Cubans and other smokes

[smll2]

Gentlemen,

I have spent 3 plus years smoking NC's and D's. All purchased at my B&M locally. I spent a small fortune on these cigars. I loved them. I enjoyed them. I smoked medium and the high end cigars.

Over the past few months I've had the opportunity to smoke some CC's. I have some quality NC's still sitting in the humi. I have zero desire to light them up.

The CC's that I have had the opportunity to smoke (every day smokes--not high end) tower these NC's relative to flavor and complexity. Smoking a CC is an experience and a journey. Smoking a NC is smoking a cigar IMO. I'm not an afficionado. I'm definitely a rookie. My opinion is based upon my minimally trained taste buds relative to tobacco.

CC's and NC's are night and day from my experience....and I do have some experience with the NC's.

My cigar budget is limited. I can't imagine investing in NC's moving forward. It appears to me there's to much upside with these CC's.

I've got a decent amount of NC's sitting in the bottom of my humidor. My guess is they will need some counseling in the near future. They're not getting any attention.

I'm curious if others feel this way. Smoking time and money is not infinite as I see it. I feel bad for these NC guys.

I can't imagine going back to NC's

Tom

[MIKA27]

I see what your saying mate BUt, if I had some NC's still in my humi that are of good quality, I'd still smoke them and then never buy anything other than CC's.

[FlyFishingDude]

And you're absolutely correct in aspects. It's all about the taste, IMHO the average CC will beat a high end NC hands down. For the cost, mainstream CC's are not much more expensive than NC's although they pose a certain element of risk in acquiring if you live in a certain country.......

Mike

[Colt45]

This is a subject which has been discussed here quite a bit as of late. Here's a link to one of the most recent threads:

Link

[smll2]

This is a subject which has been discussed here quite a bit as of late. Here's a link to one of the most recent threads:

Link

Thanks Colt...I missed that excellent discussion

[Jimmy2]

I would just sell them to someone who smokes NC in your area at a discount.

And I have stated many times before there is no NC just as good as a CC its all in the soil.

[Van55]

I found myself exactly where you are some years back.

I presently have a couple sections of the drawer of my cabinet humidor filled with "high-end" non-Cuban cigars with considerable age on them. Opus X, Davidoff, Padron, etc. I almost never think for a second of pulling one of these out of the box for my after dinner smoke.

It was maybe 6 months ago that I decided to revisit the Opus X line. I had to pitch the damned thing after an inch or so, the taste was that off-putting on my palate.

Still, I do smoke an occasional non-Cuban stick. Most of the ones being produced for Pete Johnson by Pepin are really decent cigars (e.g. Tatuaje and Cabiguan).

[Shelby07]

I'm still bouncing back and forth on this. There's no denying that Cuban cigars taste like... well... Cuban cigars and it doesn't surprise me that Jimmy got them right. But there are so many good NC's available. Yes, I find myself reaching for them less and less, but when I do light 'em up, there are some beautiful cigars out there. Not Cuban, but enjoyable in their own right.

I'm putting together a package of NC's to send out to a friend who would like to try some NC's (he can't get them easily) and I just pulled some of my favorites out of the humi. Beautiful cigars -- I put in an assortment of Padrons, DCM's, Tats, an Illusione 68, WOAM, LFD and LG's by Litto Gomez, Ashton, Cuesta Rey Stanford Cameroon Reserve. and an Ashton VSG. I could have gone on and on. Anejo Shark, Torano Tribute 04, San Cristobal Monumento, etc, etc, etc. One that I put in was a Padron 40th, so I figured I'd fire one up, too. What a beautiful cigar. Perfect burn, outstanding flavor, immaculate construction... what more could I ask for. No, it wasn't a Cuban cigar, but man oh man, it was wonderful.

So, while it's true that I'm reaching for them less and less, there's no denying that I still enjoy a good NC (heavy on the "good",) and there is a time and a place for them. I sometimes wonder if it's just because the CC's are so new to me and I'm still in the honeymoon stage. I guess time will tell.

[Spartan]

With exception to Padron I prefer to fire up a Cuban...just wish the QC was more consistant.

[smll2]

I just finished going thru the Jimmy thread taste test. After 3 years or so of N.C's and just a few months of enjoying the CC's I think that Jimmy and another poster mentioned the "aftertaste". As I am new to these CC's that's one apect of these cigars I never really noticed with the NC's.

The aftertaste with CC's is longlasting after the smoke clears. I didn't notice thie with the NC's.

[FlyFishingDude]

The aftertaste with CC's is longlasting after the smoke clears. I didn't notice thie with the NC's.

Not so much as long lasting but the taste is smooth and mellow with a pleasant smell. Smoke a CC then wait a 1/2 hour and smell your hand that was holding the cigar, you will notice a deep, rich, leathery smell that ranks right up there with opening your humidor every time you walk past. Then you will know.......

Mike

[PigFish]

This is going to come out somewhat boorish, but what the ****, I am in that kinda’ mood! Let me say in advance, if I impugn your tastes by saying that non-Cuban cigars taste like **** you may not want to read on. Sorry I offended you.

Admittedly I don’t know much about NC cigars. What is the point? What I know is that the cigars typically have little depth of flavor, they are rarely unctuous which leads me to say that they have little finish. Yes, they draw nice, so does a straw. They are often nicely constructed and I have nothing bad to say about that! What they are not is good tasting. I have had strong NC cigars but that is not what I am after. I have never smoked one that is complex and I am not going to spend a fortune on trying to find the one that is. They are simply not a fine, exceptional or balanced tobacco products. In my mind they are not even good tobacco products.

If you like smoking them God bless you. I don’t. I won’t even take them as gifts or as a means to light firecrackers! I won’t eat a bad meal and likewise will chuck a lousy cigar. If they were truly the best, Cuban cigars would not be the datum for comparison in cigar world and they would be. Now back to your normally scheduled program… -Mr. Piggy

PS- Sorry about being a dickhead about it but read more about people moving away from them anywhere cigar aficionados congregate to discuss cigars. It is no different from your Casper the friendly ghost costume, you may have loved it, but there comes a time to move on.

[ARRV]

It is no different from your Casper the friendly ghost costume, you may have loved it, but there comes a time to move on.

Love this line - going to have to appropriate it

[Stalebread]

This is a subject which has been discussed here quite a bit as of late. . . .

Link

I'm wondering why. Not about the content of the discussion but why now? Why on this board? Within the last few weeks there have been, what?, three, four of these threads popping up here.

And what makes many of us so strident in our position? No matter which side of the brick wall you're on, it's still like banging your head against a brick wall.

Ah, well, like I've said before, my mind wanders.

[Stalebread]

... what more could I ask for. No, it wasn't a Cuban cigar, but man oh man, it was wonderful.

Yep. To me, this is the most reasonable attitude. Balanced. Smooth. Not harsh. Complex, even.

[Colt45]

I'm wondering why. Not about the content of the discussion but why now? Why on this board? Within the last few weeks there have been, what?, three, four of these threads popping up here.

I've been thinking the same thing as of late - and not just about this particular topic. We've discussed NCs from time to time, and there's no

problem there, but it is Friends of Habanos. Personally, what I've found more troubling is the overall change in tone of the forum over the past

few months or so. Bash CA. Bash James suckling. Now it's Rocky Patel, some guy writing a blog. Unfortunately, we've all but become like any

other forum out there. All we need now are the "whatchya smokin' tonight" and "look at what this guy's selling on ebay" threads.

Change is inevitable, but not always for the best. Just my opinion.

[Chicago]

You hit the nail on the head. I started with NC's and once I had my first PSD4, never looked back.

I think you will find Cubans will be "On" more than NC's. I hate to waste the moment by having to throw away a boring or disappointing cigar. Plus, I would rather smoke quality over quantity.

From a value point of view, the smaller Cubans provide excellent bang for the buck. From what others have told me, you need to spend quite a bit to get a NC that is as flavorful and complex.

Keep in mind, however, that I have stopped looking at NC's about 10 years ago so I am not up to date...

[aavkk]

what I've found more troubling is the overall change in tone of the forum over the past

few months or so. Bash CA. Bash James suckling. Now it's Rocky Patel, some guy writing a blog. Unfortunately, we've all but become like any

other forum out there. All we need now are the "whatchya smokin' tonight" and "look at what this guy's selling on ebay" threads.

Change is inevitable, but not always for the best. Just my opinion.

I agree 100% Ross. I used to take offense to CA rating all these random new cigar companies with several full-page ads in the magazine highly, but not anymore. The only thing that matters to me is my pallate. It doesnt make my Sir Winstons taste any worse knowing that Casa Magna got the highest rating. Instead of taking offense I now find it extremely funny. I mean when you really think about it, its really funny and it makes them seem rediculous to actually hold a cigar that no one knew about last year and many here including myself have objectively found it to be a waste of an hour.

It will be interesting to see what direction CA mag goes when the embargo is lifted and CC's are readily available throughout the states. I'm betting the house on the fact that CC's will then finally be given a pedestal they deserve to stand on. Until that day happens though, I'm gonna keep on smoking my CC's and not worry about a damn thing. I am certainly not spiteful towards CA, Suckling or RP. Why would I be unless someone forced me to smoke them for the rest of my life?

[Colt45]

I am certainly not spiteful towards CA, Suckling or RP.

Please don't anybody get me wrong. Though I personally take some of these type of things at face value, I think they can be worthy of discussion.

But I think it's how we discuss them - with consideration to one of the basic FOH tenets - respect.

[OZCUBAN]

Here Here

[aavkk]

none take at all Ross . I was simply making a point that at least for me its all about my pallete and nothing else matters. Gary V. screams this at the top of his lungs in terms of wine. Who cares what Parker, Reynolds, etc... have to say about a particular wine- you have to like it! I agree with this 100%.

In summary, I'd like to gently point out that I prefer Habanos and respect the opinion of those that feel NC's are better.

[smll2]

When I began this thread I had missed the NC cigar discussion thread currently progressing. I also missed the Jimmy taste test thread.It was an unintentional redundant thread so to speak. My post was with the best intentions. Just happy as all heck that I found these CC's. It was never my intention to diminish the value and enjoyment of NC's for others.

My intent was simply to share my experince with both types of cigars to Friends of Habanos.

I have enjoyed the CC's so much that I went out and purchased a wineador for storage. (You need these in SoCal) I'm investing time and energy reading and searching this forum and another. I'm looking at books to buy. I've turned friends on to the hobby.

For me these Cigars $ for $ along with smoking enjoyment tower above NC's. It's possible that in a few years or so my opinion will change.

I smoked NC's for three years...I have smoked CC's for a few months.

The point of my initial thread was simply to say that I find these CC's amazing compared to cigars of different origins. Note it is I >>>>>not you.

Peace