Top 10 for 2017

[El Presidente]

I won't shed a tear for seeing the back of this year. On and off the field it has been a tough one but there is a sense o achievement when you can come out the other side 

For cigars, this was the worst year in terms of quality since 1999.  Well over 10,000 boxes were inspected by Greg and myself. We found some absolute gems but all in all it was a significant step down in quality from the past few years. We all understand that the reason was poor back to back growing seasons. thankfully the 2016/17 season was a bumper and we will start to see some wrapper from the crop in late 18/early 19 cigars. 

So in terms of construction quality and flavour consistency, here are my top 10 for 2017. 

 

1. Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 2

       Didn't miss a beat. I saw very few poor wrappers on these throughout the year with most being quality colorado to colorado maduro. The flavour 

       profile in these is remarkably consistent. Mid to full bodied toasted tobacco and Jaffa goodness. Just delivers day in and day out. 

 

       

       2. Fonseca Number 1

       Almost pipped the JLS2 for the top position. For a cigar that was once slated for discontinuation, It has been the biggest comeback since lazarus. 

       Explores the flavour spectrum of sweet spices /flowers in a mid bodied delivery. Fuller than they once were. 

     

 

        3. H. Upmann Connoisseur A

        You work hard for your money and you wish a premium cigar that delivers every single time. You want the Connie A. 

 

 

       4. Cohiba Robusto

        Some of the best CORO in years came out in 2017. They simply smoked the house down and I can safely say that 2016/17 CORO's are up 

        there with the best of the past two decades. Why the buck against the trend? I suspect that the near zero production of Siglo VI and Behike

        benefitted the Cohiba Robusto immensely. 

 

     

 

       5  Montecristo Tubos

       They were PLM JUN 14 for most of the year.  We went through a mountain of boxes once members started tasting what we were saying on 

       these. One of the success stories of the year. 

 

       

 

        6. Bolivar Tubos Number 1

        Still around in good quantity but they will run out soon enough. Stunning corona that has been "rediscovered" by many.  

     

 

        7. Partagas Lusitania

        10 box, 25 box, 50 cab.....it really doesn't matter. There are just so few poor examples. Flavour consistency has been a standout. 

       

       8.  Quai D’Orsay Corona

       The QDC has more wrapper consistency than any other cigar. That translated to the tastebuds. Construction is excellent as well. 

        a winner.   

     

 

       9. Montecristo Petit Edmundo

       Hard not to like this little chocolate bomb. iI has had a good year. 

     

 

       10, H. Upmann Petit Corona

        Doing it's farewell tour and finishing with aplomb. My favourite PC of 2017. Medium to full bodied, coffee, nuts, charred wood. Gorgeous. 

 

Notable mentions Just missing the top 10. 

Partagas Presidente  

Partagas E 2

Punch Punch

 

Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona. 

[Danimalia]

Thanks, Rob. Familiar with some of these, and others I need to get acquainted with. Having bought almost all of the Cuban cigars I've purchased this year from here, I feel I've been spared from the effects of the downturn. Very grateful for it.

That the JL2 and Fonseca finish 1/2 is a testament to the fact that there are great cigars out there for those on a more moderate budget. I haven't smoked the Fonsecas yet, but the Juan Lopez are fantastic. The best robustos I've had all year, for sure, and would be at or near the too of my list overall.

[Cubatabaco]

Great ode to '17, Pres!

 

I vote for quote of the year, as this make me chuckle:

 

"For a cigar that was once slated for discontinuation, it has been the biggest comeback since Lazarus".

 

Here's to 2018!

 

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[earthson]

So is HSA just rubbing the HUPC deletion in my face!? I fully agree - I've gotten some boxes of these from you this year (6 or so, I think!) and they have all been stunner. 2 of the boxes are just the sexiest colorado maduro - almost LE and oily as a bird in the Gulf of Mexico.

Still hoping this was a discontinuation a lá Fonseca 1.

[MahDooRow]

Just now, earthson said:

Still hoping this was a discontinuation a lá Fonseca 1.

Me too, and I'm sure we have lots of company.  I still fail to understand how the HUPC could have even remotely been considered for the deletion list.  Time will tell if it is just a ruse.  

As for the others in the Top 10 list, the Monte Tubos were/are suberb!  The Fonseca #1 are also pretty tasty.  I love the format and the flavor.

[earthson]

5 minutes ago, MahDooRow said:

Me too, and I'm sure we have lots of company.  I still fail to understand how the HUPC could have even remotely been considered for the deletion list.  Time will tell if it is just a ruse.  

 

I hate to say it, but I kind of understand why it was earmarked. Based on how long I see certain stock sitting at online vendors waiting to be sold, coupled with the behavior of how they sell on the 24:24 here, it seems marevas are currently an under-performing vitola. Additionally, it seems the cheaper Petit corona-ish cigars do better than the premium offerings in brands where there are choices (RyJ, HU).

I'm already prepping for the moment the underselling RyJPC is axed - it's my favorite PC-size in the RyJ line, but perhaps due to its need to be aged for years, it seems to be very unpopular.

[frenchkiwi]

Interesting, El Pres, I was wondering what shape PCs are in at the mo' (apart from HUPCs), basically which ones are consistently performing in your warehouse at mo? (i was going to say in your Cuntint but...)

For instance i remember a stellar run of RyJ PCs a couple years back ... full of cherry... couldn't get enough of them

[Wertman]

I would have to add the HUHC.  I think it smoked great and consistent.

[CrankYanker]

I have had a lot of the list but I am curious to try the QDO and get my hands on some of those Bolivar Tubos.  Great list!  I own 4 of the 5 in the Top 5 so I am off to a great start.  Those Fonseca No 1s are something else. 

[havanaclub]

Nice list. I agree with most for sure.
Surprised the RyJ Churchill didn't make the list. Saw some beauty boxes on 24:24 throughout 2017. I also grabbed probably one of the nicest boxes I own from Rob, the RyJ churchill OBM 16.


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[Cigarsandmalts]

Having 8 of the top 10 (missing the Tubos) and 10 of the 14 posted (missing the presidentes and E2), it’s nice to know I’ll have some beauties to smoke in a couple years! 

[fastkiller13]

I have the H Upmann petit coronas, CORO, and the Monte Tubos. I actually just smoked a Monte Tubo and it was amazing, I only gave them 3 weeks to rest so I won't smoke anymore for a few weeks but I wish I had grabbed a few boxes of them. 

[Bagman]

So many unique opinions.  Cigar Journal listed the Montecristo #2 as the number 1 cuban cigar of 2017.  I bought 4 boxes and 3 of the 4 are stunning, one is great, but not as good as the others. All directly from Cuba.  So I agree with cigar journal.   But others here are trashing 2017 Monty #2's.  Clearly a difference of opinion!

Great list none the less.

[Danimalia]

5 hours ago, earthson said:

So is HSA just rubbing the HUPC deletion in my face!? I fully agree - I've gotten some boxes of these from you this year (6 or so, I think!) and they have all been stunner. 2 of the boxes are just the sexiest colorado maduro - almost LE and oily as a bird in the Gulf of Mexico.

Still hoping this was a discontinuation a lá Fonseca 1.

Well, maybe if people keep buying them, it might get them to reconsider. Has it happened before, aside from the Fonseca? I've seen smarter people than me wonder, but why they couldn't just ramp down production and make it a seasonal release is beyond me. I'm no businessman, but it seems like they don't need to sell like a Monte 4 if they have a dedicates group of fans, and it seems like they have that at the least. Then again, I haven't bought a box myself, so...

From what I've seen in pictures, the HUPC wrappers look a lot like the No. 2 wrappers that had that streaky, mottled, super oily appearance. 

[Danimalia]

54 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

Nice list. I agree with most for sure.
Surprised the RyJ Churchill didn't make the list. Saw some beauty boxes on 24:24 throughout 2017. I also grabbed probably one of the nicest boxes I own from Rob, the RyJ churchill OBM 16.


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They were on his list last year. Not that they couldn't be on 2 years in a row, but they have come in for plenty of praise recently. I have a box of ESL Jun 17 (I think), and it's one of the nicest boxes I own as well.

[Bill Hayes]

I'm still getting over the discontinuation of the Party SDC #3 and the inconsistency of the Trini Reyes and now that I have discovered the HU PC they are going to get rid of that too. I promise not to take up smoking Party Shorts. 

On a brighter note, I have enjoyed the HU connie A.

[Danimalia]

9 hours ago, Monterey said:

So many unique opinions.  Cigar Journal listed the Montecristo #2 as the number 1 cuban cigar of 2017.  I bought 4 boxes and 3 of the 4 are stunning, one is great, but not as good as the others. All directly from Cuba.  So I agree with cigar journal.   But others here are trashing 2017 Monty #2's.  Clearly a difference of opinion!

Great list none the less.

Probably because Monte 2 are notoriously inconsistent in terms of quality, and this has been a rough year overall.  I, myself, have had similar issues, with poor construction. But when they're good,  they're glorious. 

[JamesKPolkEsq]

No love for Bolivar PCs? They have been looking amazing on 2424...

[mkz]

Glad (and not surprised) to see QdO Coronas up there. Well deserved!!

Great list Prez!! 

[ErikB]

Biggest surprise to me were the Vegueros Tapados - they were not the best cigars I smoked this year , but they had these fantastic chocolatey wrappers and were so perfectly constructed.


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[El Presidente]

22 hours ago, frenchkiwi said:

Interesting, El Pres, I was wondering what shape PCs are in at the mo' (apart from HUPCs), basically which ones are consistently performing in your warehouse at mo? (i was going to say in your Cuntint but...)

For instance i remember a stellar run of RyJ PCs a couple years back ... full of cherry... couldn't get enough of them

Average year for PC's. After the Upmann the Rafael Gonzalez would come into play. Remember this is about consistency of construction and flavour. 

 

[El Presidente]

19 hours ago, havanaclub said:

Nice list. I agree with most for sure.
Surprised the RyJ Churchill didn't make the list. 


 

Fell away this last quarter. 

[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, JamesKPolkEsq said:

No love for Bolivar PCs? They have been looking amazing on 2424...

Some fantastic boxes this year but it is consistency that dragged them down. They have had far more consistent years. 

[luvdunhill]

Fell away this last quarter. 

The RyJ seemed to have peaked in late 2016 (code wise, maybe you consider the year you sell them?) For my tastes, the JL2 are better a few years back. My ‘14s seem to be killing the ‘17s.

That being said, the Fonseca No.1 with 2016 codes (sold this year) are the far and above winner for me. Maybe that’s where all the Siglo V bits went?

[GotaCohiba]

Lusi’s, CoRo’s, Edmundo’s..... Oh My