2012 - Best & Worst Smokes of the year

[spirit_of_will]

It's getting towards the end if the year, been thinking about what's been smoking well and what I need more/less of in my Humi...

What are your best, worst and most reliable smokes of the year?

Best
Easy one this: the BHK 54 I smoked the night my son was born! Absolutely streets ahead the most refined stick I smoked all year.

Other runners for Best:
Monte Sublime - had 3 this year, all great!
LGC UK RE that I had at the UKCF Big Smoke at the Prince

Worst:
Sir Winston I had one from an 08 box picked up in GIB, plugged to buggery and unsmokable

Most reliable:
Miles ahead is the Mag48
Epi2
RyJ Escudos

Might add to my list when I have a clearer head (sat at Schipol airport after a "busy" weekend in Amsterdam)

What's been good for you this year?

[senor_robusto]

nothing fancy for me will.........

best so far this year has been my h upmann connie 1's!!! super consistent and super tasty! my go to cigar, because of it's reliability!!! i'm also on my second boxes of RASS, boli BF'S and JL2's!!!

the real surprise for me though the the monte petite tubos i've been buying from my local off license!!! fantastic every time!!!

the only bad cigar i can really recall this year is 1 SLR serie A that suffered from extreme tunneling!!! that was 1 out of an otherwise exceptional box!!!

cheers,

alex

[Control_67]

Absolute standout for me was '98 party Lusitania from Simon on here, really well aged and a very complex smoke. Worst was an ERDM choix de l'?poque. It wouldn't burn evenly no matter what I tried and started to unravel part way through. Although I do think that may have had more to do with the vendor's storage conditions.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Unfortunately I've had a very (very, very) lean year on the old cigar front. Think I've managed no more than six or seven this year. Thankfully, they've been of a consistently high standard, with no duds to report. The stand out cigars for me this year are both Bolivars. The Britanicas, if I recall correctly was not the greatest cigar I have ever smoked (though was jolly nice, and suggested that it had some legs on it), but it was a bit of an occasion, and really hit the spot like no other this year. The overall best, I think, would have been a Gold Medal (my first) at JJF back in April or May - my notes would suggest that I was entirely enamoured with it: smooth, silky and ever-so tasty.

[Simon Bolivar]

Wot about that Monte No 2 I sent you in 08/11 Si? You must have smoked it by now!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Alas not Simon - have barely had a chance this year (apart from a couple of trips to JJF and Sautters, my smoking opportunities have required short smokes, or I've had the choice of cigar taken out of my hands). Fear not, I was admiring it only ten minutes ago (as I've unpacked my humidor to check that the humidity was okay after a move). When it gets smoked, I shall be sure to write up my thoughts in my typically terrible style.

[monkey66]

Best - '70's Upmann Lonsdale, stuff of dreams

Worst, two contenders:
Boli German Especialle - Everyone says they are great but this one was disgusting, pitched before half-way, will have to try another.
Choix de L?Epoque - Horrible strange taste, like smoking tinfoil, actually made my fillings hurt! Confirmed this with someone else who was present and experienced the same thing. Opened it up (we wenr't going to smoke it any more) but all looked normal.

Most consistent - a few contenders - Dip 4's, PLPC's and Monte PE's.

[Simon Bolivar]

Ok Simon, hope to hell I sent a good'un after all this time that you have been anticipating it!
Monkey, never had a problem with my German Especiales, hope ht erest of my box are OK, hopefully you were just unlucky with a tainted box.
Again, The 'Epoque I had was OK but I thought overpriced so haven't bother trying more.

Bit early to mention my own best & worst this yr, there's a good chance I could have contenders for both in the new few weeks, I'll make an entry before the end of the year.

[bnelly]

Will have to think a little bit about my favourite of the year, but I fell
in love with the Party D3 (2006) which seem to be on form right now ...

[SteveGriff]

[QUOTE=monkey66;191067
Worst, two contenders:
Boli German Especialle - Everyone says they are great but this one was disgusting, pitched before half-way, will have to try another.
Choix de L?Epoque - Horrible strange taste, like smoking tinfoil, actually made my fillings hurt! Confirmed this with someone else who was present and experienced the same thing. Opened it up (we wenr't going to smoke it any more) but all looked normal.
[/QUOTE]

Had somewhat the same experience with both Cigars Monkey. The Especialle didn't really do it for me. The Choix de L`epoque have always been a little harsh on my palette for some reason.

[tippexx]

never had a problem with my German Especiales,

Nor me. All have been good so far, I've only smoked one this year to be fair, but thought these had a great future potential too .... perhaps I'm wrong?

[SmokeyDave]

Best smoke for me was the last of my Cohiba Corona Especiales, it had been sat for a good few years and delivered fabulous flavours.

The worst was a Montecristo Especial No2, I had heard great things about these and picked one up to sample, after keeping it a wee while I took the plunge, to say I was disappointed was an understatement, I think my tastes are erring away from Monte profile but I felt really let down by that stick.

[monkey66]

Nor me. All have been good so far, I've only smoked one this year to be fair, but thought these had a great future potential too .... perhaps I'm wrong?

It was from you Arf. I think it was a one-off as it wasn't 'a bit bad' ...it was absolutely disgusting. Only heard good things so I am going to assume it was an isolated stick.

[monkey66]

Had somewhat the same experience with both Cigars Monkey. The Especialle didn't really do it for me. The Choix de L`epoque have always been a little harsh on my palette for some reason.

this one wasn't just a little harsh, it literally made my fillings tingle, akin to chewing tinfoil. A sensation I didn't know could be achieved by smoke (apart from crack or course ).

[baileyth]

best - RASS just really enjoyed the draw and the stick, will pick up a box in 2013,

worst - partagas serie E very simply not bad but for the money and the flavour it wasnt complex or enticing a real effort to smoke,