Every year I wait in eager anticipation for the next batch of new releases and every year I am thoroughly disappointed. Bu this year has certainly been something special. It seems that just about every new release has brought something special or unique to the table.
Let’s take a look down memory lane for some of the ‘08 new releases…
New Crop
Alec Bradley Tempus - one of the first of the new batch of sticks to be released. I think this really set the tone for the ‘08 crop.
La Riqueza - great CBL cigar, if you are a fan of Padrons this will be right up your alley.
Cusano LXI Habano Sun Grown - I liked this better than the Cameroon. Spicy, sweet and flavorful.
Tobacos Baez by DPG - a departure from the typical Pepin cigar. This is refined but still spicy.
My Father by DPG - This cigar shows power AND control. Well done!
Cubao - a nice little peppery smoke from Espinosa y Ortega (the 601 folk), this really warms you up.
Casa Magna - great cigar from the team-up of Manuel Quesada (Fonseca) and Nestor Plasencia.
Fonseca Viso Fuerte - surprisingly good. But I did like the Casa Magna better.
Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Criollo - this cigar just tastes great. Can be enjoyed anytime.
Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Maduro - not a huge maduro fan in general, but I liked this cigar.
Macanudo 1968 - did I ever think I would say a Macanudo isn’t half bad?
HdM Excalibur Legend - for General, this is a really good cigar! Leathery, spicy and earthy.
Cruzado - from Dion Giolito of Illusione fame. My winner for best new release cigar for 2008 (so far)!
There have also been some great new Limited Edition cigars that have been something special:
Limited Releases
Padron 1926 Anniversary 80 Years - one of the best cigars I’ve had in a long time.
La Flor Dominicana Los Perfectos Prototype - OK, not really a new release per se, but this is one of the best cigars Litto has ever made.
Litto Gomez Diez ‘08 - a new way of doing the LG Diez brand. The’08 blend is way better than the original LG blend.
La Flor Dominicana Cheroot - a super limited cigar only available from Litto and Empire Cigars. 100% Ligero filler.
Rock Patel Summer Selection ‘08 - Great cigar with nice natural sweetness, Sumatran wrapper and Cameroon binder paired brilliantly together.
Rocky Patel Autumn Selection ‘08 - Nice creamy cigar with tons of coffee. This should have been the Summer cigar though.
El Triunfador - an ultra-hot limited release from Pete Johnson.
Tatuaje Monster Series - a Taino with a CBL wrapper. Excellent!
Esencia - from the makers of the Palio cutter, this is their first entry into cigars.
Now I can’t say there weren’t a few disappointments. The cigars listed below are not all bad or horrible, some I just expected more than what I got out of it:
Disappointments
Cusano 58 Rare Cameroon - this was actually a slight disappointment to me as I was hoping for more (my favorite wrapper is Cameroon).
Nub - nice concept, albeit gimmicky. Cigars get way to hot (design flaw).
Camacho 10th Anniversary - hopefully Kelner & Davidoff can help.
La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial - just didn’t like this.
There are still some I have yet to try:
Still More New Stuff
Davidoff Maduro - Davidoff’s first Maduro! Can Kelner go no wrong?
CAO LX2 - Ligero times two. We’ll see.
Rocky Patel Renaissance - Rocky is batting 1.000 so far! I think this is supposed to be a Corojo…
Mi Barrio - An LE cigar from Espinosa y Ortega.
Mi Dominicana - a Dominican puro from Jose Seijas for Altadis.
Cohiba Puro Dominicana - Another Dominican puro from Altadis.
Perdomo Squared - this once popular brand is back.
Perdomo Patriarch - can you believed the released for new lines this year?
Carlos Torano Tribute ‘08 - this LE is back after 5 years.
Oliva Serie V Maduro - this is getting rave reviews.
Looking at this list I find it hard to say that the cigar industry is going back to making milder cigars. Most of the new releases I would classify as medium full to full. But the good news is that while cigar makers are still making strong cigars, they are doing it with control and the blending has really been taken to another level. I guess I would say the focus seemed to be on quality and flavor than just outright strength.
This has also been the year of the Boutique, with many small boutiques gaining national recognition. Not only are they getting the attention, they are also making good cigars. Companies such as El Titan de Bronze, Kristoff, Viaje, Devil’s Weed, Gran Habano, Pinar del Rio and J. Fuego are making some very good cigars.
I can’t wait for 2009! :assaultri
Let’s take a look down memory lane for some of the ‘08 new releases…
New Crop
Alec Bradley Tempus - one of the first of the new batch of sticks to be released. I think this really set the tone for the ‘08 crop.
La Riqueza - great CBL cigar, if you are a fan of Padrons this will be right up your alley.
Cusano LXI Habano Sun Grown - I liked this better than the Cameroon. Spicy, sweet and flavorful.
Tobacos Baez by DPG - a departure from the typical Pepin cigar. This is refined but still spicy.
My Father by DPG - This cigar shows power AND control. Well done!
Cubao - a nice little peppery smoke from Espinosa y Ortega (the 601 folk), this really warms you up.
Casa Magna - great cigar from the team-up of Manuel Quesada (Fonseca) and Nestor Plasencia.
Fonseca Viso Fuerte - surprisingly good. But I did like the Casa Magna better.
Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Criollo - this cigar just tastes great. Can be enjoyed anytime.
Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Maduro - not a huge maduro fan in general, but I liked this cigar.
Macanudo 1968 - did I ever think I would say a Macanudo isn’t half bad?
HdM Excalibur Legend - for General, this is a really good cigar! Leathery, spicy and earthy.
Cruzado - from Dion Giolito of Illusione fame. My winner for best new release cigar for 2008 (so far)!
There have also been some great new Limited Edition cigars that have been something special:
Limited Releases
Padron 1926 Anniversary 80 Years - one of the best cigars I’ve had in a long time.
La Flor Dominicana Los Perfectos Prototype - OK, not really a new release per se, but this is one of the best cigars Litto has ever made.
Litto Gomez Diez ‘08 - a new way of doing the LG Diez brand. The’08 blend is way better than the original LG blend.
La Flor Dominicana Cheroot - a super limited cigar only available from Litto and Empire Cigars. 100% Ligero filler.
Rock Patel Summer Selection ‘08 - Great cigar with nice natural sweetness, Sumatran wrapper and Cameroon binder paired brilliantly together.
Rocky Patel Autumn Selection ‘08 - Nice creamy cigar with tons of coffee. This should have been the Summer cigar though.
El Triunfador - an ultra-hot limited release from Pete Johnson.
Tatuaje Monster Series - a Taino with a CBL wrapper. Excellent!
Esencia - from the makers of the Palio cutter, this is their first entry into cigars.
Now I can’t say there weren’t a few disappointments. The cigars listed below are not all bad or horrible, some I just expected more than what I got out of it:
Disappointments
Cusano 58 Rare Cameroon - this was actually a slight disappointment to me as I was hoping for more (my favorite wrapper is Cameroon).
Nub - nice concept, albeit gimmicky. Cigars get way to hot (design flaw).
Camacho 10th Anniversary - hopefully Kelner & Davidoff can help.
La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial - just didn’t like this.
There are still some I have yet to try:
Still More New Stuff
Davidoff Maduro - Davidoff’s first Maduro! Can Kelner go no wrong?
CAO LX2 - Ligero times two. We’ll see.
Rocky Patel Renaissance - Rocky is batting 1.000 so far! I think this is supposed to be a Corojo…
Mi Barrio - An LE cigar from Espinosa y Ortega.
Mi Dominicana - a Dominican puro from Jose Seijas for Altadis.
Cohiba Puro Dominicana - Another Dominican puro from Altadis.
Perdomo Squared - this once popular brand is back.
Perdomo Patriarch - can you believed the released for new lines this year?
Carlos Torano Tribute ‘08 - this LE is back after 5 years.
Oliva Serie V Maduro - this is getting rave reviews.
Looking at this list I find it hard to say that the cigar industry is going back to making milder cigars. Most of the new releases I would classify as medium full to full. But the good news is that while cigar makers are still making strong cigars, they are doing it with control and the blending has really been taken to another level. I guess I would say the focus seemed to be on quality and flavor than just outright strength.
This has also been the year of the Boutique, with many small boutiques gaining national recognition. Not only are they getting the attention, they are also making good cigars. Companies such as El Titan de Bronze, Kristoff, Viaje, Devil’s Weed, Gran Habano, Pinar del Rio and J. Fuego are making some very good cigars.
I can’t wait for 2009! :assaultri
