Limited Edicion Review: 2004 Series

[El Presidente]

Back from my week away so let's continue this. Would love your feedback and opinion!

In my opinion 2004 releases of the LE program was perhaps the best of all.

Cohiba Sublimes

54X164 6.5"

Double Robusto

The Cohiba Sublimes were a stunning success by any measure. An excellent smooth rich cigar with few construction issues. My recent sampling of these has been sporadic but I find them holding up well.

It does have some flaws to me in that I see little evolution in the cream, nuts and choc base flavours.

A truly great cigar (for me) takes you on a journey. there is a little too much NC predictability in this cigar for it to be classified as a great. Again just my opinion.

My score.

7.5/10

Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure Especial

50 x 141 5.6#

Robusto Extra

One that flies under the radar but for me the pick of the 2004 crop by a nose. It has developed into a truly aged Hoyo, lashings of cream, milk coffee with a touch of cedar and leather.

I have never had a bad one. I wish I had more as it has aged far better than the HDM LE piramide.

My Score

9.5/10

Partagas Serie D No 1

50 x 170 6.7"

Double Robusto

These were strong and unbalanced when released and they stayed much the same for the following 5 years. A decade has done wonders however. Full bodied, leather, Partagas paprika and capsicum spice, touch of bitter chocolate on the edges of the palate. A treat.

My Score

9/10

Romeo y Julieta Hermosos No 2

48 x 157 6.2#

Grand Corona

Take the best of R&J and add a chocolate touch. these really only started coming into their own from 2008 onwards. They had plenty of hard edges prior but have developed into a medium to medium full bodied cherry ripe with an espresso spine. I couldn't ask for too much more.

My score

9/10

[ChanceSchmerr]

I very much loved the single Cohiba Sublimes I was able to find in Hong Kong all those years ago (2008). For $45 CAD at the time, I should have stocked up, who knew that would be a bargain price now! When I smoked it a couple of years ago, it was delicious, with deep classic (to me) Cohiba flavours, with plenty of nuance. At the same time, it really didn't have an edge that told me it could age for longer, so I'm glad I smoked it when I did.

The Partagas SD#1, I also smoked but one example, a cigar traded to me by the late Steve Singer (bassman). It was probably the best cigar I had that year, an incredible evolution of flavour throughout the smoke, it was a true journey of a cigar. I'd have given it 99/100 then, and it only seems better in retrospect. So I was glad when I found a lonely single on the shelf in a French cigar store last month. It's resting safely until I find a quiet moment to remember my friend Steve, and toast his memory with a fitting cigar.

The Romeo Hermosos No 2, I've had one again, from a Vancouver B&M. Crappy, crappy cigar, just bad tobacco, poor construction to boot. It was a forgettable hour until I ditched it. One of a series of horrendous mid-decade RyJs that had me swearing off them nearly completely.

[Carts]

Haven't smoked any of them myself but...

Have found a B&M locally that has a small stock of PSD1's - I'm interested to hear how they are now before I buy

[Smallclub]

The Hoyo Epicure Especiale was one of the best boxes I've ever had in terms of complexity. The bouquet of flavors was stunning, it reminded me a Florentine biscuit (this).

I didn't like the D1, but I've never be able to find one with a correct draw!

[Maplepie]

Have had none. D1 better than the Cohiba Sublime is a nice sign

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

[Lotusguy]

Had a box of the Hermosos #2. Totally devoid of flavor - way over the hill IMO (this was last year).

[Dimmers]

Nice Rob thanks, Query - degree that the Hoyo Epicure Especial EL shares the same DNA with its std production namesake ?

Havent had the EL, but have a std prod cab from 2008 which I will be sampling soon.

[tjhernandez34]

Sad to hear that the Sublimes have been a little disappointing. I had them back when they were released, and have had a couple in my humidor since then. Hopefully, they will still be as good as I remember them.

[El Presidente]

Nice Rob thanks, Query - degree that the Hoyo Epicure Especial EL shares the same DNA with its std production namesake ?

Havent had the EL, but have a std prod cab from 2008 which I will be sampling soon.

I found the LE fuller mate with a richer note. I am a fan of regular production EE and you can see the same DNA.

[Dimmers]

nice thanks Rob. I remember hearing or reading somewhere (cant remember?) that they tend to fade at the 5 year mark, but hope that's not the case. Will find out soon enough.

[Hash]

I think the Cohiba DC aged much better than the Sublimes,i noticed the Sublimes lost some of its spark.

[Mr.T]

Your description of the Partagas Serie D 1 is spot on Rob. I still have 3/4 of my box left and they are a real treat and have evolved very nicely over the years. It's such a treat to just open the box and take a sniff.

[Stoyan]

I only had the chance to try 2 single cigars from the EL 2004 program. The Cohiba Sublimes and the Partagas Serie D No 1.
Partagas D 1 was e gorgeous cigar,medium to full body, well balanced and full of chocolate. The best EL i have ever smoked. 95 points!
The Cohiba Sublimes was from a questionable source so I don't want to give it a score.