Lighter NCs for Habanos aficionados

[BettyHumpder]

Aladino Natural line is the closest experience i've had to CC in NC format. many of their other offerings (maduro, cameroon, classic, etc.) are not very good, but the natural is phenomenal. i prefer robusto or elegantes (lancero). their corojo reserva is very good as well, but full bodied.

[Cigar Surgeon]

9 hours ago, BettyHumpder said:

Aladino Natural line is the closest experience i've had to CC in NC format. many of their other offerings (maduro, cameroon, classic, etc.) are not very good, but the natural is phenomenal. i prefer robusto or elegantes (lancero). their corojo reserva is very good as well, but full bodied.

Honestly I feel like anyone here who wants to try an NC out should start with Aladino because they'd be hard pressed to find a cigar they wouldn't appreciate.

[SCgarman]

Just an update on the box of Illusione Epernay La Grande I received a few days ago. Fired up one tonight. Really good cigar. I'm impressed. Same size as a Juan Lopez #1. Chocolate. Tons of it galore, a bit of leather. Very refined. No harsh pepper. Smooth. A unique blend i have never experienced in a NC. This box of 25 was 205 USD. I have been curious about this brand for sometime, and decided to just pull the trigger and take a chance. They are real good. All Nicaraguan tobacco rolled in Honduras. Looking forward to the next one.

[ElReyDel757]

44 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

Just an update on the box of Illusione Epernay La Grande I received a few days ago. Fired up one tonight. Really good cigar. I'm impressed. Same size as a Juan Lopez #1. Chocolate. Tons of it galore, a bit of leather. Very refined. No harsh pepper. Smooth. A unique blend i have never experienced in a NC. This box of 25 was 205 USD. I have been curious about this brand for sometime, and decided to just pull the trigger and take a chance. They are real good. All Nicaraguan tobacco rolled in Honduras. Looking forward to the next one.

Agreed. The Ilusione Epernay is definitely box worthy, and the best NC I’ve had, along with Plasencia.  I tasted cocoa, vanilla, citrus, baking spices, and it definitely has the “Cuban twang”.

[yossie]

Alma Fuerte Robusto from Plasencia is pretty nice.  I only smoked 2 sticks though, The fruity and medium-full without pepper one in Cuban cigar scale, is a must buy item.

I'm very gravitated to buy 3 boxes of the salomones..

[ha_banos]

Good to see some of the few I've tried and liked on the lists.

Also good is that I don't feel the need to hoard because there are so many and available. No limited edicions so far that I've tried. So can keep the precious space for the Cuban hoard already there. And get singles or the odd box if I find something to have at hand.

There have been a couple of limited runs though that I hear are great from Dalay.

Also to add or add votes for

Aladino Cameroon Corojo

AF short story (not Maduro)

Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 2 Funador

 

[cigcars]

     *I would say that the closest to Habana taste and flavor, as well as true quality NC's would be, in my humble opinion:

      * Castagli  Daughters of the Dust

      * Oliva Melanio V's

      * And for honorable mention: they may not be close in flavor and taste to Habano's but they are very enjoyable: Don Carlos Cameroon wrapper cigars

      * Fonseca XX Millinium cigars (probably the one and only time I'd recommend a Non-Cuban over a Habana Cuban. With the disappearance of the Fonseca Invictos, 

         that line of Cubans (Cosacos, KDT) have to be the weakest, sorriest Habanos in the world. Even Guantanamero's would be preferable to those)

    

[KCCubano]

15 minutes ago, cigcars said:

     *I would say that the closest to Habana taste and flavor, as well as true quality NC's would be, in my humble opinion:

      * Castagli  Daughters of the Dust

      * Oliva Melanio V's

      * And for honorable mention: they may not be close in flavor and taste to Habano's but they are very enjoyable: Don Carlos Cameroon wrapper cigars

      * Fonseca XX Millinium cigars (probably the one and only time I'd recommend a Non-Cuban over a Habana Cuban. With the disappearance of the Fonseca Invictos, 

         that line of Cubans (Cosacos, KDT) have to be the weakest, sorriest Habanos in the world. Even Guantanamero's would be preferable to those)

    

I have had Casdagli Daughters of The Winds Robusto and they are very good. Need to try a few of the Lanceros

[gcman68]

My two favorites for my friends who ask the same question.

Ashton Cabinet Selection

Tatuaje Cabaiguan

Both come in multiple sizes and you can easily find singles online. 

[Vedado_Joe]

On 1/21/2023 at 1:41 AM, BettyHumpder said:

Aladino Natural line is the closest experience i've had to CC in NC format. many of their other offerings (maduro, cameroon, classic, etc.) are not very good, but the natural is phenomenal. i prefer robusto or elegantes (lancero). their corojo reserva is very good as well, but full bodied.

Yesss!! Aladino Natural, my go to NC for years! Tobacco from Honduras is always a hit with me, people that have to take a break from Cuban cigars should try it. It won’t replace a good puro from Cuba, but you have to smoke something!

[Stoyan]

I have never searched for cuban flavor in non cuban cigars, but recently I smoked a E.P. Carillo - New wave reserva. The toro reminded me very much of a good Upman magnum 50. 

[BettyHumpder]

On 1/20/2023 at 10:16 PM, SCgarman said:

Just an update on the box of Illusione Epernay La Grande I received a few days ago. Fired up one tonight. Really good cigar. I'm impressed. Same size as a Juan Lopez #1. Chocolate. Tons of it galore, a bit of leather. Very refined. No harsh pepper. Smooth. A unique blend i have never experienced in a NC. This box of 25 was 205 USD. I have been curious about this brand for sometime, and decided to just pull the trigger and take a chance. They are real good. All Nicaraguan tobacco rolled in Honduras. Looking forward to the next one.

i should have suggested this one too. my favorite is the le matin vitola. they also make a 10th anniversary d’aosta version that is excellent.

would also recommend the illusione one-off robusto/super robusto. illusione has some stinkers in their lineup but these are really good.

[frenchkiwi]

On 1/20/2023 at 11:07 AM, shokao said:

I was feeling quite like you and started to look for more options. My actual NC “good tier” list is:

- Davidoff Gran Cru
- Davidoff Millenium Series
- Davidoff Nicaragua (Toro and Diadema, mostly)
- Padrón 1926 Natural and Maduro
- Padrón 1964 Natural and Maduro
- Arturo Fuente Short Story
- Arturo Fuente Añejado Reserva #60
- Arturo Fuente Magnum Rosado 52/54
- Nudies N1 Rosado

Already in my stock but haven’t tried them yet:

- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto
- Liga Privada H99
- Liga Privada T52
- Liga Privada No. 9
- Sobremesa Brulee Blue (Lonsdale)
- Caldwell Ltd. Ed. Last Tsar Toro
- Caldwell Long Live King Mad Mofo
- Caldwell Midnight Express Toro
- Caldwell King is Dead Last Payday
- Caldwell Long Live King Pet Double Wide
- Caldwell Blind Mans Bluff Maduro Toro
- Caldwell Eastern Std Cakewalk
- Caldwell Eastern Std Sungrown Toro Extra

Back in the day, I tried a few and based on limited experience and hazy memories:

-Davidoff (seem mild to the point of meh but not unpleasant)

- Padron 26 and 64 (powerful nicotine kick and a flavour profile i did not enjoy at all)

- AF Short Story (these were ok but i can't remember what they tasted like, tried some maduros as well, vitola required a lot of burn control)

- Liga Privada - i think i had Unico Serie Papas Fritas as well as Undercrown and T52, they were all ok but not enough to make me want to re-order 

 

On 1/20/2023 at 1:02 PM, SCgarman said:

I just bought a box of Illusione Epernay 6x46 on a whim. Read about these for awhile. Affordable at $205/box of 25. They smell great, like unsweetened baking cocoa. Going to fire one up tomorrow evening. I'll report back with results, as I have no idea what to expect.

these were super sweet chocolatey, and syrupy - first time i had a puro cigar i thought was too sweet - but hidden nicotine buildup ... from memory ... great with coffee?

 

[JLH]

On 1/21/2023 at 3:16 PM, SCgarman said:

All Nicaraguan tobacco rolled in Honduras. Looking forward to the next one.

I really like that cigar. If you try more Illusione, keep in mind, most of them are made at Aganorsa, with Aganorsa tobacco in Nica. 

Jason

[Danskiz]

Not easy to find, pricey, and packaging overkill, but My Father Flor de Las Antillas 10th Anniversary is a mild to medium cigar that would make any CC smoker crave for more.  It’s in my top 3 cigars of the last 12 months.

[SCgarman]

On 1/25/2023 at 3:40 PM, JLH said:

I really like that cigar. If you try more Illusione, keep in mind, most of them are made a Aganorsa, with Aganorsa tobacco in Nica. 

Jason

Sticker on box bottom says made in Danli, Honduras at Raices Cubanas. But all tobacco is Nicaraguan. Don't shoot the messenger 😁

[frenchkiwi]

 

On 1/20/2023 at 2:21 PM, smitte3 said:

I keep gravitating towards these:

Perdomo Habano BBA (bourbon barrel aged) CT

Perdomo Lot 23 CT

Southern Draw Rose of Sharon

Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro

Sobremesa Brulee

interesting i had some Perdomo 20th Anniv torps a decade ago that were excellent.

Just wondering why you choose the maduro version of Melanio? I'm keen to try although I'm pretty sure i didn't like the Serie V I had back in the day, too heavy i thought although once again i can't really remember.

[Michael303]

My favorite NC is the Crowned Heads Mil Dias in corona gorda.  Also, I think just about anything by Plasencia is excellent but the Alma Fuerte and Reserva Original stand out to me.

[JLH]

On 1/27/2023 at 5:56 PM, SCgarman said:

Sticker on box bottom says made in Danli, Honduras at Raices Cubanas. But all tobacco is Nicaraguan. Don't shoot the messenger 😁

Apologies if I was rude. I didn't mean to be. I just meant outside of the Epernay, most other Illusione cigars are made at Aganorsa, with different tobacco and a different factory. But they will carry a similar profile. I think Dion's cigars are wonderful across the board but the Epernay is amazing. The Epernay 10TH Anniversary D’Aosta is even better IMO.  

Jason