Overall Thoughts on 2005?

[Colt45]

In thinking about it awhile, I've concluded that for me, 2005 was a hit or miss year for Habanos.

A few personal opinions:

Very good - Bolivar PC, Por Larrañaga PC, VR Unicos

Decent but not great: SLR DC, Partagas P2, Bolivar RC

Hit or Miss: Bolivar BF, Montecristo No.2, VR Famosos

Poor: Partagas SD4, RASS, Partagas SdC No.1

[anacostiakat]

» In thinking about it awhile, I've concluded that for me, 2005 was a hit or

» miss year for Habanos.

»

» A few personal opinions:

»

» Very good - Bolivar PC, Por Larrañaga PC, VR Unicos

»

» Decent but not great: SLR DC, Partagas P2, Bolivar RC

»

» Hit or Miss: Bolivar BF, Montecristo No.2, VR Famosos

»

» Poor: Partagas SD4, RASS, Partagas SdC No.1

SLR DCs are good and I think will become stellar.

VR DAs are phenomenal now.

CoRo have been great.

Partagas Super Partagas are great.

Partagas 898V good now. Great in 3 - 5.

Trini Fundys decent now. Great in 3 - 5.

PSP#2s have come around.

HUP Mag 46 stellar.

Partagas Corona Seniors were ok.

[Claudius]

» In thinking about it awhile, I've concluded that for me, 2005 was a hit or

» miss year for Habanos.

»

» A few personal opinions:

»

» Very good - Bolivar PC, Por Larrañaga PC, VR Unicos

I'd add Ramon Allones Gigantes to this category.

[El Presidente]

2005 showed progressive improvement from 2004. I thought 2003 was a pretty good year. The back end of 2005 was stronger (better cigars) than the first half but that is a personal opinion.

The only cigars that really disappointed me was Monte 2's/4's. They both made a remarkable comeback in 2006.

[greenpimp]

I bought and sampled quite a few 2005's, and had pretty good luck with a few marcas.

Hoyo Epi1--The clear winner for me in 2005. I have three or four boxes, and all of them are GREAT. Getting better, too. Strong and flavorful and complex, all within the realm of the proper marca profile IMO.

Also excellent were both the San Cristobal la Punta and El Morro. The La Punta was the best belicoso I had smoked since my 2003 BBF's were gone. Intense spices and earth and chocolate, yet balanced. The El Morros, not so balanced yet. A real sledgehammer of a cigar, in flavor and nicotine. I think these will be great in a few years. Nice to have a big, strong cigar around though.

Upmann Mag 46 and Connoiseur 1 were both very good in my experience. I've heard others complain about the Mag46 in 2005, but mine are nearly as good as ones from 5 years ago or more. And the Conn1s, while still too strong right now, are full of flavor and potential.

Partagas SD4's sucked for me in 2005, but the initial run of PSD2s were outstanding. They were 05, right?

2005 Bolivars, in general, for me also sucked. I have BBF's and PC's that were bland, and the RC's I sampled were so-so at best.

Oh and Punch RS11! How could I forget? My runner up to 2005 cigar of the year with the Epi1! One of the richest Punch cigars I've ever smoked, save the Punch DC's I went through 10 years ago.

[wp2]

Great post guys, thanks for the opinions!!

[Colt45]

» HUP Mag 46 stellar.

» I've heard others complain about the Mag46 in 2005, but mine are nearly as good

» as ones from 5 years ago or more.

For me, these were a rather dirty tasting cigar, though a sample a week or two ago makes me think

these may finally be coming around.

The PSP2s I have are indeed '05, though not from the initial release. They are not bad, but to me

they do not offer anything out of the ordinary. I smoked another last week - same result.

A bit of a letdown, especially given the accolades these received early on.