Cuban Cigars are so much better...or are they?

[Kaptain Karl]

CC's are just so much better! 

I'm doing some continuing education for my mortgage license and thought it'd be a good time to dig into my aging NC stock to help pass the time. Lit up a 2 year old My Father Lancero, and stopped smoking it 1/3 of the way through. WAY too much pepper, and the after taste was harsh (never get that on CC's). There was some nice rich flavor under the pepper, but my lord, just way too much. I lit up a monte 5 to compare side my side, and the monte blew it away.. 

[hunterbeav]

CC's are just so much better! 
I'm doing some continuing education for my mortgage license and thought it'd be a good time to dig into my aging NC stock to help pass the time. Lit up a 2 year old My Father Lancero, and stopped smoking it 1/3 of the way through. WAY too much pepper, and the after taste was harsh (never get that on CC's). There was some nice rich flavor under the pepper, but my lord, just way too much. I lit up a monte 5 to compare side my side, and the monte blew it away.. 

I have a few non Cubans I still like but only a few....

But since I started smoking Cubans it's hard to reach for anything else lol.....

I'm in love.........or lust

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[Kaptain Karl]

Just now, hunterbeav said:

I have a few non Cubans I still like but only a few....

But since I started smoking Cubans it's hard to reach for anything else lol.....

I'm in love.........or lust

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Exactly! I have a few I still smoke at my local b&m. Illusione Epernay's are fantastic, as are the God of Fire Serie B's I received as a gift. Problem is, those GoF serie B cost the same as Cobiba Esplindidos...I'll take the Espy's any day of the week! 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Still love Tatuaje cigars; the only non-Habanos I buy anymore. Pete Johnson & Co do a fantastic job - especially with the Monsters special release every year at Halloween. In fact, if you love yourself a nice Boli PC or PLPC and would like something similar but of a non Habano, try Tatuaje Monsters Skinny Tiff.

[hunterbeav]

Exactly! I have a few I still smoke at my local b&m. Illusione Epernay's are fantastic, as are the God of Fire Serie B's I received as a gift. Problem is, those GoF serie B cost the same as Cobiba Esplindidos...I'll take the Espy's any day of the week! 

Leaf by Oscar Maduro

They are very good but not as complex as most Cubans I've smoked..

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[JoeyBones777]

1 hour ago, JeffreyLebowski said:

Still love Tatuaje cigars; the only non-Habanos I buy anymore. Pete Johnson & Co do a fantastic job - especially with the Monsters special release every year at Halloween. In fact, if you love yourself a nice Boli PC or PLPC and would like something similar but of a non Habano, try Tatuaje Monsters Skinny Tiff.

For me it is Illusione! Epernay, Haut 10, ECCJ, Singulare Miserere are right up there with Cubans for me. They are the only NC's I like as much as CC'S. 

[Al3xanderdelag]

I think people are too quick to write off NC's as a whole. There's a lot of gems to be found especially in the boutique brands. I enjoy both CCs and NC s equally

[Burningman]

2 hours ago, Al3xanderdelag said:

I think people are too quick to write off NC's as a whole. There's a lot of gems to be found especially in the boutique brands. I enjoy both CCs and NC s equally

I guess its a simple matter of preference. I definitely have not written off NCs however my issue with the NC market is the vastness of different products available. Finding those gems takes a good amount of effort. Effort I am just not willing to make. I have my 3 favorites which are the aforementioned Tat Petit Reserva, Regular Padron Lonsdales, and some panatelas from an independent company I discovered a few years ago. Also the trend to produce heavier ring gauges in abundance and veer away from making smaller cigars limits the selections available for me. I went to a lounge a few weeks back and they had maybe 4-5 cigars under 50rg. Half of those were Tatuaje anyway so I purchased a Petit Cazadores and called it a day.

 

[Derboesekoenig]

11 hours ago, Al3xanderdelag said:

I think people are too quick to write off NC's as a whole. There's a lot of gems to be found especially in the boutique brands. I enjoy both CCs and NC s equally

You're probably right, but every time I compare and look at prices...I end up buying more boxes of CCs. Oh well

[hunterbeav]

You're probably right, but every time I compare and look at prices...I end up buying more boxes of CCs. Oh well

Exactly.......I find that for me most times the cc's are the same price or cheaper then what I'm looking at in NC cigars...

Why not smoke the Cuban..lol

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[Kaptain Karl]

IMO, top NC blenders are far better than CC’s. However, CC leaf is far superior to NC leaf. CC leaf has less nicotine, yet has much more flavor and richness. Also, there’s not a lot of variation in NC flavors, it’s the same wood, leather, pepper and some other things over and over and over again. You’re not gonna get cherry, stewed fruit, and some of the other bright, wonderful flavors we get with CC’s. 

[JoeyBones777]

2 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

IMO, top NC blenders are far better than CC’s. However, CC leaf is far superior to NC leaf. CC leaf has less nicotine, yet has much more flavor and richness. Also, there’s not a lot of variation in NC flavors, it’s the same wood, leather, pepper and some other things over and over and over again. You’re not gonna get cherry, stewed fruit, and some of the other bright, wonderful flavors we get with CC’s. 

I would agree with that. Take NC blenders and give them Cuban leaf and we would have the best of both worlds. I would be interested to see what Dion Giolito would do with Cuban tobacco.?

[hunterbeav]

I would agree with that. Take NC blenders and give them Cuban leaf and we would have the best of both worlds. I would be interested to see what Dion Giolito would do with Cuban tobacco.

Why can't it be done.....lol

Let the powers that be make it happen

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[blakeLA]

19 minutes ago, JoeyBones777 said:

I would agree with that. Take NC blenders and give them Cuban leaf and we would have the best of both worlds. I would be interested to see what Dion Giolito would do with Cuban tobacco.?

Ha!  What an experience that would be. 

There's also something to be said about the consistency of construction for NCs.  I still smoke Padron, My father, and some LFD.  Agree with @Burningman, the stronger, oilier Dominicans need some real time.  I have some 2015 My Father limiteds that are excellent.  But had one the other day and thought wow, these need another 5 years.

[JohnS]

Dear friends,

I've split this topic from another one as that was about the ubiquitous Partagas Serie D No.4 and this topic emerged from that one. My view? I feel as I though I couldn't comment objectively on this subject as I don't smoke Non-Cubans in general, for no other reason than I have enough Cubans to smoke through!

[WABOOM]

It all depends on an individual's taste. I love both. Some non-Cubans I love are: Illusione, Warped, Jas Sum Kral, Opus X, and Cameroon's from various makers.

[JamesKPolkEsq]

When I first started smoking, I was very interested in the best value cigars... A box of Padron long and skinnies at $2.50 each is tough to beat! 

As the price of NC has crept up, it has become challenging to justify spending roughly the same amount on NCs as CCs. I'd rather have the Partagas Shorts at $5 per than the Tat Noellas at $10...

[Derboesekoenig]

14 minutes ago, JamesKPolkEsq said:

When I first started smoking, I was very interested in the best value cigars... A box of Padron long anf skinnies at $2.50 each is tough to beat! 

As the price of NC has crept up, it has become challenging to justify spending roughly the same amount on NCs as CCs. I'd rather have the Partagas Shorts at $5 per than the Tat Noellas at $10...

Completely agree. I haven't had any even halfway decent NC sticks under $10. I'd always grab a Partagas short. And at CUC price, less than $3.50/per, just cannot beat it.

[reliefdvm]

I think cuban tobacco is the best. NC definitely have an edge in quality control. If I am going out I definitely have to bring 2 or 3 skinny cubans in case I need to pitch a plugged one, not a problem with an NC.

[Burningman]

3 hours ago, JamesKPolkEsq said:

When I first started smoking, I was very interested in the best value cigars... A box of Padron long anf skinnies at $2.50 each is tough to beat! 

As the price of NC has crept up, it has become challenging to justify spending roughly the same amount on NCs as CCs. I'd rather have the Partagas Shorts at $5 per than the Tat Noellas at $10...

 

3 hours ago, Derboesekoenig said:

Completely agree. I haven't had any even halfway decent NC sticks under $10. I'd always grab a Partagas short. And at CUC price, less than $3.50/per, just cannot beat it.

In order to find decent priced NC you have to do a lot of digging. As @JamesKPolkEsq says Padron makes a great value cigar but finding anything else that is reasonably priced and is quality is a difficult exercise. There's this giant hype machine pushing NC all over the place and the vendors inflate prices. Many spend so much on elaborate packaging, branding, and "swag" to try and get more people on the bandwagon. It's a big reason I don't bother with it.

Many times I find that when I smoke a NC I find I think its solid but IMO should be sold at a lot lower price point simply because I have enjoyed other smokes that are much more reasonably priced just as much. Often times I find I enjoyed the cheaper smoke a lot more.

[TBird55]

IMO yes they are....

[cigcars]

   *My B&M tobacconist, knowing my tastes, gave me a cigar (a double corona, bordering on toro thickness) and didn't tell me the brand. I told him I'm more into lonsdale and torpedo sizes nowadays. So he didn't charge me for it, but kept insisting I try it. So when I took it home it sat for pretty good while, and then some time later I went on and smoked it just so I could tell him I did. **The guy knows my tastes! I went back and told him that was the BEST NC I can remember enjoying for a long time! It turned out it was an Andalusian Bull. I also really enjoy Aurora and La Flor Dominicana's too. 

[Al3xanderdelag]

20 hours ago, Burningman said:

I guess its a simple matter of preference. I definitely have not written off NCs however my issue with the NC market is the vastness of different products available. Finding those gems takes a good amount of effort. Effort I am just not willing to make. I have my 3 favorites which are the aforementioned Tat Petit Reserva, Regular Padron Lonsdales, and some panatelas from an independent company I discovered a few years ago. Also the trend to produce heavier ring gauges in abundance and veer away from making smaller cigars limits the selections available for me. I went to a lounge a few weeks back and they had maybe 4-5 cigars under 50rg. Half of those were Tatuaje anyway so I purchased a Petit Cazadores and called it a day.

 

To me finding the right stick is just part of the adventure. Sure you're gonna find some of them to be sub par but the ones you find that are stellar will just make it just better. 

[Riverstyx]

10 hours ago, cigcars said:

   *My B&M tobacconist, knowing my tastes, gave me a cigar (a double corona, bordering on toro thickness) and didn't tell me the brand. I told him I'm more into lonsdale and torpedo sizes nowadays. So he didn't charge me for it, but kept insisting I try it. So when I took it home it sat for pretty good while, and then some time later I went on and smoked it just so I could tell him I did. **The guy knows my tastes! I went back and told him that was the BEST NC I can remember enjoying for a long time! It turned out it was an Andalusian Bull. I also really enjoy Aurora and La Flor Dominicana's too. 

Andalusian Bull is fantastic. Prob my fav NC. But I need 3 hours to smoke it!

[Derboesekoenig]

10 hours ago, Al3xanderdelag said:

To me finding the right stick is just part of the adventure. Sure you're gonna find some of them to be sub par but the ones you find that are stellar will just make it just better. 

I don't have enough time for CCs, let alone NC to start that adventure lol I have too many as is. I've got some Opus X lying down for a nice long nap though