Sancho Panza

[Smooth]

I love a good Sancho Beli and would be disappointed to see them fall off the planet.

Used to love the Molinos, when they drew well... Which was rarely.

Never bought them in droves but would miss being able to pick up a few singles. To lose the Sancho Panza line altogether would be a bit of a shame as they are the only cigar that gives me a pleasant salty flavour which I love in summer or on any sunny afternoon with a chilled beer.

[scinmyheart]

that's one line that I, too, have not smoked...just hasn't really crossed my mind since I've not really heard much either way about them

[mash]

I like the Belis, salty profile that I think is pretty unique. Aged Coronas and NP's are mild, but enjoyable.

If you want sales to go up, just advertise that they're on the chopping block. Human nature to want what we may lose.

[Buch0]

If you want sales to go up, just advertise that they're on the chopping block. Human nature to want what we may lose.

Very interesting.... I am intrigued to see how well this would work.

[habanohal]

Belicosa, Non Plus, Bacherellis, and Coronas are all in my rotation weekly. Any brand will be missed but easily replaced.

I can say the same if Cohiba was discontinued. I would be upset but over it in no time.

[Taino]

I love Sanchos, I love the old fashion non fancy labels, the salty profile of the cigars, everything, it would be really a shame to let them go...

[b0rderman]

I love Sanchos, I love the old fashion non fancy labels, the salty profile of the cigars, everything, it would be really a shame to let them go...

Exactly my thoughts as well...add to that I have enjoyed the last few of my 06 Belis but haven't tried many, more recent, samples from this brand.

[jamesward]

The Belicosos and Molino are two of my favorite go-to smokes for their respective vitrola. The belicosos is a great smoke. While I admit that it doesnt have the marketing and following of a Bolivar/Cohiba, it packs a nice punch. I would hate to see it discontinued.

I recently had the Sancho Sancho which was quite good, but I am just not a fan of that big of a cigar as the draw was damn tiring on the first 3rd.

[Kangaroo495]

Sorry to resurrect this topic. Have been away for a week.

Coincidentally, while I was on holidays, I picked up two SP Belicosos from Oct 07.

These sticks were absolutely spectacular!! The construction and burn were perfect. They looked and felt as if they have been blended and rolled to perfection. The taste was completely unique. I could detect the saltiness that everyone talks about. Though having not had much experience with SPs in the past, I have trouble describing the profile here. It had a certain smoothness, not a creamy smoothness though... The flavour was extremely full, and the body was a solid medium, no less. In any case, these sticks provided me with the ideal smoking experience in all aspects of the concept.

Based on this, I would say that SP has every right to continue its existence among the other great brands of Habanos. If I was given this cigar as part of a blind taste, I would immediately recognize it, which is more than I can say for some other marcas. Though I would agree that it could do with more marketing. I may have been lucky with this particular batch, but if all SPs are like this, then there's nothing stopping it from outselling Montecristo or RyJ with the right exposure and time.

Incidentally, here was my smoking repetoire for the week:

Monte 2 - from 07. Tasted like it was rolled last week

Monte PE - As black as a Dominican maduro. Amazing aroma. Not much flavour development though

BBF - Delicious. Last third a little disappointing

RASS - Incredible. At one point I even felt a sense of light euphoria while smoking this.

But the shining light of the week was SP Belicosos. Can't wait to pick up another one. The flavour is so unique and interesting.

[BonVivant]

If you have never had an aged Molinos or Corona Gigantes, you have no idea of the qualities that can be found in this marca. The corona is very good too.

However I would miss the marca if they decide to cut it…

Totally agree with the above statement!

[tigger]

If they brought back the Coronas, I would buy them.

Other than those, SP has never figured significantly in my rotation.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Hey everyone,

This will be my first post on this site - just discovered it and I like what I see thus far!

I've only been smoking cigars for about 2+ years now, a box of (now I realize) lousy Tueros cigars purchased duty free from my Canadian Navy ship the first cigar I ever had. My First Cuban cigar was a Sancho Panza Sanchos, purchased in the fall of 2007 in Victoria, BC, Canada. I actually bought it because it was the biggest cigar in the tobacconist, and I wanted to joke with a buddy about our respective cigar sizes (knowing he was smoking tueros at a beach bonfire we were both going to that night). It was......a revelation. Creamy, not too bold or punchy, and with a hint of saltiness - I was hooked! The result has been an ever-growing fascination and some would say obsession with Cuban cigars, and I have been trying different vitolas ever since. I have found some real favorites in the time since then (SLR DC, PL Asian Regional Belicoso, SC Murallas, HDM DC), but havn't yet found one that tastes as fine to me as the SP Sanchos, and I try to buy as many reasonably-stored ones as I can now (had some draw issues with a couple from a Vancouver cigar store). I can think of nothing better than enjoying a 2 hr. Sanchos break on the top deck of my ship, with various crew members coming by to talk cigars throughout (I would never call myself an expert, but I have a reputation as the 'cigar guy' on my ship now!)

I have been wanting to try the Sancho Panza CG for a while but have yet to find one in my Navy travels so far (I didn't know Hong Kong was such a cigar mecca when my ship was there last year - next time I go I'll be much more well-informed!) The SP Belicoso I found to be quite nice as well.

My opinion as a relative Newbie to Cigars notwithstanding, (as well as the apparent discontinuation of my favorite all-time cigar!), I would be very disappointed should Habanos discontinue the entire Sancho Panza line. With every historical niche brand that is pushed to the side for sub-par efforts like the Monte Open series, the lesser off we all are. Viva Sancho Panza!

[Bartolomeo]

every historical niche brand that is pushed to the side for sub-par efforts like the Monte Open series, the lesser off we all are. Viva Sancho Panza!

Hear, Hear

Bart