El Presidente Posted April 9, 2009 Posted April 9, 2009 Well, we have finished the first quarter 2009 (which appeared to go at lightning speed) Think like a coach for a moment and you are assessing your team after the first quarter. What would your report be? Standouts for me were the Cohiba Seleccion Reserva (near 100 perfect) and the Cohiba Piramide 2006 (not too far behind mid 90's). Sir Winston, Cohiba Robusto, Magnum 50 continued from last quarter as being amongst the leaders of general production cigars (07/08). However they have been joined and excluding the Winston, (surpassed) by Punch Corona, Punch Petit Corona and Punch Petit Punch in a quite amazing dislplay. The put it simply....the blenders nailed it and the consistency of the three was superior to the Magnum 50/Cohiba Robusto. Partagas 898 V is holding on but I have had some disappointments over the past 12 weeks. The Connoisseur line 1/2/3 continues to power on with the Connoisseur No 3 in my list as quarter greats. This last quarter saw the finest array (consistently) of Ramon Allones Specially Selected I have ever seen. They smoke like they look..rich and sweet. Bolivar Royal Corona is not too far behind but behind it is when tking into account week to week over the quarter. Best DC: Lusitania (some very hot cigars coming through which are tasting fuller and richer than I can remember in 10 years). Best Churchill Winston. Honourable mention to Bolivar Corona Gigante Best Dalia/Corona Grande : Partagas 898 V Best Long Panetela : Montecristo Especiale Best Piramide Diplomatico No 2 Best Lonsdale Montecristo No 1 Best Belicoso Bolivar Belicoso Fino Best Corona Extra Bolivar Belicoso Extra Best Robusto Extra/Like Cohiba Siglo VI Best Robusto RASS Best Petit Robusto HDM Petit Robusto. Best Corona Punch Corona Best Petit Corona Punch Petit Corona Best half Corona Punch Petit Punch Best small Panetela/like Partagas Serie De Connoisseur No 3
CigarZen Posted April 9, 2009 Posted April 9, 2009 Nice list Prez. I had a Trini Fundadore last night, JUL 08, and despite being fresh and thus wet, the flavors were beyond great: a sweet wood, with clear notes of vanilla throughout; excellent balance, very elegant and it gained some strength in the last third. A treat of a cigar, even if the finish was short. Great raw materials and construction. Solidly in the 91-93 range.
Evo03 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 Monte Especial 2008, amazing for being so young, and beautiful to look at Punch Petit Corona, what Rob said Mag 46 late 07, love these
sliver54 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 Thanks for putting this together Prez... At first glance, I immediately had the impression of you showing your old corporate colors as it seemed like a company coming out with their quarterly earnings lol. I serously need to get out of "work mode" and gear up for the long weekend! Anyway, back to cigar mode.... I have to say that the best cigar I smoked was an 898v that completely floored me... it was exactly what I was looking for in a cigar with amazing complexity and flavor. If you noticed I said "AN 898v" (singular) because the next was a disapointment as you said... I am letting my box sit for a few more months before going back in. Close second was the CoRo... consistently great cigar every time I lit one up. Punch PC's haven't blown me away yet but have been very enjoyable. Lastly, I have to mention the young Siglo I's which have been fantastic... a little age should make these a knockout.
Ken Gargett Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 just recently, that LE 03 partagas D2 was a stunner but topped by a 2000 CoRo. about to do a review, when i get time. brilliant.
Jimmy2 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 I would think that almost everything in 2008 have been excellant and this is the true benchmark year for Cuban cigars in a long time not 06 like most think. I think 2006 was the start but the changes are really paying off now and 2008 is just the beginning of great things to come.
El Presidente Posted April 10, 2009 Author Posted April 10, 2009 Jimmy, the only downside with 2008 is that they really struggled with obtaining quality wrapper at various times. That should improve back end 09/10.
Jimmy2 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 Yes i remember you saying that but aside from that they have been very very tasty.
PigFish Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 I can't comment on too many current production cigars because I don't smoke a lot of them. I am still working on Monte 1 Esp from 00 and 01!!! I am not too happy with the '08 Monte 1 or the '08 PLPC. I do agree that the D-2 and the BBF are fantastic. I believe the '07 La Punta tops the BBF and I wish I could find more. Most of the minutos and sub-PC cigars are wonderful including the M-5, RASCC and ElP. That is about the extent of my depth of cigars in the past couple of years. I am stuck smoking a lot of '01 cigars!!! Someone has gotta' do it! Enjoy. -Piggy
sounddust Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 Below are the vitolas which impressed me the most( that I had 2 or more variants). What impressed me the most was the Punch DC. Damn that was a monumental smoke. Best DC: Punch DC Best Churchill: Sir Winnies Best Piramide: '07 Monte 2 Best Belicoso: '05 La Punta Best Corona Extra: '05 BCEs Best Robusto Extra/Like: '08 Cohiba Siglo VI Best Robusto: '07 Famosos Best half Corona :'07 El Principe Best small Panetela/like: '08 Partagas Serie De Connoisseur No 3
Jimmy2 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 My Friend gifted me a 08 Partagas Lusi it was nice dark wrapper (have not seen this wrapper since 97) also it was med to full with tons of classic Partagas flavor very close if not same since the blend change back in the late 1990's. I will say this is the best DC out today i could smoke them by the truck loads it was that good and yes i think i am in love with the DC cigar again. THEY ARE BACK!!!!
SethG Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 How about the LE's from 2008. Holy balls they were good. The trinidad sucked but the Monte and Cuaba were amazing smokes.
Guest rob Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 Rob, I was surprised to see you rate the RASS as your fave Robusto - given the glowing appraisal of the Cohiba Robusto in the video review earlier this year. In fact, I was under the impression that with the unanimous accolades for the CoRo that was reviewed that nothing else even came close. Personally, I love them both... but given the choice - I'll reach for the CoRO eight out of ten times.
Stalebread Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 My list is pretty short since I smoke only one or two per week. The '09 first quarter standouts are: -- Ramon Allones 8-9-8 from '99 -- Hoyo Piramides LE, 2003 -- SLR DC from '06 and (whispered) a Padron '64 Anni maduro Principe purchased in '06 .
kilroy Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 - PSD4 (all dates, all the time) - Partagas Coronas (02) I'm a Partagas ***** TOO! - Boli CE ('99) - Cohiba Exquisitos (02) - OMG I stunner... thanks to Professor Twain - HdM EL 03 - more thanks to the professor Those are the outstanding ones.. all 90+
Stalebread Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 My Friend gifted me a 08 Partagas Lusi it was nice dark wrapper (have not seen this wrapper since 97) also it was med to full with tons of classic Partagas flavor very close if not same since the blend change back in the late 1990's.I will say this is the best DC out today i could smoke them by the truck loads it was that good and yes i think i am in love with the DC cigar again. That good, huh? This is one cigar that's been on my radar for a while especially since they come in a box of ten. But then, I've also been considering Sig VI, Partagas Serie De Connoisseur #2 and RASS. My fantasy life is rich.
bigkev Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 The Cohiba Siglo IV was outstanding along with a recent R&J Short Robusto. Partaga Shorts were also back in full fashion. I need to get me a box of the CoRo's based on recent feedback. Do they ever go on sale?? :-)
android Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 I agree, Cohiba Seleccion Reserva! Have a couple of boxes from 2002 and broke into them just recently and they are amazing.
Stalebread Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 . . . Standouts for me were the Cohiba Seleccion Reserva (near 100 perfect) . . . After reading this again -- do you really mean the Seleccion Reserva or do you mean the Gran Reserva? Or are they the same thing?
Rogers72 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 My standouts have been: BCJ CSIV Both from late 07 I think but don't have the exact codes with me at the office.
jwm8592 Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 The best cigar I smoked this past quarter was by far the Cuaba LE, hands down the most complexity and flavorful and for still being quite young absolutely no burn or draw issues, just a fantastic smoke, guess you were spot on with that call Rob. Now w/that being said I have sitting in the humi some Sir Winston's & Siglo VI's that have gone untouched. My $.02.
bigkev Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 Just smoked a RASS from '07; best one to date so far, very nutty and creamy, medium bodied. Very nice with a darker wrapper then the ones I had before.
El Presidente Posted April 10, 2009 Author Posted April 10, 2009 Rob, I was surprised to see you rate the RASS as your fave Robusto - given the glowing appraisal of the Cohiba Robusto in the video review earlier this year. rob the RASS takes the Q1 prize because it brought both construction, consistency and excellence to the table. I can't recall seeing a bad box or having more than one below par experience. The Coro has not attainined in the first quarter the same level of consistency.
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