Rate out out of 10 the Regional Releases you have tried.

[El Presidente]

Rate out out of 10 the Regional Releases you have tried. I actually would like you to rate them on two scores. 1 Being smoking now and 2. Potential.

Feel free to include a brief subjective description of what you thought (flavours/body/likes/dislikes).

[Colt45]

I've only tried the RA Estupendos

Now: 6-7 some draw issues, but nice flavor.

Potential: 9 or close to it.

[CIGARHead]

» Rate out out of 10 the Regional Releases you have tried. I actually would

» like you to rate them on two scores. 1 Being smoking now and 2. Potential.

»

» Feel free to include a brief subjective description of what you thought

» (flavours/body/likes/dislikes).

RA Eminecia

Now (9) - Ripe, dank cherries. Smoking great.

Potential - Classic

PL Lonsdale

Now (7) - Believe it or not, these still seem damp. Smoked 2 and the flavors are there - caramel and honey. Charred wood.

Potential - 10 Once they come into their own..watch out! They still need 5 yrs

Bolivar Colosales

Now (7) - Beautiful cigars. Dank barnyard nose....but light bodied. Very confusing for a Bolivar.

Potential - 9...but i have a hope that these will turn into a finesse smoke with age.

RA Estupendo

Now (8) - Mix of a RA Gigante and charred molasses. Still seem very young and the tobacco still wet. Great construction.

Potential - Classic

PL Robusto

Now (8) - More body than the PC, similar in taste. Very young.

Potential - Classic as well.

VR Maestro - I have a full box. Have not smoked one yet, but in a few months will.

[Mike33]

Most of these have only been one cigar, so I don't know how much I can say from a single smoke, but here are my thoughts. The ones with ? are the ones I have only had a single of:

RA Belicoso '05: Now 92. Future 94-96 (?)

RA Estupendos '06: Now 93. Future 96-98

Bolivar Colosales '06: Now 86. Future 91-93 (?)

Bolivar Libertados '06: Now 89. Future 93-95 (?)

Juan Lopez Obus '06: Now 92. Future 93-95 (?)

Punch SR '06: Now 90. Future 96-98

PL Lonsdale '06: Now 92. Future 96-98

PL Robusto '07: Now 87. Future 94-96 (?)

I have, but have not yet tried, the PL magnifico and the VR Maestros.

[Don Candido]

PL Magnifico - Now - a young beautiful smoke with lots of flavor 9.3, potential 9.9-10.0

PL Robusto - Now a little out of control 8.9, potential 9.5

VR Maestro - Now - elegant, I have one daily right now - I can't leave them alone 9.7, potential ? 10.0

Bolivar DC - Now young, big, wet, bold, excellent strong balance - 9.4, potential 9.6-9.7

ERdM Vikingo - Now too mild for me but an excellent smoke 9.1, potential 9.1

Bolivar Gold Medal - Now 8.2, potential 8.8? maybe (sorry - I simply do not like this smoke and question any potential)

RA Belicosos - now 8.7, potential maybe 9.2

Juan Lopex Obus - now (I need to try another. Flavor was not focused enough for me) 8.7, potential 8.8-8.9

Bolivar Colasales - now (too mild and not rich enough for this ringe guage) 8.6, potential 8.7-8.9

[habanablue]

» Rate out out of 10 the Regional Releases you have tried. I actually would

» like you to rate them on two scores. 1 Being smoking now and 2. Potential.

»

» Feel free to include a brief subjective description of what you thought

» (flavours/body/likes/dislikes).

Asia Pacific 2007 - PL Robusto

1. Being smoked right now - 8/10

fantastic cigar (I've had three, the rest are sleeping for a long time) lashings of cherry for mine but this is not a 'permanent' fixture of the cigar, but comes in waves at intervals during the first and second thirds. Slowly mellows to show more spice in the last third.

Only dissapointment was that they were still fresh and 'wet'. Draw was sometimes a bit stubborn but apart from that loved 'em

2. Potential - 10/10 a classic can't wait...

[CIGARHead]

» VR Maestro - Now - elegant, I have one daily right now - I can't leave

» them alone 9.7, potential ? 10.0

Don C,

I only have 1 box of the Maestro's....would you recommend I try one being that they are that good now?...If I do smoke it and it sucks, I wont hold you liable:cool:

[Don Candido]

» » VR Maestro - Now - elegant, I have one daily right now - I can't leave

» » them alone 9.7, potential ? 10.0

»

» Don C,

»

» I only have 1 box of the Maestro's....would you recommend I try one being

» that they are that good now?...If I do smoke it and it sucks, I wont hold

» you liable:cool:

Ummm, I would say try one. I always like to try things early. I know it won't suck. They are also not at their peak. I might make sure it has been in a stable environment a month before trying it, then smoke away. I doubt holding me liable for it being early will be the issue. I think it is more likely you will be holding me liable for causing you to go out and purchase more of them...

Enjoy.

DC

[CIGARHead]

» » » VR Maestro - Now - elegant, I have one daily right now - I can't leave

» » » them alone 9.7, potential ? 10.0

» »

» » Don C,

» »

» » I only have 1 box of the Maestro's....would you recommend I try one

» being

» » that they are that good now?...If I do smoke it and it sucks, I wont

» hold

» » you liable:cool:

»

» Ummm, I would say try one. I always like to try things early. I know it

» won't suck. They are also not at their peak. I might make sure it has been

» in a stable environment a month before trying it, then smoke away. I doubt

» holding me liable for it being early will be the issue. I think it is more

» likely you will be holding me liable for causing you to go out and purchase

» more of them...

»

» Enjoy.

»

» DC

Thanks man. I was going to give them a few more weeks to acclimate then give them a shot. Beautiful looking cigars...and they smell intoxicating.

[jdbrown]

I have tried RA Estupendo but have other's in the bullpen

Right now I would rate a 8.8.

Future..off the frickin chart's!

[Claudius]

» Rate out out of 10 the Regional Releases you have tried. I actually would

» like you to rate them on two scores. 1 Being smoking now and 2. Potential.

»

» Feel free to include a brief subjective description of what you thought

» (flavours/body/likes/dislikes).

Estupendos: now 9/10 future 10/10

Obus: 7/10 future 7/10

Libertador: 8.5/10 future 9/10

PL Lonsdales 8.5/10 future 9/10

Colosales 7/10 future 7/10

RA Belicosos 9/10 future 9.5/10

RA Eminencia 8.5/10 future 9/10

RASSGR 8.5/10 future 9/10

The others I have either not smoked in sufficient numbers to make an informed opinion or forgotten about them.

[El Presidente]

There appears to be real consensus that the RR have in general been superb cigars (also my opinion).

I tend to look forward more to the Regional Release than the Limited Editions. Anyone else?

[CIGARHead]

» There appears to be real consensus that the RR have in general been superb

» cigars (also my opinion).

»

» I tend to look forward more to the Regional Release than the Limited

» Editions. Anyone else?

Oh definitely Rob..I dont even bat an eye at the EL's, but the Regionals have proven to me that they will be great cigars to age. I likes 'em!

[Claudius]

» There appears to be real consensus that the RR have in general been superb

» cigars (also my opinion).

»

» I tend to look forward more to the Regional Release than the Limited

» Editions. Anyone else?

I think ERs are the real ELs: limited release market, very limited production numbers, numbered boxes. That's what I call "limited". ELs OTOH simply bear a second band and a high price tag. Ok, and an aged wrapper. Not bad, but they're only called limited and are not actually limited in production numbers, or at least not significantly so.

Now, I'm not saying that ERs are better (in the sense of better tasting) cigars because they are very limited, but they are certainly more desirable because of the scarcity. That said, most of the ERs we have seen so far have been outstanding in every way (marca, vitola, taste), which has increased their desirability even further. Next years ERs, however, are less appealing to the experienced habanos lover because there are too many of them and because they have "the wrong way around" formats (short and thick, beginners smoke rather than longer and thinner vitolas).

I have mixed feelings about last year's (well, 2006) re-release of the original ELs. OTOH I can see how they wanted to re-release successful cigars to make them available to a larger audience; OTOH, the re-release also came across as a lack of imagination or an attempt to simply reiterate a commercially successful strike.

This year (well, last year), the RyJ and HDM were ok although on the large side, but the Trinidad Ingenios is undoubtedly a masterpiece. Credit where credit is due.

[Colt45]

» I tend to look forward more to the Regional Release than the Limited

» Editions. Anyone else?

I guess I don't look forward (in anticipation) to either. It's interesting to see what's going to come out next,

but if I'm unable to acquire them, I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

[Mike33]

» There appears to be real consensus that the RR have in general been superb

» cigars (also my opinion).

»

» I tend to look forward more to the Regional Release than the Limited

» Editions. Anyone else?

I also look with greater anticipation to the RRs coming out than the ELs. I really hope they cut down the list to no more than 6 or 7 a year after '08.

Rob, what are your thoughts on the RRs you have sampled?

[skindiver]

I've purchased quite a few, but haven't smoked many. I'm hearing how these are too young right now, so I'm aging them.

I have smoked n Edmundo Dantes Conde 109 (RR Mexico) and a PL Magnifico (RR U.K.)

The Conde 109 was great! This cigar is full of rich flavors and will certainly be a classic with some age. I enjoyed the PL Magnifico as well. Although you could smoke them now, both need more time, IMO.

Looking forward to the time when the PL Robustos, VR Maestros, and PL Lonsdales come of age.

[Don Candido]

» Rate out out of 10 the Regional Releases you have tried. I actually would

» like you to rate them on two scores. 1 Being smoking now and 2. Potential.

»

» Feel free to include a brief subjective description of what you thought

» (flavours/body/likes/dislikes).

Edmundo Dantes El Conde 109 - 9.3 now; 9.8 potential (a really great smoke - young, but fun to try now)

[Colt45]

I am a bit surprised at some of the high "now" ratings some of these cigars are getting.

It gives me the impression that some members feel these are nearly equal or equal to

the best regular production cigars they have smoked?

[Tampa1257]

» I am a bit surprised at some of the high "now" ratings some of these cigars

» are getting.

» It gives me the impression that some members feel these are nearly equal

» or equal to

» the best regular production cigars they have smoked?

I personally have to agree with Colt, I am very surprised at the rankings these cigars are receiving. Most if not every single one of these is so damn new, the baby crap ordor is still over powering. I have been told that smoking them now is like killing a baby. Just my humble opinion, but NONE of these are truly ready to be smoked. For them to have ratings that say they are the best ever at this time compared to other fine "Classical" type cigars like say a 1998 Trinidad Fundadore in taste complexity, harmony and balance?

I mean, sure, if you need to say these things about the cigars to help you feel better, then sure, do what you need to do, I respect your choice to do so, yet I disagree with the implication that any of these are near ready. The 05 production of the RA Swiss Release Eminencias are just beginning to really show their potiential in my opinion.

[habanohal]

Por Larranga Lonsdales

89 rated. No draw issues. Smooth flavor like the pc, just more refined. Still something hidden in flavor that will come out in time.

Por Larranga Robusto

84 rated. After a month after recieveing, still didnt see anything special about these. I would say a PC on steroids.

I am not into specialty cigars that much anymore. Out of all the ones I have had, I rarely see or taste a differance that the regular production lines.

Also , price is a factor. Seems the US Dolllar is worth $hit, which makes buying abroad even more expensive.

[Don Candido]

» » I am a bit surprised at some of the high "now" ratings some of these

» cigars

» » are getting.

» » It gives me the impression that some members feel these are nearly

» equal

» » or equal to

» » the best regular production cigars they have smoked?

»

» I personally have to agree with Colt, I am very surprised at the rankings

» these cigars are receiving. Most if not every single one of these is so

» damn new, the baby crap ordor is still over powering. I have been told

» that smoking them now is like killing a baby. Just my humble opinion, but

» NONE of these are truly ready to be smoked. For them to have ratings that

» say they are the best ever at this time compared to other fine "Classical"

» type cigars like say a 1998 Trinidad Fundadore in taste complexity, harmony

» and balance?

»

» I mean, sure, if you need to say these things about the cigars to help you

» feel better, then sure, do what you need to do, I respect your choice to do

» so, yet I disagree with the implication that any of these are near ready.

» The 05 production of the RA Swiss Release Eminencias are just beginning to

» really show their potiential in my opinion.

I get concerned when I think about someone new to cigars reading such strongly opinionated posts. Opinions are fine, but it never makes one person right and another wrong.

Some people clearly enjoy cigars in different ways than others.

For me, knowing a cigar will get better which is something I think I can usually discern for myself, will never cause me to decide not to smoke it. In fact, I like to see the development of age over time on lots of my smokes. This will never allow someone to smoke all his cigars at their highest potential, but it allows me to have a far wider and more fundamental understanding of the aging process and what is happening to my cigars. Really, the exposure to these different stages can only increase my knowledge, understanding and awareness of this art I love so much.

Further, I can't taste a cigar now and say to myself this thing is 7 because it is not ready to smoke, but it will be a 9. My mind does not work that way. If it has the potential to be a nine in my mind, usually age is not enough to change my opinion of the cigar that much. I like to try them throughout their development and always have, so I know what I will like and not, ultimately, and that knowledge plays directly into how I rate them now.

All that being said, I love a perfectly aged, beautifully balanced cigar. If they all were perfect, none would ever be special.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em,

DC

[El Presidente]

» The 05 production of the RA Swiss Release Eminencias are just beginning to

» really show their potiential in my opinion.

True Chuck but when you tried your first 05 RA Eminencia....young as it was....didn'y you know it was going to become spmething very special?

I can say the same abpout 2006 LE Cohiba Piramides and RR Ramon Allones Estupendoes.....you just know. Depth of flavour, complexity, flavour of tobacco....even with rough edges.

There are few pure rolled Gold pointers to a cigars future status or development. Richness/intensity, depth/complexity are two. I feel you need both to be 100% sure.

[Colt45]

» I can say the same abpout 2006 LE Cohiba Piramides and RR Ramon Allones

» Estupendoes.....you just know. Depth of flavour, complexity, flavour of

» tobacco....even with rough edges.

But does that make them an 8, 9, or 10 of 10 NOW?

It's not my intention to question any members objectivity, but these REs and ELs are not rolled

with some kind of magical tobacco. I just don't see them being heads and shoulders above the

best of regular production.

Using my own post re the RA Estupendos as an example, I think they are a very good cigar.

But in comparison to the Bolivar CG, Upmann Sir Winston, or Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3,

right now they are not in the same league. This is, of course, just my opinion.

[Claudius]

Totally agree with what Rob said about the current flavour and complexity allowing one to guesstimate or even ascertain future potential.

I can see what you're saying about a RA Estupendo not being as good as a 15 year old Sir Winston, for example. So, according to you, we'd have to give the Estupendo lower marks for simply being young and not ready to smoke? Why not... but then, we'd end up with a system where only well-aged cigars have over 90 points. This might be more accurate in a way, but not very helpful for making purchase decisions as they ratings would look rather unappealing. I would suggest we implement your rating system in 20 years, when we all have 3000 boxes of aged cigars each and discuss them on a private board. ;-)