The one cigar that has muscled into your regular rotation over the past 12 months?

[Corylax18]

6 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

The 50 Aniversario? Pretty big balling to have those in your regular rotation! 

Yes, but without the boxes and bands, you can save like 90%. Haha

I hounded every contact I have in Havana for like a year and half trying to find where/when they where being rolled and I got lucky with the timing. I was able to grab 100 on my first trip back after Covid. 

I would save them, but there's just no reason, I don't see how they (or really any cigar) could be better then they are right now. I don't throw out many 100 point ratings, but all 15-20 I've smoked so far have been consistently amazing. Even in a pyramid, 59 RG is just massive though, they make PE's look slender. 

[shokao]

Nudies N1, as always
Caldwell (some lines, not everything)
PLPC
RASS

[GoodStix]

JL 1 / 2

[karp]

Monte Edmundo - never been as good as the 2019-20 boxes I am lucky to have now. Surprising. Not complex at all but a really really good smoke. It’s hit the sweet spot so am smoking them constantly. 

[NSXCIGAR]

14 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

Yes, but without the boxes and bands, you can save like 90%. Haha

Yep, that definitely can raise the bar on your rotation! I'm working that angle myself and I only hope to be as lucky to get super premiums. Takes time and trust. 

57 minutes ago, karp said:

Monte Edmundo - never been as good as the 2019-20 boxes

That's funny since I actually kicked PE out of my regular rotation a few years ago. They've always been a bit temperamental but they just got to be too much trouble around 2018. I try them every now and again (I think I got a 10 box of 21s in Cuba last time) and my mind hasn't changed. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks for the great WE.

14 hours ago, joeypots said:

MC Double Edmundo. I wish I had more. These are too good to be a casual smoke now.

The DE was my favorite large Monte until the WE showed up and curb stomped it. 

[Tunkat92]

Hoyo epicure 2. I always thought they were too light for me. I picked up a couple cabs recently and have been enjoying the profile lately

[NSXCIGAR]

I've had a few really good Epi Especial the last few months. I'm going to pick up a few more in Cuba. If they keep up I'd say that might have the best shot of muscling in to the rotation. 

[KnightsAnole]

Illusione la grande classe Rex. Muscled in is the right phrase.

[Capn_Jackson]

JL 1 & 2, and Punch Punch

[99call]

6 hours ago, KnightsAnole said:

Illusione la grande classe Rex. Muscled in is the right phrase.

Does the classe Rex bare any resemblance to the la grande?. Or are they completely different blends. Be interested to hear your thoughts

[KnightsAnole]

35 minutes ago, 99call said:

Does the classe Rex bare any resemblance to the la grande?. Or are they completely different blends. Be interested to hear your thoughts

They are different blends. Rex was a one off store-specific blend that was then combined with La grande classe to create la grande classe Rex. I find the La grande classe to be a bit milder, less character than the la grande classe Rex. Both are good cigars, but the latter nails it for me. My recently purchased bundle, last week, now has them in cello and banded whereas previously they came nude. Not sure if that signifies any other changes yet as it’s too soon to tell. I hope they turn out as good as the first 4 bundles I burned through. 

[Cairo]

RASS and RAS--alternate between them.    My 2018 and 2019 boxes took a while to get there but now they are at their peak.   Fortunately I am well stocked on both.

[shokao]

AF Don Carlos Robusto, PLPC and Fonseca No. 1.

[GVan]

I have a pretty regular CC rotation mostly driven by the boxes that are smoking really well right now.  I would add that I'm trying to let more NC's "wiggle" their way into the rotation to allow my CC's to properly age and save them since the combination of "cigarrmagedon" pricing and confiscation has completely stopped my CC purchasing.  I've posted a few of the smaller NC's that are trying to work their way in; purchased because I'm getting low on SCdlH Principe's and saving these because they are breakfast coffee gold.   I like the "muscling-in" definition because many of the NC's are not yet ready and are picked only once every month to see how they are progressing.

So, following @El Presidente's definition -- the two that have "muscled-in" based on pure taste, enjoyment and humidor surfing:

• For CC's its got to be the Rafael Gonzales Panatelas Extra - luckily when they were two boxes for $***.00 I bought 9 boxes.  There were a lot of Spanish sourced LMB AGO-19 and LMB OCT-19 boxes floating around and I purchased all that I could find with that little blue Tabacalera sticker on them.  I know they are short-filler, cheap ~$2 cigars; but, the LMB OCT-19 boxes taste pretty close to my Juan Lopez #2's.  I'm really liking these and they are allowing the other CC's to rest a little longer (a true win-win)!  I've already smoked through 3 boxes of these little CC's fitting the "muscling-in" definition.
• Going to sound like I'm "sucking-up" but the other NC that fits this definition is the Puro Desnudo Nudies Rosado Carlota - these are from the second batch that I ordered and received on 3/14/2022.  I also purchased bundles of the Maduro Lanceros and the Rosado Lanceros.  After a 90 day rest, the Maduro Lanceros began smoking beautifully and they immediately "muscled" into the normal rotation (and they still are there; just a little less frequently as I've slowed down smoking them to stretch them out a little longer).  I think the Rosado Lanceros are still not yet ready and they are in the once a month category to see how they are progressing.  Over the past few months, the Rosado Carlota's have come into their own - a beautiful smooth, sweet baking spice -- and I find myself increasingly picking them out of the humidor instead of other NC's.

[Digi]

On 4/13/2023 at 10:47 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

The 50 Aniversario? Pretty big balling to have those in your regular rotation! 

When the post scrolled by, I shouted "WHAT!" 😆

RyJ Cazzies have become a surprise rotation staple for me.  Had an afternoon last summer where nothing in the desktop or easy-to-reach section was making my bunny hop.  Found a TEO ABR 19 box of Cazzies and decided to give them a go.  I'm a big fan of RyJ but didn't typically reach for Cazadores - they can be a bit of a sinus puncher.  Time did good, good things to this box of cigars.  Ended up finding 2018 coded examples from a vendor late last year and scooped up two boxes.  Also sublime.  I remember a time when Cazzies were dirt cheap...wish I had caught on then!

 

On 4/14/2023 at 5:51 AM, Corylax18 said:

Even in a pyramid, 59 RG is just massive though, they make PE's look slender.

Also - yes, they are huge!  Here's one compared to a Monte 2

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Digi said:

When the post scrolled by, I shouted "WHAT!

I had been working to get a similar connection for over a year and last week it came to fruition. I was just able to work the same magic and get BHK 54 into my rotation. I just hope it's not going to spoil me...

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Digi said:

RyJ Cazzies have become a surprise rotation staple for me. 

Never had a good Cazadores. Been trying for 20 years. To me I can't tell the difference between a JLP Cazadores and the RyJ. 

But they have many fans, so what do I know?