Classic NC Blends?

[sharp_guy]

I was turned onto the Punch Classico Churchill by my local tobacconist after I told him I was looking for some NC cigars that have stood the test of time. Those under the radar cigars that are usually tucked away in the back corner at your B&M but have been quietly selling to those in the know for decades.

 

I have to say the Punch Classico has become

one of my favourites NC or otherwise. Curious to hear what other classic NC cigars members enjoy?

 

 

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[havanaclub]

Tatuaje brown label


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[Burningman]

4 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

Tatuaje brown label


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Most definitely!

[THEMISCHMAN]

Tatuaje brown label


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La Riqueza, Black Labels, specifically the Corona Gorda. Most things from Illusione, ~2~, OR ECCJ and the 20th especially.

[Guest Nekhyludov]

It's strange to me to think of cigars as "classic" that didn't exist 10 years ago.

I would single out the Padron Classic (formerly just Padron) and Chateau Fuente lines. They've been around so long, they've become passé and no one really bothers to appreciate them anymore. But they've stood the test of time, and are archetypes in my opinion of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco, respectively. Most everything from the last 25 years has built on that foundation.

[prodigy]

The illusione mk ultra Corona size. Don't know if it's a classic per say, but they are absolutely fantastic smokes. I need to grab another box, but I'm busy buying so many CC, I don't want to buy any NC hahaha.

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[Islandboy]

Fuente Don Carlos. Any size. Especially #3. 

[Notsocleaver]

Consistency is the struggle for many of the exciting NC releases. The initial run uses fantastic tobacco but they struggle to source enough of the good stuff to keep it going. If you are in the US and looking for a cigar to smoke in the shop, I recommend checking the core lines of some long running brands, some of those have the best chance of having some shop age on them. La Flor Dominicana Coronado and Double Ligero have been around a long time, age well and are pretty post hype. Same with Don Pepin Garcia black and blue labels. Still around, still good, but mostly forgotten.

[Islandboy]

Agreed^^

I had a few La Colmena Black Honeys from a sampler several years ago that were phenomenal. Bought a bundle expecting greatness, but have been mostly disappointed. 

I have to say that CC’s have a much better track record of flavor consistency, which always amazes me. 

[Deeg]

2 hours ago, db13 said:

Anyone remember the first run of La Gloria Cubana Wavells in the mid-90s? Tasted like a RASS on steroids. Raisin and cocoa bomb. Haven’t tried one since then. I could have sworn that original blend had some Cuban tobacco in it.

Those early Carrillo LGCs were phenomenal cigars.  I remember the Wavell very well.  Also loved the En Cedro. 

[Wookie]

Not necessarily classics, but excellent in their own rights: AJ Fernandez creations, some of Rocky Patel's stuff, Davidoff, joya cinco decadas. 

[anjimj]

Tatuaje Havana cazadores

Illusione Holy Lance 

 

[cigcars]

12 hours ago, sharp_guy said:

 

I was turned onto the Punch Classico Churchill by my local tobacconist after I told him I was looking for some NC cigars that have stood the test of time. Those under the radar cigars that are usually tucked away in the back corner at your B&M but have been quietly selling to those in the know for decades.

 

I have to say the Punch Classico has become

one of my favourites NC or otherwise. Curious to hear what other classic NC cigars members enjoy?

 

 

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      Hi, sharp_guy,

          *I would strongly recommend you try the Punch Rare Corojo.  When I began to be seriously into premium cigars back in the '90's that Honduran Punch's older, more sophisticated cousin, Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibre (Maduro) was my go-to standby cigar of the times. After I'd been totally spoiled on Cuban cigars years later I went back to the Hoyo & Punch Hondurans from that period...and my re-action was, "AHHHGGHHH!!! This tastes like DIRT!!!" Well...I gave the Punch Rare Corojo a try when it was first released...and it was (IMHO) almost unmistakably "cubanesque" in flavor and aroma. Just my 2 cents. You can give it a try if you like. Others who may have tried it might disagree vehemently, but - again to ME- it's about 700 steps higher than any other of the plain and Honduran Punches out there. Good luck and enjoy! 

[earthson]

The only NC that hold a candle to CC for me are Fuentes (and the odd Avo XO).  I find the Fuentes to age just as well as Havanas and the Don Carlos (especially no 3) for some reason has always reminded me of the Punch Punch.  The flavors are different because of terroir, of course, but the complexity and flavor development over the course of the cigar are there.  There is no need to chase the hype of Fuente Angels Share, Don Arturo and Opus, although the 4 year old Don Arturo I'm smoking now is aging magnificently!  Fuente Sungrown, Hemingway, Don Carlos and 858 are utterly fantastic cigars.

[BeerPimp]

For Maduro I always think of Hoyo de Monterrey.

[HoyoFan]

I have to say that most of Rocky Patel’s stuff is pretty blah. BUT the Royale in toro size specifically is a fantastic smoke. Especially if you give it 6 months onwards to rest. Zero pepper and just pure chocolate and cream. It’s complex and transitions.

The band is ugly as all hell and they’re often rolled a bit loose but the smoke is decadent.

[cigcars]

17 hours ago, db13 said:

Anyone remember the first run of La Gloria Cubana Wavells in the mid-90s? Tasted like a RASS on steroids. Raisin and cocoa bomb. Haven’t tried one since then. I could have sworn that original blend had some Cuban tobacco in it.

     *I got to meet Senior Carrillo when he came to the Riverside Cigar Shop in Jeffersonville, Indiana where I worked. I told him HOW much I enjoyed his first release of the La Glorias in 1993, and how powerful it was. I asked him WHAT did he have nowadays to even match that blend! He recommended getting the Inch of the E.P. Carrillos. But yes, nothing has even come close to those early Miami releases of his La Glorias - EXCELLENT! DELICIOUS! POWERFUL! I WANT MORE!!! 

[Lomey]

I smoked this last night from June of 2012. It was great. Wish I would have picked up more than 2, but back then I was new and into trying a lot of things. I just knew these needed a lot of downtime so waited to smoke it.

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[Astar20]

I tend to smoke alot of AJ Fernández blends, or oliva when I'm not smoking CC.