Well, last week I went to a Tobacco Tropical (the new Tropical Tobacco name) tasting... where a friend of mine, who is a cigar rep/distributor for CAO, his brother is the rep/distributor for Tobacco Tropical (their Dad is the Fuente rep! 
its all who ya know I suppose?)
ANYWAY: On the advice of another friend who had tested some of their cigars at this years RTDA show- I bought a couple of each. (There's a third brand, but it escapes me at the moment)
Condega (white/red band)
I smoked the Belicoso (or torpedo). It was nice a dark. I cut the tip, and tasted the pre-light draw... Pretty good I thought. I fired the end, let it burn a second or so, and took my first puff. A little harsh- but that soon mellowed out after about 10+ puff's. The cigar is a medium bodied, not too spicey stick.. Pretty good, but not outstanding or anything. If the price was better they'd be better- but at $5.50/ea, they are no bargain. At $3- I would have bought a box of them.
Lots of smoke- good flavor, and you'll see by my profile, I'm not one of those guys who tastes a hint of this and that.. it was a pretty good cigar.
Nicarao, All green band with NICARAO in white letters.
Again, I went for the Beli (torp). This has a reddish wrapper- LOTS OF SPICE (yummy). Pretty strong, I'd say a stiff medium to wimpy full. Again, lots of smoke- and spice spice spice. Comparable to something like the Joya de Nic Anatano's (but not as strong), or maybe a Corojo tobacco cigar. Something like that.
Again, a decent cigar, but the price point is what kills it... Also $5.50/ea, and there's simply too many choices in that price range for me to consider this to be a go to cigar
HOWEVER, if you're in your local cigar shop- and see these 2 brands on sale, or whatever, and are feeling like trying a good cigar thats new to you- give'em a try....
:thumbs: Toaster
its all who ya know I suppose?)ANYWAY: On the advice of another friend who had tested some of their cigars at this years RTDA show- I bought a couple of each. (There's a third brand, but it escapes me at the moment)
Condega (white/red band)
I smoked the Belicoso (or torpedo). It was nice a dark. I cut the tip, and tasted the pre-light draw... Pretty good I thought. I fired the end, let it burn a second or so, and took my first puff. A little harsh- but that soon mellowed out after about 10+ puff's. The cigar is a medium bodied, not too spicey stick.. Pretty good, but not outstanding or anything. If the price was better they'd be better- but at $5.50/ea, they are no bargain. At $3- I would have bought a box of them.
Lots of smoke- good flavor, and you'll see by my profile, I'm not one of those guys who tastes a hint of this and that.. it was a pretty good cigar.
Nicarao, All green band with NICARAO in white letters.
Again, I went for the Beli (torp). This has a reddish wrapper- LOTS OF SPICE (yummy). Pretty strong, I'd say a stiff medium to wimpy full. Again, lots of smoke- and spice spice spice. Comparable to something like the Joya de Nic Anatano's (but not as strong), or maybe a Corojo tobacco cigar. Something like that.
Again, a decent cigar, but the price point is what kills it... Also $5.50/ea, and there's simply too many choices in that price range for me to consider this to be a go to cigar
HOWEVER, if you're in your local cigar shop- and see these 2 brands on sale, or whatever, and are feeling like trying a good cigar thats new to you- give'em a try....
:thumbs: Toaster