Beneath the Band: Quai d'Orsay 54

[El Presidente]

This series to explore whether a particular cigar is humidor worthy. Cost these days is an issue for many so let's see if we can highlight some absolute standouts. This should particularly assist those new to the cigar world.  

To be fair, most of the cigars we have featured to date have scored exceptionally well. Surprisingly well! 

Scoring is: 1-3 (Poor)   4-6 (Average to good)   7-10  (very good to excellent)  Use the Poll. 

You are more than free to comment away 

Quai d'Orsay number 54. quality cigar but not a go to for me. Brioche, milk coffee spine leaves me wanting for a touch more "oomph". If I want this profile I would go for a San Cristobal Fuerza. QD 52 is the standout for me in the 50/52/54 line.  

Today: Quai d'Orsay 54. Do you enjoy them? Fresh or aged? If aged...how long before they generally hit their stride.

Let's kick off the discussion 

[Mike Mecklenburg]

I was able to purchase some when they first came out and they were very good. I have not tried them lately.

[Chibearsv]

I agree with the assessment that they leave me wanting more when young. With 5+ they deliver complexity for me. I’ll always have 54s. Just a classy smooth cigar with no surprises. There’s plenty of times when that’s just what I need. 

[Ford2112]

Meh

[JohnS]

My originals from 2018/19 have developed more slowly than my QdO 50s from the same time period. I've been enamoured by the latest Quai d'Orsay releases, the Imperiales and No.52, of late, so I haven't really considered the No.54 at all.

[Li Bai]

I've had a few I really enjoyed but I'm not looking for them for the same reasons as @JohnS's 🙏

[loose_axle]

Also the same the other gauges were swept aside once the 52 dropped. 

[99call]

When they first came out I was a fan. Later boxes were criminally underfilled. As one of my favourite marcas, this pisses me off. They had the chance to be the E2 of the line, but consistency just doesn't give them a opportunity to impress. My current order of preference:

• Coronas Claro
• 52
• 54
• 50

Such an elegant blend deserves a few more skinnies. 

[Redgoldband]

Got into these on the recommendation of a friend since my first few go’s with the 50 (November 2023 batch) were unsatisfactory. I experienced the young 50s as WTH, and forgot about them. Was excited to try the 54s (May 2024 batch) as I thought they’d be more E2-like. Naw, they were very mild and meh, forgettable even. Hoping some forgotten time in the humidor will do these well. So far, can’t see anything special about this stick.


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[rcarlson]

Big whoop. Bland.  

[MrBirdman]

5 hours ago, rcarlson said:

Big whoop. Bland.  

☝️

There are much more interesting large-RG cigars in the Habanos portfolio. A lot of them are cheaper too. Not a bad cigar just not particularly good either. 

[Fugu]

On 9/12/2025 at 2:06 PM, 99call said:

Such an elegant blend deserves a few more skinnies. 

 

3 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

There are much more interesting large-RG cigars in the Habanos portfolio.

Idiocy from Habanos to apply that “pumped girth” policy to all brands across the board, no matter what.

[99call]

45 minutes ago, Fugu said:

Idiocy from Habanos to apply that “pumped girth” policy to all brands across the board, no matter what.

I think fans a truly balanced cigars all railed against it when it first happened, but frustratingly cigars like the E2, Rio Seco, Esmeralda, Upmann B. all proved they could deliver. I still wouldn't suggest they are my preference, but we have to give credit to cigars that succeed in being pleasurable against the odds. 

[Fugu]

Sure. I agree, and I still do smoke those as well on occasion (what can you do… 😂). I do like the E2. But, I mean, come on, diversity… !

There’s a vast imbalance towards those “modern” formats… and counting. And that even in brands that - quite as you say it - are and have been historically (shown to be) more suited for smaller girth formats. You know @99call, barring the deplorable general supply situation there’s less and less formats today for me personally. I am being left with - and have to resort to buying mainly - PCs and former machine-made slender cigars now (H. Upmann, Partagás anyone?!), when I am looking for smaller-gauge cigars for my daily consumption. Apart from the odd MdO4, Monte Espy or CCE. Where are the quality “decent”-format (dare asking for “slender”...) cigars?! Cigars that bring something else to the table. Interesting formats. The QdO 54 is not one of them (neither is the 50, for that matter).

The big shame in all this being: Most new smokers will never know and thus never get to appreciate the beauty of the multi-faceted, elegant nature of milder skinnies. Cigars like a QdO Panetelas, a ERDM GdE or a Le Hoyo du Gourmet… A niche that is going to be lost for good, apart from the speciality Regional here and there. Or has already been?

(Sorry, rant over. 😅)

[MrBirdman]

2 hours ago, Fugu said:

There’s a vast imbalance towards those “modern” formats… and counting.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head - it’s not that I have a problem with large RG cigars - to each his own! But it’s come at the expense of the <46RG range, which are a fraction of what they once were.