Best CC years in terms of quality (2008 thru 2016)

[Smoking Ninja]

I started collecting Cuban cigars back in 2008 and was buying pretty heavily last year for anything from Cohiba to San Cristobal produced in 2014 and 2015.  I lid up a well made HU Mag 46 tubo from Nov 2008 and was blown by how well it smoked and how well it aged and the construction is pretty spot on.  Then I smoked a few of HdM EE (late 2015), SCdLH Principe and La Fuerza (late 2015), HU #2 (late 2014) and Monte PE (late 2014) last week and really think the 2014 cigars are the gems in terms of the wrapper quality, construction, and flavors.  I saw El Prez thread and email regarding the decline of CC quality in production year 2016 so I am curious what you guys think!!  

In your experience in the CCs between 2008 thru 2016, what are the best production years for Cuban Cigars?  I think I need to go deep on some of the 2014 cigars I really enjoy right now...!

[FrankJerseyCigars]

I think this topic can go a few different ways. For one its quite subjective as to what is better across the spectrum but obviously this is a given in any cigar opinion. Secondly, it depends on whether you mean on average or of the very best quality, which year topped the others. I think what prez meant about 2016 was there was much less quantity of high quality stuff, even if some really good stock still managed to make its way out. Finally, I feel like different years age differently and we won't really know what 2015 and 16 turn into in 5 years or even 10, whereas we can sample a 2009 today and know what it's like as an aged cigar you know?

My two cents? I've found the HU mag 56's to be phenomenal in spite of how young they are but 2008 CoRo's are to die for. Curious to hear others thoughts on this topic though

[rhcolbert]

So depressing, this embodies most of my non smoking years. 0robsvly only got one box in each year of 08/09/10, and now stocking up again here in the 16.  I will avoid this thread as I want to keep it the "dark ages" for me and not know what I missed ?

[Philc2001]

A few 14 and 15 production cigars have impressed. Nothing yet with 16 codes that are close to 14/15 flavor wise, they're all uni-dimensional and basic tobacco core. I've put all my 16s down for a long nap and I probably won't touch them for another year.

 

[danny]

In terms of appearance, I'd say 2014 to 2016 has churned out some of the best looking wrappers ever (if darker, oily maduro shades are your thing).  Flavor-wise, closer to the former as cigar like the CoRo, Esplendido, and RyJ Churchill blew me away when they were released and remember vividly.  

 

In terms of comparing age or "vintages" though, I find it hard to say personally.  Some years are certainly better than others, but I'm having a hard time comparing since I can't ignore the fact that age plays a factor; obviously would be impossible to smoke a fresh 2008 with a fresh 2016, for example.

 

[NSXCIGAR]

As far as overall quality and performance, I think 2008-2009 represents the peak of CC production since 2000. 2010-2012 was a bit of a dip. I think 2013-2014 were very good (but not as good as 08-10), with 2015 and 2016 a bit worse than that. So you have a 08-09 peak, a 10-12 dip, a 13-14 bump, and a 15-16 dip again. Pretty standard peak-to-trough cycle for Habanos.

Although we are picking up from 08, and I think 07 was a very good year as well. The real peak range IMO was 07-09, with 10 a bit worse and 11 and 12 really dipping. Then 13-14 it came back, with 15-16 a bit worse. As 15 is much better than 16 and a poor 2015/2016 harvest likely contributing to a raw materials shortage in 2017 through early 2018, I think we may be in the midst of a serious trough right now. 2017 production may end up being a year to avoid. 

Luckily the tremendous 2016/2017 crop should start appearing in early-mid 2018 with the filler ready in mid-2018 through 2019. So I expect very high quality for at least 2 years of production from 2018-2020. This is the best crop they've had in the 21st century, and with the last 20 years of refinements under their belt, could translate to the highest quality product of the 21st century.

[canadianbeaver]

Gotta say depends on the brand, the box, and the conditions.

A 2007 Cohiba Maduro could make me very happy, but so could a Monte little half Corona 2016 right out of the box.

Add the Bev and the company across the couch?

Hmmmmm...

[kuma]

as of late and because I've only started smoking cc's from 2010 to the present. I would in my short cigar life say

2013 thru 2014.  Again if I knew what I know now I really would of stocked up on all my fav. smokes from those

years.

[NSXCIGAR]

40 minutes ago, canadianbeaver said:

Gotta say depends on the brand, the box, and the conditions.

A 2007 Cohiba Maduro could make me very happy, but so could a Monte little half Corona 2016 right out of the box.

Add the Bev and the company across the couch?

Hmmmmm...

Absolutely agree, and I think these years are general, overall trends. For example, I'd rather have a random 2016 Monte 4 than a random 2007-2009 Punch Punch or RyJ Ex 4 or Churchill. There were plenty of crap cigars coming out of the golden period of 07-09. But aside from certain marcas and cigars, there were a tremendous number of high-quality gems in there--far more than there are today.

Many Montecristos in particular from that period are smoking tremendously well now. One can fairly easily find them, and word on the street is that many 07-09 Montes are 95+ point cigars at the moment. Not surprising as most of the Montes I had around then started off in the low 90s--particularly the Especiales.

I like to think of it in terms of batting average. I think the overall batting average was highest in 07-09, as well as the number of outstanding cigars to average cigars. Sure, there was more crap out there, but there was also more outstanding cigars as well. Did 13-14 reach the same heights? Perhaps. There were far fewer crap cigars in 13-14 than there were in 07-09. But I recall smoking many more excellent cigars on a regular basis in 07-09 than I have at any other time since 2000. 

[planetary]

Thinking about the average quality is good for macro buying decisions (e.g. when to go deep), but doesn't mean much to me for one-off box purchases, since I buy most of my stock from El Pres, and target HQ+ in most cases.

If given the choice between an HQ/PSP box of El Laguito CoRo in what's considered an off year, and an average box in what's considered a great year, I think I'd almost always chose the HQ/PSP.

[luvdunhill]

2009. If I had to pick one year.

[Sean3]

I've been having real good luck with stuff from 2014.

[BonVivant]

tobacco quality - 2013 hands down

[agentdaffy007]

To smoke ROTT, it was 2012 for me. Had great Monte #2 and BBF that year.

 

My aged cigars from 2008 are smoking great right now! Haven't touch my Cohiba 2009 yet.

[RijkdeGooier]

2007-2009 has been smoking excellent lately. Almost as good as 02-03. 

I am not yet smoking sufficient quantities of younger cigars to form a real opinion. 

[MPS]

18 hours ago, BonVivant said:

tobacco quality - 2013 hands down

No contest

[jfire]

Add me to the '13 list as well.


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[garbandz]

I have had more good boxes from -13 and -14  overall than any other years from 2006 to present.

 

across the whole list of what I have bought, fewer poor quality boxes, fewer construction issues.

in fact, the poorest box I have right now is from -15,and it is a real dog.

[dominattorney]

3 hours ago, garbandz said:

I have had more good boxes from -13 and -14  overall than any other years from 2006 to present.

 

across the whole list of what I have bought, fewer poor quality boxes, fewer construction issues.

in fact, the poorest box I have right now is from -15,and it is a real dog.

I'm with you there. One of my current favorites is a 50 can of punch dc from 13. The worst box I own is an unsmokeable 15 box of monte petite Edmundo.