La Escepcion Selectos Finos RE Italy 2011

[Deemancpa]

Cigar is 38 x 166(6.5") Panetela

Cold draw: toasted tobacco

My first draw after lighting gave me rich earthy and toasted tobacco flavors with a semi tight draw. There were fruit like notes with a hint of floral flavors coming through.

2nd Third - the draw finally opens(whew!)

still earthy and the sweetness is really starting to show...then ALL of Sudden...I'm hit with a blast of black pepper to the point the retro-hale is unbearable. I've never smoked a cuban with this much pepper, what a fire blast! If it wasn't cuban, this could easily be a Don Pepin cigar. The pepper shows much more then a Partagas. Wow!

Lastly -the pepper continues with under tones of earth and this fruit sweetness coming through very spicy!

This cigar caught me off guard with the pepper, unbelievable for a 38 ring gauge. Long live Long & Skinnies

My sinuses are are on fire. These will age nicely. I'll try another next year.

95+

Dee

[celtmick1984]

Thanks for the review, Dee! Hope you found something to do in RVA last weekend.

[CaptainQuintero]

That's just average European cigar prices, pretty cheap compared to UK praces in fact, if these were a UK RE they would be around the $700 US mark

[Lotusguy]

That's just average European cigar prices, pretty cheap compared to UK praces in fact, if these were a UK RE they would be around the $700 US mark

In other words, while the European price is ridiculous, the UK price is outrageous

List in Italy is substantially below $500...

[maverickdrinker]

great review. These are strong skinnies for sure. Had to each a sugar cube that last one I smoked. LOL

[CaptainQuintero]

In other words, while the European price is ridiculous, the UK price is outrageous

List in Italy is substantially below $500...

Hole in one!! LOL!

[canadianbeaver]

This is Frank Bundwallah's signature cigar these days... Waiting for him to check in here.

I love them. Thanks for great review and pics!

[Deemancpa]

Thanks for the review, Dee! Hope you found something to do in RVA last weekend.

Mike- I didn't stay overnight, did the morning drive and returned afterwards.

Thanks everyone...

D-

[Puros Y Vino]

Great cigars. Hard to find now. Going for >$500/box by now if you're lucky enough to snag one.

[bassman]

Expensive, but damn good cigars.

[mk05]

Hmmmm

Dee when did you receive these

[dangolf18]

I'd love to get a hold of some boxes, but can't find them in stock anywhere. If I happen to be in Italy within the next year, will definitely be picking up some boxes.

[mk05]

In other words, while the European price is ridiculous, the UK price is outrageous

List in Italy is substantially below $500...

Yea, especially the UK price for the Escepcions.

Great cigars. Hard to find now. Going for >$500/box by now if you're lucky enough to snag one.

I would have to disagree within my experiences. Diadema lists at lower than mentioned as Claus pointed out. Received multiple intact from Casa in last 7 months below mentioned. Major vendors have sold these as well at less than mentioned.

[CanuckSARTech]

Supply and demand.

Most Italy retailers can't/won't ship out of country, due to laws forbidding it. It's something where you need to go there in person, or find a generous BOTL to help out.

Frank, Enis and I were all lucky to grab up a bunch of boxes right about when they first came out, some earlier numbers (some later numbers on the last few boxes too, actually). They sure are a little powerhouse, but seem to have phenomenal legs for long-term aging. The richness of the tobacco is amazing.

[BonVivant]

It was on sale from a Swiss vendor since Nov.8

[Puros Y Vino]

Hmm...sources in Italy say they're near impossible to find. I had to go via private channels to get one.

[Lotusguy]

That source has since sold out (with a little help from me )

[Dimmers]

Great review, am in Rome atm and picked up a single from the local LCDH to road test .

[LLC]

Glad I was able to snag five of them. Now I just need to be patient.

[Lotusguy]

[mk05]

Actually, yea, these are super expensive and HTF. I hope they go to like $2k a box. That would be awesome.

[BonVivant]

Actually, yea, these are super expensive and HTF. I hope they go to like $2k a box. That would be awesome.

Not expensive and not hard to find and all the best luck with those going over $600 in the years to come.

Regular production delivers!

[Hamlon]

Wicked smokes. Picked up a box in Italy earlier this year. Gonna try to pull some strings and get a hold of another box or two. Won't be devastated if they run out before I can pull the trigger though.. I mean, I could probably get five good boxes of regular production for the price of two boxes of these powerful basrards.

[Catador]

Had to jump through a few hoops to get hold of some.. wasn't sure what to expect, having not had much from the 'Escepcion' range before.. but, (based on the few I've smoked so far) well worth the effort.

Looking forward to seeing how they develop once time has had a chance to work its magic.

Good potential for a long term bet.. and could potentially skyrocket in price over the coming years.

(my humble two cents anyhow)

[CanuckSARTech]

Not expensive and not hard to find and all the best luck with those going over $600 in the years to come.

Regular production delivers!

I'd agree with MK here.

They are fairly pricey, especially for long and skinnies. Well worth it, but these are costing near that $600 line now, with exchange and shipping.

There's only 2000 boxes made. Not like some RE's with 5000 or 12000 boxes made. These are fairly limited, and a single small area, with more stringent shipping particulars than some.

Personally, I think the only recent RE that you can compare long-term outlook on these to are the LGC RE Cuba jar, and look how hard to find those turned into ASAP, and how much higher in value they are now. Yes, those are jarred, but these have similar intrinsic appeal to them (ie - very limited run, small/tightly-controlled market that's hard to get shipping out of, reignition of a long-gone brand name, beautiful packaging, appealing format, etc., etc.)

I would say that if your reference to these as not expensive or hard to find is from a particular source, I'd definitely be careful about that source. I myself would be very wary of these coming from a Swiss seller via grey market, since the particulars of this cigar are so controlled in Italy.