Chalk and Cheese: Cigars from 13/14/15 that are noticeably different from the decade prior?

[El Presidente]

Chalk and Cheese: Cigars from 13/14/15 that are noticeably different from the decade prior?

We touched on this in our live vid review earlier today.

Those cigars you have regularly smoked from 13/ 14 / 15 that appear noticeably different from what you were smoking (same cigars) prior (up to a decade beforehand).

To your taste...what cigars are they?

Are they better or worse?

What are the differences that you have noticed?

[Fugu]

The most striking for me is RyJ Cazzies - A once poster child of a cigar in need of obligatory maturing - today, is much more approachable fresh. Bit milder, 'smoother', no roughness to speak of, but still full-bodied, flavourful, and - I may repeat myself here - showing more complexity. It still is nowhere near in the elegant/subtile category, but I enjoy recent production very much right now.

[NSXCIGAR]

My individual pick has to be Punch Punch. Back from the dead from 13 onwards. But many, many cigars have been performing exceptionally since 2013 that had been on death's doorstep for many years. RyJ as a marca has really had a comeback, especially the Ex 4 and the Churchill. Same with Juan Lopez and Rafael Gonzalez.

The only cigar I can think of that's had a bit of a decline in since 13 is the RASCC. Exceptional consistency and quality from 05-13 and recently I've had more duds than ever from 13-14 stock. Haven't seen any 15 or 16 stock yet however.

[stigmata]

Partagas 898s are a different beast today than a decade ago.

Much smoother and more mature than the beasts that needed years to lay down.