Thin ring gauge cigars

[watches_whiskies_cigars]

7 hours ago, PigFish said:

While I understand that as one pursues 'extinct' cigars often price is not the object. And of course, as I read the OP, I took it as 'what should I look for,' outside the realm of current production.

Ultimately though, there are some thinner cigars still made worth pursuing (a point made above). And while looking for others, it makes zero sense to overlook what you can still buy! I am big fan of the Monte Esp 1 and 2. Considering that these and some of the thinner Cohibas may also be marked for extinction in the future, I would have to second the suggestion about starting a 'hoard' of the cigars that you can get today. I don't think you can go wrong, even if you are only an occasional smoker of these, to dedicate a percentage of your cigar portfolio to them. You would have to counsel Rob, or one of the many members that has smoked these in recent vintage as I am not the source of that information. I am afraid that I smoke few cigars over 5.5in so smoking a longer cigar is a bit of a treat for me. As that is the case, most of what I smoke when I reach for one of these is one from the 90's. It is not that 'those/mine' are any 'better,' they are just what I have!

I needed to find this box of Party SdC to fulfill a promise to send one to a brother in Oz... I opened this box upon hearing of the passing of a member here Chuck aka: Tampa. Back in the earlier days of this forum there were fewer of us who advocated the finding and acquiring of these cigars. As today, most were interested in classic robustos and their meatier brethren. EL's and the like were just coming into fashion and many the medium and thin rings were simply overlooked and only advocated by a few of us. There were few voices in the thin ring camp, Chuck and another past member come to my mind whenever this topic arises. When members would ask for suggestions they would get the plethora of mainstream answers and a handful of us would typically mention these, coronas and lonsdales as the "alt" smokes of the day.

So this one is for you Chuck and a brother who has never had one!

-the Pig

That's a beautiful stick, Piggy! Enjoy that.

Yes, while I'm not actively looking to acquire discontinued thin cigars, it's good to be armed with the knowledge of what to keep my eyes peeled for because I've been pleasantly surprised on more than a few occasions with old cigars at B&Ms that have gone ignored by most.

I wholeheartedly agree with hoarding good, current production thin cigars as HSA gravitates towards thick cigars and continues on its culling trend. Fortunately our host put up the LGC MdO #4 today at a great price and thanks to the resoundingly positive feedback on it, I went in for them.

[watches_whiskies_cigars]

2 hours ago, losttrailer said:

which countries are you going to visit ? Spain has always been a good hunting ground for older boxes imho if you are willing to leave the beaten tracks.

Even two years ago ( last time ive been there ) one still could find Grandes de España, Partagas SdC 1,2,3 and one or the other discontinued beauty.

Coincidentally, I'm going to be spending the bulk of my time in Spain, and that's my understanding as well, which is why I was interested to know which discontinued cigars I should watch out for.

[Morgan]

21 hours ago, watches_whiskies_cigars said:

Thanks a lot for the feedback! I've smoked the Cohiba lanceros and LGC MdO #1, but never looked at PLMC or the LGC MdO #4. That needs to be rectified.

@Morgan I overlooked the cohiba corona especiales, but considering their price point versus the lanceros, I'll try and get some. I should have picked them up when they went on Clearance on 24:24 but passed on them because they weren't from El Laguito, but I digress; I'm one of those who finds box codes to still be fun.

I too believe in good box codes

[eswary]

I would agree with all the Party connoisseur serie. #1-3 are all delish for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[earthson]

My standouts are

PLMC (have been excellent for several years now - my AME '13s are smoking a dream for how young they are)

LGC MdO #4 (freaking incredible!)

HUPC (old stand-by - I crave them once they lose their edge and start gaining depth)

RASCC (not as good as a RASS, but has that fix when time is short.  Which brings me to...)

Partagas Shorts (and I don't typically like Partagas)

RyJ PC (maybe it's just this box, but they've changed into a sort of mini-churchill)

[NSXCIGAR]

It's quite interesting as over the last 10-12 years the cigars that seem to be most mourned after the "great purge" are the Party SdC line. The No. 1 was gone before the 2 & 3. I think HSA could bring those back and they would sell very well as the MdO #4 does. 

As far as small RG cigars go, it's no secret I'm a big fan. I'll take a 38 or less over a 48+ any day. Since 2000, I have found 38- RG to be much more flavorful and consistent than large RG cigars in general, particularly where construction is concerned. 

The Monte Especiales were the best Monte for many years, especially 07-09. I think they haven't been quite as good recently, but when they are on, they are great. Also have always had good luck with the Cohiba CE and Lanceros. 

[Fugu]

11 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

The No. 1 was gone before the 2 & 3. I think HSA could bring those back and they would sell very well as the MdO #4 does

Question is if they could. I always wondered about the inscription on the boxes "Réserve exclusive". Has this indeed originally been a special reserve with additionally aged or otherwise somehow particularly treated tobacco? Started as a special commission perhaps? And why all said in French? While this is rather clearcut for QdO or the Le Hoyo Series, I yet couldn't find any information on the 'histoire' of this Partagás line. Anyone in the know?

[NSXCIGAR]

9 hours ago, Fugu said:

Question is if they could. I always wondered about the inscription on the boxes "Réserve exclusive". Has this indeed originally been a special reserve with additionally aged or otherwise somehow particularly treated tobacco? Started as a special commission perhaps? And why all said in French? While this is rather clearcut for QdO or the Le Hoyo Series, I yet couldn't find any information on the 'histoire' of this Partagás line. Anyone in the know?

Very possible and indeed probable, but being as the series was a pre-rev release, I'm not sure anyone could even find out the details on it. I recall that the SdC had what I believed was a unique blend at the time, although still maintaining very true "Partagas" character. We're talking mid-late 90s here. The 00s versions were good but different.

I'm sure that the blend is on the books or the blender(s) from 10+ years ago is still around. Regardless, it would be great opportunity to create and refine a blend in a much-mourned format. Again, I don't think there's much disagreement that the SdC series is likely the most mourned line that was cut. If HSA put 1/1000 of the effort into resurrecting it as they put into the altogether mediocre two dozen special releases they pump out every year it would sell and sell well, as the MdO#4 and the PL Montecarlos do.

Seeing as how HSA sells virtually everything they make I'm not sure they care about creative marketing strategies and products that appeal to die-hards. 

[Smallclub]

10 hours ago, Fugu said:

 And why all said in French?

I would say it's "cosmetic" for a great part. Remember, French was the diplomatic language until the 1930's, it was the language related to luxury, refinement, wine, perfumery, etc.

[Trimming]

Monte. Esp. 1 & 2, readily available

[stigmata]

I'm a fan of Monty 1's these days

[Fugu]

19 hours ago, Smallclub said:

I would say it's "cosmetic" for a great part. Remember, French was the diplomatic language until the 1930's, it was the language related to luxury, refinement, wine, perfumery, etc.

Yep, considered that also. But I thought there might perhaps be more to it.

[Jimmy_jack]

I just can't decide if I should get another box LGC on the 24. If I like them I hate to think they may be discontinued .

[watches_whiskies_cigars]

47 minutes ago, Jimmy_jack said:

I just can't decide if I should get another box LGC on the 24. If I like them I hate to think they may be discontinued .

I struggled with that as well, and ultimately pulled the trigger on another for that reason, but don't let me be a bad influence.

[clutch5150]

Speaking of the Fundadores, just broke out a 2011...Splendidly rich and smooth on the palate. Amazing smoke.

[watches_whiskies_cigars]

3 minutes ago, clutch5150 said:

Speaking of the Fundadores, just broke out a 2011...Splendidly rich and smooth on the palate. Amazing smoke.

Great pictures! I do love the Fundi. I love that ashtray! Did you happen to get it in a place like Costa Rica?

[clutch5150]

Posted some background of the ash tray from the daily smokes section, repost below  Glad you like it's real special to me. 

It was hand crafted for me while in Fiji last June at a locale called Turtle Island from a gentlemen named Sorro.  Almost all the wood carvers are from the Fijian Island Fulaga. The men here from early childhood are taught their amazing craft. In fact approx. 98% of ALL wood carvings sold in Fiji, main island (Nandi) and the surrounding islands obtain special wood carvings from Fulaga.  Other resorts like Turtle Island employ just a few of these wood workers to make special gifts for their guests.  I also have some amazing custom  walking sticks that have been made over the years with our visits there.

Everything in the ashtray was hand carved from Mahogany and fish bone inlays...

 

Edit, when he was carving this, Sorro did not know how wide to make the slots, so I gave him a Behike 54 for the correct dimensions and hard work! 

[Gator]

Have really been enjoying LGC MdO #4's here lately too. My last two box purchases have been these. Great cigars and value


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[watches_whiskies_cigars]

3 hours ago, clutch5150 said:

Posted some background of the ash tray from the daily smokes section, repost below  Glad you like it's real special to me. 

It was hand crafted for me while in Fiji last June at a locale called Turtle Island from a gentlemen named Sorro.  Almost all the wood carvers are from the Fijian Island Fulaga. The men here from early childhood are taught their amazing craft. In fact approx. 98% of ALL wood carvings sold in Fiji, main island (Nandi) and the surrounding islands obtain special wood carvings from Fulaga.  Other resorts like Turtle Island employ just a few of these wood workers to make special gifts for their guests.  I also have some amazing custom  walking sticks that have been made over the years with our visits there.

Everything in the ashtray was hand carved from Mahogany and fish bone inlays...

 

Edit, when he was carving this, Sorro did not know how wide to make the slots, so I gave him a Behike 54 for the correct dimensions and hard work! 

That's beautiful brother! And I love how local artisans' craft is appreciated and promoted there. Methinks, a visit to Fiji is in order.

[Fugu]

On 15/10/2016 at 11:46 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

Very possible and indeed probable, but being as the series was a pre-rev release, I'm not sure anyone could even find out the details on it. I recall that the SdC had what I believed was a unique blend at the time, although still maintaining very true "Partagas" character. We're talking mid-late 90s here. The 00s versions were good but different.

.... and to add - just noticed while checking some stash - on the other side there's inscribed: "Melange Supreme de Tabacs de Recoltes Exceptionnelles"

...should have (had) some meaning....

No one in the know here on the forum? Would really be keen to learn more about its history.

[clutch5150]

On 10/16/2016 at 4:44 PM, watches_whiskies_cigars said:

That's beautiful brother! And I love how local artisans' craft is appreciated and promoted there. Methinks, a visit to Fiji is in order.

Thank you. If you also like SCUBA or snorkeling, FIJI is amazing. I just got certified 2 years ago out there and been loving Turtle Island even more! Wake up, dive and cigar. Late afternoon, dive and then a cigar in a hammock with a good book and some Tawny Port!  Life is good!! 

[LandCruiser]

Just an update... got a box of MDO4s in the mail today. Sept 15 production so just over a year on them. I could not wait for them to settle so I lit one up tonight. 

All I can say is: SUBLIME 

What a damn cigar.... solid 91-92 easy... and for the price, I cant think of any other cigar I would rather smoke right now off the top of my head. Next time they come up. Buy them. 

As far as buying boxes of discontinued stock goes, Eastern Europe is also a goldmine. I spent 4 months there this summer, and there were B&Ms with pristine boxes of SDC No 1s sitting there untouched. Des Deux were plentiful, as were any other of the thin ring gauge Hoyo line (Du Gourmet etc). A box of 06` Production Fundadores was my go to stick for the last 2 months over there.

If you get off the beaten path a bit, you can find stuff. Simple as that. 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Late to this party, but the monte especial and cce are 2 of my top 5 go tos. Ive gone through too many cce in the last 18 months....searching again :^)

[Notsocleaver]

+1 on the votes for current run LGC MdO #4. Really great cigar, and you can't count on the production going for long, so stock up now.

[NSXCIGAR]

It just amazes me that cigars like the MdO#4 and PL Montecarlos are rarely short on flavor, character and richness but cigars twice the ring gauge often come up short. I can tell you I've never had a bland PL Montecarlo in my life, but I've had plenty of bland RyJ Churchills, RASS, and HdM Epis. 

Just continues to support my theory that large RG cigars are being stuffed with nothing but volado as I mentioned in another post a while back. I think it's very possible that Cuba is struggling to get good quality seco and ligero out of these new strains. The natural remedy to use up all the excess volado is to keep pushing out large RG cigars. Constant special releases prevent anyone from identifying any blend consistency or quality variation from year to year as they are all essentially one-off productions. Genius. The only problem is that despite all the volado the fireproof Habana 2000 wrappers still cause poor burning.