Seeking a Bit of NC Advice

[Deeg]

Given the current state of CC pricing and my income, I’m going to dip back into the NC market.  Looking to try a few different sticks and see what- well, sticks, and haven’t dipped a toe in that pool much for a few years.  Looking at Oliva Melanios, Oliva MB3, Espinosa Nicaragua, maybe HC War Hawk, all of which have some good 5 and 10-pack deals atm (price is an object, obviously).  Any thoughts on profile?  Especially as regards comparing the two Olivas.

For palate reference, among my favorite CC lines are Trinididad, VR, Hoyo.  Love a good RASS and JL1 or 2, and aged PL.  Peanut is my kryptonite.  Back when I was smoking a lot of NCs I loved VSG (a rare treat, based on price), LFD, some Illusione (the Rothys were my cheap walk-in option at a decent B&M), some Fuentes (sun grown and Hemingway lines always reliably clicked), some Tatuaje.

Thanks in advance for your help! 

 

[Montegod7ss]

I smoke all NCs right now, and you are in a good spot I think.  Oliva V Melanio Maduro is probably my current fav, but also love LFD Double Ligeros and pretty much anything Padron.  Honestly the New World HdM Epicure Seleccion is pretty good as well.  I haven't smoked many New World cigars of Cuban brands like RyJ, Montecristo and the like, but enjoy the Cohiba Black quite a bit.  I get them on CigarBid for a fraction of the cost of MSRP, and would never pay anything close to MSRP for a Cohiba Black.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Check out Southern Draw. I also enjoy a lot of Oliva and especially Espinosas stuff, and I think Southerb Draw have their own beautiful Nicaraguan uniqueness!

I find their tobacco to have a particularly rich depth for the most part. Among my favorites are the Manzanita, Jacobs Ladder Brimstone and the Kudzu-Lustrum. Fantastic blending!

[Chibearsv]

I received an Ashton sampler box as a gift from my father a few years ago and they've all been plenty good. I tried an Ashton aged Maduro #40 today and it was really good.  Better than I expected since I'm not a maduro fan usually, but it was damn good.  Price not too bad at around $11.  Your CC tastes might not get aligned in the NC world, but a good cigar is a good cigar.

[PigFish]

https://store.fohcigars.com/isv/boxes.html

Start here….

[Glass Half Full]

6 minutes ago, PigFish said:

https://store.fohcigars.com/isv/boxes.html

Start here….

THAT is right. 

[Deeg]

16 minutes ago, PigFish said:

https://store.fohcigars.com/isv/boxes.html

Start here….

Have tried a few and really like the rosado especially, but looking to branch out to a few different options and expand the repertoire.  That’s where 5 and 10-packs can be very handy, and that’s not a Nudie option at the moment.  Nudies will be an option in future to be sure.

[PigFish]

Just picked up another ‘cluster’ of Lanceros.

[canadianbeaver]

Our cigar group really loves Padron 2000, 3000, 5000. This is the least expensive line of the Nicaraguan Padrons. In the past I was really giving these the brush off, only preferring the higher end multi-banded expensive ones. Recently I came into a few boxes of various “000’s”. They are so smooth, tasty and “NIC”!

If your local B&M has them, try various ones before committing to higher quantities. Let us know what you think.

CB

[yossie]

Deeg, I don't know where you live now but If you still live in Japan, I feel sympathy with you.  There're many good NCs on the net though, Those are mostly sold in box and tough to try. I wish I could split box.

[JustDave]

I like most stuff coming out of Dunbarton.

[Deeg]

1 hour ago, yossie said:

Deeg, I don't know where you live now but If you still live in Japan, I feel sympathy with you.  There're many good NCs on the net though, Those are mostly sold in box and tough to try. I wish I could split box.

Yeah, I mean - apart from CCs being 100% legal here the cigar scene is much worse than the US.  Prices are terrible on what few NCs there are available.

[clickbangdoh]

Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose (can't get over what a mouthful that name is..) in lancero, petite lancero or Lonsdale are a good bet that won't break the bank. Olivia Cain F lanceros are another good one. Tatuaje Brown label Noellas, Black label petite lance and petite robusto are favorites of mine. Illusione HL (prefer the candela personally) are also good. Warped La Colmena is another I personally like a lot. I'm weirdly hooked on the Sombremesa Brulee, may not be everyones cup of tea, but I've been smoking quite a lot of them.

[Duxnutz]

10 hours ago, canadianbeaver said:

Our cigar group really loves Padron 2000, 3000, 5000. This is the least expensive line of the Nicaraguan Padrons. In the past I was really giving these the brush off, only preferring the higher end multi-banded expensive ones. Recently I came into a few boxes of various “000’s”. They are so smooth, tasty and “NIC”!

If your local B&M has them, try various ones before committing to higher quantities. Let us know what you think.

CB

Natural or maduro?

[KCCubano]

11 hours ago, canadianbeaver said:

Our cigar group really loves Padron 2000, 3000, 5000. This is the least expensive line of the Nicaraguan Padrons. In the past I was really giving these the brush off, only preferring the higher end multi-banded expensive ones. Recently I came into a few boxes of various “000’s”. They are so smooth, tasty and “NIC”!

If your local B&M has them, try various ones before committing to higher quantities. Let us know what you think.

CB

CB-If you age a box of these for 5 yrs you will have a cigar with a Padron 1964 profile. I found this out by accident with a few singles. 

[canadianbeaver]

6 hours ago, Duxnutz said:

Natural or maduro?

I am not home now but pretty sure they are are maduro. Got them Dom a vintage collection collector.

5 hours ago, KCCubano said:

CB-If you age a box of these for 5 yrs you will have a cigar with a Padron 1964 profile. I found this out by accident with a few singles. 

So interesting! These are well aged from a collector on another forum. Managed to get a whole wine fridge’s worth of Padrons. Other guys got tons of other kinds. Seems to be happening frequently these days.

CB

[alephilmac]

When I was newer to acquiring CC's I would sometimes supplement purchases with Oliva MB3 and Padron 2000/3000. They gave me the most enjoyment without leaving a flavor that I often find in NC's afterwards (charcoal/ash/unpleasant burnt residue).

[FDR]

I'm much more of a Cuban smoker but in general, I often reach for a Padron 2000 or Fuente if I want to smoke a NC that I know will perform. Fuente's Sungrown Belicoso is a sleeper in my book. The problem with both the 2000 and the AF is you probably won't really find any specials for them, but they are still affordable compared to current Cubans.

[alephilmac]

1 hour ago, FDR said:

I'm much more of a Cuban smoker but in general, I often reach for a Padron 2000 or Fuente if I want to smoke a NC that I know will perform. Fuente's Sungrown Belicoso is a sleeper in my book. The problem with both the 2000 and the AF is you probably won't really find any specials for them, but they are still affordable compared to current Cubans.

Very true.

[SpecialK]

tried my very first Tatuaje last week (I know I'm sheltered) it was a skinny monster Drac Lancero... I really enjoyed it.. So now I'm doing research on the Pete Johnson fella and all his stuff

[Aaronfain]

Try foundation Cuban seed, liga privada is phenomal nice and strong, nub habano wrappers are cheap and great too distributed by oliva

[bms82]

The best question is what goes best with a Kobe A5 ribeye?

[aulrone]

IMO CC flavor is so unique it’s almost like smoking something entirely different. However, that rich and dark Nicaraguan flavor is uniquely nice too. The padron 2000 has a hay flavor that reminds me a lot of CC but it’s so light and lacking of substance in comparison that I find it aggravating. Personally I would bypass the subtle cubanesque NC and dip hard into the Nicaraguan flavor. Flor de antillas and charter oak maduro are quite affordable. Enjoy the variety.

[Deeg]

2 hours ago, bms82 said:

The best question is what goes best with a Kobe A5 ribeye?

A second mortagage?

I’ve never been a big food/cigar pairing guy.  But with very fatty A5 (let’s be clear, it’s the marbling people pay for) I would think something with a big cedar/leather element would work well.  An Ashton VSG or Fuente sungrown, maybe.  On the CC side I’d avoid the vanilla/caramel wing like Hoyo and PL and go for something with a “red wine” dried fruit component.  Like a really good RASS.

[Deeg]

Thanks to everyone for their input.  I grabbed a couple 10-packs (Espinosa Habano and Oliva Melanios) on special for my friend to mule to me next month.