Disappointing HU 2 & Monte Petit 2

[jwr0201]

Some time over the past year, through trades, I acquired a number of HU 2's and Monte Petit 2's that just don't seem to come close to what I've read about their usual flavor profiles.  Both perform and smoke well, but are just...flat.  If memory serves, they are each 2014 stock.  Providence is good, as they sourced from FOH and are actually pretty nice looking.  The Monte Petit 2's did arrive with a bit of mold on the outer wrappers - not the foot.  Took care of that, wiped all away and no worries at all.  Wrappers are light in color and construction is good.  Admittedly, I am not a big Monte fan, except for the Media Corona.  Enjoy most HU's quite a bit.  

Do these need more time?  Better mojo?  What is likely cause of this general lack of flavor?  

[El Presidente]

I have bagged every Monte Petit 2 I can recall. I have nothing good to say about them albeit others here do and their opinion is worth just as much as mine. 

Upmann 2 suprises me. Should be medium to medium full with quite robust flavours. Let us know what flavours you are getting out of it and how many you have smoked from that box?

Upmann 2 can be a cigar that  takes some time to hit near its peak.  Monte Petit 2's peak was at the top of the plant. 

 

 

[dominattorney]

Couldn't agree with you more Rob. Monte petit 2 are a glorified paperweight. I'll also say however I've had some crap hu2, ironically from the same box I've smoked some great ones. To me, if there's not a construction issue, the flavors open up with dry boxing. Not a cigar to smoke wet or even a little moist. I'll also say that 3 years is a good spot for them to smoke well, so try drying it out a bit and report back. 

[Optic101]

Surprised about the HU 2,

just opened a new 16 box the other day and they smoke really nice. 

On the other hand that happened to me with the Conni A. 

Tried quite a few and they never smoked well. 

Maybe just unlucky combination at the time. 

Don't give up on them. 

[NSXCIGAR]

Also surprised about the HU No 2. Not surprised at all about the Monte P2, however. Reviews since release have generally been skewed to the left, especially early examples in 2013. Heard recent production was a improvement, but still nothing special. From what I've read since release, I wouldn't drop a penny on one. Don't like the size and price either. Someone please explain to me why I should get these over the Petit Edmundo?

The HU2, however, has been a solid, consistent performer since at least 2014. Generally very reliable as had been the HUPC. I'd chalk it up to a rare dud box and wouldn't be scared off in the future. 

[Bigz]

I purchased a box of HU #2 from 24/24. PSP/HQ 2016. Can't keep my hands off them. I smoked half the box and I can honestly say they are delicious . Nothing like the montecristo #2, i love Monty #2 but I always seem to get many bad ones from a box. I can't wait to see them PSP on 24/24.

[shlomo]

Goes to show that a pretty cigar is not necessarily a good cigar.

As NSX points out above, could just be a lousy cigar using lousy tobacco. Happens.

[mwaller]

15 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Someone please explain to me why I should get these over the Petit Edmundo?

I'll agree with you that the Petit Edmundo is a great cigar.  However, I generally prefer the 'feel' of a pyramid, so Petit No. 2 is intriguing alternative. Because they have been so unpopular, it is easy to find boxes from 2013 - 2014.  I bought an ARG box from 2013 and think they are delicious! 

[NSXCIGAR]

4 hours ago, mwaller said:

I'll agree with you that the Petit Edmundo is a great cigar.  However, I generally prefer the 'feel' of a pyramid, so Petit No. 2 is intriguing alternative. Because they have been so unpopular, it is easy to find boxes from 2013 - 2014.  I bought an ARG box from 2013 and think they are delicious! 

I actually have no preference between the Petit Edmundo and the Short Piramides vitolas, really--I somewhat dislike them both equally. But with a 20% markup for the same amount of tobacco (11.0g vs 10.76g) and sketchy feedback over an extended period of time there's just no way I could blame anyone for picking the PE over the P2. IMO, there's a whole lot of potential downside with no potential upside. How much better is a "good" Monte P2 going to be than the average PE, let alone a good PE?

I'm just thinking in terms of marketing and appeal for knowledgeable smokers. I just think the Monte P2 is designed to feed off the mystique and legend of the Monte 2--and it is certainly a unique and fairly aesthetically pleasing vitola for many. But they're priced very close to the Monte 2 which is bizarre, and the word pretty much is out that the Monte P2 is far from a reliable performer while the PE has been very reliable. Basically the same tobacco weight, the PE priced 20% less and much more reliable. It's just a real tough sell.

So if you prefer the SP over a PE vitola, that's a good enough reason. And if you actually like the P2, by all means buy it. My take is that on paper, the P2 vs. the PE is a real easy choice for me, and I take vitola out of the equation. If the price were well below the Monte 2 or the quality was exceptional it would simply be an either-or choice, but I think the P2 just really doesn't give anyone a reason to buy it outside of a preference for that specific vitola. 

Similar phenomenon I just commented on regarding the Mag 54. A lousy vitola and high price that, on paper, gives no one a reason to buy it over the Connie 1 or Connie A.

[Notsocleaver]

The Petite #2 and Mag 54 are bad, but PSD5 and PSD6 are the worse offenders in my book. Each one cuts the PSD4 shorter and charges the same price. I'm going to start saving the caps off my clipped cigars and reselling them as PSD9s.

[NSXCIGAR]

4 minutes ago, Notsocleaver said:

The Petite #2 and Mag 54 are bad, but PSD5 and PSD6 are the worse offenders in my book. Each one cuts the PSD4 shorter and charges the same price. I'm going to start saving the caps off my clipped cigars and reselling them as PSD9s.

The PSD5 and PSD6 are similar in terms of value also not being priced very well relative to the D4. However, I will say that I think the D5 is a better cigar than the D4. It's a quality cigar that delivers. Not a big fan of the size of the D5 but it's manageable; I absolutely can't stand the the size of the D6. What a goofy size. My opinion, of course.