Expanding selection...

[spirit_of_will]

I completed a load of ebay sales the other evening and did quite a bit better than I'd expected

So I've earmarked some of the funds to go on expanding my selection of smokes.

I'm in the process of cutting down a long list of wishes to a much more sensible short list. Maybe 2, max 3 boxes over the next month or 2... I'm keen to lay down some solid foundations to my stocks.

1st question... what's your view on picking up previous years LE's (08's & 09's) this long since their release? I have my eye on either (maybe both) a box of Mag 48 09 LE's or some Monte Sublimes... Am I going to end up with the dregs in terms of the stocks that are left? Or stock that HSA continued to make even after they ran out of the raw materials from the initial blend?

Other things that I have my eye on are:
- Party Shorts - bloody loved the couple that I've had now, the delivery of flavours has been bang on each time!
- Secretos
- Hoyo Pet Robs
- Coloniales
- VR Famosos
- Mag 46's

It had crossed my mind that splitting some boxes might be one way to up the variety I can afford...

I'd welcome other BOTL's input on the decision making process and am open to ideas...

Cheers!

Will

[spirit_of_will]

Figured it might be worthwhile outlining some of my thinking that's helped to narrow down the list:

- I'm looking for smokes that have half a chance of smoking OK while young. Hoyo PR and most Trinni's seem to sit in that ballpark. What else might fit well in that bracket?
- I'm after some more short smokes, hence the Shorts/Secretos/Mag 48's
- And I'm aftersome thing else to fill the 1hr plus smokes bracket without going too big - Famosos & Mag 46's have come to mind (amongst others)...

Decisions, decisions...

[SmokeyDave]

If you can resist I'd sit the Secretos for at least six months, I bought a box of 25 with an 09 code, they smoked great but the ones I've kept have definitely transformed, smoother and more flavour.

I've a box of Hoyo Petit Robusto MAR10 and they are already smoking well, had one just last night.

[senor_robusto]

hey will,
to quickly answer a couple of your questions:
*picking up previous years LE's is perfectly cool!!! some benefit from extra maturation, some don't!!! however, i don't think they degrade any!!! i've had a load of singles from previous years, and some have definitely inproved!! example? cuaba pirimides el2008 (some on here hated them on release and sold them, now they're kicking themselves)!!!
*the smaller, sub 1hr cigars i'd recommend are the cohiba secretos, party shorts, boli corona jnrs (as long as they have at least 2yrs on them), trini reyes & monte 5!! these are the only small cigars i smoke!!! oh, btw, the h upmann mag 48 el2009 was my favourite el cigar of 2009 (between it & the duke)!!
*as much as i love my robustos, i have been less and less impressed with the VR famosos lately!!! it just seems so lightweight compared to a good party d4 or boli royal corona!!! i even prefer the humble ryj short churchill to it!!! what about the monte petite edmundo, have you considered that?
*the h upmann mag 46 is a great cigar, can't recommend it enough!!! i find the punch punch is also quite nice!! don't have any left, though i have a load of mag50's, which are great!!!

hope this helps,

alex

[senor_robusto]

also, i'd recommend, if funds allow, to buy your bigger cigars now and lay them down for the summer!!! i can't praise the cuaba salamones enough for this or the humble churchill!!! i'm looking into getting some party lusitanias!!! all these clock in at around 1.5-2hrs!!! other than that, consider some party p2's, monte 2's, h upmann mag50's or party 898v's!!! all great summer cigars, imo!!!

alex

[Daize]

diplomaticos No 5s are great (and cheap) perlas if you can find 'em.

[Simon-JG-hr]

I'd agree with Alex on the Mag 48. Definitely nab yourself a box of them, one of the most highly regarded LEs as far as I can tell. Whilst I don't think they quite live up to the hype, the couple I've had have both been very good nonetheless (around the 90 point mark, now that I'm back into the reviewing mind-set... )

For my money, I would be very hard pushed to choose between the Cohiba Secretos and the Party Shorts. I would probably go with the Party Shorts on two fronts - value and simple enjoyment (wonderful at giving you the flavour with little work - as you already know). I think a good Secretos is a better cigar, only marginally of course, as I do love the Short... it's just very subtle and complex. One of the top couple of cigars I've had in the last twelve months was a Secretos (and I'm pleased to say I've had some damn good cigars this last year - probably why I've barely got two pennies to rub together...)

As for the VR Famosos... well, every example I've had has been really quite a smoke. That said, I haven't had one for quite a while, and I wouldn't want to argue with some of the wise heads as to any current issues they may have.

As for the hour plus cigar... Hmmm... I don't think you'd go far wrong with the Dippy No2 (usually does me just a shade under the hour and a half mark), or perhaps a Boli Coronas Extra - I've got one sitting in the humi looking very appetizing right now...

[spirit_of_will]

hey will,
to quickly answer a couple of your questions:
*picking up previous years LE's is perfectly cool!!! some benefit from extra maturation, some don't!!! however, i don't think they degrade any!!! i've had a load of singles from previous years, and some have definitely inproved!! example? cuaba pirimides el2008 (some on here hated them on release and sold them, now they're kicking themselves)!!!
*the smaller, sub 1hr cigars i'd recommend are the cohiba secretos, party shorts, boli corona jnrs (as long as they have at least 2yrs on them), trini reyes & monte 5!! these are the only small cigars i smoke!!! oh, btw, the h upmann mag 48 el2009 was my favourite el cigar of 2009 (between it & the duke)!!
*as much as i love my robustos, i have been less and less impressed with the VR famosos lately!!! it just seems so lightweight compared to a good party d4 or boli royal corona!!! i even prefer the humble ryj short churchill to it!!! what about the monte petite edmundo, have you considered that?
*the h upmann mag 46 is a great cigar, can't recommend it enough!!! i find the punch punch is also quite nice!! don't have any left, though i have a load of mag50's, which are great!!!

hope this helps,

alex

Nice one! Cheers Alex. In terms of the LE's I saw the extra age being a HUGE bonus. However, I had been pondering, if they are so good, then why are there stocks left? I'd read somewhere that with the Monte Sublines, as an example, HSA had kept on churning them out as they'd sold so well, even well into 2009 when it would be doubtful that they had any of the aged tobacco used for the original blend.

Anyone picked up any of the '09 code Sublimes? How do they compare with the earlier batches?

As for the 60-90mins smokes, it's these that I'm least decided about - mainly as I've not smoked enough of that size. Good to get your thoughts on the Mag 46's & 50's. Maybe I should chill and not rush into a decision on a box until I've had a summer's smoking on the larger sizes... maybe concentrate on buying single in those sort of sizes if I can get out to Geneva for the day.

Robusto size... yep, definately had the RyJ Short & Monte Pet Ed's on the list - it's just trying to trim the list size!!!

I'd agree with Alex on the Mag 48. Definitely nab yourself a box of them, one of the most highly regarded LEs as far as I can tell. Whilst I don't think they quite live up to the hype, the couple I've had have both been very good nonetheless (around the 90 point mark, now that I'm back into the reviewing mind-set... )

For my money, I would be very hard pushed to choose between the Cohiba Secretos and the Party Shorts. I would probably go with the Party Shorts on two fronts - value and simple enjoyment (wonderful at giving you the flavour with little work - as you already know). I think a good Secretos is a better cigar, only marginally of course, as I do love the Short... it's just very subtle and complex. One of the top couple of cigars I've had in the last twelve months was a Secretos (and I'm pleased to say I've had some damn good cigars this last year - probably why I've barely got two pennies to rub together...)

As for the VR Famosos... well, every example I've had has been really quite a smoke. That said, I haven't had one for quite a while, and I wouldn't want to argue with some of the wise heads as to any current issues they may have.

As for the hour plus cigar... Hmmm... I don't think you'd go far wrong with the Dippy No2 (usually does me just a shade under the hour and a half mark), or perhaps a Boli Coronas Extra - I've got one sitting in the humi looking very appetizing right now...

I think my mind is pretty made up on the Mag 48's, not read a bad word about them (other than too short!). Yep, pretty spendy for the size but I think it's the one box that I'll want to dip into time & time again and then kick myself for not having bought some more!

And the Party Shorts - I think you are right about the VFM, more likely to deliver that taste hit each and every time. Good to get those in and resting nicely for next winter... I'll have to try to search out an '09 or if I'm lucky an '08 box to get a head start!

If you can resist I'd sit the Secretos for at least six months, I bought a box of 25 with an 09 code, they smoked great but the ones I've kept have definitely transformed, smoother and more flavour.

I've a box of Hoyo Petit Robusto MAR10 and they are already smoking well, had one just last night.

Hoyo PR's - they are on the list as I've read they do well quite young and they're not too expensive either. Perhaps the way on this is a couple of 3 packs?