Your Newbie Cuban Sampler.

[NSXCIGAR]

On 8/29/2019 at 9:59 PM, nKostyan said:

I think a “newbie” - is a pure newbie, not “from NC to CC”...

I agree. I'm seeing people put cigars like SW, Fundys, Lusi, Connie A, CCE etc. 

These cigars are certainly not cigars for beginners either to CCs or cigars in general. Their complexity will simply be lost on a beginner, not to mention they're all fairly pricey and large. No one wants to have to spend an hour or two or pay an arm and a leg on a cigar they're not wild about. 

IMO a beginner doesn't need the best model of the marca. They need the most direct and succinct representation of the marca. If one doesn't like a Party Short they're certainly not going to like a Lusi. 

The key to CCs is getting your head around the general characteristics of each marca and going from there. I also think a beginner should be shielded as much as possible from inconsistentcy and quality issues and smaller CCs tend to be much more consistent IMO, particularly in terms of blend and flavor.

[pguss]

As a newbie, this seems reasonable to me.  I’d also think that a cigar that requires aging to be representative (other than 90 days rest) is unavailable to a new smoker, if we’re talking about buying singles from a cigar store.

[BeerPimp]

Cohiba Robusto

PLPC

Monte #1 (was going to say Monte 4 but I like this Vitola a lot)

Punch Punch

RASS

PSD4

H Upmann Connie 1

Hoyo Epi 2

 

[mbrody]

I think of the storied cigars I coveted before my introduction...

 

Coro

psd 4

hdm epi 2

Bbf 

monte 2

RJ  Churchill 

Hup sir Winston

Punch Punch

[NSXCIGAR]

17 hours ago, pguss said:

As a newbie, this seems reasonable to me.  I’d also think that a cigar that requires aging to be representative (other than 90 days rest) is unavailable to a new smoker, if we’re talking about buying singles from a cigar store.

Not necessarily. Some cigars are ready to go ROTT. IMO age changes a cigar and not necessarily for the better. Some flavors wax, others wane. 

There aren't many cigars I'd only smoke with age on them. Most Por Larranagas fall into that category, particularly the Picadores. Cohiba Linea Clasica also seems to be hindered a bit with less than 2 years on them.

But most others are great young. Connie 1/A/B, SW are great ROTT. Most Trini are good to go. I smoked many 2-5 year old Reyes that taste the same as freshies. Monte can be good young. RyJ does well young. San Cristobal is solid young. 

[OldEasy]

CoRo (1 expensive one I feel is justified if the others are more reasonable, and I feel is probably one of the most accessible cohibas to a newbie)

 

HdM Epi 2

 

PSD4

 

Monte #4

 

PLPC

 

LGC MdO 4

 

Either BBF or BPC (BPC being a more approachable size, but BBF perhaps being a more approachable flavor profile, I will say I didn’t have much trouble with the BBF when I was pretty new to cigars)

 

Something from Upmann, HUHC, Connie 1, or maybe a magnum 46 or 54.

 

I think such a sampler gives a good representation of the breadth of Cuban tobacco and introduces a newbie to most of the major Marcas (or at least those I like the most). It also utilizes mostly popular, manageable, and familiar sizes  (Robustos and PC’s) while throwing in a few odd ones to see if they appeal to the individual. I shy away from a sampler of all small cigars as I think particularly in the U.S. there can be a sense among non-smokers and casual smokers that anything smaller than a Robusto isn’t a real cigar. So I like the idea of bridging the gap between the novice who can’t handle or doesn’t want a large cigar and the novice who doesn’t want to spend money on diminutive vitolas.

[OldEasy]

Could also do to replace to PLPC or something else with a Reyes