Anyone here smoke Non Cubans?

[polarbear]

I would take a look at the vendor, year, storage conditions, etc... What cigar was it that you had such a horrible box? That is extremely rare to be happening. It surely possible, but can usually be due to bad storage, in my experience.

The worst 2 were a box of 2005 Monte #3's and a box of 2008 Short Churchills (I think). 17 of the 25 Montes were plugged, some were still smokeable, other not.

The RyJ's were a little better. Half were good, half not so much.

I've sinced changed suppliers since getting back into cubans

[Skyfall]

I would take a look at the vendor, year, storage conditions, etc... What cigar was it that you had such a horrible box? That is extremely rare to be happening. It surely possible, but can usually be due to bad storage, in my experience.

^

This

[messa]

I will smoke an NC every so often. Started with them and currently prefer the Padrons, Fuentes, Ashton VSGs, and LFDs. I enjoy the variety and can appreciate the different flavor profiles. I gravitate towards Cubans because I do prefer the consistency of the flavors over NCs and I can get a great tasting box of Cubans for cheaper than a box of premium NCs.

[CaptainQuintero]

A good cigar is a good cigar regardless of origin, I've had some spectacularly rich and complex NCs that have championed the benefits and differences that they can achieve when going their own way.

When people shy away from being themselves and imitate others in life instead of forging their own path they can never become great, the same applies to the cigar world.

I feel sorry for people who proudly deal in absolutes

[Phillys]

I have never tried a NC and I do not know why. I guess that all of the vendors I use stock mostly CC's and do not buy from a B&M. I have been trying to try smoke my way through every marca/vittola and still have a long way to go, but I would not hesitate to try a NC if the opportunity arises.

[poorman]

Anyone who is looking for Liga, Tats, Opus, Anejos, Davidoff, Viaje, Room 101, etc. PM me if you want to trade.

Exactly

[cigcars]

* Oh sure, I still smoke NC's! Basically to increase or maintain my real satisfaction with my CC's! But among them, Padron, Padilla, Arturo Fuente, and La Flor Dominicanas are IMHO first rate, quality smokes in and of themselves. Variety is the Spice of Life!!!

[David67]

Up until a year ago or so I smoked a lot of non-Cuban cigars, however having found Rob and Co, who know their stuff, I buy about 90% Cuban cigars now.

[BMack]

I smoke both...sometimes I like a good hamburger while other times I want a steak.

Although right now I'm on a Habano-only buying period.

[ned]

i enjoy nc just as much as cubans. i love the different flavors a nc has. also one thing that i do prefer with nc's over cubans is you dont have to wait years to get a great cigar. illusione, epernay etc are some of the best cigars out there imo bar none...

[polarbear]

i enjoy nc just as much as cubans. i love the different flavors a nc has. also one thing that i do prefer with nc's over cubans is you dont have to wait years to get a great cigar. illusione, epernay etc are some of the best cigars out there imo bar none...

Thats a fair point

One of the things that attracted me to NC's was that they are generally ready to smoke as soon as you get them. When I was just starting out I didnt have the money or storage to buy boxes and then not touch them for at least a year.

The down side of NC's in that regard is that they dont usually have the aging potential of CC's. Most NC's I've found tend to go downhill after around 5 years of age.

[riazp]

whenever i'm in the states, i'll usually visit a b&m look around and if anything peaks my curiosity i'll pick up a single or two. i'll usually keep some Tatuaje PCR's as a change of pace cigar, a few illusions, mainly 'boutique' stuff. but for the money i'll never buy a box of nc's when there are far better cuban cigar for the same money or less

[mkz]

Besides cubans I smoke a lot of dutch cigars. Schimmelpenninck, Miskleur, Hajenius, Brobergs Arcadia etc. A nice change of pace and very cheap.

[backslide]

A good cigar is a good cigar regardless of origin, I've had some spectacularly rich and complex NCs that have championed the benefits and differences that they can achieve when going their own way.

When people shy away from being themselves and imitate others in life instead of forging their own path they can never become great, the same applies to the cigar world.

I feel sorry for people who proudly deal in absolutes

Very well said. I'm sorta over people trying to compare nc to cc's. They both can be great or horrible. It's ridiculous to grab a nc and expect it to taste like a cc.

I enjoy cigars from all over the world and I'm proud to say that.

[stogiecidal]

whenever i'm in the states, i'll usually visit a b&m look around and if anything peaks my curiosity i'll pick up a single or two. i'll usually keep some Tatuaje PCR's as a change of pace cigar, a few illusions, mainly 'boutique' stuff. but for the money i'll never buy a box of nc's when there are far better cuban cigar for the same money or less

Had this conversation with Mike (Anthem) and Mike (blotto....) during the Montreal 2013 herf.

I started off 3-4 years ago exclusively smoking NC's with the occasional CC thrown in here and there. I really dug the robust, in your face, full bodied smoke.

Fast forward to 2 years to present and I find that my palette has changed and no longer crave the full, heavy flavours in NC's. I stopped buying for a time as nothing interested me and smoked through my NC stash. Was surprised that smokes I really enjoyed no longer did it for me much. (Coupled with a few members here trying to turn me to the "dark side" lol).

Still have a handful of NC's in my humi that I'll probably smoke through this summer playing softball. My favourite NC of all time from memory is probably the Tatuaje 109 Federal 90th anny rosado.

Like broseph said, when in the States I'll hit local b&m's and maybe grab a 5'er. Specifically my father no. 1's.

[Natedog]

I'm relatively new to the cigar world but I have been in the wine world for nearly three decades and I see many parallels. I love old world wines. I tend to lean more toward burgundy ( DRC, Gros Firere et Soeur) I also enjoy wines from the Rhone region but I can't imagine just leaving it there. There are so many incredible wines from all over the world that to limit it to just one region I think is sad and narrow minded. I can understand someone saying that the profile of a CC for them is perfect and they enjoy that cigar the most but to say that they won't touch a NC. I just don't get it. Maybe in three decades I will but for now I don't. Enjoy your smokes peeps!

[Orion21]

I used to be a staunch CC only guy and thought NC's were ligero bombs dumb people smoked because they wanted a buzz. Now I have a different view of the NC cigar world. If you know what to look for there are quite a few very nice NC's that are great smokes. The Illusione mk is a perfect example of a NC cigar that is smooth, sweet and semi complex. It lacks the huge ligero hit many NC's can't get away from and is a pleasure to smoke. Another NC I have really enjoyed is the Tatuaje Anarchy. It's a large figurado, but has a wonderful blend. A few Fuente Opus X and the whole Anejo line are always excellent as well. I still gravitate to CC's 90% of the time, but like the Illusione mk and Tatuaje Anarchy, I will buy a box if they are enjoyable to smoke.

[darkleeroy]

I smoke them often enough. Usually at B&M's and the such. I usually stick darker maduro-type wrappers for NC.

[JohnnyNorth]

The only "Ups and Downs" I had with Cubans (until recently) was buying a box of 25 and having to toss 17 of them cause they were plugged :-(

Hey, never cross to mind that let them sit for a while? They were overhumid. Have you ever tried "dryboxing" your sticks?

[nikesupremedunk]

The only "Ups and Downs" I had with Cubans (until recently) was buying a box of 25 and having to toss 17 of them cause they were plugged :-(

You were probably storing them wrong. I find CC's to be very anal about RH...even slightly high RH can make the draw very tight. Store them at 60 or under RH and I'm sure that problem would go away.

I don't go out of my way to buy NC's but will buy one from time to time from b&m's just so I can smoke my CC. I would smoke it after my CC if I feel like smoking another one, and that's ok because my palate isn't as fresh then so I don't have to taste the NC as much.

[PigFish]

With all the crowing I do about Tabacuba, all that it would take to throw them overboard would be a good cigar. I have yet to smoke one!!!

-the Pig

[KB24]

If anyone has Padrons, Fuente's, Illusiones, or AVOS they are trying to get rid of, email me at [email protected]. I can do CC's for NC's but the deals will be in my favor. Just being honest upfront. USA only and minimum 5 cigars in trade.

-Patrick

[bamadoc77]

A good cigar is a good cigar regardless of origin, I've had some spectacularly rich and complex NCs that have championed the benefits and differences that they can achieve when going their own way.

When people shy away from being themselves and imitate others in life instead of forging their own path they can never become great, the same applies to the cigar world.

I feel sorry for people who proudly deal in absolutes

One of the finest posts I've ever read on this forum.

[MIKA27]

I love my non Cubans, especially Padron, Camacho and Room 101's..

[srsMichael]

Yea I do.

NCs I smoke:

Oliva G maduros

Oliva V

Anjeos/Opus/Most AF stuff

Quesada Espana coronas

Select Tats (vercu no 5, j21, regular monster stuff minus wolfman)

VSG and ESG

Some Liga stuff

Might mix in something random here and there but this is the select few.