Late 2005 cigars

[Professor Twain]

There has been a lot of attention paid to the enhancements in the 2006 cigars due to greater use of aged tobacco. I'm beginning to wonder, how might this have affected cigars from late 2005? I have a number of boxes or box splits from November and December 2005 and the cigars have ranged from duds to unexceptional, including Partagas SD4, SP2, and 898 Varnished, Monte 2, Cohiba Sig I, and Monte Edmundos.

I wonder, any possibility that the cigars rolled during the end of 2005 may have gotten the scraps that couldn't be used after the start of 2006?

Of course maybe my late 2005s will flourish with age, or my reviews of the late 05s are just off.

[Phailure]

Whats the code on your 2005 box of PSD4s? If I recall correctly, I have a box of late 2005 (either nov or dec.) and I have found the few that I sampled to be rather enjoyable. As for the other sticks, I can't comment. Hopefully someone else will chime in who has more experience.

[Professor Twain]

I sold off the remainder of the box and don't have the code, but it was from December 05. It was an OK cigar, just mild and on the dull side. Chuck smoked one with me from this box, maybe he will weigh in, but I remember that he advised me to try to get some 06s.

[shrink]

I have about half a box of SEP05 PSD4s left, which I've put into the dungeon. I would describe them as OK, but nothing like the '06s, which are pretty damned strong.

After trying a lot of the '06s, I'm convinced that they are superior to most '04 and '05 issues. There are several exceptions, however:

Bolivar PCs MAY05 are very good.

Diplomaticos JUL05 are excellent.

MAR05 Punch RS11 are very good.

DEC05 Romeo Cazadores are outstanding.

DEC05 Rafael Gonzalez lonsdales are very good.

[greenpimp]

My Hoyo Epi1s from July 05 have been outstanding.

[Tampa1257]

PT, I really do not think that anyone could say that Habanos S.A. used left over or scrapes to make the latter production cigars. A couple of things come to mind for me.

One issue is that for many vitolas, the use of the aged Ligero, Seco and Volado that began in the very early part of 2006 marked a major transition in the taste and development of the 2006 production which shines far above the latter year end production of the 2005 cigars. This in my opinion means that the 2005 later produced items still need time to develop and mature. While the 2005 PSD4 that we smoked was OK, it was not nearly as strong or flavorful as the single example of the Jun 2006 PSD4 that I recently smoked.

Cigars are a hand made product. Some will be better than others, that is just a fact of life. I feel that the late 2005 production cigars just need more humidor time before they will shine.

I have said this before, and I will say it again, there just can not be enough said about long term humidor time to bring out the flavors and complexities in a Habanos. Store them in a monitored humidor for as long as possible and the more time the better the cigar will be.

[grateful1]

This in my opinion

» means that the 2005 later produced items still need time to develop and

» mature. While the 2005 PSD4 that we smoked was OK, it was not nearly as

» strong or flavorful as the single example of the Jun 2006 PSD4 that I

» recently smoked.

Could this be due to the 'sick' period the PSD go into?

I had 2 boxes from late 2005 - one was great - the other not so great.

They are now just coiming out of being tasteless.