Why don’t the DC cigars get the love they deserve?

[LizardGizmo]

We just reviewed Punch DC for this upcoming Tuesday's episode and I couldn't believe how well they performed for just over two years aged. Brilliant cigar and they are performing even better than Lusi and HDC with similar age. 

I love a double corona and wish there were more of them.

[HoyoDC]

This is great to hear, do you suggest to look for 2022 boxes or buy 2024 and age them? Are they ok to try out of the box?

[joeypots]

I used to smoke DCs a lot. The Tuesday night card game was prime smoking time and we burned through cabs of Lusis and Hoyio DCs. No country does a double corona like Cuba. So, yes, I love a DC and I dispute the idea that they get no love. I think the speed of peoples lives make it harder now than it was 25 years ago to set aside 2 hours for a big cigar.  Everyone is too f@#$%*’n busy now. I often prefer to smoke two smaller cigar than one big one, especially since cigarmegedon. On a day like tomorrow, the NFL conference championships, calls for something special and a Cuban double corona might just be a prefect first cigar. 

[LizardGizmo]

This is great to hear, do you suggest to look for 2022 boxes or buy 2024 and age them? Are they ok to try out of the box?

Our box was SOU DIC 21 and I had stored it at 62rh for about a year - I didn’t try any prior to recording. Double Coronas have a lot of tobacco and I’ve found definitely need more rest time than smaller cigars. Given the price, too, I’m not sure I’d want to risk $35 or $40 on a fresh cigar versus waiting. Might be worth keeping an eye on Bond Roberts for something with a year or two of age that you can comfortably get in to sooner.

[HoyoDC]

Perfect thanks, also trying to get faster with the 24 24 bids.  It is a challenge😀!!

[BrightonCorgi]

1 hour ago, HoyoDC said:

This is great to hear, do you suggest to look for 2022 boxes or buy 2024 and age them? Are they ok to try out of the box?

Doesn't matter really.  Whichever ones look better.  Punch DC's can age near lifetime.  2 years won't make much a difference 5+ years from now.

There's only one way to know if you'll like them out of the box.  I'd save them for the future unless you don't have any other DC's to smoke.  If no others then smoke one for scholarly insight.  Some things need to be learned first hand.  Plenty of fans of fresh cigars.

[HoyoDC]

I agree. I like the thought that if a cigar really suck out of the box, it won’t be great 5 years from now.  

[HoyoDC]

1 hour ago, joeypots said:

I used to smoke DCs a lot. The Tuesday night card game was prime smoking time and we burned through cabs of Lusis and Hoyio DCs. No country does a double corona like Cuba. So, yes, I love a DC and I dispute the idea that they get no love. I think the speed of peoples lives make it harder now than it was 25 years ago to set aside 2 hours for a big cigar.  Everyone is too f@#$%*’n busy now. I often prefer to smoke two smaller cigar than one big one, especially since cigarmegedon. On a day like tomorrow, the NFL conference championships, calls for something special and a Cuban double corona might just be a prefect first cigar. 

I believe we have become self obsessed with electronics and not really as busy.  Our minds cannot produce more than 6 hours of productive work, the rest is churn or us wasting time. That is why I love cigars where I can turn my phone off for 2 hours, have a scotch and a nice cigar before I go back to grinder again. But your point regarding a coupe of shorter cigars is well taken. That is beauty of cigars. To mix it up based on your experience.  

[bergstrom]

1 hour ago, LizardGizmo said:

Our box was SOU DIC 21 and I had stored it at 62rh for about a year - I didn’t try any prior to recording. Double Coronas have a lot of tobacco and I’ve found definitely need more rest time than smaller cigars. Given the price, too, I’m not sure I’d want to risk $35 or $40 on a fresh cigar versus waiting. Might be worth keeping an eye on Bond Roberts for something with a year or two of age that you can comfortably get in to sooner.

Love hearing this - I have a punch DC box from December 21 as well that I haven’t touched yet. Might need to finally smoke one while listening to the lizards episode about that same stick

[HoyoDC]

50 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Extensively discussed here:

 

Please send a link to your review when live. 

3 hours ago, joeypots said:

I used to smoke DCs a lot. The Tuesday night card game was prime smoking time and we burned through cabs of Lusis and Hoyio DCs. No country does a double corona like Cuba. So, yes, I love a DC and I dispute the idea that they get no love. I think the speed of peoples lives make it harder now than it was 25 years ago to set aside 2 hours for a big cigar.  Everyone is too f@#$%*’n busy now. I often prefer to smoke two smaller cigar than one big one, especially since cigarmegedon. On a day like tomorrow, the NFL conference championships, calls for something special and a Cuban double corona might just be a prefect first cigar. 

I believe we have become self obsessed with electronics and not really as busy.  Our minds cannot produce more than 6 hours of productive work, the rest is churn or us wasting time. That is why I love cigars where I can turn my phone off for 2 hours, have a scotch and a nice cigar before I go back to grinder again. But your point regarding a coupe of shorter cigars is well taken. That is beauty of cigars. To mix it up based on your experience.  

[Cigarsmoker81]

For what it’s worth I love the flavor of Cuban dcs but I rarely have the time to smoke one. It’s not easy to have 2.5-3 hrs to spend smoking a cigar but when I do it’s absolutely amazing. 

[BrightonCorgi]

7 hours ago, HoyoDC said:

I agree. I like the thought that if a cigar really suck out of the box, it won’t be great 5 years from now.  

Depends why they sucked initially.  Many will attest to dismissing a box of cigars as junk to come back 5-10 years later and be in awe.

[HoyoDC]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Depends why they sucked initially.  Many will attest to dismissing a box of cigars as junk to come back 5-10 years later and be in awe.

Interesting!! I but I get your point as to The reason they suck.  It is amazing though keeping a box for 15 years that you didn’t initially like. Like a bad marriage. 😀

[NSXCIGAR]

Quite frankly the only DC I enjoy these days is the Punch DC. The rest don't ever impress me and considering the prices there are other options that I prefer. I'd take a Salomones over the Lusi and the Rio Seco or SJ or even an EE over the Hoyo DC every time. RAG is just too light for me. Might as well go for a RA 3. 

[HoyoDC]

I am look forward to trying the Punch DC.

[BrightonCorgi]

16 hours ago, HoyoDC said:

Interesting!! I but I get your point as to The reason they suck.  It is amazing though keeping a box for 15 years that you didn’t initially like. Like a bad marriage. 😀

The box is easily forgotten (unlike a marriage) in the back of the humidor. 

 

15 hours ago, HoyoDC said:

I am look forward to trying the Punch DC.

I am hot to buy another box too. For some reason though, I find that Punch cigars more common to have mold on them; especially older boxes. Doesn't bother me at all. Not sure if it's just me or if other have noticed this with Punch. 

I put Punch on the top 3-4 marcas.

[Thirds]

6 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

put Punch on the top 3-4 marcas.

+1 

I often forget about Punch due to limited options/minimal stock. But every time I have a Punch Punch or DC, I think “I need more of these”.  I wish I had acted on that thought 3 years ago. 

[Sandman]

On 1/27/2024 at 12:55 PM, HoyoDC said:

I just find that the Lusitania, Upmann Mag 50 and Hoyo DC are always under attack?  They are 3 of the best cigars out there.  

The reason I don’t like the new world as much is the free draw and lack of complexity.  They only get amazing reviews in cigar aficionados 'cause they pay. 💰 

Mag 50 is under attack because the blend is sub par. Compared to a Connie B, or A not even the same realm. Probably just my palate though, but I’ve tried the mag50 many times, owned 50 cabs, 25 counts etc, it’s always a disappointment. 

 

15 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Quite frankly the only DC I enjoy these days is the Punch DC. The rest don't ever impress me and considering the prices there are other options that I prefer. I'd take a Salomones over the Lusi and the Rio Seco or SJ or even an EE over the Hoyo DC every time. RAG is just too light for me. Might as well go for a RA 3. 

Agreed. RAG was always too mild for my tastes, but there were some exceptions over the years. Hoyo also used to be mild also, haven’t had one in a long time to know how they are nowadays. I agree, Punch is the main DC to keep an eye out for. They do age forever, I have a 50 cab that is 21 years old and they are stellar. 

[Skm672]

I think the DC vitola is one of the best if you have the time. The 50 cabs are the go to but finding one today is almost impossible. I would always say the hoyo DC is the best regular production blend. I have read that many believe Hoyo to be on the lighter side but a good one is always full of flavor.

The montecristo antique humidor is a unique experience. Very creamy and a nice 2 hour smoke. The Robaina is a hit or miss.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HoyoDC]

9 hours ago, ha_banos said:

Also feel free to drop a note. When are you in London? Maybe the FoH UK crew are out and about if you fancy some company.

Cannot promise to bring Kirby along.

Would love to go to the Davidoff store and maybe a cigar smoking club. 

 

2 hours ago, Sandman said:

Mag 50 is under attack because the blend is sub par. Compared to a Connie B, or A not even the same realm. Probably just my palate though, but I’ve tried the mag50 many times, owned 50 cabs, 25 counts etc, it’s always a disappointment. 

I never tried the Connie A or B. So I need to do that too to test my taste buds. Will do!! Thx. 

[Li Bai]

As a good friend of mine likes to say, I think there is a before and an after in a cigar smoker's life when it comes to Cuban DC. 

If a good CC is like a song, a good DC is like an entire symphony imho. I really enjoy the Punch, the Lusi, the HDM too but my heart goes with the Gigantes 😍

Of course you need time (and stomach) to enjoy them so it's not an everyday smoke for me...

On 1/29/2024 at 3:43 AM, Sandman said:

Mag 50 is under attack because the blend is sub par. Compared to a Connie B, or A not even the same realm. Probably just my palate though, but I’ve tried the mag50 many times, owned 50 cabs, 25 counts etc, it’s always a disappointment. 

I respectfully couldn't disagree more (it's just my opinion of course) ! As a great H.Upmann fan, I really enjoy a good mag 50 (you definitely have to carefully choose the ones you pick though, just like the Party E2, unless you're on for a big disappointment !) and find the Connie A and B completely irrelevant. I guess one has to see for himself 🤔

[Sandman]

21 hours ago, Li Bai said:

As a good friend of mine likes to say, i think there is a before and an after in a cigar smoker's life when it comes to Cuban DC. 

If a good CC is like a song, a good DC is like an entire symphony imho. I really enjoy the Punch, the Lusi, the HDM too but my heart goes with the Gigantes 😍

Of course you need time (and stomach) to enjoy them so it's not an everyday smoke for me...

I respectfully couldn't disagree more (it's just my opinion of course) ! As a great H.Upmann fan I really enjoy a good mag 50 (you definitely have to carefully choose the ones you pick though, just like the Party E2, unless you're on for a big disappointment !) and find the Connie A and B completely irrelevant. I guess one has to see for himself 🤔

My issue with Mag 50 is that it is way too light in strength. It’s a mild cigar. Way too mild. It could be a much better cigar if it was even a medium strength, but it’s mild, and frankly mild in flavor. Nice flavors though I will agree. Just out of curiosity, do you smoke everyday? Just curious, because I smoke 2-3 everyday, so maybe my palate just needs more full flavor and strength. 

[Li Bai]

8 hours ago, Sandman said:

My issue with Mag 50 is that it is way too light in strength. It’s a mild cigar. Way too mild. It could be a much better cigar if it was even a medium strength, but it’s mild, and frankly mild in flavor. Nice flavors though I will agree. Just out of curiosity, do you smoke everyday? Just curious, because I smoke 2-3 everyday, so maybe my palate just needs more full flavor and strength. 

I used to smoke 3 to 4 cigars a day but not anymore as I enjoy them more after giving my nose and palate a longer rest. Don't you find the Connie A and B too mild too? Well, this is interesting as we might never be able to figure it out, I've often had this kind of conversation with other compadres aficionados and there seems to be cigars out of our understanding, for each of us.

For me it's the HdM Le Hoyo Rio Seco (I don't get this cigar, it is empty to me and the price is a mystery) for a friend it's the widely praised Mag 46, for another it's the Party Short (which I love by the way). Let me get this straight, I've had Mag 50's that fit your description but the ones I like come from boxes carefully selected by me and they're far from bland, at least to my taste.