Fugly Stick - Your Surprise Cigar

[TheBaron]

Late last week I decided to procrastinate for 15 minutes or so before getting stuck into the backyard mowing. The question was, which stick to spark up? I quickly settled on one of my five remaining Upmann Mag 48 LEs from 2009. After all, I hadn't had one out of the 25 I enjoyed yet, so surely pitching it after 10-15 minutes would be of no concern. There was no way it was going to be any good since I'd dropped it in water few years back, not to mention it had a cracked foot and the band look like something extracted from inside a hobo.

This was one of the ugliest sticks I've ever seen. The redheaded step child of Cubans.

Yet, an hour and half later I was still extracting all I could from the nub of one of the most enjoyable CCs I've ever had. Silky, almost chewable chocolate with nary a rough edge or any kind of harshness the whole way through.

Needless to say, the lawn's pretty overgrown right now...

I had no positive expectations going in, and I now guard the remaining four fuglies like my own children.

Ever had a cigar you've previously disliked become one of your favourites?

 

[MrGlass]

I had a similar experience with a 10 count box of Partagas 8-9-8's.  I got them to see what all the fuss was about, and they were all veiny and ugly looking.  Each year I would try one with the lowest of expectations and still be underwhelmed until about 4-5 years in, when they suddenly turned into these absolutely wonderful sticks of pure delight despite their appearance.  Once they had turned, I had a hard time holding back on those remaining.  Unfortunately I have never been able to replace them, but I always keep an eye out, this time knowing not to even bother until they have a long sleep.

[Onelove]

I've had a near identical experience with the one box of 48's I smoked through with the uglier ones being better, a couple of other ones are every montecarlos I've ever had and Partagas petit coronas especiales three ugliest ones in the box were fantastic.

[RijkdeGooier]

The box of SLR Regios I started on recently. 

After my initial smoke a few years back I never expected them to become good, but they did redeem themselves in spectacular fashion. 

[Philc2001]

When I first got the 2001 EL Partagas SD3s I was sort of shocked by their dark maduro wrappers, and I was not at all pleased with their rough and edgy flavor. Fast forward 15 years and wow, they have smoothed out and taken a brand new character. They are so much more enjoyable now, but the problem is I only have a 5 or so left