Best smoking experiences in 2018 - no limits

[RijkdeGooier]

Gentlemen,

in keeping with tradition this thread is to post your top 5 smoking experiences of 2018. 

There are no limits on production, age, regular ir special even NC’s are welcome if you enjoyed them. 

 

A picture would be appreciated. 

 

 

[eg133]

So far, my favorite top five of this year, off the top of my head, have been some that I’ve enjoyed for a special occasion and with good people.

1. Montecristo no.4 from the 1960s to celebrate my 30th this year. Wasn’t expecting much flavor to be left but, boy did it surprise me. Such elegance in the delicate flavors that it definitely helped make my birthday special.


2. 2008 Partagas Lusitanias...such a beautiful smooth creamy cigar with some nuttiness and just overall blew me away. Smoked this one also for my birthday and really made the night.


3. Por Larranaga Sobresalientes...had this one to celebrate one of my best friends birthday. Everything about the cigar was perfect.


4. Cohiba Behike. Can’t remember the year exactly, but I want to say 2015. I smoked this one on St. Patrick’s day with some of my best friends to bring in a good year full of luck. Absolute elegance throughout and didn’t disappoint.


5. Edmundo Dantés Conde 54....holy Sh*t! This one blew my socks away and I’m glad I still have one left.

[madandana]

My best cigar- a 2014 Hamlet I broke out , it was pure honey heaven.

But when you say smoking experience it has nothing to do with a cigar. It’s more about the people I’m with. For me that was probably our first night in Havana in November. Meet up with the boys from Oz at Otramanera Rob A , Rob C, Fuzz. Stan, Glen, Ian, Westy, Clive, Ben, Jose,Havana Mike, Havana Kelly, Dana and probably a few others I’m forgetting.

I guess it was just that feeling of being back in Cuba for a week hanging with group. Don’t even know what I was smoking...Probably a Alex Corona.

[nKostyan]

This year I discovered a whole brand of Sancho Panza, which had previously avoided. Indeed, previous releases had a very low rating at my cigar community and I did not dare for a long time. I tried Non Plus 2016 and I really liked it. Then I tried the Belicosos and is also not spared.

So, top 5 smoking experiences of 2018 for me:

- SP Non Plus


- SP Belicosos


- Partagas Habaneros


- Atabey Delirios


- Bolivar Royal Coronas

[eg133]

- Atabey Delirios


I gotta give it to Atabey...they’re expensive, but every time I’ve had one, they’ve been consistent!

[nKostyan]

- Atabey Delirios


I gotta give it to Atabey...they’re expensive, but every time I’ve had one, they’ve been consistent!

I smoked 2 pieces of Robusto Grande, but it was a cigar exchange, not a purchase. They hide the origin of a mixture of tobacco, were You able to determine that is to your liking? I think there's an aged Dominican and Costa Rican tobacco blend...

[eg133]

I smoked 2 pieces of Robusto Grande, but it was a cigar exchange, not a purchase. They hide the origin of a mixture of tobacco, were You able to determine that is to your liking? I think there's an aged Dominican and Costa Rican tobacco blend...

I’ve also only tried a few, the Divinos and I believe the Ritos....as far as I’ve heard, it’s a Costa Rican tobacco blend and they’ve been aged for 5 years. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed each one and was probably the closest NC cigar to a Cuban that I’ve tried. So far, they have been consistent and of great construction. It’s funny though because I find myself hesitant to buy more at their price point, but will willingly buy blind on Cuban cigars at the same price point unknowing if the construction or flavor will be any good. ‍

[cfc1016]

In chronological order:

1. Vegueros Tapados SLE DIC 15 with Caity in February. She bought them for me, so it’s sentimental. We shared a lot of cigars together, but that one was particularly sentimental 

2. My first BLP OCT 08 partagas 898 (from that box) on march 17, to commemorate my grandfather’s passing. Caity had an MDO4 and it knocked her on her butt. This was her first cigar she smoked by herself - up to this point she would just share my cigars with me. This picture is out of order for some reason, sorry.

3. More 898s BLP OCT 08 with my dad after a day of trap shooting. It was the first time he had ever smoked something of that calibre, or had someone to help him discern what he was tasting. Very memorable session with pops. 

4. Dumas with dad, with him smoking a genios. Just another great bonding session, plus a surprisingly great cigar, courtesy of @El Presidente and @WarriorPrincess as my reward for the freestyle review competition. 

5. Cohiba cigarettes witj @awkwardPause after he helped me close out the boxpass, on my move to Alaska. It was so nice to finally meet face to face with someone I had become such close friends with through this forum. What we smoked was of no consequence. It could’ve been white owls - the company and the occasion were all that mattered. 

Not pictured/runner ups:

2016 HDM DC with dad and Caity, from the box she bought me for my birthday 

1999 HDM DC with my buddy Jerry in Idaho, on my move. We celebrated our safe return to Boise after an epic camping trip in the mountains of Wyoming. 

To be completely honest, I don’t think I’ve had a better all-round cigar year since 1996. That was when I smoked my first habano (1991 HDM DC - one of the all time LEGENDS) with my late great friend Tommy, who was also my mentor and benefactor in this hobby. Joining this forum has definitely enriched my cigar life - and my life in general. Specifically the friendships I’ve formed with @awkwardPause , @Wertman , @jerrybrowne , and all the awesome folks who helped me plan, and participated in my boxpass. Thanks, FOH!

[Connoisseur Kim]

Here goes my top 3 cigars in this year! See the full reviews by clicking the links below ?

1. LA GLORIA CUBANA MEDAILLE D'OR NO. 4 (Cigar of The Year 2018, Magnum Opus and True Connoisseur's Smoke)
2. H. UPMANN MAGNUM 46 (Excellent Medium Sized Cigar)
3. PARTAGÁS SHORTS (Good Quick Smoke)

[joeypots]

No particular order.

"13 RASS

"13 Punch punch

'13 HURR

'12 Siglo VI

'06 Por Laranaga Lonsdale

 

[Derboesekoenig]

11 minutes ago, Hutch said:

CGR

Custom Rudy Canonaso

’10 BHK54

Bushido

UK ER Regalias de Londre

Well I'm going to have to insist we smoke together at some point  lol holy grail smokes

 

Mine would include 2018 La Trova, 2016 LGC Platinum, 2017 LGC Md4, and my first Lusi. 

[Guest Nekhyludov]

LESF. It was exactly as good as everyone says. I.e. very, very good.

[joshhooper7]

1.) Montecristo No. 2 Gran Reserva Cosecha 2005. The best cigar of the year for me was more of an experience than It was a sublime smoke, however, the cigar was no slouch on its own! Currently on deployment and we made a stop in Dubai. The LCDH there is absolutely phenomenal. After Bahrain and Doha I had all but given up but holy smokes, Dubai LCDH is heaven on earth! The humidor had everything. Literally. LE's dating back to 2004, 'Vintage' section boasted discontinued cigars from the 90s. After an hour and a half in the humidor and about 40 times going back to the Montecristo No. 2 Gran Reserva, I decided to roll the dice and spend $300 on a single cigar. I wanted to try the Soberanos, but they were too new. I have no regrets with my decision! Flavor was still plentiful, although the cigar is definitely mild now, nowhere near the described, "medium-full." Loads of coffee, burnt brown sugar, cedar, an almost vanilla icecream aroma. Ordered a vanilla affogato and the rest of the cigar tasted like vanilla icecream. What a treat! Didn't want to spend the price tag, but since I spent over $300 US, I got 5 house rolled Robusto's by Virginia from the Partagas factory who now lives in Dubai to do work at the LCDH and other hotels/clubs. Looking forward to sharing pictures when I'm back on land! When in Dubai....

2.) Bolivar Coronas Gigantes from June of 16. Bought this box to celebrate my wife and I's anniversary. Smoked the first one in 2018 and it is hitting full stride. So hard to look at the 24 left in the box and not dig in, but the first one was excellent. A lot sweeter than the typical Boli, the bakers chocolate and leather was a milk chocolate and cinnamon. A robust espresso tinge to it all wrapped up in a floral bouquet. Can't wait until June of 19!

3.) Crowned Heads Le Careme Belicoso Fino Limited Edition 2018. Yes, an NC, and an absolutely stunning one at that. The box of 12 came in at $108 so it's very budget friendly, and an absolute banger! I got them in the mail, dry boxed for a day and smoked them the next. Immediately after smoking, went online and ordered 4 more boxes! Despite the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, the cigar is a mild-medium, although it looks so dark it could put you on your ass. Milk chocolate, espresso, mild spices and a tad bit of vanilla on the back end.

4.) Fonseca No. 1 from 2014, I forget the box code. In Doha, Qatar I had a shitty experience at the LCDH but luckily had brought a travel humidor with me and had some goodies! I stayed at the Intercontinental. When I booked my room at the front desk, they apologized to me for only having smoking rooms remaining, so my single room was upgraded to a deluxe ocean view suite with a king sized bed. I acted upset, but was thrilled that I could smoke my cigars in a bath robe! I settled in really quickly, ordered a ribeye steak, had Mojitos coming to the door every 20 minutes, and lit up a Trinidad Topes LE 2016. Excellent cigar and truly a luxury experience. Later that night I decided to hop into the hot tub in my room and lit up the Fonseca. Holy smokes! To say it outperformed the Topes would be an understatement. Loads of chocolate, an earthiness I can only equate to black truffle I had the pleasure of eating this past Valentines day at 1500 Ocean in Coronado, California, and brown sugar in troves. Best part? Still had mojitos coming to the room and I was in the hot tub smoking a cigar.

5.) Bolivar Tubos No. 1 from 2015. Had to rack my brain for a cigar that I really loved from this past year and I came back to this one. The day it came in the mail from our host I decided to try one. Figured Tubos survive the trip better than other cigars and I wasn't wrong! Similar flavors to the Coronas Gigantes, very mellow and burnt a dream. The only reason it falls at #5 and not higher is because it burnt too fast!

Had a pleasure reading you guys reviews above, looking forward to compiling a list for 2019!!

[zyxwvu44]

This year was a great year for cigars...

1) dip Bushido on my honeymoon. This was by far the best cigar I have ever had. Was just perfect.
2) 2005 dip #1 on the river Thames
3) 2000 hoyo double corona at JJ fox in london
4) LGC platinos on the deck in lake Tahoe
5) Trinidad EL 2007 on the river

[MrGlass]

1)  Ramon Allones Petit Corona (1979).  I was lucky enough to be on the deck when Stu Fox brought these over, and even luckier to be given the chance to try one.  This was the oldest cigar I've ever smoked, and the first (and likely only) time that I've got to smoke a cigar older than me.  Between the cigar and the environment, it was a truly fantastic experience.

2)  Cohiba Lanceros (2016).  This was the cigar that I smoked for the 46 South Review Weekend, and was my first Cohiba Lanceros (which I had been saving from the 2017 Christmas sampler).  That cigar sung its heart out for three hours and I was still sad when it finally ended.  The fact that that review won the weekend competition (and the extremely generous prize cigar Rob gave me) just made it even better.

3)  Cohiba Esplendidos (2016).  Another first time experience (and another review competition), this was a cigar I had been saving for the right occasion.  In this case, it was belated celebration for taking my first flying trapeze trick out of safety lines.  

4)  Ramon Allones Specially Select (Blind Tasting 2018).  This was the cigar from round 2 of the 2018 Blind Tasting competition and it was almost worth entering just for this stick alone.  The fact that I had no idea what it was while smoking it probably made it even better.

5)  La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4  (2016).  While all of the other cigars mentioned here have been stand-alone shows, this little trooper has taken the stage for me more than any other cigar throughout 2018 and delivered time and time again.  For this, it deserves an inclusion as the MVP of my list.

[Puros Y Vino]

My best smoking experiences of 2018.

• La Escepcion Selections Finos. (Smoked a handful over the year, none disappointed)
• Bolivar Bosphorus Turkey RE. (STRONG cigar but flavourful. Glad I got my hands on a few)
• Trinidad La Trova.  (Great new release.  Same vitola as the 1966 too.  Love it)
• Quai D'Orsay Corona PEL MAR 01. (Fantastic aged sample of a personal favourite)
• RA 898 2002.  Always a pleasure to smoke one of these. 

[hedgeybaby]

8 hours ago, MrGlass said:

 

 

What on earth are you watching on your computer?

[MrGlass]

I was watching Alegria.  That was specifically the fire twirling act.

[hedgeybaby]

2 hours ago, MrGlass said:

I was watching Alegria.  That was specifically the fire twirling act.

This? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6j0TFtsblw

 

[MrGlass]

4 minutes ago, hedgeybaby said:

This? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6j0TFtsblw

That's the one.  Alegria is one of my favourite Cirque du Soleil shows (super disappointed I never got the chance to see it live), and I watched both it and Corteo that night with that cigar.  

[DeskSmkr]

2018? The whole year was great for cigars. There were a few duds, but they were massively overshadowed by endless great experiences.  2018 has been my most enjoyable cigar year yet.  Now looking forward to future aging, and the experiences and enjoyment this brings. Patience and reward.

Many other cigars deserve a spot on this list, these came to mind first and others do deserve to be here.

Opus X Petit Lancero, burned slowly and introduced complexity and spices. Introduction to my two favorite vitolas wrapped in one - longish and skinny with a tapered head a la pyramid/belicoso.

Montecristo Especiale No. 2, this one redefined Montecristo richness with semi sweet cocoa. Tasting notes:  Great cigar, chocolate bar, subtle sweetness, complex aromas, amazing, what a cigar should be. Archetypal.

Montecristo No. 2 Tasting notes: creamiest, sweetest cigar to date. Chocolate. Medium to medium light nicotine (just right) and yet somehow with flavor richness at the same time. A surprising amount - a lot of sweet cream. How can a cigar taste this good? Nice transitions, and intermittent hints of molasses. Others have coined the phrase “when Monte 2 is on, its on.” This one was on.

Cohiba Medio Siglo, my new definition of cracker and latest infatuation - it was “on” immediately, took a break, then came back for a rich finish. Notes just say: perfect taste.  Enjoyed this on my dad’s birthday, in memory of, and in celebration of, him.

Sancho Panza Belicoso -  this was a real surprise, with salt in the description, didn’t expect to like this, and boy was I wrong. Very wrong. Tasting notes: Excellent, sweet tobacco, pinch of salt, nutmeg, fresh mild pretzel, mix between Vegas Robania, and a bit of Montecristo, now Trinidad and Montecristo, peanut butter, touch cinnamon, fantastic cigar.  Complex and balanced. Want as a staple.

Only a couple photos:

[ErikB72]

I was on a weekend trip to a seaside resort in Germany with the family , and the      disused hotel bar turned out to have a small desk top humidor with a Quintero Favorito in it that must have been there for years . I smoked it on the beach and it was just wonderful , absolutely unexpected but unforgettable

 

[HDGSN]

On 12/15/2018 at 5:38 AM, madandana said:

My best cigar- a 2014 Hamlet I broke out , it was pure honey heaven.

But when you say smoking experience it has nothing to do with a cigar. It’s more about the people I’m with. For me that was probably our first night in Havana in November. Meet up with the boys from Oz at Otramanera Rob A , Rob C, Fuzz. Stan, Glen, Ian, Westy, Clive, Ben, Jose,Havana Mike, Havana Kelly, Dana and probably a few others I’m forgetting.

I guess it was just that feeling of being back in Cuba for a week hanging with group. Don’t even know what I was smoking...Probably a Alex Corona.

Picking up a bundle on Sunday!

[Wilzc]

H Upmann Magnum 50 Serie Sevilla.

Blew my mind really. Maybe I did not expect it. I expected a run off the mill Magnum 50 with an “anejados” wrapper.

What I got was a Magnum 50 with an anejados wrapper!!!


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[Akela3rd]

Sat with a cigar by the fire pit at the end of the garden, by myself or with friends. We had a large tree taken down a couple of years ago and in the space it opened up we created an outside room effectively. Anytime of year it's been my little oasis - photos are of tonight and back in the summer.

 

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