What do you consider the most exceptional Regional Release that you have smoked?

[Justins123]

21 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

The 09 RE Alemania were very good if you were able to get a decent draw. Half of my box was totally plugged. Even worse for me were the PL Lonsdales

Yeah I was very hyped for both the Boli Especiales and PL lonsdales, as I’m sure a lot of people were.  My boxes for both were 3/4 plugged. Such a waste. 

[Fugu]

34 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

The 09 RE Alemania were very good if you were able to get a decent draw. Half of my box was totally plugged. Even worse for me were the PL Lonsdales

Yes, they come with a snugger draw. These cigars are far from being “ready”. I fear most have been smoked too young.

[Puros Y Vino]

A no brainer for me.  La Escepcion Selectos Finos.  The blend is highly conducive to aging.  Strong, yet refined and balanced. 

Runner ups. La Escepcion Don Jose.  RACF.  Bolivar Bosphorus.

[MrGinger]

Of all the regionals i've smoked, the 2 that stood out for me are the PL Encantos and RA Celestales Finos

[Chibearsv]

I'm a big fan of every regional I've tried so far.  But the best for me is Bushido.  It's complex, rich with flavor, and the perfect Vitola in my opinion.

[Carrie Nation]

We are only seeing now which regionals truly had sublime secrets to reveal (very few) and which ones petered out (most all of them). Despite the fact that most regionals taste nothing like their marcas, there are a few that have become splendid smoking, regardless of the brand they were pretending to be. Here's the list so far. 

 

Bolivar Armonias (China)

Punch Diademas Extra (Italy)

Por Larrañaga Magnum (UK)

Edmundo Dantes Conde 109 (Mexico) but only the first release. The second run wasn't as good, and aged terribly. 

Flor de Cano Short Robusto (UK)

 

Honorable Mention: Vegas Robaina Jubilaums Edition. Came out the same year as the start of the Edición Regional series, but not technically part of it. 

 

[Stevieboy]

Punch ManTua.... Exceptional

Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk

[KCCubano]

7 hours ago, Justins123 said:

Yeah I was very hyped for both the Boli Especiales and PL lonsdales, as I’m sure a lot of people were.  My boxes for both were 3/4 plugged. Such a waste. 

You were one of the fortunate few if u had even 6 sticks of PL Lonsdales that were smokable! Many of my friends had no such luck. Plugged from head to toe

[cookj1]

On 8/29/2022 at 7:51 AM, Justins123 said:

But the 50 cabs of Simones are among the best cigars I’ve smoked. Went through two cabs, have one left.  Still improving despite getting up there in age. 

Was that the Canadian regional? The Bolivar Simones?  I thought they came in 25.  They were excellent but when I had one a couple of years ago, it was tasting sick.  …will revisit again in the future and hopefully it was a one off.

 

These! Delicious!

[KCCubano]

33 minutes ago, cookj1 said:

Was that the Canadian regional? The Bolivar Simones?  I thought they came in 25.  They were excellent but when I had one a couple of years ago, it was tasting sick.  …will revisit again in the future and hopefully it was a one

Mine was a 50 cab. 

[Chas.Alpha]

5 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

I'm a big fan of every regional I've tried so far.  But the best for me is Bushido.  It's complex, rich with flavor, and the perfect Vitola in my opinion.

And you gave me one!!! The 1st of many reasons that we will share one of my Monte A's when the Vikings make the Super Bowl in 2037... 😀

 

My experience with regionals is limited, but I will go back in the past to a post Fearless Leader made about "I wish I'd..." I burned the ERdM Tainos from the 2019 Christmas sampler on our anny last year. With 2 years down, it made a brilliant Espy a 2nd choice. I bought 1 box and following advice I will not try another until 2024. 

[Hammer Smokin']

I don't have a big cigar collection. 

Only one cigar do I own two full boxes of.  

The ERdM Tainos. 

The one from the 2019 Christmas Sampler (which was legendary) got me hooked. 

I haven't cracked either box yet. Maybe in a few years. 

[gustavehenne]

I haven't smoked a vast amount of regionals but the one that stands out is El Rey del Mundo La Reina - a UK regional. 

A stunning cigar...

[La_Tigre]

Smoked through box after box of LFDC Magicos in Spain and only encountered one cigar that had problems. Maybe not 93+ pointers but for the price these were/are on point and expect them to age righteously.

Best ER so far ERDM Kon Tiki but only tried one. 

[NSXCIGAR]

Always heard great things about the PL Magnificos. The price has always been extremely high for them. I'm assuming they must be decent.

The other one that I heard was excellent was the Punch Superfinos. One of the original ERs. Very low production as most were at the time. Impossible to find today. 

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Always heard great things about the PL Magnificos. The price has always been extremely high for them. I'm assuming they must be decent.

The other one that I heard was excellent was the Punch Superfinos. One of the original ERs. Very low production as most were at the time. Impossible to find today. 

I was going to mention the Superfinos, PL Robustos, and RA Belicoso as great ER's for older releases, but the likelihood of finding a box are slim.  Wanted to keep my responses at least being able to find somewhere.  Superfinos is one of the best cigars I have ever smoked.  

[Perla]

More than a handful of RE are coming to my mind that had, of course for me outstanding.

RA Eminencia

Punch Medalla D’Oro was great

PL Valiosos getting great with age

Punch Clasico wonderful 109 cigar

RA Especial. Some where very loose, that was annoying  taste wise great, was flying under the radar

PL Secretos little bugger. Cheap and incredible good

SP Gran Quixote absolutely underrated. Smoked 2 boxes when fresh. That is what I never do  

LGC Orgulosos , love them. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

On 8/28/2022 at 4:14 PM, Glass Half Full said:

La Escepcion Selectos Finos ER Italia -- IMO, the best period; hands down.

This. If only I had known at the time how spectacular this box would be, I would have dumped everything into as many boxes as possible.

[Neuralpath]

Price aside, I’ve been a fan of the REs. They allow you to experience sizes and blends that aren’t available otherwise. While many have been mediocre, IMO, there have been many outstanding releases. Here are my favorites that I’ve tried and still enjoy:

Edmundo Dantes 109

La Escepcion Selectos Finos

Por Larranaga Magnificos

Punch Sir David

Diplomaticos Bushido

Ramon Allones Phoenicio 30

Punch 898

 

[chris12381]

I just smoked an Edmundo Dantés Conde 109 ER México 2007.  You can add that one to the list. 

[Miguel Gracias]

I have not smoked many REs before, but RA nuevo mundo and LFC Magicos were fantastic. Waiting for my Diplomaticos er caribe to be ready.

[westg]

Roman Allones Estupendos in my top three cigars. Never  have I experienced caramel in a  cigar like this  cigar delivers . Truly unique cigar. Love the size just amazing .

 

 

[Justins123]

One I’ve always been curious about is the Punch Platinos.  Beautiful presentation. I recall it being a pretty small run but checking CCW it looks like it was 1600 boxes instead of the 600 indicated on some of them. 

[KCCubano]

On 8/30/2022 at 8:00 AM, Perla said:

More than a handful of RE are coming to my mind that had, of course for me outstanding.

RA Eminencia

Punch Medalla D’Oro was great

PL Valiosos getting great with age

Punch Clasico wonderful 109 cigar

RA Especial. Some where very loose, that was annoying  taste wise great, was flying under the radar

PL Secretos little bugger. Cheap and incredible good

SP Gran Quixote absolutely underrated. Smoked 2 boxes when fresh. That is what I never do  

LGC Orgulosos , love them. 

My box of UK Punch Medalla dOro were very good but wrappers were very very thin on mine and had issues as they aged. 

[Digi]

Top of the heap for me are:

• LGC Britanicas Extra, LGC Orgullosos, PL Belicosos Extra, SP Gran Quxiote

Recent ones that come to mind:

• ERDM Tanios - still need time
• Punch 898 - smoked well for the first 12 months or so, they seem to have tightened up on palate recently.  Letting them sit for a sample early next year.
• Cuaba Tacos - nope!  Maybe time will help.
• Punch Super Robustos - old, delicious, mild, definitely should not be aged more
• SCdlH Harimau Malaya - Rob is bang on with these!  Smoked well young, smoke well (better) now, assuming they'll keep on giving.  Had a few tight ones.
• LGC Britanicas Extra - yes, yes, yes.  May favorite LGC release in the last many years.  Orgullosos come in a very close second.
• RA Perfectos - sampled one about a year ago.  Didn't hit like an RA, cigar was all over the place. More time.
• LGC Glorias (5ta) - slow smoking, generous vitola.  Crazy toothy, thick wrappers but burns well.  Doesn't "pop" like the Orgu or Brits but still very nice.
• Bolivar Lusiadas - on the fence, they're inconsistent.  a dryer palate compared to BBF, BRC, BPC - more savory space, I get a distinct rye bread note when one.  All have been quite tight.
• SP Gran Quixote - if I could buy 5 more boxes of these under say $400-$500 a box, I'd do it.  Top 5 regional release for me.  So wish this was a production cigars.  The vitola is gorgeous.
• LGC Orgullosos - great cigars.  Wish I had more than a single box left!
• RG 88 - construction is inconsistent.  More than a few entirely plugged across 4 boxes.  When on, they're delightfully straightforward.  Definitely wouldn't stretch on price here.
• Dip Nortenos - has one box that was great and two that were just hot air
• PL Belicosos Extra - Amazing

Currently waiting in the wings:

• Bolivar B2
• SCdlH La Cabana