New School vs. Old School

[earthson]

Many long-time smokers will avow that one key change to Havanas over the last 15/20 years or so has been the reduction in strength of the blends.

There is also a lot of marketing regarding "New Style" versus "Old Style" blends in that New Style blends are innovative takes on traditional brands while the Old Style cigars are more akin to how Havanas have tasted for decades.

Which brands and blends in current or recent production reflect the flavor and aroma profiles of Cuba's past? I realize how aging plays a strong factor in the experience of a smoke, so this is more of a question directed at those who have been smoking for some time and witnessed the emergence of the "New School" blends.

[Skyfall]

HU for me.

[Smallclub]

"Old school": LGC, Punch, Upmann, Sancho Panza…

The typical "New school" blends to me are San Cristobal and Trinidad. I'd add the Cuaba Divinos when it's good (but not necessary the other Cuaba).

Cigars that are nowadays very different to what they were in the past are (IMHO) Lusitania, Monte 2, RyJ churchills…

I often say that I have the impression that the habanos in the 70's and 80's were stronger, but honestly, how accurate can be the memory of cigars smoked 30 years ago?

[earthson]

Where are Por Larranaga and Ramon Allones fitting into this?

[mikek]

I smoked A lot of Cubans in the early 70's there seemed like there were a lot more lanceros and panatelas then besides caronas and peite caronas The way I remember them was a lot more spice and various pepper.I don't know if it was because I was younger, or Cubans have changed that much!? Anybody else tell A dramatic change from say 30 yrs.ago? I remember A nicotine buzz that I rarely find anymore!

[cigaraholic]

I wish it was that easy, us old time smokers could say we smoke a particular brand because it reminds us of the ....old days.

Once they had to switch strains, cuban cigars have been a crapshoot. It's all down to the box you get, not the brand.

For me, the overall intensity of cuban tobacco has gone down. To be fair, I am smoking cigars with more age on them than I used to.

But I had a good 30 year run where almost everything I smoked was fantastic, the last 14 have been at the dice table.

In the wine business we say great wine is made in the vineyard, even more true with cigars.

It's the blue mold blues......

[mikek]

I wish it was that easy, us old time smokers could say we smoke a particular brand because it reminds us of the ....old days.

Once they had to switch strains, cuban cigars have been a crapshoot. It's all down to the box you get, not the brand.

For me, the overall intensity of cuban tobacco has gone down. To be fair, I am smoking cigars with more age on them than I used to.

But I had a good 30 year run where almost everything I smoked was fantastic, the last 14 have been at the dice table.

In the wine business we say great wine is made in the vineyard, even more true with cigars.

It's the blue mold blues......

Yes I think I read about that A few years back.Years ago I would go down to Mexico and pick up A supply.Then it seamed like just about every other one was either plugged or lost there zip! Started smokeing Padrons,just got back into Cubans about eight years ago.

[Dimmers]

I wish it was that easy, us old time smokers could say we smoke a particular brand because it reminds us of the ....old days.

Once they had to switch strains, cuban cigars have been a crapshoot.......

And also quality of the soil? I recall some older thread musings that traditionally 'poorer' soil/ cultivation in Cuba stressed the plant (and therefore produced) superior leaf. Not so much the case now re newer farming techniques (ie fertilisers etc) ?

[CaptainQuintero]

It's probably complete arse waffle on my part as I've only been smoking cigars for 7-8 years but Sancho Panza just makes me think of what Cubans were back in the 1900's, everything from the rustic wrappers to the rich aroma of the smoke.

I've no factual standpoint to base this all on mind you maybe I've just fallen for the Sancho Panza marketing, I can just see myself on a donkey plodding about through Spain with a Molinos in my hand whenever I see anything to do with SP.

The aroma of the smoke does take me instantly back to holidaying in Spain when I was around 5, the dry heat, dead grass and always the feint smell of tobacco in the background.

[Overproof]

It's probably complete arse waffle on my part as I've only been smoking cigars for 7-8 years but Sancho Panza just makes me think of what Cubans were back in the 1900's, everything from the rustic wrappers to the rich aroma of the smoke.

I've no factual standpoint to base this all on mind you maybe I've just fallen for the Sancho Panza marketing, I can just see myself on a donkey plodding about through Spain with a Molinos in my hand whenever I see anything to do with SP.

The aroma of the smoke does take me instantly back to holidaying in Spain when I was around 5, the dry heat, dead grass and always the feint smell of tobacco in the background.

That brown minimal band could have something to do with it too?

[CaptainQuintero]

That brown minimal band could have something to do with it too?

Nothing shiny/glossy/embossed, none of that tacky glitter that's crept into Cuban cigars.

Same with QDO, apart from the glossy plastic sickly bands they put on the REs, I suppose they need something shiny to compliment the second RE band.

[Smallclub]

That brown minimal band could have something to do with it too?

Absolutely!

[mikek]

It's probably complete arse waffle on my part as I've only been smoking cigars for 7-8 years but Sancho Panza just makes me think of what Cubans were back in the 1900's, everything from the rustic wrappers to the rich aroma of the smoke.

I've no factual standpoint to base this all on mind you maybe I've just fallen for the Sancho Panza marketing, I can just see myself on a donkey plodding about through Spain with a Molinos in my hand whenever I see anything to do with SP.

The aroma of the smoke does take me instantly back to holidaying in Spain when I was around 5, the dry heat, dead grass and always the feint smell of tobacco in the background.

You know I don't think I have ever tried those.I hear the Belicosos are great! I need to spring for A box.Any particular box code?

[Smallclub]

Any particular box code?

Yes: the one you'll be able to find. The Molinos was discontinued 2 years ago...

[canadianbeaver]

Given enough time, the whole catalog should be listed here

Perhaps an indication could be compared to the folk artists of Nova Scotia. Seems I always have some kind of metaphor for these questions LOL.

Over the past 50 years, curators refer to the works as "first wave" and "second wave". First wave art is rare, muted colors, subtle humor and sometimes even pornographic. It is often up to 10 times the price of the second wave which can often offer many multiple pieces of the same thing, lined up at the Annual Folk Art Festival.

Maybe new style cigars are blended to suit newer tastes based on feedback at retail, the Habanos festival and forums like this?

[CaptainQuintero]

You know I don't think I have ever tried those.I hear the Belicosos are great! I need to spring for A box.Any particular box code?

Never tried the Belicosos purely because of the big size but people seem to like them. The non plus seem ok, I'm not a huge fan, they don't seem to have the wow factor. If you can find some molinos grab them imo (Unless they are the H&F aged selection; never seen such dried out, dead cigars in all my life! Went through three of the best boxes available to me at a store and all were just past their best, either poor storage or whatever but just shockers, even tried a few singles of them in case they were ugly ducklings but no, just ugly ducks!)

[laficion]

In the last 30 years or so , ALL the brands changed a bit from a creamy way to a more earthy & peppery way.

Now It could be to the liking of some but I don't find them THAT different from each other anymore .Plus they

used to be much stonger then now, at least some like the Bolivars or the Partagas's.The HdM's have chaged from before.(Less creamy).

And the RyJ's are not as strong as they used to be .This Is my opinion at lest.

Guy

[RijkdeGooier]

I would say HU stays fairly true to the original concept, some Partagas as well, am curious about the Cohiba's development

[ErikB]

The smell of raisins always takes me back to kindergarten, and smoking an Upmann Conn 1 right now sitting outside in the sun I'm just transported back to the balcony of my little apartment in '96, when I used to smoke Choix Supremes in the sun. A different cigar of course, but the Upmann makes me vividly remember those days, almost like a deja vu moment.