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

[Colt45]

» 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?

Wrong. In my personal opinion, the RA Estupendo is not the equal of an '06 P SdC3, '03 Bolivar CG,

or '00 Upmann SW, among other recent vintage cigars. Right now it is a good cigar. Right now, I could

not rate it higher than 7 of 10. If I'm being objective, I could not take into consideration future potential when

giving a right now rating.

The criteria was a now rating, and a separate potential rating. Using future potential to decide whether

to purchase is one thing. A now rating is another.

[Mike33]

» » 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.

This IS your opinion. Obviously, others disagree and they are entitled to their own. A lot of '06 and '07 regular production smokes are just as good if not better than comparable RRs. I don't see anyone putting the regionals "on a plateau" so to speak.

Of course all these cigars need much more time to revel themselves fully, but several of them are pretty damn good right now. If people, including myself, want to smoke them young, then so be it.

[Don Candido]

» Bolivar Colasales - now (too mild and not rich enough for this ringe

» guage) 8.6, potential 8.7-8.9

I am going to change this rating. I am half way through one now. It is not too mild. It is strong, but no balanced and somewhat two-dimensional.

In honor of Colt, I am going to give this a 6.9 now with a potential of, but not likely in my opinion of 8.8.

It could turn out to be a shocker and come out incredible. I have to admit, I am not really so sure about this one. It seems to be pretty closed down right now.

[shrink]

I think that the Regional Releases are the most exciting development coming out of Habanos since the 'aged filler' revolution of 2006. That's not to say that they are, overall, the “best” cigars on the market today, although most of them are quite good. IMO, there are some regular production vitolas that I enjoy as much, or even more. But that’s not the point. Habanos has created a marketing vehicle that not only sells more cigars, but that helps define and position its regular production marcas. I think that this is a welcome development for the casual Habanos smoker, and for the connoisseur as well. What an embarrassment of riches!

By exciting, I mean that The Regional Editions are infusing new life, and interest, into at least two marcas that had been moribund, or in outright decline. The Por Larranaga Lonsdales and Robustos have garnered a lot of attention, and the justly acclaimed Magnificos have become, along with the Edmundo Dantes 109, one of the rarest, and most highly sought after new cigars. Almost overnight, Por Larranaga's luster has been restored, and it is once again in the upper echelon of marcas.

Ramon Allones, which suffered from the loss of the 898 Varnished, was in danger of becoming a 'niche' marca, with the RASS, RAG, and RASCC appealing to a relatively small group of enthusiasts. (Forgive me, RA fans, but the sales numbers tell the tale.) The advent of the superb Belicoso, in 2005, created a stir, but it wasn't widely enough available, or affordable, to have much of a global impact. The Estupendo, which I believe to be an extraordinary cigar, has succeeded in positioning RA as an innovative marca of the first rank. I expect that Habanos will capitalize on RA's newfound premium reputation, by offering new vitolas and expanding its market share.

I know what I like, but experience has demonstrated that it’s hard to predict how cigars will age. Some, like the Hoyo Piramide EL, peaked early and failed to fulfill their early potential. Others, like the Partagas SD3 EL, are only now coming into their own. So, here are those RE’s that I have sampled to date, ranked in order of current preference:

RA Estupendos

RA Belicoso

Punch SR

Bolivar Libertador

PL Lonsdale

Bolivar Colosales

PL Robusto

RA Eminencia

[Colt45]

» Of course all these cigars need much more time to revel themselves fully,

» but several of them are pretty damn good right now. If people, including

» myself, want to smoke them young, then so be it.

Of course, and I don't think I've stated otherwise. It's none of my business what anyone smokes,

when they smoke it, or how they rate it. In regards to this exercise, I simply stated that I was

surprised by some of the high now ratings some of these cigars were getting. I still am.

[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.

Hi Rob

Here's my list:

Estupendos: now 3/10 future 10/10

Obus: 1/10 future 7/10

Libertador: 2/10 future 9/10

PL Lonsdales 3/10 future 9/10

Colosales 1/10 future 7/10

RA Belicosos 3/10 future 9.5/10

RA Eminencia 3/10 future 9/10

RASSGR 2.5/10 future 9/10

[Mike33]

» » 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.

»

»

» Hi Rob

»

» Here's my list:

»

» Estupendos: now 3/10 future 10/10

» Obus: 1/10 future 7/10

» Libertador: 2/10 future 9/10

» PL Lonsdales 3/10 future 9/10

» Colosales 1/10 future 7/10

» RA Belicosos 3/10 future 9.5/10

» RA Eminencia 3/10 future 9/10

» RASSGR 2.5/10 future 9/10

[El Presidente]

» » 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?

»

» Wrong. In my personal opinion, the RA Estupendo is not the equal of an '06

» P SdC3, '03 Bolivar CG,

» or '00 Upmann SW, among other recent vintage cigars. Right

» now it is a good cigar. Right now, I could

» not rate it higher than 7 of 10. If I'm being objective, I could not take

» into consideration future potential when

» giving a right now rating.

» The criteria was a now rating, and a separate potential rating. Using

» future potential to decide whether

» to purchase is one thing. A now rating is another.

Great discussion.

I base my opinion of Ramon Allones Estupendo's and Cohiba Piramide LE's from singles smoked from multiple boxes. Perhaps 20 singles of each....spread across 12 different boxes.

I have never smoked a current year Winston that even compared to current Estupendo's in terms of complexity. Talking both less than 12 month old stock. Now Colt, our of the 20 singles of Estupendo I have smoked, 4 have been poor. I expect that in a young cigar. The remarkable thing is that 16 were very good or better.

Now I have rated 07 Sir Winstons highly. I think they are an excellent cigar with a ton of promise. [link=http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/board_entry.php?id=60527#p60527]Link[/link]

Yet compared to the best of the Estupendos I have smoked they will finish in a lower class of cigar (again my opinion only).

Both show complexity and perfect smoking manners now. Both rightfully earn a high 80 early 90 rating Now. Yet one of them (estupendo) on balance has another level, somehow more to work with. It is cruising at 12 months of age, keeping up and ahead of the Churchill pack) but it has more under the bonnet than any of the others.