DIPPING INTO NEW WORLDS. LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS!

[jps2345]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Julien and I am a Canadian Cuban Cigar smoker. I am a new member of FOH. As we all know, the pricing is just out of hand these days.  I'm trying to discover some New World Cigars that I might enjoy. In the past, I have struggled with New Worlds being too strong, in regard to nicotine, and just all cigars tasting like pepper. I'm looking for guidance on finding some sticks, that are milder in nicotine but have great flavor. Has anyone had specific vitolas from brands they would recommend? I know they will never be as good as a Habano puro, but at this point, I'm willing to give it a shot. 

Thanks, Julien.

[mikejh]

Padron might be a good place to start, always reliable. Are there any New Worlds that you have enjoyed? 

[jps2345]

6 hours ago, mikejh said:

Padron might be a good place to start, always reliable. Are there any New Worlds that you have enjoyed? 

La Flor de las Antillas was good, but the nicotine was too strong. I haven't had that many. Padron are very strong Nicaraguan cigars.

[mikejh]

5 hours ago, jps2345 said:

La Flor de las Antillas was good, but the nicotine was too strong. I haven't had that many. Padron are very strong Nicaraguan cigars. 

You could try the Padron Damaso, the Perdomo Champagne is also a very popular cigar that is lighter.

[MadridPuros]

I would highly recommend Arturo Fuente Hemingway. They are a bit nostalgic to me as that’s what my father smoked when I was boy and was my first premium cigar. Straight medium in my opinion and comes in perfecto shape which is hard to roll so you know it will have good construction. Also they sell many smaller vitolas to aclimate to nicotine strength (it’s definitely NOT a Nic bomb like Padrón).

[Allroz]

Davidoff Gran Cru Robusto is an excellent smoke.

[ElLoboLoco]

You may want to do a forum search. There are quite a few similar questions/queries. Look at some Dominican and Honduran brands would be a nice crossover. Nicarauguan puros can be overwhelming to a Cuban palate. Not all but many. You can train yourself over time but it’s a challenge to adjust to most Nic cigars quickly. Maybe some multi country blends to tame the Nic wild beast would be good.

And Yes, Habanos prices are ridiculous. 

[jps2345]

5 hours ago, ElLoboLoco said:

You may want to do a forum search. There are quite a few similar questions/queries. Look at some Dominican and Honduran brands would be a nice crossover. Nicarauguan puros can be overwhelming to a Cuban palate. Not all but many. You can train yourself over time but it’s a challenge to adjust to most Nic cigars quickly. Maybe some multi country blends to tame the Nic wild beast would be good.

And Yes, Habanos prices are ridiculous. 

Do you have any recommendations?

[tbelle7]

Davidoff Millennium, Fuente Don Carlos, Fab5 are all very approachable blends.

[jps2345]

5 hours ago, tbelle7 said:

Davidoff Millennium, Fuente Don Carlos, Fab5 are all very approachable blends.

What is Fab5?

[ElLoboLoco]

5 hours ago, jps2345 said:

Do you have any recommendations?

Warped la Colmena, Fabrica 5, Aladino Corojo and Cameroon, Fuente Don Carlos and Hemmingways, Davidoff Winston Church-hills, My Father Blue Honduran, Ashton Prisms, Ashton Cabinets, United Red Anchors, Tatuaje Cabiguan, El Rey Del Mundo Salados (natural), Fuente Rosado, Casadagli, I'd try a Padron 1964 as well. Actually many of the standard Fuente line is probably a good match like the Petit Ccorona, Cuban Corona. The Fuente Casa Cuba line would be great as well. Many of the Davidoffs are nice but not too far from Habanos prices.

A couple of others; Avowed, Stoic, Principal cigars. Look for Dominicans made at the Kelner boutique factory or by Klass Kelner…their papa was the Davidoff blender and their blends are in that vein but not “luxury” marked up so to speak.

I would be inclined to reach for Non-Maduros at first.

[jps2345]

4 hours ago, ElLoboLoco said:

Warped la Colmena, Fabrica 5, Aladino Corojo and Cameroon, Fuente Don Carlos and Hemmingways, Davidoff Winston Church-hills, My Father Blue Honduran, Ashton Prisms, Ashton Cabinets, United Red Anchors, Tatuaje Cabiguan, El Rey Del Mundo Salados (natural), Fuente Rosado, Casadagli, I'd try a Padron 1964 as well. Actually many of the standard Fuente line is probably a good match like the Petit Ccorona, Cuban Corona. The Fuente Casa Cuba line would be great as well. Many of the Davidoffs are nice but not too far from Habanos prices.

A couple of others; Avowed, Stoic, Principal cigars. Look for Dominicans made at the Kelner boutique factory or by Klass Kelner…their papa was the Davidoff blender and their blends are in that vein but not “luxury” marked up so to speak.

I would be inclined to reach for Non-Maduros at first.

Thanks so much for this! 

[tbelle7]

5 hours ago, jps2345 said:

What is Fab5 ?

https://www.fabrica005.com/pages/catalog

 

[WestCoastSmokin]

Honestly just give the Fab5 lines a go, close as you’ll get to Cuban flavors. I’m picking up a BR109 box today. I also have a bundle of 25 of the Robusto Trinity. On top of that, there’s a sale going on right now, so you get to try these great cigars for a killer price. 

Other brands I enjoy smoking;

Davidoff: Their Escurio line is my favorite. Right behind that is the Late hour. 

Oliva: Serie V Melanio, I enjoy that one a lot as well. Get heavy cocoa/leather notes on em frequently. 

[barrygoodvibes]

Avowed the Vow 11.25

Byron Distinguidos.

[Marco_011t556]

If you want something close to a Cuban flavour and milder, go to Churchill, Ninfas of Fabrica5, while the Cananoza and Fat Fundy are stronger (but not as strong as Nicaraguan puros).

Byron may also a good choice, but rather expensive.

[Ruggerpgh99]

Other than Fab 5, the top New World cigar brands that I smoke are Aladino, Warped, Rojas, and I have really been Enjoying Apostate Cigars. I would also recommend looking for Honduran tobacco, as I feel like it has the closest flavor to Cuban. 

[jps2345]

7 hours ago, Ruggerpgh99 said:

Other than Fab 5, the top New World cigar brands that I smoke are Aladino, Warped, Rojas, and I have really been Enjoying Apostate Cigars. I would also recommend looking for Honduran tobacco, as I feel like it has the closest flavor to Cuban. 

Which Rojas cigar do you recommend?

[Ruggerpgh99]

7 hours ago, jps2345 said:

which Rojas cigar do you recommend?

The Bluebonnets is my favorite, I have a few boxes in Marevas. 

[Goldeneye]

I was in the same situation over the last number of years and through trying lots on NC cigars, I have settled on AF Hemingway and Don Carlos and Fabrica 5s.  Even if CC became widely available and reasonably priced again i would continue to purchase these cigars as I thoroughly enjoy them.

[LizardGizmo]

If you like data, our ratings guide has 115ish non-Cuban cigars rated - composite as well as individual ratings are listed: https://www.loungelizardspod.com/ratings

Lots of good cigars on there (and a lot of stinkers). I'd also recommend checking out @Cigar Surgeon and Developing Palates who have a completely different method of rating cigars.

[Cigar Surgeon]

5 hours ago, LizardGizmo said:

If you like data, our ratings guide has 115ish non-Cuban cigars rated - composite as well as individual ratings are listed: https://www.loungelizardspod.com/ratings

Lots of good cigars on there (and a lot of stinkers). I'd also recommend checking out @Cigar Surgeon and Developing Palates who have a completely different method of rating cigars.

Appreciate the shout out! 

[Pmo13]

Dropping in to suggest Foundation Olmecs (Maduro in particular) anything out of the Padron thousand series, the Tatuaje Miami line or pretty much any Fuente (the Hemingway or Anejo lines are the peak, in my opinion). You could dabble in higher tier stuff like Fuente Opus X, Padron 26/64 or Davidoff if money isn’t an issue, but all of these makers have midrange stuff that’s phenomenal.

Honorable mention: pretty much anything from Crowned Heads, but I love the Mil Dias line. And funnily enough I think each vitola directly corresponds to a CC like the Sublimes or Topes.

[Hoosh]

Lots of suggestions in here. My advice to you is to not have any expectation of NC cigars to be like CCs; you will set yourself up for failure as they are not much alike, no matter how much some want them to be. NCs are very good on their own merit, but they aren’t CCs. Seriously, smoke a NC because it’s good, not because of how much it may “resemble” a CC.

 

[Goldeneye]

4 hours ago, Hoosh said:

Lots of suggestions in here. My advice to you is to not have any expectation of NC cigars to be like CCs; you will set yourself up for failure as they are not much alike, no matter how much some want them to be. NCs are very good on their own merit, but they aren’t CCs. Seriously, smoke a NC because it’s good, not because of how much it may “resemble” a CC.

Exactly this.  I found some NC out of necessity which I thoroughly enjoy them and am glad to have discovered them.