Hands Of Time: Rafael González 88 (ER Asia Pacific 2016)

[El Presidente]

So what have the "Hands of Time" done with the Rafael González 88 (ER Asia Pacific 2016) 

This is a new series where we take a cigar that may have had somewhat mixed reviews upon release and see where they are now with a little water under the bridge. 

 

Setting the discussion:

The Rafael Gonzalez 88 Asia Pacific Regional 2016 was largely panned upon release for lacking complexity, flavour, palate presence. The contrarian view was that like the long gone (2010 discontinued) Rafael Gonzalez Corona Extra, this RG 88 blend  will take years to develop"

 

It's now coming on 10 years. 

Discuss where the RG 88 has ended up 

 

Thanks to John S for the photos 👍

[JohnS]

Put it this way, the reaction you'd expect from getting gifted a 10 year-old Diplomaticos Bushidos is still very, very different in comparison to getting gifted a Rafael Gonzalez 88. However, having said this, I have recently sampled one after getting gifted it by @Luca and then I opened my box not too long ago from 2016. Both specimens had opened up quite nicely. By comparison, smoking a RG 88 in 2017, well, I remember the cigar being quite 'closed'. 

[bmac]

I opened a box from 2016 within the last few months and it was one of the best cigars I smoked all year.Twang in spades.

[Habanoschris]

"Hands of time" - great idea, great photos too John. 

[messymerlion]

Was gifted one of these by my cousin and it was one of the best RG I’ve had to date. Maybe I was a 'lil biased because anything free always tastes better!😄

[pohlmad]

Smoked one of these on my dog walk today. Never a bad smoke when you are having one while walking the dog. First 3rd tasted like burnt char for some reason, however, @LizardGizmo, and the rest of the Lizards have taught me to proceed forward to let the cigar have an opportunity to transition. 2nd half would be best described as marshmallow but every few puffs I would still get a very strong burnt char taste. Final third was similar to the second third. Overall, not my favorite, but like I said, still a great time hanging with my four-legged friend!  

[El Presidente]

I enjoyed a Rafael Gonzalez 88 on Friday night while watching a movie with Di. Tradition is we eat outside Friday night, a few drinks, cigar, movie: This week we landed on "Outkast", Nicolas Cage, Appalling. 

The cigar was magnificent. The aroma sublime to the extent that Di commented. 

The 88 never ventured past the medium realm but delivered milk chocolate/marshmallow + cedar/campfire  in spades. 

One of the cigars of the year to date.  

[yuppie]

5 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

The 88 never ventured past the medium realm but delivered milk chocolate/marshmallow + cedar/campfire  in spades. 

One of the cigars of the year to date.  

This sounds incredible.

[ha_banos]

Light but great. More would not go amiss. This was a secret Santa gift.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGghJSANiqF/?igsh=eGp3ZDNhdG82OTh2