ChanceSchmerr Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 I was scanning a cigar info website today after finally having internet access for the first time in days.....and it occured to me that....habanos has discontinued a heck of a lot of coronas! What happened to this (apparently) ubiquitious cigar vitola? In my travels around Vancouver today, I decided to see what I would be losing once all these discontinued coronas are gone, so today my purchases included... Diplomaticos #3 Hoyo de Roi Hoyo Corona Punch Corona Punch Petit Corona H Upmann Corona Juan Lopez Corona all discontinued, from what I can tell..... I also found a Punch Black Prince from 2000 that I can't wait to try, and 2 Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdales from a full box (never been able to find RG Lonsdales before!)... As I've noted, I'm a larger cigar-type guy, normally, so this is really to see if I enjoy the coronas size as well... I hope to discover either a new vitola to enjoy regularily, or a definitive answer to my question - "Because they aren't as good as bigger ring cigars!"
Tampa1257 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Given the opportunity, once you sample thin ring gauge Habanos, you will probably find as most knowledgeable cigar smokers find; that Thin Ring Gauge Habanos have more intense flavor, more complexity and typically a more enjoyable smoking experience than Large Thick Mellow, tasteless cigars. The larger the ring gauge, the more Volado (Bottom Tobacco Tasteless leaf to build the girth of the large ring gauge cigar). Do yourself a favor and next time you go out to buy some cigars, get a few Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No. 3's, a Cohiba Corona Especial, a Montecristo Especial, a Cohiba Lancero and a Trinidad Fundadore. After sampling these, then decide what you will about what size ring Habanos is the best. As far as Coronas, if you can still find them, you might want to try both Partagas Corona and a Bolivar Corona, both of which are on the discontinuation list.
El Presidente Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 "Bean counters to the left of me.....Jokers to the right...Here I am stuck with another Robusto"
thechenman Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 So strange that the corona was considered the de facto vitola for so long...and is now fading away.
smll2 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Given the opportunity, once you sample thin ring gauge Habanos, you will probably find as most knowledgeable cigar smokers find; that Thin Ring Gauge Habanos have more intense flavor, more complexity and typically a more enjoyable smoking experience than Large Thick Mellow, tasteless cigars. The larger the ring gauge, the more Volado (Bottom Tobacco Tasteless leaf to build the girth of the large ring gauge cigar).Do yourself a favor and next time you go out to buy some cigars, get a few Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No. 3's, a Cohiba Corona Especial, a Montecristo Especial, a Cohiba Lancero and a Trinidad Fundadore. After sampling these, then decide what you will about what size ring Habanos is the best. As far as Coronas, if you can still find them, you might want to try both Partagas Corona and a Bolivar Corona, both of which are on the discontinuation list. Still learning...but I've never smoked a thin ring cigar that wasn't terrific. My humidor is full of this that and the other thing....but the lanceros, espciales..funadore's have all been terrific...as Tampa sz...and I agree the flavor is intense...no doubt about it. At this point I've only smoked samples...have very few in stock. These will be on my list for purchases moving forward....
shrink Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Chuck, don't forget the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No. 1. With age, it's another small ring marvel.
greenpimp Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Chuck, don't forget the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No. 1. With age, it's another small ring marvel. You took the words right outta my mouth. Just had one yesterday. Intense yet pleasant. Lemon and leather. Nothing else like it.
Tampa1257 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Chuck, don't forget the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No. 1. With age, it's another small ring marvel. Very true!
bassman Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Given the opportunity, once you sample thin ring gauge Habanos, you will probably find as most knowledgeable cigar smokers find; that Thin Ring Gauge Habanos have more intense flavor, more complexity and typically a more enjoyable smoking experience than Large Thick Mellow, tasteless cigars. The larger the ring gauge, the more Volado (Bottom Tobacco Tasteless leaf to build the girth of the large ring gauge cigar).Do yourself a favor and next time you go out to buy some cigars, get a few Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No. 3's, a Cohiba Corona Especial, a Montecristo Especial, a Cohiba Lancero and a Trinidad Fundadore. After sampling these, then decide what you will about what size ring Habanos is the best. As far as Coronas, if you can still find them, you might want to try both Partagas Corona and a Bolivar Corona, both of which are on the discontinuation list. The Boli & Party Coronas got the ax in 2006. Until recently, easy to find but still around a few vendors. There's still the old reliable MC#3. NOt sure if they still make SLR Coronas, but they are readily available too.
tigger Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Corona is a terrific size, and a travesty that so many of them have been discontinued. RG Lonsadales are a great morning/midday smoke. I'm into my last box, and will be very sorry when they're gone. Sucks having anachronistic tastes in cigars...
ChanceSchmerr Posted October 19, 2009 Author Posted October 19, 2009 I will say that although I like large smokes in general, some of my favorite smokes I've had so far have been lanceros - about the only one that I havn't really enjoyed was the ERDM Grandes de Espana (and I chalk that up to not having an experienced enoughj palate). And I really enjoyed the few Lonsdales I've been able to find as well (SLR Lonsdales I found in Toronto especially) so those RG Lonsdales I don't think will last too long in my humi before i smoke them! Very tempting to go back and buy the box in Vancouver, but they wanted $575 CAD for it...don't get me started on Canadian tobacco taxes! I think it's very possible that I will end up enjoying at least many of the thin-ring gauge cigars out there, and its good to know that there are still proponents of it out there. So why have they seemingly gone by the wayside? I will try to pick up a Party and Boli Corona if I can find them after I get back from sea in a week. I have a few Cohiba Lanceros, as well as a Trinidad Fundadore in my humi already, havn't tried them yet, and if I can track down a P Series du Connausseur No. 3, Cohiba Corona Especial and the Montecristo Especial, I will try those too. Better yet - I should just order them when I go to make my first Czar purchase!
Danashan Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Interesting. On NC side, lanceros are becoming more popular and available, which is an interesting trend, since all you hear about is 60 ring gauge broom sticks.
android Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 I love my coronas....you will have a hard time keeping your hands off of the Black Prince.
Colt45 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 So why have they seemingly gone by the wayside? The bottom line is the bottom line - $, £, €, - they produce what sells. So a large part of it falls on the consumer. But why are many attracted to larger ring cigars? Perhaps it's aesthetic, or people simple assume a larger cigar will taste better than one which is thinner. But I think it's safe to say the trend started with the NC market, of which Altadis owns a number of brands. Not so coincidentally, they also own half of Habanos (they were acquired by Imperial Tobacco). I'm assuming they saw how well the fatter cigars were selling on the NC side and applied the "logic' to the Havana side. Of course, this is nothing but conjecture on my part - I don't really know.
ChanceSchmerr Posted October 19, 2009 Author Posted October 19, 2009 Interesting.On NC side, lanceros are becoming more popular and available, which is an interesting trend, since all you hear about is 60 ring gauge broom sticks. I would agree - the Don Pepin Garcia Lancero is fantastic, and the best lancero I've EVER had was the Fuente Don Carlos Lancero, that you can only get at the Casa Fuente in Las Vegas. My Ship's Captain is heading to Vegas next month, I've already got my request in with him for more Very possible that Altadis applied lessons learned with what NCs sell to its Habanos production. Fatter cigars do sell very well compared to the thin smokes, from what everyone says, but surely historical significance will ensure that coronas never disappear althogether! Also, it seems to me that the anti-corona feeling has been growing for a while.... I rarely watch Seinfeld (one has to only look at my signature to tell what show I love) but one of the few episodes I've seen, I remember Kramer scoffing loudly at an offer of a box of Coronas for the big Cigar Indian Statue (or was it the coffee table book about coffee tables? can't remember). That was in the mid-90s! The store where I got the Black Prince had a few left in the box. I will be back for the rest if it's as good as they say!
Jimmy2 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 I would agree with the larger Ring Gauge cigars not having as much flavor intensity in the past but since early 08 I can tell no differance with present production.As I have had many larger 46 and up in ring gauge cigars and their is no difference as they are just as intense in flavor and complexity.At this time I enjoy 46 and larger ring gauge cigars because of this and have way less plugged cigar which is a plus.
samb Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 What a sad sad state of affairs that the world we live in no longer desires the corona. The size is a staple in vitolas... I enjoy the corona size.
thechenman Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 What a sad sad state of affairs that the world we live in no longer desires the corona. The size is a staple in vitolas... I enjoy the corona size. I agree with you samb. The corona is missed by me as well. One of my top 5 vitolas. It is a great sized smoke on colder fall days/nights.
PigFish Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Given the opportunity, once you sample thin ring gauge Habanos, you will probably find as most knowledgeable cigar smokers find; that Thin Ring Gauge Habanos have more intense flavor, more complexity and typically a more enjoyable smoking experience than Large Thick Mellow, tasteless cigars. The larger the ring gauge, the more Volado (Bottom Tobacco Tasteless leaf to build the girth of the large ring gauge cigar).Do yourself a favor and next time you go out to buy some cigars, get a few Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No. 3's, a Cohiba Corona Especial, a Montecristo Especial, a Cohiba Lancero and a Trinidad Fundadore. After sampling these, then decide what you will about what size ring Habanos is the best. As far as Coronas, if you can still find them, you might want to try both Partagas Corona and a Bolivar Corona, both of which are on the discontinuation list. Hear, hear! I could easily smoke nothing but petit coronas, coronas and lonsdales and be very happy. As I have said time and time again. Anything over 42 ring is just filler. -
Colt45 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Anything over 42 ring is just filler. - Well, I guess I'll just take my dalias, corona gordas, and churchills down to the beach and feed them to the fish......... P.S. should it be corona gordas or coronas gorda
PigFish Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Well, I guess I'll just take my dalias, corona gordas, and churchills down to the beach and feed them to the fish......... P.S. should it be corona gordas or coronas gorda ... okay! A man of your taste and influence compels me to negotiate it up to 44 ring. But, don't give those cigars to the fish... send 'em to me and I will trade them to my friends that don't know any better! -LOL
ChanceSchmerr Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 After a 5 day purgatory at sea with No internet, I'm back with my first Corona report. My first Corona to try was the Diplomaticos #3. wow. Let me say again. WOW!!!! It was...legendary. Brimming with flavour, the first third gave me roasted nuts and oak, followed by coffee and cocoa hints in the middle third and leather overtones in the finale. I actually burned my fingers smoking this one down to the nub! I enjoyed it for around 90 minutes, magnificent cigar, and I got comments from lots of shipmates who liked the smell coming off it (exact quote - "thats not quite as crappy as the usual cigars you got there, sir!"....cigarette smokers, what can you say?) Corona, you're off to a hell of a start! Mid-week I tried an El Rey del Mundo Lunch Club, another recent discontinued cigar. I'm not missing much there, it tasted fine, but too light for me now I think. A light cigar like that, I'd like to be a little longer, like a Grandes de Espana maybe. Finally, my 2nd corona I tried was last night, a Juan Lopez Corona from a 2000 box. ugh. Night and Day, and this was definitly night - terrible/uneven burn despite a couple of attempts to correct it, just a basic tobacco taste with no evolution of flavour or anything. That's two JPs in a row that have not been up to par for me (tried a Petit Corona a month ago, the first half was wonderful and then it just died on me, quite peculiar). So far, Coronas are batting .500 for me. Tampa1257, you were dead on with the greater intensity and more complex flavours with the smaller ring gauge Diplo, but the JP was just strong tobacco. We'll see how the others fare! In the meantime - Diplo #3 has made my call-back list!
MontrealRon Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 P.S. should it be corona gordas or coronas gorda In English : One corona gorda, two corona gordas. En Espanol : Una corona gorda, dos coronas gordas.
MontrealRon Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 Finally, my 2nd corona I tried was last night, a Juan Lopez Corona from a 2000 box. ugh. Night and Day, and this was definitly night - terrible/uneven burn despite a couple of attempts to correct it, just a basic tobacco taste with no evolution of flavour or anything. That's two JPs in a row that have not been up to par for me (tried a Petit Corona a month ago, the first half was wonderful and then it just died on me, quite peculiar). A lot of year 2000 smokes are like that - rough, one dimensional, and boring - when they draw, that is! If you find another JL Corona, from any other year, don't hesitate to try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.
kjellfrick Posted October 23, 2009 Posted October 23, 2009 It is cause for grieving that the Coronas are being discontinued. i had a Partagas Coronas from a cab with my son-in-law tonight and it easily fit in there among the very best smokes I've EVER had. I'm still stunned by the taste...bloody brilliant!
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