Beginner Cubans


Recommended Posts

What would you guys recommended to someone just starting out smoking cigars, I have only smoked Connecticut wrapped cigars and I enjoy them very much. What Cuban can I start off with to build my taste buds and really enjoy a Cuban?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would go for whatever your favorite vitola is. Why recommend a petite corona when you all you like are Churchills?  Are you in a situation where you have a variety Habanos to choose from?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I would go for whatever your favorite vitola is. Why recommend a petite corona when you all you like are Churchills? Are you in a situation where you have a variety Habanos to choose from?

I smoke a lot of Robusto and Toro. I mean only what I can get online I live in California. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Bobby237 said:

I smoke a lot of Robusto and Toro. I mean only what I can get online I live in California. 

Partagas Serie D. No. 4, Cohiba Robusto, QdO 50, or Ramon Allones Specially Selected are terrific cigars in your size wheelhouse.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Partagas Serie D. No. 4, Cohiba Robusto, QdO 50, or Ramon Allones Specially Selected are terrific cigars in your size wheelhouse.

Thank you very much for your time and reply! Would they be good for someone who just starting off to appreciate the flavor of them?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These are nice starter Cuban profiles, obviously there are a lot more but these are basically must try. 

Por Larranaga Petit Corona
Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure 2
Partagas D4
Cohiba Robusto or Siglo II/III/IV if too expensive
Quai D Orsay No 50
Montecristo 4
Ramon Allones Specially Selected

All of the above have different profiles so you'll be able to properly taste the difference. 

After these you have the more complex or stronger ones like

BBF/ HUCA-B/ ERDM Supreme 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

IMO, don't aim high at the start. Start with the more modest marcas and their offerings. Jose LPiedra, Quinteros, La Flor Dell Cano, Fonseca.  If you're not familiar with this site already, then do so.  Also, start with smaller vitolas like Perlas, Petit Coronas, Robustos.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, MagicalBikeRide said:

Check 24:24 every so often. There have been some nice samplers recently and they would be ideal for you. 

I sure will thank you very much! I appreciate your time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would encourage you to try a couple different vitolas as the blends can be different. Petit Corona and Robusto are good bets for dipping your toe. Try a Monte 4 or a Partagas Aristocrat, maybe a Bolivar PC for good measure. If you can manage it, a Por Larranaga PC and a Rafael Gonzalez PC. D4 ,RASS, RyJ Exh 4 and HDM 2. 24:24 often has 10 boxes,1/4 boxes and cheaper offerings. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Bobby237 said:

Thank you very much for your time and reply! Would they be good for someone who just starting off to appreciate the flavor of them?

Beginner and connoisseur alike.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

I would encourage you to try a couple different vitolas as the blends can be different. Petit Corona and Robusto are good bets for dipping your toe. Try a Monte 4 or a Partagas Aristocrat, maybe a Bolivar PC for good measure. If you can manage it, a Por Larranaga PC and a Rafael Gonzalez PC. D4 ,RASS, RyJ Exh 4 and HDM 2. 24:24 often has 10 boxes,1/4 boxes and cheaper offerings.

I will definitely start looking into these! I appreciate your time and your knowledge thank very much! 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would start off with a Petit Corona and the H. Upmann Regalias have been smoking great. Very flavorful and light to medium. I would also recommend the Monte No. 4. Prices are not outrageous for a 25 box. When I started, I had a Ramon Allones Specially Selected Robusto and now I can’t live without them. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Bobby237 said:

I smoke a lot of Robusto and Toro. I mean only what I can get online I live in California. 

Hoyo De Monterrey #2 - creamy baked goods, Montecristo Petit Edmundo - choc/white coffee, Partagas D4 - spice, pepper, fruit cake when at their best, Juan Lopez #2 - Dried forest fruits at their best, Romeo & Julieta short churchill - cherry, Bolivar Royal Corona - Leather, woody. All basically robusto size. I'd try and get some singles or 6 packs on 24:24 to get an idea of what you like. Just remember, Cubans aren't always consistent so without trying a few you may not get a complete picture. Just enjoy the journey. Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Habanos are good for beginners honestly, as they tend to be less ass-kickers than a lot of NCs. For a new smoker I think the Hoyo de Monterrey profile might be a good one. Fonseca as well.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don’t think there really are ‘beginner’ Cubans, unless you are specifically looking for the mildest options. My advice would be to smoke a wide range of the classic regular production cigars, prioritising variety over buying boxes of anything for a good while. This will help you get a better feel for what you really like.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, RDB said:

I don’t think there really are ‘beginner’ Cubans, unless you are specifically looking for the mildest options. My advice would be to smoke a wide range of the classic regular production cigars, prioritising variety over buying boxes of anything for a good while. This will help you get a better feel for what you really like.

Correct. 

If as a newbie...you started your journey at PLPC, RGPC, Fonseca no 1, Bolivar Tubos no 3, SCDLH Principe, Cuaba Divinos...you can just as easily find this is your stable of preferred hand selected cigars...at the end of your CC smoking journey. Money is no guarantee of quality in the CC world. There are secret pockets of value, and the owners and members of this forum often point the way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure @Bobby237 whether this is of any help, and whether you are now a complete beginner or just starting into Cubans. But when my nephew started to develop a serious interest in cigars, I shared with him Monte 4 and 5, HUHC, RG PC and Perla, RyJ Mille Fleurs in the beginning. Nothing too overwhelming, nothing fancy but solid quality, flavourful cigars. Showed him how to draw and keep the cigar lit without overheating. I believe this (still) is best done in the somehow classic 42-ring gauge (and under) formats. Cigars, where you can practise and learn how to explore the particular flavours and aromas in a cigar, and how that is being influenced by one’s particular way of smoking. Though he was keen to immediately smoke a ‘Robusto’ and other fancy stuff he had seen on the webs (thank you, all you “influencers” out there), only later we delved into the realm of wider and larger formats.
He continues to appreciate his HUHC, smokes them slowly, and the copy of EHM that his uncle recently got him is well deserved.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/28/2024 at 2:06 AM, Bobby237 said:

 I have only smoked Connecticut wrapped cigars and I enjoy them very much. What Cuban can I start off with to build my taste buds and really enjoy a Cuban?

Read the FOH DEEP DIVES section. It'll at least give you some perspective. Know that you're coming from smoking some of the lightest cigars (flavor and nicotine strength) you can buy. I'm going to grossly exaggerate here, but a QD 50 is around the strength you're probably used to, maybe even a little lighter. Most Cuban Cigars land in the medium category. If you've never smoked a Maduro or gotten sick from smoking a cigar, it would be really difficult for you to get in trouble buying any Cuban cigars to try. They typically aren't THAT kind of strong. The closest I've been to getting buzzed on a Cuban was a young Monte Petit Edmundo. I've yet to have any make me sick. I'd have to smoke 3 back to back to back with no food. Again, grossly exaggerating but anything you do buy and smoke under 1 year to 6 months of age is going to be pretty bland. You won't notice until you've experienced the difference. They may all taste the same to you. They may be great at first. It depends on a lot of things. These cigars do smoke a lot slower than what you're used to. If you can finish a Robusto Connecticut in 30 mins then the same thing in Cuban leaf is going to take you an hour. That is if you've learned to smoke for taste and not time. If you smoke a Connecticut fast they gets nasty quick. If you really like cigars you're going to have a fun time, despite the cost. It really is enjoyable.

Check this out for all the brands and sizes. I found it really helpful when I started buying:

https://www.habanos.com/en/the-habanos-brands-academia/

Don't sleep on FOH's house branded cigars. You can buy through the Fabrica 5 marketplace at the top of the tool bar. I dropped $8k on trying Cuban cigars for the first time last year (I'm a 30yr cigar smoker) and my favorite cigar right now is the MOFO Trinity Robusto. I have 50 and they ship from Florida. No customs concerns (I'm also in California). They aren't Cubans, but they are great cigars.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Community Software by Invision Power Services, Inc.