Which of the NC Cuban named cigars....stack up?

[smokum]

Havent smoked an Nc in over a decade so cant comment on todays blends but back when Partagas was celebrating its 150 anniversary I smoked and collected many boxes of NC Partagas 150's in all the sizes they made. I forgot the details but the leaf used was supposedly very old. They were good and I still have one lonely coffin boxed stick decorating my humi. Partagas back then was all I usually smoked.

[ogus]

Amor De Fumar

[Puros Y Vino]

I've enjoyed NC Punch Presidentes back in the early days for me. Great construction, burn. Mild/medium bodied. Wouldn't buy them again mind you.

OTOH, I nearly died smoking a Partagas Black Label Toro. Pretty much the most horrendous cigar I've ever tasted (runner up RP/DE Java). The Black Label tasted like asphalt mixed with warmed up roadkill. I got rid of the box ASAP. Even some of the guys who wanted some, passed them forward as they were not an enjoyable cigar at all.

[parabola66]

I was actually pretty fond on the NC Cohiba before coming here. The Extra Vigrosso, Black, and Edicion Diamante are actually pretty damn good. At least last time I had them they were (its been a while since discovering this forum)... I still have some Edicion Diamante A's in my collection.

The LGC Serie R maduro was one of my go-to's

The HdM Excalibur was gifted to me and is not something that was un-enjoyable but not something I would seek out on my own.

[wabashcr]

Others have mentioned the LGC Serie R, although I've heard General supposedly changed the blend after EP Carillo left. I've had a few RyJs and H. Upmanns that weren't half bad. NC Montes can be hit or miss. Not completely terrible. I smoke a lot of NCs, but nothing really from either Altadis or General. If you're into NCs at all, there are a lot of people doing some pretty cool things in that side of the industry. They're making better product than Altadis/General and advancing the industry by investing and trying new things. Those are the people who get my money on the NC side.

[parabola66]

Anyone looking to check out a beautiful NC in general check out the Ave Maria Reqonquista

[DrunkenMonkey]

None of them. In my opinion, the only NCs worth buying are illusione, Tatuaje, some Ashtons, and Padrons. I say leave the pretend Cubans alone; maybe they'll go away.

[Scroats]

Forgot some sticks. Sancho Panza NC, made by padron is tasty. Also the as an cristobal is good too. My father blend sold by Ashton if I'm remembering correctly.

[Colt45]

Though I haven't smoked a ton of them (a half dozen at best), and it's been a while, I've had good luck with the Montecristo Platinum (churchill & corona).

[NCPANTHERZFAN]

Before delving into the CC world, I had quite a collection of NC's ( Mosty Nicaraguans). Drew estates put out a few of my favorites. The Ferral Flying Pig, the Liga Privada #9 and the T 52. I also enjoyed quite a few of the Tatuajue line. I still am awaiting my 1st CC purchase, hopefully I can see how drastically different these are to NC's.

[nick2021]

Some of the fake montecristos were good....HDMs were too strong for me, had the typical NC "punch" which I don't care for!

[Habana Mike]

Not sure why they wouldn't put as much effort in bringing the "namesake" cigars up to the quality of many of the other cigars mentioned here. Maybe they already have a market they don't want to disrupt.

[Coloniales]

I rarely venture out of Cuban cigars. However, my travels take me to the US. So, stuff I like, Liga Privada are pretty good, well made great price. Patrons, 1964 and so on, expensive but good quality, if a little funky taste wise. Tatuajes are good value, well made and pretty close taste wise to some Habanos.

Same name as Cuban brands, have all been dire, except the El Rey Del Mundos, which have been OK. La Gloria Cubanas, too grassy for me.

Keith.

[anacostiakat]

Currently, none.

[TomF]

20 years ago the LGC and Partagas NC's were good...or so I thought...but once I found Cuban sources I never looked back at any of the knockoffs.

That said, Padron, Tatuaje, and Fuente Hemingway line, particularly the Short Stories, are all that I'd go for in the NC world. Maybe one of the Diamond Crown Robustos if it has some age on it.

[Hunter1974]

I hear a lot of oks and alrights ! But the key

phrase is stack up ! IMHO. Most top shelf NCs on average are better constructed Than Ccs . But in the flavor department there is no contest ! I have several 90+ rated CA top 25 in my humidor that I'll pass up to smoke A PLP , a Hoyo Palmas extra ,P aristocrat.RG perla.or Rascc.just my 2 cents. No Cc copy cat stands a chance . The LG serie R and N are good but stack up to its Cuban counterpart no way ! Now in cosmetics NC LG wins

[fokker4me]

I'd have to say the only NC Cuban that I smoke on a consistent basis is the San Cristobal. The Elagancia line from them is lighter and makes for a good morning smoke. It however is a lesser known brand and an extension of the Ashton portfolio, made by My Father in Estile, Nicaragua.

[Professor Twain]

I avoid all of these on principle. Never smoked one

[jacksfull]

Not sure why they wouldn't put as much effort in bringing the "namesake" cigars up to the quality of many of the other cigars mentioned here. Maybe they already have a market they don't want to disrupt.

Mostly I think it's one of two things. Either it's a placeholder to keep trademarks alive until the time comes to run with the real deal, or it's something that sells well enough on brand recognition alone. And with brand recognition it can be like Partagas where the NC version is so well entrenched in the US market that many/most consumers of them don't necessarily even know the history or the Cuban connection. OTOH, something like NC Cohiba's are riding CC coattails (IMO).

As for any that hold up well on their own merit, I got a box of Honduran Trinidads a few years ago that were outstanding. Unfortunately, they discontinued the size I liked (No. 5, a tres petit corona obviously meant to mimic Reyes CC's, pigtail and all, though with a 44 RG) and I haven't tried any other sizes. I also kinda' like Honduran Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte's, but only as a decent $2.00 "everyday" kind of smoke. Not in the same class as anything with higher aspirations.

[perkinke]

I like the HU sun grown from time to time and the partagas line isn't too bad, though they discontinued the one I liked the best, the series s.