Rafael Gonzalez: the most under-appreciated?

[RDB]

Perhaps I should say - the most deserving of wider appreciation? I know many here love them, but they are a tiny brand.

I’ve just smoked a tiny little Perla, GOS MAY 18 from a PSP box. Absolutely first class. Super rich and intense flavour, great spicy kick without any sharpness. A sort of Turkish brew bitter-sweetness. What could be better in the sunshine with a morning coffee? 

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have these available in Corona Gorda, Lonsdale or maybe even Pyramide size? But surely given the current market preference for big cigars, the current absence of anything larger than a Petit Corona puts the whole brand at risk of deletion?

Well, chime in... and light up your RGs.

[NSXCIGAR]

Certainly under-appreciated and under-utilized. I'd love the Coronas Extra back in the lineup or a Hermosos No. 4 (or No. 3!) where there could be a little more complexity than is possible in a 40 or 42 ring. 

FWIW, I think the Perlas are better than the PCs and are probably the single best value in CCs. 

I'm hoping we see an expansion of RG or at least a bit more output in ERs or a LCDH release would be fantastic. Then again that's also a much needed move for SLR, Sancho Panza and Diplomaticos. I hope the success of the QdO revamp gets the gears turning on these withering marcas.

[Astar20]

My Petit corona from 2016 has to be my favorite I have to stop myself from grabbing one everytime I want a cigar! So much flavor and such an enjoyable smoke! 

[Buck14]

RG made a lonsdale and it is spectacular. I only have a few left. I have more boxes of RGPC than any other stick.

RG is a fabulous marca. So unique. So consistent.

[Astar20]

39 minutes ago, Buck14 said:

RG made a lonsdale and it is spectacular. I only have a few left. I have more boxes of RGPC than any other stick.

RG is a fabulous marca. So unique. So consistent.

Those Lonsdales have always intrigued me someday soon I'll be able to get a box! 

[Hookmaker]

Chiming in

[RDB]

30 minutes ago, Hookmaker said:

Chiming in

I tried to take a photo like that this morning. Dropped the damn cigar in my coffee! Thankfully the cap end first... no noticeable ill effects...

[bmf30180]

I picked up a couple of '15 boxes of Perlas last November.  I was very impressed with the ones I have smoked.  Great value and great flavor.

[Jal154]

On 6/3/2019 at 8:12 AM, Buck14 said:

RG made a lonsdale and it is spectacular. I only have a few left. I have more boxes of RGPC than any other stick.

RG is a fabulous marca. So unique. So consistent.

I’ve been told the6 are very mild. True?

[SCgarman]

This marca I believe had the first Lonsdale size. I had the corona extra before they were disco'd and they were a fine cigar. Have not tried the Perla but have a few boxes of PC's and enjoy them. They are very consistent.

[Buck14]

10 hours ago, Jal154 said:

I’ve been told the6 are very mild. True?

No not at all medium - medium full. The Perlas are the strongest. They all have complex flavors but strength is at a minimum medium.

[ohbob976]

Those of you who enjoy RG, do you enjoy Montes as well? When I read flavor profiles about both marcas they sound very similar. I’ve been enjoying RG way more then The montes I’ve smoked. RG is missing Some of that chocolate intensity that turns me away from montes.  

[RDB]

I think they are quite different. Monte has such a distinctive creamy chocolate profile. RG is darker and spicier to me, and the sweetness is less cocoa than honey and burnt sugar. Having said that, a really oily dark Monte in narrow ring gauge is more like an RG than a lighter larger Monte is.

[BoliDan]

2 hours ago, ohbob976 said:

Those of you who enjoy RG, do you enjoy Montes as well? When I read flavor profiles about both marcas they sound very similar. I’ve been enjoying RG way more then The montes I’ve smoked. RG is missing Some of that chocolate intensity that turns me away from montes.  

I prefer Montes, VR and JL myself, for the intensity. RG is bit more mild, less chocolate, spice and citrus than say a Monte #4, but more wood and floral, IMO. These would probably be more up your alley if you want to try a chocolate smoke that isn't attacking your face.

[Buck14]

2 hours ago, ohbob976 said:

Those of you who enjoy RG, do you enjoy Montes as well? When I read flavor profiles about both marcas they sound very similar. I’ve been enjoying RG way more then The montes I’ve smoked. RG is missing Some of that chocolate intensity that turns me away from montes.  

 

45 minutes ago, BoliDan said:

I prefer Montes, VR and JL myself, for the intensity. RG is bit more mild, less chocolate, spice and citrus than say a Monte #4, but more wood and floral, IMO. These would probably be more up your alley if you want to try a chocolate smoke that isn't attacking your face.

I do NOT generally enjoy Montes at all. Very light, almost flavorless for me. Monte is my least favorite of the 27 marcas. RG sticks cannot be further from a Monte vitola for me.

There are SOME Montes I do like but very few.

RG Marca is consistently in my top 3-5 Marcas that I like to smoke. Tastes differ. Best way is to try a RG sampler and decide for yourself.

RGPC is the best deal out there in the Habanos world. Box prices are criminally low. I have more RGPCs sticks in my collection than any other stick and #2 ain't close.

 

[Arctic Dude]

I encountered the RG Perlas for the first time with a box purchase (TUO DIC 12) before discovering FOH.  They have been lovely and a great morning cigar with coffee.  I alternate between enjoying this one or the Monte 5 more.  Recently grabbed two more boxes of the Perlas from our host (both GOS MAY 18) after messaging him to ask about their availability (as I hadn't seem them come up on 24:24 very much).  Grabbed a box of the PC's as well, but have yet to sample one.  Thanks @RDB for bringing this up!!

[BoliDan]

25 minutes ago, Buck14 said:

 

IThere are SOME Montes I do like but very few.

RG Marca is consistently in my top 3-5 Marcas that I like to smoke

This seems to mirror a lot of people on FoH. Breaks my heart that so many are indifferent my dear montes , RG is super popular though, I agree with the sampler suggestion to all those in this thread that are curious. I'd say RG along with SP are under the radar almost everywhere else, but watch how fast they go on 24:24 here.

[ohbob976]

1 hour ago, BoliDan said:

I prefer Montes, VR and JL myself, for the intensity. RG is bit more mild, less chocolate, spice and citrus than say a Monte #4, but more wood and floral, IMO. These would probably be more up your alley if you want to try a chocolate smoke that isn't attacking your face.

 

28 minutes ago, Buck14 said:

 

I do NOT generally enjoy Montes at all. Very light, almost flavorless for me. Monte is my least favorite of the 27 marcas. RG sticks cannot be further from a Monte vitola for me.

There are SOME Montes I do like but very few.

RG Marca is consistently in my top 3-5 Marcas that I like to smoke. Tastes differ. Best way is to try a RG sampler and decide for yourself.

RGPC is the best deal out there in the Habanos world. Box prices are criminally low. I have more RGPCs sticks in my collection than any other stick and #2 ain't close.

 

roger that. I managed to snag a box of the PCs that were up on 2424 today. looking forward. 

Ive been smoking through a 2014 box of pantellas extra that i picked up on a 2424 a few weeks back. cant get enough of them.

also have a 5 pack of cardboard perlas coming in the mail with a few years of age on them. 

[Lotusguy]

I so very dearly miss the Slenderellas. By far my favorite.

[Kai Ø]

On 6/3/2019 at 10:54 AM, RDB said:

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have these available in Corona Gorda, Lonsdale or maybe even Pyramide size? But surely given the current market preference for big cigars, the current absence of anything larger than a Petit Corona puts the whole brand at risk of deletion?

Up here in the north we recently received a RG as the second regional edition, about ten years after the first. The cigar is called North Star and is 50 by 102mm. It’s a phenomenal cigar with a softer more milk chocolate profile. Good price as well

[lovethehaze]

Literally smoking my first ever 2017 April pc and amazing. Classy cream wood earth and hay and now into the 2nd third getting some pepper spice and bite back. Great stuff 

[NSXCIGAR]

On 6/5/2019 at 4:33 AM, NYgarman said:

This marca I believe had the first Lonsdale size. I had the corona extra before they were disco'd and they were a fine cigar. Have not tried the Perla but have a few boxes of PC's and enjoy them. They are very consistent.

I had always just assumed so but for some reason I wondered if this could be confirmed...

MRN does state that the introduction of the Cervantes vitola was the RG Lonsdales and the Habanos site seems to suggest that the Cervantes vitola existed prior but was only first referred to as "Lonsdale" after RG debuted the Lonsdale model created for Lowther.

I can't find any reference to the Cervantes vitola existing prior to Rafael Gonzales but I do find it hard to believe that it didn't exist as a vitola prior to the late 1920s. Obviously pre-Rev cigar references are hard to find and as vitolas weren't standardized as they are now under one manufacturer only cigar names can be found.

So I suppose there's some evidence that the Cervantes vitola was created for Lowther by RG and named Lonsdales but it's also possible that the Cervantes existed either in another marca (of which there were hundreds) or within the RG brand and was simply renamed "Lonsdales" for Lowther, although I don't see why they would rename an existing cigar for any living non-Cuban with no financial interest in the company.

[Smallclub]

Nostalgia mode:

when I started this cigar hobby, the RG Lonsdale and the SP Molinos could be had for 4€/piece in Spain… When the VR Classicos was released it was priced above the double…

[SCgarman]

1 hour ago, Smallclub said:

Nostalgia mode:

when I started this cigar hobby, the RG Lonsdale and the SP Molinos could be had for 4€/piece in Spain… When the VR Classicos was released it was priced above the double…

What was the Lonsdale like? Did you enjoy them?

[GasGuy82]

On 6/3/2019 at 5:12 AM, Buck14 said:

RG made a lonsdale and it is spectacular. I only have a few left. I have more boxes of RGPC than any other stick.

RG is a fabulous marca. So unique. So consistent.

I still have half a box of ‘02 Lonsdales.  I’ll toss 1 or 2 in the box for you. ?