Brief Rundown of CCs I've Tried Thus Far

[DrStogie]

Newer smoker here and I figured I'd provided my perspective on the dozen or so sticks I've had so far:

Montecristo No. 2: great medium-full smoke, typically superb in construction and draw, symphony of coffee, cream, wood, spice, leather, and chocolate in a complex balance, 93

Montecristo No. 4: I've heard these compared to 1s and 3s, but personally I thought it much more in line with No. 2s, just without the chocolate and spice. They're also milder. Good construction, despite crummy wrappers, good simple cheap and cheerful, 90

Montecristo Edmundo: usually about dead set medium for me. I also find them similar to No. 2s but also without as much chocolate and leather. In its place the coffee, cream, and wood is much more dominant. I find it comparable to Partagas Serie D No. 4s but not quite as good. I'm impressed by the relative subtlety and complexity in both these cigars for a reasonably priced robusto. Mine had ugly, claro wrappers but were constructed well and smoked great, 92

Partagas Serie D No. 4: like a better Edmundo, has the same flavor profile but with even more. I get chocolate and Christmas cake with baking spice and raisiny notes as well as some stone fruit. Nice wrapper, great construction, perfect draw, probably one of the best you can buy for the money. I see why they're so popular and becoming increasingly more so, 93

Partagas Lusitania: a revelation for me, the first CC to knock my expectations of what a CC can be into the stratosphere. Shockingly impeccable construction for such a large stick with beautiful oily Colorado wrappers, burn great with long solid ash. They do, however, often require a few re-lights. What's so impressive about these sticks is their fullness of flavor coupled with an undeniable subtlety and smoothness. The balance of flavors is delicate. It's an altogether relaxing smoking experience mostly consisting of fruit cake, baking spice, stone fruit, ginger, coffee and cream, 96

Cohiba Robusto: an almost perfect medium-full stick with infallible construction. They look almost unreal, like someone drew a perfect cigar and they burn much the same, razor sharp and perfectly even. The draw is tight but the smoke and flavor output is somehow unrivaled, a staple of fine Cuban construction. Replete with unique Cohiba flavors like honey, grass/hay, coffee, cream, stone fruit, a touch of baking spice, and something else I find hard to describe in Cohiba, but I think it's best expressed as a piece of spongecake with orange and cream, absolutely decadent and almost desert like in flavor, 96

Cohiba Siglo II: also impeccably constructed and perfect in burn. I get a lot of what I got out of the Robusto in these, but they're much milder not quite as decadent. I found them citrusy like the Robusto but more lemon, where the Robusto was orange,  94

Partagas Shorts: I absolutely love these little sticks. Full in flavor and body and boasting a myriad of notes in a unique balance. There's an abundance of espresso, fruit cake, baking spice, stone fruit, vanilla, cream, white pepper, black pepper, and green bell pepper. It's almost like Habanos challenged themselves to fit as much quintessential cuban flavor into a tiny little smoke as they could and they succeeded. Generally good construction despite some of the ugliest claro wrappers you've ever seen. Though delicious I have had several plugged or rolled too tight, it usually is fixable but definitely a pain in the ass. It's also definitely worth it for the flavor and they're an unbelievable bargain, 91

Montecristo No. 3: I was majorly disappointed by these. I've only had one box so I likely just got a bad one and that's not to say I didn't have some great ones. At their best they're medium-full with beautiful oily Colorado madero wrappers. They were the first cigars I got a bread-like quality out of, specifically sourdough and it's a really nice flavor, it's coupled with chocolate but more like a cocoa powder than regular chocolate as well as notes of wood and spice. It's the most unique and least like other Montecristos I've had so far. My sticks had a lot of construction issues though, tight and plugged with wonky burns on a lot, really disappointing. Furthermore some were completely lacking in flavor altogether being completely muted or actually tasting like slightly stale meat at times, really unpleasant. What's really too bad is that this is a perfect vitola too and a rare one. The corona size is an excellent shape that should be more popular  85 (I want to give these another try, they probably deserve it, but I'm reluctant)

Juan Lopez Selección No. 2: delightful robustos with a spiced rum-like quality to them. I also find Pres's synopsis dead-on that they're like a buttered crescent that's less sweet and more like a baking spice flavor. They also have some Christmas cake and raisins, bit of cream and coffee too. Medium-full and construction is top notch despite rugged ugly wrappers. Really reliable stick, 93

Hoyo De Monterry Epicure No. 2: very unique smoke and truly mild. Superb construction which holds ash a long time. Not complex at all but dominated by really pleasant waves of cream and grassiness. One thing that's really interesting is their creaminess without coffee which is unusual for a CC. Great cigar, but a little mild and simple for my tastes. Not something I would necessarily seek out, but I agree with most that it's the perfect summer smoke. If I had a lot of extra money, I would definitely consider some boxes, objectively a great cigar though, 92

Cohiba Behike 54: the most beautiful cigar I've ever seen in my life, shiny and gold and delicious to the nose without even lighting it up. The most perfect burn and construction you could ask for. This cigar is incapable of burning unevenly or delivering a single bitter note. Similar in flavor to the robusto, but much more decadent and desert like. It's even sweeter, but also stronger, I'd say definitely a full bodied cigar. It's strongest flavor seems to be that creamy orange spongecake note and it's divine. The best part about these is how not one puff seems to be exactly the same as the last. They're unfathomably complex and deliver a journey like I've never seen in a cigar. Truly impressive and completely relaxing. You almost feel bad for smoking something so rare and perfect. You don't want another cigar after one of these, everything else pales in comparison, 98

Por Larranaga Petit Corona: another very unique cigar. I think everyone knows where I'm going in that they have an unparalleled caramel quality to them. It's accompanied by toasted tobacco, wood, spice, and sometimes some floral notes. Ugly wrappers but perfect burn and construction. I do occasionally get that same terrible taste I got from some Monte 3s in these but it's usually short lived and doesn't ruin the whole cigar. It's a very mild smoke but full of flavor. Some of the young ones are very strong in contrast however, but never bad, the mongrel ones are great too, 94

What are your thoughts? Any suggestions to try next?

The next CC I will try is a por larranaga Montecarlo as I just bought a box of those. I'd like to try more brands too, primarily H Upman, La Gloria Cubana, Romeo Y Julieta, and Saint Luis Rey. I like thinner ring gauges, though I can't deny some of the best cigars come in larger ones. 

 

[TobaccoRoad]

Great write up. I'm a newbie to CC's as well with only a couple of years of experimentation trying to find my favorites. As far as suggestions- San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe. Along with the Partagas short you mentioned, one of my favorite minutos. Also don't forget Bolivars!

[DrStogie]

Definitely. I did forget I’ve also been looking to get some BBFs in my rotation for awhile. They sound right up my ally and from what I heard they’re the pinnacle of consistency. The big things missing from my humidor right now are figurados and dcs. I also want more long skinnies but those are all hard to come by and  very expensive for me right now 

[Lamboinee]

On 12/10/2021 at 12:40 PM, DrStogie said:

What are your thoughts? Any suggestions to try next?

I'm in a very similar position with very similar quandaries. I might suggest running through some of the smaller ring gauges I don't see represented. Perhaps Bolivar, Vegas Robaina? I also like the hyd ep1. I have not encountered the grassiness you noted from the 2s in the epicures. I did, however, get smacked with a ton of off-putting grassiness on the regalias I tried recently. In it's defense, I smoked it right off the porch. 

[alephilmac]

On 11/25/2022 at 12:27 PM, Lamboinee said:

I'm in a very similar position with very similar quandaries. I might suggest running through some of the smaller ring gauges I don't see represented. Perhaps Bolivar, Vegas Robaina? I also like the hyd ep1. I have not encountered the grassiness you noted from the 2s in the epicures. I did, however, get smacked with a ton of off-putting grassiness on the regalias I tried recently. In it's defense, I smoked it right off the porch. 

I agree with you. I think smoking something like a San Cristobal Principe would be a nice change/additional experience to this list. Curious how they might compare it to the Partagas Shorts.

[Cairo]

3 hours ago, alephilmac said:

San Cristobal Principe would be a nice change/additional experience to this list. Curious how they might compare it to the Partagas Shorts.

I tend to smoke Principes in the morning with coffee while Party Shorts after dinner when for whatever reason I do not have the time or desire for a larger cigar.