The price of a cigar doesn't mean squat

[Flying Cigar]

Max Gutman was very much involved in the blend - I shall see if i can get in touch with him and perhaps get a statement.

Yes, he commissioned them.
Had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he was kind enough to help me get the Condes in MEX.

Here's some more detail from Suckling's blog :

Another cigar everyone was talking about during the festival was the Edmundo Dantes Conde 109, which is being made especially for the Mexican market this year. It is part of the ediciones regionales program of Habanos, in which special cigars are made for specific markets for one year only. The Conde 109 is essentially a robusto extra with a tapered end. The cigar (50 ring gauge by 7 1/4 inches) was last made in 1995 for the 150th anniversary of Partagas. That cigar came in a special humidor to celebrate the birthday of the brand, which included 50 of the cigars. About 7,500 cigars were made in total, and one roller made all the cigars. The molds used for the new 109 are the same original five used for the special Partagas humidor cigars.

"I have always loved the 109," said Max Gutmann, the Mexican agent for Cuban cigars. "It is a rich cigar with wonderful balance. More importantly, you have to take your time to smoke a 109. It`s not a quick smoke like a robusto or one of the smaller cigars that are so popular in the market at the moment."

I smoked the cigar during the gala dinner and was blown away by the quality. It reminds me of the original 109, and it showed lots of tea, light cedar and tobacco character. It was full and rich, yet harmonious and balanced. It turned peppery and spicy as I smoked it. I gave it a provisional 95?98 points. The cigar is expected to be on the market in Mexico in a few months in special boxes of 25. Only 600 boxes will be available.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

i was sent a couple on their release, with the notes that they were not monty's but an exclusive, one off new release by Mr Guttman. again, my notes stated they were not montecristo

[mackem keith]

Last night I smoked three cigars in celebration of the upcoming Christmas; partly because I wouldn't be able to have one today but mostly so I could enjoy a Christmas cigar with Big_T. Firstly I smoked a Dantes Edmundo El Conde 109 (Montecristo) RE Mexico. To start it tasted fantastic. Hints of almonds and quite leathery, this soon quietened down and was just a good cigar the rest of the way through- building in strength toward the end. Not at all a typical Montecristo. I would consider this cigar almost priceless as they are extremely difficult to get a hold of these days. But if I were to put a tag on them I would say ?30-40? Others might disagree?



I followed this, after some food, with a BHK 52. The BHK line I find to be good cigars but they are just that. Nothing special. I enjoy the 56 a lot but I think I prefer the Siglo VI Grand Reserva- but in general, Cohiba is just not for me. But the BHK52 is about ?32 UK RRP.

My final cigar of the evening was a Ramon Allones Allones Superiores. Wow. What an awesome cigar. The experience I had with it mirrors Big_Ts experience with it, which is unsurprising as our palates are in line with Cuban cigars (only) and so I was expecting to enjoy it! And hell did I! UK RRP ?14. It's just my kinda cigar

I like what I like- price doesn't dictate what excites my palate. Moral of the story- try everything you can, be it low end or high end, whatever the price- none of this "can't justify that shit" save up and just see if you can't have the best cigar of your damn life or find out for sure if that cheap box of partagas D4s is where it's at for you. You live once and once only.

Dont want to disrupt the nature of this thread guys but just want to revert back on the thread starting point this is good to hear i have a box of the RA Superiores in the humi and have been awaiting some feedback of them going to have to try one soon

[Big_T_UK]

I do say, for once, to try one sooner rather than later. In general I am big on ageing cigars but these are good even as fresh as they are. Only four left of my first box but then Jimmeh had a few from it.

[Aussiewaz]

i was sent a couple on their release, with the notes that they were not monty's but an exclusive, one off new release by Mr Guttman. again, my notes stated they were not montecristo

As all the inserts state.

[Don Andres]

The genesis of the name is well known by now, but if you are considering flavor, then this is not a Montecristo, but rather an interesting hybrid. The original release was much closer to the H. Upmann profile, with some similar tasting notes that would later appear for the Magnum 50. The 2nd release in '08 was much closer to the Montecristo flavor profile, but decidedly different, with less strength.
I would suggest that given that a new ED Conde 54, expecting release in the 1st half of '11, that ED should be considered it's own marca.

Cheers
Drew P

[monkey66]

James is spot on about the price/enjoyment parallel, often not consistent ..but of course there are many huge variables including build consistency, leaf consistency, ageing quality and time and not least of which our pallets, state of mind and quality of moment.

We also hit a wall (or an experiential curve) of diminishing return with high-end sticks.

Sometimes I find it easy to forget just to enjoy ones smokes and not spend too much energy chasing that 'first hit'.

Very glad to hear you rate the RA's as I got a couple of boxes on a hunch

I have smoked the Dantes (and have some sleeping ) and do not think they will properly get into their stride for at least another 5 years, they are expensive because they are very rare and will be great. To my pallet they are milder than a typical Monte profile with more complexity and subtlety, a smoke for solo summer contemplation rather than one-of-three in a 'session'.

On xmas day we had a bottle of '03 Chateau d`Yquem. It was great but didn't blow my mind ...there is a school of thought that it may need another 10 years or so ....another school says that a good regular Sauternes compares very well at a 1/5th of the price.

NB-why do we keep judging the Behike range when it is less than a year old For than matter none of the sticks mentioned had more that 3 years. I am really trying hard to not smoke anything Cuban with less than 2-3 years on it (and ideally more), just seems silly to judge when we know they are far from their peak. NB - when in JJF last week Jean was lamenting how back in the day they wouldn't dream of selling any sticks which were less than 7 years old.