Safest cigar to buy blind today?

[Jaded]

A friend is going to Havana and has room to bring some cigars back with him. 

He doesn’t know cigars so I’m not going to ask him to choose for me. 

My question is: what’s the safest bet on a quality production cigar out of Cuba today? I’ve never been disappointed with anything Bolivar, but have had some terrible boxes of other brands come back from Havana with friends. 

Thanks for the help! 

[treberty]

I would ask for customs.  

Just my 2 cents.

[havanaclub]

Connie A.
Or really can’t go wrong with a 57CuC box of RA superiores. The boxes I saw MSU 17s, looked great. Even if you get a not so good box they are very reasonable price wise. From a few weeks back.


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[El Presidente]

Connie A

[planetary]

I'm not sure I'd entrust a non-cigar person to buy cigars on the island.  I know people do it, and it sometimes works out well, but... *wince*

[shlomo]

None. Plenty of bug and mold problems. Too many to ignore.

At the very least ask your friend to open boxes and do a quick scan for mold or bug holes.

[shrink]

RA Superiores and Connie A's are good recommendations. I have 'em in my humidor. 

So are Por Larranaga Picadores. I can't leave 'em alone. 

[cmbarton]

Personally Partagás has been very consistent.  I have bought Shorts, Lusitanias, Serie E2 blind and haven’t been disappointed!

[JohnS]

Cigars to bring back from Cuba? Customs!

[mbflash80]

JL2

[PuffDaddie]

buy the connie A. or the Partagas serie.NO 2

[NSXCIGAR]

Can't disagree--for smoking consistency, RAS and Connie A are high on the list. Maybe throw RASCC and RG Perlas in there. Maybe Party Maduro No. 1 also. 

In fact, RAS is one of the best deals in Cuba. $55 a box. Customs are $5 each, and to be honest I'd rather have an RAS than most customs. 

I'd also be hunting for Connie B, Trini La Trova, Behike and any of the 17 ELs that may be available. I'd also be looking for Monte 1935 if available yet as they'll be much cheaper there than the worldwide price. 

 

[luckme10]

Customs were the first thing that came to mind as well. For reference, there was a nice list on reddit that had some of the rollers at the LCDH's around Cuba:

 

[JohnS]

35 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Can't disagree--for smoking consistency, RAS and Connie A are high on the list. Maybe throw RASCC and RG Perlas in there.

Indeed, yes, quite a few of my Cigar brethren have been buying up Rafael Gonzalez Perlas blind, lately!

[shlomo]

47 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Can't disagree--for smoking consistency, RAS and Connie A are high on the list. Maybe throw RASCC and RG Perlas in there. Maybe Party Maduro No. 1 also. 

In fact, RAS is one of the best deals in Cuba. $55 a box. Customs are $5 each, and to be honest I'd rather have an RAS than most customs. 

I'd also be hunting for Connie B, Trini La Trova, Behike and any of the 17 ELs that may be available. I'd also be looking for Monte 1935 if available yet as they'll be much cheaper there than the worldwide price. 

 

Custom rolled cigar prices depend on size. They vary from $1.70 to $10.00 +

[awkwardPause]

As long as Rob is passing the Aussie DOT eyesight standards test, I won't technically be buying blind 

 

[earthson]

While that is a great price for Superiores, I'd stick to some memorable customs, personally.  You can order Ramon Allones from home.

[NSXCIGAR]

3 hours ago, shlomo said:

Custom rolled cigar prices depend on size. They vary from $1.70 to $10.00 +

I should have said average price is $5. Anything from a Marevas up to a Canonazo is going to be $4-6. 

31 minutes ago, earthson said:

I'd stick to some memorable customs

Memorable is the key word here. Having smoked my fair share the vast majority have been anything but memorable. Again, personally, if I'm handing over $5 for a cigar just give me an RAS over most customs. There are exceptions--the best customs I've had were from Reynaldo and Arnaldo Never had any from Alex unfortunately but seems like his have been winners lately. Have not had anything great from Jorge Lopez, La China or Milagro. I would ask Jorge for Monsdales if he's got them but I've heard mixed things about those as well. He didn't have any when I was there in Nov and I've never had any. 

Personally, I've never been blown away by any customs but some have been very good. I'm interested to try Rob & Alex's La Puntillas as it seems some real care went into the blend and Alex seems to be a top-notch roller. 

[Fugu]

To spitball just another opinion...... Carrying back small (cheap) cigars - as good as may be - isn't worth the effort since the absolute saving is small. Get customs, HTF or "premium" stuff.

Concur with Shlomo - at least let him have a peek into the box(es) and check the sticks for "gross negligence".

Customs are always a way to go (good regular prod you can get anytime from here).

It all depends on what you like of course. Cigars to buy blind atm, you never go wrong with ConA indeed. Apart from that, if you are a Boli fan, and provided to your personal liking, let him have a look out for Boli CG, perhaps some still around. Last batches have been wonderful. The rest of the Boli range I wouldn't buy blind (construction can be an issue), if at all go for cab of BBF. MdO4s (always good), everything Trini and Lanceros are also top atm from what I have seen.

[BrightonCorgi]

I'd go for the fancier cigars in tubos.

[canadianbeaver]

Here’s a reply others may not like but WTF. I say thank you but no thank you, have a fantastic trip!

I only want cigars inspected and graded by guys here that I respect. Fellow brothers that know a thing or two about condition and what is good in a particular year and kind.

I am grateful.

CB

 

[oliverdst]

48 minutes ago, canadianbeaver said:

Here’s a reply others may not like but WTF. I say thank you but no thank you, have a fantastic trip!

I only want cigars inspected and graded by guys here that I respect. Fellow brothers that know a thing or two about condition and what is good in a particular year and kind.

I am grateful.

CB

 

I remember when a friend of yours didnt follow your specific instructions, muled fakes and got pissed when you said you wouldnt pay her lol (this last part I am not sure)

[canadianbeaver]

31 minutes ago, oliverdst said:

I remember when a friend of yours didnt follow your specific instructions, muled fakes and got pissed when you said you wouldnt pay her lol (this last part I am not sure)

Him lol. They were not even a brand name I know . They were souvenir blah blah whatever. I think, unless it was another story. Been a few. This is not what I am referring to in my post above. More like buying wine that is reviewed and rated?

But hey, if you want cigars from a friend going to Cuba, awesome! Just offering an alternative POV.

CB

 

[cmbarton]

Here’s a reply others may not like but WTF. I say thank you but no thank you, have a fantastic trip!
I only want cigars inspected and graded by guys here that I respect. Fellow brothers that know a thing or two about condition and what is good in a particular year and kind.
I am grateful.
CB
 

This is actually good advice. Cigars are tough to buy in Cuba by the inexperienced.

A friend of mine and his wife just got back, and when given the opportunity to request a bring back, I requested Havana Club rum. He looked puzzled considering I smoke one to three cigars a day, but I explained cigars are not hard to get in America but Cuban rum is. If I can find someone to ship it, the cost to ship is almost the cost of the rum itself.

He brought me back Havana Club Maestros and I couldn’t have been happier.

[earthson]

On April 6, 2018 at 10:14 PM, NSXCIGAR said:

I should have said average price is $5. Anything from a Marevas up to a Canonazo is going to be $4-6. 

Memorable is the key word here. Having smoked my fair share the vast majority have been anything but memorable. Again, personally, if I'm handing over $5 for a cigar just give me an RAS over most customs. 

 

Not to judge a book by its cover, but my logic is thus: odds are, construction won't be an issue. If the wrapper is rosado, it's coming home with me regardless of vitola.

Also, if somebody is know for a certain size or blend (i.e.: Yolanda's Piramides), I'm not going to request a mareva, even though that's what I typically buy by the box.