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Off-Brand Cubans

MNBrian

MNBrian

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2015
Messages
1,390
So maybe off-brand isn't the best term...

I've been looking at some less well-known cubans and considering buying them, and I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with these brands and can tell me if I'm wasting my money.

I'd like to stock up on something that I won't feel so bad about giving to friends of mine and smoking myself on a daily basis. And really, I'm trying to hang on to boxes for aging which means not smoking them. So short of buying a billion boxes, or buying the regular amount and just not smoking anything for 5 years, I'm considering using this "opportunity" to try some different brands and see if anything holds up.

Examples -

Vegueros
Quintero Y Hermano
Sancho Panza
Quai Dorsay
Fonseca

So what say you -- smokers with more experience than me... Should I even waste my time? Are even these brands of cubans better than the DC's and NC's I could be buying instead?

Looking for advice.
 
I've only smoked one each of Fonseca and Sancho. Fonseca was very mild. The Sancho was on the milder side too, but I'd say more refined than the Fonseca. Neither was a flavor bomb.

I've always wanted to try Quintero. My impression, which could be dead wrong, is that they are bold and brash, which I sometimes like in a cigar. Not elegant, but satisfying, per se.
 
QdO's age beautifully and for my taste are great ROTT. It's s cigar I always keep in my rotation. The Fonseca is a cigar I used to enjoy but haven't bought in the last few years. People seem to love or hate them so if you have a chance to try them first I'd recommend that. I personally would buy a few based on my past enjoyment of them. Sancho Panza is a very good cigar that flys under the radar. Couldn't comment on the other two as I've never had either of them.

As far as are they better, for me yes. I prefer the taste, strength and complexity of CC more than NC or DC as a general rule. Then again I'm not a huge opus fan so to each their own. You know your tastes and what you like better then anyone and if you like the characteristics you get from Cubans give them a try.
 
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For a budget ISOM stick, I've always liked Jose L. Piedra "Cazadore" smokes. Their appearance is usually a bit on the rough side, but they typically smoke great, and most definitely have the flavor profile you're looking for. They also age surprisingly well. Best part is they can be had for extremely reasonable prices, even sometimes on sale, if one looks around.
 
If you find the right deals, buying the lesser popular cubans are much cheaper than most NC brands.
 
Personally I can't do they Piedras. I tried them and they weren't for me. I find I don't have nearly the amount of free time I would like to enjoy a cigar. So I tend to smoke better cigars (for my taste) less often rather then less expensive cigars I don't get the same enjoyment out of. Now if I could find a $50 box that I loved I'd be in heaven.
 
Normally I always had Fonseca Cosacos around for a quick smoke. And I have smoked a lot of Sancho Panza's especially the belicosos but those tended to be hard draws, very frustrating to be able to taste the flavors but not get enough smoke to fully enjoy. The last box was fine as I think production refinements result in better construction.

I'm gonna have to try one of those JLP's.
 
Napa_Smokes said:
Personally I can't do they Piedras. I tried them and they weren't for me. I find I don't have nearly the amount of free time I would like to enjoy a cigar. So I tend to smoke better cigars (for my taste) less often rather then less expensive cigars I don't get the same enjoyment out of. Now if I could find a $50 box that I loved I'd be in heaven.
Click to expand...

I get that, I'm pretty much in the same boat. Not that I'd turn down a JLP, but I have better that I'd prefer for the time I have to enjoy a smoke.
 
I've seen the Vegueros around, but haven't tried one. We have a herf tomorrow so maybe I'll try a lesser known brand, although I'm itching to try a bolivar BF.
 
I think the JLPs represent good value for a decent, cheap smoke. Enough Cuban character, and preferable to a lot of other similarly priced NCs. Great for winter, mowing, "busy smoking" where it may go out a few times, etc.
 
Wow, tons of great advice here.

Josh, you're right -- I don't know that any of these brands are going to make my preferred list, but really I'm just trying to find an alternative so that I can age more and smoke less of the premium brands. As a relative newbie to the process, I don't have any multi-year boxes, and when I buy the good brands I just want to smoke them all.

BBS, I'm definitely going to try some of these. At the prices I'm seeing, I'm perfectly happy to be wrong.

Doc brings up a great point on counterfits. That's actually pretty comforting to know.

So all around, it sounds like the consensus is ANY cc is probably better than an nc of the same price. I know there are certainly some off brands of nc's that I've tried and won't touch again. Heck, most of us know an "on-brand" that we won't get anywhere near. *cough*Gurkha*cough*

Looks like I'm going to buy some quantity so that I can build some quality. :)
 
I've really been enjoying the new blend Vegueros, particularly the Tapados. For me, they are very reminiscent of Montecristos (at MC's best, which can be spotty). Lot's of Cuban "twang"!

Quinteros are basically yard-gars. All vitolas are short filler. I have a few different ones, and will eventually smoke them. But they're definitely not something I reach for when I want a good cigar, if you know what I mean.

Sancho Panzas are good. The PC's are tasty, with a salty component. SP Belicosos are maybe one of the great underrated gems in the CC torpedo line-up. Outstanding!

Never had a Quai d'Orsay, and its been a while since I've had a Fonseca. In both cases, their reputation for being mild is not an attraction for me. That said, an awful lot of folks swear by the Qd'O's. And Fonsecas are often recommended for someone looking for a very mild morning smoke.

If you're looking for an inexpensive CC's on the fuller side, I strongly recommend Partagas Mille Fleurs and Habaneros. Both have been smoking really well lately.
 
Personally, I think if you haven't had QdO's you're missing out anyway. I have had plenty of the coronas and I think they are great.
 
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