Custom cigars that do and don't appeal to you?

[schubb]

I would love to be able to visit Cuba one day and try some of these. Maybe the way things are going it will be sooner rather than later!

[Lant63]

Recently acquired some Alex BHK 52 and Canonazo they are really nice. Great mix of cohiba and upmann with a touch of floral. I really agree with Rye's opinion on them. I have a bundle of his salamones on the way too can't wait for them.

I also have a couple jars full of hector luis robusto extra which are really top notch as well.

While sometimes you have to pay double or triple or more the price you would pay on the island for these. I think they are well worth the price of admission. Especially when "we"(I) are/am paying for the same for inconsistent regionals let alone the horrid limited editions(which I don't buy).

[IcedCanuck]

Custom cigars ...Taboada, Yolanda, Cueto, Santos, Hamlet, La China, Monses, Reynaldo etal.

What ones do you gravitate to...(we all have different tastes), and which ones have left you wanting. Which ones do you seek out....and why?

I have not tried any Taboada, Yolanda, or Cueto. I was not very fond of the La China rolls I got my hands on but my impression was that they needed more aging time for my tastes then I gave them. That being said I was gifted a stick of hers a couple years ago and it blew my mind. I have tons of Reynaldo sticks left and they never let me down. The Reynaldo customs are definitely what I gravitate towards. I find his customs profile remind me a lot of many ELs I have smoked in the past. Coffee, chocolate, and white pepper ... just thinking about them now makes me want to light one up. To me if you were to splice together an H.Upmann Robusto limited edition 2012 with a PSD4 you have his flavour profile. While the Hamlet customs I have tried were very enjoyable I found the price point between his rolls and other custom rolls were way out of bounds which for me was a turn off.

[El Presidente]

Any favorites Prez? If so, could you share thoughts on why?

Is there a general rule of thumb that could be made for each roller? I have read that Reynaldo usually has one of the strongest blends. Is that consistently true or does it just vary on what tobacco he obtained for the day? Do other rollers have a specific profile to their design?

Thanks.

To be honest I like them all. I am closer to some rollers than others but regardless, there is something about their individual spirit that goes into each cigar they roll. That is why I love customs.

Hamlet rolled what I like (when he had the time). "hermano...don't give me the hit at the end.....give me the hit at the front....then the seco journey, then hit me again."

Reynaldo Lanceros are brilliant. The rest may be good but for the love of God the lanceros are divine. I don't age them.

Monsdales are legendary for the simple reason that they are perfection. I haven't purchased any recently only due to the fact that I don't get there as much as I would like.

Cueto is a favourite but I don't get the opportunity to visit often. He is one of the busiest house rollers in Cuba.

La China....anyone who was at the Partagas 2014 dinner and tried the cigar she rolled on offer understands the pinnacle of cigars.

It really doesn't matter which of these masters roll the cigars. Each is unique. I have yet to have a Custom roll from them that I go "Bleh". While it may not be to my taste, class, quality and spirit is there in spades.

There is something of themselves entrenched in each cigar. That is a celebration in itself.

[The Privateer]

Kbb, on 18 Feb 2016 - 11:23 AM, said:

Is there a general rule of thumb that could be made for each roller? I have read that Reynaldo usually has one of the strongest blends. Is that consistently true or does it just vary on what tobacco he obtained for the day? Do other rollers have a specific profile to their design?

In my limited experience, Reynaldo's specialty sizes (Cimarron, Salomones etc.) tend to be strongest, while his regular sizes (robusto, piramides) are medium and more to my taste. Some of the strongest cigars came from him, particularly a freshly rolled Sublimes he gifted and told me to smoke immediately -- knocked me flat.

I've found the Mons blends to be extremely well balanced and refined, regardless of size. Likewise Cueto's.

Yolanda's have been all over the place, but her Behike-style sizes (Laguito 2,4,6) are extremely consistent and delicious, albeit more expensive.

[El Presidente]

Yolanda's have been all over the place, but her Behike-style sizes (Laguito 2,4,6) are extremely consistent and delicious, albeit more expensive.

I smoke Yolanda coronas. Gorgeous cigars. not sure if that is a regular staple in her offerings.

[Pilsner14]

Smoked a few this customs this trip but found them a little wet. Juanitas sticks all smelled stinky good with very oily rappers.......just like a coffee bean! In a rest period since December trying to acclimatize. Their price point is pretty good. Reynaldo's selection in his goodie drawer was cool.........a lot of customs rolled ...any size and shape.....some ginormous !!!! Can't really fault any of the rollers blends. Also tried to source some monsdale type cigars at club habana but none to my avail.......only Jorge's pumped up robustos. Haven't smoked one yet. He was rolling a bunch of cigars not for sale that looked fabulous.....for someone or some occasion.

[anacostiakat]

I have not found many I do not like but for me it really is a matter of what I can get. Or maybe what is available to me. I do smoke them often when I have them.

Picken's are slim and I try to take advantage when I can. For those who they are more readily available to I am jealous.

[papatrips]

Love Alfonso's work and I would put him up against any of the Havana Big Guns. Smoked his robustos, piramides, coronas and panatelas. To me there is a solid Upmann core (baking spice, etc)

Reynaldo's piramides and canonazos are fantastic. Walked the streets of Havana smoking one of his elephant dongs.

Love Johnny O's Mag47, 1966s and Behique 52s. I have been very impressed by them and are smoking very well young.

[Ryan]

I love Yolanda's Churchills and lonsdales.

Hamlet everything.

Reynaldo, lonsdales good, I've had bitterness from some of his cigars over 50 rg, though that might be me or humidity issues.

I've never felt wrappers as good as those on some of the Robaina cigars over the years.

I sometimes start laughing at memories when I light up one of Hector Luis Prietos.

Monsdales are some of the most consistent. He was a lovely man and no disrespect to him but the cigars stayed as good after he died.

I have a favourite though.

There are probably four or five cigars, each time I smoke one the flavour brings me back to where I first had one. With a H Upmann Royal Robusto, it's the Gato Tuerto, feb 2011. Partagas P2, a balcony in Spain with friends in 2007.

Mario Lopez, one of the rollers in the Habana Libre, rolls these panetelas, 1.45 cucs each, like sweet cocoa. Everytime I light one up, I'm in the lobby of the Havana Libre again. He hasn't had any the last couple of times I've been back. Materials shortages.

In 2013 at the Habana Libre festival party I swapped a Lusitania with him for one of his panetelas.

He was over the moon, but not as happy as I was.

I got the better deal.

[Ryan]

I smoke Yolanda coronas. Gorgeous cigars. not sure if that is a regular staple in her offerings.

Lovely cigars, they've always been in her humidor when I've been there. As you've said before, lots of seco. Smoking one is like getting a hug.

[stogieluver]

Alfredo Martinez robusto's have been pretty good. I brought back a half dozen Mario Lopez pyramids from our stay at the Havana Libre in 2012 which were very good.

[BonVivant]

Monsdales before 2014 - hands down most consistent custom rolled cigars, in terms of blend, taste and apperance