Deep Dive: The 54/55 Regular Production Ring Gauge Tribe

[El Presidente]

Let your eyes wander the list. There are some absolute stunning cigars in the 54/55 gauge. We have listed the 54/55  gauge regular production cigars from 110mm - 150mm. 

Two questions for you and of course we can discuss it all further in this thread. 

Pick your Top 5 in terms of class (complexity/flavour/mouthfeel). 

Pick your Top 5 in terms of class and value (balancing satisfaction and value). 

[cnov]

I'm undequalified to be able to answer these with any weight as I've only tried the Vigia, San Juan and Wide Edmundo. 

The Vigia and San Juan I've had have felt on the light side, both examples being underfilled and even with a small punch, they just didn't give enough resistance. Hoping my remaining few give better results. 

The single Wide Edmundo was pretty good, though on the younger side, interested to see where these go. Too big in the mouth for me to be honest. 

[my happy place]

7 minutes ago, cnov said:

I'm undequalified to be able to answer these with any weight as I've only tried the Vigia, San Juan and Wide Edmundo. 

The Vigia and San Juan I've had have felt on the light side, both examples being underfilled and even with a small punch, they just didn't give enough resistance. Hoping my remaining few give better results. 

The single Wide Edmundo was pretty good, though on the younger side, interested to see where these go. Too big in the mouth for me to be honest. 

I agree with you. I've said before Wide Edmundo is the cigar that made me realize I don't enjoy smoking anything over a 52rg.

 

[Ford2112]

If I have to smoke a fatter RG 

San Juan

Wide Edmundo

E2

Wide Churchill

Vigia

Those blends are good. The E2 and Wide Eddie get top honors because they are good cigars. I will overlook the size. San Juan would be third.

I had a tubo Vigia once that I can still smell and taste.

Wide Churchills are inconsistent at the best of times. If you get one that has the cherry thing going they are good. I prefer a RyJ Petit Royales tubo frankly. Never had a Behike that made me want another. Never smoked a Cuban Maduro that I felt warranted further exploration.

[Rushman]

Man. You had me at Monte Eagle. Just kidding. I still remember when we first got boxes of the Montecristo Open Series in our shop in PDC. I have not smoked all of the cigars on this list but from the 65-70% of them I have smoked at one time or another, I felt pretty good about my choices. Each one I clicked I would gladly smoke again. Sadly, I do not think I have any of these left in the humidor, unless its a stranded single.

[griller]

I'm another who just doesn't go for the fatties. Anything over 52 ring is pretty much off my list except for the Partagas Serie E2. Funny thing: that is one of my favs out of the entire Habanos catalog!

[smashed]

How is the Piramides not here?! 😛 

Also lol at 0% on the Monte Eagle with both polls. Zero surprise there.

5 hours ago, griller said:

I'm another who just doesn't go for the fatties. Anything over 52 ring is pretty much off my list except for the Partagas Serie E2. Funny thing: that is one of my favs out of the entire Habanos catalog!

Yeah I also prefer 38-52 but there's some real good sticks at 53-54 too. Ambar, Party Serie E, Piramides Extra, Connie B...I can't just dismiss them because a smidge big. I do put down a firm foot above 54 though, I just feel uncomfortable with like a Behike 56. They're too much. Guys smoking the 60+ stuff blows my mind, would make my jaw hurt, haha! 

[Çnote]

I have noted my shopping list is getting skinnier but then I see E2 and San Juan and Vigia. I love the idea of Epi3 and QdO54 but it's rough math. If I simply no longer cared about money I could simply smoke E2 and San Juan all day.

[joeypots]

Wide cigars are to common now to ignore. I thought the first Siglo VI I smoked was too fat but, like the wide cigars I have smoked, any issues I had with the size was forgotten because the cigar was good. The Conni B and San Juan are the only giant ones I smoked and IMHO they are worthy though I'm not inclined to acquire many given current conditions. I will concede that the QD 52 is pretty damn good and I'd never turn down a Siglo VI so I am slowly making peace with the trend.

[Chibearsv]

E2 is the winner for me in this group by a wide margin. 

[Mike Mecklenburg]

I want to not like the fat ring gauges (53 and up) but had too many very good ones, so I can't ignore them. 

[MrBirdman]

I see the Monte Eagle has a goose egg, which tells me Ken has yet to vote 

[Lucas Buck]

This is timely as I’m smoking more fatties than ever before. Most of my favorite cigars have traditionally been close to 40rg with many being closer to 30rg. Unfortunately more than half of them are no longer being rolled. Being practically forced to embrace the fattening of Habanos I have found I love many of them going back to the magnificent Cohiba Behike. I still crave my thinnies most of the time but smoke at least a couple 52+ a week now. The Le Hoyo de San Juan is the all star for me so far. 

[Namisgr11]

While it's not the usual preference, I don't mind a 54-56 ring gauge if the cigar is rich and tasty. Having only smoked 3 of the cigars on the list, for me the hands down winner is the Connie B, followed by some distance by the Vigia and then the Party E2. In fact, while neither had more than 2 years of age, I got more flavor enjoyment out of the Connie B than the Sir Winston I sampled.

[El Presidente]

Ken and I have just reviewed this week a 2025 Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de San Juan. 

Stunningly good. 93/94 from the both of us. 

[Ford2112]

12 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Ken and I have just reviewed this week a 2025 Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de San Juan. 

Stunningly good. 93/94 from the both of us. 

I have had some really good examples of these. Rio Seco as well. Therein lies the rub. They are blending these to win.

[loose_axle]

14 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

I have had some really good examples of these. Rio Seco as well. Therein lies the rub. They are blending these to win.

Yeah I can't pick between San Juan or Rio de Seco. Both great, both slightly different, I love them.