What vintage cigars smoke well?

[encephalization]

(an impossible question to answer, I'm sure, but why not try)

Over the past year or so I've been privileged (in the real sense of the word) to smoke quite a few 10-15+ year old cigars, even a handful that pre-dates 98. Some have been bad, some have been good, and some have been truly amazing (yes, I'm talking about you 2002 Punch Super Selection No. 1). I've definitely started to fully appreciate what age can do to the tobacco but I also realize that cigars that have been aged for a long time are a bit of a gamble.

So.. I'm getting close to a few milestones in my career and I've decided to celebrate in style. Something real old. Something over the top. Something I probably will never smoke again. Of course, my mind automatically goes to Dunhill or Davidoff. But before going off the deep end, I figured I'd ask for some input. I completely understand that people have different experiences of this but is there any general consensus about what marcas/vitolas have aged well and/or poorly? If you could buy one/two/three cigars from the 20th century, what would they be?

In the end, it will be more about smoking a cigar close to my age (or older) and celebrating rather than about the flavor but of course I would love for them to also be great smokes.

Any input appreciated!

[PigFish]

I am afraid that I am not an authority here. All cigars are a crapshoot.

I would say that you are far more likely to get a cigar that you like from your own humidor as one from a collector.

I know this is not what you asked, but if I were setting a milestone, I would go buy myself a new Dupont lighter, something to have and hold that can be passed along. You can light many cigars with it and remember the moment.

I love cigars, but they are consumables. I am afraid that I like a good hotdog too! I have to look at them much the same in when viewed from this perspective.

The best cigar I ever smoked is often the one I am smoking... rhetorically speaking. That is just the way I look at them.

Hope you get some better answers than mine. -Piggy

[zeedubbya]

Three cigars...hmmm...money no object.  

1.) I would try to find a Lusitania from the 1980s, or if you really want to find something truly special a Lusi when it was a 109 vitola from the 60s-70s.  Will be nearly impossible to find I am sure.  But you asked for special.  I used to smoke Lusis a lot more and have had a few vintage Lusis and they were all incredible.  Not a bad one.

2.) Cohiba Gran Reserva--goes without saying.  If you can find one, and bring yourself to smoke it this would be one of the 3.  Pretty much universally a legend.  

3.) A Sir Winston from the era you're hunting.  They're known for aging very well and I don't think you could go wrong here. 

Maybe these seem like obvious examples but if you're not going Davidoff or Dunhill and want to possibly be able to find something assured to not be a let down these are the three I would start hunting. Just my 2 cents.    

[Puros Y Vino]

So many options (as long as stock is available).

• Cohiba Gran Reserva is hands down the best GR so far.  HTF and expensive and always will be.
• Cuban Davidoff's can still be found.  I've had a few excellent ones and one disappointing one. The Dom Perignon.
• Old Sir Winstons are a treat.  I have some from the mid 1970's that have been exquisite.
• Some of the world's older shops should have some really interesting stock available.  Look to the various UK shops.  But expect to pay a handsome price due to UK taxes as well as the GBP. 
• There are various Facebook auction and trade sites where some interesting aged stock comes up.  From singles, samplers, fivers to entire boxes.  You need someone to vouch for you to join.   And of course, it's always caveat emptor when dealing with these groups.  Do your research.  See who's a good seller with a good reputation before diving in.
• Typically, you'll find stock from the late 90's to early 2000's around for sale.  They're always a gamble as those years have been problematic.  
• A  lot of LCDH's are starting to carry vintage stock.  Some more than others but nothing over 10 years old AFIAK.  I see 2005 Trinidad Robusto Extras and 2004 CCE's in the Toronto one now and then.
• And then of course, there is that one online auction.  Always interesting, always risky, always expensive. I of course will not name them here. Someone can PM you that info.

Good luck with your search.

 

[encephalization]

Thanks for the replies, all very thought-worthy (even PigFish's! ). I actually plan on getting a lighter at the same time but I need to use it on something!

The Sir Winston is a great suggestion, I had not considered it. Now that the GR is coming out, one could hope that some of the regular ones from way back come out on the market (wishful thinking). Lusis are another good one.

In terms of getting a hold of them, who knows. I've got a good source for stuff from the late 90's to present but I am thinking of something older. I travel a fair bit and I'll see what I can find this summer but I rather have a clear idea of what I'm looking for. Does anyone have any experience of OLD Ramons?

[Puros Y Vino]

Old Ramon you say?

I've had an brillaint Pre-Embargo 1944/45 Aristocrat.  I've been smoking some excellent late 90's and early 2000 machine made RA's.  In particular the Belvederes are just pure chocolate.   Some of the older RA Regionals are aging well.  The RACF, the Grandes, Gorditos for instance.  I have 2002 RA 898's that I'm over the moon about.  Best smelling box I own period.  If you can find old RA stock, I'd say go for it.

[RijkdeGooier]

It depends on how special they need to be and what your tastes are like

Good candidates

- Davidoff Laguito 1 from 1980's

- Monte 2 early 1990's

- Lusitanias late 1980's

- Hoyo DC mid 1990's

- Sir Winston mid 1980's and up

[cigcars]

       I know I'm risking committing sacrilege here mentioning a NC cigar - but if I could EVER find some vintage Ernesto Carrillo LaGloria Cubanas made in his Florida factory in 1993 I would be through the roof! Those were some F-I-I-I-I-N-E MAMA JAMMAS - more powerful than any Superman locomotive in power and effectiveness I've EVER, EVER, EVER enjoyed, ever as far as a cigar to sing the fame of.  And no matter how many of his new releases since then, nothing Mr. Carrillo has produced has even come close to those releases back then. I did have to go lay down in my bed due to the room spinning effect of those LaGlorias from 1993 that I'd smoked. And no - no other stimulant or depressant like booze or medicines or anything else accompanying it. And I would be hap-p-p-p-y-y, and fully satisfied with that wonderful, albeit non-Cuban smoke!       

[Havanaaddict]

You could go Davidoff or Dunhill and I am sure you will be blown away!!! I have never been disappointed with any that I have had over the years. But get ready to spend $200 to $500 for a stick! If you want something not as expensive but still full of crazy flavors I would be looking at:

70's to 80's H.Upmanns - Coronas, PC's,

70's to 80's R&J - Coronas, PC's

80's Hoyo - Epi No.2

80's Monte - ESP 1 or ESP 2, No.4,

80's to early 90's Partagas - D4's, PC's, Coronas,

If you have not experienced the flavors of vintage Reg. production cigars if you were blindfolded you would never guess the marca.

[NSXCIGAR]

If money were no object and I'm wanting to smoke them I'd be looking for cigars from the late 80s to 1995, preferably Bolivar, Partagas, RA, Punch or RyJ. Older than that, things can get dicey. Storage, provenance, sick period issues can be a factor. IMO there's a reason that late 80s-early 90s CCs are extremely rare and have been for some time, even at auction. They are highly sought after as they can be absolutely tremendous and have now been aged sufficiently to produce excellent results. There's really no substitute for an early 90s Party Coronas, Lusi or D4 or Boli CG or CE. None. 

I also don't know how some of the Dunhill and Davidoff are smoking these days as primary opinions are hard to come by and these cigars are now 30-50 years old and I usually see very mixed reviews on Davidoffs. I haven't seen any reviews of Dunhill lately but 5-10 years ago they were getting generally positive feedback. Without having smoked any though I would personally avoid them unless I had unlimited resources and stick to the current marcas that I know for a fact to be high quality from that period.

[lafabrica]

although my post count doesn't allow my viewing of our trading section, it looks to be an option for you?

congrats on your milestone - i would believe there are brothers of the leaf that would help in your search from their stock.  perhaps post specific cigars that you would trade for?  and keep things clear that you're looking to celebrate vs. procure/collect?

i think in another 15+ years, some specific stock of mine will then be classic - and i would like to be able to pay it forward...

[dvickery]

@NSXCIGAR I think got it right .

for myself ... I have found that from about '89 to '93 are smoking best of all just now .

derrek

[encephalization]

Thanks again all who've replied, I do appreciate everyone's input.

@bundwallah I do have a box and some change of the Belvederes (EAR ABR02) waiting for me in Europe. I've had quite a few of those before and when they are good, they are fantastic. The closest to the 898 I've come is the German RE (and the ones of that I've had have been outstanding) but I think I might have a lead on a couple of regular production singles.

I'll try to remember this thread and come back to it once I've struck gold! Thanks again guys!

[luvdunhill]

Dunhill Mojito. My choice at least.

[joeypots]

Dunhills always come up with questions like this, but I don't think there is any need to get fancy. Punch Super Selections and Cohibas have aged well. A Super Selection #2 or a CORO from, say, 1997 will demonstrate clearly how good an aged Cuban Cigar can be. 

[encephalization]

Figured I'd give a quick update. No Davidoff's or Dunhills has been smoked yet but for my birthday about a month ago I had the privilege to smoke a 1994 Ramon Allones 898. Jaw dropping to see how strong these cigars still are, can't even imagine what they were like fresh. Ramon DNA through and through and I loved it.

 

[PapaDisco]

Curious about storage . . . 

If known, would you guys mind summarizing the storage/provenance/conditions of the aged cigars you mention?  I understand that maybe some are gifted and therefore the conditions of storage are unknown, but I am curious to know any info you might have.  Were they stored in original boxes, shrink wrapped, open shelves?  Cabinet of 25, 50 etc.

[Havanaaddict]

@ PapaDisco Thats the million dollar question!!! When it comes to storage its all about storage, storage, storage. A lot of the time you can not track the storage because they have changed hands so many times. I have cigars that I have stored myself since the mid 90's and I really value these. I try to keep all my cigars in original boxes, I don’t do the shrink wrapped thing. My fav is cigars in 50 cabs. I store most of my cigars at low 60s RH and mid 50s temp I believe this keeps the cigars aging slower.

[encephalization]

Another quick update. A friend of mine showed up at my house with this little pretty thing a few nights ago. Will smoke it in the not too far future. The smell on the foot is just incredible, fingers crossed that the smoke is just as good.


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[encephalization]

Another update, felt this cigar warranted a post. Had a first-author paper accepted in the Journal of Climate last week, had intended to smoke the Davidoff but holding off a little. Instead I went with a Cohiba Coronas Especiales from 2000 (gifted very generously by@mkz). Slightly muted to begin but just got better and better. Final third was ridiculous.

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[mkz]

27 minutes ago, encephalization said:

Another update, felt this cigar warranted a post. Had a first-author paper accepted in the Journal of Climate last week, had intended to smoke the Davidoff but holding off a little. Instead I went with a Cohiba Coronas Especiales from 2000 (gifted very generously by@mkz). Slightly muted to begin but just got better and better. Final third was ridiculous.
 

Cheers mate! Ridiculously good smokes!!

[GotaCohiba]

On 5/31/2017 at 2:18 PM, PigFish said:

I am afraid that I am not an authority here. All cigars are a crapshoot.

I would say that you are far more likely to get a cigar that you like from your own humidor as one from a collector.

I know this is not what you asked, but if I were setting a milestone, I would go buy myself a new Dupont lighter, something to have and hold that can be passed along. You can light many cigars with it and remember the moment.

I love cigars, but they are consumables. I am afraid that I like a good hotdog too! I have to look at them much the same in when viewed from this perspective.

The best cigar I ever smoked is often the one I am smoking... rhetorically speaking. That is just the way I look at them.

Hope you get some better answers than mine. -Piggy

I like the sound of your reply Pigfish

Sage advice