Studs and duds?

[El Presidente]

 

This is a question put forward for FOHQnA filming later this week but I will throw it out to all members. 

Actually two questions:

1. Your "stud" box of cigars that is a stud because it has simply performed brilliantly every time

2. Your "dud" box of cigars that you just don't enjoy at all. 

 

 

 

 

[SmokyFontaine]

Stud: Upmann Royal Robusto (BRE JUN17). Love Upmanns. I like them a lot more than Conny A's even. 

Honorable mention Stud: Cohiba Siglo I/II. For what they are, they're just nice. Too short to really be anything fascinating, but I've pulled graham cracker out of these more than anything else, and equate it as one of the truly unique cigars around.

Dud: RyJ Short Churchill (TOU FEB18). Every single one has been an absolute partial birth abortion of a fatherless dog. 2/3 I've cut 1.5" off to get past a terrible, unsmokeable start, only to watch them unravel, still not burn, or devolve into some other version of a horror movie. Twice now I've gotten so pissed off trying to smoke one that I literally threw it across my yard, while saying very hurtful things about both Romeo AND Julieta's chastity and lineage. I could go on for an hour on how disgusted I have been with this box. Hands down the worst cigars I've ever tried to smoke. I'd take a Swisher from the trunk of a car parked in the desert for 6mos before I'd get another Short Churchill. I didn't buy it from FOH, and will never purchase the cigar blind again (or maybe ever). Rob always points to this one as an example of a bad blind buy and now I couldn't agree more. 

Honorable mention dud: Monte No 2 (LMB APR18. It's been anywhere between unpleasant and bad. I once heard someone refer to the Monte profile as "wet ashtray" and that description has stuck with me ever since. Just unimpressed with that cigar. Monte 4's have been marginally better, but I think it's safe to say that's just not a marca to my liking. 

[HumidorJuan]

STUD: QD 50 SMA JUL 18

DUD: Monte 3 ASU DIC 17

[lovethehaze]

Studs:

Medio siglo UTL OCT 18; party D4 ABO OCT 18 off the wall amazing and BBF DIC 18 

honorable mention JL1 SRO JUL 2017 and monti 2 UBM NOV 18 

duds:

punch punch REG SEP 18 unsmokable ! And scdlh la fuerza LGR 18; tastes like paper at best. 

 

I could go go on and on but I’ll leave it there. 

[jhalischuk]

Stud is Partagas no 2.

Dud is Monte media corona/#2

[nKostyan]

STUD: Cuaba Divinos.
Always come across with great taste. I had a box of uneven and stained with glue, but the taste of these defects are not affected-it is excellent
DUD: Partagas serie P2.
I can't find pleasure in it. Try different age, try the tube. Not my cigar

[Islandboy]

Got several go-to studs going, but a box of LMB Jun 17 Partagas E2’s stands out. 

My dud has to be a SGA Mar 17 box of ERdM Choix Supreme. Smoked a handful so far, they’ve all got an off putting “stink bug” taste to them, quite contrary to the great tastes I read about in reviews. I’ve buried the box in my humidor with high hopes I’ll rediscover them in 5 years and they’ll be great. 

[Emaresee]

STUD: yet to have a poor CoRo... or a poor Medio Siglo. JL2 are rockstars without the stage make up!

DUD: Anejados.... I cant find one I like.... and feel all of them have a slightly funky flavour which I really cant get on with!

 

[hanjr]

Stud:  BBF's or Boli RC's

DUD: Partagas D4 , RASS, JL #2, as much as these are loved , just not for me

[SigmundChurchill]

11 hours ago, El Presidente said:

 

This is a question put forward for FOHQnA filming later this week but I will throw it out to all members. 

Actually two questions:

1. Your "stud" box of cigars that is a stud because it has simply performed brilliantly every time

2. Your "dud" box of cigars that you just don't enjoy at all. 

 

 

 

 

It seems some people are answering with a particular type of cigar, while others are answering with a specific box of cigars.

I’m not sure the correct way to answer, so I will answer both.

Stud cigar:  Cohiba Siglo VI  (not even a contest for me)

Dud cigar:  RASS. Every few years I buy a box, thinking I will suddenly like them, and I dont.  I end up giving them away as singles to people who “want to smoke a Cuban cigar”.  Those people seem to love them, so it is a win win.

 

Stud box:  UAO OCT17 Cohiba Talisman. This whole box blew my sox off.

Dud box:  Partagas P2. I put these in a singles drawer and threw away the box, so unfortunately I dont have a code.  They were 2017s.

Typically, I really like P2s, and these looked very good, with very nice rosado wrappers that I love, but they had no flavor.  It was like smoking giant cigarettes.

[Fugu]

1. Stud box: MdO4s - all of them. One of my go-tos and a cigar to always trustfully buy blind. There are better years and lesser years, better boxes and lesser boxes, but this cigar always delivers. Never have I come across a single poor one.

For a particular recent box: Monte Esp2 LAU MAR 17 (sais one who isn't the biggest Monte-phile). Smoking exceptionally well at this early stage, perfectly built, and coming with some of the nicest, smoothest wrappers to boot. Happy to have multiples.

2. Dud box: A part box of VR Clásicos, AML MAY 06, found in a B&M with a few years on them already back then (I think been bought around 2011/12). Had probably suffered from poor storage (can't really say as this is my only VRC for that year). Whereas older boxes are performing superbly. The VRC basically got the legs. This box - not so. Not really bad but +/- tasteless, totally underperforming when you know what they can be.

Goes to show again - not all forgotten stock in B&Ms is worth buying up. (Reminds me - will have to check back on next occasion....)

[Wookie]

I don the have codes handy but:

stud boxes: 2015 Ramon Allones Gigantes...all of them good

dud boxes: 2016 Partagas P2....and I'm a partagas fan

[ThePolskiOgorki]

Stud: HUPC LUB ABR 14

Dud: Punch Punch REG FEB 18 . Dont feel bad @lovethehaze mine are also not smoke-able because they don't burn! And when they do, they tunnel worse than any cigar I have ever smoked.

[wineguy]

Studs:  14 monte 1s , 17 Party Lusis,  PSP2s, Upmann 2s

Duds, a cab of 2011 PLPCs( not purchased here) that I have given up on. 

[lovethehaze]

31 minutes ago, ThePolskiOgorki said:

Stud: HUPC LUB ABR 14

Dud: Punch Punch REG FEB 18 . Dont feel bad @lovethehaze mine are also not smoke-able because they don't burn! And when they do, they tunnel worse than any cigar I have ever smoked.

Mine burn just so plugged you can’t get a draw off of them. 5 out of 5 so far. Even with the prefecdraw like a madman killer can’t break through. They do smell good as they burn real slowly; maybe I can use as some kind of incense.... but for now they are in a deep dark spot in the humi will revisit in a few years and see. Hope yours and mine get life in the years to come. 

[BeerPimp]

Stud: H Upmann Connaisseur No. 1 BRE OCT 17 (This was actually my first box of CC ordered along with some Monte 2's on the same order from our gracious host)  I will say the second one I smoked was my first transcending smoke.   The flavors were so spot on to the description with shortbread, almonds, and a touch of coffee.  Can't wait to pick up a box of PSP from a 24:24.

Dud:  Romeo y Julieta Coronitas en Cedro RAU SEP 16.  I did a review for the RYJ weekend review on them.

[SCgarman]

4 hours ago, ThePolskiOgorki said:

Stud: HUPC LUB ABR 14

Dud: Punch Punch REG FEB 18 . Dont feel bad @lovethehaze mine are also not smoke-able because they don't burn! And when they do, they tunnel worse than any cigar I have ever smoked.

Agreed! Those LUB14 HUPC's are just magical, sublime cigars. 

[joey rockets]

Dud: Partaga Presidentes  I own 2 boxes, both 2018 but only sampled from one thus far and do not see age improving them?

[Tstew75]

Amazing: 17/18 MSU RAS & any Panza Belicosos

Dud: All QDO 50/54s & current HDM San Juan/Rio Seco

[rcarlson]

1 hour ago, Tstew75 said:

Amazing: 17/18 MSU RAS & any Panza Belicosos

Dud: All QDO 50/54s & current HDM San Juan/Rio Seco

Contrarian? 

[CampDelta369]

Stud: Partigas Shorts CLR UGO ABR 18. A clearance box of non-PSP wrappers that burn great and deliver the goods. A solid box so far.

Dud: RASS CLR EOS DIC 18. The construction and burn on these have been very good. The first few I’ve had have been tossed before half time. I hope it’s just aging but no redeeming flavors at this point and harsh nasty ashtray finish. I’m going to ignore these for months until I get my nerve back.

[Tstew75]

26 minutes ago, rcarlson said:

Contrarian? 

Just an opinion. You know what they say about opinions ?

Just don't understand the QDO blends, they seem devoid of flavor & complexity, and are overpriced. HDM's larger vitolas seem to have lots of issues lately with thin wrappers & wonky burns.

*edit*  Loving all BRE HUPs. That factory just kills it.

[rcarlson]

8 minutes ago, Tstew75 said:

Just an opinion. You know what they say about opinions ?

Just don't understand the QDO blends, they seem devoid of flavor & complexity, and are overpriced. HDM's larger vitolas seem to have lots of issues lately with thin wrappers & wonky burns.

*edit*  Loving all BRE HUPs. That factory just kills it.

Only had a couple of the recent QDO, and I agree.  Something better happen with time.  Ain't shit right now.  

BRE HUP are awesome.  

[FatPete]

Stud: Partagas P2 MSU JUN 18...perfect construction, smooth and complex.

Duds: Not liking ESL at all. RASCC ESL AGO 17, had half a dozen, all plugged. Worse still Montecristo No. 3 ESL MAR 18, I swear these cigars are made of twigs & old garden leaves with extra mildew.

 

[Joeysmoke]

On 9/9/2019 at 7:02 PM, lovethehaze said:

Studs:

Medio siglo UTL OCT 18; party D4 ABO OCT 18 off the wall amazing and BBF DIC 18 

honorable mention JL1 SRO JUL 2017 and monti 2 UBM NOV 18 

duds:

punch punch REG SEP 18 unsmokable ! And scdlh la fuerza LGR 18; tastes like paper at best. 

 

I could go go on and on but I’ll leave it there. 

What made your Punch Punches unsmokeable? I've got a box from REG Oct 18 and while they're tightly packed, they're absolutely delicious!