Newb question about Montecristos and Romeo Y Julietas

[RaveDigger]

Ok, please forgive me if this has been posted before, I did search, but could not find the answer. If someone knows of a thread that has already addressed this, please steer me in that direction.

Montecristo cigars... I hear everyone saying that these are Cuban cigars, yet I purchased a platinum series cigar in a store in the US. How is this possible? Also on the topic of Montecristos, how do I tell what kind of Montecristo cigar I have? The two tubes I have are labeled "Platinum Series Rothchilde" and "Classic Collection El Conde".

My question is basically the same for the Romeo Y Julietas. The tube says "Rothchilde en Tubo", but nothing else regarding the cigar contained inside. It also states that this cigar is from the Dominican Republic, but I have also seen people talk about this brand as being a Cuban brand.

Again, please excuse me if this has been discussed before.

 

[capnwill]

Both of those cigars, along with alot more, are owned by the Altidas tobacco company. They had to cater to the american market because they couldn't stand to lose the business. I'm pretty sure that is right, but some of the old guys can tell you alot more about the subject than I can. But I do know the cubans and the dominicans are totally different lines completely.

 

[Macion Grey]

Montecristo of Cuba is owned by... Cuba. All Cuban cigar brands are nationalised. Habanos is the official distributor of Montecristo, as well as all other Cuban cigar brands.

Oh, and as previously stated, Altidas' version is the American 'rip off' of the Cuban original.

Between the original and the copy, there is no comparison. Try the Cuban Monte when you get the chance.



Edited spelling

 

[TheVitaleMob]

For some reason (most likely the embargo, but I'm not 100% sure), the US has refused to accept trademarks for brands from Cuba. This makes it fundamentally possible for Non Cuban cigars to have brand names originally given to Cuban Cigars. When the Cuban government nationalized the industry, many of the tobacco growers and brand owners left Cuba and re-established their brands in other Central American/Caribbean countries, most of the time with the same name of the cigar brand that they just left. These were eventually mostly bought out by GC or Altadis, who have registered the trademarks legally in the United States. If a cigar is for sale in a Brick & Mortar store in the US, I would automatically assume it's not a CC.

 

[flamchop]

You'll also see a lot of other Cuban brand names on non-Cuban cigars... like Punch, Partagas, H. Upmann, Hoyo de Monterrey, Cohiba.

For the most part I've found that the non-CC versions are nowhere near as good as the true CC's. Although I've had a few that were pretty good in their own right from Hoyo, Partagas, H. Upmann.

 

[RaveDigger]

So basically unless I can find the actual Cuban version of these brands, I should generally steer clear? What cigars < $10 would you recommend for a newb to walk into a store and buy (something fairly common and easy to find)? I've generally found that I like strong cigars, but I don't really know where to start. I went with the Montecristo and the Romeo Y Julieta cigars because they seemed like a big name that everyone was talking about.

Basically my process is to go to my not-so-local smoke shop and pick a cigar off the shelf based on how attractive it looks. I know this process isn't the best way to choose a cigar so I'll take any tips/tricks/recommendations that I can get.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[grateful1]

So basically unless I can find the actual Cuban version of these brands, I should generally steer clear? What cigars < $10 would you recommend for a newb to walk into a store and buy (something fairly common and easy to find)? I've generally found that I like strong cigars, but I don't really know where to start. I went with the Montecristo and the Romeo Y Julieta cigars because they seemed like a big name that everyone was talking about.

Basically my process is to go to my not-so-local smoke shop and pick a cigar off the shelf based on how attractive it looks. I know this process isn't the best way to choose a cigar so I'll take any tips/tricks/recommendations that I can get.

Thanks again for the advice!

The RyJ 1875(?) is nice.
The Monte White label is good.

 

[stevehawk]

So basically unless I can find the actual Cuban version of these brands, I should generally steer clear? What cigars < $10 would you recommend for a newb to walk into a store and buy (something fairly common and easy to find)? I've generally found that I like strong cigars, but I don't really know where to start. I went with the Montecristo and the Romeo Y Julieta cigars because they seemed like a big name that everyone was talking about.

Basically my process is to go to my not-so-local smoke shop and pick a cigar off the shelf based on how attractive it looks. I know this process isn't the best way to choose a cigar so I'll take any tips/tricks/recommendations that I can get.

Thanks again for the advice!

Some of the non-Cuban versions are quite good, and tastes are subjective.

Your initial process is fine. Just make sure to take notes on what you like and what you don't like -- then the folks in your shop can help you pick cigars that follow your tastes.

Also, read the threads here on what others are smoking, read some reviews, etc. You'll figure it all out. It's the process and the journey that make this hobby so fulfilling. Enjoy!

 

[RaveDigger]

It's refreshing to find a forum full of helpful people! I'm also a member of my350z.com and found that simple questions would be responded to with comments such as "FUCKING NOOOB!" and "USE THE SEARCH" even when I had stated that I had already tried searching for a thread related to my specific question. So basically thanks for not being like that!

 

[grateful1]

It's refreshing to find a forum full of helpful people! I'm also a member of my350z.com and found that simple questions would be responded to with comments such as "FUCKING NOOOB!" and "USE THE SEARCH" even when I had stated that I had already tried searching for a thread related to my specific question. So basically thanks for not being like that!

This is a kinder gentler CP! :blush:





:laugh:

 

[northernmoris]

It's refreshing to find a forum full of helpful people! I'm also a member of my350z.com and found that simple questions would be responded to with comments such as "FUCKING NOOOB!" and "USE THE SEARCH" even when I had stated that I had already tried searching for a thread related to my specific question. So basically thanks for not being like that!

This is a kinder gentler CP! :blush:





:laugh:

At the moment..

I was a member of a subaru forum, same type of people there as well....

 

[Joho]

It's refreshing to find a forum full of helpful people! I'm also a member of my350z.com and found that simple questions would be responded to with comments such as "FUCKING NOOOB!" and "USE THE SEARCH" even when I had stated that I had already tried searching for a thread related to my specific question. So basically thanks for not being like that!

This is a kinder gentler CP! :blush:





:laugh:

At the moment..

I was a member of a subaru forum, same type of people there as well....

Hmm, perhaps us RX-7 owners are a bit gentler? Not by much though. :laugh:

Anyways, your best bet is to do a lot of reading. If you're into more full-bodied smokes, I highly recommend the Padrón 2000. The non-Cuban Punch and Hoyo De Monterrey lines are also fantastic full-bodied smokes for a good price; all three of these generally cost about $3-5 a stick, definitely in your price range.

 

[PhatCat]

It's been awhile since I've been able to enjoy a cigar. But I spent the winter trying to fill my vino up a bit.

So last night I had a chance to go for a late night drive to run an errand and I used it as an excuse to bring one along to smoke. Thought I would start with something that wasn't one I really wanted to sit down to enjoy. Brought a Romeo Y Julieta that was given to me by my brother-in-law for Christmas. Non-cuban. Well, to be frank, it wasn't very good... The first third/half was alright but the rest was pretty tough to finish. Could be it was me smoking for the first time in a couple months but I don't think I'll be purchasing anymore of the non-cuban version anytime soon.

Someday I'll get a chance to try a ISOM but until then there are so many other great smokes I dig. Fuente, Padron, etc. I have some 2000 Maduros I can hardly wait to sit down to try.

BR

 

[northernmoris]

So basically unless I can find the actual Cuban version of these brands, I should generally steer clear? What cigars < $10 would you recommend for a newb to walk into a store and buy (something fairly common and easy to find)? I've generally found that I like strong cigars, but I don't really know where to start. I went with the Montecristo and the Romeo Y Julieta cigars because they seemed like a big name that everyone was talking about.

Basically my process is to go to my not-so-local smoke shop and pick a cigar off the shelf based on how attractive it looks. I know this process isn't the best way to choose a cigar so I'll take any tips/tricks/recommendations that I can get.

Thanks again for the advice!

PM Nasty he'll send you out a nice sampler..

 

[TheVitaleMob]

So basically unless I can find the actual Cuban version of these brands, I should generally steer clear? What cigars < $10 would you recommend for a newb to walk into a store and buy (something fairly common and easy to find)? I've generally found that I like strong cigars, but I don't really know where to start. I went with the Montecristo and the Romeo Y Julieta cigars because they seemed like a big name that everyone was talking about.

Basically my process is to go to my not-so-local smoke shop and pick a cigar off the shelf based on how attractive it looks. I know this process isn't the best way to choose a cigar so I'll take any tips/tricks/recommendations that I can get.

Thanks again for the advice!

There is no guarantee that a CC will taste better than a Non-CC. Try everything you can get your hands on and figure out what you like. As a matter of fact, some of the best cigars in the world today are NOT being produced in Cuba. Some of the stuff coming out of Don Pepin Garcia's factories are absolutely phenomenal (Read Pete Johnson's Tatuaje and Dion's Illusione). Once you find out what you like, buy more and smoke the hell out of em!

Smoke what you like, Like what you smoke.

-C