Question for the Aussies

[trumpetchris]

So, of course the Americans on this board get all excited about habanos. They are delicious, mysterious, and less than permitted here. (so I've heard!)

My question is, are there NC cigars in Australia that hold a similar mystique. Maybe not in terms of legality, but because you can't find them and have heard great things.

I have a friend in Europe who can't find certain Padron or Fuente products, so they are as exciting for him as a Sancho Panza Sancho might be for me.

Just curious, discuss...

[anvilt595]

» So, of course the Americans on this board get all excited about habanos.

» They are delicious, mysterious, and less than permitted here. (so I've

» heard!)

»

» My question is, are there NC cigars in Australia that hold a similar

» mystique. Maybe not in terms of legality, but because you can't find them

» and have heard great things.

»

» I have a friend in Europe who can't find certain Padron or Fuente

» products, so they are as exciting for him as a Sancho Panza Sancho might

» be for me.

»

» Just curious, discuss...

Yes.

I do trades with a couple of guys in the US for the Padron's, Feunte's, LFD's and others which are not available down here.

It is a bit of "The Grass is Greener" but for me mainly it is the chance to try Cigars that I just can not buy here.

And after 25 years of smoking Cuban cigars it is a refreshing change to try something different, which in many cases tastes nicer, burns better and has less plugs.

[Claudius]

» So, of course the Americans on this board get all excited about habanos.

» They are delicious, mysterious, and less than permitted here. (so I've

» heard!)

»

» My question is, are there NC cigars in Australia that hold a similar

» mystique. Maybe not in terms of legality, but because you can't find them

» and have heard great things.

»

» I have a friend in Europe who can't find certain Padron or Fuente

» products, so they are as exciting for him as a Sancho Panza Sancho might

» be for me.

»

» Just curious, discuss...

Yeah, we dont get a lot of the high priced NCs here in Europe (except for the Davidoff marca). Fuentes, Padrons et al. can only be found in small specialty stores in Switzerland AFAIIA.

TBH, I have smoked a few of the better NCs (usually Davidoffs that were given to me) and I simply dont see why I would spend Cohiba money on a cigar that tastes like hay. I heard the Nicaraguan cigars are a bit better and earthier than the Dom Rep stuff, so I'll try a Padron if someone ever dares sending me one ;-) but there are no NCs that any serious smoker or cigar retailer has ever recommended over a CC here in Europe, so I'm guessing that these cigars are simply not worth it.

The scarcity of certain high end NCs does not make me want to try them; I think it's just "marketing" and hype. I find these Gurkha or CAO boxes / humidors with lighting inside etc. a ridiculous attempt to sell average cigars through the use of fancy packaging.

[trumpetchris]

Couldn't agree more about CAO and Gurkha.

CAO is a hype machine. While they have a couple good blends, I find they all lack complexity.

There are a few NC's that I would consider as good or better than some cubans. I love Padrons. I am a big fan of the Sun Grown Chateau line of Fuente. Pepin Garcia is making fantastic cigars. I have found that consistency is much higher in NC. I haven't had a Davidoff I like, and I don't know many Americans who do.

There is a different flavor in a habanos that you can't mimic in nc tobacco. But, I find some fantastic flavors in other tobac that isn't in cuban.

Send me your address, and I'll try to put a sampling of some stuff you should try together.:-D

[El Presidente]

Downunder is really Cuban centric at least amongst serious cigar lovers.

Knowing the numbers, more than 90% of all Premium cigars smoked are Habanos.

It is very hard for hardened Aussie palates to appreciate lighter Dominican and Nicaraguan cigars even Opus/Padron. Those that are blended stronger just don't appear to have the complexity required.

[Smooth]

In terms of a cigar that is 'kinda' hard to get here in Oz, I would say any OpusX is about the only one. Even with an OpusX, I know of 3 different retailers that have every OpusX in stock just a phone call away.

There is really nothing in terms of cigars that is hard to find over here, if you know the right people you can get anything and I suppose this takes away the mystique you talk about.

I smoke quite a few Padrons and really do enjoy them as a change in flavours from cubans. Also every now and then I will grab a Graycliff PG for the same reason and its strong too which I enjoy.

However, id never smoke a NC at night time, only after lunch or early morning... For example a Davidoff Grand Cru #3 is an excellent cigar during breakfast.

If I smoke 10 cigars, 1 of 10 would be non cuban. I guess I just like leather, earth and spice over hay, fruit and cedar!

[Ben]

Yeah I'm nearly all Cuban.

However I was recently given a Davidoff Robusto & Churchill and I thought they were all right.

[Fuzz]

I've found the Zino Mouton Cadet No.8 to be quite enjoyable. Recently purchased the Zino Platinum Sceptre Series Low Rider. Gonna give it a try in a couple of weeks.

Still love my Cubans, though...

[trumpetchris]

» Downunder is really Cuban centric at least amongst serious cigar lovers.

»

» Knowing the numbers, more than 90% of all Premium cigars smoked are

» Habanos.

»

» It is very hard for hardened Aussie palates to appreciate lighter

» Dominican and Nicaraguan cigars even Opus/Padron. Those that are blended

» stronger just don't appear to have the complexity required.

I don't consider Cuban tobacco to be stronger than Honduran or Nicaraguan tobacco. In fact, I would say the opposite. I will agree about complexity- in the sense that the full bodied cigars we can get here (La Flor Dominicana Chisel, Joya de Nicaragua Antano, Tatuaje) lack the complexity you find in a Magnum 46 or Lusitania. But, I have yet to have a Havana that "knocks me on my ass."

You say that complexity is "required." I have had several Cubans that have been one dimensional in flavor. Not that it is a bad trait to have. Sometimes I enjoy the slow building of flavor and strength a one dimensional cigar provides. Other times, I look for something that will change every few puffs.

I love the flavors in Cuban tobacco, probably more than any one other country, but I don't think I would ever limit my cigar experience to tobaccos from one country.

[El Presidente]

» I love the flavors in Cuban tobacco, probably more than any one other

» country, but I don't think I would ever limit my cigar experience to

» tobaccos from one country.

And nor should you.

I fired up on Wednesday morning an 8 year old Padron Anniversary Maduro Piramide. I was bored within minutes. I threw it out before the first inch. It was so mild, so anaemic in terms of body/presence that I just could not go on.

Last week I fired up a LFDC Lancero (extra Ligero). Very Strong, Very in your face but the complexity of a piece of chalk.

I have had many many Cuban cigars which were one dimensional but in none is it a mortal trait. There are always great boxes of the marque and vitola somewhere, maybe a little ageing will improve it...a little time in the humidor. You can't really say that about the majority of NC (there are some good ones). Crap in Crap out.