Are all Double Coronas “mild”?

[Webbo]

I have only tried a few DCs (Sir Winnie, HDM, RAG, R&J) and while they are all great I wish the flavours were a little more bold. For example the RAG is, to me, a throttled back version of the RASS. A DC length RASS would be a dream (yes I realise you can smoke 2 😁). R&J Churchill’s have so far been the  “strongest”. Any suggestions please for a full bodied, full flavoured DC?

[NSXCIGAR]

Churchills and Double Coronas would be considered different categories, so we have to look at them separately. Yes, most if not all current DC-class cigars are on the milder side. Party Lusi would be the fullest of the bunch but I would put it at a solid medium. Punch DC would probably be next and I would put that at just under medium. Hoyo DC and RAG are definitely on the lighter side. 

Churchills are a different matter entirely. Esplendidos and SW are well over medium. RyJ Churchills are usually a solid medium. 

[Webbo]

10 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Churchills and Double Coronas would be considered different categories, so we have to look at them separately. Yes, most if not all current DC-class cigars are on the milder side. Party Lusi would be the fullest of the bunch but I would put it at a solid medium. Punch DC would probably be next and I would put that at just under medium. Hoyo DC and RAG are definitely on the lighter side. 

Churchills are a different matter entirely. Esplendidos and SW are well over medium. RyJ Churchills are usually a solid medium. 

Yes you are absolutely correct, thanks, I was grouping them together as "longer" smokes.

[99call]

41 minutes ago, Webbo said:

Any suggestions please for a full bodied, full flavoured DC?

When I'm smoking a Lusi, all i'm really doing is wishing I was smoking and 898.   That soft blend to me just gets a little boring over 1.5 - 2 hours. 

Hoyo DC, and the RAG's don't interest me,  much better cigars exemplifying their blend out there. 

Sir Winnies, QDO Imperiales and Punch DC, are the only ones I reach for,  as they are genuinely engaging across the whole of their smoking time. 

I would recommend the Punch DC. 

If 'yard gars' are the poor mans 'I'm doing something else, but I want a pleasurable background smoke'........well then I guess DC are this for the rich man.   When I first started smoking I built them up in my head to be this amazing experience,  then once having them, I realised they were just high quality 'background smokes'.  Enjoyable, but not interesting, no searing character on display. 

I reach for them, if I ever have the opportunity for indoor reading/movie watching,   otherwise I don't really find them of any use. 

[BrightonCorgi]

I love Churchill's and DC's.  I would put all the regular ones in the same class (beyond Esp & SW).  They're not meant to be strong cigars.  To the decry of many, I would put Lusi's as my least favorite, but doesn't mean I do not like them.  For older cigars I like RA and Punch, but if I were to buy a new box it would be HdM.  HdM DC's are just killing it the last few years.

Seems like Churchill's have fallen out of favor some; several great regular production ones being discontinued over the last two decades, but less so on the DC's.

[RDB]

I’d say the strongest, in the sense of fullest flavour (body), in the Churchill & DC class is the right Cohiba Esplendido. They can be really rich and full-on when young and dark, but many people want them to be older and more refined.

Any DC is going to transition from lighter in the first inch or so, to much fuller in the last third. I’m a big fan of Lusis. I can see some people quite reasonably want more oomph though.

[Habana Mike]

Early RAG kicked my ass! Blends have changed....

[Tstew75]

Like others have said if you're looking for strength, fade DCs completely. I find myself not smoking many DCs in general-

Bold has gone the wayside in CCs...you're basically left with maybe a couple of Boli options (BBF/Libertador?) & RyJ Cazadores. I find the Cohiba Classic range quite rambunctious when young, though probably not much more than med/plus. Anywhoo...

[inter4alia]

Maybe it's just my weak palate talking but I would not find it enjoyable to smoke a DC or Churchie if it was strong and bold. Too much of a good thing often turns out to be not so good. 

[Winoheel]

Just as in wine some people prefer the highly extracted and heavy on the tannins wine in the glass others a more balanced wine which Is gained through the aging process. Of course great raw materials are critical to start. Cigars and wine have so much in common


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[cigaraholic]

I don’t think anyone expects a full bodied Hoyo DC and I can’t remember a monster Punch DC, but I’ve had plenty of RA Gigantes and Lucy’s that fill a big suit. I just got a box of Gigantes ABO FEB19 just loaded with oil and colorado maduro wrappers, they don’t look mild to me.

[NSXCIGAR]

23 hours ago, Habana Mike said:

Early RAG kicked my ass! Blends have changed....

Indeed they have. I never had one before around 05 but MRN says they had been essentially scaled-up RASCC, and RASCC still packs a punch. Would have loved to have tired one.

And don't forget pre-95 Lusitanias were renowned for their strength. Punch DC was pretty heavy as well. I guess VR Don Alejandro would have been the last DC considered not mild. 

[Doctorossi]

On 8/26/2021 at 4:02 PM, 99call said:

If 'yard gars' are the poor mans 'I'm doing something else, but I want a pleasurable background smoke'........well then I guess DC are this for the rich man.   When I first started smoking I built them up in my head to be this amazing experience,  then once having them, I realised they were just high quality 'background smokes'.  Enjoyable, but not interesting, no searing character on display. 

Ok- now I have to defend DCs’ honor. If “strong” and “bold” are your requisites for “interesting”, I would offer that you may simply possess an imprecise palate. A “mild” DC can offer dynamics, nuance and flavor development to rival any other size. An 898 may be an exciting action movie, but a Punch DC can be Lawrence of Arabia.

[99call]

7 hours ago, Doctorossi said:

Ok- now I have to defend DCs’ honor. If “strong” and “bold” are your requisites for “interesting”, I would offer that you may simply possess an imprecise palate. A “mild” DC can offer dynamics, nuance and flavor development to rival any other size. An 898 may be an exciting action movie, but a Punch DC can be Lawrence of Arabia.

You're right,  "interesting" is not the right world.   DC's are interesting in their own right as a sort of meditative experiences (just my opinion).   If I had and indoor smoking option maybe I would enjoy them more.  But I do maintain, that for me they are sort of empty headed, lilting,  relaxing experiences, I often don't feel centred on what a DC is offering, rather that it is a pleasant background music, it's doing it's thing wonderfully well, but it's not doing anything for me to "stop and prop, an say "jeese this is a good cigar"  as El Pres would say. 

Maybe I will come to enjoy them more when I retire, when I .....A, have an indoor smoking room, and B, am not constantly stressed by niggling work issues.  

[SCgarman]

Never for me. Any cigar over 60-75 minutes smoking time becomes boring, and I find myself losing interest and enjoyment with it. I have never smoked a DC and likely never will. I love my cigar time but two hours or more smoking time is beyond my sweet spot.

[havanaclub7]

I have always been a fan of DCs and Churchills.  I love how the cigars change profiles three times over the 2 hour smoke.  I also love how they smoke cooler than a small cigar like a corona.  Since DCs and Churchills are larger vitolas there is more tobacco involved and in my mind more chance for nuance in the blend.  I had a Lusi the other day that was absolutely gorgeous.   I have some Punch DCs that I cannot wait to try that are lying down now.  I hope FOH gets some 25 boxes of Hoyo DCs and some Esplendidos again.  I am so mad that Habano SA dropped Bolivar CGs and Vegas Robania Don Alejandros.  For those wanting a stronger Churchill experience the Boli CGs are amazing if you can find a box somewhere. 

[Chibearsv]

I'll happily keep a healthy stock of DCs and Churchills.  On the weekends, I spend hours watching and handicapping horse races and conversing with friends.  DCs and Churchills are perfect for me to enjoy throughout those long days.  And the really good ones make me pause to enjoy them that much more.  They may be more mild than a robusto in general but I don't understand the negativity given on the forum to mild cigars.  I love the complexity that a great mild cigar can offer.  I like the stronger cigars as well but as the Prez has pointed out many times.  Different tools for different jobs.

[Duxnutz]

Great for a football game or round of golf (I think - never done it but like the concept). 
 

 

[SigmundChurchill]

I would preface this to say that I am a medium strength kind of guy to begin with, but I love DCs.  

They often start out mild, yes, but they really have to start out that way because of the shear length of the cigar.  They pick up strength as they are burned, so they usually develop into a medium strength cigar somewhere along the journey.  And occasionally, they can become damn strong in the last few inches.  To me, this is what makes them complex, because as the strength increases, the flavors change.

In my opinion, they start out mild by design, because if they start out strong, where do they have to go?  Stronger?  Unsmokable?

[RDB]

4 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

In my opinion, they start out mild by design, because if they start out strong, where do they have to go?

I agree. The last couple of inches of a Lusi - if you get there - are very different from the opening…

[Jonboy4074]

I would preface this to say that I am a medium strength kind of guy to begin with, but I love DCs.  
They often start out mild, yes, but they really have to start out that way because of the shear length of the cigar.  They pick up strength as they are burned, so they usually develop into a medium strength cigar somewhere along the journey.  And occasionally, they can become damn strong in the last few inches.  To me, this is what makes them complex, because as the strength increases, the flavors change.
In my opinion, they start out mild by design, because if they start out strong, where do they have to go?  Stronger?  Unsmokable?

Nailed it.

[PuroDiario]

On 8/26/2021 at 3:29 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

Churchills and Double Coronas would be considered different categories, so we have to look at them separately. Yes, most if not all current DC-class cigars are on the milder side. Party Lusi would be the fullest of the bunch but I would put it at a solid medium. Punch DC would probably be next and I would put that at just under medium. Hoyo DC and RAG are definitely on the lighter side. 

Churchills are a different matter entirely. Esplendidos and SW are well over medium. RyJ Churchills are usually a solid medium. 

Fully agree here. I romantically feel attached to the Hoyo DC though it is a cigar I don’t myself often in the mood for bc it leaves me in need of a chaser essentially. But it is such a beautiful cigar to light and hold and puff from…

With the Lusis though, I have a love story. Format liking aside…I just find it delicious, and mild, but delicious and ever dynamic and fun. Probably all in my head anyway.

[NSXCIGAR]

38 minutes ago, PuroDiario said:

With the Lusis though, I have a love story. Format liking aside…I just find it delicious, and mild, but delicious and ever dynamic and fun. Probably all in my head anyway

I would say Lusi is probably the best of the format at the moment. I certainly wouldn't call it mild. As I said, it's a true straight down the line medium in every way. And I would not argue with anyone that says it's still the best Partagas of all.

[wine_junkie]

On 8/26/2021 at 12:29 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

Churchills and Double Coronas would be considered different categories, so we have to look at them separately. Yes, most if not all current DC-class cigars are on the milder side. Party Lusi would be the fullest of the bunch but I would put it at a solid medium. Punch DC would probably be next and I would put that at just under medium. Hoyo DC and RAG are definitely on the lighter side. 

Churchills are a different matter entirely. Esplendidos and SW are well over medium. RyJ Churchills are usually a solid medium. 

I will say the 2 boxes of Punch DC (2020) that I have are very rich. Unlike any other cigars mentioned in my opinion…

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, wine_junkie said:

I will say the 2 boxes of Punch DC (2020) that I have are very rich. Unlike any other cigars mentioned in my opinion…

I think Punch DC has the highest ceiling of the format but I don't think it's as consistent. When it moves from under medium to medium or medium plus it can be really impressive but most of the time they're a tad lighter than I prefer. 

Good to hear 20s are smoking well. Might have to pick up a 6er next time they come up.