The word “ageing” can appear at different moments in the process. A leaf can rest before being incorporated into a blend, and a finished cigar can be kept after it has been made. Recording both stages separately makes it easier to understand a description.

Habanos explains the ageing of tobaccos before rolling. For its Reserva productions it states a minimum of three years for all the leaves used, and for Gran Reserva, five. These are conditions of those specific denominations.

A box bought three years ago and a blend made with leaves that rested for three years describe different times. The first refers to how long finished cigars have stayed in the collection. The second, to the material before manufacture. Separating the two clocks makes it possible to interpret what an ageing period really means.