Ladies & Gents, how are you finding the recent releases, 2014-onwards?

[ChanceSchmerr]

Picadores - didn't taste like a PL at all to me. Kind of boring tobacco cigar (in that it tasted like nothing except.....tobacco, without any complexity....).....like the RYJ Anejados Waste-of-pesos. I didn't find it close to the subtlety of a proper PLPC

Vigia - I like the couple I had - they sold out very fast here in Europe and are coming back into availability. Agreed with Claus - loosely filled cigars abound. Flavour is a decent doppleganger to the Robusto T. Robusto Extra is still better.

Double Edmundo - Never bought one, I think the new band is ugly and pretentious. They can keep it.

Partagas Selección Not-so-Privada - Tried one. Poor Taste experience. Didn't feel like age would help the mottled flavour profile that was heavy and wet to me - no hints that dry-boxing would help the flavour either. Maybe there is good ones out there....but for me, I'll put my coin in the Bolivar Super Corona LE, that was the winner of the year for LE's

My not-so-biased 2 pence, Keith!

[Merovius]

Tasting Notes for a Monte DE-

A 2013 from LCDH Tirana, smoked April 2014

Golden brown greasy wrapper. Wet grass, hay, sweet Cuban tobacco aroma. Earthy sweet mushroom, spicy, dank tobacco cold draw. 1st - slightly sweet earth, toasty tobacco, creamy vanilla latte; salt & white pepper finish. A few puffs in, getting sea salt caramels & an allspice finish is building. Firm draw, light airy smoke, slightly uneven burn, solid ash. 2nd - earth, subtle caramel; creamy coffee & spice dominate the profile. Spice is more tannic now & builds to the point of being harsh, requiring purges to fight it off. Not nub worthy....yet. 1:25 Med+

I bought a petaca of these (Oct 14) same conclusion. Lots of promise there, but needs substantial time to bring the spice (tannin) down; likely a 5-8 yr sweet spot.

[shlomo]

Tasting Notes for a Monte DE-

A 2013 from LCDH Tirana, smoked April 2014

Golden brown greasy wrapper. Wet grass, hay, sweet Cuban tobacco aroma. Earthy sweet mushroom, spicy, dank tobacco cold draw. 1st - slightly sweet earth, toasty tobacco, creamy vanilla latte; salt & white pepper finish. A few puffs in, getting sea salt caramels & an allspice finish is building. Firm draw, light airy smoke, slightly uneven burn, solid ash. 2nd - earth, subtle caramel; creamy coffee & spice dominate the profile. Spice is more tannic now & builds to the point of being harsh, requiring purges to fight it off. Not nub worthy....yet. 1:25 Med+

I bought a petaca of these (Oct 14) same conclusion. Lots of promise there, but needs substantial time to bring the spice (tannin) down; likely a 5-8 yr sweet spot.

Albania? Any more of those incredible 681 around? Would LOVE to get some!

[Merovius]

Partagas Seleccion Privada from our good friends at FoH -

AUM AGO 14

Maduro/Oscuro wrapper. Rich Cuban tobacco, hay & cocoa/cayenne aroma. Salty sweet twangy earth; creamy cocoa, leather & oak cold draw. 1st - heavy black pepper, espresso, dark chocolate & salty sweet caramel on the finish. Surprisingly strong start; sharp retro w/coriander, clove. Excellent draw, construction & smoke output. 2nd- 88% humidity caused a tunnel and threw the profile off. Inconclusive. 1:30 Full

That review isnt much help really, and Id need to revisit in drier climate but I can say this and many will agree; the Partagas Privada EL is the strongest CC Ive ever had, in a purely CC world it is Full+. The opening is borderline brutal, I could see these being enjoyable in 8 years time but right now, for me, they are not what I look for in CCs.

[Merovius]

Albania? Any more of those incredible 681 around? Would LOVE to get some!

Yessir, thats the one. No clue on the 681s. I only bought one my last trip, pretty good cigar. Wont be back there again til next summer.

[CanuckSARTech]

err... we must have a different understanting of "plethora"…

Oh wise grumpy one. What's your definition then? Since you insist on crapping down everyone's throats about absolutely everything lately.