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[quote author=doubleshot link=topic=57822.msg220436#msg220436 date=1701265757]
When do yall experience the sick period with the EL LINE?
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I just started smoking his cigars this year so I’m curious as well. Although they are smoking so well fresh, I would question a sick period coming.

[quote author=doubleshot link=topic=57822.msg220436#msg220436 date=1701265757]
When do yall experience the sick period with the EL LINE?
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I started smoking the ELs in 2017...I would estimate Ive smoked at least 500+ in that time...all years, all vitolas, cant say Ive ever experienced a sick period...there have been a couple of cigars I didnt care for...Siglo V and Genios...but those were the exception for sure...

[quote author=mbflash80 link=topic=57822.msg220440#msg220440 date=1701274043]
I started smoking the ELs in 2017...I would estimate Ive smoked at least 500+ in that time...all years, all vitolas, cant say Ive ever experienced a sick period...there have been a couple of cigars I didnt care for...Siglo V and Genios...but those were the exception for sure...
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Sick periods today are different than they used to be. Used to be that sIck cigars would be quite unpleasant, flavors muted, profile totally off, sometimes unsmokable.

Johnnys EL cigars can have some of these when sick, but nothing like back in the day. Even the cigars that I call sick are still totally smokable and usual still quite enjoyable. But yes, flavors muted, maybe a little ammonia, maybe the flavor profile off a bit. Very seldom do they exhibit the sickness of the past, but some can. The last one really was the BHK52 that I’ve talked of, but they ended up being phenomenal, and that was years ago. I smoke about 500-600 of Johnnys EL sticks a year, so I’m pretty in tune with these cigars.

Here’s an example. My first couple of bundles of Sublime Extra were purchased in June this year. They smoked great for a couple months, then the cigars started having smoking a little harsh in some spots, definitely muted flavors, profile tasted off. I was still buying fresh bundles through that time and smoking them, so I knew exactly what the flavor profile on this cigar tastes like. I stopped smoking from those bundles for months, and just this morning I lit one up from the June bundles. It was bliss. Those cigars are some of the best cigars I ever got from Johnny. So basically I had to wait a few months for them to come back around, and they did. I expect a few more sick periods in the next couple of years before they settle in to what they were meant to be. But not bad, the ones I had that were sick I still enjoyed, just. It nearly as much as I knew what they should taste like.

Btw I’m smoking a 55th right now and it’s excellent. Not many cigars can follow up a SubX, but this definitely does. I need more of these before they disappear.

Been buying these since 2020 so definitely not as long as many others here. From my limited experience these age very well.
Everyone will have a personal preference on what they like and what the favorite is. I won't mention my favorite. Not until I have a lifetime supply anyway. .
All of them are worth the money IMO. Even those that are not that good are good enough for what I paid for them. The #1 fit that category. The ash is quick to fall off like it was made from scrap. Loose draw and underfilled. That being said the finish on them was very good and overall for 200 a bundle, probably worth the money but I prefer the WF 898's for the same money. Those taste like. portages 898 to me. I haven't tried the LC 898 but if anyone has would be interested what that's like.
Another one I didn't really care for was the La Reina. Mine are from March 2020. Not a bad cigar just very mild.
SIG 3's are pretty good. Iv's are excellent. V's are ok but definitely prefer the IV's. Haven't had the VI's but on my to buy list.

Corona Especials from March 2020 are very good but still young and IMO need more time. Another 2 years probably and they will morph into what they are supposed to be.

Pyramide Extra. Very good but set aside 2 hrs to enjoy them fully. I have some fro 2020 and also a recent bundle from earlier this year. The ones from 2020 just keep getting better but I only have a few left, thus the reason I had to buy more. Trying to leave the new ones alone but I really enjoy em and may have to buy even more if I ever want to have any get more age than 3 years. 

Lancero's are excellent and one of my favorite sizes. The EL lancero is obviously Cohiba, the WF is a Monte especial and are also excellent.

TTT Topes is obviously Trinidad, from the aroma to the flavor just excellent cigars. Wish I had bought more of those.

A couple weeks ago I bought a 5 pack of the 55th anniversary. As soon as they arrived I ordered 10 more. Beautiful cigars and probably the richest Cohiba aroma of any EL I have experienced. I've been smoking Cubans for over 20 years and the construction on these is perfection and that aroma just lets you know you are in for a treat. I rest all of my cigars for 6 weeks before trying them out. I find that to be the spot for me where they have fully settled down to my climate and are ready to be enjoyed. Unfortunately by the time I try some of these and find out how good they are they are gone. Like the topes for instance. Anyway, these 55's I will just keep buying while they are around.

My favorites that I have had thus far I won't even mention.

The WF's and LC's are good value cigars. Good cigars at a fair price. I haven't had a lot of them but the ones I have had have been good to very good with a couple reaching into the excellent category like the ones I mentioned above.

Theres a few others that I haven't smoked enough of to form an opinion on yet and I don't really have any notes on them. Thus far though, I haven't had any regrets with any cigars from John.

[quote author=awesome1 link=topic=57822.msg220528#msg220528 date=1701605888]
Been buying these since 2020 so definitely not as long as many others here. From my limited experience these age very well.
Everyone will have a personal preference on what they like and what the favorite is. I won't mention my favorite. Not until I have a lifetime supply anyway. .
All of them are worth the money IMO. Even those that are not that good are good enough for what I paid for them. The #1 fit that category. The ash is quick to fall off like it was made from scrap. Loose draw and underfilled. That being said the finish on them was very good and overall for 200 a bundle, probably worth the money but I prefer the WF 898's for the same money. Those taste like. portages 898 to me. I haven't tried the LC 898 but if anyone has would be interested what that's like.
Another one I didn't really care for was the La Reina. Mine are from March 2020. Not a bad cigar just very mild.
SIG 3's are pretty good. Iv's are excellent. V's are ok but definitely prefer the IV's. Haven't had the VI's but on my to buy list.

Corona Especials from March 2020 are very good but still young and IMO need more time. Another 2 years probably and they will morph into what they are supposed to be.

Pyramide Extra. Very good but set aside 2 hrs to enjoy them fully. I have some fro 2020 and also a recent bundle from earlier this year. The ones from 2020 just keep getting better but I only have a few left, thus the reason I had to buy more. Trying to leave the new ones alone but I really enjoy em and may have to buy even more if I ever want to have any get more age than 3 years. 

Lancero's are excellent and one of my favorite sizes. The EL lancero is obviously Cohiba, the WF is a Monte especial and are also excellent.

TTT Topes is obviously Trinidad, from the aroma to the flavor just excellent cigars. Wish I had bought more of those.

A couple weeks ago I bought a 5 pack of the 55th anniversary. As soon as they arrived I ordered 10 more. Beautiful cigars and probably the richest Cohiba aroma of any EL I have experienced. I've been smoking Cubans for over 20 years and the construction on these is perfection and that aroma just lets you know you are in for a treat. I rest all of my cigars for 6 weeks before trying them out. I find that to be the spot for me where they have fully settled down to my climate and are ready to be enjoyed. Unfortunately by the time I try some of these and find out how good they are they are gone. Like the topes for instance. Anyway, these 55's I will just keep buying while they are around.

My favorites that I have had thus far I won't even mention.

The WF's and LC's are good value cigars. Good cigars at a fair price. I haven't had a lot of them but the ones I have had have been good to very good with a couple reaching into the excellent category like the ones I mentioned above.

Theres a few others that I haven't smoked enough of to form an opinion on yet and I don't really have any notes on them. Thus far though, I haven't had any regrets with any cigars from John.

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Excellent summation. Those Topes from earlier this year were stunners. The flavor was outstanding. I too wish I hadve known how good they were before the disappeared. If they return we will be fighting over them. You didn’t mention the BHK52, but I think that and the Sublime Extra are my favorites. I’m smoking a BHK52 from June that tastes like it has 5 years on it. So smooth, so much depth, so much flavor. It’s one of my favorites. I can’t name another Robusto that ive smoked that has this much flavor to it.

I smoked a La Reina the other day and it was really good, but I can see how you’d say they taste lighter. Especially when compared to other EL sticks. They have more delicate flavors, but the one I had the other day, the classic ERDM flavors were really shining, and some nice complexity. I prefer other cigars over them, but there are those that love them, so you definitely wouldn’t have an issue selling them.

Glad to hear about the EL Pirimides. That is one I have never smoked. I prefer cigars that take long periods of time to smoke, so that fits the bill it sounds like. Can you describe or compare them in a little more detail for me to know?

What about current Esplendido? Anyone smoke them from recent bundles?

I did say I wasn't going to mention my favorites. . The B-52 is one of them. Agree with your assessment 100%.
I've never had an SE but will take your work for it that they are all that. Just another in the EL line I have to get now. LOL.

The PE's have a nice sweetness to them. Little vanilla typical of Cohiba but also another layer of sweetness that I haven't been able to identify. More wood flavors in these than other Cohibas as well. Overall the flavor profile is one I really enjoy. Is it my favorite? No but I like them enough to have recently added another bundle. July I think. I only have 2 left from 2020 and those have similar profiles except they have become more intense. Overall they are on the mild side of medium. I feel like these thicker ring gauges take longer to show thier true colors and even the ones I have from 2020 seem to just keep getting better. Only 2 of them left so will probably have 1 next year and another the year after.

I also have some esplendidos from Aug. Haven't had one of them yet but on my to do list very soon.
Some WF RE also from Aug that have a strong earthy aroma to them. I need to try one of them as well. So many cigars so little time. .

Haha, gotcha brother!  :bigup: Thanks for the rundown on the pirimides, really appreciate that.

[quote author=Habanos22 link=topic=57822.msg219585#msg219585 date=1696730253]
order arrived and I could not wait to fire up the Bhk-52. Quite fabulous from jump street. I can only imagine how great these will be with some time on them.


[url=https://ibb.co/tpwsLYg][img]https://i.ibb.co/1GYqzR1/IMG-4341.jpg[/img][/url]
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Among my favorites from John. A really nice stick

I'd never heard of these sticks until becoming a member here and doing some looking around. I saw his offerings and was confused because I didn't know what EL's, LC's, and WF's were... I still don't entirely. But good lord, the feedback on these is incredible.

I don't see an option for a sampler which would be a great way to start, so digging through here is helping to hone in on some good options.

This has been a great community to see in action, happy holidays fellow cigar lovers.

[quote author=JTG link=topic=57822.msg220608#msg220608 date=1701930990]
I'd never heard of these sticks until becoming a member here and doing some looking around. I saw his offerings and was confused because I didn't know what EL's, LC's, and WF's were... I still don't entirely. But good lord, the feedback on these is incredible.

I don't see an option for a sampler which would be a great way to start, so digging through here is helping to hone in on some good options.

This has been a great community to see in action, happy holidays fellow cigar lovers.


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Message John and he can put a sampler pack together. When I started with him right before Covid hit, he sent me a pair of everything he had at the time. I've been hooked ever since.