Newbie EL, Regional, Reserva

[Smokecigareveryday]

I have been smoking Cubans almost daily for the past 3 years but am a newbie to their more prestigious lines, such as EL etc.  Are they truly superior to Regular productions?  I am totally satisfied with regular productions and have no real desire to seek EL, regional, or Reserva lines unless  they are that much superior. 

[NSXCIGAR]

The Reserva/Gran Reserva releases are typically a cut above regular production. Everything else, not really. 99.9% of the cigars I buy are regular production. Occasionally I'll go for a reasonably priced ER that's piqued my curiosity but I typically have no interest in ELs. 

Also, LCDH/HS releases are considered regular production for all practical purposes. Most of those are quite good and reasonably priced.

[bdw1984]

Save your money, buy regular production

[brutusthebuckeye]

9 minutes ago, bdw1984 said:

Save your money, buy regular production

This!

[BrightonCorgi]

If a Regional is a size you adore; go for it.  Many are in 10 counts and in some online markets aren't a fortune.  I find most Regional do not taste like any particular brand and almost always do not taste like the marca they are named.  You're on the forum, if you read about one that sounds like it's up your alley, why wouldn't you get a box?

Reserva are generally that good, but comes at a cost only you can decide.  EL's have a different wrapper and curing that some do not particularly like.  The wrapper flavor is more pronounced.

[Smokecigareveryday]

21 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

If a Regional is a size you adore; go for it.  Many are in 10 counts and in some online markets aren't a fortune.  I find most Regional do not taste like any particular brand and almost always do not taste like the marca they are named.  You're on the forum, if you read about one that sounds like it's up your alley, why wouldn't you get a box?

Reserva are generally that good, but comes at a cost only you can decide.  EL's have a different wrapper and curing that some do not particularly like.  The wrapper flavor is more pronounced.

I read ELs taste like NCs

[StogieSteve23]

40 minutes ago, Smokecigareveryday said:

I read ELs taste like NCs

Definitely depends on the stick and personal taste IMO. There are many regulars way better than ER or EL sticks. A well aged regular production will trump most IMO.  

[Chibearsv]

1 hour ago, Smokecigareveryday said:

I read ELs taste like NCs

What do NCs taste like?  That’s a pretty general statement for a catalog as big as NC. ELs more often can just simply taste different than the typical Marca profile. Not necessarily better or worse; but it can be upsetting if you’re looking for RyJ flavor and the EL delivers something very different. Instead of cedar, cherry and cream, you might get leather and prunes but still be a very good cigar. Value is up to the smoker. 

[Chas.Alpha]

I don’t believe much of anything that I read. Of course, I only believe half of what I see...  ?

[NSXCIGAR]

4 hours ago, Smokecigareveryday said:

I read ELs taste like NCs

I think anyone who's tried a Cohiba 1966 would strongly disagree with that.

[Meklown]

I think that there are plenty of people on this forum who will tell you that it generally isn't worth the extra dollar - lousy construction, unspectacular taste, etc.

In my opinion, the absolute best smoking experiences I've had in my life was from ELs - 1966, Hdm Grand Epicure.

I think in simple terms, these double-banders provide a different experience, in terms of sizes and blends. In truth, as with all cigars (and everything else in life), it's not possible to decide if it is worth a premium until you try it yourself. 

[Habana Mike]

For me I enjoy trying the RE sticks that are either interesting from expecting a different blend or reviving discontinued vitolas.

Some LE have been great, others not so much. All to one's taste.

I think if you're going to go down this path you should have some experience with the standard production lines and the coin to experiment.

Keep an eye on the posts and reviews to make up your mind.

 

[El Hoze]

I am a fan of the RE program, adds some more variety and, as has been said, if you do your homework some selective nibbling in that area is fun and can be rewarding.

Reserva program has also impressed me. My only let down has been the Cohiba Robusto but I’ve only smoked one so far. 

My interest in the EL program is very close to zero. I have two 1966 left, wish I had more of those. But the prices I see on them today are ridiculous. 

[Smokecigareveryday]

La Gloria Cubana D5 regional Espana sounds tempting.  Price is reasonable and the size is perfect. 

[BrightonCorgi]

15 minutes ago, Smokecigareveryday said:

La Gloria Cubana D5 regional Espana sounds tempting.  Price is reasonable and the size is perfect. 

Reviews have been mixed or kind of negative.  That said, I was eyeing those too.  I like that size and doesn't break the bank.  Sometime ones that were thought of as duds just take much longer to come into their own.

[Yellot00tr]

25 minutes ago, Smokecigareveryday said:

La Gloria Cubana D5 regional Espana sounds tempting.  Price is reasonable and the size is perfect. 

I smoked one the other day, and it was just terrible.  I don't know what to say.  Maybe it was a dud.  

[joeypots]

I liked the Monte Cristo ELs but do not think they are worth the money. I think the Els and the REs are much more hit or miss than regular production and it's been a long time since I've bought any. A lot of them were touted as cigars that would come around but I don't think many did. The HURR And RA Superiors, LCDH exclusives, have been good and I'd buy them. Good regular production Cuban Cigars are the best  value and, for me, seem to suit my taste better than the special stuff.  If I'm going to buy an expensive box of cigars I'll go with Cohiba.

[Piligrim]

I would recommend to order some kind of a sampler with various regionals. some stores provide that. you can decide by your own experience without buying full boxes.

[NSXCIGAR]

On 5/9/2020 at 5:53 AM, BrightonCorgi said:

Reviews have been mixed or kind of negative.  That said, I was eyeing those too.  I like that size and doesn't break the bank.  Sometime ones that were thought of as duds just take much longer to come into their own.

Heard the same thing. Early reviews were less than great and recently I've seen far more praise than hate. So much so I had to grab a box out of curiosity. $10/stick I'm fine rolling the dice. Should arrive in a week or two.

[BrightonCorgi]

1 minute ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Heard the same thing. Early reviews were less than great and recently I've seen far more praise than hate. So much so I had to grab a box out of curiosity. $10/stick I'm fine rolling the dice. Should arrive in a week or two.

I plan to pick up some too.

[NSXCIGAR]

On 5/11/2020 at 4:59 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

I plan to pick up some too.

Mine came in...plan on sampling over the weekend.

[La_Tigre]

I’ve experienced entirely too many fireproof EL wrappers. It’s to the point that I do not want to buy any of the new releases at all. I cannot speak to the Reserva as I’ve yet to try any of mine. 

[Yellot00tr]

I’m a huge fan of the regional program. There have been some absolutely fantastic regionals that are worth every penny. Those early mexico regionals are damned near perfect. Never had a bad 54 or 109. ELs are not my cup of tea. Most seem to be not worth it. I bought a few boxes of the talisman when I saw them at a good number-just to give them a try, but i’ve never loved any of the el. Reservas are worth it if you get them on release. They are not worth the money on the resale market. The earlier cohiba media corona is a fantastic cigar. That thing was damned near perfect. Wish I had 10 boxes of that reserva selection. If you want to start getting silly, look for the books. Happy hunting. Start by getting some 5ers or singles and see what you like. You might start chasing everything. That’s when it becomes a disaster. It’s like chasing your last hit or chasing tail. Once you’re in, you’re in.

[havanaclub]

Heard the same thing. Early reviews were less than great and recently I've seen far more praise than hate. So much so I had to grab a box out of curiosity. $10/stick I'm fine rolling the dice. Should arrive in a week or two.

I have had almost an box so far and they have been good.
My most recent one was a few nights ago and it was very enjoyable. I find them to have a bit of an edge, but I have always enjoyed them.


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[NSXCIGAR]

Verdict on the LGC D5: very good, not there yet but might be excellent with time. 

Tastes like a big MdO4. LGC DNA through and through. I think this definitely contributed to the poor early reviews. As is the case w/ MdO4, these can be a little sub-par when fresh. 

The 2+ years has brought out some distinctness and additional time will bring out more. I would say these could become fantastic just as MdO4 become with enough time but that might be 5-7 more years at least. At their reasonable price I wouldn't hesitate to buy a box or two for long-term aging. Might take 10-15 years but I think this cigar could hit 96-97 points at some point.

These are also rolled a little loose and the burn hasn't been great on both examples I've tried so its score takes a hit.

Score today: 90