Cuaba

[FatherTiresius]

I was wondering if anybody here had ever tried Cuabas? This brand is a fairly new one out of Cuba (1996 or so). They are distinctive in that the entire line are all torpedos, which is rare in ISOMs as far as I can tell. Also the prices on these are pretty reasonable. Are they hand made or only hand rolled? What's the opinion on Cuabas around here? Tia...

 

[TheBeast]

 

[FatherTiresius]

LOL...thanks Beast for clearing that up for me.

 

[TheBeast]

 

[Matt R]

Actually they are all perfectos, not torpedos, but that is semantics. LOL I love the Cuaba Distinguisado (sp?) from the millennium jar release, they are really coming around. The divino is nice if you want a quick jolt of nicotine. The other sizes can go by the wayside, IMHO.

 

[cohibasurfer]

Well I like the Traditionales for a good 45 minute one dimensional earthy smoke myself. They have no real flavor change... but I like the one it has... so what the hey! I guess I'm not as snobby as I thought I was

 

[FatherTiresius]

Actually they are all perfectos, not torpedos, but that is semantics.

Ok, enlighten me. I thought torpedos were cigars that had a rounded head, a bulge in the middle and a tapered foot (it looks like a torpedo in other words). Otoh, I thought perfectos were straight-sided but had the little nipple tip (eg AF Hemi). Is this not the case?

I do know that a lot of what they call torpedos these days are really pyramids or belicosos. Not that it really matters, just curious.

 

[Joe P]

Figuardos, or "irregular" shaped Cigars are a little better defined. The smallest is the Belicoso — a small tapered cigar with a rounded head (not pointed) and a larger foot. Next are the Pyramids, tapering from a large foot to a small head. A "true" pyramid always has a pointed head. Although many smokers call a large pyramid a torpedo, a "true" torpedo has a large foot, smaller, pointed head, and a slight bulge in the middle. The Perfecto is tapered on both ends to a smaller size than it's straight middle section — a classic "cigar shape". Finally, there's the Diademas, the giant of cigars. These are 8 inches or greater.

 

[FatherTiresius]

Ok, that's from the FAQ, thanks Joe. Here's what I was going on in my original statement (from an on-line retailer's web site):

Cuaba also marked the relaunch of the Havana's traditional torpedo shape, which largely went out of fashion in the 1930s.

Which brings to mind a different question....did (naval) torpedos exist in the '30s? If not, what were the cigars called back then?

 

[Matt R]

I think the perfecto size was at one time called a torpedo. To get 100% technical on the Cuaba line the vitola names and sizes are:

Distinguidos: Romeo
Divinos: Petit Bouquet
Exclusivo: Exquisito
Generoso: Generoso
Tradicionales: Favorito