I sometimes have to use a magnifying glass to distinguish between 5 and 8; 5 and 6; 3 and 8; etc.

In any event, '03 was a spectacular year.

Enjoy!!!

While I'm in the question asking mood, what are your experiences with the Vegas Robainas? NH and never see them discussed. Might be a reason for that but thought I would ask.

Vegas Robainas are very good smokes. A bit under the radar. Not on top of most people's list, but still very good IMHO.

I'm too much of a cc noob to contribute anything else. I was wondering the same thing about cab pricing...

top notch for sure....

No definitive explanation that I know of. Each vendor does its own thing its own way. Some give a price break on 50 cabs; others price them identically on a per cigar basis; and some have seemingly disparate pricing as you pointed out. Other than simple vendor differences, perhaps it has to do with the cost to manufacture a cab box vs. two dress boxes.

As for VR, the Unicos is a very nice smoke. Yes, lots of other 2s overshadow these due to popularity, but these are consistently good w/ core flavors of chocolate & cream. Haven't tried anything else in the line, but plenty also love the famosos.

That makes sense as well. It definitely would be worth more if you could grab 08's or 09's instead of the 11's and 12's.

I think I'll have to try the VR the next time I put an order in.

Pricing isn't out yet...and it's possible these won't make it to vendors until Fall, at least if past history is any indication.

That said, I've smoked enough LE to know that this is an easy pass. Limited Edition cubans are a marca unto themselves almost, and the profiles aren't very true to the brand IMO, which is what one would expect at least. Chocolate/Cocoa/Earth. Sums up just about every LE i've smoked, and it's not a ton, but it's enough to know i'm done wasting my $$. I didn't care for the Upmann Mag 48 LE whatsoever, and Upmann is my favorite marca.

If you enjoy the Upmann profile, buy a regular release Upmann (#2 or Sir Winston or Mag 46 or Connie 1). If you want that "LE profile" however.....save yourself some money and go with the Vegas Robainia, and use the extra dough on something else.

My .02. But you gotta make mistakes before you can learn your lesson, so snatch em' up if you're so inclined. Been there, done that....and trying not to do it again. So far, only bit on one LE in 2011, so I'm getting better! If I can make it through 2012 without buying an LE box, I'll finally be cured.

Then, of course, there is the REs, which is a whole nuther issue...#-o

The VR will definitely be on the list especially if I can get a 2010 or earlier box!

I have not tried the HdM 2011 EL yet. I have one, but I can't find the little bugger anywhere, lol! Seriously, I don't know where it went. Maybe I'm sleep-smoking now, lol.

The RASCCs seem better at an earlier age than the RASS . The RASS....well aged are STELLER!!!!

I've never had an aged RASS. But the 2010s I've had have all been very good, and one was just epic. I like how thick and palate-coating the smoke is.

I have one box of 10 HdM EL. That is the only EL I have ever acquired. However, yesterday I jumped on a box of high quality HUMag48 that are actually from '09 and that are reportedly dark and oily. The description of their flavor profile just really caught my attention and I broke my rule about not paying for ELs. Can you say"ready to smoke OTT?" 2012 is the last year the 48 will be made as an EL. If it is that good, I would hope it is put into regular production. I also wonder how it will smoke compared to the new HU Half Corona, which is similarly wide and short in proportion.