Cigar Recommendations

[Foxy73]

Hello all. So I have been smoking cigars on and off for the past 12 years and have really gotten back into it over the past year. I live in the US and have never really gotten a chance to smoke many Cuban cigars. I got my first box of monte Cristo number 2 for my birthday a few weeks ago and have smoked a few and have enjoyed them so far. I feel like they are a bit mild as I enjoy a cigar that has more flavor and is sweeter. I guess my question is how do I pick out which cigars to buy? I know that may sound like a dumb question but I don't have the privilege of going to my local humidor and buying a couple different Cuban cigars and finding one I like then buying a box. I have contemplated just buying a bunch of singles but I read a lot on here about letting them age when you buy a box and was curios if the same thing applies for singles? I know this is a complete newbie post but my biggest fear is ordering a 300 dollar box, smoking one, hating it, and then feeling like I just wasted my money. I really enjoy reading the descriptions on the 24:24 and the princes seemed right up my alley but alas they were all sold. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be awesome. I'm about to starting throwing darts at the order list and just crossing my fingers. 

[Fuzz]

Don't bother with boxes yet. Buy samplers until you develop your own preferences.

[LordAnubis]

What Fuzz said... singles... Just smoke em. Cigars will change over time. For better or worse is up to your tastes. If you want full bodied cigars there are brands you can try. Bolivar and Ramon Allones tend to be fuller for me. A little bit of a sweet character but if you're looking for a chocolate bar sweetness... id suggest a Snickers Honestly ive never tasted a rich sweetness in a cuban cigar, some NC yes, but not in a cuban. I always get a dark chocolate character of sweetness.

You may find you don't like Cubans. There's nothing wrong with that. Smoke whatever you enjoy mate.

[JohnS]

Yes, like Fuzz said, try samplers. It won't take you long to work out what you like.

[CaptainQuintero]

Yep samplers of singles, Cubans generally don't need aging nowadays either so you're ok with that. Some certainly benefit but nothing is unsmokeable.

From what you said I'd imagine you would enjoy the blends of Bolivar, Partagas, Cohiba, Ramon Allones and any limited edition release, but you could be very surprised by the lighter bodied cigars from Cuba which can really deliver big flavours in a smaller bodied package eg Diplomatico, H.Upmann, Por Larranaga

[ultramag]

I think there's several great options here, 

especially the "New to Cubans" sampler for a guy in your place. Lots of good staple choices there. There are also some more specified and smaller sampler options there. Give them a look!  

[Foxy73]

1 hour ago, ultramag said:

I think there's several great options here, 

especially the "New to Cubans" sampler for a guy in your place. Lots of good staple choices there. There are also some more specified and smaller sampler options there. Give them a look!  

Wow I feel like such an idiot lol. I must've looked at the website a dozen times and I guess I've always skipped that and have never seen it. The new to Cubans sampler will be perfect for me! Thanks for pointing it out! Doh!!!

[ultramag]

Glad to help! Enjoy the trip brother.  

[Ethernut]

Looks like the answer has been given! @Foxy73you have your mission (if you choose to accept it).  

[Danimalia]

Foxy, in my (admittedly limited) experience, CCs tend to be less full than many of the Nicaraguan cigars that are popular in the states. I see people have recommended the samplers, and I think that's a great idea. Bolivar, Ramon Allones, and Partagas D4 all tend to be fuller-flavored in my experience.

 

 

[PointFivePast]

Samplers for sure! I dove in and bought boxes but now find myself buying singles, fivers, and samplers to fill in my gaps in knowledge. Definitely smoke a little bit of everything and you'll know when you find something box worthy!

 

As for the fuller flavored options, many have been mentioned. Bolivar and Partagas are solid for a full bodied Cuban with some spice. For sweeter cigar with some richness, try some San Cristobal. The El Príncipe is sweet and rich and reasonably priced. They usually have darker wrappers as well which I find helps contribute a bit of similarity in taste to many of the NC cigars which tend to use darker wrappers.

[earthson]

If you want something that reminds you of the fullness of NC with some sweetness, get the freshest RyJ you can find and smoke away!

As for aging, recent production has needed MUCH less time than in the past.  I would think most would be a safe bet.

Read around and see what keeps popping up as the real crowd pleasers.  A 50 cab of Partagas Shorts is a thing of bliss!