Thin ring gauge cigars

[Fugu]

5 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

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.

Very much this ^

[TheMonk]

Your theory makes perfect sense @NSXCIGAR, but then they come out with big ring gauge cigars like the Mag56 that, from every opinion I've read thus far (and including mine), has a fantastic blend. Perhaps they're selectively using more of the excess volado on a few sticks... the RyJ Churchill, HdM Epis and Monti DE do come to mind.

[LandCruiser]

4 hours ago, TheMonk said:

Your theory makes perfect sense @NSXCIGAR, but then they come out with big ring gauge cigars like the Mag56 that, from every opinion I've read thus far (and including mine), has a fantastic blend. Perhaps they're selectively using more of the excess volado on a few sticks... the RyJ Churchill, HdM Epis and Monti DE do come to mind.

For how large they are (like sucking on a garden hose) the Mag 56 was woefully under flavored for me. Granted, I have only smoked 2, but smoke production was lacking... as was flavor.... I wont be buying anymore thats for sure... 

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, LandCruiser said:

For how large they are (like sucking on a garden hose) the Mag 56 was woefully under flavored for me. Granted, I have only smoked 2, but smoke production was lacking... as was flavor.... I wont be buying anymore thats for sure... 

I agree, the strength and richness of the Mag 56 is about the minimum I would expect from a cigar with that much tobacco, to be honest. Also, to be sure, they are not stuffing ALL their large RG cigars with volado. Clearly cigars like the Mag 56 are an exception. But I would say the vast majority conatin far more volado than has been the case in the past. 

[LandCruiser]

27 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I agree, the strength and richness of the Mag 56 is about the minimum I would expect from a cigar with that much tobacco, to be honest. Also, to be sure, they are not stuffing ALL their large RG cigars with volado. Clearly cigars like the Mag 56 are an exception. But I would say the vast majority conatin far more volado than has been the case in the past. 

This is a bit redundant, but I will just say it. I smoked my last Mag 56 night before last. Has had time to settle in my humi for the past 3 months. I smoked a fresh off the mail truck MDO4 last night, same day they arrived. 

Absolutely no comparison. Im taking the MDO4 every day of the week. More smoke while sitting, much richer flavors, and just overall a much more impressive and enjoyable cigar. And if you factor in price... dont even get me started.... The thought of the long and skinnies being gone in a matter of years scares the hell out of me.  

[Philc2001]

Thin ring gauge cigars are sadly fading from the menu. If I could go back in time I would stock up on Partagas 898V, Punch SS#1, Punch SS#2, Partagas SdC (any one or all of them), and that would be just the start. In current production I would seriously put a few MC Especial #2 down for a few years. I currently have a 2014 box napping and it's not ready yet, but I am anticipating the MC coffee and cocoa in those especials are going to be something special!  

[LandCruiser]

10 minutes ago, Philc2001 said:

Thin ring gauge cigars are sadly fading from the menu. If I could go back in time I would stock up on Partagas 898V, Punch SS#1, Punch SS#2, Partagas SdC (any one or all of them), and that would be just the start. In current production I would seriously put a few MC Especial #2 down for a few years. I currently have a 2014 box napping and it's not ready yet, but I am anticipating the MC coffee and cocoa in those especials are going to be something special!  

Sadly, when the current production Especials are ready, thin ring gauge stuff will probably be a thing of the past. 

Oddly enough, it seems there are more long and skinny offerings on the non-cuban side as of late. One to note is the Oliva Serie V Lancero, which is a VERY good smoke... 

 

José Oliva is quoted by Cigar Aficionado on his Serie V Lancero:

The wrapper-to-filler ratio is so much in favor of the wrapper that it really has to be able to stand on its own, which is why we made one for the Serie V. The wrapper is so unique and rich that we created a lancero so that people had a chance to really taste it.

We made it for connoisseurs and for ourselves… We are not worried about the numbers. "