Markas that have widest taste difference between vitolas

[Danashan]

This was something I was pondering lately and I'd like your experienced opinion on.

Why some markas have very consistent flavour between different vitolas in a line up, and some much less so? We may exclude panatelas and smaller ring gage cigars from the question, because smaller ring gage cigars clearly cannot accommodate the same amount/variety of tobaccos as larger vitolas could.

As an example, I'd go to my NC experiences since the lack of one in CC. I find that most NC have fairly consistent flavour profiles between vitolas, while some have radical differences. One example of consistency between vitolas is Pepin Blue. On the other hand, Padilla Dominus and other Padilla cigars mostly show great flavor differences between vitolas, at least in my experience.

My question really is: is this on purpose or just an artifact of amount of smoke and its density? I know that Illusione cigars have completely different blends going from one size to other by design. Is this also the case (not in theory but in practice) for CC? If it is, do they blend each size separately? Which markas show the widest range of flavours? How do they justify the expense if they seemingly don't even have money to get their quality strait?

Sorry for my ramblings. I hope I explained my question.

[Mel]

Partagas, Bolivar, Cohiba and Upmann have common flavors across the vitolas but Hoyo de Monterey can taste very different from one size to anohter.

I don't smoke many NCs and I can not tell you whe whys of anything.

[tigger]

I think it has much to do with blenders/brass deciding whether a given Vitola will be true to marque or not.

We may exclude panatelas and smaller ring gage cigars from the question, because smaller ring gage cigars clearly cannot accommodate the same amount/variety of tobaccos as larger vitolas could.

I respectfully disagree with the notion that narrower cigars must be excluded.

Ever smoked a Partagas Chico?

[Danashan]

I think it has much to do with blenders/brass deciding whether a given Vitola will be true to marque or not.

I respectfully disagree with the notion that narrower cigars must be excluded.

Ever smoked a Partagas Chico?

No, I did not.

All I meant was that it is a widely accepted practice to blend lanceros with different tobacco percentages than larger ring gage vitolas, at least in NC. I know for a fact that, for example, Oliva V Lancero has a blend very different (and much preferred by me, BTW) than all the rest of the vitolas in the line. It is very difficult to fit 4-5 different tobaccos in a small ring gage cigars, as is very common in NC. Just the physics of it.

I don't know about CCs, hence my question.

I actually prefer lanceros in most cigars because I find the flavours are better defined and smoother, in general. I think that I like corna gorda size the best exactly because it is, to me, the best balance between complexity and flavor definition.

[El Presidente]

For what it is worth (and only my opinion) the greatest effect on inconsistency of flavour is poor construction.

The next biggest effect is poor blending/supervision.

Lastly, quality of Seco, Ligero & Wrapper. I notice Mel mentioned HDM which are very Seco laden. Most of that Seco would be taken from the same production period (18-24 moths old) albeit differing regions.

If you have a dodgy batch of Seco resulting from a poor growing/harvest/drying/fermentation period it will really impact HDM given it relies on Seco for a larger proportion of its filler than say Partagas.

Flip side it is great Seco....you have divinity.

[tigger]

For what it is worth (and only my opinion) the greatest effect on inconsistency of flavour is poor construction.

The next biggest effect is poor blending/supervision.

Lastly, quality of Seco, Ligero & Wrapper. I notice Mel mentioned HDM which are very Seco laden. Most of that Seco would be taken from the same production period (18-24 moths old) albeit differing regions.

If you have a dodgy batch of Seco resulting from a poor growing/harvest/drying/fermentation period it will really impact HDM given it relies on Seco for a larger proportion of its filler than say Partagas.

Flip side it is great Seco....you have divinity.

Rob, my understanding of the original question is that it's about consistency within a marque - for instance, RyJ Cazadores are very different than, say, en Cedros or Churchllls.

Again, I think it's entirely possible to have thinner cigars be true to marque - Partagas 898 and the SdC series, Cohiba Lanceros/CCEs, Trinidad Fundadores, for example, all fit into their brands very well - though it could be argued that since the Lanceros and Fundadores were the first vitolas under their respective marques, the cigars that followed might have been blended to be true to their thinner progenitors.

[Danashan]

Rob, my understanding of the original question is that it's about consistency within a marque - for instance, RyJ Cazadores are very different than, say, en Cedros or Churchllls.

Yes, it was. Prez, sorry for misunderstanding

Again, I think it's entirely possible to have thinner cigars be true to marque - Partagas 898 and the SdC series, Cohiba Lanceros/CCEs, Trinidad Fundadores, for example, all fit into their brands very well - though it could be argued that since the Lanceros and Fundadores were the first vitolas under their respective marques, the cigars that followed might have been blended to be true to their thinner progenitors.

Great point. I never thought about it this way. I guess if the line started from slim gage cigars, the rest could be blended to match that flavor profile. Is that the case in cuban cigar lines that they all/most have originated from panatelas/lanceros/pc size cigars? Do cubans actually try to blend new vitolas to match existing vitolas? My gut feeling was they reblend every vitola as a new cigar, with some lines still keeping major characteristics of the marque more faithfully than others?

What are the examples of both types of lines?