Flagship cigars

[Boxer1]

I’ve smoked cigars for a while but just recently have been getting into Cubans. I’ve picked up a 5 boxes and a few 1/4 boxes over the past few months so far I’ve really enjoyed the flavors of the RJSC and Partagas p2 despite being young and a little ruff.

My question is what 2 sticks best represent their respective brand. I’d like start exploring the different brands and am wondering  where you all recommend starting. For now I’d like to keep it to Cohiba, HDM, MC, Partagas, HU, and RJ. 

[nKostyan]

I would advise to try each brand in the Robusto format and their derivatives, as well as the Double Corona format or similar. These formats have never disappointed me. The pyramided is also a very good format and I very like it

 

[Islandboy]

Answers to your question are extremely subjective, especially given the multitude of variables involved. Prepare to be overwhelmed.

 

FWIW, my go-to sticks for each Marca listed:

Cohiba Robusto

HdM Epicure 2

MC Edmundo

Partagas P2

H Upmann #2

RyJ Short Churchill

 

Favorite upper-tier sticks:

Cohiba Lancero

HdM Double Corona

MC 2

Partagas Lusitania

H Upmann Sir Winston

RyJ Churchill

 

My advice is to take advantage of sampler and quarter box offerings, and judge for yourself.

[Burningman]

As @Islandboy says try samplers. Begin with samplers from a vitola you regularly smoke then venture out from there.

[mt1]

Highly subjective of course, but for me, the RyJ is the classic Churchill.

For Partagas, my favorite is probably the Lusitanias overall.  If I want something concentrated and direct, I like the Presidentes.  If I want something full bodied it's going to be the E2.  If I want something cheap, it's the Super Partagas all day.

I think more importantly, you should try different ones and see which size fits the profile of each brand that you like.  For example, for Hoyos, my favorite is the San Juan but I wouldn't say it's particularly representative of the Hoyo profile generally, it's just my favorite Hoyo.

[anacostiakat]

Everything is subjective.

It used to be that I found the corona gorda size to be most indicative of a marca.  Not sure that is true any longer.  Plus I don't find myself smoking many of those.

 

[BJRPorter]

Cohiba Robusto & SigloIV

Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona

H. Upmann Connie A & No.2

RYJ Churchill

[Pag]

If you liked the Rasc I would try the Rass way more consistent.
RyJ short Churchhills and Petit royales.
Flavors vary as does quality control.
Don't forget to try some cheap and cheerfuls you never know what you may find. SC el principles is a gem.


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[HDGSN]

Cohiba - Robusto

HDM - Epicure No. 2

MC - No. 4

Partagas - Shorts

HU - Connie No. 1

RJ - Short Churchill

[godpheonix]

Any skinnies should give you a good sampling of what each brand as to offer in term of flavors. Of course not all brands have them. For those, just go to the next available RG.

[99call]

Petit coronas or minutos I find to deliver on the core of any given brand

Party shorts, Divinios, SCDLH El Principe, Ramon Allones Club Corona, R&J Petit royales, Cohiba Shorts, Trini Reyes. ERDM demi Tasse. Mont 4. Upmann half Corona. Bolivar Corona junior Rafael Gonzales Petit Corona Por Larranaga Monte Carlo.,,,............basically play around with little format cigars that are cheap and packed with defined flavour. Then if you hit on something you like get samplers of those brands. 

[joeypots]

Remember that there can be vast differences in the flavor of Cuban cigars given different boxes and the age of the cigars. Add to that the conditions in which the cigars are kept and you are shooting craps until you have the experience to know what you like and how to get it.

Cohiba- Robusto

HDM- DC

MC- #1

Partagas- SD#4

HU-SW

RJ- Haven't had any recently.

[Guybrush]

If there is a Double Corona take the Double Corona

[Fugu]

Easy one: Sample a few Coronas of each brand.

Hmm....now...wait.....

[ChanceSchmerr]

2 hours ago, Fugu said:

Easy one: Sample a few Coronas of each brand.

Hmm....now...wait.....

I was about to say this. Sure used to be true. 

I still hold the Coronas I have of each of the marcas as my true touchstone for that marca's profile.  That said, as they age and mellow, the profiles of those Partagas/Boli/JL/SLR/Diplo/ERDM/Punch/Sancho Panza Coronas are evolving, taking with them into oblivion the bloodlines of those marcas....I almost can't bring myself to smoke the ones where I only have a few left.  Will we ever see them again?

But hey - as long as the RE program throws a lifeline out there, with releases like the PL Coronas, all is not lost.

 

In the absence of the Coronas, I do find the requisite Petit Coronas are pretty representative of each Marca....assuming they aren't also discontinued....

[Sir Sooty]

A lot of good advice here, particularly with the petite coronas being representative of a marca. Sure sign of mature palate when you no longer have the constant urge to  reach for the biggest ring guage cigar for your kicks. 

Having said that, here are my selections for 2 most representative (or in my mind, the "must get" boxes)

Bolivar - BBF, BRC

Cohiba - Esplendidos, CoLa 

H Upmann - HUHC, Connie A

Partagas - PSD4, Lusitanias

Por Larrañaga - PLPC, Picadores

Ramon Allones - RASS, RASCC

RyJ - Churchills, Wide Churchills

Trinidad - Vigia, Fundadores

[Boxer1]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I kind of figured DCs and Churchills would be a common response. Every time the come up I just picked up a box of something else. Still waiting to see some sir Winstons. With the talk of good crops the last couple years it sounds like it could be a good time to be getting into CCs

[NSXCIGAR]

8 hours ago, Fugu said:

Easy one: Sample a few Coronas of each brand.

Last said in 2002...and one would have been correct.

[NSXCIGAR]

I wonder what Diplomaticos flagship cigar is...

[ChanceSchmerr]

33 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I wonder what Diplomaticos flagship cigar is...

I would have said #1 or #4.......The #2 always seemed a different animal than the rest of the line.

[tk4312]

Bolivar - BBF, BRC

Cohiba - Esplendidos, CoLa 

HdM - Epicure Especial, Double Corona

H Upmann - mag 46, Sir Winston

Montecristo - #2, #4

Partagas - 898, Shorts

Por Larrañaga - PLPC, Montecarlos

Ramon Allones - RASS, Gigantes

RyJ - Short Churchill, Exhibition #4

Trinidad - Fundadores, Coloniales

[Fugu]

On 12/11/2018 at 12:42 AM, ChanceSchmerr said:

That said, as they age and mellow, the profiles of those Partagas/Boli/JL/SLR/Diplo/ERDM/Punch/Sancho Panza Coronas are evolving, taking with them into oblivion the bloodlines of those marcas....

Agree with your post above. But in this regard, my perception is that, as they mature, most (certainly not all) cigars become more expressive of their respective "family-DNA". Prime example for me being the Boli PC - most non-expressive as for brand-character when young (if you ask me) but becoming a great ambassador (ambassadress? ) of the marca with some serious age on it. Same holding e.g. for the above mentioned SP Coronas, or Sancho Panza in general, or ERDM for that matter.