Suckling's Best Years For Cigars

[Bartolomeo]

Interesting article on his thoughts of the best years for cigars

http://www.jamessuckling.com/my-blog-a-vin...ban-cigars.html

Bart

[#2 man]

I'll agree with part of that

[pedromendes]

I agree that things seem to be getting A LOT better in the last couple of years, but the blanket statement about avoiding 1998-2001 is a bit much. I just had a RG Lonsdale from a 2001 box and it burnt perfectly and tasted like heaven.

[Nocoins]

Isn't it a little bit early to put 2011 at the top of the list?

[Habanakane21]

Yeah 2011 seems weird. Maybe he's noticing a trend and he's just assuming. At any rate I agree mostly with his order of years.

[PigFish]

Let me guess. James likes fresh cigars! I could also hazard a guess that he can't remember any cigars that he smoked past 30 days ago!

Lumping all cigars into categories like this is amateurish and I can't believe that a guy with his experience would do such a thing. Does vintage have an effect on cigars; yeah sure? Can one suggest that he likes one year better than others... no problem? But this sounds like a guy that is about to open a cigar store and he has been told that he can get any cigar stocked that he wants as long as it is '10 or '11 model year!

You can take the Suckling out of the magazine, but you can't appear to take the magazine out of the Suckling! -Piggy

[PLUSH]

Isn't it a little bit early to put 2011 at the top of the list?

I thought the same thing when I saw this earlier today.

[El Presidente]

I would have put 2006 in my top 3.

My list is based on trends in those years based on quality of tobacco, flavour and costruction

1. 2008

2. 2006

3. 2009

4. 2010

5. 2007

6. 2003

7. 2005

8. 2002

9. 2004

10.2001

Great cigars came out of all years. But some years had more problematic issues than others.

[chinamike233]

he should really cut his hair.

[melies]

he should really cut his hair.

How dare you sir! To mock the Suckling hair! I demand DA BOOOOMB for you in punishment

[mkz]

You can take the Suckling out of the magazine, but you can't appear to take the magazine out of the Suckling! -Piggy

Well put Sir Piggy!

[Smallclub]

he should really cut his hair.

James probably thinks 1970 is the best vintage for haircuts!

[shrink]

I would have put 2006 in my top 3.

My list is based on trends in those years based on quality of tobacco, flavour and costruction

1. 2008

2. 2006

3. 2009

I agree with your top three. I haven't smoked any 2010 or '11.

[thechenman]

My top 3 years would go...

1. 2008

2. 2010

3. 2009

[Azksig]

My top 3 years would go...

1. 2008

2. 2010

3. 2009

This is mine exactly. Although, I have smoked all of my 2006 boxes so maybe that's saying something.

[Trevor2118]

I would have put 2006 in my top 3.

My biggest stash are 2006 Cohibas.....so I totally agree.

[greenpimp]

2006 and 2008 belong at the top of the list, for sure. I've had some great recent stuff granted, but in general I think Suckling loves what is new and has as long as I've read his stuff.

[joeypots]

As I have a lot of '06 stock, I'll say Prez is astute and Suckling is a shill.

[sg1234]

James probably thinks 1970 is the best vintage for haircuts!

Priceless!

[bassman]

Quite surprising. Of the years listed, 2004 & 05 are my least favorite. And I've had (and still have) a lot of really good cigars from 2002 which he lists last. Very silly to list 2011 anywhere since it's only March.

[Peter11216]

Suckling writes, "Moreover, the demand is down for Cuban cigars, so the industry can take its time with the tobacco as well as production."

Does anyone know if there is any documentation of and statistics on this, or is it something anecdotal?

Best,

P

[anacostiakat]

I would have put 2006 in my top 3.

My list is based on trends in those years based on quality of tobacco, flavour and costruction

1. 2008

2. 2006

3. 2009

4. 2010

5. 2007

6. 2003

7. 2005

8. 2002

9. 2004

10.2001

Great cigars came out of all years. But some years had more problematic issues than others.

Yea. This is closer to my list.

[El Presidente]

Suckling writes, "Moreover, the demand is down for Cuban cigars, so the industry can take its time with the tobacco as well as production."

Does anyone know if there is any documentation of and statistics on this, or is it something anecdotal?

Best,

P

Production in 2009/2010 was down almost 50%. Factory layoffs has been well documented.

[Habanakane21]

People are not liking Suckling....A lot of haters around. I'd be jealous too...I mean here's a guy who travels around the world who drinks wine and smokes cigars for a living. He offers his opinions and advice on both. For me, I appreciate it. I think most people over scrutinize his reviews and advice instead of taking them for what they're worth..just another guys opinion. That's all

[adic88]

Yes, i tend to agree with Habana, Suckling is just a man, albeit with an interesting lifestyle job. Just like the rest of us, he has opinions, but unlike many of us (and i include myself in this list, sometimes), he is willing to be honest, open and sharing with them (well that's how he gets paid lol). Everyone i've spoken to who has eaten a lot of salt in the industry, and who has spent some time with James tells me that he is a good guy, sincere and mature. So many good men saying good things about another can't be wrong, right?

He is opinionated, sure. But i think we need more people like that in the world rather than less. imho.