Rafael Gonzalez

[mike74]

How long do you recommend ageing them? And how does their profile change with age?

I've got some RGPEs with a couple of years on them and they're a good deal sweeter and milder than the younger RGPs I have: is that typical ageing for the marca?

[JohnS]

For me, I don't find that I need to age Rafael Gonzalez for as long as other marcas. The sweet spot for Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas and Perlas which I aim for is around 3 years up to 5 years. That's because I find the cocoa flavour balances perfectly with the floral and honey sweetness elements in the marca at that age, as a generalisation.

An exception to this is the recent Rafael Gonzalez 88 Asia Pacific Regional Edition. For this cigar I have smoked a few in their youth, but like many other Asia Pacific Regional Editions, I am aiming to give this cigar a minimum 5 years to begin to flourish.

[99call]

Just recently smoked a few RGCE, alongside that fact I seem to daily reach for a RGPC.    I agree with John that 3-5yrs is good to pick up that floral honey, or burnt sugar (as El Pres) puts it). Personally I've never picked up cocoa from RG (but I realise I'm probably the fringes of the tasting consensus)

I can't seem to find it again anywhere, but I think Ray aka (Pigfish) mentions some sort of bowling alley? casino?, cinema? sort of aroma with either older RG or Dip.  I may of imagined it.  But it definitely made sense to me.  Some sort of slight funk to them, like a pumpkin-popcorn-ovaltine-milo rich sweetness.     It's one of the main reasons I love RG, it has me flummoxed.  I often find myself sat thinking "Im going to get to the bottom of this!" but if never fully happens.   Keeps me reaching for them. 

I'm convinced that RG is one of those brands, that if largely culled like Dip, people would pay them a bit more attention realise how great they are, and start scrabbling round to hoard as many as they could get.  Long may we see them readily available.!!  and cheap!

[mike74]

Thanks gents!

[earthson]

'15 RGPC have begun turning the corner into a wonderful smoke!  In '15 and '16, I was working through a '12 box that was utterly perfect, time after time.  I've had some aged CE that didn't hold the magic of these 2 boxes.

[NSXCIGAR]

15 hours ago, JohnS said:

The sweet spot for Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas and Perlas which I aim for is around 3 years up to 5 years.

I concur--had some recent 14 and 12 RGP and I preferred the 14s. Much better balance. The 12s were more floral and the 14s more cocoa/tobacco. I think 3-5 years is right on.

15 hours ago, 99call said:

Just recently smoked a few RGCE, alongside that fact I seem to daily reach for a RGPC

The last RGCE I had was an 01 and it was extremely floral, and yes, it had that aged funk you speak of. A very light toasty almost "stale" tobacco flavor. 

Thanks to @PigFish for that one. ?

[99call]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

aged funk you speak of. A very light toasty almost "stale" tobacco flavor

HHm I think stale tobacco is something I wouldn't be looking for.  By funk I meant an unusual rich sweetness, A bit like a roasted chestnut can be sweet, even though we classify it as a 'savoury'.  

 

[shlomo]

Who the heck knows for the perlas? They have only been out for 5-6 years. So saying 5 years is a sweet spot is basing that on a very early release box. Not very helpful.

RG for both perlas and PC are wildly inconsistent. What the cigar looks, smells and feels like are almost meaningless. Buying either of these two is akin to playing Russian Roulette. When you stumble on a great single or box, you don't want to ever smoke anything else. But....lots of duds out there too. A few years helps sometimes, but anything more than 2 years and the returns are not worth it anymore imo.

[zeedubbya]

 

21 hours ago, 99call said:

Just recently smoked a few RGCE, alongside that fact I seem to daily reach for a RGPC.    I agree with John that 3-5yrs is good to pick up that floral honey, or burnt sugar (as El Pres) puts it). Personally I've never picked up cocoa from RG (but I realise I'm probably the fringes of the tasting consensus)

I can't seem to find it again anywhere, but I think Ray aka (Pigfish) mentions some sort of bowling alley? casino?, cinema? sort of aroma with either older RG or Dip.  I may of imagined it.  But it definitely made sense to me.  Some sort of slight funk to them, like a pumpkin-popcorn-ovaltine-milo rich sweetness.     It's one of the main reasons I love RG, it has me flummoxed.  I often find myself sat thinking "Im going to get to the bottom of this!" but if never fully happens.   Keeps me reaching for them. 

I'm convinced that RG is one of those brands, that if largely culled like Dip, people would pay them a bit more attention realise how great they are, and start scrabbling round to hoard as many as they could get.  Long may we see them readily available.!!  and cheap!

I found an example of what you’re talking about—to prove you aren’t crazy!  It’s an interesting thing about RGCE I’ve noticed.  

 

 

[99call]

2 hours ago, zeedubbya said:

I found an example of what you’re talking about—to prove you aren’t crazy!  It’s an interesting thing about RGCE I’ve noticed.  

Cheers for that dude 

[NSXCIGAR]

6 hours ago, shlomo said:

So saying 5 years is a sweet spot is basing that on a very early release box. Not very helpful.

Nothing wrong with saying that 3-5 years is a sweet spot for early release examples and that the sweet spot for the cigar is still undetermined. People do it all the time for ELs

6 hours ago, shlomo said:

RG for both perlas and PC are wildly inconsistent. What the cigar looks, smells and feels like are almost meaningless. Buying either of these two is akin to playing Russian Roulette.

I'm not much of a RGPC fan but I would strongly disagree in regards to the Perlas. I've been extremely impressed with their consistency over 20+ boxes from 12-15. Haven't had anything close to a dud box yet. In fact, probably only had a handful of dud sticks out of those 500+ sticks. Of course, that is only my experience...

10 hours ago, 99call said:

HHm I think stale tobacco is something I wouldn't be looking for.

I know, that was a terrible descriptor I used. Maybe "overripe" or something else. I smoke so few cigars with 10+ years regularly that I really haven't thought about pinning it down much. But I do know what you mean.

[99call]

3 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

7 hours ago, shlomo said:

 

I'm not much of a RGPC fan but I would strongly disagree in regards to the Perlas. I've been extremely impressed with their consistency over 20+ boxes from 12-15. Haven't had anything close to a dud box yet. In fact, probably only had a handful of dud sticks out of those 500+ sticks. Of course, that is only my experience...

Would defo agree with this. Cant think of a RG that i've had that wasn't enjoyable, good, or excellent.    Cant believe the Lonsdale isn't still around.  I think this vitola should of had some sort of historic protection from HSA.  It's like discontinuing the R&J Churchill, just unthinkable

That said, I'm glad his creepy face is no longer pressed up against my cigars!!

[99call]

19 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I know, that was a terrible descriptor I used. Maybe "overripe" or something else. I smoke so few cigars with 10+ years regularly that I really haven't thought about pinning it down much. But I do know what you mean.

Yep, 'overripe' rings true with lots of 10yrs+ light body cigars

[NSXCIGAR]

18 minutes ago, 99call said:

Cant believe the Lonsdale isn't still around.  I think this vitola should of had some sort of historic protection from HSA.  It's like discontinuing the R&J Churchill, just unthinkable

You'd think, but they're killing off classics left and right with little regard for historical significance. I knew when they cut the RGL, nothing under 52 RG was safe anymore. I say 52 because they even cut the Trini Robustos T. 

Believe it or not, the RyJ Churchills and even dare I say the HUSW are not 100% safe anymore. Any and all Julieta 2s are potential cuts. 

[99call]

8 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

You'd think, but they're killing off classics left and right with little regard for historical significance. I knew when they cut the RGL, nothing under 52 RG was safe anymore. I say 52 because they even cut the Trini Robustos T. 

Believe it or not, the RyJ Churchills and even dare I say the HUSW are not 100% safe anymore. Any and all Julieta 2s are potential cuts. 

It's a really interesting time isn't it.   If we are actually approaching a time with a good stock of tobacco (recent crop etc). they're either going to double down on aimless RE LE production or put on some limited runs of Dieux, Med 2's, SLRDC and A's. 

As Rob always points out, it's no good us harping on about them, if people didn't buy them when they were freely available, but it would be nice if more cigars like this could operate like the HUSW. i.e  when this the dinner gong sounds..dive in.   

I think everyone would be happy in a 2yr cycle. It means people cant complain if they didn't act when they had the chance, but equally HSA, don't have to feel like it puts a massive pressure or onus on them. 

[Derboesekoenig]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

Would defo agree with this. Cant think of a RG that i've had that wasn't enjoyable, good, or excellent.    Cant believe the Lonsdale isn't still around.  I think this vitola should of had some sort of historic protection from HSA.  It's like discontinuing the R&J Churchill, just unthinkable

That said, I'm glad his creepy face is no longer pressed up against my cigars!!

A cajon of lonsdales? And RG?? Ughhhhh so much want. I need to find a box of these

[99call]

6 minutes ago, Derboesekoenig said:

A cajon of lonsdales? And RG?? Ughhhhh so much want. I need to find a box of these

A cajon? doesn't this just mean 'box' I would of thought this still qualifies as just a dress box but in 100 count?. I'm not professing to know (more interested if you do, than anything)  but I think the term 'Cahon' is the SBN boxes in 50-100-500 count boxes. Again I don't know this for certain, but i've never heard someone refer to a non SBN style box as a 'cajon' before. 

Be interested if anyone else also knew?

 

[Vortigan]

I've got a box of '09 RGPC from  a time when I thought that seeking out and blind buying boxes that had been sitting on vendor's shelves for years was a shrewd move (do we all go through that phase??)  There's not much going on with them. Not as bad mind you as the time I congratulated myself on the purchase of what turned out to be a 2001 box of Dip 1 steel rods!   PSP/HQ, age them myself all the way now.

[shlomo]

19 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Nothing wrong with saying that 3-5 years is a sweet spot for early release examples and that the sweet spot for the cigar is still undetermined. People do it all the time for ELs

I'm not much of a RGPC fan but I would strongly disagree in regards to the Perlas. I've been extremely impressed with their consistency over 20+ boxes from 12-15. Haven't had anything close to a dud box yet. In fact, probably only had a handful of dud sticks out of those 500+ sticks. Of course, that is only my experience...

I know, that was a terrible descriptor I used. Maybe "overripe" or something else. I smoke so few cigars with 10+ years regularly that I really haven't thought about pinning it down much. But I do know what you mean.

I've gone through many as well...and its always hit or miss for me. I won't buy anymore unless the price is impossible to ignore.

Funny...on the forums there is so much love for them, but several people I hang with who are not online dislike them for the reasons I mentioned.

[Lotusguy]

Perlas have been consistent for me - consistently the worst RG cigar after the always plugged cigarritos.

[Notsocleaver]

Come on, they literally print the aging instructions for these on the box... ?

[Derboesekoenig]

13 hours ago, Lotusguy said:

Perlas have been consistent for me - consistently the worst RG cigar after the always plugged cigarritos.

Really? How old are they? I have been loving Perlas recently, though the box I'm almost done with is from 3+ yrs ago

[99call]

14 hours ago, Lotusguy said:

Perlas have been consistent for me - consistently the worst RG cigar after the always plugged cigarritos.

Haha! how could you hate anything more that the 88! 

[Lotusguy]

Haha! how could you hate anything more that the 88! 

You’re right - I had totally blocked out that the Gurkha reject is actually labeled as a RG, tarnishing the reputation of the entire marca, which I quite like.

 

I’ve smoked Perlas from several years, including a lot from the OR. They just don’t do it for me. It’s mostly me, though - i sold someone a box from the OR and they raved about them.

 

I’m a sucker for 50 cabs, though, so I do have one of the german repackaged boxes at home that I need to crack.

[Akela3rd]

Ha! I'm just about to finish mine. Glorious from the very first one.

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