Which would you recommend? Boli RC vs PSD4

[egoo33]

Get a 10 count box of each! If push came to shove and head to get only one my money is on the Bolivar RC I have had better experience with them smoking younger.

[stunod]

The current BRC stock from our host are smoking unbelievable. The PSD4's are smoking ok.

BRC.. no doubt.

[Laxman]

PSD4 all the way!! They have been great from 2012-2014.

[daeji5]

If you have the patience to age: Brc

If you want to smoke them young: Psd4

[RijkdeGooier]

PSD4 with age and from a good source are just amazing

BRC is more consistent due to more limited production

[mk05]

Royal Coronas are consistent due to being produced at one factory over many years.

D4 are rolled everywhere and the smoker will never experience consistency.

[SCgarman]

Royal Coronas are consistent due to being produced at one factory over many years.

D4 are rolled everywhere and the smoker will never experience consistency.

As long as Cuban cigars are sorted by wrapper color and there could be 25 cigars in a box rolled by 25 different rollers, the smoker will never experience "consistency". That word and Cuban cigars are not synonymous. What gives a better cigar is lower production numbers and BRC's are made in lower quantities than D4's. I have never bought a box of D4's and never will. For Partagas flavor I go for the Shorts.

[mk05]

As long as Cuban cigars are sorted by wrapper color and there could be 25 cigars in a box rolled by 25 different rollers, the smoker will never experience "consistency". That word and Cuban cigars are not synonymous. What gives a better cigar is lower production numbers and BRC's are made in lower quantities than D4's. I have never bought a box of D4's and never will. For Partagas flavor I go for the Shorts.

You simply miss the point. In one factory, the idea of a specific cigar remains consistent YOY through the same blend manager. If one chooses to look for consistency of a particular cigar from multiple factories, it is by definition impossible, as the idea will intrinsically vary from factory to factory. The goal is to experience consistency as a whole through trying a cigar from one factory year after year. Perhaps you should try PL Montecarlos, as a start. You can always buy those blind, as it is guaranteed to be rolled at La Coron. Then you can understand what the Cubans are doing with the tobacco YoY to maintain the blend and the idea of the cigar.

[RijkdeGooier]

You simply miss the point. In one factory, the idea of a specific cigar remains consistent YOY through the same blend manager. If one chooses to look for consistency of a particular cigar from multiple factories, it is by definition impossible, as the idea will intrinsically vary from factory to factory. The goal is to experience consistency as a whole through trying a cigar from one factory year after year. Perhaps you should try PL Montecarlos, as a start. You can always buy those blind, as it is guaranteed to be rolled at La Coron. Then you can understand what the Cubans are doing with the tobacco YoY to maintain the blend and the idea of the cigar.

Marc,

Of course you are correct but there are many factors involved.

Generally speaking tobacco is a crop and as such no two plants produce the same tobacco from a given field, as they were in different positions, had slightly more or less sun, nourishment etc, etc. The leafs cannot be mixed like grapes to produce consistent wine, so as a result your cigars will contain individual plant leaves, coming from individual plants within a specific harvest, that have a slightly different taste. Such is the nature of the product.

The large variations in taste are those caused by the crop years, followed by the blenders at different fabricas using different mixes and/or different tobaccos. As you know very well, esp with a popular vitola like a PSD4 or Monte 4, which are rolled at many places, the fabrica influence, with in quality of tobacco and quality of blending and rolling is a big factor.

Lastly, after all cigars from a certain batch are rolled they are then sorted by color, again causing a mixup not primarily based on flavors ( although the wrapper does influence the taste), I believe this is the effect mentioned by NYCgarman and does account for some variation in taste.

However, there is an important distinction if all tobacco used in the batch is from the same origin and the bend used for each cigar is the same and all rollers are good and competent, then the selection according to color makes a lot of sense and should add to the consistency within that particular box. It is not always clear that these important criteria are met, in which case sorting by color looses its purpose somewhat.

Now the important question - what constitutes 'consistency'.

To me, given the natural impossibility of each cigar tasting exactly the same, even within a single box (which can be achieved by winemakers through blending) because of its natural characteristics, the best I can hope for is adherence YOY to a similar flavor profile by consistent blending of what is available and through good quality rollers. The PL Montecarlos are an excellent example of this.

The BRC is most of the time more true to form because of limited production facilities.

Chasing consistency too much imo is an exercise in futility and will distract from what smoking cigars is about - enjoying each cigar, one at a time, as a stand-alone product.

[topdiesel]

They are both great. Two years ago I would have said hands down BRC. Lately, I have been really enjoying the D4s with a few years on them.

[muzz]

1 vote for the D4's but with all the love for Boli I will have to give them a try.

[subport]

Both, without a doubt ;-)

[nick2021]

PSD4s are hard to beat with age....but I'd have to recommend BRC if you want a smoke that will smoke well immediately

[ogus]

Def PSD4

BRC is about the best Boli these days though

now the Boli Corona Extra would be a no brainer

[potpest]

Get both; lifes too short to be only smoking one robusto

[Mycroft]

I like bitter chocolate, straight espresso, blue cheese, very spicy food, 898s, mag 46, and Boli RC. PSD4 might be ok after breakfast, but of an evening I can barely taste them. In any case the few PSD4s I've had didn't do it for me, and I can't be bothered with them. No doubt they are great when they are great, and when hand picked from whatever box code etc, and each to his own, but the huge production run PSD4s, made in different factories by who knows what skill of rollers are not dependable and not cheap, and that combination annoys me.

Just my 2 cents worth

[TonyAccardo]

I like bitter chocolate, straight espresso, blue cheese, very spicy food, 898s, mag 46, and Boli RC. PSD4 might be ok after breakfast, but of an evening I can barely taste them. In any case the few PSD4s I've had didn't do it for me, and I can't be bothered with them. No doubt they are great when they are great, and when hand picked from whatever box code etc, and each to his own, but the huge production run PSD4s, made in different factories by who knows what skill of rollers are not dependable and not cheap, and that combination annoys me.

Just my 2 cents worth

Looks like you, my friend, know how and what to buy to maximize your enjoyment of a cigar. It always makes me smile when I see someone, no matter what their postcount or join date, posts something that shows that they have an innate understanding of how to go about purchasing and smoking the most enjoyable and quality cigars, which you definitely have!

[galtline]

That is a hard one it depends so much on the quality . When both are tops flip a coin. I have had some real average d4 lately but when you get those dark oily wrappers they are so dam good. BRC are smoking very nicely but also have had some dogs.. This is the one thing about Cuban Cigars the quality control just sucks and it seems likes it like its been with every box I buy. The only exemption right now is anything in the HDM line. PURE QUALITY ... MASTER CRACKER

[DropTopDee]

i would have to choose BRC over PSD4 right now, both young.i have'nt had the pleasure of having an aged PSD4 or BRC. BBF is better than the BRC from that marca IMO.

[FHFinster]

Boli!!

[Vortigan]

Well I've got plenty of both and that's the way I prefer it but if it came down to the choice of only one it would be the BRC every time! But I'm pretty much a Bolivar ***** and the recent BRC are fantastic!