Mini's....who enjoys them and which ones?

[El Presidente]

Mini's are a huge seller around the world. Personally they deliver me very little and it has been a few of years since I have tried one and as such I am the last person to be able to comment intelligently on them.

I do get asked regularly about Mini's and I would love to get a members assessment of the Mini's/clubs out there.

Are there some standouts? Which ones do you enjoy? What do they deliver? Have there been changes over the years (quality/flavour)?

I would appreciate your input

[Puros Y Vino]

I buy the wife the odd RyJ, Monte or HU minis. I've smoke a few and they're OK. So far the HU's followed by the RyJ and Monte's are my fave.

[riazp]

I enjoy the partagas Clubs myself, good for a 10 min smoke.

[Pilgrims]

I try to smoke them rarely now, would rather smoke properly when I do but to my mind and from a bit of experimenting the Partagas Clubs are much the best, better than the larger Monte Puritos.

[randomhero1090]

I really enjoy the RASCC and SCdlH Princes, which I guess fall into the Minutos category (4.25" x 42). But once you get sub 30 RG, its like smoking a cigarette. Now, I never had a CC sub 38 RG, and I hear good things about the Cohiba Panetelas, but that's a lot of coin for a 4.5" x 26 cigar.

Takes me about 1hr for a RASCC or Prince. Great winter, afternoon or slightly longer drive smoke.

I've got 2 boxes of RASCC with '11 dates, and a box of Princes from '10. The construction is pretty solid on both.

[Hohenthal]

The few ones I tried, I must say, I hated.

I was not able to pick up any typical brand characteristics between them, all of them bitter, harsh and acrid.

When it comes to shortfiller / cigarrillo I personally would go for PL Panetelas / RG Panetelas Extra, or just kiss Cubans good bye and rather go for the Italian

Toscani.

Cheers, Alex

[Lotusguy]

I don't think this is really answering the specific question above but when it has to be really short, I reach for a HdM Du Maire. I am staying far away from Puritos, Clubs, and Minis.

[FrankBlack87]

I don't think this is really answering the specific question above but when it has to be really short, I reach for a HdM Du Maire. I am staying far away from Puritos, Clubs, and Minis.

I agree with claus. I had a box of the Montecristo minis.. they were terrible IMO. Might as well go for something like a partagas short

[mazolaman]

I bought some R and J petit princesses, by mistake, construction was poor, didn.t taste of much, not R and J anyway, and were a bit too close to a cigarette for me.

I buy Rafael Gonzales panatellas extra instead....

[anacostiakat]

I get the Cabaiguan Petites for the wife.

Have had the Chicos but the construction was an issue sadly.

[Van55]

It would help if you would define "minis".

If you mean cigarillo type cigars, I like Partagas Chicos for a quick blast of Cuban flavors.

If you mean little hand-made gems, I really enjoy Montecristo Joyitas and ERDM Demitasse.

Other than these, I have very little smoking experience of the tiny cigars.

[El Presidente]

It would help if you would define "minis".

Apologies. Industry term for Mini's refers to machine made Mini's/Clubs normally sold in tins/carton packs of 5/10/20/50

[PAL]

Davidoff are OK. Cohiba clubs OK too. I don't notice all that much difference in the range out there. One good thing about keeping them around:

easy to give one to a beginner who wants to try or chicks at a party. Easy to share and easy to cary as back-up on long trips where cigars are not available.

They are sold at most airports in case one forgets to pack enough stogies. they come in handy, like a handgun to a soldier who has a rifle for real business.

What is the best cigar in the world: the one you have on hand when you NEED a smoke....

PAL

[rfenst]

I really love the RyJ Club for what it is- a quick smoke that can be pitched away without guilt should there not be enough time to completely smoke it. Waiting on some Monte Club and Mini from you and will know a lot better then.

As to Monte Joyitas, they are great! A wonderful 30+ minute smoke when smoked properly- with that hallmark subtle, Monte chocolaty taste. What bothers me about them is their price, which is about US$110-$120 per box. Granted that quality is outstanding, but, still seems overpriced to me.

It didn't even cross my mind that PL Panatelas might be chopped filler. If they are, I could care less as they too are decent for what they are.

[CBL]

I used to really enjoy Montecristo Mini's. If smoked slow they delivered a watered down version of classic Monty profile. Also tried some Cohiba mini's which were less Cohiba-esque and harsher overall.

Haven't had a mini in years though, so couldn't comment on the more recent developments. Might try a Partagas Mini when I get the chance. People seem to be fairly positive about them in this thread.

[headstand]

I've been experimenting with smaller cigars in the last few weeks:

Fave is Monte Purito (just go slow), followed closely by the Partagas Chico.

The Cohiba Club is too small and it's flavors are frustratingly nondescript.

[jazzbass]

Whenever I light a mini, I'm usually pleasantly surprised with the smoothness and even mildness of these little guys. The Cohiba Minis are a touch more powerful than the Romeo or Monte puritos and I believe are a mini with a lot more quality tobacco. I have to remind myself that I shouldn't expect too much and I have to also too remember why I smoke them.... Because I live in Canada and its damn cold outside in the winter and I don't have the body fat or patience to sit and smoke a larger cigar for any length of time.. The little minis give me enough of a Cuban tobacco flavor to keep me satisfied in adverse conditions which is why I light one up in the first place.

[MoneyPit]

I've only ever tried the Partagas Chicos. While they were definitely amusing little smokes they are not something that I would reach for again. This particular size of cigars doesn't meet my needs and I only smoke when I'm willing to spend the time.

[Matt Day]

I have tried the rand j cohibia and monte and partagas minis and all I will say for me is it depends on the box sometimes u can get a real duff box sometimes a mixed box and sometimes a stunning box. I guess it all depends on what tobacco has gone into them but the better ones I have had tend to only give you the basic characteristics of the marque nothing more. Thought I must admit I do smoke two packs a month roughly thought mainly to budgetary concerns I can’t always afford to have a full sized cigar all the time as I am on quite a slender budget however I am getting more and more into my pipe as well as cigars so it shall be interesting to see what happens on that front.

[CanuckSARTech]

I always try to keep a pack of Cohiba Clubs on hand in the humidor - something smaller and lighter for those that don't want a full cigar. Plus, I actually enjoy them now and again when I want a quick 10-minute taste, but I don't have the balls to deal with some horrible outside weather enough to brave a full cigar.

[frenchkiwi]

clubs are an ok format. still too small but i have had montecristos and cohiba, both good, sometimes need a few months in the humidor when they first arrive. great 5min coffee break. the last 5 packs of cohiba clubs i had were really tasty.

self control needed when smoking so as not to burn tongue...

(have also tried SCDH and LGC puritos recently, better size but too loose and a tad harsh).