Romeo y Julieta en Cedros

[Professor Twain]

I've become a huge fan of the RJ Coronitas en Cedro. They're inexpensive and i find them to be a great full bodied cigar, with pepper and cedar flavors predominating.

I've been befuddled about the fact that RJ also has various other en Cedro cigars at much higher prices with the "Cedros de Luxe" notation. Has anyone smoked some or all of these? Anyone find that the "de Luxe" variations are any better than the plain Jane Coronitas en Cedro?

I recently picked up a variety of these cigars to put this to the test myself. I'd be curious about what others think about the relative merits of these RJ en Cedro cigars.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Professor Twain
Typo

[NSXCIGAR]

The Cedros de Luxe were always considered higher end than the Coronitas en Cedro--at least in the old days. The de Luxe are different that the Coronitas and always have been sold at a significant premium. In fact, I believe the #3 is the highest-priced minuto and the #2 is the highest-priced mareva next to the Siglo II. The #1 is one of the few cervantes left in production.

Many considered them the best RyJ models in the medium range, and some thought the best RyJs, period. They were exceedingly smooth for a Cuban cigar even young and were very complex. I only had a few in the 90s, and a few years ago, and I don't remember them being that great. I personally would be very cautious before paying the premium for them now.

If the Coronitas are doing it for you, I'd stick with them. They are priced very well actually unlike the de Luxe.

[Professor Twain]

Thanks NSXCigar, I am going to put these to the taste test and will report back.

[Smallclub]

10 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

 I believe the #3 is the highest-priced minuto and the #2 is the highest-priced mareva next to the Siglo II. The #1 is one of the few cervantes left in production.

The No.3 is the mareva, and the No.2 is a corona. The No.1 and 2 are on the milder side of the marca.

[El Presidente]

You have convinced me to get back and try the Coronitas and Cedro again. It has been quite a while!

I quite like the CDL 1/2/3 of recent years. They did go through a patchy time in terms of quality but I am impressed with 14's, 15's. 

[Fugu]

The Coronitas have been machine-made in former times, that's why they are positioned so different to the de Luxe series. With the change in policies of HSA keeping marcas separate for either only hand-made or only machine-made cigars, the Coronitas had to become handmade as well, now since couple of years.

That said, I found the Coronitas always to be a pleasant, uncomplicated smoke (and one of my earliest contacts with CCs, like for so many). Good bang for the buck, honest Cuban tobacco. Nothing more, nothing less.

The de Luxe series used to show more depth and complexity. Very different blend imho, but hey, perhaps if tasted blind...

Like NSX, I can't really comment on current Cedros de Luxe-production, long time since I had one of the series. I think I still got a few '10 - '12 singles of the No. 1 and 2. To be honest, don't quite know the reason for my neglect, perhaps becoming too mild for my liking (?), but they are good cigars, no question. In the slender format RyJ, I rather gravitated more towards the Cazadores, which to me made a huge leap qualitywise in recent years, with more added refinement.

But perhaps indeed worth going back and reassess the CDL reading Rob's comments on current production.

 

13 hours ago, Professor Twain said:

Thanks NSXCigar, I am going to put these to the taste test and will report back.

Yes, please do let us know!

[NSXCIGAR]

19 hours ago, Smallclub said:

The No.3 is the mareva, and the No.2 is a corona. The No.1 and 2 are on the milder side of the marca.

Yep, I confused myself. For some reason I had the old TPC in my head and at the same time I had the Siglo II in my head.

[Professor Twain]

On 7/19/2016 at 5:46 AM, El Presidente said:

You have convinced me to get back and try the Coronitas and Cedro again. It has been quite a while!

I quite like the CDL 1/2/3 of recent years. They did go through a patchy time in terms of quality but I am impressed with 14's, 15's. 

Rob, I will be curious what you think. Full-bodied, pepper, cedar, and "rustic" come to mind for me.

A friend at Hunters and Frankau said they don't even import them! I think sometimes cigars can get a reputation and not lose it, despite a complete makeover.

[headstand]

Smoked through a box of CdL#2 from circa 2012. Very good construction, mild which is ok by me, but bland. I like to think I can pick up on complexity - these had none. Given a choice between a Coronita en Cedrio and the CdL I had, I would have picked the en Cedro. Rustic but honest flavours. Glad to hear that recent examples have more complexity.