James Suckling's Take on Top 10 Cuban Cigars for 2015

[CeeGarOne]

I was discussion with a friend that one of the things I want to do in 2016 is step up my CC game. He recommended that I visit James Suckling's blog as he had some good information without the CA blather. Although I have smoked a couple of the stick on his list, I am a relative novice in this space and I found it helpful.

http://www.jamessuckling.com/top-10-cuban-cigars-of-2015.html

 

[TommyZ]

I was discussion with a friend that one of the things I want to do in 2016 is step up my CC game. He recommended that I visit James Suckling's blog as he had some good information without the CA blather. Although I have smoked a couple of the stick on his list, I am a relative novice in this space and I found it helpful.

http://www.jamessuckling.com/top-10-cuban-cigars-of-2015.html

Great link! I haven't had a single one, need to step up my cc game this coming year. I just need to step up my whole cigar game as a hole in 2016. My goal is every other cigar will be a "new to me" stick.

 

[Stogie_Bear]

I thought this thread title was a joke about @stukibuilt. Nice list.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

1.Ramon Allones Sur Exclusivo Libano
2. Hunters & Frankau Ramon Allones Aniversario 225 Cabinet Selection
3. Cohiba Behike 54
4. Cohiba Behike 56
5. Montecristo No. 2
6. Cohiba Esplendido
7. Cohiba Lanceros
8. Partagas Serie E No. 2
9. Montecristo Petit No. 2
10. Cohiba Robusto
good luck finding the first two,good luck affording the second two,and all of these need time .
Monte 2 are notorious for being spotty, quality and taste wise,Cohiba Espy are great ,but need at least 5 years.
Co Lanceros also need time,I have had the Partagas SE2,and it was pitiful.Most comments about it support this.
Monte Petit 2 is the laughing stock of the cigar world,Monte 2 price and really no similarity to the regular or even Monte profile.
Coro is a great stick with 5 years on it.
Suckling has chosen the mistakes,high ticket,and unobtanium cigars as the best.You may want to ask yourself why there are no medium priced sticks here,do you really have to pay $18 to $50 for a good Cuban cigar?
Maybe he wants to amaze you with his opinions,or he wants to make a list you cannot argue with.
I have followed Suckling for many years,Wine Spectator to today,I have never felt he was on the level.
I have tried a lot of "special" Cubans,very very few are worth the extra $$$.....

 

[boltman]

1.Ramon Allones Sur Exclusivo Libano
2. Hunters & Frankau Ramon Allones Aniversario 225 Cabinet Selection
3. Cohiba Behike 54
4. Cohiba Behike 56
5. Montecristo No. 2
6. Cohiba Esplendido
7. Cohiba Lanceros
8. Partagas Serie E No. 2
9. Montecristo Petit No. 2
10. Cohiba Robusto
good luck finding the first two,good luck affording the second two,and all of these need time .
Monte 2 are notorious for being spotty, quality and taste wise,Cohiba Espy are great ,but need at least 5 years.
Co Lanceros also need time,I have had the Partagas SE2,and it was pitiful.Most comments about it support this.
Monte Petit 2 is the laughing stock of the cigar world,Monte 2 price and really no similarity to the regular or even Monte profile.
Coro is a great stick with 5 years on it.
Suckling has chosen the mistakes,high ticket,and unobtanium cigars as the best.You may want to ask yourself why there are no medium priced sticks here,do you really have to pay $18 to $50 for a good Cuban cigar?
Maybe he wants to amaze you with his opinions,or he wants to make a list you cannot argue with.
I have followed Suckling for many years,Wine Spectator to today,I have never felt he was on the level.
I have tried a lot of "special" Cubans,very very few are worth the extra $$$.....

I don't have the experience trying most of these like you have Tom. But I agree with your premise that most of these sticks are either hard to find or too pricey for the large percentage of CC smokers, myself included.

 

[KGD]

I'll tell you the 2015 h upmann half coronas and the por larranaga monte carlos are smoking wonderfully and they are budget priced

 

[Deadman's Point]

I'll argue. I don't understand how the Connie A didnt make the list, but I do understand why the Monte #2 is on there. I didn't hear of nor have a bad one from 2015. Like the RASS this year, they were pretty damn spot on.

I haven't had a good Behike since 2011 box codes dried up.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

1.Ramon Allones Sur Exclusivo Libano
2. Hunters & Frankau Ramon Allones Aniversario 225 Cabinet Selection
I have not had these,and likely will not to due to rarity,and more critically the prices.

If I recall the Libano was selling for 45.00 a stick last time I saw one offered,I'll bet the H&F will be 75-85.00
I just added up the price of these 10 cigars, if you were lucky you might pick these up stateside for 300 to 325.00
In Britain they could bring 700.00 plus...........

 

[RacFocus]

I will just continue smoking what I like, and can afford, not what someone else likes.



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[Pooh Bore]

My recommendations for new things to try come from forums where the membership appear to be normal level headed guys.


Guess that counts you lot out




Just teasing - This forum and another closed one contain a good bunch of guys that I value the opinion of.

The "professionals" have a product to sell and you know the rest....


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[StogieNinja]

The fact that BhK54 and 56 both made the list is so odd. Both, from what I've seen, have been widely panned by smokers across all incomes and palates as overpriced and underwhelming in recent years.

It just strikes me as a very odd, very contrived list.

 

[Xavier Dredo]

Suckling is a Behike Whore!


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[vivalanation734]

1.Ramon Allones Sur Exclusivo Libano
2. Hunters & Frankau Ramon Allones Aniversario 225 Cabinet Selection
I have not had these,and likely will not to due to rarity,and more critically the prices.

If I recall the Libano was selling for 45.00 a stick last time I saw one offered,I'll bet the H&F will be 75-85.00
I just added up the price of these 10 cigars, if you were lucky you might pick these up stateside for 300 to 325.00
In Britain they could bring 700.00 plus...........

The H&F are readily available in Edinburgh. £26 a stick.

 

[CeeGarOne]

Gonna reach out to one of my co-workers in Bedfont Lakes and see if he can't lasso a couple of these for me.


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[StogieJim]

Coro is a great stick with 5 years on it.

The best cigar I've ever smoked. Had 6 years on it. I'll never forget that smoke.

 

[Shrody234]

Every list is subjective guys, we all know that. We all have different tastes and different budgets. Foremost, I think Suckling's top 10 is evident of his love for a few marcas, not necessarily the best CCs of 2015.
...And @KGD, you're damn right about those Montecarlos, love them.

 

[KGD]

If you like lancers you'll love the montecarlo and I'm about to re-up my regular quarterly stash... if anyone wants to trade to try some let me know