Your Choice for Most Underrated Cigar From both the CC and NC world.

[Fugu]

17 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Taste is no doubt subjective amongst individuals.

Very true indeed, as I think Frank is right on the money there, tastewise. Big fan of the CCs he mentions. With the caveat for Quintero that it’s not exactly ‘underrated’. It may be underrated here, but is a big seller in Western Europe and I think also holding for Canada. There’s a reason it’s a volume brand. Otherwise, my pick would have been the QyHP as well. You’ll rarely find it on 2424, as the stick is so cheap it hardly justifies the cost of handling and shipping a box around the globe... 😉

My NC pick: Alonso Menendez No. 10

[Puros Y Vino]

22 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Taste is no doubt subjective amongst individuals. The RyJ Cazzie is one of the worst tasting, one dimensional, harsh Cuban cigar I have ever had. Has nothing in common with the "typical" RyJ profile. If all pre-Castro cigars tasted like this, I certainly didn't miss anything LOL!

Agreed.  I've found that it's been a love/hate relationship for many with this cigar.

[KCCubano]

On 1/27/2023 at 1:03 PM, SCgarman said:

Taste is no doubt subjective amongst individuals. The RyJ Cazzie is one of the worst tasting, one dimensional, harsh Cuban cigar I have ever had. Has nothing in common with the "typical" RyJ profile. If all pre-Castro cigars tasted like this, I certainly didn't miss anything LOL!

I had a box of 07s that were similar to what you are describing. I chalked it up to bad CC QC as Id had stellar boxes before. My 09s and 14s were excellent. Recent production although good flavorwise seem to be watered down a great deal. Seem pretty mild to me. 

[BrightonCorgi]

The posts on how underrated the R&J Cazadores is makes the Fonseca No. 1 seem even more underrated/appreicated.  They are the only Cazadores offered, and only one post on the Fonseca.

[rcarlson]

I've had some surprisingly good Cazzies.  All were post 2015 though.  Can't help but wonder it's part f the R&J progression from the dark days to "I'm back, baby!"   

[SMELTZ]

Fonseca NO. 1 is my most underrated. This is in my weekly rotation, love them. 

[TroutBum]

Romeo Mille fleurs for cc

Aganorsa leaf Habano short Churchill for NC

[nKostyan]

Taking into account the current realities (scarcity and prices):
JLP Petit Cazadores
Vegueros Tapados

[shokao]

CC: Magnum 54. IMO, a great cigar that doesn't get as much credit as it deserves. Maybe the agressor here is the ring gauge (54), but still... 

NC: Don Pepin Garcia JJ Series/Vega Fina Puro Origen. Great blends of usually cheap brands that no one ever talks about. 

[KCCubano]

18 minutes ago, shokao said:

CC: Magnum 54. IMO, a great cigar that doesn't get as much credit as it deserves. Maybe the agressor here is the ring gauge (54), but still... 

NC: Don Pepin Garcia JJ Series/Vega Fina Puro Origen. Great blends of usually cheap brands that no one ever talks about. 

Most of the Mag 54s Ive had out of a 10 ct box were wind tunnels. Air smokes. Only 2 have been well constructed and they were good. Been curious about Vega Fina. See many CC vendors in Europe carry them. 

[Cairo]

5 hours ago, shokao said:

Don Pepin Garcia JJ Series

Agree on these.

I stocked up years ago and then got into ccs and just forget about them.

They have aged very well--both the regular and maduros--always a pleasant surprise when I grab one.

[Capn_Jackson]

On 1/30/2023 at 5:29 AM, shokao said:

CC: Magnum 54. IMO, a great cigar that doesn't get as much credit as it deserves. Maybe the agressor here is the ring gauge (54), but still... 

NC: Don Pepin Garcia JJ Series/Vega Fina Puro Origen. Great blends of usually cheap brands that no one ever talks about. 

I’ve always liked the Series JJ. Especially after several months of rest, they can be really good smokes.

[SingleBarrel]

On 1/29/2023 at 3:56 PM, SMELTZ said:

Fonseca NO. 1 is my most underrated. This is in my weekly rotation, love them. 

YES! Tastes like marshmallows, top 3 for me.

[TroutBum]

On 1/30/2023 at 12:25 PM, Cairo said:

Agree on these.

I stocked up years ago and then got into ccs and just forget about them.

They have aged very well--both the regular and maduros--always a pleasant surprise when I grab one.

Another fan here!

[Fugu]

On 1/29/2023 at 8:26 PM, rcarlson said:

I've had some surprisingly good Cazzies.  All were post 2015 though.  Can't help but wonder it's part f the R&J progression from the dark days to "I'm back, baby!"   

You’re bringing up a good point. Yet I can’t say I did observe much of that in the Cazzies in particular, going back two decades at least. If memory serves me correctly I never had a truly bad one, recalling box dates reaching back to at least 1998 (still holding open boxes from 07 and 09 which are superb). I actually think - quite like the love-hate dichotomy one can observe for the Noellas - much of those subpar experiences may be more a matter of proper preparation / conditioning / maturing than a “fault” of the cigar or the blend itself. A young Romeo Cazadores taken directly from the foil-wrapped mazo, and all odds you are greeted with moist, tannic tobacco, ammonia and harshness. (Same holding for Quintero Brevas, for that matter.)

A shame it has become so dear. It’s far from being the bargain that it had been before. Once one of the best values in RyJ for me, in particular when other formats were suffering.

[alex1126]

On 1/29/2023 at 11:19 PM, nKostyan said:

Taking into account the current realities (scarcity and prices):
JLP Petit Cazadores
Vegueros Tapados

I will agree on you with Tapados, great cigar with a few years age.  Really surprised me honestly..

[Çnote]

Green band Fuentes with a year or two on them. Or Masterpieces with 8+

[Michael303]

I snagged some RyJ Mille Fleurs and PLPCs today based on this thread...  Second FOH order.

[Ford2112]

Underrated CC -  Rafael Gonzalez Perla

NC- Nudies N4

 

 

 

 

 

[Bill Hayes]

Rocky Patel Edge Battalion Maduro, Bolivar PC