Vote on any you've tried...

[dicko]

Thanks for all the input. I honestly wasn't expecting most here to even be familiar with some of these brands- since this is a CC forum. Glad you have had them all and got an opinion well made. I like the media noche a lot because with all those discounts you can acquire many easily. And, on the "several hundred on hand (opusx)" That is impressive! They are great though I definitely agree on that!

chenman is full bottle on both cubans and NC's. an astute BOTL

[Ginseng]

I would like to see what NC people on the forum are familiar with. Could be interesting.

This is a list of some of my favorites, some random add-ons to seek what members have

Or have not tried. Thanks

Forgive the commentary.

San Miguel - not tried

Stradivarius - not tried, at that price? You've got to be kidding.

Padilla Miami - tried several frontmarks, generally well-made, flavorful, fairly satisfying

Man O' War line - not tried, curious

Montecristo White - tried, yuck, bland, what's the point?

Montecristo Media Noche - tried, not bad. Enjoyable. Not great, but not bad. Earthy.

Davidoff Classics - well-made, inoffensive, are these the ones in the foil bags? If so, nice pocket gars

Arturo Fuente OpusX - tried a number of frontmarks, experiences range from wha-what? (Añejo, yeah, I know it's not actually in the OpusX line) to stunningly good, I enjoy the Cuban Beli (again, not an Opus X but taking the opp to comment on Fuente in general) the most along with that small Opus X, the Fuente Fuente?

Davidoff Puro d'Oro - not tried

Rocket Patel decade - I have never, ever, ever had a Rocky Patel that didn't taste like absolute crap. I hate these cigars. Have tried several of his lines but gave up because of the rampant, ridiculous line extensions second only to Gurkha. I just don't get it. Want a two-by-four upside the head? Hand me a Rocky Patel.

Rocky Patel Connecticut - see above

Graycliff - tried almost all lines, generally a good smoking experience but unremarkable, the Espresso Elegantes (only available on the island, not that island) is a singular experience unlike any other

Ave Maria Reconquista - not tried, curious

Padron - I have tried and enjoy nearly everything they make, with the exception of the Millennium and the super expensive family sticks. Have been smoking their stuff since the mid-1990s. The 2000 in the K series, I've smoked literally hundreds and hundreds. The smell of this cigar's smoke is the personification of cigar smell. The 1964...heaven, and the premium price-performance balance of the lot.

Don Pepin - Have tried many of his signature and blend lines. They all taste fairly similar to me. The vast majority are just too strong and would likely benefit from a few years of age. I do enjoy the Blue and Cabaiguan.

Wilkey

[beamer]

The only cigar from that list that I smoke with any regularity is the Padilla Miami.

I prefer the Corona and the Robusto.

Thick smoke, with coffee and caramel flavors. A bit on the heavy side, but good.

[finecigar]

Forgive the commentary.

San Miguel - not tried

Stradivarius - not tried, at that price? You've got to be kidding.

Padilla Miami - tried several frontmarks, generally well-made, flavorful, fairly satisfying

Man O' War line - not tried, curious

Montecristo White - tried, yuck, bland, what's the point?

Montecristo Media Noche - tried, not bad. Enjoyable. Not great, but not bad. Earthy.

Davidoff Classics - well-made, inoffensive, are these the ones in the foil bags? If so, nice pocket gars

Arturo Fuente OpusX - tried a number of frontmarks, experiences range from wha-what? (Añejo, yeah, I know it's not actually in the OpusX line) to stunningly good, I enjoy the Cuban Beli (again, not an Opus X but taking the opp to comment on Fuente in general) the most along with that small Opus X, the Fuente Fuente?

Davidoff Puro d'Oro - not tried

Rocket Patel decade - I have never, ever, ever had a Rocky Patel that didn't taste like absolute crap. I hate these cigars. Have tried several of his lines but gave up because of the rampant, ridiculous line extensions second only to Gurkha. I just don't get it. Want a two-by-four upside the head? Hand me a Rocky Patel.

Rocky Patel Connecticut - see above

Graycliff - tried almost all lines, generally a good smoking experience but unremarkable, the Espresso Elegantes (only available on the island, not that island) is a singular experience unlike any other

Ave Maria Reconquista - not tried, curious

Padron - I have tried and enjoy nearly everything they make, with the exception of the Millennium and the super expensive family sticks. Have been smoking their stuff since the mid-1990s. The 2000 in the K series, I've smoked literally hundreds and hundreds. The smell of this cigar's smoke is the personification of cigar smell. The 1964...heaven, and the premium price-performance balance of the lot.

Don Pepin - Have tried many of his signature and blend lines. They all taste fairly similar to me. The vast majority are just too strong and would likely benefit from a few years of age. I do enjoy the Blue and Cabaiguan.

Wilkey

Thanks for the input on each. I was thinking about a putting gurkha on this list... But in my personal opinion and experiences, those cigars are an absolute disgrace to the integrity of anything tobacco or worthy. Doesn't even deserve a capitalized name. I just hate the way it's marketed and the prices. They make some cool boxes but all the cigars are terrible. Especially the one they made that was "super rare" or whatever, was like $700 for one and is a dissapointment.

I feel that Rocky Patel cigars are average- I probably would not crave one ever or buy many boxes of. They seem now these new lines are constant and being mass produced and the idea of quality or greatness in a cigar is no where to be found. I added RP because many cigars store I have seen in America it is this extremely popular cigar, and I wonder if those who actually have a sense of cigars would say the same. I hoped not, bc to me they are just kind of plain and not worth much. I could spend an hour or two doing something better than smoking one like gurkha or rp or countless others. However there are some other NCs that give me great hope.

[BobKincaid]

I've had the Padilla Miami, but frankly I prefer the Series '68 line, especially the Lancero. I sprang for a box of those and have been nothing but pleased. As others have noted, they don't have the character of the depth of flavor of a CC, but the quality is extraordinary and, to my palatte, as good as it can get and not come from the Forbidden Island.

Fuente's Opus X leaves me cold.

Pepin Garcia is a master craftsman, but he's all over so many brands he's become a bit of a cult of personality. Of his creations, I prefer the Blue.

[TM-US]

That's the biggest problem that I have with NCs- there is way too much proliferation. Every brand has multiple lines, it's kind of ridiculous. Some of these companies might make a cigar that I'd like, but how many do I have to try before I figure that out? Even Pepin Garcia, which is a brand I like, has so many lines, a bunch of which don't do anything for me at all- Cuban Classic and My Father are two lines that really don't impress me, but the Blue Label are something that I like, in the smaller ring gauges.

One thing that I'd love to hear about from the members in Oz or Europe or elsewhere is whether or not there are a lot of these NC brands outside of the US.

[cigcars]

Funny, Nick Perdomo's smokes aren't listed among these. His Nicaraguans are much more consistent, tasty and full of quality than a few of some brands listed here. His Gran Cru series Corojo selection was almost indistinguishible from an authentic Havana IMHO.

[cigcars]

Thanks for the input on each. I was thinking about a putting gurkha on this list... But in my personal opinion and experiences, those cigars are an absolute disgrace to the integrity of anything tobacco or worthy. Doesn't even deserve a capitalized name. I just hate the way it's marketed and the prices. They make some cool boxes but all the cigars are terrible. Especially the one they made that was "super rare" or whatever, was like $700 for one and is a dissapointment.

I feel that Rocky Patel cigars are average- I probably would not crave one ever or buy many boxes of. They seem now these new lines are constant and being mass produced and the idea of quality or greatness in a cigar is no where to be found. I added RP because many cigars store I have seen in America it is this extremely popular cigar, and I wonder if those who actually have a sense of cigars would say the same. I hoped not, bc to me they are just kind of plain and not worth much. I could spend an hour or two doing something better than smoking one like gurkha or rp or countless others. However there are some other NCs that give me great hope.

From what I understand Carlos Torano is the one who makes Kaizad Hansotia's Gurkha cigars for him. That Black Dragon that made its debut at $1,000 per cigar...?? I'll bet the rich schnooks who bought those feel like real now...even if $1,000 per cigar for them was the equivalent of about $3 bucks for most of the rest of us!!

[LeafLover]

1) Guillermo Leon Corona Gorda. Wow!!! If you love habanos, you will love these!!!!!

2) Alec Bradley Tempus

3) Havana Soul by Don Pepin blended for CigarKing.

[Ginseng]

Rocket Patel decade - I have never, ever, ever had a Rocky Patel that didn't taste like absolute crap...

Well this is funny. I just noticed the misspelling above. I simply copied the poll text. "Rocket" as in "dog rocket?" Freudian?

Of course, no offense intended to any folks who smoke and enjoy RP cigars. There's something for everyone after all.

Wilkey

[duwan]

I've smoked everything on the list except

Stradivarious--just never had the chance

RP Connecticut--I tend to stay away from both connies and RP products

I believe several cigars on the list are made exclusively for Cigars International and their sister companies.

[Rehman]

One thing that I'd love to hear about from the members in Oz or Europe or elsewhere is whether or not there are a lot of these NC brands outside of the US.

Elsewhere...the Internet did it. By the turn of the millennium, the 90s cigar boom had dovetailed with the advent of online commerce. A host of new options were available to the host of new cigaristas who'd emerged out of the bubble economies and were now, after the Asian Financial Crisis, irresistibly drawn to the price points of NC cigars.

For novitiates like me at the time, it was a playground and theme park of cigar experimentation and experience. Our fellow FOHer Aizuddin Danian used to organise cigar dinners in Kuala Lumpur and environs for the cognoscenti, at which a variety of NCs would be available for trial (and error). Those that stayed with me include Avo (the Domaine 10), Dunhill (Signature Series Churchill), Puros Indios (the Toro Especial Maduro) and Arturo Fuente (Don Carlos). Perdomo, Padron, Rocky Patel and Alec Bradley have been and gone. Padron defines the Nicaraguan cigar, if you like that sort of thing, while Patel... I can't seem to recall.

But I do wish they were more widely available out here. They offer a good and inexpensive way to begin experiencing cigars, and even with the inimitable Cuban's pride of place in my affections, my favourite Dominicans and Miami-based multinational blends will always be there, I hope, for a familiar and welcome change of pace, flavour and tone.

[LuciusSulla]

Obviously all just my opinion:

Padilla Miami - Had a Salomon that had been aged for three years as a birthday present. One of the best smokes I've ever had.

Montecristo White - When we used to have supply issues with a size of Monte White, we would always have an issue with the same size in the RyJ Reserva Real line at the same time. Makes you wonder...

Davidoff Classics - I've smoked a few Davidoffs over the years and can't remember anything particular about them except the price.

Arturo Fuente OpusX - I like these, but generally preferred La Aurora's Dominican puro stuff.

Rocket Patel decade - These can be good, but my goodness the wrappers vary! One box would look like oscuros and the next would barely make it to a colorado shade. Patels also seemed to be the worst about occasionally tasting like a mothball, I'm guessing from improper curing and lingering ammonia. This usually wasn't an issue with the Decade line, but the vintage 90 and 92 lines seemed susceptible.

Rocky Patel Connecticut - Kind of boring, but was popular with my customers that liked light stuff.

Graycliff (any)- Not worth the money. Not bad, but I always felt like I was smoking a gussied up $20 domestic Paratagas Serie S (not insinuating they are related corporately, that is just honestly what Graycliffs reminded me of).

Padron (any)- I still dig these. I particularly like the 1964 maduro Imperials and Exclusivo, but I enjoy the palma in their regular line for a relatively inexpensive smoke.

Don Pepin - The Pepin blue label torp was a go-to smoke for years. I also love the JJ Maduro.

[TM-US]

Funny, Nick Perdomo's smokes aren't listed among these. His Nicaraguans are much more consistent, tasty and full of quality than a few of some brands listed here. His Gran Cru series Corojo selection was almost indistinguishible from an authentic Havana IMHO.

I don't know about the Gran Cru, but the Patriarch line from Perdomo is pretty good- I've smoked a Patriarch Maduro out of the box and it was quite good- smoked a little young- I think it would be quite a bit better after a few months, if not longer. I have a couple Patriarch Maduros in my humidor resting.

I've also had a horrible Perdomo- Cabinet Selection from a few years back- that one was really really bad.

[sg1234]

Padilla Miami - tried 2 or 3 and didn't care for them at all

Man O' War - (same as Padilla)

Opus X - always have liked these, despite the high price tag

RP Decade - the first few I tried were good; haven't liked them in a long time; stopped buying RPs

Graycliff - I've actually liked these but I will pass based on price.

Padron - hit or miss. I'll pass for the price.

Pepin - hit or miss. Love the My Father Lounge Exclusives and DPG blue label lanceros though.

[randomhero1090]

That's the biggest problem that I have with NCs- there is way too much proliferation. Every brand has multiple lines, it's kind of ridiculous. Some of these companies might make a cigar that I'd like, but how many do I have to try before I figure that out? Even Pepin Garcia, which is a brand I like, has so many lines, a bunch of which don't do anything for me at all- Cuban Classic and My Father are two lines that really don't impress me, but the Blue Label are something that I like, in the smaller ring gauges.

One thing that I'd love to hear about from the members in Oz or Europe or elsewhere is whether or not there are a lot of these NC brands outside of the US.

Agree. While I am a big Tatuaje fan, they had 21 "releases" this year. Viaje was in the high teens. It's out of control. I refuse to chase all these releases in an attempted to try them. I'm just over it.

I had an TEB 07 RASS last night. Just something special. This is a regular release Cuban that can be found for $6-7 a stick depending on how the $ is doing. Yeah, got to invest some time to age them, so it takes some time to build up smokeable stock...but man is it worth it.