Limited Edition and Regional Releases

[Kenf13]

Lately I've seen some Limited Edition and Regional cigars. Of course I'm highly curious about them.

Are they are worth spending the time to find these sticks and is it worth the extra cost?

Let me know what you all think.

[terrantheman]

Find some and buy them and decide for yourself. I've purchased some and I will tell you this some are worth it and some are not.

[Franko]

Find some and buy them and decide for yourself. I've purchased some and I will tell you this some are worth it and some are not.

Indeed.. Anathore thing u get is the sizes, a sizes with u don't get on that marca, so for some Mait make a difference. But I'll suggest to try some and u would better find out:))

[BigRay023]

The price on most of them make me cringe. For the price of most 5ers you can get a box of Boli PC or something similar. I did break down and buy a couple boxes of RACA and one Grandiosos from here. Can't wait to try them and see what they're about.

[NSXCIGAR]

Special releases are among the most discussed and controversial topics here. To sum them up, I would say a cigar being a special release does not guarantee it will be better than regular production, and they are often worse.

I've come to understand that each special release should be judged on its own merits, case by case. On average, over the last 15 years, my personal opinion is that the special releases are more likely to be no better or worse than regular production. Special releases are guilty until proven innocent in my eyes.

[maxcjs0101]

I don't have that dilemma as those are way over my budget

[stogieluver]

For me, too much of a consistency gamble for the price. Plus, most are large ring gauge which are not in my wheel house right now.

[PointFivePast]

Some are, some are not. The benefit of being part of a community like this is that you can see which releases are getting a lot of positive reviews. For instance, the RACA were well regarded this year and there was a lot of buzz on here about them. I bought some and after having smoked them I know we've hit a winner. Glad to have a box of PSP RACA to lay down for a few years.

The best limited releases go quick so if the word is good, don't hesitate to snap up a box or two. The ones that are just OK tend to move a bit slower so you'll have a chance to mull the decision over a bit, in my experience. YMMV

[ChefBoyRG54]

More bands = better cigars

Science.

[Ken Gargett]

Lately I've seen some Limited Edition and Regional cigars. Of course I'm highly curious about them.

Are they are worth spending the time to find these sticks and is it worth the extra cost?

Let me know what you all think.

the question is a bit like saying, i watched some football. are there are good players? some terrific, some duds. you need to be way more specific.

[PapaDisco]

I've had a half dozen or so regionals and all of them have been winners, so my hit ratio with EL's and regionals is quite good so far.

Of the few boxes I've had, the particularly memorable ones have been the SLR Pacificos ('09), the Punch Sabrosos (also '09), the Punch Gran Robusto (Espana '08) and certainly the Por Larranaga Encantos ('11).

It seems like Habanos is trying harder with the special releases, but that could just be my imagination. Are these worth the extra $$? After a first box of each I did go back and buy more, so for me the answer is yes although you can definitely buy more current stock regular production with the same money.

[JohnS]

Are they are worth spending the time to find these sticks and is it worth the extra cost?

Some are. For example, Numero 109 cigars have a reputation for being harder to roll correctly, hence (apparently) more experienced rollers are assigned to these releases. The recent Diplomatico Bushido and Sancho Panza Eslavo Regional Editions have proved very popular.

Similarly, sometimes, resurrected brands have also been popular, as the La Escepcion Don Jose has proved to be.

And I concur, some Limited Edition cigars are outstanding from the word 'go', such as the Ramon Allones Club Allones LE 2015.

[sastrooper]

Im enjoying a very tasty punch el2013 as we speak, i cant say el or regionals are better, but im a sucker for pretty things and will buy as many double band cigars as i can find ?

[CdnLimitada]

Like others have mentioned, there are some great ones and not so great ones. Check out the reviews and ask some mates that have some similar likes to you in the regular production.

Some that I really like:

QdO Superiores (anyone want to get rid of these let me know)

Encantos

Punch d'oro LE (2013)

Monte GE is amazing (2010)

Monte 520

LFDC Grandiosos

Some not so good or good but not worth the price:

Cohiba sublime (2004)

Ramone allones Extra (2011)

ERDM Cuba regional Infantes (2013)

Upmann Mag 48 LE (2009)

[godpheonix]

i don't consider LE's or Regionals as a gamble. there are plenty of people who would gladly pay hefty prices for them down the road if you end up not liken them. just hold on to them for a few years and auction them away! you'll be smiling afterwards, trust me.

[RijkdeGooier]

They bring some variety to the regular line-up.

Some are great, some are great value, some are both and some are duds.

Do research and try singles to see if they match your taste buds, then decide to go for it or not.

[earthson]

EL are largely a disappointment. I usually find they taste like they were rolled with Nicaraguan tobacco. Still haven't found one that was excellent. The new Club Allones is decent, but I'd still rather have 2 RASS for the price of one CA.

There are some amazing RE and some underwhelming. Before buying an RE, I ask myself whether smoking a new vitola in a marca is worth the hefty markup. 9 times out of 10, I've found it is not worth it at all.

[Akela3rd]

The price on most of them make me cringe. For the price of most 5ers you can get a box of Boli PC or something similar. I did break down and buy a couple boxes of RACA and one Grandiosos from here. Can't wait to try them and see what they're about.

I did the same on the RACAs. Of all the ELs out there they don't seem either overpriced or oversized. Reviews have been very positive and it's one of those "do I actually need them, or just want them?" situations. Now I have to decide when I can justify burning the cost, if you know what I mean.

I tell myself I'm waiting for them to age some as they're only a 2015, but really I think I just like having them around. For now...

[Akela3rd]

More bands = better cigars

Science.

That must make Alec Bradeys phenomenal cos they seem to be ALL band.

[ChefBoyRG54]

That must make Alec Bradeys phenomenal cos they seem to be ALL band.

I would say that you have discredited my experiment with that statement...

Perhaps I should change the variable to a constant and insist that only CCs be included:)

[NSXCIGAR]

EL are largely a disappointment. I usually find they taste like they were rolled with Nicaraguan tobacco. Still haven't found one that was excellent. The new Club Allones is decent, but I'd still rather have 2 RASS for the price of one CA.

There are some amazing RE and some underwhelming. Before buying an RE, I ask myself whether smoking a new vitola in a marca is worth the hefty markup. 9 times out of 10, I've found it is not worth it at all.

I don't think it's a secret that many ELs until a few a years ago had that infamous "EL blend" you're describing--a mushy, dirty, muddled flavor. I would also say that for much of their history, most of the ELs did not have much of their marca's DNA present.

I think the batting average for ELs has risen quite a bit in the last 5 years, especially with the ELs having DNA of the marca. However, they are generally not blind buy cigars IMO and only about half of the releases at best are what I would classify as very good or better. And with the price premium, I've got to be real sure they're a cut above before I shell out any dough, and very good ELs are just not common in my opinion.

The REs are on average same or worse than regular production. There are some unique gems in there to be sure, but the average RE is about as good as the average regular production. And with the price premium, I'll pass without some specific info as to its quality.

[joeypots]

They used to be, for me, at least. Some of the early ones were fantastic although they needed age to shine. The regionals cam along after I got tired of Els and a few have been outstanding. Too few though to entice me into going for them. PL Lonsdales, for example,are the bomb.

PL Encantos, meh. Few I've had rise to the level of a well kept and aged Cohiba. I'd rather spend my time smoking the cigars than chasing vendors for some limited production special release. Around '06 or so I started to buy and keep high quality regular production Habanos. Have rarely been disappointed. Get a 50 cab of RASS and smoke one every 8 weeks or so. You'll find out. And for what it's worth, I once bought a few cigars from special release humidors for a fund raiser. The kind that cost loads and come in fantastic special display boxes. The cigars were OK but were not any thing special. I'd rather buy cigars from a vendor who looks at the product and recommends it than pay through the nose for bands and packaging.

[bigbill72]

I would say that you have discredited my experiment with that statement...

Perhaps I should change the variable to a constant and insist that only CCs be included:)

You always cheat

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[ChefBoyRG54]

You always cheat

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I'll cheat by sending you some extra bands. Tobacco included

[bigbill72]

I'll cheat by sending you some extra bands. Tobacco included

You already did cheater

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