Help with sampler

[smokebus]

Hi,

I've been very randomly smoking ccs for the last ten years, but I haven't been very organized or diligent about tracking my preferences...might have something to do with the fact that an overwhelming percentage of my smoking experiences had a lot of drink to go with them.

I would appreciate some suggestions on building a diverse sampler. I know there are samplers out there already from which to choose, but I want to make sure that I'm getting a wide array of tastes (and maybe not just marcas within a vitola). So I know that this might seem like another one of those threads where I'm polling people on "must try" sticks, but what I'm really looking for are very different sticks.

Most of my experiences have been with petit coronas and robustos. Smokes I've had that really impressed have been PSD4, CORO, RASS. Smokes that didn't quite do much for me have been Monte2 and RyJ Short Churchill. I haven't yet smoked a Bolivar.

Has anyone ever seen some sort of table or chart that shows the spectrum of strength/flavor by marca? Maybe that wouldn't even be possible or make sense, but it's kind of what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions...btw, recently acquired some trini reyes (haven't tried yet).

[brazoseagle]

I highly recommend getting some of the Czar's samplers, the Piramide, the Petit Corona and Robusto Samplers he offers are all put togehter meticulously.

But what's also great about the Czar is you can buy individual sticks and in essence make your own sampler, which it sounds like more what you are talking about.

So I made a sampler for you: This is what I would order, take it or leave it. (Keep in mind the czar website is not always reflective of what they have in stock, if something is not on the site, send them an email, they probably have it.)

Try these and determine what you like, then get boxes

1 Ramon Allones Extra EL (if you can find an individual stick)

1 - Bolivar Belicosos FInos

2 Bolivar Petit Corona's

1- Diplomatico #2

1 HU Mag 46

1 HU #2

1 HU Sir Winston

1-HDM Des Dieux

1 - HDM Epi #1

1-Juan Lopez #2

1 - Monte Grand Edmundo 2010

2 - Monte 5's

1 - Monte 4

***Get the Czar Partagas Party Pack!!!! or

2 Party Shorts

1 Party 898

1 Party Lusitania

1 Party D#4

1 Party P#2

2 Por Larranga Petit Corona's

2 Punch Petit Corona's

1-QDO Imperiales

1 - RASS

2 _ RASCC

1- R&J Wide Churchill

1 -Trinidad Robusto T

(you said you already have some Reyes)

1- VR Famosas

1- VR UNicos

1 Cohiba Siglo1

1 Cohiba Siglo VI

1 Cohiba Maduro Genios

1 Cohiba Behike 52

This should keep you busy finding what you love and want to stock up on!!

Hope this helps.

David

[Lotusguy]

My recommendation is to get at least 2, better 3 of each stick in order to really find out if you like it or not. Too much risk otherwise that one dud cigar turns you off that vitola.

[CaptainQuintero]

Not sure if this is any help but I pulled this from a discussion we had a few weeks ago. Obviously everyone's tastes are different though.

Sweet spice-Partagas

Sweet wood - RYJ, Quintero

Cherry, black cherry - RYJ

Expresso - Maduro 5

Salt - SLR Serie A

Sweet Caramel -PL RDL, BHK 52

Sticky nectar caramel -QDO

Sour Honey - Cohiba, BHKs

Sugar Cane - Boli PC, LFDC SR

Milk Chocolate - Monte 3, Monte Sublimes, Monte especial #2, Mag 46

Milk Choc Biscuit - Mag 46

Cow Pat - Monte 2, Monte Especial #1

Old woman's perfume - Juan Lopez PC, Trinidad Colonials, mag 46

Toast - Partagas 898v

Tea- Trinidad, Dip 3, cohiba siglo 2

Jasmine tea - Trinidad Colonials, Dip 3, Padron 1964 anni seies exclusivo

Hay - Cohiba, Juan Lopez

Newspaper- NC Davidoff

Sweet grass - Cohiba, QDO

Peanut (raw) - VR Familiares, '08 Cuaba EL

Peanut (roast, unsalted) 08 Cuaba EL

Peanutbutter - Cuaba 08 LE

Stone fruit (Peach) - ERDM Lonsdale, SLR DC, SLR Churchill

Stone Fruit (Plum) - ERDM Lonsdale, Punch PC

Melon- HDM Epi 2

Raisin/Dried fruits -Monte 3, Punch, Epi #2

Apricot - Cohiba, Trini Reyes

Cream -Upmann, cohiba, HDM etc..

Strong leather -Boli, Edmundos

Mild sweet leather - Monte especial #1, Boli

Buttery rich leather- Mag 46, Bolis

Dark Choc - boli

Cocoa Powder - Grand Edmundo

Rosemary - PLPC

Bonfire Toffee - Maduro 5

Blood Oranges/Grapefruit - Padron 1964 anii series exclusivo

Butterscotch/fudge -Parti shorts/lusis

Almond -RYJ SC, Sir Winnie

Bread and butter pudding- BHK 52, LFDC SR

Herbs- Punch, Cohiba

Lemon Grass- Cohiba siglo

citrus/citrus peel - monte 5

Floral - LFDC SR, Cohiba Siglo 4

Grape skin (red) - LDFC SR

Xmas Pudding - Roman Allones - LFDC SR

Nutmeg -Dip 2

Sour Cream - Upmann Connie

Creme Brule -Trini Reyes

Coffee Creme - Monte 3, Monte sublimes

Walnut/Cashew - Trini Robusto T, Robusto Extra

Steamed Fruit- Roman Allones Extra, Punch DC/PC

Malt/Barley -Boli PC

Coffee Bean- Boli, Cohiba

Shortcake-Sir Winnie/Mag 48

[Rushman]

Yeah, what Brazos and Cap'n Q said.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.630214,-87.069787

[smokebus]

wow - thanks for all of the info everyone!!

[Colt45]

Suggestions of a Czar sampler are good, but dont limit yourself to just one particular size.

Couldn't agree more. I might add to check with our hosts to see what is doing well currently. Perhaps the cigars suggested

may be different than what you might have had in mind, but I think a few of us have been enlightened when we've put aside

preconceived notions.