RE Recommendations

[Bernoulli]

With so many regionals around I'm finding it hard to keep track of what's good.

Is there anything really standing out right now or am I better off bolstering my stock of standard releases? 

[Guest Nekhyludov]

The recent 109 REs have been pretty spectacular, even fresh. LGC Orgullosos and ERdM Kon Tiki. La Reinas have shown great promise too. None of the spate of smaller vitolas have really impressed me.

[prodigy]

I haven't chased regionals, but I have had a few singles here and there. PSP regular production is really where it's at. The aged PCC boxes coming up would be way more value as well.

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[Habana Mike]

If you're just getting started on the path or recently thinking about pursuing RE/LE releases I would suggest not to get caught into these. 

Way to many coming out way too fast for anyone to keep up with and generally not worth the extra coin until you've built up a stockpile of regular production cigars.

There are a handful that have promise though you should understand your tastes before committing. I've gone deep into some that I wish in retrospect I'd pointed my funds to regular production that are now discontinued. 

[chris12381]

If you happen to be in a country where they have regionals for sale, feel free to roll the dice and stock up. Otherwise, the current standard non EL production is where it's at. But that's just one opinion. 

[MD Puffer]

1 hour ago, Bernoulli said:

With so many regionals around I'm finding it hard to keep track of what's good.

Is there anything really standing out right now or am I better off bolstering my stock of standard releases? 

[Baccy]

I won't beat a dead horse because he's already been beat to death here, but most of them aren't worth what you pay for them. From what I've heard the Edmundo Dante releases are pretty good.

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[Lotusguy]

As one thoroughly addicted to RE collecting, take my word for it - don’t even start.

[NSXCIGAR]

5 hours ago, Bernoulli said:

With so many regionals around I'm finding it hard to keep track of what's good.

Join the club.

Batting average for ERs are well under .500 making them a only buy if you know what you're getting situation. It takes solid research to figure out the hits among the many misses, and at the premiums they carry I'd generally avoid them.

If you absolutely have to have one go with any of the 109s. I've heard the LFDC Robustos are good. Other than that there are some threads about the standouts over the years.

It's hard to give any advice other than stick to regular production. There are so many great regular production cigars right now there's absolutely no need to chase special production of any kind.

[Tstew75]

Most aren't worth the coin, but here's a few I've found quite complex & worth it, IMO:

• ERDM Choix du Roi 16
• LGC Caribe 14
• LGC 5ta Avenida 15
• LGC Italia Invictos 17
• LGC Espana 17s (if you can find for under $110)
• RA Libano Phoencio 35 15

[Cubadust]

Spain usually have great RE’s. Good cigars with a good price point. The Saint Luis Rey Tesoros from 2016 is one of my favorite cigars ever and the La Gloria they have out now is pretty good too. If you can buy them in Spain they’re not more than €75 a box.

[Hammer Smokin']

Smoked this on Friday. One of the best Cigars I've ever smoked.

[Hammer Smokin']

going through some of my older purchase notes, Por Lorrangas Encantos rated extremely high for me.

Ramon Allones Estupendos also ranked extremely high in my notes.

[Wailbait]

12 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Join the club.

Batting average for ERs are well under .500 making them a only buy if you know what you're getting situation. It takes solid research to figure out the hits among the many misses, and at the premiums they carry I'd generally avoid them.

If you absolutely have to have one go with any of the 109s. I've heard the LFDC Robustos are good. Other than that there are some threads about the standouts over the years.

It's hard to give any advice other than stick to regular production. There are so many great regular production cigars right now there's absolutely no need to chase special production of any kind.

This!!  Times a billion.  I only have the 109s but I’ve been gifted (or traded) a few random ones from UK, Asia Pacifico and Switzerland.  I haven’t had any that really blew me away except for an Allones Suiza from a couple years back.   The PL 5th Avenida are good too.  

[cfc1016]

I've never gone out of my way to buy boxes of ERs, as I'm quite content buying boxes of my favorite regular production, and the odd single/5er of something particularly interesting, every once in a while. I have been gifted a few single ERs over the years from good friends, though. The two which stood out to me as particularly unique and fascinating were the SLR Pacificos (ER Asia Pacifico 2009) and Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso (ER Mexico 2016). I'm sure either one will carry a high premium at the moment, but if I were going to splurge on something, those would be on that list.

I'm not, though. I'm going to keep enjoying my favorite regular production sticks, as they bring me just as much joy as, if not more than, any high dollar stick will. Plus I've got discontinued favorites (LGC MDO2/Tainos, Hoyo churchills/des dieux, 2001 PSD3 EL, etc) that I'd be more inclined to hunt for vintage stock of, than any ER. @PigFish 's tagline about 'friends don't let friends smoke EL/ERs - they're the McRib of Cuban cigars' really sums up my feelings on the matter.

I value construction quality almost just as much as blending. The most consistently good construction, imo, seems to be in vitolas that those torcedors have had many, many years of experience rolling. Think about the adage about 10,000 hours practice. No torcedor is ever going to get many consecutive years of continually improved experience with a specific vitola, unless it's a long term regular production stick (read: not flashy and exciting to newbies).

I did really love that Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso, though ?

[NSXCIGAR]

5 hours ago, cfc1016 said:

I did really love that Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso, though ?

I didn't mention ED and La Escepcion and I kind of out those in the difficult to obtain category. And the prices are outrageous. Like I wouldn't mention Punch Superfinos either. But yes, all the EDs are very good. 

[La_Tigre]

I’ve been chasing the RE Cuba’s for the nostalgia. I wouldn’t chase much else unless they jumped at me. 

[BrightonCorgi]

All of the RE's from UK and Italy have been great.