7 regular production Cuban Cigars that will return the best smoking and financial dividends in 5 years?

[El Presidente]

 

On behalf of Bond Roberts, I was recently asked to write a brief article on my opinion of the 7 regular production cigars that would provide the best return after 5 years. The return was to be based on a combination of two factors:

1. The  level of improvement/development in the cigar itself. 

2. Return on investment should the owner wish to sell them as opposed to smoking them. 

Now I know many members would never consider selling a cigar so in that case focus on point one for me. Those who do trade, have a crack at both. 

I would love your input, your recommendations et al 

 

Loose draft below 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Magnificent 7 of Cuban Cigars

7 regular production Cuban Cigars that will return the best smoking and financial dividends in 5 years?

I was asked recently for seven regular production Cuban cigars that would likely provide both the highest smoking and financial dividends with 5 years of age.  While there is a plethora of Regional and limited edition releases in the market, these are best left for a different category. I was asked to focus on readily available regular production cigars and so I went back and looked at our auction results over the past year in order to determine where I would put my coin today in order to have a gilt edged winner both in my humidor and on  BondRoberts.com in 2025.

2019 production cigars are indeed readily available and thankfully it has turned out to be one of the best years over the past two decades in terms of Cuban cigar quality.  The task at hand is to tease out those regular production cigars that are likely to deliver both a fantastic evolution of flavour over 5 years while providing an upside where they could potentially be sold to achieve  a decent return on investment. What do I consider a decent return? Let’s aim for 50% after 5 years in your humidor.

1. Por Larranaga Petit Corona.

Few if any cigars evolve in terms of flavour over 5 years as much as cabinets of Por larranaga Petit Corona.  They can certainly have some edgy mongrel in their youth (which I love!) but they evolve into caramel laden masterpieces from around the 5 year mark.  Thankfully, the global Cuban cigar community is also aware of this and they hold 5 year old + cabinets in high esteem. Buy right and you will well exceed your 50% return after 5 years.  However, good luck convincing yourself to let go of them.

 

 

2. Cohiba Robusto

There is always demand for “CORO” with 5 years of age. The cream and honey citrus notes have well and truly kicked in and so are  the buyers willing to pay the premium for Cohiba Robusto boxes that are “ready to go”.

 

 

3. H. Upmann Sir Winston

Always highly sought after and consistently attracting excellent auction pricing with 5 years of age. I don’t find the flavour evolution to be as dramatic in the Sir Winston over that period as say the Por Larranaga Petit Corona but there is certainly an elegance that continues to build  over the years.

 

 

4. Trinidad Fundadores

Many in the Cuban cigar community believe that the Trinidad Fundadores is at its best in the 5-8 year window as it retains its cocoa coffee intensity while delivering it all on a beautiful silky canvas.  Aged Fundadores do not last long.

 

 

5. Cohiba lancero

You will never struggle to move Cohiba Lancero with 5 years of age.  I have been fortunate to enjoy Cohiba Lancero with decades of age they are simply decadent.  The magic begins around the 5 year mark and they deserve their legendary status.

 

 

6. Sancho Panza Belicoso

The “long shot” of the list? Not if you know your Cuban cigars! Sanco Panza Belicoso have a unique cream, salt and driftwood profile that captivate a significant audience in the Cuban world. I personally couldn’t let a 5 year old box go for any price and that is the reason why they are a lay down misere.

 

 

7. Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona

The quality of 2019 Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona be they in dress boxes of 25 or cabinets of 50 has been superb. Quantities of both have been relatively plentiful so keep an eye out for discounts. The auction market for aged Hoyo Double Coronas continues to be strong as and 5 years of age is again where the interest of the auction market is piqued. I have a hunch that 2019 Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona will well sought after come 2025.

 

It is important to buy at the correct price and to store your boxes at the correct humidity (my preference 65-68 RH) and temperature benchmarks (sub 20 Celsius / 68F).  Do that and you will not go too wrong with the above “Magnificent 7” of the cigar world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheGipper]

Somewhere in an old thread here I mentioned a spreadsheet I put together based on the locker sales.  I this was mid-2017.  I may start another spreadsheet with BR sales.

Here were the general categories and their annualized returns:

• All: 12.01%
• Regular Production: 11.92%
• Special Production (EL + Regionals): 11.64%
• Discontinued: 12.85%
• All Cohiba: 11.72%

Surprisingly close on all categories.

But I think the Cohiba numbers would be higher now with the price increases since 2017.  Also the range of returns within the Discontinued group were widely varied.  SLR DC provided the best return with most sales at 30%+ annualized return.  Also El Laguito returns were uniformly higher than other factories, as you'd expect.

Of course, I expect returns we'll see from BR sales to vary a bit more with perceived supply/demand than the fixed price locker sales.

[Habana Mike]

Pretty spot on for most Rob.

Despite the differing opinions I'd say RASS and then Lusitanias in 50 cabs are a couple I'd see appreciating pretty well.

I'd trade out the SP and Hoyo for these two.

[Smokecigareveryday]

23 hours ago, El Presidente said:

 

On behalf of Bond Roberts, I was recently asked to write a brief article on my opinion of the 7 regular production cigars that would provide the best return after 5 years. The return was to be based on a combination of two factors:

1. The  level of improvement/development in the cigar itself. 

2. Return on investment should the owner wish to sell them as opposed to smoking them. 

Now I know many members would never consider selling a cigar so in that case focus on point one for me. Those who do trade, have a crack at both. 

I would love your input, your recommendations et al 

 

Loose draft below 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Magnificent 7 of Cuban Cigars

7 regular production Cuban Cigars that will return the best smoking and financial dividends in 5 years?

I was asked recently for seven regular production Cuban cigars that would likely provide both the highest smoking and financial dividends with 5 years of age.  While there is a plethora of Regional and limited edition releases in the market, these are best left for a different category. I was asked to focus on readily available regular production cigars and so I went back and looked at our auction results over the past year in order to determine where I would put my coin today in order to have a gilt edged winner both in my humidor and on  BondRoberts.com in 2025.

2019 production cigars are indeed readily available and thankfully it has turned out to be one of the best years over the past two decades in terms of Cuban cigar quality.  The task at hand is to tease out those regular production cigars that are likely to deliver both a fantastic evolution of flavour over 5 years while providing an upside where they could potentially be sold to achieve  a decent return on investment. What do I consider a decent return? Let’s aim for 50% after 5 years in your humidor.

1. Por Larranaga Petit Corona.

Few if any cigars evolve in terms of flavour over 5 years as much as cabinets of Por larranaga Petit Corona.  They can certainly have some edgy mongrel in their youth (which I love!) but they evolve into caramel laden masterpieces from around the 5 year mark.  Thankfully, the global Cuban cigar community is also aware of this and they hold 5 year old + cabinets in high esteem. Buy right and you will well exceed your 50% return after 5 years.  However, good luck convincing yourself to let go of them.

 

 

2. Cohiba Robusto

There is always demand for “CORO” with 5 years of age. The cream and honey citrus notes have well and truly kicked in and so are  the buyers willing to pay the premium for Cohiba Robusto boxes that are “ready to go”.

 

 

3. H. Upmann Sir Winston

Always highly sought after and consistently attracting excellent auction pricing with 5 years of age. I don’t find the flavour evolution to be as dramatic in the Sir Winston over that period as say the Por Larranaga Petit Corona but there is certainly an elegance that continues to build  over the years.

 

 

4. Trinidad Fundadores

Many in the Cuban cigar community believe that the Trinidad Fundadores is at its best in the 5-8 year window as it retains its cocoa coffee intensity while delivering it all on a beautiful silky canvas.  Aged Fundadores do not last long.

 

 

5. Cohiba lancero

You will never struggle to move Cohiba Lancero with 5 years of age.  I have been fortunate to enjoy Cohiba Lancero with decades of age they are simply decadent.  The magic begins around the 5 year mark and they deserve their legendary status.

 

 

6. Sancho Panza Belicoso

The “long shot” of the list? Not if you know your Cuban cigars! Sanco Panza Belicoso have a unique cream, salt and driftwood profile that captivate a significant audience in the Cuban world. I personally couldn’t let a 5 year old box go for any price and that is the reason why they are a lay down misere.

 

 

7. Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona

The quality of 2019 Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona be they in dress boxes of 25 or cabinets of 50 has been superb. Quantities of both have been relatively plentiful so keep an eye out for discounts. The auction market for aged Hoyo Double Coronas continues to be strong as and 5 years of age is again where the interest of the auction market is piqued. I have a hunch that 2019 Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona will well sought after come 2025.

 

It is important to buy at the correct price and to store your boxes at the correct humidity (my preference 65-68 RH) and temperature benchmarks (sub 20 Celsius / 68F).  Do that and you will not go too wrong with the above “Magnificent 7” of the cigar world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seems like 5 year mark is the golden aged CCs

[foursite12]

To Mike's point, like wine in magnums or larger, 50 cabs have a sex appeal and cachet to them that add apparent value, even if the cigar in question is readily available (often at sharp pricing) in smaller packaging. Especially in the DCs where still produced.

In the 25s, in my view the Lanceros checks all the investment boxes--rare but not impossible to acquire; outrageously good from the outset, yet age a dream; underlying current production subject to significant price increases regularly; high demand from those who simply must have them, seemingly at any price--especially with some age on them.

[Chibearsv]

No arguments on your selections. For me, the CORO makes the most sense since I think they must have some years in them to round out. Pretty good initial value too for a Cohiba.

[PigFish]

I might add that smoking return and financial gain have nothing to do with each other. I realize that BR is an auction site, often courting collectors and traders, but smokers should be buying what they like to smoke today. The personal aspect of smoking far outweighs that of the collector/trader mindset. I believe it is worth mentioning.

Cheers! -Piggy

[El Presidente]

32 minutes ago, PigFish said:

I might add that smoking return and financial gain have nothing to do with each other. I realize that BR is an auction site, often courting collectors and traders, but smokers should be buying what they like to smoke today. The personal aspect of smoking far outweighs that of the collector/trader mindset. I believe it is worth mentioning.

Cheers! -Piggy

Agree to disagree amigo. One to discuss on the zoom herf!

[agentdaffy007]

I find that CoRo only start to taste good after 8 years. Smoked on the other day, a CoRo 2010-2011 and love the creaminess and the lemon rind and vanilla taste. Quite good.

On the other hand, my Fundies from 2017-2018 are amazing already!

Hoyo DC probably takes the cake. It is so good aged.

[FireDigger]

I last bought cigars back in 2011 and have just recently started to look around again. I've been smoking just a few cigars here and there during this time, but started to smoke 2-3 per week a couple of months ago. From personal experience, here is my list:

Best financial returns:
1. Cohiba Siglo VI - I bought a box in 2007 for $470, now it's in the $800s!! The price inflation on these are ridiculous!
2. Cohiba Esplendidos/Lanceros - Pretty much any Cohiba.
3. Trinidad Fundadores - Much like Cohiba, these have been appreciating rather ridiculously.
4. H. Upmann Sir Winston - Classic cigars in classic packaging.
5. Partagas Lusitania - The cabs will fetch more per stick, but this is a pretty solid choice regardless of packaging.
Honorable mentions: Bolivar Gold Medal (LCDH discontinued), any DC, Partagas 898 (can't seem to find these anymore)

Best for smoking:
1. H. Upmann Mag 46 - I got a cab of these in 2010. They still pack quite a punch today!
2. Cohiba Siglo VI - Maybe this is why their price went up so high!
3. Partagas Lusitania
4. Por Larranaga Petit Corona
5. Partagas Serie P No. 2

[BrightonCorgi]

I'd add the Upmann Noella and RJ Belicoso to list; both will be quite superb with 5+ years on them.

[StogieSteve23]

18 hours ago, foursite12 said:

To Mike's point, like wine in magnums or larger, 50 cabs have a sex appeal and cachet to them that add apparent value, even if the cigar in question is readily available (often at sharp pricing) in smaller packaging. Especially in the DCs where still produced.

Sex sells! 

[Yellot00tr]

Collecting is a different world from smoking. Those numbers start getting stupid. Look at what conde109s, gran reservas, or bhk from 10-12 have turned into. They’re crazy numbers. I collect certain cigars that I know I’m not going to smoke. I buy and age certain cigars that I can’t wait to smoke. HF 225 RA-no way I’m smoking those. LE Don Jose-no way I’m smoking those. 2011 Siglos? Hell yeah I’m smoking those. Can’t wait to bust them out in another 11 years. In 2031, I’ll have a little Cohiba Siglo party at the Grand Havana room in NYC and 10 of my closest friends will be smoking all kinds of siglos from 2011