Where to start

[Smokin Joe]

Hi all

I'm planning to put together my own sampler to get to know some of the classic CCs. The scope of choice is intimidating few a newbie so I'm narrowing the field to light or medium bodied coronas. I've happily worked through some Monte #4s and Siglo#3s. I'd be grateful for any advice on where to start with:

Bolivar

Cuaba

Partagas

Punch

HdM

HU

[Smallclub]

 

[dominattorney]

25 minutes ago, Smokin Joe said:

Hi all

I'm planning to put together my own sampler to get to know some of the classic CCs. The scope of choice is intimidating few a newbie so I'm narrowing the field to light or medium bodied coronas. I've happily worked through some Monte #4s and Siglo#3s. I'd be grateful for any advice on where to start with:

Bolivar

Cuaba

Partagas

Punch

HdM

HU

Get one of robs samplers, but if you don't want to do that, go for bolivar royal corona, partagas serie d4 and lusitania, punch punch, punch double corona, hdm epicure especial, epicure no 1 and or 2, upman no 2, Connie a. Do yourself a favor and skip Cuaba for now. 

[JohnS]

So you are asking what are the best light or medium-bodied vitolas in those marcas above for you to try? Well, in regards to Bolivar, I find them usually full-bodied and earthy, I wonder if you can get your hands on the soon-to-be-deleted Bolivar Tubos No.1?

The smallest Cuaba is the Divinos, but in general, 'minuto-sized' cigars are more stronger, yet pack more flavour. If you prefer a more lighter Cuaba I'd go with the larger Distinguidos (52 ring gauge x 162 mm).

For Partagas, definitely Shorts, you must have this in your humidor and for Punch get your hands on recent Punch Punch which has been smoking great lately. The only thing is that the Shorts are a minuto (42 rg x 110 mm) and the Punch Punch is a Corona Gorda (46 rg x 143 mm).

You wouldn't believe it, but if you aren't aware, Habanos S.A is deleting both the petit corona-sized vitolas in the Hoyo de Monterrey and H.Upmann marcas, the Le Hoyo du Prince and HU Petit Corona (Technically speaking, the du Prince is an Almuerzos at 40 rg x 130 mm and the HUPC is a Marevas as it's hand-made). If you are able to source these it's handy to know that, in my humble opinion, both need some downtime, the HdM du Prince needs it to bring out its creamy texture, the HUPC because when youthful I find these have that toasted tobacco  element dominating and the rest allows them to become milder, their tobacco blend settles and the Shortbread coffee, cocoa and mild pepper flavours comes out more (which I love).

You may be better served to go for the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.1 (a Corona Gorda) or No.2 (a robusto) for a lighter cigar and for H.Upmann try the Connoisseur No 1 (a Hermosos No.4 at 48 rg x 127 mm).

[garbandz]

havehttp://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/

this is where to start. save this to your faves, you will need it.

the strongest CC will probably rate to medium- full on the Non-Cuban strength scale, so you can relax, there will be no CC that is too much for you.

I suggest you stick to the big names at first, they are the most popular for a good reason.

Also ,the petit corona sticks, to me,have the most concentrated flavors. The "corona" size is nearly extinct, only a couple remain.

You will run across cigars you have never seen before,use the above website to learn about when they were made,and it will help you learn why the are in demand,or considered special,or cost so much.

Learn to use the search function here, all your questions have been answered.................

 

[Daveyboy777]

I had a bolivar tubo #1 in Cayo coco in January going back next week


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[Profmd]

You just need to do the research yourself.

Asking others is really senseless. It's your own tastes and palate that will decide what you like.

Many will point you in a direction, but it's all up to you. Just get a sampler, and go from there. You will know after what you like. Do a search on the site, you are not the first, and certainly not the last that will ask this question.

 

[mwaller]

Be aware that CCs require at least a month of rest after shipment.  Many will taste awful if you try to smoke them too soon.  Regardless if which sticks you choose, don't be too eager to o try them if you want a pleasant experience.  

I'm really partial to Bolivar.  I think they have more flavor than many other sticks.  If you want to stick to something in the 42 ring gauge size, try the Coronas Junior or Tubos No. 2.  Both are rich tasting cigars and will smoke well with minimal down time.  Oddly, the Petit Coronas have been hit and miss over the last few years.  Have fun!

I also second the Partagas shorts... Great flavor in a small package.

[Smokin Joe]

2 hours ago, Smallclub said:

 

Thanks Smallclub. I'll also work on my searching skills.

[Smokin Joe]

2 hours ago, dominattorney said:

Get one of robs samplers, but if you don't want to do that, go for bolivar royal corona, partagas serie d4 and lusitania, punch punch, punch double corona, hdm epicure especial, epicure no 1 and or 2, upman no 2, Connie a. Do yourself a favor and skip Cuaba for now. 

Thanks Dominattorney. Will work through some of these and Rob's samplers are definately on the list.

What is your take on Cuabas? Are they too heavy / nuanced for an unrefined palate?

 

[Smokin Joe]

14 minutes ago, mwaller said:

Be aware that CCs require at least a month of rest after shipment.  Many will taste awful if you try to smoke them too soon. 

Cheers Mwaller. This I learned the hard way. Looking to get a few into the humidor now so I dont have to wait as patiently in the future.

[Smokin Joe]

2 hours ago, Daveyboy777 said:

I had a bolivar tubo #1 in Cayo coco in January going back next week


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Nice one Daveyboy777. What did you think of Cayo coco? The blue of that water is something else.

[Daveyboy777]

Water and beach is beautiful. Cigar smoking every evening trying different cigars was awesome


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[Daveyboy777]

Going for 10 days march 31st


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[dominattorney]

42 minutes ago, Smokin Joe said:

Thanks Dominattorney. Will work through some of these and Rob's samplers are definately on the list.

What is your take on Cuabas? Are they too heavy / nuanced for an unrefined palate?

 

I have had a several cuabas and frankly, the only one worth a damn to me is the Salomon, but it has to be a good quality one as there are some real duds out there. I think the shape of the Cigar lends itself to a lot of failed examples and for someone just starting out there are plenty of better options. If you like the shape, I prefer partagas presidentes and I think the partagas Salomon is better than the cuaba. As far as flavors go, I just think they are one dimensional and unrefined across the marca. I wouldn't say they are nuanced at all. To me I consider them unrefined. 

[SloppyJ]

The best advice I can give you is to order a bunch of 5 packs. Let them sit in your humidor for a month or two and then tear into them. I find myself hesitant to tell anyone to order singles because I've had both great and awful cigars out of the same box. In my own mind, I've tarnished entire brands because I had one bad cigar when I was in your shoes when I first started. 

Make sure your humi is on point. 

[Mycroft]

And on the other hand I really like the Cuabas I have smoked. Which illustrates Profmd's point rather well I think. 

Ie  the Cuabas I like and the Cuabas Dominattorney doesn't are not actually the same cigars. Neither of us have probably smoked that many. Most of mine were from a particular box,  with age, that I chanced upon by luck at an out-of-the-way  cigar shop. I tried one,  liked it, and went back the next day and bought the rest of the box. And meanwhile the crap, blocked Cuabas I may have previously had are completely forgotten about.  So my opinion on Cuabas as far as it pertains to your particular situation is probably worthless. 

What I have gleaned from my attempts over the years to acquire a few decent smokes is that the following cliches are entirely true:

1. Taste is the most subjective of the senses, and cigars are the most subjective of all the tasty things. 

2. The only consistent thing about Cuban cigars is their inconsistency. 

Imho and to my own subjective taste most Cuban cigars picked at random, whatever the brand or vittola,  are uninteresting at best, with some unsmokeable, some very good, and a very few memorable. Improving the odds of hitting memorable, while reducing the risk of getting crap is the point of the journey for me.

Good luck! 

 

 

[Mattb82]

I think anything Hoyo is a good place to start 

[Pharmacovigilant]

Fonseca No. 1 are on the mild-med side with a nice floral aroma and sweetness.  A cazadore measuring in at 6.4 x 43. "Officially" discontinued in 2012 but I have a box from ARG FEB 15 which have been smoking great.  Won't break the bank either at around $155/box.

[SticksAndSticks]

My advice would be to try samplers and pay attention to the sticks you really liked. Check out that marca more. For anything you didn't like, try another 2-3 because you easily could have just gotten a bad one.

After 30 days in the humidor I still try to drybox overnight, then pay attention and try that same stick again in a month. The difference from 30 to 60 days of rest often blows me away. I was pretty down on a box of Petit Edmundo's I picked up after the first one, tried them again after a month and totally get what the hype is about now.

Mostly just enjoy yourself. There's tons of amazing sticks, but its a long life and you'll have time to try them all. Find what you like and start there for now.

[Smokin Joe]

31 minutes ago, SticksAndSticks said:

Mostly just enjoy yourself. There's tons of amazing sticks, but its a long life and you'll have time to try them all. Find what you like and start there for now.

This is sound advice

[Smokin Joe]

4 hours ago, Pharmacovigilant said:

Fonseca No. 1 are on the mild-med side with a nice floral aroma and sweetness.  A cazadore measuring in at 6.4 x 43. "Officially" discontinued in 2012 but I have a box from ARG FEB 15 which have been smoking great.  Won't break the bank either at around $155/box.

Alright. I havent tried Fonseca yet. I'll have to give it a go.

[Smokin Joe]

17 hours ago, SloppyJ said:

The best advice I can give you is to order a bunch of 5 packs. Let them sit in your humidor for a month or two and then tear into them. I find myself hesitant to tell anyone to order singles because I've had both great and awful cigars out of the same box. In my own mind, I've tarnished entire brands because I had one bad cigar when I was in your shoes when I first started. 

Make sure your humi is on point. 

Cheers SloppyJ. I'm picking up at least two of everything I get.

[canadianbeaver]

Saving them for a month is noble advice from everyone. 

I tear into them one by one right away if that is my inventory, shame on me. Canada Post = storage IMO.

CB