State of the Cigar Nation: Poll 2.

[El Presidente]

State of the Cigar Nation: Poll 2. 

 

For those who were primarily Cuban cigar smokers but  have delved into the world of Non Cuban Cigars since 2021. 

[Sub]

Little more info, my non Cuban cigar exploration is starting to lean heavily towards the Desnudos and other FOH offerings.

[ChangBang]

Been exploring NCs since the price hikes and have had so many bad/meh cigars.  I think it's due to the popularity of Nicaraguan tobacco...I don't think I'm a fan.

I'm still looking though, I guess if I have 10 terrible NCs then at least the next CC I have should be amazing😎

[amberleaf]

I have to say it's Nudies that has really turned me to NCs over the last couple of years. Before then I associated NCs with one-dimensional smokes that were forgettably bland or laced with pepper.

Last year's Nudies are smoking really well right now, which blew another misconception of mine, that NCs can't improve with age.

[Greenhorn2]

Nudies are the only NC's I have smoked in the past year.

[Mr. Japan]

Nudies are fantastic...so far. I'm now enjoying the 2021 Carlotas . 😃

But  the Non Cuban World is not all "happy endings".  

As a blind tester for CJ, I have been smoking hundreds ( yes , hundreds ) of New World Cigars that  a Guantanamera Crystal wins easily  in taste.

I consider that in all  Nicaragua-Honduras-Costarica total production ( that is huge in number of sticks ), maximum you will find 10% of  goods smokes , that very rarely replicate in the years. 

 

[Chibearsv]

27 minutes ago, Mr. Japan said:

maximum you will find 10% of  goods smokes

Without nearly the experience you have, I'd agree with you here.  I've found a handful of NC smokes that I enjoy for specific reasons but most others that I've tried are ok or good in the first few puffs and then bad or boring from there on.

[El Hoze]

I’ll join the chorus. 90%+ of the NC I try I don’t like. Nudies are a gamechanger. The IV and VI in particular have really earned their spot in my rotation. At no point are you “wanting” with those, they are just fantastic cigars. 

[gustavehenne]

There is a lot more variety, and therefore chances of getting hold of bad NC smokes than CC. I'd argue from a construction point of view that NCs are far superior to the CC counterparts although I begrudgingly admit the flavour isn't on the same spectrum. 

I've tried big numbers of NC and really faithfully return to Padron, Fuente, Davidoff, Illusione and Ashton - these manufacturers, in my view, can play in the same league as Cubans but admittedly some lines aren't up to par. 

One I've found recently is the Southern Draw Rose of Sharon - totally blew me away. 

I won't be partaking in any more CC buying for the most part. I simply won't spend money on badly constructed sticks and would rather sell than be annoyed because I get something that is like a wooden peg. 

[joeypots]

NCs can be very good but none I’ve had beat a Cuban cigar that is “on”.

[Corylax18]

4 hours ago, joeypots said:

NCs can be very good but none I’ve had beat a Cuban cigar that is “on”.

Agreed 100%. I've had some perfectly acceptable NC's but very few that have "wowed" me. At reasonable prices, I was content dealing with the occasional (but regular) dud knowing that the next cigar from the box could be one of those real "wow" experiences. At their best, Cubans blow NCs out of the water, every NC I've ever tried. The problem is that Cubans just don't deliver that knock out experience consistently enough. 

[joeypots]

4 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

 The problem is that Cubans just don't deliver that knock out experience consistently enough. 

Couldn't have said it better. 

 

[GVan]

Agree that when a CC in "on" -- it's pretty hard to beat.  My 4+ year-old Monte 2's are spectacular right now (MSU NOV-18) - maybe 93 to 94 point examples of what those should be - and likely, will just keep getting better.  A few friends have said it is the best cigar they've ever had out of my humidor.   But, you can still get the occasional "blah" - 88 pointer out of the same box.  The "number 1 value cigar" in my entire collection right now is a cuban short-filler , Rafael Gonzales Panatelas (LMB AGO-19)!  What ever floor they swept those tobacco pieces from, I just wish I had more!  As a panatelas, a little one-dimensional, but you'd swear they were constructed from JL2 tobacco droppings.  All of that flavor from what was a $2+ cigar when I bought it.   The above two examples is why CC's have their own very unique appeal.

When you talk in flavor absolutes -- CCs win -- but, I've had a few non-pepper NCs that actually have transitions and are trending north of 90 points.  I have collected a few NCs that seem to show the potential to get there as well with some time down {2021 Nudies (now), AJ Fernandez New World Dorados, Caldwell Yellow Cake, Illusione Eppernay, Illusione Grand Classe Rex, Warped Cloud Hopper, Southern Draw or the new 2023 Puro Desnudo's}.  For me where the debate really starts is when you compare the enjoyment value of today's NCs against todays CC prices.  If someone's disposable income is to a point where price is irrelevant, then paying $20 to $50 for an hour plus of smoking enjoyment is awesome and go for it.  For me, there is nothing better than finding an excellent $20 bottle of wine or a 90+ point cigar for $8 to $12 dollars no matter where they are from!

[DaBoot]

The problem with NC cigars… most ones that are good, still cost more than a Cuban. 
 There are some that I can/will smoke. But if I had to pick… BPC every time 

[Sir Diggamus]

6 hours ago, joeypots said:

NCs can be very good but none I’ve had beat a Cuban cigar that is “on”.

I agree with this 100%.

Some of the NCs I have tried since 2021 have surprised me with flavor, complexity, and nuance I never thought I would see in a non-Cuban cigar, including the Nudies. There are so many brands and blends available that it can be overwhelming, but also fun to find those amazing cigars you feel are hidden gems. 

All that being said, I haven't found an NC yet that can rival a good Habano in terms of depth and variety of flavors. 

[LOMTL]

On 8/31/2023 at 2:11 PM, GVan said:

The "number 1 value cigar" in my entire collection right now is a cuban short-filler , Rafael Gonzales Panatelas (LMB AGO-19)!

100%, I have been very surprised, got some 20, 21, 22 boxes and the value is hard to beat. Might as well been SW scraps 😂.

[Glass Half Full]

Just wanted to add to the Q3 response, in case it's helpful:  

I am now pretty much done experimenting with buying new NC brands; now only trying new brands when they’re exchanged w/friends — those with whom we know between us what strikes a chord.  That said, I will be keeping on buying NC’s from the few houses who make cigars I often reliably enjoy. For me, those are mainly just Fuente, Davidoff, and the occasional Tatuaje and Padron, and (of course) all of what Rob & Hamlet are making — but to each his or her own.  

I just didn’t want to give the impression I’m done with NC’s.  I am not, …though I almost always enjoy CC’s more.  

I am just done with buying boxes of things (many of which get great reviews) that are so linear that I can’t possibly enjoy an hour or more with them. 

Yes, CC’s are inconsistent, maddeningly so sometimes, …though the uncertainty/mystery sometimes also adds to the fun, especially when the stellar ones show up.  …And I’ve only ever had one (1) box of CC’s that has been consistently troublesome, and I believe it’s an outlier.  …By contrast, unfortunately, I have bought a lot of NCs that I have found just too boring to finish (or worse). 
 

My 2 cents.

[Cigarsmoker81]

For the last 5 years (pre-covid), I’ve been buying tons of singles ncs when I travel to the us. Until two years ago, I wasn’t convinced of how good an nc can be. I’ve always been looking for Cuban-like flavors. But now I started I enjoy ncs (for their own distinct flavors and not as alternative to Cubans) and it’s in my regular rotation. I’m still exploring, but overall, I would say I’ll probably smoke 80/20 Cubans to ncs.