HDM Des Dieux or SLR A?

[Webbo]

Almost all my cigars come from Czars which takes a lot of the guesswork out for a relative novice like myself who has only been at this game a few years. Once each year through a friend I get to choose one box to buy usually from 2 or 3 options, this year it is between a box of Des Dieux or SLR A. neither of which I have ever tried (love Regios and epi 2 and EE's though). Both are from I believe 2012 or 2013  but I haven't seen the actual codes or indeed the boxes (the last 2 years the boxes offered all have been great quality though). Which would fellow FOH members recommend given this choice?

[potpest]

Des Dieux all day long. I love the Serie A however I, and I know others agree, think the Des Dieux is one of the finest cigars from Cuba. Examples I have had with age are stellar.

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[Boosted]

I'm a big fan of both des dieux and slr a, but I would say Des Dieux hands down. I think the size is perfect at 6.1 x 42 and boxes of Des Dieux are harder to find than slr a.

[NSXCIGAR]

Des Dieux. Even more so vs the SLR SA which you can get anytime you want. 

[JohnS]

Don't even hesitate for a second...des Dieux!  

[garnett]

DD all the way.

[Perla]

Both cigars are IMHO classic and hard to find as well. 

Both are aging very well. 

When too choose I would go for the Des Dieux, because of the RG, the size and the pleasure.

[watches_whiskies_cigars]

I also stand behind the skinnier Des Dieux.

[Hurltim]

Now where can a regular fella like myself get some of these Des Dieux?

[Fugu]

unless it's a 50-cab for the Ser A, go for the DD....

[RickHendeson]

Looks like I'm going to be the dissent.

 

First, understand that you're asking about apples and oranges.  What you pick should be reflective of what you want.  HDM (IMHO) is more of a tobacco/wood/leather base.  SLR is more of a fruity base.  What do you want?

 

Second, everybody raves about des Dieux but I have not seen anything more special about them than the other boxes of HDM I've smoked.  They do get a lot of rave reviews but I've never been able to see why, over and above your normal HDM experience.

 

My 2 cents.

[Smallclub]

1 hour ago, RickHendeson said:

First, understand that you're asking about apples and oranges.  What you pick should be reflective of what you want.  HDM (IMHO) is more of a tobacco/wood/leather base.  SLR is more of a fruity base.  What do you want?

This. Completely different cigars. I've never be impressed with the HdD. In most of the cases it tastes like wood, with notes of wood and hints of wood, over a woody base.

[Miller1985]

Des Dieux all day every day. Then age them for several more years. I'm a huge HdM fan, and DD are some of them best I've had. 

It is true that they aren't even in the same flavor wheel, so taking that into account should influence your decision more than what any of us say. 

[gweilgi]

De Dieux for aging and special occasions, Serie A for smoking straight out of the box.  

[ayepatz]

2 hours ago, Smallclub said:

This. Completely different cigars. I've never be impressed with the HdD. In most of the cases it tastes like wood, with notes of wood and hints of wood, over a woody base.

You must have smoked some shitty examples, dude!

The two I've just smoked recently have been absolutely beautiful.

And I'd take them over an SLR A anyday.

Best wishes,

Iain (0 from 6 blind taster) ayepatz

[Jeremy Festa]

I, personally, prefer the SLR Serie A.

So that means the Serie A should be your choice too. 

If you were to go with the Des Dieux, I would probably think less of you. 

Please make sure you let us all know what you decide to go with.

 

 

 

[Smallclub]

57 minutes ago, ayepatz said:

You must have smoked some shitty examples, dude!

Maybe because it has been mostly (not always) a shitty cigar in the last 12 years, dude… I have smoked more than 50 and haven't been impressed… The Serie A has always been more reliable IMO.

[Optic101]

Both nice cigars and in my routine.

Today if I would run out, the Des Dieux would be my choice.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Smallclub said:

Maybe because it has been mostly (not always) a shitty cigar in the last 12 years, dude… I have smoked more than 50 and haven't been impressed… The Serie A has always been more reliable IMO.

12 years--yes, the 03 DDs are legendary. 

My recommendation of the DD was simply based on getting some if they're available. In all honesty, I'd likely prefer the average SLR to the average DD as well. But the SLR is always available--the DD not so much. If one is curious, and a box is available, I'd say grab it.

I also agree with your assessment of the DD, except I'd probably add that I find some woody notes in there, but that may just be me. 

[ayepatz]

3 hours ago, Smallclub said:

Maybe because it has been mostly (not always) a shitty cigar in the last 12 years, dude… I have smoked more than 50 and haven't been impressed… The Serie A has always been more reliable IMO.

Both examples were from 03, 'tis true, so they do fall outside your 12:50. Both were some of the best cigars I've ever smoked, IMO. ?

[JohnS]

10 hours ago, Smallclub said:

This. Completely different cigars. I've never be impressed with the HdD. In most of the cases it tastes like wood, with notes of wood and hints of wood, over a woody base.

Yes, they can be this way. Even when they are sensationally 'creamy' I've noted their lack of complexity, they tend to carry that one pre-dominant flavour all the way through.

5 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

12 years--yes, the 03 DDs are legendary. 

My recommendation of the DD was simply based on getting some if they're available. In all honesty, I'd likely prefer the average SLR to the average DD as well. But the SLR is always available--the DD not so much. If one is curious, and a box is available, I'd say grab it.

I also agree with your assessment of the DD, except I'd probably add that I find some woody notes in there, but that may just be me. 

My thoughts exactly. The des Dieux is much harder to find.

3 hours ago, ayepatz said:

Both examples were from 03, 'tis true, so they do fall outside your 12:50. Both were some of the best cigars I've ever smoked, IMO. ?

I had a get together last year where our dear friend, @Fuzz brought along HdM des Dieux. Yes that '03 stogie was magnificent. Fuzz accidentally broke a wine glass and offered me another des Dieux as compensation. I was 'crying from happiness' on the inside!

[Fugu]

18 hours ago, RickHendeson said:

Looks like I'm going to be the dissent.

 

First, understand that you're asking about apples and oranges.  What you pick should be reflective of what you want.  HDM (IMHO) is more of a tobacco/wood/leather base.  SLR is more of a fruity base.  What do you want?

 

Second, everybody raves about des Dieux but I have not seen anything more special about them than the other boxes of HDM I've smoked.  They do get a lot of rave reviews but I've never been able to see why, over and above your normal HDM experience.

 

My 2 cents.

Actually, I concur with what you're saying Rick. Making cigar suggestions taste-wise to someone whom you don't know is without much avail anyway.

While I do like both cigars, I'd basically suggest to get both - quite like others did here. Then, on the plain basis of value and accessibility alone, getting gifted the DD would be the better deal. He can always buy a Series A by himself, and the stick comes even slightly cheaper than the DD.

Also I do get and agree with what Smallclub is alluding to. For me, the des Dieux is an excellent cigar, but certainly needs some years of aging in order to shed some of its woody notes that can indeed be quite prominent, to then evolve into a more complex, creamy smoke. But the stick can at times be a bit exhausting (if not to say tiring, that even holds for the famed '03s), that's true, in particular if smoked too dry.

[fabes]

My take is that the SLR A has more in terms of complexity. The des dieux has that wonderful creamy aspect, but to me the serie A requires more attention.

And as to the rarity issue, the OP wasn't about rarity, but many often make their choice based on rarity. While the des dieux may be non-existent at the moment,  there seems to be a proliferation of '03s. So I would say it's much harder to find a serie A from 03 than a des dieux. 

I also find the 03 des dieux an interesting scenario. Did nobody buy them back then? Were they purposefully set aside? Just woefully overproduced back then and waiting ~7-8 years for them to become truly awesome and blow up the scene? I'd be curious if anyone can trace the life these 03s from release to now. 

[Fugu]

2 hours ago, fabes said:

I also find the 03 des dieux an interesting scenario. Did nobody buy them back then? Were they purposefully set aside? Just woefully overproduced back then and waiting ~7-8 years for them to become truly awesome and blow up the scene? I'd be curious if anyone can trace the life these 03s from release to now.

Prolly the same situation as with the '02 MdO No.3s that suddenly popped up all over the place a few years ago. Excellent cigars still. That rather seems to be stock that simply didn't move (I mean - look at those formats... haha). In this case, I'd guess the fact that they were still available doesn't tell anything about their quality. Just an imbalance (miscalculation) between production and actual demand at that time.

[zeedubbya]

2 hours ago, fabes said:

My take is that the SLR A has more in terms of complexity. The des dieux has that wonderful creamy aspect, but to me the serie A requires more attention.

And as to the rarity issue, the OP wasn't about rarity, but many often make their choice based on rarity. While the des dieux may be non-existent at the moment,  there seems to be a proliferation of '03s. So I would say it's much harder to find a serie A from 03 than a des dieux. 

I also find the 03 des dieux an interesting scenario. Did nobody buy them back then? Were they purposefully set aside? Just woefully overproduced back then and waiting ~7-8 years for them to become truly awesome and blow up the scene? I'd be curious if anyone can trace the life these 03s from release to now. 

I posed this question a few months ago and am adding to my conspiracy/assessment that additional Des Dieux were made around 2001-2003 for the special first Anejados release in 2011 and they were rolled with some special tobacco for the occasion. Thus there were more rolled than needed so this is why the 2003s are so good.  Just some crazy speculation really.  Des Dieux not my favorite cigar ever, but it's pretty high on the list, but I would choose it over SLR A.