EAR: Buying 1999 Blind

[El Presidente]

EAR= Email Assistance Required. 

 

" Rob I have been given an opportunity to purchase a box of 1999 Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro for $1700. I think its a good opportunity to purchase a personal white whale aged box of cigars but the year worries me. I can't have anyone check it unfortunately. Would it worry you and to what extent? 

 

 

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

EAR= Email Assistance Required. 

 

" Rob I have been given an opportunity to purchase a box of 1999 Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro for $1700. I think its a good opportunity to purchase a personal white whale aged box of cigars but the year worries me. I can't have anyone check it unfortunately. Would it worry you and to what extent? 

 

 

I personally wouldn't have much of an issue with Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro from that period. Expect 5-6 from the box to be dud draws. The only question I would have is why is this box still around? If with a retailer, was it a box that was passed over due to quality issues?

If it were a box of SP Familiar/Clasicos from 1999, I would run. 

[99call]

Run Away. 

VR a fairly soft, delicate blend, probably well past their best. 1999, a good chance of being unsmokable tent pegs. 

I'd much rather chase a box from 2017.

 

 

[Islandboy]

I’ve only had a couple of recent experiences purchasing boxes roughly this age, and unfortunately both have been disappointing, mainly due to what appears to be poor storage issues. Chasing vintage stuff without seeing the product isn’t for me.

[JohnS]

Everyone wants to believe that the rabbit is all cute and fluffy!

[riderpride]

A lot of tight rolls of 2000+/- a year with Churchills and DCs. 

Likely more than double the 5-6 dud estimate. 

Cheers

[El Presidente]

10 minutes ago, riderpride said:

A lot of tight rolls of 2000+/- a year with Churchills and DCs. 

Likely more than double the 5-6 dud estimate. 

Cheers

You could be right. Hoyo DC from the period were the worst for me followed by Punch DC. VRDA were probably the best. 

[Havanaaddict]

I would not be interested in anything from 99 even 2000 especially at today’s cigar prices. I was passing on those years when boxes of PCs were 100 bucks.
 

[Glass Half Full]

IMO, especially at such a price, it would all depend on the trustworthiness of the seller and your comfort that their storage was perfect all those years, …though even then, even for the best of keepers, some boxes will not be all they’re hoped to be.  These are CCs after all.  
It comes down to your call on risk/reward.  

[riderpride]

6 hours ago, El Presidente said:

You could be right. Hoyo DC from the period were the worst for me followed by Punch DC. VRDA were probably the best. 

I've never had a VRDA in that date range, but nearly collapsed a lung on some Hoyo and Punch offerings. They were tasty though. 

Cheers!

[BrightonCorgi]

 If the box was retail and languished this long, I would be very hesitant. $1700 is hardly chump change.  

The second half is that DA's aren't even that worth chasing. Buy any box Hoyo or Punch DC's and call it done. 

[Justins123]

Setting aside potential construction issues, there was a huge glut of 1999-2000 cigars (especially Churchills and Double Coronas) that got passed around the grey market vendors. They had almost all been poorly stored and have the tell-tale 'musty' basement smell. I would stay far away unless you can inspect them before purchase. 

[Li Bai]

I like to see and smell cigars before buying, I wouldn't put 1700 dollars on a box I can't see beforehand, even more a 25 yo one...

[Bijan]

It wouldn't concern me that much more than a 1998 or 2002 box. That is to say I'd be worried about storage issues more than the specific year range.

Yes there were tons of cigars produced 1999-2001 and quality control was worse, but it wasn't off the charts.

But that's 25 years ago and bad storage will have ruined the cigars totally.

[zeedubbya]

I would personally hunt a box of 2006-2014 before I would take on a 1999 box of Don Alejandro’s. Especially for 1700. Pass.

Actually, I kind of take that back. I would go for the 1999 box if I was able to inspect every single cigar in person first. Literally, pull every single one out of the box and look it over and feel it. Sounds crazy, but for that price it’s the only way I would do it. Also make sure they were rolled at Upmann factory. If not, pass. Hope this helps. 

[ChanceSchmerr]

I too, would pass. And snorted/coughed my coffee a bit on Rob's comment below. Absolutely 100% agreed. 

18 hours ago, El Presidente said:

If it were a box of SP Familiar/Clasicos from 1999, I would run. 

 

[Islandboy]

15 hours ago, Justins123 said:

Setting aside potential construction issues, there was a huge glut of 1999-2000 cigars (especially Churchills and Double Coronas) that got passed around the grey market vendors. They had almost all been poorly stored and have the tell-tale 'musty' basement smell. I would stay far away unless you can inspect them before purchase. 

I’m all too familiar with Aroma de Musty Basement.

[Puros Y Vino]

At today's prices, I'd rather not take the risk on the "bad years". But, 10 years ago  I did and I'm batting 1000. I took a blind chance on the following boxes:

• 1997 HDM Du Dauphine - Not a plug in the bunch and I'm halfway through the box.  they can be a bit firm on the draw at the most.
• 2002 CoLa. - Stellar. Construction perfect. Smoking like a dream.
• 2002 RA898 - See above. 
• 1997 Partagas SDC No 1's. See above.
• 1998 RyJ Prince of Wales. See above.
• 1998 Bolivar Coronas Extra. See above.
• 2000 Diplomaticos 2. See above. Added bonus. The wrappers were a rich Colorado hue. Very different from what you see these days.
• 2000 QdO Coronas. Stellar smokes...No plugs.
• 1998 Los Statos DeLuxe Cremas - Not in the same class above and short filler. Excellent, cheap buy back then too.

I did get burned on the following singles.

1 1997 CoLa. Plugged to all hell. Was able to smoke a little over an inch and then it was just dead.

3. RyJ Cazadores. Bought them in Paris. The one I tried there was a wood dowel. Couldn't even get it to light. Tossed it into a rain puddle.  Not sure what to do with the other 2.

[KCCubano]

2 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

• 2002 RA898 - See above. 

Had multiple boxes of 02 RA 898. Superb sticks.