Non-Cubans

[nsills]

Just started on the road to CC's; My favorite so far has been the RACA and Lusitanias. Curious as to who still regularly stocks NC's. Which brands do you buy? Do you buy boxes or only singles?

Myself I still buy some Padron Anniversary Series, Fuente Hemingways, Davidoffs, Crowned Heads releases and have just recently tried some Liga series from Drew Estate.

[seattledude]

[Guest Nekhyludov]

Anniversarios have always been in my rotation. I just picked up a couple boxes of Davidoff Puro D'Oro after they were discontinued, which I can't believe since that was easily the best line they had IMO. E.P. Carrillo has some fantastic smokes lately, so I grabbed a box of the 2016 Short Run. And I've got a box of Opus X robusto that I stumbled across last Christmas. 

I certainly love CCs, but the best NCs are enjoyable as hell! And it's nice to be able to buy from my local B&M once in a while. 

[rhcolbert]

Tatuaje lines. Love em. Pardrons and that's it for NCs for me 

[Jimmy_jack]

I've smoke many NC lately trying to find something comparable that I would enjoy. I know that Cubans are not the end all be all of the cigar world...but so many NC are just plain terrible. My NC selection is this, Warped Cigars, Tatuaje and Illusione. Those cigars focus on flavor profile. Get you some of those and you'll be happy. 

The problem with most NC is they are stuffed with ligero. There is that sentiment I think, that if your mouth is on fire its a good smoke. To hell with that...I want to enjoy my cigar not suffer through it. Illusione Epernay uses no ligero. Warped and Tatuaje use ligero but they have a balance that is enjoyable. 

[rhcolbert]

5 minutes ago, Jimmy_jack said:

I've smoke many NC lately trying to find something comparable that I would enjoy. I know that Cubans are not the end all be all of the cigar world...but so many NC are just plain terrible. My NC selection is this, Warped Cigars, Tatuaje and Illusione. Those cigars focus on flavor profile. Get you some of those and you'll be happy. 

The problem with most NC is they are stuffed with ligero. There is that sentiment I think, that if your mouth is on fire its a good smoke. To hell with that...I want to enjoy my cigar not suffer through it. Illusione Epernay uses no ligero. Warped and Tatuaje use ligero but they have a balance that is enjoyable. 

Truth! I remember my days I college working in s cigar shop and several brands touting "double ligero"

[zappaFREAK]

I must admit it has been quite awhile since I have had a Nc. My go tos were always opus, pardon, and hemmingways. I am quite happy living in the Cuban world!

[awkwardPause]

Mostly Illusione these days. I have an incredible amount of respect for Dion and his vision (not to mention consistency) over the years.

Also enjoy an occasional Tatuaje reserva, My Father, and Warped (Aganorsa leaf similar to the Illusiones).

[Notsocleaver]

Love most Illusiones, save for the maduros. Tats are good too, but I pass on most of the broadleaf stuff. Their standard brown label with three years of age is a nice cigar.

[Jimmy_jack]

19 minutes ago, awkwardPause said:

Mostly Illusione these days. I have an incredible amount of respect for Dion and his vision (not to mention consistency) over the years.

Also enjoy an occasional Tatuaje reserva, My Father, and Warped (Aganorsa leaf similar to the Illusiones).

Warped and Illusione are rolled at the same factory and both use Aganorsa from the same farm. Thats why they share flavor profiles. Warped from Miami are great too.

[Tonytyson2009]

Waiting for my first 24:24 CC order to come in, if all goes well I may never smoke a NC again! But since you asked here are a few of the NC I enjoy!

[JohnInCleveland]

The problem for me is there are so many damn great Cubans that I adore and every time I think I've tried em all I discover something new and I love it.  There's only so much time in a day and when I like 95% of the Cubans I try, those are good odds.  

 

I don't look down on NC, I'm not a snob, but I'm the same way with wines and liquors.  I'm sure there's a wine out there that is my dream wine, but if I find one I love, I don't have to buy 10 bottles I hate to try and find the holy grail.  

 

 

[skalls]

I smoke probably 85% CCs to 15% NCs.  The NCs that I do smoke are both Oliva Serie Vs, Liga Privadas, Padron, a couple Rocky cigars and not much else.  Don't really care to try most NCs.

I'd prefer a cheap stick when I'm golfing just to help take my mind off my game and not necessarily focus on the journey a cigar can take me on.  Prefer those types of cigars when I'm relaxing on my deck

[Dude]

Hemingway Short Story

monte jacopo 2

[rxavier1979]

I love all cigars from all over. I liken it to wine. A great Brunello, Barolo, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Priorat and many California and Washington State wines in my wine cellar at all times.   All of these regions have both excellent and poor examples representing them.  But I absolutely do not think of one region being better than the other. I do have my favorites but definitely more than one. 

 

I absolutely LOVE Warped Cigars. In order by preference, La Colmena, Maestro Del Tiempo, El Oso, Corto.  I own a box of each. I also own Mi Querida, Foundation Tabernacle, L'Atellier La Mission, Crux Du Connoisseur, Padron Family Reserve 45 Maduro, Protocol Lancero, Charter Oak Connecticut and many various singles. I like some Opus X but to be honest, I prefer the Don Carlos 10 year and the hemmingway. I love Illusione and some tatuaje but don't own any boxes yet. I ABSOLUTELY agree with what was said about the obscene proportion of ligero leaves used in some blends. That and 60+ ring gauge cigars are getting so ridiculous...

 

I love them all and I think the fact that I have access to such variety is the reason I keep appreciating my favorites since I tend to get bored of them if I go to any one cigar too frequently. One thing I will say is that when a Cuban Cigar is at its best, there isn't much that can touch that level of experience. But I find that I have a lower chance of being let down with non-Cubans in terms of quality and readiness.

I love H.Upmann, Partagas, Cohiba, Ramon Allones, HdM, Bolívar, Montecristo and Juan Lopez the most on the Cuban side and in that order for now at least. 

[tengel78]

I'm converting to almost 100% CC at the moment.  After trying a bunch of CC's, the choice is easy for me.  I will probably keep some Opus in my rotation, but that's about it.

[BMWBen]

Does anyone have any Davidoff suggestions? I've never tried any and after seeing how many different lines they have I don't know where to start.

[bman75]

I still buy some NCs for purposes of variety and cost.  The Honduran Punch line is simple and tasty, like mashed potatoes and gravy.  Unbranded bundle versions can be had for $1.25/stick if you know where to look.  Great for give aways to buddies.  For some reason, I have a hard time parting with even JLPs for friends who only smoke occasionally.

I still smoke a good number of Connecticut shade cigars.  The Occidental Reserve line is a bundle cigar made in one of the Davidoff group's factories.  It's the only non-Davidoff that has some of the trademark Davidoff musty/fungal characteristics.  The corona is the only size that does it well.  Great value. 

Used to buy a lot of full-bodied Nicaraguans when I started smoking.  Kind of like when I only listened to Led Zeppelin for three years in my youth, I'm just burnt out and don't enjoy them any more, even after many years.  I'll have a Tat or Illusione now and then since I seem to tolerate those more.  The only Nicaraguan puro I seek out is the Davidoff, but the price is prohibitive.

Still buy singles to support my local shops - Fuente (Hemmingway and Grand Reserva only), Henry Clay (original), LFD, Ashton, Caldwell, Davidoff.  But I always think about how that $ could have gone towards the next 24/24 when they ring me up.

[bman75]

13 minutes ago, BMWBen said:

Does anyone have any Davidoff suggestions? I've never tried any and after seeing how many different lines they have I don't know where to start.

For the Davidoff Connecticuts (white label), the tried and true is the Thousands series line.   The 2000 petite corona is a big seller as it usually runs ~$15 retail and doesn't break the bank.  The Millennial, Aniversario, and Winston Churchill lines kick up the body a little - also great cigars.  The Gran Cru line kicks it up a bit more, too much for my taste as the shade wrapper flavor doesn't come through as much.   The Classics line is the most mild (too mild for me) but they come in great skinny sizes.  I believe the Classics line is being discontinued. 

For non-shade Davidoffs (black label), I really like the Nicaraguan.  I'd smoke more Nicaraguan tobacco if it was blended with this kind of balance.  Fantastic.  I only had one of the new Yamasas, which is a Dominican puro.  Fullest Davidoff I have ever had but enjoyed it much.  Highly recommended for Opus fans.  I found the maduro Escurio line to be boring.

[garbandz]

 

25 minutes ago, BMWBen said:

Does anyone have any Davidoff suggestions? I've never tried any and after seeing how many different lines they have I don't know where to start.

start with the cheap ones.........

[HoyoFan]

Agreed with what's already been said above. I took the CC plunge about 1.5 years ago when I discovered this wonderful place.

I still enjoy the occasional Padron and Fuente Anejos are just delicious. But given the price range, I realize that I can be smoking a Cuban for basically the same money. Since I don't have one that often, I'd rather invest in what I'll truly enjoy.

[zeedubbya]

51 minutes ago, BMWBen said:

Does anyone have any Davidoff suggestions? I've never tried any and after seeing how many different lines they have I don't know where to start.

I absolutely love the Davidoff Winston Churchill Belicoso.  4.5 by 46, comes in a Tin of 4 around $30.  Great place to start in my mind.  

I'm with everyone else here--Illusione, Tat, Padrón, My Father.  The Caibaguan Guapos is a fantastic inexpensive cigar from Tatuaje I think.  I am not an Opus Fan, although I do like the Anejos (with some age) and Casa Fuentes.  Some EP Carrillo cigars are really nice as well.  Just my 2 cents.  

[BMWBen]

1 hour ago, bman75 said:

For the Davidoff Connecticuts (white label), the tried and true is the Thousands series line.   The 2000 petite corona is a big seller as it usually runs ~$15 retail and doesn't break the bank.  The Millennial, Aniversario, and Winston Churchill lines kick up the body a little - also great cigars.  The Gran Cru line kicks it up a bit more, too much for my taste as the shade wrapper flavor doesn't come through as much.   The Classics line is the most mild (too mild for me) but they come in great skinny sizes.  I believe the Classics line is being discontinued. 

For non-shade Davidoffs (black label), I really like the Nicaraguan.  I'd smoke more Nicaraguan tobacco if it was blended with this kind of balance.  Fantastic.  I only had one of the new Yamasas, which is a Dominican puro.  Fullest Davidoff I have ever had but enjoyed it much.  Highly recommended for Opus fans.  I found the maduro Escurio line to be boring.

Great run down of the different lines, Thank you!

[Guest Nekhyludov]

15 minutes ago, BMWBen said:

Does anyone have any Davidoff suggestions? I've never tried any and after seeing how many different lines they have I don't know where to start.

I have to admit that I never cared much for Davidoff. Always seemed way overpriced (2-3 times the price of a CC) for a pretty ordinary smoke. But I have to recommend the Puro D'Oro line if you can find any left. They're not horribly priced and I think they're pretty damn good. They have a great wet hay smell cold, and the smoke is peppery and earthy. The Gigantes I have evolve really nicely from start to finish. 

I'm surprised by how much enthusiasm there is here for Tatajue and Illusione. The guy at my local B&M tried to sell me on them by describing them as "spice bombs," which sounds awful. Maybe I'll have to check them out after all. 

[Realmikemeadows]

Well let me start by saying I like most from the u.s. got started with NC's I have had several CC's over the years but maybe 1 of 10 "took me for a ride". I'm a huge tatuaje fan. The way Pete uses the Connecticut Broadleaf is amazing. In fact I think just about everything from the Pepin factory is solid. I've heard several guys say that NCs are not as complex and sometimes one dimensional however in most cases when guys are smoking an NC, it's right off the shelf in a tobacconist and hasn't had time to mellow. As for CC you know in most cases it has been in someone's humidor. There also is far more emphasis on aging in the CC Commuunity and we all know most of the time age does wonders for any cigar whether it be CC or NC. All that being said I like most appreciate the fact we are able to have the choice. There an occasion for every stick no matter where the factory is..And I love the experiences that come along with all of them.

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