Smoked a NC

[Guest rob]

Interesting Rob. I'm curious, what was the size? And also, did it have any age on it?

It was a Fuente Fuente OpusX Perfecxion #5 (4 7⁄8 in x 40)

Came from a 1/2 box I bought in 2001 or 2002

[perfectform]

Thanks. Sucks that it wasn't up to par for ya.

[j0z3r]

Joe, can I interest you in some premium NC's up for trade???

If I didn't have enough NCs to choke 2 horses, perhaps I'd take you up on that. As it stands right now, my focus is on growing my Cuban collection and narrowing my NC collections to only having cigars I like.

Joe

[CanuckSARTech]

Smoked a NC....

....Sorry about your luck!

[fishinguitarman]

What I have right now as far as NC, is great...Don't want to narrow it because I love to smoke what I have.

BUT! Want to increase my CC inventory so whatever mood I'm in...I can scratch the itch.

[Wil]

Recently I visited my local B&M to pick up some NCs to try. NCs are relatively expensive in Australia, so I've never really been bothered with them. Anyway, on the advice of the salesman, I tried:

1. Padron 7000 maduro - Ridiculous size. Really, really silly size (didn't realise it was 60rg when I bought it!). But nice barnyard aroma at cold, perfect construction and draw. Interesting flavour, a bit 'dirty' and one dimensional. Wouldn't buy again, but would be willing to try a smaller size.

2. Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente - Actually pretty good. Medium bodied, cedary smoke. Very aromatic. Enjoyed it.

3. Carlos Torano Reserva petit corona - Construction was something to behold. Silky wrapper, nice draw. Woody flavours okay, but very harsh in the last third.

4. Macanudo Hampton Court maduro tube - Was very skeptical about this, as Macanudo is derided by most people, but the salesman assured me it was a nice, lighter bodied smoke. And it actually was. Quite one dimensional but absolutely perfect construction and razor sharp burn. But no way it's worth 20 odd dollars

5. Padron 1964 Principe natural - I was really excited to try this. Beautiful oily wrapper and the smell at cold was absolutely amazing. Alas, very disappointing. Flavour was charry wood - fairly unpleasant.

6. Padron Exclusivo maduro - Yet to try this. But after the Principe I'm not in a great rush.

My overall impressions were of very well constructed cigars, but lacking the depth of flavour and complexity of their cuban counterparts. That said, I will keep an open mind and am keen to try some good NCs. They're just not that easy to get here!

[TWalker]

I've tried a pile of NC's and there are still only a few I like. Not a fan of AF at all, but I've had a few Brickhouse cigars and was really impressed with them.

CAO MX2, J. Fuego Delirium and Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 are a few NC's I like.

[mk05]

There are some good NCs out there, and those marcas do get better with age. I can expand on this point if you'd like, but it's all about the blends, net the intrinsic quality of the tobacco. Quality blenders maximize the quality of the tobacco consumed.

In my opinion, there are 2 great blenders and 1 good when talking about NCs. Old man Pepin, Ernesto Carrillo, then Arturo Fuente. These three guys have cuban heritage, in that they know tobacco. They worked with cuban tobacco and have been around it their entire lives until emigrating. These guys are old world cuban blenders in that they focus on balance rather than one facet of the smoking experience. If you've tried their offerings, you can tell there is a difference from the rest.

Go try a Cabaiguan Guapo 46 or a La Riqueza PC. I guarantee that you will think differently - these are more of a lighter offering, a heavier palate would call for a Tatuaje Brown label as another has mentioned or Arturo Fuente Anejo 46/60/50/55. I've never understood anyone's fascination with Padron. The panatela is smokeable but nothing else is. Don't they just taste like...smoke?

Rob, that is unfortunate to hear about the Opus. I'm also smoking through some '01 PLs, these are doing quite well (I've been called crazy but I swear the Opus must have been modeled after the RASS profile).

[Charltonc]

I have been enjoying La Flor Dominicana Cabinet Cameroon and Illusione 88 and CG4.

[hardrock86]

I also enjoy the Illusione 88 and LFD double ligero

[Guest robusto101]

Don't they just taste like...smoke?

This is exactly how I felt about the Padron 2000 and Fuentes I've smoked.

[Bcrowell]

I enjoy Padron 64 and 26. I am also a tat Ho. I am working on becoming a Boli freak.

[worlok]

It's just a preference thing - as in what you are used to. As a Yank I have at my disposal NC most of the time. I have humidors full of em and a large coolidor full of them. I am in a monthly cigar club and I get two of 4 different sticks every month - premium stuff. I really like the Dominican and Central American tobaccos. Then again, it's what I am used to. Hope to get more in the way of CC over time. I have a stash of them from the 1990's in one humidor and since I don't have too many I smoke em sparingly.

I'll smoke anything. I know what I like but I like a plethora of tobacco types and such. It always amazes me that so many smokers are really into a narrow bunch of cigar profiles. (from my point of view)

I guess my pallet isn't "too" discerning. Been smoking ceegars since I was in my late teens though, so it's been a long time.

I think there is a place for them all, and that different doesn't necessarily mean better or worse, as far as tobacco origin goes.

I can't taste chocolate or lots of the flavors that so many cigar smokers talk about. (I can smell chocolate like scents in unlit cigars) I am not sure why. For me, tastes like leather, nuts, and toasted bread are pretty much what there is. I'm actually going to start a thread on that if I don't find anything in the search on it.

[Fosgate]

I still keep a stock of NC's even though I have been trying and tossing a lot of the LaGloria's like the Serie R. I have a few I keep for myself. I like the Dominican Cohiba Black, Macanudo 1997 Limited perfecto and then letting guests smoke the rest of my NC stock.

Punch Bare Knuckle

Man O War Double Corona

Brickhouse Mighty Mighty Gordo

Variety of Nub 464T

And a few for newbies.

Tatiana Groovy Blue Cigarillos

Acid Blondie

Acid Kuba Kuba

Drew Estate Java (Petite)

[SaintLuis]

your best bet with Non-cubans is simply to spend a lot of money. The FuenteFuente Opux X, Diamond Crown Maximus, Ashton ESG/VSG, Padron Anniversario series, and the Anejo (shark in particular), the Flor de las Antiles, My Fathers, and some of Pete Johnson's cigars (I like Cabaiguan a lot) are all very nice..

After that, I'm generally not impressed. A couple of outliers are the Cusano double Connecticut, some of the EP Carrillo line, and some of the San Cristobal line (Pepin blended). Otherwise, I find it very hit or miss.

[Cigar Surgeon]

You don't need to spend a lot of money on NCs to get a good cigar. Best NCs I've smoked in the past while:

• Headley Grange Drumstick from 2013.
• La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No. 5
• 1502 Ruby
• Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011
• Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012
• J. Fuego Origen Corona Maduro
• San Lotano Maduro Toro
• My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petite Robusto
• Nomad Esteli Lot 1386
• Padron Serie 1926 No. 2 Maduro

[dtrott]

I am not a seasoned cigar smoker at all. Been at it for barely a year. Probably smoked more NCs than Cubans. I can't pick up all the lovely flavors many of you report in your reviews but I can tell what my pallete considers to be agreeable and pleasant.

This evening I had an Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva. It was a mini torpedo and it looked awesome. It was gifted to me and I was ready to smoke it and not only that, was excited to try it. Long story short, I suffered through it. The worst Cuban I had still had a much more delightful flavor than the AF. It also seems that I've had numerous bad NCs and not really a single bad CC.

I was expecting a great NC and it wound up to be flat. I've had four or so different AFs and none have wowed me. Maybe it doesn't fit my flavor profile but I'm beginning to notice that there are less bad CCs and NCs have disappointed on numerous occasions.

I'm really trying to be fair and see some joy in smoking NCs here and there but it's been too many let downs. Anyone else feel that way? I realize this is a CC lovers forum but I figured I'd ask anyway.

Agree 100%.For some reason just don,t enjoy any NC's anymore.Rather smoke a Connie 1,RASS,Party Short or any CC for that matter. Davidoff,Don Pepin,Tatujue,Opus X ,Padron.......no thanks.CC,s have spoiled me.Thanks Czar for saving me from cigar mediocrity.

[maxcjs0101]

With so many NC cigar types, brands, blends available, i think there must be a handful which are good. Or more.

[Skyfall]

Roof Shingles, all of 'em!

(just kidding....kind of)

[cigarbreak]

Best NC's i've smoked that give me some satisfaction in order of best to worst (albeit not as satisfying as most CC's) are

Casa Magna Colorado Robustos

CAO La Traviata Ninfas

AF Short Story

Leon Jiminez No3 I think...cant remember the vitola

Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 (Strong ass smoke IMO)

Don Diego Corona Major Glass Tube

[bradbrennan]

I hope you're being facetious here. Or perhaps you've just gotten lucky.

Regarding Fuentes specifically, I absolutely love them - the Double Chateau is one of my all time favorite smokes (thought I prefer the natural or sungrown wrappers to the maduro). The King B and King T are some other great smokes from that maker. All of the Ashton brands are made by the Fuentes, too, which explains their similarity and I definitely agree with the OP regarding the Ashton VSG line - those are some great smokes, although my favorite Ashton sticks are the Heritage Puro Sol. I think the OpusX cigars are all ridiculously overpriced for all they are... but I've still got a box of Lost City sticks in the humidor. Bought them simply because I could.

I have far, far, far more experience with NCs - I've been smoking those for years and years and it's really only in the last year or so that I've really been able to get into CCs. I've got some boxes of CCs in the humi at the moment that I sort of regret buying (the BBFs and Lusis are so-so), but others that were insanely awesome out of the box (i.e. the Upmann #2s and PSP2) and others that are getting great the longer they sit (i.e. the Siglo VI and RA Gigantes). It seems to me that the CCs only get better with age - I can honestly say that none I have in the humi at the moment have gotten worse with age; nearly all are better now than they were when I first got them (with the exception of the BBFs and Lusis... even after sitting for a couple of months they're leaving me with a "meh" feeling.) I haven't noticed much of an aging effect with the CCs, with the exception of the Cain 660 and 554, La Flor Dominicana Dbl Ligero #700, and the Perdomo Habano Connecticut Gordos - those seem to get less raspy/harsh and more mellow with age. But most of my NCs don't seem much diffent now than the first one I tried right out of the box. I've got a few boxes of Fuente Double Chateaus, Ashton Puro Sol DCs, Upmann Vintage Cameroon Toros, Ashton Cab Selection #7, La Gloria Artesanos Tainos, and several others that seem the same as day one.

Right now I if I had to choose one, I would choose CCs over NCs... but I think that's also related to me being new to them. I love having all sorts of sitcks in the humidor. And, for me, NCs are a helluva lot easier to obtain, so that's gotta be a factor, too.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

I know this is an old thread, but curious if Greg catches this post, how do you feel about this topic now as it's been a couple years since you wrote this?

[ptrthgr8]

I know this is an old thread, but curious if Greg catches this post, how do you feel about this topic now as it's been a couple years since you wrote this?

Ha! Great question!

The main thing I regret writing is that the Lusis left me underwhelmed. They did at the time and it may have just been that first box. I've had a few boxes and cabs since that time and the Lusis are one of my all time faves. The BBFs still just never really did anything for me.

As for NCs, I've pretty much given up on them. I still like an OpusX every now and again and the Ashton ESG line is still great, but otherwise the NCs don't do much for me. Even my previous faves that I mentioned in the original post no longer float my boat. Flavors just aren't as complex, they tend to make my nose burn (that ammonia sensation), and they don't have much soul. I think they're still more consistent (flavor, construction, appearance) box to box and year to year than the CCs, but NCs just don't make me drool they way CCs do.

I ended up giving most of my NCs to a friend who likes cigars, but doesn't have the disposable income to spend on boxes of cigars. He appreciates those sticks way more than I do, so I don't mind helping him out. Besides, he helps me out by allowing me to free up space in the Aristocrat for more boxes of CCs.

Cheers,

Greg

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

[bradbrennan]

Ha! Great question!

The main thing I regret writing is that the Lusis left me underwhelmed. They did at the time and it may have just been that first box. I've had a few boxes and cabs since that time and the Lusis are one of my all time faves. The BBFs still just never really did anything for me.

As for NCs, I've pretty much given up on them. I still like an OpusX every now and again and the Ashton ESG line is still great, but otherwise the NCs don't do much for me. Even my previous faves that I mentioned in the original post no longer float my boat. Flavors just aren't as complex, they tend to make my nose burn (that ammonia sensation), and they don't have much soul. I think they're still more consistent (flavor, construction, appearance) box to box and year to year than the CCs, but NCs just don't make me drool they way CCs do.

I ended up giving most of my NCs to a friend who likes cigars, but doesn't have the disposable income to spend on boxes of cigars. He appreciates those sticks way more than I do, so I don't mind helping him out. Besides, he helps me out by allowing me to free up space in the Aristocrat for more boxes of CCs.

Cheers,

Greg

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

Thanks for your reply! I may be where you were back then. I'm struggling with NCs and it's hard to imagine not finding more rewarding NCs but it's also getting harder to find motivation to keep looking for them.

[Deddyus]

You don't need to spend a lot of money on NCs to get a good cigar. Best NCs I've smoked in the past while:

• Headley Grange Drumstick from 2013.
• La Palina Collection Goldie Laguito No. 5
• 1502 Ruby
• Oliva Serie V Maduro 2011
• Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve 2012
• J. Fuego Origen Corona Maduro
• San Lotano Maduro Toro
• My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petite Robusto
• Nomad Esteli Lot 1386
• Padron Serie 1926 No. 2 Maduro

The MF Le Bijou 1922 are great smokes, nice little pepper kick.

Smoking one of those then a PSD4 back to back is an interesting experience.

And I didnt know you had the Drumstick, how did you like it?

Recently my favorite NCs have been from Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and Fuente 858 Sungrowns

[Cigar Surgeon]

The MF Le Bijou 1922 are great smokes, nice little pepper kick.

Smoking one of those then a PSD4 back to back is an interesting experience.

And I didnt know you had the Drumstick, how did you like it?

Recently my favorite NCs have been from Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and Fuente 858 Sungrowns

It was amazing.

http://cigarfederation.com/profiles/blogs/top-reviewed-non-cuban-cigars-for-2014

#1 for the year so far.