My top 10 regular production cigars for 2018

[El Presidente]

My top 10 is based primarily on the quality and consistency of cigars coming through. During 2018, I would have opened up some 20,000 + boxes of cigars so I get a good understanding of consistency cigar to cigar, month to month. The second part of my grading is to do with smoking the cigars.  I am a passionate cigar lover who gravitates to regular production.  I smoke all cigars young as well as have personal holding stock at 3, 5, and 8 years for most.  This allows me to gauge where a young cigar is heading. 

It was a tough year overall for Cuban cigars but there were some standouts indeed. This is a good list to use for blind purchasing 

 

 

1. Partagas Serie P2   The P2 was the stand out Piramide in terms of quality in 2018. It wasn’t even close. However, it went beyond that. This year’s P2’s were the best since the initial release in 2005. The extensive use of Rosado wrappers paid dividends in spades.

2. Trinidad Fundadores   They came back in 2018 and they came back with a vengeance rising like a phoenix from the cesspool that is the Francisco Donatien Cigar Factory. Rich…super rich! Coffee cake/shortbread/cocoa.

 

3. Partagas Presidente   Who would have thought that the humble Partagas Presidente has gone from outhouse to penthouse in two years? The quality has been outstanding. The feel in hand, sensual.

4. Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona   Such an elegant cigar and they have been stellar in 2018. It’s not only the consistently stunning quality but the smoking experience has been pure Hoyo. Cream, cloves, sweet spices including a hint of cocoa powder. Gorgeous.

 

5. Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 2   Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the most consistent performer of all. It has been a very good year for the JLS2 but perhaps just off last year’s highs. I still reach for it more than any other Robusto as its orange/chocolate confectionary nature gets me every time.

6. Cohiba Robusto   This has been a great year for Cohiba Robusto. This legendary cigar has benefitted mightily in 2018 from the production freeze on Behike, Siglo VI and others. It got the “good juice” in 2018.

 

7. Partagas Lusitania   Consistency in construction, wrapper and in the smoking makes this cigar an absolute gem. Cabs, 25’s or 10’s…it really didn’t matter. They have been winners all year long.

8. H. Upmann Connoisseur A   I think many of us have taken the Connie A for granted. If you were forced to buy blind and you had the coin, the Connie A would always be a safe bet. Such a consistent and complex cigar.

 

9. Ramon Allones Specially Select 50 cabs.   The consistency of the RASS cabs this year was insane. In the smoking, they were fruit-driven powerhouses. I am not sure what it is about RASS cabs but they just deliver that extra intensity.

10. Partagas Serie E Number 2   Many members used the Serie E as their Behike replacement in 2018. This was partly because many of them were rolled at El Laguito but also because the flavour delivery of the cigar was outstanding. A little more consistency on wrapper/construction would have seen it much further up the list. Still, it had a very good year.

 

If there was a bench, then the four positions would go to Montecristo Number 4, Diplomatico Number 2, Sancho Panza Belicoso, and Partagas 898 Varnished.

[Derboesekoenig]

Thank you for this. Very helpful, and I will have to double check and make sure I have at least 2 of every one of these. Will there be a bottom 10 flops or 10 worst of 2018? Just curious.

[El Presidente]

1 minute ago, Derboesekoenig said:

Will there be a bottom 10 flops or 10 worst of 2018? Just curious.

i would like to finish the year on a positive note  

[Derboesekoenig]

7 minutes ago, db13 said:

My RASS cab GOS FEB has been anything but spectacular. Smoked one within two weeks of arrival and it was very good. Waited 45 days smoked another one and it was awful. Waited 60 days smoked another one and it was awful. Couldn't even finish half of it the burn was so bad. I should have taken pictures. Tried another one after 90 days and the burn again was awful, not as bad as the previous but not an enjoyable cigar at all. Harsh, bitter, no distinct flavors except ammonia and nicotine.

Maybe these are just too young right now? 

I'm smoking through a 2018 right now....I'll have to double-check the box code. But I smoked 8-10 in the first ~10-12 days. I've been letting them rest a bit these last few weeks. They have all been pretty great.

[BJRPorter]

Nice. I picked up 6.5 out of 10. The .5 being a ten count box of the Lusi.

[ac031898]

My RASS cab GOS FEB has been anything but spectacular. Smoked one within two weeks of arrival and it was very good. Waited 45 days smoked another one and it was awful. Waited 60 days smoked another one and it was awful. Couldn't even finish half of it the burn was so bad. I should have taken pictures. Tried another one after 90 days and the burn again was awful, not as bad as the previous but not an enjoyable cigar at all. Harsh, bitter, no distinct flavors except ammonia and nicotine.
Maybe these are just too young right now? 

I picked up a MSU ABR 2018 cab earlier and it’s been smoking pretty well, but definitely getting better as it spends more time down.

[Cayman17]

I will count myself lucky for obtaining many of the cigars on this list between December 2017 and the present, including some blind purchases that I am very happy with at present. I do appreciate your descriptions and grading system, Rob. Thanks and have a merry holiday season! 

 

[dangolf18]

So right about the JL2....such a great cigar.

[bmf30180]

Partagas!  

Glad to see my favs making your list.

[Habana Mike]

You hit 8 of 10 I smoke regularly year over year. While many have been consistent the past few years a couple have been standout recently!

[Fugu]

12 hours ago, db13 said:

My RASS cab GOS FEB has been anything but spectacular. Smoked one within two weeks of arrival and it was very good. Waited 45 days smoked another one and it was awful. Waited 60 days smoked another one and it was awful. Couldn't even finish half of it the burn was so bad. I should have taken pictures. Tried another one after 90 days and the burn again was awful, not as bad as the previous but not an enjoyable cigar at all. Harsh, bitter, no distinct flavors except ammonia and nicotine.

Maybe these are just too young right now? 

You are operating on the wrong time-scale. Seems you were lucky and got a good, rich box there. Fill up the voids with singles and bury the cab for the next five years. Start sampling again from there on.
 

[GavLew79]

12 hours ago, db13 said:

 

Maybe these are just too young right now? 

Or too wet? Or just a bad few? Or a maybe, unluckily, a crap box. I had a crap cab of PLPC just as you found here. 10 bad cigars on the trot. 2 lovely. 3 more bad. Luck of the draw every time I pick one now. If it's good then great. If it's crap it gets tossed. It's the game. 

[Derboesekoenig]

1 hour ago, crking3 said:

I keep seeing E2 as the “behike replacement” ....pardon my ignorance but wth does that even mean ? Lol I get the general sense of what you’re trying to convey but can you explain the reasoning/situation behind that ? Thanks !


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I would like to know as well, as I've yet to try the E2, but will stock up if they are indeed that good. Rob's descriptions alone have been selling the cigars by the box for me lol good job, keep it up! 

[Puros Y Vino]

My top 2018 is easy. I don't have any 2018 stock at all. 

I do want some Partagas Presidentes though. 

[JIK]

6 hours ago, crking3 said:

I keep seeing E2 as the “behike replacement” ....pardon my ignorance but wth does that even mean ? Lol I get the general sense of what you’re trying to convey but can you explain the reasoning/situation behind that ? Thanks !


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I want to know too. Having never tried either it would be nice to skip the price tag of the B. 

[TBird55]

10 hours ago, Fugu said:

You are operating on the wrong time-scale. Seems you were lucky and got a good, rich box there. Fill up the voids with singles and bury the cab for the next five years. Start sampling again from there on.
 

^^^this^^^

[joeypots]

21 hours ago, db13 said:

My RASS cab GOS FEB has been anything but spectacular. Smoked one within two weeks of arrival and it was very good. Waited 45 days smoked another one and it was awful. Waited 60 days smoked another one and it was awful. Couldn't even finish half of it the burn was so bad. I should have taken pictures. Tried another one after 90 days and the burn again was awful, not as bad as the previous but not an enjoyable cigar at all. Harsh, bitter, no distinct flavors except ammonia and nicotine.

Maybe these are just too young right now? 

Way, but if you want to smoke them you'll need to get the moisture content down. Putting what you want to smoke in a  60%RH environment  for a couple of weeks will probably do it. Even 5 year old cigars. that are too wet can be bitter and harsh.

[SCgarman]

22 hours ago, El Presidente said:

i would like to finish the year on a positive note  

Sell me your mastercase of HUPC's!!!

[El Presidente]

14 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

Sell me your mastercase of HUPC's!!!

Head to havana. They were everywhere last month and coded DIC 16 

[El Presidente]

8 hours ago, crking3 said:

I keep seeing E2 as the “behike replacement” ....pardon my ignorance but wth does that even mean ? Lol I get the general sense of what you’re trying to convey but can you explain the reasoning/situation behind that ? Thanks !


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Pick up a 5 box of UAO coded E2

They smoke almost identically to a Behike 54.  Many members use it as a replacement. 

[prodigy]

Pick up a 5 box of UAO coded E2
They smoke almost identically to a Behike 54.  Many members use it as a replacement. 

Considering I haven't tried a behike 54, and they are about $100/stick if you can find them, I'll take your word for it hahahaha!

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[Gamehawker]

On 12/14/2018 at 6:12 PM, El Presidente said:

Pick up a 5 box of UAO coded E2

They smoke almost identically to a Behike 54.  Many members use it as a replacement. 

I got a few of the boxes of 5 with "UAO MAR 18" box code.

I like my cigars aged at least 3 years (more likely 4-5 years) before I smoke them. 

I guess I will have to wait 3 more years before I see if they smoke like a Cohiba Behike 54. ?

[earthson]

On 12/13/2018 at 6:43 PM, db13 said:

My RASS cab GOS FEB has been anything but spectacular. Smoked one within two weeks of arrival and it was very good. Waited 45 days smoked another one and it was awful. Waited 60 days smoked another one and it was awful. Couldn't even finish half of it the burn was so bad. I should have taken pictures. Tried another one after 90 days and the burn again was awful, not as bad as the previous but not an enjoyable cigar at all. Harsh, bitter, no distinct flavors except ammonia and nicotine.

Maybe these are just too young right now? 

Sounds like too young.  Still, there are detractors out there.  Perhaps it's bad boxes or poor storage or just the variety of palates.  They have never been a ROTT cigar for me - 2-3 years minimum with the peak starting to fall around 7 years or so.

[rabidraccoon]

On 12/27/2018 at 8:17 AM, Gamehawker said:

I got a few of the boxes of 5 with "UAO MAR 18" box code.

I like my cigars aged at least 3 years (more likely 4-5 years) before I smoke them. 

I guess I will have to wait 3 more years before I see if they smoke like a Cohiba Behike 54. ?

Also had some 5 pack boxes from UAO MAR 18. Smoked a couple and the quality was amazing. The rest are now sleeping.

[Gamehawker]

Is there going to be a "My top 10 regular production cigars for 2019" thread prez.?

Never mind I now see the "Can you Pick the FOH 2019 Top 10 in order?" thread and know that the "My top 10 regular production cigars for 2019" thread will be posted next week.

Edited December 4, 2019 by Gamehawker