Newb wants your top 3 / 5 / 10 Cuban picks

[chr0nic]

Hey guys and gals,

New to the FoH and want to celebrate by spending some $. Been smoking cigars for a while now, and while I have some idea of what I like, I'm still rather new to the scene over-all.

Instead of spending on a whole box of one type, I was hoping to put together a "Whitmans Sampler" so-to-speak where I'd buy perhaps 20 singles to 'test' (thinking 10 types, doubled up for a second opinion).

Was hoping to get an idea of what the cornerstones of the Cuban world are- what can I not overlook, which sticks are your top 3 etc. I know it comes down to preference, but I'm also sure there's a concensus on some bare essentials

Thanks in advance!

Ryan

[sighuber]

You didn't provide insight on what tastes you like or preference for size/vitola. That would be helpful to know. If you like robustos, the czar robust "splits" is a great place to start. There are many classics in there with good representation of the major marcas. And if you want 2 of each then get 2 of them.

http://www.cigar-czar.com/store/cart.php?target=product&sns_mode=bestseller&product_id=3859&category_id=811

The petite corona "splits" is also worth looking at but there are fewer marcas represented.

In addition to those in the samplers referenced above, the H Upmann Magnum 46, Montecristo 2, Partagas 898v are a couple other cigars worth trying. There was a thread about the 10 best cigars from 2011 a couple months ago. Do a search for it. It'll provide some other suggestions.

[CaptainQuintero]

Top three is pretty hard. The cigars that I would pick that can show off the best of Cuban flavours for me, that would want me to explore the hobby more would be:

Monte #3

Upmann Sir Winston

Hoyo De Monterrey Epi #2

But I would also add

BHK52

QDO Corona

Upmann Mag 46

Partagas Shorts

Bolivar Petit Corona

Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill

Quintero Panetela

[Professor Twain]

I'd recommend you try the following, all of which I think smoke well without aging. I'm also recommending diverse sizes:

Bolivar Coronas Junior

Bolivar Royal Corona

Diplomaticos #2

Upmann Mag 46

Hoyo Epi #2

Montecristo Especial #2

Monte #3

Partagas 898

Partagas Shorts

Ramon Allones Special Select

Trinidad Reyes

Enjoy!

[Lotusguy]

Your best bet is to provide a description of your likes and dislikes to El Presidente and let him pick/recommend what smokes good these days. Voila.

[bambam]

I'd recommend you try the following, all of which I think smoke well without aging. I'm also recommending diverse sizes:

Bolivar Coronas Junior

Bolivar Royal Corona

Diplomaticos #2

Upmann Mag 46

Hoyo Epi #2

Montecristo Especial #2

Monte #3

Partagas 898

Partagas Shorts

Ramon Allones Special Select

Trinidad Reyes

Enjoy!

The professor has a good list. I would pick one of the Bolivars and Montecristos. They both have typical marca flavor profiles. I would switch one of the Parti skinnies above with a Parti Lusitania. The skinnies have the trademark Parti spice while the Lusi is a relatively mellower smoke. I would add a Cohiba to the list such as a Cohiba Robusto or Siglio IV. I would also add a Por Larranaga PC and a Punch Punch. Welcome to the dark side.

[Habanakane21]

For a new cat... here are some cigars I'd recommend getting started with.

-Bolivar Petit Corona

-Hoyo de Monterrey No.1 & No.2

-Cohiba Robusto

-Bolivar Belicoso Fino

-Ramon Allones Specially Select

-Partagas 898

-Partagas Serie D No.4

-H Upmann Sir Winston's

if you're able get a box of Ramon Allones Extra Edicion Limitada 2011..DO IT

[chr0nic]

Cheers all... I appreciate the recommendations so far. I said top 3 mainly because I didn't want to put anyone out. These lists are perfect. Thanks again

[mazolaman]

If I were to recommend 5 cigars to represent the DIVERSITY of flavour available in Cuban standard production, I would choose...

R and J cazadores,

El R D M Choix supreme

Sancho Bacherilles,

Partagas D4

HDm des Dieux...

[Colt45]

Your best bet is to provide a description of your likes and dislikes to El Presidente and let him pick/recommend what smokes good these days. Voila.

Bingo.

I'd even go so far as dismiss any preconceived notions and size preferences, and just try what is recommended as great currently.

For me there's little point in recommending, for example, Upmann Magnum 46, if current production is not up to snuff.

Enjoy

[partifan]

If I were to recommend 5 cigars to represent the DIVERSITY of flavour available in Cuban standard production, I would choose...

R and J cazadores,

El R D M Choix supreme

Sancho Bacherilles,

Partagas D4

HDm des Dieux...

I'm pretty sure the Bachilleres is no longer in production. The Non Plus is a decent representative of the salty-peanut Sancho flavor.

If I were to name the top 10 Cubans everyone should try:

Cohiba Robusto

Sir Winston

Monte Petite Edmundo (when a 2 is on, it is better, but the PEs are much more consistent)

Partagas Short

Partagas 898

Ramon Allones Specially Selected

BHK 52

HDM Epicure 2

Diplomaticos 2

Bolivar Petite Corona

I find Trinidad and QDO to be too subtle for those new to the Cuban game, and wouldn't recommend Sancho Panza to new folks. Only Partagas and Cohiba have 2 nods, but there is enough difference between the classic line and the behike line to try the difference, while in Partagas the same DNA is in the two, but the short is a good kick in the pants, while the 898 is more refined.

[mk05]

I'm pretty sure the Bachilleres is no longer in production. The Non Plus is a decent representative of the salty-peanut Sancho flavor.

what about the Sancho Panza Belicoso? But agreed with the poster above. Trini and QdO may not be everyone's best introduction, but if you like them the first time, you will be hooked for LIFE.

CoRo

Partagas 898 or D4

Monte 2

BPC or RyJ Short Churchill

EDRM CS

RASS

BBF

HdM Epi 1

HU 46 or 48 if Rob will do it

Punch Punch

and of course, a rockey patel decade.

[chr0nic]

Awesome indeed, thank you all for your detailed replies! So I spoke to Rob and he's pieced together a sample kit based on many of the abovementioned cigars. Keen as a bean to try them, ill post updates on my taste testing

Again, thanks for the suggestions guys and girls

[winelover]

Another one of those threads where nearly every habano under the sun gets a mention! The best way to find out what people like and actually smoke is to look up Rob's threads on habano sales by volume. I think the last one was done in November.

Samplers are a good idea but given the inherent inconsistencies, I think it is harder to learn from them unless you can get the box code and try and order the same. However just because you can tally box codes doesn't mean that there is consistency within a single box code.

Best to read and find the best of 2011 thread.

Good luck

Graham

[isa]

Awesome indeed, thank you all for your detailed replies! So I spoke to Rob and he's pieced together a sample kit based on many of the abovementioned cigars. Keen as a bean to try them, ill post updates on my taste testing

Again, thanks for the suggestions guys and girls

Great Ryan, so let us know what u smoke & how u like it , if u dont mind - it would be informative