Puros Y Vino Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 Fellow FOH Members. Here are you Top Cigars of 2018 (and 2017 thanks to Habanos' release woes) The cigars in this list reflect what was considered a "New" release by HSA in 2018. Of course, planned release date =/= actual release when it comes to HSA so some 2017 sticks were included. Before we begin; some stats. 137 Members voted. (IMO, that seems low, but IIRC it's an improvement over previous polls) There are 4 ties, so we won't officially get a "top 10". One cigar received zero votes. The HdM Rio de Seco. Not a big surprise as this was a pretty recent release. 58 Members voted for "NONE OF THE ABOVE". This can be read two ways. Many members did not get a chance to sample any of the listed cigars for one reason or another. This thread will allow comments, so those of you that voted this way; please feel free to expand as to what prevented you from trying anything. Of if you did and did not care for any of the candidates. Shenanigans. I really hope this isn't the case. Could it be a middle finger to Habanos? To this poll? Who knows? The List. #1 Trinidad La Trova LCDH Exclusivo #2 Quai D'Orsay No. 50 #3 Cohiba Talisman EL 2017 #4 (Two way tie) Montecristo 1935 Series Dumas Punch Regios Del Punch EL 2017 #5 H Upmann Connosseur B 2017 Habanos Specialist Series #6 (Three way tie) H Upmann Sir Winston Gran Reserva Cosecha 2013 Partagas Series E1 EL 2017 Quai D'Orsay No. 54 #7 (three way tie) Bolivar Soberano EL 2018 Montecristo 1935 Series Leyenda Romeo y Julieta Tacos EL 2018 #8 (Two way tie) Cohiba Robusto Reserva Cosecha 2013 Montecristo 1935 Series Maltes Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. I've put the final voting tally below for reference so you can see how the votes ended up. I personally only tried 4 of the above with only one on multiple occasions. I think the Trinidad La Trova is a worthy of #1 status and may became a classic. Please feel free to discuss this "latest" batch of Habanos. What you liked, hated or otherwise felt "meh" towards. Final Poll results. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derboesekoenig Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 9 minutes ago, crking3 said: I’ve smoked ONE of those cigars ...... So we’re only certain cigars nominated or was this pick and nominate any cigar ? I feel like most of these cigars aren’t really close to reality for most ppl to be smoking regularly .... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk These are 2017 and 2018 releases by HSA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunod Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 No way. I’ve smoked 75% of those top ten and none on my list. Guess I should have voted . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amberleaf Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 12 minutes ago, Backdrft76 said: Any chance of doing a regular production poll for 2018? Or was that nixed for some reason? Thanks! I'd be more likely to participate if there was. I rarely smoke anything outside of regular production. As for the QdOs, I'd like to see what the fuss is about but some bugger keep buying them before I have the chance to ? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandboy Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Having only tried two of the cigars on the list, it made no sense to me to vote for either of them as the best from the entire list. Hopefully this helps explain the low participation and the “None of the Above” votes, as I’m sure others faced a similar choice. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxcjs0101 Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 I dont even have any cigars on that list.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Gargett Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 interesting. for all the banging on about thin ring gauges that rob and i do, it is obviously not just the uninitiated and ignorant who prefer fatties. the votes would come from some of the most knowledgable and active smokers on the planet and they have spoken! we like fatties!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeUgood Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 4 hours ago, Ken Gargett said: interesting. for all the banging on about thin ring gauges that rob and i do, it is obviously not just the uninitiated and ignorant who prefer fatties. the votes would come from some of the most knowledgable and active smokers on the planet and they have spoken! we like fatties!! I think this poll supports "banging on about thing ring gauges" comment you made. I am making a jump in logic on my conclusion, but over 40% of the votes went to "NONE OF THE ABOVE - Did not get to try any of these cigars" category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 9 hours ago, Ken Gargett said: interesting. for all the banging on about thin ring gauges that rob and i do, it is obviously not just the uninitiated and ignorant who prefer fatties. the votes would come from some of the most knowledgable and active smokers on the planet and they have spoken! we like fatties!! The poll is only centered on HSA's "newest" releases. Which sadly is mostly jawbreakers. The only skinnies on it are the Dumas and QdO No 50. Many here probably have a good inventory of long and skinnies. From what I see, newer smokers love the big RG's and double banders HSA is putting out. Their gamble seems to be working. Us old school folks will buy skinnies from the regular production catalogue, while it lasts. And new smokers will grab what ever is shiny and new. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 10 hours ago, Backdrft76 said: Any chance of doing a regular production poll for 2018? Or was that nixed for some reason? Thanks! I thought about it but there were a few threads that covered what smoked best for various members in 2018. And there was Rob's top picks of the year as well. I looked into a poll on regular production and it would require a lot of work and a lot of people voting to make it worth while. This poll only had about 20 cigars and only 136 members voted. Given how many members are on FOH, that is low. But I will say, this poll contained a lot of cigars that have not really proliferated in the market. And I think the # of votes in the "none of the above" category speak to that. A regular production poll may draw more of the user base out, but I don't think it'd be that much more. Maybe next year? I'm sure HSA will cut regular production by 50% to make room for a couple more Cohibas and EL's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corylax18 Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 2 hours ago, bundwallah said: The poll is only centered on HSA's "newest" releases. Which sadly is mostly jawbreakers. The only skinnies on it are the Dumas and QdO No 50. Many here probably have a good inventory of long and skinnies. From what I see, newer smokers love the big RG's and double banders HSA is putting out. Their gamble seems to be working. Us old school folks will buy skinnies from the regular production catalogue, while it lasts. And new smokers will grab what ever is shiny and new. When did 49 and 50 RG become Skinny? Don't talk like that! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derboesekoenig Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 2 minutes ago, Corylax18 said: When did 49 and 50 RG become Skinny? Don't talk like that! Next thing you know, 55 and 60 RG will be the norm...2 inches x 65 RG hahaha I won't be partaking in this chub era no thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 22 minutes ago, juri said: whats the deal with Quai D'Orsay? i remember the review where they tossed it and said it needs to be aged.... ive never been one to sit on a cigar for 3-5 years let alone longer so is it worth it for me to even bother with these? The Coronas were good fresh and even better aged. The same with the Imperiales. I have a box of Panatellas, that were already 5 years old when I bought them, so I can't really say for those. The No 50 was a very good smoke fresh, whereas I found the No 54 to be a bit lacking. It's a unique marca, blend wise. At least the original lineup was. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alloy Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 11 hours ago, juri said: whats the deal with Quai D'Orsay? i remember the review where they tossed it and said it needs to be aged.... ive never been one to sit on a cigar for 3-5 years let alone longer so is it worth it for me to even bother with these? I've had a few boxes of the 50's. Still have a box in my aging wineador. I like them as a short smoke with twang and citrus. But to my pallet, the 54's after a couple months in my regular wineador, are smoking so much better. The twang, citrus and cocoa are incredible. As are the La Trova and the Talisman. I haven't smoked any of the others, but understand from some reviews the RyJ Tacos leave a lot to be desired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSXCIGAR Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Wow, some real surprises here. First, Connie B? And over the Connie A? Next Punch Regios? Did anyone love this cigar? Heard nothing that great about it. And finally this is the first instance I've seen of anyone putting the Dumas over the Leyendas which by almost all accounts are superior to the Dumas as is the Maltes. I guess this is just a matter of many not having smoked much of these on the list. My agreements are with the QdOs, SW GR, CoRo R and Boli Soberanos. I think all of those are top 10% cigars this year. Didn't have a La Trova, Talisman. Wasn't particularly impressed with the PS1 or Tacos but that's just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrouchoMarx Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 NOTA won. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitzy Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 On 1/1/2019 at 10:35 PM, Ken Gargett said: interesting. for all the banging on about thin ring gauges that rob and i do, it is obviously not just the uninitiated and ignorant who prefer fatties. the votes would come from some of the most knowledgable and active smokers on the planet and they have spoken! we like fatties!! No I'd say it's the uninitiated and ignorant that are smoking the LE and RE's. ? The real cigars the rest of us are smoking aren't even on the list which is why the highest vote went for none of the above. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 37 minutes ago, fitzy said: No I'd say it's the uninitiated and ignorant that are smoking the LE and RE's. ? The real cigars the rest of us are smoking aren't even on the list which is why the highest vote went for none of the above. This list is about "recent" releases. Which can include any line. GR, R,EL, RE, regular prod. A complete list of all Habanos wouldnt work in a poll here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugu Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Guess the title here may be causing some confusion in those members who didn't follow the original poll (considered mentioning it sooner, but then I thought it were only Ken.... ). Topic title could be specified by adding "...new" cigars or "new-release" cigars of 2017/18, so as to avoid that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corylax18 Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 5 hours ago, bundwallah said: This list is about "recent" releases. Which can include any line. GR, R,EL, RE, regular prod. A complete list of all Habanos wouldnt work in a poll here. Initially, I had the same reaction as Ken. Man, People are full of shit! But. You look at the list of cigars released over the last 2 years and there are a Grand Total of 6 under 50 ring gauge, or roughly 11%. All but 2 of those are 49 RG. Its literally impossible to show the skinnies any meaningful love. If it weren't for the PL 5ta, from last year, it would be almost a clean sweep. By the way has anybody seen the Partagas Capitols (42x129 Petite Corona) or the H. Upmann Propios (46x120) yet? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted January 4, 2019 Share Posted January 4, 2019 5 hours ago, Corylax18 said: By the way has anybody seen the Partagas Capitols (42x129 Petite Corona) or the H. Upmann Propios (46x120) yet? Ah yes, the new Linea Retro releases, or maybe not so new? The Partagas Capitols and Romeo y Julieta Club Kings, both petit coronas, available in 5-tin packs. What a great idea eh? (Of course, the H.Upmann Propios is the new 2018 Limited Edition). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 15 hours ago, Fugu said: Guess the title here may be causing some confusion in those members who didn't follow the original poll (considered mentioning it sooner, but then I thought it were only Ken.... ). Topic title could be specified by adding "...new" cigars or "new-release" cigars of 2017/18, so as to avoid that. Amended title to clarify these are "new" releases. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMcLean68 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Voted "None of the Above" simply because I have not tried any of them. I don't buy many EL's or RE's, except for the most exceptionally reviewed ones that I am lucky enough to get my hands on, so I have only got the Talisman out of the ones listed, and I haven't tried it yet. I have one sample to try and a full box, so I will soon. Generally not in a habit of cracking boxes, esp. like these, until they are 3yrs old. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMcLean68 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Thinking on it, I do think the results of this poll, with the majority in the NOTA camp, accurately reflect the inherent exclusivity of any poll covering new releases, especially those which cover mostly limited (expensive releases). It excludes many people on many grounds. There are those that avoid LE's and RE's because of a perceived lack of value for money or otherwise. Then you have people who want to try them but simply can't afford them, or those that might have them to try but haven't yet because of the expense and maybe are saving them for the right/special occasion or to put some time down on them. Then you have those that generally don't smoke new releases from 2017 and 2018 not because they don't have them. but because they are still too young. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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