Petit Robusto V Corona

[JaeVee]

I prefer a lightly larger ring gauge and with two kids under 4 years old 10 minutes is a lot of time for me. I've been smoking much shorter cigars lately. 

[ChanceSchmerr]

I think you know where I sit (right, @PigFish?)

The Corona is the perfect size, perfect balance between wrapper and filler, perfect length for enjoyment (long enough to force relaxation, not too short to encourage powering through it), and that balance delivers the best example of the characteristic flavour for each blend.  I mourn the loss of the Partagas Corona for its power, the Diplomatico No.3 for the Paprika/Earth combo, the Punch Corona for that sour, stewed fruit, Bolivar Corona for the Strong Earth, most of all the SLR Corona for its delicious combination of stone fruit, cake and dark sweetness.

I have stocked what little I can of my favorites, and they will get me through the next decade if I ration them out to 1-2 each per year, but it's a crying shame. I tried the PR's as they come in (know thy enemy) but they just don't deliver.  Unbalanced, simplistic blends in the main, meant for someone smoking over a coffee break. I don't want to rush a cigar.  I won't bag someone else's preference but it's not mine.  On occasion I come across a new one that I do find tasty (Partagas D6 is a recent example), but not enough to want to buy more.

I'm only 34, but I guess you can say I have old-man (classic?) tastes. So be it.  At the end of the day, when my coronas run out (and I don't particular like the Montecristo flavour profile at all right now, but I do like the QdO Corona and always have) and if there is no more in any Habanos production line, I'm not replacing them with PRs - It'll just represent a reduction in my smoking portfolio. I'd rather be true to myself than to be trendy!  

 

[Smokecigareveryday]

On 10/2/2018 at 9:22 AM, Corylax18 said:

Its really a "feel" preference to me. A corona feels much better in the hand and mouth than a petite robusto does. I've had a few very tasty Petite Robustos and some very bad ones. Same with the Corona. I agree with @BrightonCorgi I like the ratio of leaf types better in any smaller ring cigar than I do a large ring cigar. 

To me a petite robusto feels much better in the hand than a corona but a corona feels much better in the mouth. 

[smitte3]

I prefer the corona size and they're relatives, corona gorda, petite corona, half corona over robusto's and those extentions, robusto extra, petite robusto, double robusto.  The skinnier Cuban cigars generally perform better and have a better and more concentrated flavor profile where the larger ring gauges I've had more draw issues and find them generally subdued in flavors.  This could be in part due to the aging equation, however, bigger Cubans tend to cost more cash as well and haven't provided an adequate value proposition for me yet in terms of enjoyment/flavor to cost ratio. If I want a bigger ring gauge cigar I usually pick up a non-Cuban like Perdomo Padron, or Oliva... there are plenty to choose from, however, many NC's don't make anything less than a 50 RG.    I'm still early on in my Cuban Cigar journey and current strategy is to stock up on the smaller RG's and work my way around from there.  

From a business perspective, I'd be doing the same thing as Habanos SA by creating and pushing larger RG sticks because they're more profitable and are what the market is calling for.  Cuban cigar production and access to labor has a hard ceiling and with limited production capacity, the shift to discontinue smaller sticks in preference over larger ones is just a way to maximize sales.  

On another note, has anyone seen QDO coronas with the updated branding in the last year or two?  I've seen a lot of the 50 & 54's, but where are the refreshed coronas at?

[Smokecigareveryday]

2 minutes ago, smitte3 said:

I prefer the corona size and they're relatives, corona gorda, petite corona, half corona over robusto's and those extentions, robusto extra, petite robusto, double robusto.  The skinnier Cuban cigars generally perform better and have a better and more concentrated flavor profile where the larger ring gauges I've had more draw issues and find them generally subdued in flavors.  This could be in part due to the aging equation, however, bigger Cubans tend to cost more cash as well and haven't provided an adequate value proposition for me yet in terms of enjoyment/flavor to cost ratio. If I want a bigger ring gauge cigar I usually pick up a non-Cuban like Perdomo Padron, or Oliva... there are plenty to choose from, however, many NC's don't make anything less than a 50 RG.    I'm still early on in my Cuban Cigar journey and current strategy is to stock up on the smaller RG's and work my way around from there.  

From a business perspective, I'd be doing the same thing as Habanos SA by creating and pushing larger RG sticks because they're more profitable and are what the market is calling for.  Cuban cigar production and access to labor has a hard ceiling and with limited production capacity, the shift to discontinue smaller sticks in preference over larger ones is just a way to maximize sales.  

On another note, has anyone seen QDO coronas with the updated branding in the last year or two?  I've seen a lot of the 50 & 54's, but where are the refreshed coronas at?

QDO coronas are rare.  I hated 50+ ring gauge Cubans when I first started 3 years ago but now I prefer the gentle and creamy smoke of robustos over the corona sizes.