Lets talk Fonseca......yes.....we have to.

[El Presidente]

When someone mentions Cohiba, Bolivar, Montecristo, Partagas a prfile goes through your mind. What about Fonseca? It certainly is a Marque of which we sell precious little of and in Austalia very few retailers carry.

I was very fond of the Fonseca Invictos before they were discontinued and I thought them to be by far the best of the line.

Ashamedly, I haven't had a Fonseca (as far as I can remember) in close to a year.

So give me your thoughts on Fonseca and lets make a joint effort to review Fonseca this week.

Go Dive in your humidors and see what you have :-)

[yossie]

Even Diplomatico, There were a few reviews.. You know, There's proably not those who has Fonseca..

[Don Candido]

» When someone mentions Cohiba, Bolivar, Montecristo, Partagas a prfile goes

» through your mind. What about Fonseca? It certainly is a Marque of which

» we sell precious little of and in Austalia very few retailers carry.

»

» I was very fond of the Fonseca Invictos before they were discontinued and

» I thought them to be by far the best of the line.

»

» Ashamedly, I haven't had a Fonseca (as far as I can remember) in close to

» a year.

»

» So give me your thoughts on Fonseca and lets make a joint effort to review

» Fonseca this week.

»

» Go Dive in your humidors and see what you have :-)

Fonseca? Cigars? Got none, bought none, tried none.

I have been told on several occasions not to waste my time, and as of yet, I haven't.

What is the matter Prez? Sitting on a large inventory you need to get rid of? ;-)

I have to admit. I was mostly dissapointed once I read this topic. I thought you wanted to talk Fonseca Port... In the proper year, with the proper age, the Port is just a stupendous experience (and most likely is only improved by complementing it with the cigar of your choice.)

[El Presidente]

» What is the matter Prez? Sitting on a large inventory you need to get rid

» of? ;-)

»

No.....I am up to "F" in the review week.

[Daidemo]

Actually my wife is smoking Fonsecas (yes, my wife smokes cigars…). I have always a box of Invictos and KDT Cadetes at the back of humidor for her. Personally, I don’t find them interesting but from time to time I try one. Until 2006 they had many constructions problems but now they are OK. For my palette their taste is one dimensional, a bit too light but there are mornings when they match caffe latte perfectly.

… The problem is that she is looking toward Trinidad Reyes and for sure I’m not so happy her new ideas… (definitely my wallet is not).

[anacostiakat]

I dived into the humi and came up empty handed.

Sorry, no Fonseca. . .

[Claudius]

» Fonseca? Cigars? Got none, bought none, tried none.

» I have been told on several occasions not to waste my time, and as of yet, I haven't.

Same here... Hell, often times, people tell me such and such is good and I smoke it and it's crap. I sure as hell am not going to try anything they tell me is bad!

[Claudius]

BTW Rob, a friend of mine tells me that the taste of a Fonseca is pretty much the same whether you do or do not remove the tissue... :-|

[tigger]

I used to smoke No. 1s and Invictos once in awhile as a change of pace first cigar of the day. Decent mild smokes. Don't think I have any around to review.

[Colt45]

I can only echo the sentiments of most of the mob - I've not tried any.

[sinnyc]

A few months ago I decided to purchase several boxes of Cuban lower end/machine made cigars. I was looking for some new "yard cigars that I wouldn't care if I had to pitch halfway through" smokes and I figured, why spend $4-$8 on an average tasting US import cigar when I might be able to find Cubans that I like for the same amount or, in some cases, considerably less.

I bought boxes of:

Por Larranaga Panatelas

Quintero Panatelas

La Flor De Cano Selectos

Jose L. Piedra Petit Cetros

Fonseca Cosacos

Once they arrived I handed out one of each to my regular herf buddies and our feelings on them all were quite consistent.

The Por Larranagas and Jose Piedras were the most popular which is great since they are among the least expensive. We found them to be light to medium in strength with the pleasant. mouth-filling creaminess found in many hand rolled Cubans of similar strength. The Piedras had a slightly odd although not unpleasant tang on the finish and some of the PL's did have some draw issues although at 36 gauge these were the narrowest of the five selections so I cut them a break. Overall, I would rate the PL's the highest.

The Quinteros, the least expensive, came in next. Strong and unrefined and tasting primarily of raw, rich tobacco, they were generally thought of as great 30 minute cigars. The flavor doesn't really develop at all; you simply get a tasty "punch in the mouth" from a strong, honest, simple cigar. I find them to be real eye-openers and enjoy smoking them with my second cup of coffee in the morning or at backyard bar-b-cue type dinners.

The Flor De Canos and Fonsecas were next and one of my friends rated this as #2. The former were somewhat similar to the Quinteros. Although not quite as strong or powerful, I would not call them refined by any stretch. Again, not much subtlety here with mostly straight tobacco flavors. They met some of my criteria - a decent inexpensive smoke - but they didn't really distinguish themselves.

The Fonsecas on the other hand gave us all trouble at first. The simply didn't burn well, as if they were far too fresh, and required regular relighting and touching up. After letting them sit for a month or two, they smoked better and I found them to be medium in strength with a light woodiness that accented the straight tobacco flavors that most of this selection of cigars had in common. Although they weren't bad, I found little in these smokes to distinguish them from the rest. Since these were the most expensive of the bunch at around $4.50 each, I rated them the lowest.

I'll note that I did acquire a box of the Quintero Panatelas with about 6 years of age on them and they are smoking wonderfully - the strength has mellowed a bit and they now reveal some nuance - pepper, wood, and a subtle, short sweetness on a long finish.

Anyway, there are many more paragraphs than you needed to say that the Fonsecas I have in my humidor are "Ehh".

- Tim

[bassman]

I smoked through a box of 2001 Fonseca #1s. They were an enjoyable morning cigar. Decent flavor & mild to mid range body. I wouldn't turn one down if offered, but didn't feel like buying another box as I prefer stronger cigars.

[Ginseng]

I have not smoked more than maybe half a dozen over the years. None had any appreciable age and none resulted in any memorable impressions. As has been said here prior, I'd smoke one if given but don't feel particularly motivated to buy a box.

I am intrigued by the Invictos but alas, those are now defunct.

Wilkey

[Mel]

Hey Prez. do you think i'd like em?;-) Hell I'd leave the tissue paper on just to add some flavor.

[atomross13]

Fonsecas are one of my favorite morning cigars. The taste is a bit lacking in complexity. mainly cream and tobacco with a hint of coffee. I have some 96 and 98 Cosacos, a few 03 Cadets, and not nearly enough 98 Invictos. This is one of the few cigars that I have tried where aging does not really seem to effect them. They are mild cigar to start with and really don't mellow out or change taste from fresh to 12 yrs.

[dizedean]

» When someone mentions Cohiba, Bolivar, Montecristo, Partagas a prfile goes

» through your mind.

Well at the risk of sounding ignorant I would love to hear from the members what those profiles would be.

I am a relative newbie and have not defined these on my own.

Are these "profiles" generalities that are universally recognized or marketing tools.

I know that taste is subjective and in particular the "Mild Medium Full. Perpetual Conundrum " has shown itself to be very personal.

I would love to get some background and opinions.

Thanks

Dean

[Ken Gargett]

well this has proved to be a raging success.

i'm in the never smoked one, that i can recall, category. no need to hold back any stock for me.

i will say that they are one of the truly great makers of port but that is another story.

[smokum]

Have smoked Cosacos....they were actually not too bad at the time. It was many years ago and bought in Windsor Canada. Great to bring along on camping trips. Eliminates the need to use those pesky poison ivy leaves to clean your butt out in the woods.

[winelover]

I'd like to try one. I like the concept of the low-end marcas. There is something revolutionary and communist about them. Not that I'm a commie - far from it! Still, it is good that cuba doesn't just serve people who can regularly afford to buy cohibas etc. Sometimes a man just wants a smoke - and I suppose Fonsecas must be especially useful when the undiscerning cigar smoker friend comes round and all you have is premium stock!

[Professor Twain]

I have smoked 3-4 Cosacos, some with age. All have been dull and disappointing. No flavor profile. I don't know how much they cost but I can't imagine them being a better bargain than a Por Larranaga Panatella, one of my all time favorite low budget cigars.

[mkz]

Fonz... who?

Don´t know the guy. :-|

[Taino]

Fonseca... mmm... no thanks, to borring... rather do JL Piedra

[Vetteman]

I bought a box of Cosacos a few years back (still have about 1/2 left). Partagas is my main smoke and Shorts my every day cigar, so these are on the mild side for my tastes. Obviously in the minority here, but I think they're OK. The ones I smoked were a nice change of pace, and I thought the flavor was decent. I would choose them over the Jose Piedras or Flor de Canos I've smoked.

[El Presidente]

»Great to bring along on

» camping trips. Eliminates the need to use those pesky poison ivy leaves to

» clean your butt out in the woods.

Pure class Bob

[trumpetchris]

I enjoy a Fonseca from time to time. The mild flavor profile suits a cup of coffee in the morning. I've never had the chance to try an Invictos, but I heard good things- they were discontinued before I got into smoking Cubans.