Cigars you never quite "got"..........but for one reason or another have changed your opinion?

[El Presidente]

Cigars you never quite "got".........but for one reason or another have changed your opinion? 

 

I haven't been a H. Upmann half Corona fan until this past 6 months. I know they are immensely popular among members but they never really resonated with me. I always found them a little harsh and hot. 

Bugger me. Almost every H.Upmann Half Corona I have had this past 6 months has been a 90-94 point sugarcane/cake/coffee bomb. Various boxes and all from seconds draws. All would be 21/22 stock. 

From the seconds draw at work I would always look for BBF/JLS1/JLS2/D4/PLPC/M4. They are my everydays along with Nudies Carlota. .  Now HUHC head that list. If I see them...I take them. 

 

 

 

 

[NSXCIGAR]

The only cigar that I never got for an extended period but recently has become smokeable for me is RASS. Most of the 20-22 production I've had has been the best I've ever had. Not that they're anything I would buy but solid 90-92 pointers. 

[Chas.Alpha]

My mate Alex (Cuba travel companion and Cutters Cigar shop over in Tampa) turned me on to the HUHC back in 2019. I never liked that format, but damn they're good! I think I've grabbed a couple-3 boxes from C Czar in the past few years. The PD6 on the other hand, jury is still out...

[JohnS]

I steered away from Partagas Serie D No.4s for a long while because I remember them with more pepper or spice in the 2010s. I just didn't connect with it, as much as I tried. In fact, I still have a 2013 box I'm yet to open (but I plan to soon).

In contrast, I have two 10-count boxes of Partagas Serie D No.4s from 2020 and they have been a revelation, by comparison. Just writing this reply makes me think that I need another one from one of those two boxes. That's how much I've enjoyed the well-balanced coffee, sourdough and leather flavours from them!

[shokao]

I've smoked one RASS and didn't get it. I still have 8 stored and I'm afraid to smoke them too early and start to dislike. 

I'm waiting maybe a couple years more for them to get better? Don't know... They're from 2021.

[gustavehenne]

Choix Supreme. First few I had from the box were dreadful - so much so I started almost giving them away every chance I could. 

Returned to the same box six months later and was bowled over by how good they were. Huge regret in smoking ROTT and not giving the cigar a chance to settle down. 

[SmokyFontaine]

While the page was loading, I was ready to post the Upmann Half Corona. By format I shouldn't like, have had some harsh ones, but I've been on a streak of really good. 

[westg]

Choix Supreme . For years they did absoluetly nothing for me. Found some beautiful examples within the last year. The flavour profile has changed by a stretch for me 

[Chibearsv]

HU 2 used to be an ok cigar for me, but I’ve got a box from 2017 that are really dark and oily and are terrific cigars. I’m always on the hunt for dark wrappers for these now. 

  On 11/23/2022 at 9:00 PM, shokao said:

I've smoked one RASS and didn't get it. I still have 8 stored and I'm afraid to smoke them too early and start to dislike. 

I'm waiting maybe a couple years more for them to get better? Don't know... They're from 2021.

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I still don’t get them. My 2018 gets a once a year try…still waiting

[NSXCIGAR]

  On 11/23/2022 at 10:22 PM, Chibearsv said:

I still don’t get them. My 2018 gets a once a year try…still waiting

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I try them every year (everyone always has them and is giving them to me) since 2004 and not ever did I enjoy one until 2020. 2018 is probably not going to cut it. 

The worst one is in 2009 a well known Swiss vendor sent me a box of RASS that I did not order. Out of the blue. I got an email my "order" had shipped. I had not ordered anything. It was a box of dreaded RASS! I was never charged. So of course I had to smoke the whole box and of course 25/25 disappointed. 

That vendor did the exact same thing again in 2012 or 2013. They sent me a 3 pack of PSP2 and CoRo Tubos I did not order and I was never charged. I'm also not a PSP2 fan and the CoRo was just ok. 

 

  On 11/23/2022 at 9:53 PM, stevenhaugen said:

Choix Supreme. First few I had from the box were dreadful - so much so I started almost giving them away every chance I could. 

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Fresh CS can taste very wonky. Very much like SP Beli. They can be pretty yucky without at least 18 months and sometimes longer. 

[Edicion]

HdM Rio Secos from 2019-2020s (just approx. dates as for some I didn't have the box or year) where pretty much only harsh and bland at the same time.

Fast forward to 2022 and all are medlium/light, flavorful and aromatic, 90-91 all day with the occasional 92.

I am hoping the San Juans will have a similar journey

[Chibearsv]

  On 11/24/2022 at 8:28 AM, Edicion said:

HdM Rio Secos from 2019-2020s (just approx. dates as for some I didn't have the box or year) where pretty much only harsh and bland at the same time.

Fast forward to 2022 and all are medlium/light, flavorful and aromatic, 90-91 all day with the occasional 92.

I am hoping the San Juans will have a similar journey

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My opinion is to give the San Juans some time.  They're mediocre fresh but with 5+ years on them, they are gold.  

[Cairo]

  On 11/22/2022 at 11:35 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

The only cigar that I never got for an extended period but recently has become smokeable for me is RASS.

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That was my experience with the RAS LCDH.   My 2017 box is a total waste--but I can't keep my hands off a 2019 box.   Fortunately I stocked up on the 2019s and 2020s.

[Lunettesman]

  On 11/24/2022 at 11:18 AM, Chibearsv said:

My opinion is to give the San Juans some time.  They're mediocre fresh but with 5+ years on them, they are gold.  

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Just open a 2015 box they are off the chart. Maybe my best cigar this year 

[NSXCIGAR]

  On 11/24/2022 at 3:38 PM, Cairo said:

That was my experience with the RAS LCDH.   My 2017 box is a total waste--but I can't keep my hands off a 2019 box.   Fortunately I stocked up on the 2019s and 2020s.

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RAS took a dive around 2016-17 IMO. The first few years were still the best I've had. The few 20-22s I've smoked are the best since then however. 

[Bill Hayes]

RASS

[jakebarnes]

VR Unicos. In the early aughts they were always plugged so I gave up on them. Lately I've really come to love them and they seem to be rolled much better. 

[Ethernut]

2001 ERDM Choix Supreme from the Vintage collection. Utter crap. I kept them for 20 years /hoping/ they’d age up. Nope. Sucktastic and I threw them in the garbage. I’ll never trust the vintage program again after that. LOL.

Vintage program = “We aged some random habano’s fer ya!” 

Doesn’t mean, “We saved some really good habano’s and aged ‘em fer ya!”