Recommendation: JL2 vs La Fuerza

[sho671]

Hello all, I hope your holiday season is going well.

I’m looking to purchase my last box of cigars for the year and have narrowed it down to the JL2 or the SCdlH La Fuerza. I’d like to hear your recommendations, pros/cons for either selection.

The price of the JL2 will be lower than the Fuerzas but both prices are comparable to previous Cuba prices prior to the recent increase due to some store credit that I am trying to take advantage of. The source is a well known grey market dealer that I have used numerous times, so I’m not too worried about authenticity or the too good to be true prices.

I have searched reviews on this forum and am leaning towards the Fuerzas because the citrus notes of the JL don’t really appeal to me. A con for the Fuerzas is that they sound a little light flavor wise and I feel I may not be able to pick up the nuances. To liken this to another brand the two QdOs I reviewed over the weekend were a little too light for my liking.

I haven’t sampled any JL or SCdlH so both would be completely new to me, but I would like to try both at some point. I just need some help choosing which one to try first.

TIA.

[99call]

JL2 is a very basic, but very pleasing cigar.   flavours of chocolate, orange zest, bbq sauce,  etc etc.    whilst quite powerful, ultimately it's a cigar I think a broad spectrum of smokers would enjoy......and do

The Fuerzas,  are not a powerful cigar in my opinion,  they are quite opulent, classy and rich.   If you like dark Manuka honey, or maple syrup flavours, you will enjoy them.  It's not marca I favour,  but I respect the unique flavours that mahogany coloured wrapper can create.   it's not really a wrapper colour you see on any other marca.

As a curveball, I would always recommend a JL1.  It's far more complex than the JL2,  and often stronger.  It's got and added dimension of woods and cream.   like someone as crossed a Hoyo Epicure Especial and a JL2.     but in reality, the JL1 should be respected as a standalone cigars.   UTL MAY 19 was a high point in quality, but they are very consistent across different codes. 

[RDB]

These are very different cigars! JL2 being much fuller bodied, and a completely different flavour profile. Hard to think of them as alternatives. If you don’t know either, why not buy six of each to see what you like, before going for a box?

[sho671]

On 12/29/2020 at 7:37 AM, 99call said:

JL2 is a very basic, but very pleasing cigar.   flavours of chocolate, orange zest, bbq sauce,  etc etc.    whilst quite powerful, ultimately it's a cigar I think a broad spectrum of smokers would enjoy......and do

The Fuerzas,  are not a powerful cigar in my opinion,  they are quite opulent, classy and rich.   If you like dark Manuka honey, or maple syrup flavours, you will enjoy them.  It's not marca I favour,  but I respect the unique flavours that mahogany coloured wrapper can create.   it's not really a wrapper colour you see on any other marca.

As a curveball, I would always recommend a JL1.  It's far more complex than the JL2,  and often stronger.  It's got and added dimension of woods and cream.   like someone as crossed a Hoyo Epicure Especial and a JL2.     but in reality, the JL1 should be respected as a standalone cigars.   UTL MAY 19 was a high point in quality, but they are very consistent across different codes. 

Price-wise my options are between the JL2 and Fuerza, the JL1s currently aren’t as competitively priced. The flavor notes of the Fuerza appeal more to me than the zesty, BBQ sauce but again I’m wondering if they are very nuanced flavors that I may miss out on.
 

On 12/29/2020 at 7:37 AM, RDB said:

These are very different cigars! JL2 being much fuller bodied, and a completely different flavour profile. Hard to think of them as alternatives. If you don’t know either, why not buy six of each to see what you like, before going for a box?

Ya I don’t think that they are similar, they just happen to be the two options that have good price points. Ideally I’d try them first before buying a box but the vendor I’m using doesn’t offer anything other than boxes and I’m trying to take advantage of some credit I have on their website before the end of the year.

[99call]

5 hours ago, sho671 said:

JL1s currently aren’t as competitively priced

i think one of the main suppliers currently has them at $199

[sho671]

On 12/29/2020 at 7:51 AM, 99call said:

i think one of the main suppliers currently has them at $199

I’m looking at a specific vendor where I have some store credit that I’m trying to use before the year ends. Their pricing isn’t that great on the JL1, but for the other two options after credits the prices are right around what the Cuba prices were before the increase that occurred a month or two ago.

[99call]

I would definitely take advantage of the festive season discounts,  but hopefully with the economic fallout round the corner, and the return to more uninterrupted shipping, hopefully prices may tip back the other way.   Wishful thinking I know,  But cigar price hikes during massive unemployment figures surely cant co-exist for long. 

in summary Juan Lopez is a brand that I would have full confidence to tell someone who likes cigars to jump on into.   But SCDLH is what I'd call an acquired taste. I bought boxes of El Principe that I rarely ever touch, as the "pancake" flavour people refer to....to me just takes like raw egg, and slightly metallic.    Ultimately go with your gut, you can always sell them on

[Hammer Smokin']

I've learned (after many attempts) that I highly dislike JL taste profile. 

I love SCDLH flavour profiles (at least the half dozen I've tried). For me this wouldn't be a question. But each smokers flavour pallet is different. There is a reason JL's are popular. 

[Islandboy]

I really enjoy both of these cigars that @99call did very well to describe, but it seems you pretty much answer your own question in the OP.

[sho671]

17 minutes ago, Islandboy said:

I really enjoy both of these cigars that @99call did very well to describe, but it seems you pretty much answer your own question in the OP.

I’m ultimately interested in both but between the two, the flavor profile of the Fuerza based on reviews posted here is more appealing. I’m definitely leaning towards the Fuerza and waiting to buy the JLs at some point next year.

[ChangBang]

Even if it's a good deal, if the flavor profile isn't to your liking I think you'd be disappointed.  I would go with the Fuerza if I were you, who knows maybe it won't be as light as your fear and it'll be good.  JL at it's best still wouldn't be a good flavor profile for you.

That being said, you could buy both and try to trade/split them.  I have enough JL's right now but I know I'd be interested in a 5er of the Fuerza....

[sho671]

24 minutes ago, ChangBang said:

Even if it's a good deal, if the flavor profile isn't to your liking I think you'd be disappointed.  I would go with the Fuerza if I were you, who knows maybe it won't be as light as your fear and it'll be good.  JL at it's best still wouldn't be a good flavor profile for you.

That being said, you could buy both and try to trade/split them.  I have enough JL's right now but I know I'd be interested in a 5er of the Fuerza....

I’d be interested in trading some Fuerzas for some of your JLs.

[ChangBang]

Pull the trigger on those Fuerzas and post it on the trading forum when you get em ?  Always nice to have trading ammunition too lol

[mprach024]

JL2 all day for me.  These are in my regular rotation and for good reason, they always perform and are a nice change of pace to the other marcas.  Very satisfying smokes.

[Hammer Smokin']

I lump JL with Partagas, Bolivar, and Punch (and many RA's, aside from the RAS).  

While they all share unique characteristics, they often pack a powerful punch that I generally do not enjoy. 

Interestingly enough, that goes against the grain for many on this board. It took me a few years to realize what is popular here (or with Prez) doesn't necessarily follow what I enjoy. 

But you can't determine that without plenty of "practice" ... and I love the practice of smoking cigars

[NSXCIGAR]

If you're worried about La Fuerza being too mild they're not. Over the years I've had some that are less rich but 18-20 you don't have to worry about. 

[sho671]

7 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

If you're worried about La Fuerza being too mild they're not. Over the years I've had some that are less rich but 18-20 you don't have to worry about. 

That’s pretty much what I was looking for. I didn’t want them to turn out like the QdOs that get praise, but are too light for me.

My plan at this point is to order the Fuerzas and hopefully trade some with @ChangBang for JLs.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, sho671 said:

That’s pretty much what I was looking for. I didn’t want them to turn out like the QdOs that get praise, but are too light for me.

My plan at this point is to order the Fuerzas and hopefully trade some with @ChangBang for JLs.

La Fuerza will be fuller than QdO, particularly if you get a good box. If you haven't tried JLS 1/2 in the past I wouldn't go too deep on them. I totally agree with some others' above comments that they are good "change of pace" cigar, but I get bored with them quickly. The La Fuerza, I never get bored with. 

[Shrimpchips]

7 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

La Fuerza will be fuller than QdO, particularly if you get a good box.

What’s been a good box code for them, and conversely, is there a date range/box code to avoid? 

[NSXCIGAR]

34 minutes ago, Shrimpchips said:

What’s been a good box code for them, and conversely, is there a date range/box code to avoid? 

Virtually all will be LGR (La Corona). If you can get 17s or 18s they're a bit better than 19s and I haven't had any 20s yet. 20s will probably have the new La Corona code RAT.

[Tstew75]

Hate to be that that guy, but try to grab both if you can. Very different CCs.

As some have stated above, JL1s are a bit rustic but do have some nice power...I tend to grab for them when I'm looking for kick in the pants. At $8/stick, Cuba's best value Coronas Gordas.

RE: SCLH, I rekindled my love for them this past year. Their taste is unique, and I think that dark/creamy/molasses thing has it's place. The LGR 19s are nothing short of brilliant looking, both La Fuerza & La Punta.

[NSXCIGAR]

On 12/29/2020 at 9:07 PM, Shrimpchips said:

What’s been a good box code for them, and conversely, is there a date range/box code to avoid? 

Just received some RAT JUN 20s and they're about the same as all the 19s I've had. I will say there's just a slight touch of ammonia which I don't mind so much but a reminder that these need about a year to wick that out. I didn't get any of that from the 18s or 19s I had and they were all around a year old before I smoked them. I would still give them around 92 points as they are. 

[sho671]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Just received some RAT JUN 20s and they're about the same as all the 19s I've had. I will say there's just a slight touch of ammonia which I don't mind so much but a reminder that these need about a year to wick that out. I didn't get any of that from the 18s or 19s I had and they were all around a year old before I smoked them. I would still give them around 92 points as they are. 

Nice. I should be getting mine in the next week and a half.