Perhaps I'm wrong ....

[tippexx]

but it seems to me that ? with few exceptions ? going by recent production releases and the LE and RE programs that the Habanos trend is now geared to producing milder, more one dimensional smokes; not necessarily bland or flavourless, but gentler and more predictable.

I'm not quite sure how a lot of these cigars will age. To my way of thinking time will only make them lighter.

Cigars which begin life with a bit of power and movement of fuller flavour about them have generally aged well. There are a few of the recent brigade that I think will age well .... but they are a minority.

The Quay d'Orsay Robusto Embajador is one that I'm holding hopes for and believe will improve over time.

Anyone else have a recent (released last 5 years) smoke they think will become a sought after classic in ten years?

[PeeJay]

but it seems to me that — with few exceptions — going by recent production releases and the LE and RE programs that the Habanos trend is now geared to producing milder, more one dimensional smokes; not necessarily bland or flavourless, but gentler and more predictable. I'm not quite sure how a lot of these cigars will age. To my way of thinking time will only make them lighter. Cigars which begin life with a bit of power and movement of fuller flavour about them have generally aged well. There are a few of the recent brigade that I think will age well .... but they are a minority. The Quay d'Orsay Robusto Embajador is one that I'm holding hopes for and believe will improve over time. Anyone else have a recent (released last 5 years) smoke they think will become a sought after classic in ten years?

Sadly not but do you think they feel the need to conform with the general market?

[TJCoro]

Very Interesting!

but it seems to me that — with few exceptions — going by recent production releases and the LE and RE programs that the Habanos trend is now geared to producing milder, more one dimensional smokes; not necessarily bland or flavourless, but gentler and more predictable.

Haha! Maybe... just maybe it's YOU who is becoming milder, gentler and, dare I say - MORE PREDICTABLE!

Now, for all you impressionable youngsters out there, I'm only joshing with the old hombre. TBH, I only Wish I had the opportunity to make such an observation.

Ahh, to be a fly on the wall at Casa Tripplexxx!


Jay, Ray Jay

[ValeTudoGuy]

Sadly not but do you think they feel the need to conform with the general market?

Do you think that is conforming with the general market?

[PeeJay]

Do you think that is conforming with the general market?

The most common remark levelled at NCs is that they're one dimensional is it not

[PeeJay]

A good comparison is one of my favourite desserts tarte au citron where the lemon filling should be so sharp it makes you suck your teeth but in most restaurants it's just a bland lemon tart.

[tippexx]

Sadly not but do you think they feel the need to conform with the general market?

Yes I believe they do. The World today is far more instant for one thing. For some of us cigar aging is part of the hobby, for others it would get in the way of them smoking their cigars, and as you've said their is no aging culture associated with NC cigars. Habanos 'should' have a good idea of from where and at what age new cigar smokers enter the market and 'should' know something of their expectations. Waiting I don't think is one of them.

[butternutsquashpie]

as you've said their is no aging culture associated with NC cigars.

There is.... But remember how the Yanks like their cigars like large cigarettes. Those who like complexity and don't realise they can get Cubans in the states sometimes have to settle for Davidoffs, Opus Xs, Zino Platinums - all worth a premium when aged. A few NY stores actually put down Zinos or Davidoffs for 5 years before putting them out for display.
One of the best smokes still is my first nub of an NC Davidoff 2000 - 10~ years old.

It exists - especially with the Opus X class.


Then bear in mind that cigars used to be aged by the distributors and then perhaps the store amalgamating into around 3-7 years of age before hitting the shelves. This practice has stopped roughly the same time as the cigar boom and switch to a new type of tobacco.
The two correlative (dare I say: Causing?) 'happenstances' seemed to have made the cigars pointless to age. Those Cohibas coming out with BTO and MUO box codes are absolutely complex and definitely GREAT right off the boat. They don't need age and doubt will benefit more from it. But it just goes to show: you need to pay to get good smokes with good complexity.
Now, what I believe is that we're just not accustomed to such large ring gauges. Anything over 46 and I feel uncomfortable. But I do need to do it sometimes or else I'd deny myself the beauty of a Bolivar Libertadore, Ramon Allones Robusto Cortes, and the new Upmann No.2 Reserva. These new smokes are all complex, thick bastards. But they do lack the type of complexity found in BTO Cohiba Lanceros, PL Secretos RE Spain, or even a good Siglo III.
Perhaps the 'lack of complexity' arises. I, on the other hand, have not found a lack.

[tippexx]

Then it must be me then .... I smoked a PL 2014 Secretos during the week and described it as 'a jolly fine cigar', but it isn't particularly complex and has none of the youthful oomph of a 2014 PC. Perhaps the Secretos will come on like a bomb with age, I don't know .... whereas the PC we know will, and will hold on to some of its oomph.

In the last 2 years there have been app. 50 new releases, some are pretty good .... but my question was, Which, if any, shows any prospect of having the qualities a Partagas 898 in ten years time?

[TJCoro]

I'm Dubious!

Those Cohibas coming out with BTO and MUO box codes are absolutely complex and definitely GREAT right off the boat. They don't need age and doubt will benefit more from it.

Hurumph! I've yet to try a recent puro that was great "right off the boat" and didn't benefit from aging, especially the Cohiba.


Perro, el Perro


Haha! I wonder if young Chico will benefit with age.

[butternutsquashpie]

Hurumph! I've yet to try a recent puro that was great "right off the boat" and didn't benefit from aging, especially the Cohiba.

I said it in part jest. As the term: 'They're pretty good fresh and tastes like some 04-06 Esplendidos I've had. Therefore, it's hard to believe that they can get better'. Of course, 2 years in the bottom of the humi would definitely help them - but how much is really the question.
Me, I doubt it's worth the ageing potential. I've still yet to own a box of MUO or BTO Esps, Robustos, Siglo VIs, etc. Just singles left and right... Hard pressed to pay $700> on a box of Esplendidos when the Sir Winnies are half the price...

[butternutsquashpie]

Then it must be me then .... I smoked a PL 2014 Secretos during the week and described it as 'a jolly fine cigar', but it isn't particularly complex and has none of the youthful oomph of a 2014 PC. Perhaps the Secretos will come on like a bomb with age, I don't know .... whereas the PC we know will, and will hold on to some of its oomph.

Agree fully with the latter... The former - not so much. I absolutely detest fresh Por Lar PCs. Those Secretos surprised me... [Ryan] gave me one to try so I didn't have to blind buy them and man were they enjoyable as hell. I don't really care if they age well - i just know they won't age wrong

[TJCoro]

Cotton Picker...

I said it in part jest. As the term: 'They're pretty good fresh and tastes like some 04-06 Esplendidos I've had. Therefore, it's hard to believe that they can get better'. Of course, 2 years in the bottom of the humi would definitely help them - but how much is really the question.
Me, I doubt it's worth the ageing potential. I've still yet to own a box of MUO or BTO Esps, Robustos, Siglo VIs, etc. Just singles left and right... Hard pressed to pay $700> on a box of Esplendidos when the Sir Winnies are half the price...

WaaHoo!! 10-4 to that, good buddy. Now THAT'S what I talkin' about! What's yer 20, duck plucker? I'm getting ready to take a 10-100, so I'll catch you on the flip flop.


Hello! My name is BJ, BJ Coro and I've been driving this here big rig for some time now, but I getting ready to take a break and do me some posting Heeeee Haaaaaa!

[tippexx]

Hurumph! I've yet to try a recent puro that was great "right off the boat" and didn't benefit from aging, especially the Cohiba.

I've tried a few of the recent offerings TJ. Some I think you could age forever and it wouldn't do much for them. Upmann HC, RG Perlas, PL Picadores, Vegueros Mananitas, RyJ P Churchills, Partagas SD5 won't improve in flavour IMO, even mellowing out the nicotine is a waste of time with these, as they don't seem to have much in the first place.

[butternutsquashpie]

WaaHoo!! 10-4 to that, good buddy. Now THAT'S what I talkin' about! What's yer 20, duck plucker? I'm getting ready to take a 10-100, so I'll catch you on the flip flop.

After reading this 3 times, I still have no idea what is going on...

Some I think you could age forever and it wouldn't do much for them. Upmann HC, RG Perlas, PL Picadores, Vegueros Mananitas, RyJ P Churchills, Partagas SD5 won't improve in flavour IMO

STricking the Picadores and RG Perlas which i've yet to try, the last 3 are absolutely horrendous and I don't ever want to try them again. I've also stopped caring about the g'damn small RyJ offerings. It'll take years before retailers can remove those from the shelves. I'm not even disappointed in the discontinuation of the RyJ Petit Julieta.

The Half Corona is something I've started to ween myself off now. My recent box and recent five-packs have been mediocre - not worth my time. I used to love these smokes and nurse them for up to an hour. Now, they last 20 minutes before I just say: 'sod it' and toss them astray (more like 'Ashtray'! ). I sincerely hope it was just a bad month as these smokes were great for me last year...
I am very curious to the D6. If it's anything like the E2, I know I'm getting at least 2 boxes of OR.