve for up to 10 years, but beyond that, they typically lose strength and complexity rather than gaining it.
Cigar aging happens relatively quickly because tobacco is already heavily fermented and aged for an average of 3 years before the cigar is even rolled. After rolling, manufacturers age them for at least 90 days before sale. What you're doing at home is the final polish, not the primary transformation.
Wine's Wildly Different Timeline
Wine aging is a completely different beast. While some wines are meant to be consumed young, age-worthy wines can develop for decades. A serious Bordeaux or Burgundy might need 10-15 years just to become drinkable, then remain at its peak for another 10-20 years or more.
- Light reds and whites: 1-5 years optimal aging
- Quality reds: 5-15 years, sometimes much longer
- Vintage ports and finest Bordeaux: Can age gracefully for 50+ years
- Sweet wines: Decades due to high sugar and acidity
Why the Confusion?
The myth probably persists because both cigars and wine are associated with patience, sophistication, and delayed gratification. They're both also highly variable—a cheap wine and a cheap cigar won't improve much with age, while premium versions of both transform beautifully over time.
There's also Coates' Law of Maturity, which states that a wine will remain at its peak for roughly the same duration it took to reach that peak. If a wine takes 10 years to mature, it might stay excellent for another 10 years. Cigars don't follow this rule—they hit a peak and then gradually decline.
The Bottom Line
If you're storing both cigars and wine, don't expect them to mature on the same schedule. Your wine cellar might house bottles that won't peak for 20 years, while your humidor's cigars are probably ready to smoke within a few years of purchase. Different pleasures, different timelines, different storage requirements—and that's what makes both hobbies fascinating.