The Great Cigar Production Runs. "Next Level"

[El Presidente]

I was writing earlier today about Diplomatico Number 2 TOS 15's.  They were consistently the greatest Dip 2 run that I have tasted in what I consider a very good cigar.  Dip 2 TOS 2015 however.....absolutely next level. 

I have others but I suspect they will be the same as your input. 

Let us know your "next level" production box code/run  for any particular cigar 

[Chucko8]

I found the LGR 2017 on the PL Monte Carlo to be next level personally.

[traveller]

I had a RyJ Churchill in the fall of 2010, bought as a single from a LCDH in the Caribbean. Still probably the best cigar I've had in my life. So probably from 10 or 09

[Popof4]

I had more consistency in Trini Esme's BSM Mar 20 than any other run.  !0 of the 12 were spectacular. That's more than the usual 5-6 very good to excellent sticks per in most other runs I've seen through 21.  I know, I know. They've only been in production since 2019 but I'm answering your question. 😇

[ElReyDel757]

55 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

I was writing earlier today about Diplomatico Number 2 TOS 15's.  They were consistently the greatest Dip 2 run that I have tasted in what I consider a very good cigar.  Dip 2 TOS 2015 however.....absolutely next level. 

I have others but I suspect they will be the same as your input. 

Let us know your "next level" production box code/run  for any particular cigar 

This was the beginning of my Cuban cigar journey. I have a December 2015 TOS box of the Dip 2 with 19 sticks left! I also have a Montecristo # 2 May 2016 TOS box with 13 sticks left! Finally, an unopened box of San Cristobal La Fuerza March 2016 TOS! TOS was all the rage then in this forum, and deservedly so.

[Low]

I think right now we are in a next level run of several. Mag 46, Monte 2, HDM Epicure Especial, and PSD4 are the few I would select. The quality coming out of Cuba since late 2019 has been unrivaled since I started smoking them in 2012. These things are smoking more complex and with less mongrel than ever before, so I cannot imagine how they'll age. Lighting up a Monte 2 before two years used to almost be a cardinal sin, now they show up smoking like they've been sitting for 2.5-3 years.

This isn't just a great production run for one cigar, it is a God run from almost the entire portfolio. 

[Chibearsv]

Bolivar RC MSU 18 - spectacular box pressed gems. Only 3 left and one of those is burning right now

Monte 1 GEL 21 - firing on all cylinders 

[Blakes]

I remember 2014 Bolivar PC's been unreal, I couldn't get enough of them. I think the code was ULA.

[westg]

POU DEC 12. Monte. especialy Monte 4.

H Upmann LUB MAY 14 . Petit Corona and No 2 drop dead gorgeous boxes.

TUA has been very good to me 21 and 22. R&J Wide Churchill in particular 

[Guest Nekhyludov]

Everything that came out of RAE from mid-2014 to mid-2015 was noticably exceptional.

898s, PSD4s, RGPCs, RyJ PCs, Punch Punch, RA Allemania.

[NSXCIGAR]

EML El Principe was the best of the decade. And pretty much anything TEB 07-08 and El Laguito from 07-12 was cranking out quality.

I'd also include the first batches of LUB Connie A and OLA RA Superiores, 

[KCCubano]

Agree on 07/08 TEB. I also found MEL 08 Cohiba to be very good. Also my Boli's from LRE 09

[Erm310mce]

Agree with KCCubano,

some off the top of my head:

TEB 07/08 RASS and BRC were exceptional

MEL 08 cohiba siglo III, best I’ve had

BTO 2013 cohiba robusto and Siglo VI

MOA 2009 Monte 2

ESL 2019 Mag 50

 

 

[NSXCIGAR]

32 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

Agree on 07/08 TEB. I also found MEL 08 Cohiba to be very good. Also my Boli's from LRE 09

Cohiba, and mainly El Laguito, was really killing it from 07-12. The entire run of MEL, LBT, TEU, MES and BTO were outstanding. I thought there was a bit of a drop with MUO and I'm not sure Cohiba has really matched that period since. 

[KCCubano]

5 hours ago, Erm310mce said:

Agree with KCCubano,

some off the top of my head:

TEB 07/08 RASS and BRC were exceptional

MEL 08 cohiba siglo III, best I’ve had

BTO 2013 cohiba robusto and Siglo VI

MOA 2009 Monte 2

ESL 2019 Mag 50

 I had BTO CoRo as well. Superb. 

 

Forgot to mention the LLN 03 run of Sig VI. Many old timers here had these as well..including Rob. Best Sig VI I ever had and not even close

[bergstrom]

I’ve only been smoking for about 3 years now - but I will say every box I got that is SOU 19 has been absolutely fantastic.

Just snagged a SOU 19 box of PL Galanes, they are in the middle resting for about a month right now, but I am very much looking forward to cracking into that box! 

 

[JohnS]

TOS 15 Diplomaticos No.2, EML 15 San Cristobal El Principe, LUB 14 H.Upmann No.2 and yes, LGR 17 Por Larranaga Montecarlos. I had my last (LGR 17 PLMC) from the box last month...such good memories! 👍

[Duxnutz]

Those Partagas Serie E No. 2 from El Laguito few years back. Notable mention some BTO Siglo VI from some time ago? 2013?

[westg]

1 hour ago, Duxnutz said:

Those Partagas Serie E No. 2 from El Laguito few years back. Notable mention some BTO Siglo VI from some time ago? 2013?

Oh yes BTO Sig Vl . I still have one full box. Sensational 

[LizardGizmo]

LUB 14 in Upmann 2, Connie A, CoRo. Some of the most magical cigars I’ve had. Acquired PSP box of 2s and an HQ box of CoRo in that code recently. Incredible.

I think BRE 18/19 for Upmann 2 will match or beat LUB 14 in the coming years. Previewing wonderfully.

[Shrimpchips]

11 hours ago, Nekhyludov said:

Everything that came out of RAE from mid-2014 to mid-2015 was noticably exceptional.

898s, PSD4s, RGPCs, RyJ PCs, Punch Punch, RA Allemania.

RAE JUN 15 PSD5 were my first box of CC.  Got me hooked. 
 

for more recent collectors, SOU and BSM Trinidads (among other marcas) have been the best of the bunch.

[gormag38]

The first thing I thought of when hearing this was SOU 21 SIG II's. Perhaps a recency bias, but others with more time down that I have had haven't even been close. 

[Fuzz]

Punch Punch between 2015 and 2018 were fantastic. And Des Dieux from '06-'08 are still hitting strides.

[targa88]

Upmann Mag 46 OBM MAY17

Upmann Connie #1 POS SEP 11

PL RE EMA OCT 07 (so much better than the 08 Belicoso)

[jakebarnes]

2 hours ago, gormag38 said:

The first thing I thought of when hearing this was SOU 21 SIG II's. Perhaps a recency bias, but others with more time down that I have had haven't even been close. 

This makes me have high hopes for the 2 boxes I was able to hide away.  Still gonna let hem age, but promising to hear. A few others I'd throw out there:

2019 BUP Lusitanias (this factory has been so good on the Lusi front--in a few years, I will see if the factory code change to EOL changed any of the quality).

2015-16 TOS Diplomaticos

2018-2019 UEB Monte 4

2006 Partagas 898-- no idea what factory I had, but 2 separate boxes I had were insane. Just a good year for them (GSO maybe?)

2020 MAR PSD4

And a "I think we'll talk about them" preview: 2019 LGR PLPC. Mine have shone so far and they still have a ways to go for evolution. Really excited to revisit soon.