Your Habanos Cigar of 2017 : The Contenders

[jackupster]

Everything I have had with a TOS code on it is really good. So Dip 2 and the PLPC's are my votes.

[mkz]

10 hours ago, 99call said:

Smoking though some ETP 16s you put me onto.  WOW  Aromatic oatiness, cream, pencil shavings, and touches of light anise. Also they somehow manage to last me double to time it takes me to smoke any other Corona.  Stocking up now, before the idiot bands arrive

Glad (but not surprised) they are delivering! 

They are good young but to die for with 5+ age.

 

Speaking of new bands and changes of the QdO brand... Is it actually confirmed that the coronas will be changed, or is it just a rumor thats been blown out of proportions?

[NSXCIGAR]

14 hours ago, mkz said:

Speaking of new bands and changes of the QdO brand... Is it actually confirmed that the coronas will be changed, or is it just a rumor thats been blown out of proportions?

Nothing's been confirmed of course but the Coronas was sporting the new bands at the gala dinner release of the new vitolas so it's a distinct possibility that the new bands will be incorporated on every model.

[Fugu]

On 25.10.2017 at 9:03 PM, 99call said:

Stocking up now, before the idiot bands arrive

The whole line is going to "sport" the new 'bling' (some call it 'idiot' and I am not inclined to disagree...haha) bands, would be strange if they'd do otherwise. The pic provided by NSX will be our future, I fear.....Also check CCW for recent update on band usage.

[99call]

1 minute ago, Fugu said:

The whole line is going to "sport" the new 'bling' (some call it 'idiot' and I am not inclined to disagree...haha) bands, would be strange if they'd do otherwise. The pic provided by NSX will be our future, I fear.....Also check CCW for recent update on band usage.

There was something so classy about the poo brown ensemble of the Quai D'Orsay packaging.   You can just imagine of box of these sitting in Don Drapers beige pad

[Fugu]

Good find! But pleeease, don't you degrade it to "poo brown". That is a classic matte 70s Porsche 911 tangerine (signal orange) 

 

[99call]

15 hours ago, Fugu said:

 

Would you be wearing this is you Porsche by any chance?

 

[Fugu]

On 27.10.2017 at 3:48 PM, 99call said:

Would you be wearing this is you Porsche by any chance?

Haha, hell no, sorry but that certainly is a Mustang kind of bloke....

Not this one:

But this:

[99call]

17 minutes ago, Fugu said:

Haha, hell no, sorry but that certainly is a Mustang kind of bloke....

 

I agree with the bloke in the image (about the Stang), he has an air of domestic violence and cheap spirits about him.   But surely a QDO Corona smoker has to drive a convertible Citroen DS!!!??

 

[Fugu]

Ok, back on topic - Haven't smoked that many fresh or new production to be able to make a true qualified statement, but I definitely don't follow the notion that it has all been bad. Of what I came across of 15-17 production - consistently very good to great has been: La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No. 4. Certainly not a mainstream stick, but my No.1 of that period and even way back to 2011 and beyond (always/mostly Partagas-made, so no particular bxc). Smoking them regularly. Not one dud, always a pleasure to smoke, young or with age. Also to note: never seen a negative word by those members here who smoke them.

A cigar qualifying as "Best of a period" for me would be less so that single hit or cherry-picked box performing well, neither "special" one-off production. Rather it will have to be regular production vitolas that presented themselves consistently good to great, matching or above their own standard, during a particular period. So, as for the production period of the last three-year time frame as enquired by Rob, from what I've smoked (that is a clear underrepresentation of sticks of wider girth), I'd choose:

2017
Monte Especiales No. 2 - LAUs, the only 2017s I've smoked so far and got several boxes of, all displaying a perfect making, excellent tobacco quality. Seems to me, as if very well-aged leaf went into these.

2016
BMP- and SLE-coded Reyes and Coloniales (2016 through 2017)
Boli Coronas Gigantes, PUR - stocked up on the last of their kind. A long-standing favorite of mine - baffled and sad to have to see them go! While everyone is cheering about Espies and Winnies these Churchills always stood somehow in the shadow. They have always been a solid value to me. A stick with character and soul, yep, indeed a true soulmate. Grandes, with a touch of sugarcane on the palate. Found a very few showing an uneven fill lastly, but it seems as if they had saved the best for the very end. (Farewell dear friend, I will treasure what too-little I still got.)
Honorably mentioned: HU Majestics - smoking above their price point and nimbus. Came across some very nice '16 boxes with true quality wrappers (various codes).

2015
MUO (May) Lanceros. Masterpieces - Period.
Honorable mention goes to ULA RASCC - excellent tobacco, consistently blended, nice and rich wrappers, and usually fairly well constructed. Though there has been different reporting by members, very little variation as to my own experience (wrapper burn will improve with age). Very good value. Smoking them a lot atm.
Like others, I'd be inclined to include ConnieAs as well, but haven't smoked any younger than 2014.

 

Complying with the rules and picking only two, I'd go with MdO4 and Trini Reyes for consistency in blend and quality. Cigars I'd not hesitate buying blind for that period. I am well aware that those two haven't got a chance to make it in the Top 10, as they are just too small to appeal to a wider smokership. Still that shall be my pick.

Side note, and I won't close without a little bashing - most inconsistent, sometimes even disappointing cigar for that period for me: poor Swinnie.

[Fugu]

3 minutes ago, 99call said:

I agree with the bloke in the image (about the Stang), he has an air of domestic violence and cheap spirits about him.   But surely a QDO Corona smoker has to drive a convertible Citroen DS!!!??

Ohh yes - absolutely!!

[NSXCIGAR]

15 hours ago, Fugu said:

consistently very good to great has been: La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No. 4.

Your hyping of these for as long as I can remember prompted me to finally pick up a box last week. Blind buy but a ridiculous price. Got to get in on these one way or another!

[Fugu]

Haha, indeed, and sorry for my hyping, mate. I do hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do!!

[El Presidente]

On 10/12/2017 at 3:08 PM, planetary said:

I am compelled to nominate the H. Upmann Connie A.  Nuts, sweet cream, and a deep richness which eludes my meager fluency with flavor descriptors.  Excellent luck with construction, to boot.  I've smoked from LUB MAR/APR 15, from our host, consistently scoring in the 90s for me.

 

What a great photo. 

Let's wrap this one up at the end of this week. Keep the nominations coming until Sunday. 

[luvdunhill]

Fonseca No.1 and HU Connie A

[TNT009]

Trini Topes

[Eric05]

Monte 80 has probably been one of the best cigars I smoked this year.

[dicko]

I'll go Partagas Lusitanias and H upmann connie 1

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[garnett]

Connie A -  RAE JUL 15

Punch Punch - ALO SEP 15

 

[Notsocleaver]

1 hour ago, garnett said:

Connie A -  RAE JUL 15

Punch Punch - ALO SEP 15

 

Same here, 'cept my Punches are also from July

[FatPete]

On 06/11/2017 at 7:02 AM, El Presidente said:

What a great photo. 

Let's wrap this one up at the end of this week. Keep the nominations coming until Sunday. 

Hi Rob,

Do we have a winner or did I miss it?

Pete