EAR: Why have Churchills fallen out of favor? Where did it all go awry?

[Bagman]

44 minutes ago, fokker4me said:

We think exactly alike, and many on this forum do as well, but it makes me question are the people smoking these seemingly always increasing in size cigars not connoisseurs like we are? Or just the silent majority?

smoking small ring gauge cigars is not what makes someone a connoisseurs.  I have been smoking for decades and have developed a nice palate.  I detest small ring gauge cigars.  Especially short ones.  PC's need to die out.  So sick of people thinking that to be a cigar aficionado you have prefer the thin cigars.  I occasionally will have a lancero, but I'm starting to move on from those as well.  Churchills for the win.  Perfect balance between small and large.  Maybe a corona gorda for times that I want a shorter cigar session.

And yes, you are the minority.  Any trip to a cigar shop will show you what sells.   To each their own, but to suggest "connoisseur" and thin cigars is nonsense.

[NSXCIGAR]

5 hours ago, Monterey said:

And yes, you are the minority

I don't know about minority (Monte 4 and the 42 RG duty frees still sell big) but one can't deny the increased popularity of larger RG cigars in the last 20 years. A Sublimes or Aromosos would have been considered obscene in 2000. To steal a phrase from MRN it's clearly not trendy, but a trend that shows no signs of abating.

And while I don't see the RG sizes increasing at the rate they had been (I think it'll be a while before we see a 60 RG in regular production and as of now there's nothing above 57) I think the 54-57 is here to stay. 

My personal opinion is that while I prefer sub-52 RG cigars clearly a great many people love the larger RGs and everyone should have the cigars they like available. And there are some excellent cigars over 52 RG. I just want excellent cigars in all RGs. 

[Bagman]

6 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

And while I don't see the RG sizes increasing at the rate they had been (I think it'll be a while before we see a 60 RG in regular production and as of now there's nothing above 57) I think the 54-57 is here to stay. 

 

My point wasn't pro large cigars, I mention chruchill (47) as being the perfect size.  I have no interest in cigars over 52.  The real main point was the goofy notion that you are not a connoisseur unless you preferred skinny cigars.   I see this from time to time, especially here.   Such arrogance to make that statement.   Enjoy whatever size makes you happy.  I'll enjoy my churchills, and the "connoisseurs" can enjoy their lancero.

[BrightonCorgi]

12 hours ago, Monterey said:

  Churchills for the win.  Perfect balance between small and large. 

Agreed.  When I have a chance to order custom cigars, it's Churchill, Lancero, and Robusto.  I don't need any other size.

[SCgarman]

2 hours ago, Monterey said:

My point wasn't pro large cigars, I mention chruchill (47) as being the perfect size.  I have no interest in cigars over 52.  The real main point was the goofy notion that you are not a connoisseur unless you preferred skinny cigars.   I see this from time to time, especially here.   Such arrogance to make that statement.   Enjoy whatever size makes you happy.  I'll enjoy my churchills, and the "connoisseurs" can enjoy their lancero.

I myself have not read such "snark" here anywhere. Ultimately we are all cigar enthusiasts here, and size, vitola, wrapper type should make no difference. Cigars are a subjective and personal preference as to what cigar one wishes to smoke. While Robustos are my preferred size, I enjoy variety in cigars as much as I do other things in life. 

[El Hoze]

Churchill is my favorite format, followed closely by DC….and Sir Winston is easily the cigar I am deepest on followed by Lusis and CoLas. I have a hard time doing nothing when smoking a cigar so I typically will do something that isn’t all-consuming while smoking like working on a sauce, tying flies, watching sports, or pacing around the house annoying my wife. Today I’m doing bolognese….easily enough time for a Monte A! 

I’ll go to a smaller format if I’m outside and it’s cold (I live in Florida so not often a factor) or if I’m having a cigar later at night (often after I’ve had something larger) and I know I’ll get tired. 

 

[NSXCIGAR]

16 hours ago, Monterey said:

The real main point was the goofy notion that you are not a connoisseur unless you preferred skinny cigars.  

Completely agree. And I do think that as a blanket statement is silly. Perhaps it has it's origins in MRN remarking that several skinnies were "connoisseur's cigars" or "connoisseur's sizes." I think I understand why he said that but I suspect that perhaps he might rethink writing that if pressed about it. 

[Bagman]

18 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Completely agree. And I do think that as a blanket statement is silly. Perhaps it has it's origins in MRN remarking that several skinnies were "connoisseur's cigars" or "connoisseur's sizes." I think I understand why he said that but I suspect that perhaps he might rethink writing that if pressed about it. 

No, I know exactly where it comes from, around here anyhow.  Keeping my lip shut on that one!

Though we have connoisseur upmanns, but perhaps due to the misspelling it invalidates that self title

I'm in the camp that you enjoy whatever you want.  Just don't think you are some "expert/connoisseur" because you believe your size is the superior size.

Moving on.  Vented enough over that silly comment.

[Namisgr11]

I'm an example of the opposite: while a big fan of long and slender vitolas, I'm anything but a connoisseur, having taken up cigar smoking on a regular basis only in the early days of the pandemic.  It helps being retired, and so able to carve out the time to fully enjoy them.

To ensure supplies of Cuban Churchills and Dahlias I've committed some coin, with 2023 purchases of the El Rey del Mundo and Punch regionals, respectively.  Getting ahold of some Sir Winnies, at least ones that don't break the bank, is a 'quest objective' that I hope to achieve some day.  While I'd love there to be a ready supply of a high quality and affordable Cuban Churchill in regular production, I gather those days have most probably passed.

[SCgarman]

On 6/22/2023 at 1:42 PM, El Hoze said:

Churchill is my favorite format, followed closely by DC….and Sir Winston is easily the cigar I am deepest on followed by Lusis and CoLas. I have a hard time doing nothing when smoking a cigar so I typically will do something that isn’t all-consuming while smoking like working on a sauce, tying flies, watching sports, or pacing around the house annoying my wife. Today I’m doing bolognese….easily enough time for a Monte A! 

I’ll go to a smaller format if I’m outside and it’s cold (I live in Florida so not often a factor) or if I’m having a cigar later at night (often after I’ve had something larger) and I know I’ll get tired. 

 

Any burn/draw issues trying to smoke a Churchill sized cigar in the Florida high dewpoint summer heat?

[El Hoze]

16 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Any burn/draw issues trying to smoke a Churchill sized cigar in the Florida high dewpoint summer heat?

on a muggy Florida summer day there is no cigar I can smoke fast enough outdoors before I begin to notice at the least a change in the flavor profile, or worse burn issues. I don’t even think you could smoke a joint out in the summer mug down here and not have a canoe. 

[KCCubano]

2 hours ago, El Hoze said:

on a muggy Florida summer day there is no cigar I can smoke fast enough outdoors before I begin to notice at the least a change in the flavor profile, or worse burn issues. I don’t even think you could smoke a joint out in the summer mug down here and not have a canoe. 

My sister has a Condo on St Pete Beach. Only sticks I will smoke outside down there are minutos and perlas. Any larger is a waste for me. Burn and flavor issues.