EAR: One for those entrenched in the NC world.

[El Presidente]

EAR = Email Assistance Required

 

"Rob can you give me a heads up on a few NC cigars that few people talk about? You and Hamlet I assume try plenty. I am not looking for Tatuaje,Padron, AF, Oliva etc. Those brands/cigars that get little to no press but that are producing something special. I love my CC's but I want to expand into the lesser known quality CC world". 

[Fuzz]

Uhm.... maybe try Des Nudos? They're new, but they seem to know what they are doing. Though, I hear one of the owners is a real dodgy bugger.

[Cigar Surgeon]

• Illusione
• Black Works / Black Label
• Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
• JRE
• Espinosa
• Joya de Nicaragua
• Maya Selva
• Southern Draw
• Oscar Valladeras
• HVC
• Plasencia
• AGANORSA

If he's looking for specific recommendations then I'd pretty much just point him to our last 3 years of top 25 lists. 

 

[Islandboy]

I find Casdagli to be on top of the NC heap for my tastes currently, as well as God of Fire by Carlito, some of Carlos Fuente Jr’s finest work IMHO. But I’m with @Fuzz, I recently had my first sample of the 2021 Des Nudo lancero, and that easily wins best all around performance for a NC cigar in my book. In fact, there’s a part of my brain that simply refuses to accept that it’s not Cuban leaf, after all, one of the owners is rumored to be a "real dodgy bugger"

[gustavehenne]

I'm really enjoying the Luciano brand of cigars at the moment, the 'The Dreamer' Lancero is absolutely terrific. Other ones that I personally enjoy, excluding what has already been mentioned:

1. Trinidad Espiritu Series 2
2. San Cristobal Quintessence
3. Don Pepin Garcia Blue Series
4. Ashton ESG

There is some amazing variety in the NC space and I thoroughly enjoy a lot of them.... Good luck!

[Phinz]

• Illusione
• Latelier
• Caldwell

[jonahs_whale]

My favorite NC at this point is Paul Garmirian, but they're pretty small batch

[Ford2112]

Illusione

[benfica_77]

Tatuaje Black Label Petite Lancero....smokes very similar to a cuban.  I know no Tatuaje but still....low key banger of a cigar in the NC world. 

I second Caldwell and L'atelier are also solid. 

 

[B44]

Atabey and Balmoral if he’s into smoother blends. 

[MossybackR]

My Father No. 2 is an excellent cigar.

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

38 minutes ago, benfica_77 said:

Tatuaje Black Label Petite Lancero....smokes very similar to a cuban.  I know no Tatuaje but still....low key banger of a cigar in the NC world. 

I second Caldwell and L'atelier are also solid. 

 

That particular vitola is a real winner for me

[dicko]

Anything by Steve Saka (Dunbarton tobacco & trust) seems to be awesome although a little stronger than I usually like

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

[NSXCIGAR]

Uh, CA/CJ top 10? 

[Bill Hayes]

I like Oliva and EP Carillo for non maduro wrappers and Padron and stinky old Rocky Patel Edge in big formats for maduro wrappers, with a little nod to My Father. Although, I can't say I have smoked a truck load of NC's. Good luck. PS. Done this experiment. Prefer CC now. Can't go past JL#2, BBF, Boli PC, Monte2, Coro IMHO. Enjoy.

[Edicion]

My Father's Lanceros has been a great discovery for me, the White Macanudo Line are very pleasant too.

[btort910]

Illusione Epernay

Anything Southern Draw

Trinidad Espiritu Series 1

[Juliano88]

Anything Illusione

Aganorsa leaf (grow the best tobacco in Nicaragua)

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

Ep Carillo 

Eiroa/Aladino 

[Digi]

20 hours ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

• Illusione
• Black Works / Black Label
• Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
• JRE
• Espinosa
• Joya de Nicaragua
• Maya Selva
• Southern Draw
• Oscar Valladeras
• HVC
• Plasencia
• AGANORSA

If he's looking for specific recommendations then I'd pretty much just point him to our last 3 years of top 25 lists. 

 

Great list!  I’d add the Selected Tobaccos brand to the mix - specifically Atabey and Byron.

[TheCigarslayer]

quite a bit bold for a CC smoker but I love basically anything from Roma Craft. One of the few NC brands I keep stocked 

[JLH]

Wapred.

[Frinkiac7]

On those rare occasions I go to a B&M and have a smoke, I'll do a My Father lancero

[cigcars]

      *Try Finck Cigar Company's home brands out of Texas. Their Lamb's Club and others really do hit the mark. They'll send you a catalog and I believe in paying attention to the country tobacco make up. Anything Ecuador, Brazilian, Cameroon, Nicaraguan and Connecticut tobacco can't be beat especially if combined 

[Cigar Surgeon]

On 3/3/2022 at 1:01 PM, Digi said:

Great list!  I’d add the Selected Tobaccos brand to the mix - specifically Atabey and Byron.

[Lomey]

Illusione