EAR: Best of the Cuban Farm Rolls

[El Presidente]

EAR = Email Assistance Required. 

 

"Cheers for sorting the call on Friday, really appreciate it, and thanks for offering to throw this one out to the forum.

Here’s where I’m at. Doesn’t look like I’ll be getting over to Cuba any time soon, but I’ve had a handful of farm rolls in the past and properly enjoyed them. I’ve seen a few knocking about on the secondary market and thought I’d tap into the experience on here.  Which farms and which vitolas (sizes) have you lot rated most over the years?

I know the secondary on these can be a bit hit and miss, but I’m happy enough to take the punt if it means landing something decent."

 

[Mike Mecklenburg]

Don't know if any of these are on the secondary market but here we go:

I like the farm rolls at the Hector Luis Prieto Farm in San Juan y Martinez, Pinar del Rio.  Myself and the group I was with in 2019 and 2020 purchased several of the 56 x 6.5 double carona size.  At the time, this was the only size available and they were rolled by Miguel, who did a great job and no one had any complaints. 

I also like the lanceros that are rolled by Yanis Flores at the (Comodoro Hotel) La Casa Del Tobaco Escogida, Havana.  They are mild and very well rolled for a Lancero.  

I did not like the farm rolled cigars from the CoCo Solo Tobacco Farm in Vinales.  Maybe the tobacco was young but some were not rolled very well.

[JohnnyO]

Several things you must consider as to Pinar vs Havana. A lot in Pinar don't have molds and use Granma newspapers to keep their shape. That might seem OK but some ink will come off on your cigars and you'll be smoking that. Molds are more efficient in holding their shape and cigars need to sit in the mold at least a full day. Rollers in Havana are more likely to have access to molds and cured leaf. Depending on the strength and physical size of the leaf they may need aging/curing/fermentation minimum a year to possibly over 3 years, with 3 periods of fermentation for sun grown. Each period of fermentation has a different time frame and will be longer for the stronger leaves (Ligero). Now the problem surfaces when the roller is not aware if the leaf has been cured completely. Those periods of fermentation coincide with the leafs "Sick Period" giving the leaf a metallic flavor that is unbearable. The strength is there but the flavor is all wrong. So you may have to babysit your cigars for a couple of years. Hamlet spoke of this in one of his videos a few years back when he received from a broker uncured leaf, that was in its sick period for an event. He went ballistic but had to deal with it. Stick with the well known names and you should do alright. John  

[WestCoastSmokin]

I’m keen to hear what people recommend, I bought a 5er of the Yolanda Medina Cañonazo. I had one and it was good but nothing out of this world. I guess the same could be said for some Cuban cigars as well. Still excited to try the other four. 

[SUP8333]

Farm rolls or custom/fresh rolls in general? Farm rolls I haven't had much but take my opinion with a dash of tobacco

I love Yolanda's rolls, it's not a mind blowing roll to be honest but it's a taste that grows on you, you miss it fondly when you don't have one, you grin a little smoking it.

Arnaldo whom has taken over is also an excellent roller, several of his blends that I've smoked in the last year have proved themselves worthy. His Lancero I find most delicious.

Yiannis rolls are excellent! She has a few different blends, both very contrasting, there is one which has completely no ligero and it is a very nice morning/before bed smoke, smooth like butter and the other a house favourite the Margarita - The power, the intensity just hits like an espresso in the morning. One that is very similar in strength would be the Reynaldos. Between these two, the ones that top in strength would be the HectorLPs that I smoked from the farm a massive 59 or 60 RG with two medio tiempo leaves. Destroyed me, good thing it was a 3 hour bus ride back to Havana that I slept like a drugged donkey throughout.  

Juanitas and LaChinas rolls smell amazing, that chocolate fudge smell and when smoked the underlying sweetness is amazing. I somewhat prefer La Chinas older rolls than her newer ones nowadays,last time I had some they were maduro. They are both somewhat similar in my opinion, don't hate me for it. 

One of my favourite rolls to date are Monsdales, especially the ones from 2010 which I have down to the last few sticks, I've smoked through two bundles now and they are very consistent, almost like a nutty, maybe coconut coffee?

CarlosF rolls are great as well, very creamy, slight sweetness, almost like a dessert. 

There is a old gentleman at the Parco, Arnaldo I think his name was? His SIGLO VI's or rather Canonazos? Wow. Magnificient with some rest. He has a few other blends that I am not a fan of. I also picked up some Marevas from a roller whom I didn't get the name of from the Parco hotel, they were very sweet and great for a dessert cigar. 

Regretfully all I have been smoking from Alex is his New World brand recently, but I've had a few double lanceros which I think were great, no hard draw which was surprising. One other roller I think I missed out on would be Cueto simply because it was further away from where I was staying. Next trip! @LaoFansmoke it for me!

I absolutely love the stories of cigar rollers and their works of art, in my opinion these are the true Regional Exclusivo Cuba. Especially nowadays with the donkey ridiculous 25stk no receipt rolls maximum you can bring out of Cuba, they are even rarer and hard to get out of there. Enjoy!

[Marco_011t556]

2 hours ago, SUP8333 said:

Farm rolls or custom/fresh rolls in general? Farm rolls I haven't had much but take my opinion with a dash of tobacco

I love Yolanda's rolls, it's not a mind blowing roll to be honest but it's a taste that grows on you, you miss it fondly when you don't have one, you grin a little smoking it.

Arnaldo whom has taken over is also an excellent roller, several of his blends that I've smoked in the last year have proved themselves worthy. His Lancero I find most delicious.

Yiannis rolls are excellent! She has a few different blends, both very contrasting, there is one which has completely no ligero and it is a very nice morning/before bed smoke, smooth like butter and the other a house favourite the Margarita - The power, the intensity just hits like an espresso in the morning. One that is very similar in strength would be the Reynaldos. Between these two, the ones that top in strength would be the HectorLPs that I smoked from the farm a massive 59 or 60 RG with two medio tiempo leaves. Destroyed me, good thing it was a 3 hour bus ride back to Havana that I slept like a drugged donkey throughout.  

Juanitas and LaChinas rolls smell amazing, that chocolate fudge smell and when smoked the underlying sweetness is amazing. I somewhat prefer La Chinas older rolls than her newer ones nowadays,last time I had some they were maduro. They are both somewhat similar in my opinion, don't hate me for it. 

One of my favourite rolls to date are Monsdales, especially the ones from 2010 which I have down to the last few sticks, I've smoked through two bundles now and they are very consistent, almost like a nutty, maybe coconut coffee?

CarlosF rolls are great as well, very creamy, slight sweetness, almost like a dessert. 

There is a old gentleman at the Parco, Arnaldo I think his name was? His SIGLO VI's or rather Canonazos? Wow. Magnificient with some rest. He has a few other blends that I am not a fan of. I also picked up some Marevas from a roller whom I didn't get the name of from the Parco hotel, they were very sweet and great for a dessert cigar. 

Regretfully all I have been smoking from Alex is his New World brand recently, but I've had a few double lanceros which I think were great, no hard draw which was surprising. One other roller I think I missed out on would be Cueto simply because it was further away from where I was staying. Next trip! @LaoFansmoke it for me!

I absolutely love the stories of cigar rollers and their works of art, in my opinion these are the true Regional Exclusivo Cuba. Especially nowadays with the donkey ridiculous 25stk no receipt rolls maximum you can bring out of Cuba, they are even rarer and hard to get out of there. Enjoy!

The farm/fresh rolls really excite you! LOL

[Duder]

I love farm & custom rolls. I have had overwhelmingly great results with them especially if I’m patient. I’ve been lucky to have many close friends who visit Havana often and have been very generous sharing their hauls with me. Some of my favorites include La China, Yolanda, Cueto, Santos, Mons & of course Hamlet. My all time favorites were Taboados but he is no longer with us. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few but these are standouts. For now it’s hard to beat Yerandy Gomez. I’ve been smoking bundles of his stuff with as little as 2-3 years age they are phenomenal. Happy hunting!

[KCCubano]

4 hours ago, Lucas Buck said:

I love farm & custom rolls. I have had overwhelmingly great results with them especially if I’m patient. I’ve been lucky to have many close friends who visit Havana often and have been very generous sharing their hauls with me. Some of my favorites include La China, Yolanda, Cueto, Santos, Mons & of course Hamlet. My all time favorites were Taboados but he is no longer with us. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few but these are standouts. For now it’s hard to beat Yerandy Gomez. I’ve been smoking bundles of his stuff with as little as 2-3 years age they are phenomenal. Happy hunting!

I think my Taboada Sublimes ranked up there with the very best Cuban cigars I have smoked.