Expectation V Reality.......a review of member's experiences

[El Presidente]

Expectation and reality....a review of members experiences 

Take your mind back to the most expensive cigar that you have smoked........and let us know what your experience was. 

Is this typical of your experience with super premiums?.....or is it a mixed bag. 

How influential is "expectation"?  Patient?.....or do you smoke ROTT?

Discuss 

[Kaptain Karl]

My most “premium” was a esplendido I got from here. Absolutely one of the best cigars I’ve smoked. 

[Chibearsv]

Behike 56 I had a couple years ago was a lovely cigar but I expected it to be the best cigar I've ever had and it wasn't.  I've had Esplendidos many times and almost always am surprised and reminded about how good they are.  In my opinion, the pricing should be reversed on those two - but let's not do anything hasty.

[SigmundChurchill]

 

I would say expectations are very influential, but not 100% for the reasons implied.  Yes, there is the psychological factor, but even more importantly, the high expectations changes the way I smoke the cigar.  I am not going to take a super premium cigar, grab a beer, and watch the Giants game with my friends, like i would a BBF or PSD4.  I am going to smoke it very deliberately.  Usually by myself, or with a few other people in the same mindset.  Slowly savoring and contemplating the flavors with each puff.  In other words, i am going to experience the cigar, rather than just smoke it.  So I am playing an active role in making the cigar better.

 

[Wookie]

Cohiba 1966 last summer...gifted by a friend with an amazing collection. Had a lot of cocoa that I associate more with a NC than a CC. At up to $250/stick these days it was the fanciest CC I've smoked. Good cigar, but I like the Esplendido and Sig VI better. For NCs, Davidoff Royal Release Salomone...these go for $100 retail. I got some as freebie add ons to big NC purchases in USA. Again, overrated for the price IMHO. Many other Davidoffs I like much better and which probably average $20-25/stick with discounts available in US market.

[dobbs]

tough question, the most expensive cigar i've smoked is, like the kaptain, an esplendido. not sure it qualifies as super-premium, but at $30 per, it is to me...

it was absolutely amazing. everything i wanted it to be and more. that said, i've smoked many expensive cigars and been disappointed. i've had only one cohiba lancero and it was uninteresting to an extreme. i think it was just a bad example though.

i am very good about not letting price affect my enjoyment, but it absolutely influences future purchases. i'll probably buy a box of colas sometime, but that day is a way off

-dobbs

[mrmessy]

My expectations tends to increase more from Prez's tasting notes than price.

But I have a box of behike and smoked one with a good friend of mine. And we had completely different experiences. Mine was all honey and hay. Excellent construction. Just perfect. Easily one of the best cigars I've ever had. His was completely different. Harsh and poor draw.

Overall, the price doesn't increase the expectation for me. Reviews from people I know and trust do.

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[Derboesekoenig]

This is quite the loaded question. I think that most of us are going to have similar responses, and you'll also see who are budget-conscious. I have paid for super premiums and have received amazing experiences. But at the same time, I have had amazing experiences with regular production.

I think we could come to the same conclusion though. 75-85% of regional are underwhelming for their prices. 

[El Presidente]

It is certainly a difficult question to frame 

However I think that most have gotten the gist.  You pay big dollars for a Super Premium (and that is relative I acknowledge) expecting fireworks.  How often do they shine bright?

[Connoisseur Kim]

My super premium CCs experiences are mostly blown away, although I also enjoy other CCs a lot (e.g. RASS, JL2, LGC MdO4, Connie A, Mag 46, etc) ?. The epic fail super premium CCs so far are H. Upmann Añejados Robustos and Partagás Series No. 1 EL 17. I might give another chance for Partagás Series No. 1 EL 17 since it seemed to have too much of humidity, but for Añejados cigars, I won't definitely give a second chance to them as aged regular production CCs are way better than these sticks!

Note. I'm not a big fan of super pricey gimmicky premium cigars like Gurkha as well.

[Meklown]

The most I've paid for a cigar was for a Cohiba Talisman last year. I smoked with an expectation that it was infanticide (and indeed it was), but I just wanted to get a gauge of the early taste + make a judgement of how long I should wait before picking another out of the box (6 years was my judgement last year).

However, the most valuable cigar I've smoked (at the point of smoking it) was a 1966, also last year. I paid something like US$30 (I forgot) at the point of release, while at the point of smoking it was easily worth over $100+. This was smoked with a big expectation and it duly delivered. 

Expectation is definitely a big factor in whether you feel under/overwhelmed by the cigar. As above, the former was with a relatively low expectation, while the latter was with a much higher expectation. Both did not disappoint. Another factor that comes along with "expectation" is "mood". I find that I smoke super-premiums more during special events and it's usually a happy time - I expect that most cigars would outperform during happy days like those.

[The Squiggler]

I once called C.I. to see if they would charge me full MSRP for their Gurkha smorgasbord speculating that it might positively affect the taste and overall smoking experience.  Best decision I ever made. 

[Notsocleaver]

My lone Behike 52 was a stand out in terms of flavor but underwhelming in terms of construction.

The cigars that became super-premiums while sitting in my humi, like the MdO#2s and PL Encantos, those have been out of this world.

[anacostiakat]

I answered based on "the most expensive" cigar I have smoked.  They interesting thing is I was disappointed and to this day refuse to pay for the high priced spread.  That being said, I have had cigars that fell below that one that have been outstanding and a few that continue to be so to this day.

[lovethehaze]

My max is 30-40 dollar range and all have been great, I would say Sig IV maybe one of the best I ever smoked. Personally at some point, which for me seems to be this price range it's hard to justify the extra money based on so many good ones for much cheaper. For example I prefer the PLMC over the LCCMDO#4, neither expensive but the PLMC is 1/2 the price and to my pallet a more consistent winner, perhaps b/c it's so cheap and so good..... Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me but the LGCMDO#4 is not expensive really. To spend the amount on a super super premium I find it hard to believe the experience could be that much better for a lot more coin, that's my 2 cents but I'm sure one day I'll take the bait given the right circumstances.

 

[BoliDan]

I personally have high expectations of 'new' super premiums and they often let me down the first time. But when I revisit them.with lower expectations and an understanding of the profile, they tend to be much better. Although, not always the case.

[dominattorney]

I had dinner with a high roller brother of a former client in nyc and he gave me a behike 56 and cohiba 2000 anjiversario/millennium something which was a pyramid. both were phenomenal and I dont even want to know how much they cost because I would list after buying a box of each and then never smoke them. I would say that neither was exponentially better than a sir winnie or a good partagas lusitania, but they were certainly unique and excellent. 

[Puros Y Vino]

I've dipped into super premium sticks now and then.  In terms of vintage. I've chased down several old Cuban Davidoffs.  My expectations were unknown at the time.  I only promised myself to be objective about the smoking experience vs the price paid for said smoking experience. With the Davidoff's I've smoked.  No 1/No 2/Dom P/ Chateu Yquem/Chateua Latour.  Only the Dom P and Yquem were underwhelming.  I approached other vintage cigars the same way and have been very fortunate.  In terms of super premium CC's. I've enjoyed the BHK line from the start and bought a few boxes of each. My favourites have been the 54/56.  The 52, not so much. I preferred the Trini Rob T over it.  I've smoked CGR/MGR/PGR as well. Only the CGR was mind blowing to me. Monte 2's are not in my rotation so the MGR was decent, but not worth it.  My 5YO Lusi's smoked way better than the PGR's, though they looked far better.  I haven't bothered chasing the other R's and GR's since them.  I've been pulling away from double banders the past few years.  I still enjoy chasing down the odd RE's as they have resulted in far better cigars than the EL line has for me.  Though, the past few years have seen a deluge of those short robusto RE's.  The program that brought Habanos lovers the LESF, LEDJ, RACF, H&F225, RA Gladiators, has started to become a bit boring.  Releases like the Kon Tiki, Punch 898, ERDM Tainos, etc are a step in the right direction.  For the most part, I've changed my buying habits and have started to go deeper on the regular production stuff I like.  Especially in the smaller RG offerings / long and skinnies.  

[joey rockets]

For over a decade, I smoked a steady diet of high end premiums that were gifted.  I was tight with 2 young men who worked the front door at the then new Belagio Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas where cigars may be the tip.  The non cello CCs usually were wrapped in foil courtesy of the lads which was my only means of discerning the difference between NCs.  I live in Iowa, a cultural desert, and had zero cigar education at this point so I burned the gifts along with the Macanudo Diplomats that I was smoking 30+ years ago.  The young men had been cutting up these expensive cigars to build blunts before I caught wind of it which is a greater sin than my burning of many Davidoffs and Cohibos.  I did note that high rollers liked Cohibas which meant little to me back then.  I almost skipped this post because I really was not qualified to answer the questions.

[Joeysmoke]

I've been lucky to smoke a few of the Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reservas. From first light it was like being transported to another dimension. It took over every sense and controlled the 2 hour experience. Orders of magnitude above what was expected that first time.

[BrightonCorgi]

My answers were based on a Cohiba GR I got when they were current.

[cigcars]

      *I'm reminiscing on the Montecristo No.2 Gran Reserva ($100+ apiece! ) I tried, and was highly underwhelmed. And it was acquired from a reputable source. I can still remember how blown off my socks were when I had finally acquired an authentic  Montecristo No.2 way beforehand. I shall NEEEEVER forget HOW struck I was at that wonderful, true, Habana aroma, flavor, Heavenly experience in enjoying that smoke. The Montecristo GR was just - O.K...

[avaldes]

Hey Rob, interesting distinction to be made here....most expensive cigar purchased? Or most expensive that might have been a gift?

[Oscar300]

So price is hyped up by all sorts of factors, doesn’t always mean the squeeze is worth the juice.

My fave all time box has been sig6, coincidence there so expensive?  I don’t know.  What I do know is I got 2 boxes and haven’t touched the next box yet ??

 

 

[Eric05]

Biggest premium cigar I have smoked has been a Monte #2 GR, smoked 2 father's day ago with my brother and by far one of the best cigars I've ever had. Hands Down