Custom roll questions/help

[stogieluver]

A friend of mine on another forum has asked the following questions of me because he knows I've been to the island.  When I went five years ago, I was ignorant of custom rolls.  I wish I knew then what I know now.  I would have loaded up.  But I digress.  Here are his questions.  Any help so I can respond to him would be appreciated.  I'm too lazy and short on time today to search.  He's about to depart for the island.  I can make suggestions to his first question, if he's asking about regular production cigars, but not if he's asking about light to medium customs.  I'd be surprised if there are any light/medium custom rolls, but what do I know. 
 

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Just a couple of questions, if you don't mind.

Looking for robusto or corona, light to medium cigars. Any suggestions?

If I meet a custom roller at a shop, I can tell them size and style? They can roll whatever I want and are fully trustworthy? Is there pricing in line with other cigars?

 

 

[Bartolomeo]

Alex robustos are about $93 a bundle for medium profile as a FYI

rollers may or may not have time to roll to his specifications all depending on their time and leaf available 

 

 BTW, Hotty Toddy! Really Hugh??

[Customsfan]

On ‎2‎/‎1‎/‎2017 at 9:57 PM, danny said:

There are days that you are going to get some subpar wrappers and others fantastic wrappers.  Just depends on when you catch them.  If you're there for a short trip, you'll probably end up buying whatever they have available; they're not going to stop rolling completely because the tobacco isn't the best.  As someone said, theres money to be made.  But if you do have the time to stop by another day, the rollers will tell you to come back and to pass on current stock.  Different times of the year, events, and overall amount of traffic/buyers can make sourcing great tobacco a bit tough, let alone keeping any stock to begin with.  But regardless, I've found that the flavors from each "Roller's" cigars are quite consistent from batch-to-batch.  Of course you have consider the fact that you might be smoking various vitolas, of various ages, and other variables.  But even with that, I can reach for any one of the customs I have an know what to expect and have yet to be suprised.

I guess to each his own.  Anyways, here's what comes to mind as far as profile/flavors go:

Yolanda - Creamy, smooth, and balanced.  Think a lighter version of a Siglo VI, without to much grassiness   Maybe half the ligero of a cigar that already has half ligero.  Solid Medium to me.  Favorite vitola would be the Canonazo (Siglo VI) over the Piramide, personally.  The custom shagfoot bundle I was able to get was even better.

Alex - I found these to be gearing up more towards the Medium to Medium-Full range.  Deeper, more complex flavors.  Great construction (as I've found with most rollers in Havana anyways)  Favorite so far would be the Robusto or Robustos Supremos w/ shagfoot (also special ordered)

Jorge -  In the case of the Monsdales, is where I've noticed the wrapper quality issue the most.  My 1st bundle had green spots while the most recent bundle are a beautiful maduro color.  BUT, I found that the flavor profile was consistent, even though they were years apart (of course taking into consideration the age of the cigars).  There was a slight edge in preference for the better looking cigars, but that could be just in my mind.  Flavor-wise, I would say their medium-full with more of a kick than Alex's.  A very flavorful and unique blend, with a size I absolute love.  You need to smoke this one nice and slow or you'll find it getting too hot and altering the profile.  Age on these also does them wonders (unless you're able to smoke them within the month they were rolled for profile that cannot be replicated once past that point; love them fresh!) 

Reynaldo -  Had some of his famous, extra long lanceros of his of course.  This cigars is what comes to mind when I think "Cuban Custom Roll".  It has that "custom", rugged, hand-rolled, flavor profile.  Something that you could imagine a roller rolling for himself to smoke.  Medium-full (Full for a lancero), with a extra kick that makes up for the RG.  Another one you need to smoke slowly to be rewarded. Very unique profile younger.  Personally, I liked this cigar better with the edge slightly taken off.  Think Juan Lopez characteristics with 6 months vs. 18-24

My very long 2-cents.  Either way, I've always been a fan of customs.  And like another brother had mentioned, if they tasted or were meant to taste like another cigar, I'd rather buy the banded version instead.  

I went in June.    Have smoked Alex's cigars, Yolanda's, and Juanita's.  All of them, to me, are very smooth and medium body at the most.  But when I spoke to them, I told them what I wanted.  So maybe they gave me Mild-to-medium sticks because I asked. 

Have to say they were all wonderful and approachable.  That was my experience.

[stogieluver]

1 hour ago, Bartolomeo said:

Alex robustos are about $93 a bundle for medium profile as a FYI

rollers may or may not have time to roll to his specifications all depending on their time and leaf available 

 

 BTW, Hotty Toddy! Really Hugh??

I thought about pm'ing you about this, but then I thought with your jet setting lifestyle you wouldn't respond for a few days.  LOL! 

Where is Alex located?  I can't keep up. 

You really know how to kick a Rebel when we're down (which is most of the time). 

Seriously, thanks for the response.  And this thing with Freeze is just one of the most surprising things I think I've ever experience in Ole Miss sports.  Good luck to your gators this year.  Maybe one of us can have a fun season. 

Thanks, Bart. 

[stogieluver]

1 hour ago, Customsfan said:

I went in June.    Have smoked Alex's cigars, Yolanda's, and Juanita's.  All of them, to me, are very smooth and medium body at the most.  But when I spoke to them, I told them what I wanted.  So maybe they gave me Mild-to-medium sticks because I asked. 

Have to say they were all wonderful and approachable.  That was my experience.

Where are these rollers located?  Thanks in advance for all the great info.

[ayepatz]

When I was there last year, I picked up Robustos and Canonazos from Reynaldo in the Conde de Villanueva, Piramides from Yolanda in the Hotel Melia Habana, and Churchills and Lanceros from Alex in the Hotel Comodoro.

None have been less than medium bodied, with the Lanceros being the fullest bodied (albeit in the second half).

Flavourwise, I have found sweetness in most of the cigars, and lots of creaminess. Also common, I have found, are floral notes.

[Customsfan]

 

14 minutes ago, stogieluver said:

Where are these rollers located?  Thanks in advance for all the great info.

check out this link.

http://www.cigarinspector.com/cuban-cigars-info/havana-custom-rolled-cigars

 

[cybermadhatter]

another vote here for Yolonda's cigars at melia habana; robustos, pc, and coronas, and

next door, at the Comodoro Hotel, (they just moved the lcdh to the green bungalows), the Alex rolled coronas ($2.60 each) and the pc and lancero.

The shaggy foot 'prince' cigars I purchased a couple weeks back are on the stronger side.

 

All are in Miramar, about an $8 cab ride from Vedado.

[cybermadhatter]

The Master at work, at Comodoro

 

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