Buying off the discontinued list

[jacksfull]

I bought boxes of a two different cigars on the 2010 discontinued list, mainly based on the good reports here on FoH and the prospect of it being a last chance situation. In both cases, I'm happy to report, I am very pleased and wishing for more.

So, first of all, thanks to all of you who, perhaps unknowingly, helped encourage me to try these.

The first is the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur no.2. I am in love! I'd never tried these before, but after smoking just two cigars from my one and only box I'm already in a panic over running out. I don't see any left anywhere now, yet I'd love to get hold of a couple more boxes (probably all my budget will allow for in the near term).

I also bought two boxes of Diplomatico #4's. Great little cigar. I'd smoked one or two of them something like 10-years ago, but must have had duds. I didn't remember them being so darn good... but they are. That said, they do not seem quite as unique as the Partagas SdC's mentioned above. Still, I would like to have more and they are about half the price of the SdC 2's.

Did I already miss the boat? Will 2010 discontinuations still keep flowing for a while, or is that it?

[El Presidente]

Great to hear that you have had excellent experiences with both

In relation to availability, it is scratchy. Some appear to have gone for good. Others we have but they are not to FOH quality. Each month we request new stocks and occasionally...just occasionally a good to very good box comes through. Contact Lise so that she knows you are looking. If they measure up in terms of quality then you will always have first bite of the cherry if you are on her "Look for" list.

[jacksfull]

Great to hear that you have had excellent experiences with both

In relation to availability, it is scratchy. Some appear to have gone for good. Others we have but they are not to FOH quality. Each month we request new stocks and occasionally...just occasionally a good to very good box comes through. Contact Lise so that she knows you are looking. If they measure up in terms of quality then you will always have first bite of the cherry if you are on her "Look for" list.

Thank you! That's very kind... and encouraging!

[bassman]

There are PLENTY of Dip #4s & 5s around. Whether they are of good quality is totally unknown as they are at "you get the box on the top of the pile" vendors. You might get lucky, might not. For quality, talk to Lisa.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Heh heh, join the "Desperate for Discontinueds" Club, man!

Since late last year, 18 of the 24 boxes I've picked up have been discontinued cigars, and most of those have been from the 2010 discontinued list. Of the other 6, 3 have been RE/LE......so that gives you an idea of how much current production cigars I've been buying!

Mainly, I've done so to, as you said, "not miss the boat" on discontinued cigars, and I've tried a single of nearly all of what I've bought before buying a box, to make sure I like them - and this led to my single greatest cigar regret (besides getting into the game as late as I did) - waiting to try the Partagas Serie Du Connoisseur 1, 2 and 3 before buying a box of two. That delay (buying the singles and then giving them a month to settle after shipping) meant that all the good boxes of SDC 2s and 3s flew off the shelves before I knew how awesome they were (but I did get 2 boxes of SDC 1), now I'm stuck with annoying Smithy at every Live in the Humidor to see if he has any. Live and learn, C'est La Vie!

In the future, I will buy discontinueds first (from a reputable source like Czar) and ask questions later - I've just done that with a box of Punch RS 12s.....and hey, if I don't like 'em, I'm sure I can work out a trade with someone who does!

It's just a real shame that so many of these fine cigars got discontinued at once. My advice is to jump on what you can find if there is a box of discontinueds that pops up, even if you havn't tried them!

From what I can tell, some discontinueds will remain somewhat easy to find for at least another year or so, depending on their type of popularity - cigars that had many devoted fans like the SDCs, these are likely gone for good as all the hardcore fans snapped them up, while cigars like the Rafael Gonzalez Coronas Extra, that had some fans but few devotees - these will be found for a few years to come.

You can see how it has worked in the past with other discontinued cigars. Some, like the Diplomaticos #3, would show up on boxes at Czar right through to 2008/2009. HdM Du Roi is still popping up despite a 2009 discontinuation. Partagas Corona? Good luck man. Ditto Bolivar Corona.

Lastly - I agree with both your experiences. The SDC #2 was a wonderful smoke and the Dip #4 is a classic - I'm desperately waiting on remaining boxes of SDC 2s and 3s to show themselves too, and I suspect we're not alone either!

Good luck in your search, man!

[Colt45]

Did I already miss the boat? Will 2010 discontinuations still keep flowing for a while, or is that it?

I take a slightly different tack.........

As sad as it is that great cigars like the PSDC line have been eliminated, instead of chasing them down, I've personally decided to simply put my

cigar money toward other cigars I know I enjoy. Not necessarily the latest and greatest, but other stalwarts that are still available.

[khomeinist]

I tend to agree with ColtRoss45. Focusing on the discontinued cigar list appeals to the same neurotic impulses as the limited/regional releases. The fact of the matter is that the current quality of so-called 'regular-production' habanos is rare as well from a historical perspective spanning back at least 10-15 years. The 2008-2009 cigars that I have broadly sampled are at a peak of quality, generally speaking. To ignore the currently-available cigars to chase the rare and ephemeral might only lead to further deletions in upcoming years.

Ok. Rant over. I am stocking up on SDC and dip 4 as well. You hit it on the head Jacksfull. There is no way in hell that these cigars should be deleted in a logical world. Of course the world lacks taste and rationality. At least Party Shorts and 898 are still around (for now).