Utah - The Hunt for a Worthy NC in the Mountains

[LaoFan]

Don Enrique, local Costa Rican brand.

Worth a smoke if you're coming here empty handed. I've got 3 different vitolas, this was their entry level. Will post back on the others.

It's so easy to smoke more than normal in this type of climate. 

[LaoFan]

I was really looking forward to this one to take a proper crack for the NCs:

 

What an oaf of a cigar.

The worst of the NCs I've smoked since I first touched down in Utah. This thing is too big and tastes like burnt paper the whole way thru. I smoked the whole thing hoping that it would develop into the #1 cigar of 2024... but nothing happened. I've smoked MF before and had always thought them decent smokes.. but this was as ugly as it gets for me. Inhale an ashtray. What was CA smoking?

Anyone have different opinions on this?

Harsh with no redeeming qualities.

[Goldeneye]

On 4/3/2025 at 6:25 AM, LaoFan said:

Don Enrique, local Costa Rican brand.

Worth a smoke if you're coming here empty handed. I've got 3 different vitolas, this was their entry level. Will post back on the others.

It's so easy to smoke more than normal in this type of climate. 

My son brought back some Don Enrique cigars for me from his trip to Costa Rica in the fall. Looking forward to trying one in the next couple of weeks.

[mikejh]

I haven't heard many good reviews for that My Father The Judge, odd that it got the #1 spot.

[Cigar Surgeon]

I would not have recommended many of the cigars you have picked up. I think it also highlights the challenges largely CC smokers face when selecting cigars in the NC world.

@riderpride can weigh in here...

[LaoFan]

That's at least good to know, there have been a few gems, but mostly unimpressed. I did however just give this smoke another chance and loved it.

Also, Imperial beer is as good as it gets for a cheap national beer.

[tbelle7]

2 hours ago, LaoFan said:

Also, Imperial beer is as good as it gets for a cheap national beer.

Tsingtao...

[Cigar Surgeon]

2 hours ago, LaoFan said:

That's at least good to know, there have been a few gems, but mostly unimpressed.  I did however just give this smoke another chance and loved it.

JRE / Aladino always on the recommend list. Balanced, great flavors, wildly under market prices.

[LaoFan]

33 minutes ago, tbelle7 said:

Tsingtao...

🇨🇳

I'm more of a pearl river guy myself. Shot after shot of beer adds up quickly.

[riderpride]

On 4/5/2025 at 6:34 AM, Cigar Surgeon said:

I would not have recommended many of the cigars you have picked up.  I think it also highlights the challenges largely CC smokers face when selecting cigars in the NC world.

@riderpride can weigh in here...

Appreciate the faith - I'll try not to fumble lol.

CCs are so easy  - a few houses with consistent flavours. NCs are a whole different beast and I've failed more than succeeded though I've learnt a lot from it.

Our cigar taxes in the Great White North are so insane that it's hardly worth tasting something 'blindly' i.e. I need more than a CA review. I need a recommendation from someone's palate that I trust. They don't have to like what I like, but they should taste what I taste.

Much appreciation for your 'shots in the dark' on your journey and providing the feedback on the way and allowing others to learn from them.

Also, much love for Utah, but they need to work on some originality. I can live with the 'Utes', but keeping a relocated basketball team the Jazz with no history of the music or naming a relocated hockey team the 'Hockey Club' blows my mind.

Cheers!

[LaoFan]

Respect!

Hey - I'm from Toronto. I wasn't involved in the team naming process. 🤪

Blame Ryan Smith.

[LaoFan]

Buddy bought this on the beach and forced me to try it for him to 'see if it was real'. He bought it for $10 from a 'walk the beach' vendor. Obviously didn't need to try it to know that it was fauxihba. Only took a couple puffs. It was gnarly. Short-filler swept off the floor with rat sh*t no doubt. Won't call this a NC entry.. but thought this was funny.