Forgettable Habanos Releases

[El Presidente]

Forgettable Habanos Releases.

I was in my section of the humidor this morning looking for something to enjoy as my morning cigar. I had a late day yesterday completing this weeks video review with Ken. Poor Ken can hardly walk due to a bad back and other ailments resulting from a decrepid lifestyle meeting the relentless advance of old age. Armed with "Tiger Balm" and fortified with a mix of red wine and pain killers....he soldiered on whinging only every 2 minutes. Suffering in silence is not Kens style

Where was I...

In the humidor. As I rummaged through my stock I came across boxes of stuff I have no real interest in smoking. releases of years gone buy that have left me underwhelmed and that no one really speaks of.

I picked and am currently revisiting a HDM Especial EL 2007. Unfortunately a third of the way through and it is as underwhelming as I remember it. I can't believe it spinned off the HDM Especial regular release (which is a better cigar than the LE).

It got me to thinking of the worst (personal opinion only) 3 cigars released by Habanos this decade? If I was to put them in order:

1. Montecristo Open

2. Trinidad Petit Robusto LE 2010

3. HDM Epicure Especial LE 2007

There are plenty of others which could edge their way into the top 3! What are yours?

[PigFish]

Any one with a second band that says:

Edicion Limitada

[compitaveggie]

For me it has been

1. Trini El 2010

2. Boli EL 2009

I don't get it, lets cut down the size of the cigars to ridiculously short, add an extra band, AND, best of all, jack up the price!!

3. Cohiba Maduro

I know most won't agree with me on this, I just don't like a cigar that to ME tastes a lot like a Non-Cuban Cigar.

Hey Prez,

wasn't the 2007 HDM El the Regalos? THe Epi Especial was 2004 no?

I actually like the 2007 HDM EL.

Jose

[mkz]

Anything above 50 ring gauge...

[compitaveggie]

I forgot to add Honorable mention,

The 2008 Partagas EL.

Again, cut it down, charge some more, even though the PSD4 is bigger, better, and CHEAPER!!!

I think I'm starting to feel like Piggy!!!

If Habanos wants to save tobacco for the EL's, dont cut the size of it's length, cut the RING GAUGE!!!

Jose

[88keys]

1. I agree with Rob -- Monte Open. I forgot about them before I ever tried one.

2. I agree with Jose -- Cohiba Maduro. I'm glad to hear someone else say it. They looked great, smelled great, tasted Nicaraguan. Somehow that's more scary than just a bad Cuban.

3. Of the REs, LEs, etc. -- Bolivar Fifth Avenue was the most disappointing. I know, you need to wait five years, keep at 63.529 humidity, mutter incantations -- the two I had were like smoking air.

[sloth]

Oh come on! The Monte Open? Forgettable!?! The Monte Open is the habanos equivalent of the Alamo.

I have never had one, but the way some of you talk about it, it would seem that it is as forgettable as armed robbery.

You will never forget it!

[habanohal]

Monty Millenium Robusto

Boli EL Petite pyramid

Cohiba maduro

[GTS21]

Cohiba Maduro line

Monte Open

Most ELs

[finecigar]

There are more and more it seems. I will have to agree on the Montecristo Open.

I do not mean to be rude but the "Open" series by Montecristo is like a toxic cancer to the beauty, flavour, and overall reputation of their other present and post- production cigars. Something about the green colour also disgusts me on the cigar. Everything about it is trash in my opinion.

Anyways, my three would be this:

1. Montecristo Open.

2. Partagas Serie D No.5 LE 2008.

3. The "Seleccion Limited Edition" five sampler packs. Terrible imo.

[Sandman]

EL's

EL's

EL's

Problem is they are not consistent, and alot of them taste quite the same.

[jacksfull]

Dang!

I've forgotten what my nominees were.

[bolivr]

Out of my collection the HdM Petit Robustos and I too have been underwhelmed by the Cohiba Maduros. Glass half full view is that they are handy to calibrate taste against as they probably represent fine NCs and I haven't had NCs in the humi for years

[Charltonc]

Anything above 50 ring gauge...

Keep the gauge betwen 38 and 50 and things are good.

[El Presidente]

The Cohiba Maduro 5 doesn't surprise me that it is on the list.

I have had some cracker Secretos and Genios. I have also had some shockers. I look at a lot of boxes every month and the sheer variability of wrapper/constuction astounds me. It was a great concept gone to seed due to incompetence.

I still find great boxes. However it is a 1 in 2 exercise. I still very much enjoy a great Genios or Secretos (never had a Magicos I liked) but I can understand the angst toward this line.

[khomeinist]

The numeration game gets a bit goofy for me but I will throw a few bombs:

Cohiba Maduro Magicos. My concern with the line in general is the age-worthiness. I have had way too many excellent Secretos and Genios to disparage the entire line. I am very curious how my 2007 boxes will taste in 5 years. At that point I will give a more definitive judgement. (hold your breath. )

Hoyo Petite Robusto: boring + terrible shape

Monte Petite Edmundo: See Hoyo

Trini EL 2010: See Hoyo + Monte only more expensive

Monte Open: An embarassment through and through. Marketing at its most nauseating.

Trinidad Ingenios: Worse than Fundadores. What's the point?

Partagas SP2: How is that for controversy? Seriously though. I would take one SDC 2 over 10 of these dullards.

On a positive note, I love the Trinidad Robusto and many of the regionals. Have mixed feelings about the RE/LE releases, but 30-40% that I have tried have been stellar.

Drink up.

[asmith]

These are my three forgettable cigars.

1. Trinidad Short Robusto T

2. Montecristo Sublime LE

3. Most things rolled in 2001 that were plugged.

[LeafLover]

Prez, you should not suffer one more moment of cigars that have fallen out of your favor!

Send them to me!

[investandprosper]

I can see what you mean about the Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos. I've seen a terrible box, which I sent back for a hand-picked replacement. The replacement box is outstanding, utterly delicious.

There are still many I haven't tried, but one I would never want to try is the Monte Open line. Open Eagle doesn't make me think of a fine cigar, that's all I'll say.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

EL's

EL's

EL's

Problem is they are not consistent, and alot of them taste quite the same.

I would add the Montecristo Open line to the list. Not having tried any of the Cohiba Maduros yet, I've been put off them by what I've seen here. If I want an Havana to taste like a Nicaraguan, then I'll buy a cheaper Nicaraguan instead.

[Ken Gargett]

Any one with a second band that says:

Edicion Limitada

piggy, there have been som shocker LE's undoubtedly. but also some crackers that make the line worthwhile.

smithy, i keep hearing about the variable quality of the monte sublime but so far, touch wood, it has all been good.

for me, and this might make piggy happy -

1. monte C's. 03 i think. utter disgrace.

2. monte opens. shame, habanos, shame!

3. almost anything cuaba bar the LE (sorry piggy) and the salamones that elie kindly shared with me.

[MontrealRon]

From what I have purchased, by the box :

Agree with Khomeinist about the P2s. As a Partagas fan, I really wanted to love these,

but two boxes and several singles have varied from disapointing to disgusting.

Too bland is bad enough, but the horrible construction is the real killer.

Though I have not tried recent examples, my experience with D4s has been mixed at best.

HDM Petit Robusto. Can't believe that I actually bought a box.

The tobacco is decent, but wasted in this stupid shape.

Things I have been gifted singles of, but would never buy :

Monte Open (peso cigars have more taste and character)

Monte Petit Edmundo (same as Petit Robusto)

Cohiba Siglo VI (too much cigar for too little taste)

Things I would never even buy a single of :

Anything over 50 RG

Things I would never buy a box of :

Anything over 49 RG.

[CBL]

Wow I'm surprised a lot of you don't like the EL's I've had some amazing EL's from years gone by like the Monty Robusto 2006 is amazing now (I wasn't impressed by it two years ago though) and the HdM 2003 has one of the sweetest and most flawless wrappers I've ever seen on a cigar (the taste was also very special) Also the Partagas 2008 was pretty damn delicious when I smoked it three weeks ago!

My worst releases:

- Cohiba Maduro line (only the Secretos bring something to the table taste wise, the rest is bland as hell)

- Most RE's I've tried. I have high hopes for the RA Estupendos and Phoenicios, but most have been really dull especially the Benelux editions.

- I guess I'll have to agree that the Monty Open series have been a real miss. Anything that comes in boxes of 20 is un-Cuban in my eyes

[perfectform]

1. Bolivar Short Bolivar RE AP (sorry mates, but this cigar is a curse, shame on you Mr. Tang)

2. Monte Open Regatta (only one I've tried; can't comment on the others)

3. (tie) H. Upmann Mag 48 EL/Trinidad Ingenios EL (forgettable as all hell)

[FireDigger]

1. Cohiba Secretos, if I wanted an NC, I'd go get an NC.

2. Montecristo Sublime, underfilled with little taste.

3. Trinidad Ingenios, I waited three years to smoke these since their first release. I was pretty disappointed at the one-dimensional taste profile that doesn't resemble a CC.