If You Didn’t Smoke Cubans

[Bmbroads]

Like most of us, I’ve smoked many NCs in the past. In fact I always smoked more non-Cubans more than CCs.  Buttt over the last few years I’ve nearly switched exclusively to CCs and smoke much more frequently than I did when smoking NCs ...simply because I like them so much better.

And it’s made me think.. do I like smoking cigars or do I like smoking CUBAN cigars.  If CCs were totally wiped off the planet (entertain this hypothetical sad circumstance for the sake of the post) would I switch to NCs full time?

Where do you all stand?  Is it the cigar or the Cuban cigar that carries the allure?

[Hollywood Ninja]

A little of both. There are plenty of NC I still enjoy even though I too smoke mostly CC. For me it’s flavor, vitolas (lover of PCs) and cost, in that order.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bmbroads]

1 minute ago, Hollywood Ninja said:

A little of both. There are plenty of NC I still enjoy even though I too smoke mostly CC. For me it’s flavor, vitolas (lover of PCs) and cost, in that order.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hear ya- Id definitely still be a cigar smoker but I feel it would be a weekly or even monthly habit opposed to daily.  Some great NCs out there for sure, even though I tend to stick to the same few brands

[JohnS]

If I couldn't smoke Cuban cigars my feelings would be pretty much like Garth's response to the suck cut in 1992's Wayne's World...

[WABOOM]

I smoke about 5-8 cigars per week. I would still smoke cigars if Cubans were gone. I don't mind NC's. Sometimes I actually prefer a non Cuban (particularly after a heavy meal). I definitely like cc's better though.

[NSXCIGAR]

Obviously, I'd have to smoke exclusively NCs but it would be a lot less. Not to mention every time I had an NC I would be furious about CCs being wiped from existence.

[BoliDan]

I would not hesitate. Plenty of good fuente, oliva, tatuaje, my father, padron, illusione, warped, lfd, davidoff, crowned heads, foundation, diamond crown, la aurora, etc...

I probably only have 1 NC a week. My humidor has piss all of them (maybe 10 sticks or so) and that will continue as long as I have access to CCs. I still like to go to the lounge and buy stuff that i never tried.

[La_Tigre]

As things stand currently, we’d only have a cigar on the extreme irregular. Random pick on a random trip to a random night spot. 

[CaptainQuintero]

  I think I'd be ok, I've loved the few that I've stocked up on: illusione CG:4, liga flying pig, Toscano classical, some of the mid range fuente stuff. I really enjoyed the Pardon 1964 apart from the nicotine punch in the face.

  Some of the customs around are great. I remember the ones Ravi had made about a decade ago were gorgeous.

  Rob and Hamlet's joint offerings sound brilliant too, they're certainly one that I'm trying and beg/borrow/steal to try.

  I don't think there's really been a better time to be into cigars in general. Yes pricing is an issue more than it was and smoking bans are here but in terms of quality of product and the passion that is in the community; from beginners right up to boutique producers and big business is incredible.

  

[cigaraholic]

I might have a occasional cigar, having stormtroopers march around in my mouth isn’t my idea of a good time. I know instead of having cigars for my afterlife I’d have 1 desktop and a very fast car in the garage.

[Viva Vegas]

I now smoke 7 to 9 a week because I am still unemployed with nothing to do , normally 2 a week. If I could not smoke Cubans any more I would not smoke at all. I am now 100% Cuban cigar smoker.

[cigcars]

                    *I'm beginning to find I really enjoy cigar tobacco from Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Cameroon, and with good ole' standbys of Nicaraguan and Dominican. But if Cuban tobacco were no longer available - yes: I'd die.

[SansSin]

i like how many different NC there are out there, it's fun to try something new all the time. the more i try tho the more i realize there aren't that many NC i like nearly as much as most CC. they have a lot of different NC blends but too many taste too similar to each other, especially the overwhelming amount of pepper dominate NC out there. i would still smoke cigars but i would smoke a lot less since most of the NC i like tend to hover around $20

[Bmbroads]

9 hours ago, davidv said:

i like how many different NC there are out there, it's fun to try something new all the time. the more i try tho the more i realize there aren't that many NC i like nearly as much as most CC. they have a lot of different NC blends but too many taste too similar to each other, especially the overwhelming amount of pepper dominate NC out there. i would still smoke cigars but i would smoke a lot less since most of the NC i like tend to hover around $20

Absolutely- the ones I like are full bodied, powerful and have have similar flavors.  Just not something I could smoke on a more frequent basis.  Also the NC market is so saturated with new brands and crazy names.  There’s not a sense of brand history and culture- which is another things that’s so much fun about CCs.  

[Kevin48438]

I think of CCs as another company/portfolio of brands on the market.   I’m mostly a NC smoker, but I am buying boxes of CCs To put in the daily rotation.  Which for me, means about $12 and below.  Partys, Bolivar, and RA should be smoked often.   Also the $6> CC “cheap and cheerfuls” are better than NCs in that range.   

Right now is a golden age in cigars worldwide.  The availability, creativity, and quality is the best in history.  A person can skip (trade away?) the stuff they merely like, and smoke the stuff the love.  And there has to be a NC out there to match any cigar lover.  

I can see where some of the NC brands and fads (pepper and ligero bombs) would be less beloved to those used to the smoothness of aged CCs.  With so much out there, i can also see where it would be more difficult to find the NC that checks all the preference boxes.  

As noted in Bmbroads post, the allure factor, the psychological part of the experience, is huge.  Hard to account for that.  Probably why there is so much marketing BS with NCs.  
 

Also in the scenario, the cigars are gone.   I’m imagining that means the land is available to be farmed by NC companies and farmers.   People like the Padrons, Davidoff (again), Fuente, Drew Estate, My Father/Tatuaje, Oliva, Plasencia, Eiroa, etc. would grow In Cuba.  If blenders had had Cuban tobacco to make puros as well as to use with blends involving tobaccos worldwide, I think we’d have the best stuff ever. 

[TBird55]

If there were no CC, I would smoke far fewer cigars, and have no use for my cabinets.

[mtd057]

I would smoke a whole lot less.  There are definitely some great cigars out there but nothing does it for me like a Cuban.  In the last 3 years I may have smoked 5 N/C's.  Not because I don't like N/C's, I just love Cubans

[NickV]

I enjoy both. Some higher end NCs can stand up to a Cuban, but they are expensive. Particularly the opus x and Davidoff’s. From an NC side I like Ashton VSG, Padron, fuente Anejo, Liga, and a few others. Nothing compares to a premium Cuban but those aren’t bad smokes at times. 

[smitte3]

I share the same sentiment as many out there and would have a smaller overall cigar habit with no CC's remembering a couple years back when I was out of the CC game.  CC's provide a 5th dimension of experience, tangible and intangible. CC's are like the hot girlfriend you had in your 20's that was kind of crazy and unreliable (CC quality control), but you happily kept coming back for more regardless because hey, she's smokin'.

[ElLoboLoco]

Lol, of course.

[Bill Hayes]

Would smoke only occasionally. I would stick mostly to Oliva Melanio Churchill.

[Stogieninja]

I would miss them, but there is a world of really good cigars out there. Illusione, Foundation, HVC, Warped... lots of killer cigars with great blends in the same wheelhouse I could and would continue to enjoy.

[HDGSN]

8 hours ago, TBird55 said:

If there were no CC, I would smoke far fewer cigars, and have no use for my cabinets.

This. I’ve been smoking cigars for 16 years now. Only went to majority CC about 9 years ago and only exclusively buying CC the past 7 years. In those 7 years I went from a desktop 100ct to 2 small Aristocrats. I now find most Nicaraguan cigars to be too tannic and taste like prunes. If there were no CCs, I’d smoke the occasional Dominican, most likely entry level natural Fuentes like 8-9-8s, Short Story and Work of Art.

[djrey]

I have been buying a box of CC here and there for a few years but mostly smoking NC. With COVID I have been increasing both my buying and smoking of CC lately. Maybe smoking 50/50 CC. While I do still enjoy some NC I find I can never nub them. They just turn bitter and harsh and leave a rough burnt flavor in my mouth for hours. Almost every CC I have had has been a finger burner and I am left with a clean palate. Today’s smoke was a Olivia V Melanio. Heavier cigar but known for its smooth aged tobacco. Left over an inch on it. Got very nasty. In contrast I smoked a OCT 19 PLPC yesterday. While a very young cigar especially for PLPC. I took it all the way to the nub burning my fingers. I’m not finished with NC but I am really starting to see a difference.

 

[StogieSteve23]

I'd be upset with the fact that CC's were out of the picture for enjoyment and flavors sake, but I wouldn't stop smoking cigars.  I still smoke plenty of NC's just more selective of the ones I do than I was before.  Lots of great NC marcas out there that deliver the same amount of enjoyment (not necessarily flavor profiles) for me.  

If that did happen, all of our collections would skyrocket in price and I bet few people would actually be selling them.  Just my personal opinion however. 

 

2 hours ago, djrey said:

Today’s smoke was a Olivia V Melanio. 

Excellent smoke and very consistent in production/quality.