James Suckling retires

I'm looking one of the CA videos about Limitada/Regionales cigars. He was talking about the Cuaba EL 2008 which he thinks is "tha Bomb"........ well that cigar is really disappointed and not worth the EL label. It wasn't tastefull at all. Very mild comparred with other pieces of the limitadas I smoked. EL and Regionales must be special with some heavy tast.(like the Partagas, Bolivar and MC cigars.) It's not comming back in my humidor for sure..

[icehog3]

I didn't see where Clayton called people at CA "experts". He said "you don't need to have encyclopedic knowledge of cigar history and cigar production to rate, recommend and review Habanos.". It was you who said that people here were trying to pass themselves off as "experts".

If someone here who normally has similar likes to mine recommends a cigar, why would I not take that as a valid recommendation, even if he had only been smoking exclusively Cuban for 5 years?

That Suckling dude lightens his cigars not really the right way...or am I, how do you american people call it, a hair-splitter?
But their will be another cuban "expert"..he is not the only one who smokes cubans a lot.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by cgarphotogallery

I'm looking one of the CA videos about Limitada/Regionales cigars. He was talking about the Cuaba EL 2008 which he thinks is "tha Bomb"........ well that cigar is really disappointed and not worth the EL label. It wasn't tastefull at all. Very mild comparred with other pieces of the limitadas I smoked. EL and Regionales must be special with some heavy tast.(like the Partagas, Bolivar and MC cigars.) It's not comming back in my humidor for sure..

Just one question. How do you know that the cigar you smoked is the same he did?

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I didn't see where Clayton called people at CA "experts". He said "you don't need to have encyclopedic knowledge of cigar history and cigar production to rate, recommend and review Habanos.". It was you who said that people here were trying to pass themselves off as "experts".

If someone here who normally has similar likes to mine recommends a cigar, why would I not take that as a valid recommendation, even if he had only been smoking exclusively Cuban for 5 years?

We're talking apples and oranges here, don't we. I was pointing out that when it comes to KNOWLEDGE and CIGAR WRITING no one on this board is even close to Suckling's level. Exclusive CC smoking or not, which has nothing to do with the discussion. And please point out to me how someone smoking CCs for just 5 years has any real perspective into Cuban cigars, something I did point out, when recent releases are nowhere near what Cuban cigars used to be (and what turned a good number of us away from Cuban smokes). Occasional older Cuban smoke here and there doesn't make for an "expert", sorry to be blunt. Suckling has a long and proven experience and knows what Cubans were like in times gone by, something that is really not known to 99% or more here.

Clayton stated Suckling is not relevant and is not followed, yet I would still love to hear from him how having hundreds of thousands of readers is not relevant? More relevant than anyone here or elsewhere last time I checked. People actually pay money to read his "irrelevant" opinions. And no, I do not agree with every one of his reviews, nor should I.

Every time I read a TN here about some newish CC described as "strong" or "big" I simply cringe, they are no more than medium, AT BEST, and most are simply way too mild lately. Do you really think people have a real and proper perspective into what Cuban cigars are without having a long and varied tasting history with them? Suckling is among a few who does.

I really don't give a s**t one way or another about Suckling, I do not drink EU wines for the most part lately (used to, though, but not Bords), but it is curious to see Suckling being criticized by relatively new people to cigar (and wine) world.

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Just one question. How do you know that the cigar you smoked is the same he did?

Well he was talking about the Cuaba EL and their is only one Cuaba Limitada released. Pictures are on my site. I smoked it and in my opinion, comparred with the other EL and RE editions it was very mild and not special al all.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Just one question. How do you know that the cigar you smoked is the same he did?

Cigars do come down the box on hand, and he probably smoked it quite fresh, before it got sick. All of the cigars at the Festival are going to be fantastic representations of the cigar.

There are many things I disagree with Suckling on, most glaringly is his drinking windows for port. His window is quite small and he has had plenty of vintages from the 50’s older to know how long port can age. Suckling is not a critic that makes waves when it comes to rating Habanos, and realistically what he says is good doesn’t make much of a difference. Habanos consumers are loyal to their marcas and vitolas. Collectors and avid consumers like us are just going to buy without regard to any published review. Beyond his actual reviews, he is a good writer and captures the essence of his experience quite well.

One can say MRN is a "bigger expert", and he may well be, but he is not as poetic writer as Suckling. I bet if you asked MRN, he would respect Suckling. He would single out factual errors Suckling has made, but point to the cannon of his work as being collectable and a future reference.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by cgarphotogallery

Well he was talking about the Cuaba EL and their is only one Cuaba Limitada released. Pictures are on my site. I smoked it and in my opinion, comparred with the other EL and RE editions it was very mild and not special al all.

There's been two Cuaba EL's and the first one (2000) in the jar is quite something to smoke.

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

There's been two Cuaba EL's and the first one (2000) in the jar is quite something to smoke.

No thats a millenium special, not an EL. In 2000 you had Hoyo,
Montecristo, Partagas and Romeo y Julieta. So must be the EL 2008.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by cgarphotogallery

Well he was talking about the Cuaba EL and their is only one Cuaba Limitada released. Pictures are on my site. I smoked it and in my opinion, comparred with the other EL and RE editions it was very mild and not special al all.

Sure. Except I am sure he bought it at a Habanos AUTHORIZED dealer, and provenance of yours, unless you also bought one at LCDH, is very questionable.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Cigars do come down the box on hand, and he probably smoked it quite fresh, before it got sick. All of the cigars at the Festival are going to be fantastic representations of the cigar.

There are many things I disagree with Suckling on, most glaringly is his drinking windows for port. His window is quite small and he has had plenty of vintages from the 50’s older to know how long port can age. Suckling is not a critic that makes waves when it comes to rating Habanos, and realistically what he says is good doesn’t make much of a difference. Habanos consumers are loyal to their marcas and vitolas. Collectors and avid consumers like us are just going to buy without regard to any published review. Beyond his actual reviews, he is a good writer and captures the essence of his experience quite well.

One can say MRN is a "bigger expert", and he may well be, but he is not as poetic writer as Suckling. I bet if you asked MRN, he would respect Suckling. He would single out factual errors Suckling has made, but point to the cannon of his work as being collectable and a future reference.

Moses, not to split hairs, and I already pointed out that I was not really a Suckling follower having worked in wine retail and being able to taste as much as I want without relying on reviewers, but this is a theme that runs throughout Spectator reviews and I think it may be their "policy". What they do, and I know this is true for California reviews, their published windows tend to be a "young" side since they are reasonably assuring consumers that within that drinking window the wines will show similar to the reviews. For example, most "experts" out there will tell you that CA Pinot doesn't age, yet almost all well made ones improve with 6-8 years in cellar ("experts" claim they are dead by then). I just did a tasting of '96-98 Pinots a few months back and one would be hard pressed to tell they are older than 2-3 years color and taste wise (still dark and rich and plenty of tannin to go another 5-6 years). Yet these same wines were listed with 2-3 year drinking window by Spectator, per their "policy".

As for cigars, you may be right about Suckling catching that EL just before the "sick period". But I would still place my bet on the provenance knowing this board's buying habits.

You and I may not agree with Suckling reviews and writings, but to belittle his long contribution to both wine and cigar writings is simply amateurish, that's all I am pointing out.

[TheRiddick]

Moses, BTW, and this is not a critic of you personally, but the points above about drinking windows underscore my premise. How can someone without really understanding what's really written critique a reviewer? Spectator policy is a public one, yet many people simply never came across it nor understand the "recommended drinking window".

[SmokinApe]

Personally I don't think Suckling is much different than many of the people I have encountered on a variety of cigar forums...

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

We're talking apples and oranges here, don't we. I was pointing out that when it comes to KNOWLEDGE and CIGAR WRITING no one on this board is even close to Suckling's level. Exclusive CC smoking or not, which has nothing to do with the discussion. And please point out to me how someone smoking CCs for just 5 years has any real perspective into Cuban cigars, something I did point out, when recent releases are nowhere near what Cuban cigars used to be (and what turned a good number of us away from Cuban smokes). Occasional older Cuban smoke here and there doesn't make for an "expert", sorry to be blunt. Suckling has a long and proven experience and knows what Cubans were like in times gone by, something that is really not known to 99% or more here.

Read my post again... where did I imply that anyone here is claiming to be an "expert". I will say thet word again for you...."expert". I certainly don't consider myself to be an "expert" om Cuban cigars, or any cigars for that matter. But I know what I like, and I don't have to have a historical perspective into the profile of pre-embargo Cuban cigars to know what I like, and certainly am entitled to write "I like this cigar" in my review if I choose. You are right about apples to oranges, you are doing the same thing yourself.

Originally Posted by SmokinApe

Personally I don't think Suckling is much different than many of the people I have encountered on a variety of cigar forums...

I never disliked Suckling. Some of his stuff was good.

Met him twice in person, he was even more of a douche bag in real life.

Originally Posted by Brad

Met him twice in person, he was even more of a douche bag in real life.

Why?

[SmokeyJoe]

RETIRED!? So he can do what exactly?

Maybe... travel the world and smoke fantastic cigars?!

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Sure. Except I am sure he bought it at a Habanos AUTHORIZED dealer, and provenance of yours, unless you also bought one at LCDH, is very questionable.

Well EL are sold everywhere here in Holland at Habanos Specialists stores and LCDH sells the same EL as other stores. They maybe get the cigars a couple weeks earlier but thats it. So how hard you try....it will be the same stick.

My EL/ ER /LCDH collection:

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by cgarphotogallery

My EL/ ER /LCDH collection:

Which Fonseca is that?