What's Hot and What's not MAY 20

[El Presidente]

It has been a while since I have put a list together and it has been a tad hard to do so over the past 8 weeks. 

The below is where I would be parking my coin right now if you see them come up. "What's Hot" list is based on a combination of the quality of what I am seeing combined with the the smoking experience. 

What’s Hot

 

 

1. Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona

The quality is through the roof. The flavour the best in years and that is on cigars under a year of age. Plenty of upside here.

 

 

2. Bolivar Libertador

There haven't been better. Most boxes look like they have been rubbed down with vaseline.

 

 

3. Vegas Robaina Famosos

               If you see them..jump on them. The flavour is an interplay of mushrooms,quality cooking chocolate, raisins.  It works so damn well. Great to see them back on song.

 

 

4. El Rey Del Mundo Tainos (AP Regional)

              I don’t have any doubts that this will become a bit of a legend. Smoking beautifully right now but give it 5 years and prepare yourself for a 95+ experience. Quality has been excellent.

 

 

 

5. Punch 898 (AP Regional)

             See above. The best back to back regionals that PCC have ever put out.

 

 

6. Partagas Serie D Number 4

                             Rosado wonderland in 2019 and currently with excellent sheen. Smoking the house down and I look forward to them every single time.

 

 

7. Trinidad La Trova/Esmeralda/Topes/Luna

               I am going to lump these together only because the flavour/DNA is consistent throughout and  the quality is superb. I really haven’t come across a bad box.

 

               

8. Cohiba Robusto

              2019 are on song. Few dark wrappers with the majority being colorado with some good levels of sheen. It is the way they should be.

 

 

 

9. Bolivar Royal Corona

              2019 smoke like they have been dusted with cocoa. They are a class above recent years.

 

 

 

10. Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 1

                             FOH members have cottoned onto the greatness and value proposition of recent Juan Lopez Seleccion number 1.

 

 

11. Hoyo De Monerrey Epicure Number 2

              Smoking sweet and with a touch of mixed spices (nutmeg/clove). Certainly on the upswing.

 

12. Partagas Lusitania

              Mr consistency and Partagas at its best. It really doesn’t matter if you buy the 50's, 25’s or the 10s….you are on a winner.

 

 

13. Por Larranaga Petit Corona

Rarely off the “what’s hot” list and they have made it again. You can’t go wrong. Put them away for a few years down if you are looking for caramel. Smoke them young if you are loving mongrel.

 

 

 

14. Saint Luis Rey Regio

              They are paying serious attention to SLR Regio wrapper and construction. Fresh fruit driven notes combined with fresh baked bread. Love the profile. Some of the best in years.

 

 

        *special mention to R&J Churchill, BBF, Bolivar PC, Monte 4, QD54, SC Fuerza, RA Gigantes, Medio Siglo, Siglo VI, Siglo III & IV, Fundadores.  They are hard done by missing the list.

The Partagas and Cohiba maduro line would also challenge if only there were greater supply to compare. Right now they (2019) are the best quality maduro that Cuba have produced.

 

 

What’s Not

  

There really aren’t too many truly bad 2019 boxes coming through. It will go down as one of the best years of the past 20.  Still, be a little careful with R&J Wide and Short Churchill. These cigars need at least a touch of Rosado and sheen to perform at their best. There are plenty floating around without either. They are best to be hand picked. 

Partagas Salomones have been off their best this past shipment as have been the Upmann Mag 54. Overall there is very little to complain about. We are in a golden period. Take advantage of it!

[Islandboy]

Love these reports, as I rarely disagree with @El Presidente ‘s summaries. 
 

Recent PCC offerings are excellent, even young. My recent 50 cab of Epi 2 is an absolute go-to cigar, albeit when I want something on the milder side. Somehow, PSD4 has escaped my humidor thus far...sounds like a good time to change that. 
 

A recent receipt of RyJ Short Churchill’s from another source has me kicking myself for not listening to sage advice. But I’m so glad I tapped into a recent vein of UAO Mag 54’s from our host... truly the first time I’ve noticed a marked difference based on factory...amazing flavor compared to other examples I have. ??
 

 

 

[joey rockets]

Wow.  Tough set of rules as I rarely smoke CCs of 2019 vintage now that I've learned what only a few years will do for them.  A village elder once told me I was wasting expensive CCs smoking them too green?

[Monterey]

Agreed, really love these posts.  So glad 2019 has been so strong.

[El Presidente]

3 hours ago, joey rockets said:

Wow.  Tough set of rules as I rarely smoke CCs of 2019 vintage now that I've learned what only a few years will do for them.  A village elder once told me I was wasting expensive CCs smoking them too green?

That was pretty solid advice once upon a time.

 

[Chas.Alpha]

Waiting anxiously on a box of HdM DC’s. Found none on both trips last year.

Hopefully, Rob will take care of this particular problem, soon... ?

No mention of the Punch DC’s?

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Waiting anxiously on a box of HdM DC’s. Found none on both trips last year.

Hopefully, Rob will take care of this particular problem, soon... ?

No mention of the Punch DC’s?

HDM DC's should be around again before long. Punch DC are a no show unfortunately. 

[Monterey]

2 hours ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Waiting anxiously on a box of HdM DC’s. Found none on both trips last year.

Hopefully, Rob will take care of this particular problem, soon... ?

No mention of the Punch DC’s?

No 25's, but they had cabs of them in August in Cuba.  Grabbed 2.

[Kayslay]

Have not had a chance to grab some 2019 D4s yet. On the hunt for them.Would love to see them on 24:24 soon.

I concur with the 2019 Famosos. Excellent fresh and can go the distance as well. 

I have had SLR that I have loved. My 2019 box isn't doing it for me as of yet. We shall see!!!

[Chas.Alpha]

1 hour ago, Monterey said:

No 25's, but they had cabs of them in August in Cuba.  Grabbed 2.

I hit every shop that I knew of. ?

You must have got them all... ?

[djrey]

Never had anything from Juan Lopez. Hoping to see some number 1’s up soon