Cuban Smooban

[gcalan]

I don't understand why everyone is so enthralled with Cuban cigars! I live in Detroit and venture over to Windsor, Ont. Canada often where Cubans run rampant.
What's the big deal?
I've probably smoked 50 or so Cubans and have been less than impressed.
I also just got back from a Caribean cruise and smoke a bunch of Cubans that couldn't hold a match (or even a Colibri!) to some of the better sticks from Honduras or Nicaragua.
So what's up guys? What's with the love affair with Cubans?

Best,
Gus

 

[Tony Bones]

To each his or her own, I suppose.

I've had some very good experiences w/ ISOM's. The Monte #2, the Cohiba Robusto, the RYJ Exhibicion #4, and the Partagas Lusitania have all treated me well. I've also had some ISOM's that weren't any good and didn't do anything for me.

Same story w/ Domestics. The Padron 1926 #9 and PAM Imperial are just phenomenal and as consistent as the sun rise. Davidoff's Millenium Lonsdale is great too, along w/ the spicier Opus X sticks. And then there's that God-awful Don Carlos I just half smoked, along w/ the so-so CAO MX2. One was horrid and one was not memorable.

It's all about what you like and realizing that there's variance from box to box and stick to stick even. That said, if I could get ahold of a box of Monte #2's that the past one I smoked came out of (chocaletey, smooth, and amazing) I'd probably trip over myself trying to get my wallet out. Phenomenal!

One thing that is agreed upon is that most ISOM's need to be aged, w/ the exception of the EL's. Maybe you're smoking them too young? A lot of the high-end Domestics are made w/ aged tobacco, so you can forego the process. Darn, they're expensive though!

Maybe the Canadians are giving you the cigars they peed on, knowing that you're American. This has been know to happen

And stop stealing CAO's advertising catch lines "Cuban Smooban."

 

[gcalan]

To each his or her own, I suppose.

I've had some very good experiences w/ ISOM's. The Monte #2, the Cohiba Robusto, the RYJ Exhibicion #4, and the Partagas Lusitania have all treated me well. I've also had some ISOM's that weren't any good and didn't do anything for me.

Same story w/ Domestics. The Padron 1926 #9 and PAM Imperial are just phenomenal and as consistent as the sun rise. Davidoff's Millenium Lonsdale is great too, along w/ the spicier Opus X sticks. And then there's that God-awful Don Carlos I just half smoked, along w/ the so-so CAO MX2. One was horrid and one was not memorable.

It's all about what you like and realizing that there's variance from box to box and stick to stick even. That said, if I could get ahold of a box of Monte #2's that the past one I smoked came out of (chocaletey, smooth, and amazing) I'd probably trip over myself trying to get my wallet out. Phenomenal!

One thing that is agreed upon is that most ISOM's need to be aged, w/ the exception of the EL's. Maybe you're smoking them too young? A lot of the high-end Domestics are made w/ aged tobacco, so you can forego the process. Darn, they're expensive though!

Maybe the Canadians are giving you the cigars they peed on, knowing that you're American. This has been know to happen

And stop stealing CAO's advertising catch lines "Cuban Smooban."

Hey Tony,

You're right I think I did inadvertantly steal that line from CAO! When I wrote it I wasn't even thinking about the CAO ad but now that you mentioned it, I do remember seeing it and laughing. Funny how the subconscious works!

Anyway, I have smoke some really good Cubans. Montecristo #2 is certainly wonderful. Also, the Romeo y Julieta churchill was fabulous. That being said, I've also smoked many Honduran/Nicaraguan and even US (La Gloria Cubana, Cacique Miami, etc.) cigars that more than held their own.

My 2 cents,
Gus

 

[SamGuss]

I don't understand why everyone is so enthralled with Cuban cigars! I live in Detroit and venture over to Windsor, Ont. Canada often where Cubans run rampant.
What's the big deal?
I've probably smoked 50 or so Cubans and have been less than impressed.
I also just got back from a Caribean cruise and smoke a bunch of Cubans that couldn't hold a match (or even a Colibri!) to some of the better sticks from Honduras or Nicaragua.
So what's up guys? What's with the love affair with Cubans?

Best,
Gus

A) If, you aren't impressed with cubans, then good for you. Do not knock those of us who do enjoy them more than domestics.

B) Only 50 or so? That isn't all that many - maybe enough to form your opinion, but not enough to make me think that you are an authority on the subject.

C) Enjoy your selection of cigars that you do like. If you ever find yourself having a few cubans you don't want, look me up.

Sam

 

[gcalan]

I don't understand why everyone is so enthralled with Cuban cigars! I live in Detroit and venture over to Windsor, Ont. Canada often where Cubans run rampant.
What's the big deal?
I've probably smoked 50 or so Cubans and have been less than impressed.
I also just got back from a Caribean cruise and smoke a bunch of Cubans that couldn't hold a match (or even a Colibri!) to some of the better sticks from Honduras or Nicaragua.
So what's up guys? What's with the love affair with Cubans?

Best,
Gus

A) If, you aren't impressed with cubans, then good for you. Do not knock those of us who do enjoy them more than domestics.

B) Only 50 or so? That isn't all that many - maybe enough to form your opinion, but not enough to make me think that you are an authority on the subject.

C) Enjoy your selection of cigars that you do like. If you ever find yourself having a few cubans you don't want, look me up.

Sam

Hey SamGuss,

Great gesture of hospitality to a newbie!

My responses:

A. You're right, I'm not impressed with Cubans and true, good for me. However, I didn't knock you or anyone else. I was simply asking a question.

B. Are you insecure or what? If you reread my QUESTION, I don't really see anything stating that I was an authority on Cubans, Domestics or anything for that matter. Geesh!

C. I'd be glad to share a Cuban or a domestic with anyone...anytime. Cigars are one of the things I enjoy most in life. I value my times smoking with buddies and would love to make new friends.

Sorry if I offended anyone here. Maybe opinions aren't wanted on this board?? Too bad cause I thought I found a cool new place to hang with cigar smokers.

 

[Matt R]

A Havana cigar has a very distinct taste. Maybe that taste is not for you. I personally can not stand Hondruan tobacco, have only a slight interest in the flavor profile of Nicaraugan tobacco and while I can enjoy a Dominican cigar on occasion, do not really find the profile very interesting. If you can't ell the difference between the different countries tobacco, then you are either smoking counterfeits or do not have the palate to discern the differences.

 

[ricmac25]

In my opinion the taste of a Habano can't be beat. But that's just it, MY OPINION. Nothing I say will change your opinion and vice versa. To each his own. I do however have one question. You say you've smoked Cubans from Canada and on a cruise, knowing that Cubans are normally counterfeited, how many of those that you are using to base your judgement do you think were fake?

 

[gcalan]

in canada, i'd say very few (if any) were conterfeit. in mexico (both in while in the navy (tijuana) and on a recent cruise, i'd say about half or even more were conterfeit.

hey, if you like cubans and don't mind paying for them that's exactly what you should smoke. my experience (and i clearly admitted i don't have tons of it) is that cubans aren't really worth the cost and the hastle to me. my opinion is that there are cigars from honduaras and nicaragua that please my tastebuds just as much.

all that being said, i'm sure i'll continue to buy a couple cubans everytime i go to the casino in Canada!

Enjoy,
gus

 

[moki]

In my opinion the taste of a Habano can't be beat.

See, but that's the same mistake that many people make, judging Cubans as a monolithic entity. Are all French wines better than the rest? Hell no, French wines run the gamut from disgusting to excellent.

I think it is rather silly to "only smoke Cuban" cigars the same way it is silly to "only drink French wine."  There are great cigars from all over, they don't have to be from one tiny little island, just as there is great wine from all over (Napa, Sonoma, Australia, Chile, Spain, Italy, etc.).

If you don't mind buying cigars you can't smoke for anywhere from 6 months (which I think is way to short for the vast majority of Cubans) to 3 years or more (Min Ron Nee doesn't smoke anything that isn't at least 5 years old or so), then more power to you.  Some people would prefer to avoid the hassle, and smoke already aged tobacco that was chosen by a master tobacconist as being ready and perfect to smoke.

As I've said, I've had some Cubans I've loved, some I thought sucked.  The quality of Cuban cigars went through some bad times over the past 10 years; they seem to be getting better lately though.  Meanwhile the quality of non-Cuban cigars has steadily increased.

Cigar Aficionado, Smoke Magazine, and others have also noted this trend.  This is not to say that one is any better than the other; indeed, my main point is that there's no reason to pick one to the exclusion of others.

The main points against ISOMs are:

--  it is illegal to bring them into the US, so you run the risk of confiscations/fines
-- fake Cubans are absolutely rampant, and the Cuban cigar industry has been slow to adopt measures to counter this as compared to many "Domestic" manufacturers
-- Cubans are by in large not aged (except for the EL's) at all, so you have to age them yourself, to your liking, which can be quite some time
-- Cuban quality has been pretty inconsistent over the years; hope you get a good roll/blend.  More recent years have corrected this for the most part; time will tell.

There are the down-sides; I think they are pretty undeniable.

But of course, some people have obtained a liking for the flavor profiles of various Cuban cigars; and others just want to be in a special elitist club, like people who drink only French wines.

::shrug:: smoke whatever you want; I just don't see why anyone would limit themselves along geographical lines when it comes to cigars.  Making a division between "Cuban" and "non-Cuban" seems silly to me, because there is such a range in Cuban cigars, from utter dog-rocket to excellent smokes.

 

[lucasbuck]

Obviously we are all not going to like the same things in life. We all have our favorites. When I first started smoking cigars I didn't believe the hype concering Havanas. I figured it was the forbidden fruit syndrome more then anything. Then I smoked an aged Monte #2 and the rest is history I still smoke domestics but they just don't compare. But everyone's tastes are different. There's nothing wrong with that. Someone once said smoke what you like and like what you smoke. I couldn't agree more.

 

[CoventryCat86]

I dunno about the authenticity of the Canadian Havanas, I've heard lots of stories about many fakes especially across the border and as far as ones you get on cruises, the counterfeiters see tourists coming from a mile away.

As far as cost, compare any PAM, Opus, DC Maximus or essentially any Fuente product and tell me how they are cheaper than most Havanas.

This is my order of preference of tobacco based on country of origin of the tobacco:

Cuba
Nicaragua
Honduras
Dominican Republic

I pretty much like the taste of all of those tobaccos. The characteristics of cigars that mean a great deal to me are:

Draw
Construction
Even burn

Now in my experience, any Havana beats any other cigar in those categories hands down AND in my case, my favorite tasting tobacco is Cuban therefore my favorite cigars are all Havanas.

I still cannot justify the price of most Fuente products nor the aggrevation of trying to obtain these cigars, having the cigars stores laugh at me when I ask for DC Maximus or Opus X or telling me I can only buy TWO, for cryin' out loud, why waste the gas to drive to the cigar store for two friggin cigars? AF can keep their charade as far as I'm concerned, I won't play their game. And since DR is my least favorite tobacco, all the more reason for me to keep them low on my priority list.

 

[TheBeast]

As far as cost, compare any PAM, Opus, DC Maximus or essentially any Fuente product and tell me how they are cheaper than most Havanas.

Have you ever bought Cubans from Canada? Fuentes and PAMS are bargains...compared to the price of Cubans in Canada...especially in Windsor, where he's getting them. Trust me...you wouldn't shell out that kind of cash for Cubans. LOL

 

[Triple_D]

No sense in arguing about taste. My best buddy loves drew estate and I don't think any less of him for it. I'm no authority but here is how I would rate cigars (or at least the ones I have smoked so far)
RyJ Churchill Cuban (best I've smoked so far)
RASS/BBF/VR/CoRo - all cuban (these would have to be my second fav's)
falling behind the almighty darkside I have found a few good domestics
Opus xXx & Gurkha Platinum torpedo (tied for best non cuban)
VSG's (second best domestic)
Connies (73M) (third best domestic)

 

[Lumberg]

I probably smoked about 10 or so "Cubans," a lot or perhaps most of which were probably fake, until I finally had the eureka moment. Now I have waaay too many cigars to be ordering ISOMs. But I still smoke one every chance I get.

 

[moki]

This is my order of preference of tobacco based on country of origin of the tobacco:

Cuba
Nicaragua
Honduras
Dominican Republic

I can get you good tobacco and lousy tobacco from each of the countries you listed, all with very different flavor profiles. I can also get you good cigars and lousy cigars from each of those countries, all with very different flavor profiles.

Hell, I'll put you to the test and mail you 4 Cubans and 4 non-Cubans, and you tell me which ones are from Cuba, and rank them. My bet is you fail miserably.

Again, there is no monolithic "Cuban" cigar; there are some really ****ty cigars from Castro's little paradise, and there are some really nice cigars.

 

[moki]

I still cannot justify the price of most Fuente products nor the aggrevation of trying to obtain these cigars, having the cigars stores laugh at me when I ask for DC Maximus or Opus X or telling me I can only buy TWO, for cryin' out loud, why waste the gas to drive to the cigar store for two friggin cigars?  AF can keep their charade as far as I'm concerned, I won't play their game.

Some of us have sources for paying damn close to MSRP ($7.50-13.50) for cigars like Opus X cigars, just like many people have sources for obtaining Cuban cigars in the USA at reasonable prices.

For what it's worth, I've never wasted gas to drive to the local smoke shop to buy Opus X cigars -- they almost never have them!!

One other thing to keep in mind is the tobacco tax. When you're purchasing ISOMs from the various outlets, you are not paying your states (rather hefty in many cases) tobacco tax, nor are you paying your state sales taxes, nor for the cost of the upkeep of a storefront shop.

I dare say that if Cubans become legal here, the prices will skyrocket in many states, because of these tax issues. If you really want Fuente stuff at a reasonable price, buy them mail order like you do your ISOMs, from a reliable source. Or mooch 'em off of me.

The other thing to keep in mind is that when you compare the prices of cigars like the Opus X, you have to compare it to the various Edicion Limitada cigars from Cuba, because that's what they both are: limited edition cigars.

Hell, the Siglo VI's are something ridiculous like $29 a stick -- and that's without the state tobacco and sales taxes involved.

 

[SD_Stack]

Dang Moki. There are so many things you have said that I want to quote, I don't know where to start. I'll keep it to three.

First!

If you really want Fuente stuff at a reasonable price, buy them mail order like you do your ISOMs, from a reliable source. Or mooch 'em off of me.

Send 'em on Bro. Expect some lousy ISOMs in return! :sign:

Second!

Hell, I'll put you to the test and mail you 4 Cubans and 4 non-Cubans, and you tell me which ones are from Cuba, and rank them. My bet is you fail miserably.

Ohhh Snap!!!! Sounds like a challenge to me CC. Jump on it.

Third!

I think it is rather silly to "only smoke Cuban" cigars the same way it is silly to "only drink French wine."

Way to go Pissing off Matt Bruddah Moki. Get him Matt. You don't have to take that from him. He's a noobler!

I'm just messin' with ya...

 

[SD_Stack]

Hell, I'll put you to the test and mail you 4 Cubans and 4 non-Cubans, and you tell me which ones are from Cuba, and rank them. My bet is you fail miserably.

One more thing Moki if I may. You better be careful what you say. Don't forget you are in my blind taste test pass. You may just have to eat those words! :sign:

:love: ya. Mean it!

 

[moki]

One more thing Moki if I may. You better be careful what you say. Don't forget you are in my blind taste test pass. You may just have to eat those words! :sign:

:love: ya. Mean it!

Indeed, I'm sure I will -- I never said I'd be able to pick them out either. Like I said, good and lousy cigars come from every country, including Cuba. The monolithic-think of "Cuban cigars" is insane. People don't generally talk about "Dominican cigars" but rather particular lines of cigars that come from the Dominican Republic, from particular manufacturers.

Now, if you said "I think the RASS is a kick ass cigar that's better than any domestic for the price" you'd be onto something -- and I might be inclined to agree with you. But to paint a carte-blanch opinion over all cigars coming from Cuba seems a bit simplistic to me.

 

[SD_Stack]

But to paint a carte-blanch opinion over all cigars coming from Cuba seems a bit simplistic to me.

I must agree.