Gran Reserva or Limited Edition Worth it?

[El Hoze]

9 hours ago, VeguerosMAN said:

Do you consider Padron family reserve and the 50 count humidor super premium? Or some rare Opus X

I certainly won’t answer for Rob but I will say I’ve had Carlito Fuente hand me probably two dozen cigars over the years (2-3 at a time, he usually pulls them out of an old ziploc). I frequently run into him at MIA airport, they have never been banded as Opus X, always Don Carlos bands…they are all absolutely extraordinary. Like wtf good. I’ve had a bunch of what would be considered rare/limited Opus X, aged multiple years etc., doesn’t compare to a Reserva/GR to me. Unless Carlito hands it to you, I would take the Reserva/GR if you’re playing the odds.

[NSXCIGAR]

12 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

No offense, but I often find your comments to be bizarre and off the wall, in that they are the polar opposite of the general consensus of experienced cigar smokers.  

I have had cigars from every book, and have owned most of them and I have yet to try one that wasn't exceptional.  From everything I have ever discussed, read or seen, that is the experience of the vast majority of experienced cigar smokers.  In fact, I am pretty sure this is the very first time I have ever read anything negative about them.

I at no point said anything negative about the book or SH releases. I said the GR/RR, some ERs and LCDH lacquered are usually better or at least on par.

I stand by my opinion of the RyJ GC. It is a very good cigar but IMO they should be capable of producing standard Churchills at that level. I've had a few HU Super Mags and yes, they are good but again I've had SWs that are about as good over the years. I do hear the the Supremos No. 2 were outstanding though. I've never had one. I've had the Monte Gran Piramides and to me it was about the same as a very good No. 2. I have a Cuaba Bariay sitting in the humi I've yet to try. I've had some Trini 50th and honestly they're not my cup of tea. I enjoy the Casilda more. I've never tried ERDM Imperios or any SHs prior. I will be trying the Partagas 175 and Monte Carmen in a few weeks.

I'm not sure how much of a general consensus there is on these cigars since very few have smoked them so I'm not sure what you're comparing my opinions to. If you want a concurring opinion Sautter just did a review of the Casilda and found it to be less than exceptional. I actually like them myself but would agree they are not some kind of mindblowing cigar. The old Robustos T and Robustos Extra I think are better. I've had great Fundys in the past that I'd probably take over the Casilda. 

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, VeguerosMAN said:

Do you consider Padron family reserve and the 50 count humidor super premium? Or some rare Opus X

Premium certainly. Similar to Siglo VI and Esplendidos. 

Super Premium, No. 

[NSXCIGAR]

On 1/14/2024 at 10:44 AM, Sandman said:

You are correct. Obviously he’s never tried a Partagas C1, Partagas Sobresaliente, most of the Partagas anniversary humidors, the 125th RyJ humidor, SCDLH O’Reily, etc. I could go on and on. 

None of these were released in the last 14 years with the exception of the Party 170 and you're correct, I've never had that. But if you have to go back 20 years which several of these you mentioned are I think we're talking apples and oranges. You might as well throw in the Millennium jars. Different era entirely. 

I specifically pointed out I'm talking about 2017 on. No, I have not tried the ERDM Imperios or Cohiba Grandiosos (who has) but I've tried both the Majestuosos and Ideales and I didn't find them incredible. I actually enjoyed the Talisman more. And FWIW I didn't find the 55th EL that great either. As far as the Monte 80th I think the consensus is that people who've tried both the 80th and Leyenda find little difference between the two. 

As I said I'll be trying a SC 20th as well as the Party 175 and Monte 250 in a few weeks and probably the SC 500th later in the year. I'm certainly open to any of them blowing me away. But so far none of the books or special humis made recently has. 

[BrightonCorgi]

13 hours ago, Uwiik said:

Got an offer of Bolivar Gold Medal LCDH 2007, pretty decent price way under US 1K/box and he’s got two boxes. Should I go for it or run away?

I never thought much of them when they were available at that time. Thought they were overpriced back then.

[SigmundChurchill]

13 hours ago, Uwiik said:

Got an offer of Bolivar Gold Medal LCDH 2007, pretty decent price way under US 1K/box and he’s got two boxes. Should I go for it or run away? I love my 2019 Bolivar Petit Corona and I can survive my 2023 BBF. 
Also when budget only allow for one, should I go with Lusitania GR or Sir Winston GR first? 

I remember the 2007 Gold Medals being strong and very earthy, so if that's your thing, then go for it.  

Of course, keeping in mind that they likely have mellowed out considerably in the last 17 years, they could be a completely different animal now. Or not.

[NSXCIGAR]

15 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I never thought much of them when they were available at that time. Thought they were overpriced back then.

I never liked them either, even for $8/stick or whatever they were. Never had the OR 04 Wolters though. I'm utterly shocked they go for what they now do. Did they morph into greatness?

Although I wouldn't classify those as a real special release. They were standard LCDH releases at the time, same as the Libertadores is today. 

[SigmundChurchill]

7 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I never liked them either, even for $8/stick or whatever they were. Never had the OR 04 Wolters though. I'm utterly shocked they go for what they now do. Did they morph into greatness?

Although I wouldn't classify those as a real special release. They were standard LCDH releases at the time, same as the Libertadores is today. 

Van (RIP) organized a big group buy for us from Wolters so we got them on the low end of the price scale, but I'm pretty sure they cost quite a bit more than $80 a box. I remember them being expensive.  Keep in mind, the Wolters ones were not available on the gray market, so everyone paid LCDH prices, which were never cheap, not even back then.

When the 2007's came out, a lot of people said they liked the Wolters ones better, but for me, it didn't make much of a difference because neither one was a flavor profile I am drawn to.  "Earthy" is just not my thing.  Now that I am thinking about it though, I remember thinking the Wolters version had a cocoa flavor on top of the earthiness that I noted was missing from the 2007's.  But who knows, it was so long ago.

[KCCubano]

8 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Van (RIP) organized a big group buy for us from Wolters so we got them on the low end of the price scale, but I'm pretty sure they cost quite a bit more than $80 a box. I remember them being expensive.  Keep in mind, the Wolters ones were not available on the gray market, so everyone paid LCDH prices, which were never cheap, not even back then.

When the 2007's came out, a lot of people said they liked the Wolters ones better, but for me, it didn't make much of a difference because neither one was a flavor profile I am drawn to.  "Earthy" is just not my thing.  Now that I am thinking about it though, I remember thinking the Wolters version had a cocoa flavor on top of the earthiness that I noted was missing from the 2007's.  But who knows, it was so long ago.

Like you, I had both versions and don't recall the distinct differences. I did enjoy both but they were not for everyone! Quite the ROI for anyone unloading them in the secondary. 

[Fugu]

8 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I never liked them either, even for $8/stick or whatever they were. Never had the OR 04 Wolters though.

 

1 hour ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Van (RIP) organized a big group buy for us from Wolters so we got them on the low end of the price scale, but I'm pretty sure they cost quite a bit more than $80 a box.

You’re both right there, Elliot and NSX. The original Wolters’ from ‘04 came EUR 16.00 a piece, the later ‘07s started out at EUR 9.50.

[GVan]

Great question and I really enjoyed reading all for the knowledgable responses - even the "debates" were great.  What struck me about your question was when you said that your collection has grown to 3000 + cigars and now you have the "itch". I know the feeling as I'm at 3500+ and have sort of stabilized there for the last 3 years. I focused exclusively on regular production trying many different cigars as my CC palate developed. Once over 2500, I bought my first LCDH Punch 48's really just because one of my favorites is the Punch Punch. I justified the increased LCDH price expecting a slightly different Punch experience. Same story for the LCDH RA Superiores. All of this was before the cigar Armageddon price increases that now have me down to purchasing maybe 3 to 4 boxes a year of CC's.

What I should have done was gone deeper on boxes of the regular production that I love and are the real staple of my smoking rotation. When I started "collecting", my goal was to have a 7 year aged smoking supply of my favorite cigars - meaning aged appropriately for each marca (based on other FOH members feedback)  - and actually calculated upon my typical smoking rotation at the time. Where I successfully accomplished that (12 boxes of BCJs, 7 boxes of BPCs, 9 boxes of RGP's, 7 boxes of RGPC's, 5 boxes of Punch Punch, 10 boxes of PSdP's, 10 boxes of PLP's, 9 boxes of PLPC's ...) where I am now smoking 4 to 7 year old cigars that are perfection -- I am truly happy with my purchasing decisions. Of course, I look back and like everyone here wish I'd bought a few more boxes of Luisi's, D4's, JL2's, JL1's, PSDP's, Monte 2's, Dip 2's, HUP Mag 46's (favorites that I didn't reach my 7 year goal on buying) instead of expanding out to LCDH's (although I am hopeful I'm really going to appreciate the 8 boxes of Punch 48's that I bought and haven't even touched any of them yet)!

Sounds like you, I could probably buy anything I wanted but I really followed @El Presidente advice about sticking to regular production first as I began collecting. My only advice is be as disciplined as you can and avoid the "itch" until you collect enough of your favorites. Although I certainly understand where you are at ....I can say that if I'd bought any Cohiba's, LE's, GR's given today's pricing, they'd have performed better than the stock market, and I'd be selling them on Bond Roberts to fill the regular production holes in my collection I noted above.

[Puros Y Vino]

I've enjoyed the chase of EL's and RE's over the years and have ended up with some epic cigars for my troubles. I've managed to grab fivers here and there of the CGR, MGR and PGR. The CGR is/was an absolute champion of a cigar and IMO. Nothing has come close from what I've tried. The wrappers were perfect, the aroma at cold, perfect and when lit, it was a smooth, rich and flavourful cigar. No rough edges at all. Given the pricing debacle Habanos has inflicted on the market over the years. I've pretty much abandoned the chase. Pair the pricing with woefully bad release schedules and you have a good excuse for never buying anything but regular production Habanos. If you can find any.  

With that said. I have managed to grab a few gems these past few years. Mostly regional editions. I chase the Italian market ones and Canadian (home country) A couple of Cabinets of Mantuas.  Boxes of Invictos and most recent the RA Noellas jar when I was in Italy two years ago. My advice to you. Keep and eye out on regional editions you can access to either via friends that reside there or are in places you'd travel to. EL pricing is criminal and the release dates unreliable. I'd put my money on chasing vintage regular production as well.  

[Uwiik]

I’ve got an offer for D4 vintage 2014 and 2018, which one should I get? Monte 4, 2015 and 2019 which one? Lusitania GR or Sir Winston GR, which one should I get? Never tried Sir Winston though.

Indication for my taste, I love Lusi, Monte4, CoRo, Epi.2, Cohiba Panatela, Bolivar PC in no particular order. 

Thanks all!! 

[BrightonCorgi]

If you can see them in person, I would buy the ones that strike the best emotion at first glance.

[Chibearsv]

13 hours ago, Uwiik said:

I’ve got an offer for D4 vintage 2014 and 2018, which one should I get? Monte 4, 2015 and 2019 which one? Lusitania GR or Sir Winston GR, which one should I get? Never tried Sir Winston though.

Indication for my taste, I love Lusi, Monte4, CoRo, Epi.2, Cohiba Panatela, Bolivar PC in no particular order. 

Thanks all!!

It appears that price and size of your inventory have no limits, so why not buy and try them all?

[Arabian]

11 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

It appears that price and size of your inventory have no limits, so why not buy and try them all?

And must share his location for a quick inventory inspection. 

 

[cigaraholic]

2014

[Uwiik]

12 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

If you can see them in person, I would buy the one's that strike the best emotion at first glance.

That’s the problem, I hate this online vendor era. Gone are the days where we can just drop by to a shop and scream in excitement like a little kid in a candy shop. That’s why my Dubai LCDH experience was very memorable for me although price was stupid expensive. 

11 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

It appears that price and size of your inventory have no limits, so why not buy and try them all?

🤣 I wish my wife wouldn't have access to my bills and financial statements.

11 hours ago, Arabian said:

and must share his location for a quick inventory inspection.

Jakarta-Indonesia. My door is open with typical Indonesian hospitality and my wife cooks insanely good food but my German Shepherd guards my walk in fiercely. 😁🙏

[BrightonCorgi]

5 hours ago, Uwiik said:

That’s the problem, I hate this online vendor era. Gone are the days where we can just drop by to a shop and scream in excitement like a little kid in a candy shop. 

If you're friendly with the vendor, see if they'll send you pictures or ask them which one really looks the part the most of out of what he has.

[Uwiik]

18 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

If you're friendly with the vendor, see if they'll send you pictures or ask them which one really looks the part the most of out of what he has.

I am friendly with the vendor, but I have decided to take everything he has to offer plus, some more. I will post a picture later, hopefully in a hour it will arrive.

[BrightonCorgi]

8 hours ago, Uwiik said:

I am friendly with the vendor, but I have decided to take everything he has to offer plus, some more. I will post a picture later, hopefully in a hour it will arrive.

If you got it like that; why not! Good for you. 

[Uwiik]

So anxious waiting for the delivery. It's so exciting!

[gormag38]

8 hours ago, Uwiik said:

So anxious waiting for the delivery. It's so exciting!

Hell, I'm anxious just waiting for your 'haul' photo! 

Hope they smoke/look great for you brother. 

[Uwiik]

Lusitania GR

Sir Winston GR

D4 - 2016

Fundadores 2016 X 2 

Monte 4 - 2015 X 2

[ha_banos]

Helluva haul!