EAR: Transitioning

[El Presidente]

EAR: Email Assistance Required

 

Rob, you probably know plenty more folks sittin’ in my boots right now. After 25 years, Habanos finally wore me down with their prices, and I’m hangin’ up my hat on the Cuban game. I’ve still got a stash of my Juan Lopez 1s and 2s, and those Quintero Claro’s that 99Call turned me onto. That’ll give me a good little treat every couple weeks for years yet.

But I’m lookin’ to ease my way onto the other side now. Could you pick me out three to five non-Cubans that might help me make that transition? I’ve tried plenty of the big boys,Tatuaje, Padron, Fuente,but they just don’t feel like the cigar experience I’m used to.

 

Over to you good people. 

[mmmstogies]

• Any Atabey
• Meerapfel Meir
• Dunbarton Sombresa Brulee
• Liga #9
• Anything by Steve Saka

 

[MagicalBikeRide]

I’m still almost entirely Cuban, so similar boat but I perhaps have more stock. The NC tobacco I’ve worked in is now almost entirely Fab5, some Davidoff and even less AF.

Beyond the flavour profile and differences to Cuban tobacco, my biggest frustration with NC tobacco is that I’ve frequently experienced variance by year - rather than box to box and stick to stick, which remains my experience with Cuban tobacco. If I had a time machine and could enact one change with my NC stock, I’d buy up a bunch more boxes from years where I really enjoyed the Davidoff No2 and 2000 series - and a lot more of the AF Short Story, etc. I find recent releases of these very different to years between 2018-2022 ish. So, maybe my real suggestion is - if they find a box they like, buy a couple more and don’t wait until the following year. 

[HarveyBoulevard]

I heard rumors that you can buy NC somewhere on this website from some piratey type guy bootlegging cigars out of Nicaragua...could just be gossip though...

[ElLoboLoco]

I am your Huckleberry. I have been playing that game since 2019.

1. Fabrica five

2. illusione Epernay, then the fume d’mour

3. Warped cigars, not all of them. La Colmena, Don Reynaldo and a few others.

4. Some of the Casdaglis. Specifically the Basilica Lancero. Blind? It’s a Cuban cigar. The daughters of the wind, marevas and Jure.

5. Tatuaju Sir Winston, most tats not even close.

6. Gellis Family Marevas. Warped sub line.

7. Lampert, Principle and Somm brands may scratch the itch.

Hopefully this helps.

P.S. I have never had a Dunbarton, Padron or Fuente come close to the itch. Good cigars but very different.

[Chibearsv]

If you haven't already tried Fabrica 5 cigars, buy the Fabrica 5 sampler pack, let them all acclimate for 60 days and start trying them out. I don't know which ones will be a hit for you, but I'm pretty sure some will. It's a relatively inexpensive way to sample a good variety of cigars that scratch the itch when I don't feel like burning another $35 cigar that I'll never replace. My favorites: N1 Lancero, Spada Gorda, Ninfa. Happy hunting!

[Hammer Smokin']

Good luck. I gave up on the search for palatable NCs. I just smoke less Cubans, rather than supplementing Cubans with NCs. I've found I prefer "Cuban farmies" over NCs. They are comparable in price (although still far more than they are actually worth). 

[Rinze]

Plasencia Alma Fuerte - can't recommend it enough for someone who is into CCs. One of the only NC cigars, aside from the Fabrica 5s, that I make sure to have in the humidor

[JDoughty]

The Bond Roberts Linea D #1 was the most complex and delicious smoke I've had in a very long time. It did a shockingly good impression of an aged old school Monte #2 in the second half and the first half was a rich symphony of delectable flavors delivered in an incredibly creamy, almost juicy smoke. Substantially outperformed most Cubans IMO, as well as the Padrons I'm also fond of, for a fraction of the price. The Fabrica 5 Lonsdale reminded me a bit of a Romeo y Julieta Churchill in flavor profile but mostly lacked the classic Cuban 'twang'. That didn't make it any less tasty. I have yet to smoke my way through the Fab5 sampler but they smell fabulous and I'll definitely hit some more of them ROTT. 

[JDoughty]

6 hours ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

Good luck. I gave up on the search for palatable NCs. I just smoke less Cubans, rather than supplementing Cubans with NCs. I've found I prefer "Cuban farmies" over NCs. They are comparable in price (although still far more than they are actually worth). 

Have you tried the Bond Roberts? It reminded me of how Monte #2s used to be in the 1980s and early 1990s. With a bonus dessert round in the first half that was buttered peaches and cream. Definitely hit that. 

[Li Bai]

Fabrica 5 cigars, what else...

[Çnote]

@ElLoboLoco great list, looks like mine...

• La Palina Goldie to add to the Titan de Bronce made cigars that also have some CC
• Dead right on Tat SW
• I'd try a DTT Sobremesa Blue. It's the only DTT that thinks about CC.
• Alex Glez
• Absolutely F5 & BR esp the new 10pks
• The most recent Viaje have a bunch of CC ROTT
• Dapper La Madrina I think alot about, but I think it's just the band.

[Fuzz AI]

The title of this thread had me thinking something completely else.  Was wondering why the heck Rob was getting that kind of a question! 

[teamrandr]

Jonny Os 

[DeeBeezy]

• Fab 5 - specially BR blends!
• Davidoff Nicaragua 
• Casdagli 
• Plasencia- especially Cielo and Campo.

[helix]

Check out @TacoSauce's reviews.

[Allroz]

1. Illusione Epernay
2. Warped La Hacienda
3. Warped La Colema
4. Oliva Master 3 (was surprised i like these)
5. BR No. 6
6. Fab5 Churchill
7. Anything Horacio

[bmac]

• I have recently enjoyed the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Robusto ll.
• I’d say I’m mostly in to Fabrica 5-Lancero is probably my fave at the moment.
• The new Tat Honduran Blue line is decent.
• Also the Aganorsa Supreme Leaf.I’ve found these really benefit from a year down.
• Definitely try the F5-Canonazo, Fat Fundy, Lancero and the new Lonsdale.

[BrightonCorgi]

H. Upmann (Non-Cuban) produces some solid cigars. You can take the band off to avoid offending.

Fabrica cigars have been my only Non-Cuban cigar in some time. They have the vitolas I like to smoke, and they don't require additional aging.

[Çnote]

6 hours ago, bmac said:

Tat Honduran Blue

My Father Honduran Blue in the interests of reducing confusion.

[El Niño]

1. Puro Desnudo Lancero & Carlotta – if not for these sticks, I would be a much sadder man. They're my reliable CC replacements. Lancero feels like it has every freaking note out there; Carlotta has a lovely rich sweetness and barnyard.
2. Aladino Cameroon – dark fruit, cinnamon, pepper, kinda twangy – replaces the D4 for me
3. Plasencia Alma del Cielo – nice, mild strength, big flavor spice bomb - replaces the Epi 2 for me

They aren't copies by any means, but these stand in the vacant shoes of some of my fav CCs. Hope this helps and that you find some cigars you love.

[Gemini_Man]

The Paul Garmarian line are excellent comparable cigars as a segue.

[Capn_Jackson]

• Fume d’Amor
• Warped Colmena 
• Aladino Corojo reserva
• Aladino Vintage line, particularly the Lancero 

And of course, Fab5! My favorites are the Lanceros, Spada Gorda, and Ninfas. The Piramides are excellent, also.

[ltte]

Why is everyone running away from the budget CC Jose L.Piedra and Quintero? I believe that they are better than any Non-Cuban cigars that I smoked in my life. So I will give up on smoking on the day when I could not afford them. I will never switch to NC.

Ltte

[BrightonCorgi]

When I saw the thread title "EAR: Transitioning" I thought, "is this the right forum for such a topic?"  Glad it wasn't what I thought.