Any cigar smokers?

All the above recommendations are very good but I usually end up with somewhat pricier cigars (in the $10-15 range) as I'm a firm believer in Zino Davidoff's maxim "smoke less, smoke better".

Avos are my base cigars as they're always well made, draw very well, and are flavorful. Any of the special editions are fantastic.

I like the Davidoffs Millenium blend.

I like the Ahston VSG (Virgina Sun Growns) as well. Tatuajes have been getting good reviews and my wife loves them.

Miami-made Gloria Cubanas are very good; the Dominican-made ones not so much.

I've never found a Padron I liked, not even the 1964 series. I haven't tried the 1929 (right year?) series yet.

But for the ultimate cigar smoke, try some cubans. They alone are worth my yearly trip to the Central Mexico highlands :->
 
I've heard that lots of Cubans are counterfeits, how do you know if you're getting the real deal?
 
Kyle said:
I've heard that lots of Cubans are counterfeits, how do you know if you're getting the real deal?
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Just about any cuban cigar sold in the US will be either fake or follow a rather loose interpretation of the verb "to be". Some places do sell Cubans but you'll never see them displayed and you have to know the owner very well to get to see them.

When you have a real (hand-made) Cuban cigar you'll know. There'll be no doubt in your mind that you had the real thing.

Note that there are other Cuban cigars sold that are machine made and are NO GOOD; it's like comparing McCallan scotch and Johnnie Walker.
 
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http://ordercubancigars.com/index.htm

Old Morris is a great place to visit or order from online. I buy all of my pipe tobacco from them, which I prefer to puff over a cigar. As far as cigars go, the Romeo y Julieta Churchill is the one for me. I smoke a cigar at Christmas and Pascha, so my preference is conditioned for that cuban with very limited experience. It lasts a looooong time and is cool and mild all the way through.
 
CorreCaminos said:
Note that there are other Cuban cigars sold that are machine made and are NO GOOD; it's like comparing McCallan scotch and Johnnie Walker.
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The cigars the cubans smoke themselves are machine made and aren't bad, if you are used to smoke strong cigars that is.

As with rum, the cuban products are mostly somewhat rougher and tougher. I prefer Barcelo over Havana Club and Santa Damiana over Upmans, they both are sweeter and rounder.

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Matanzas Cuba.
 
Hmm, any advice for a first time buyer? I just turned 18, and want to buy myself a present.

My Aunt was just in Cuba and brought back a Romeo y Julieta 'Romeo No.2' in the white case (meaning handrolled in Cuba). I'm not sure I want to have it now, or if I should save it...
Thoughts?
 
Morca007 said:
Hmm, any advice for a first time buyer? I just turned 18, and want to buy myself a present.

My Aunt was just in Cuba and brought back a Romeo y Julieta 'Romeo No.2' in the white case (meaning handrolled in Cuba). I'm not sure I want to have it now, or if I should save it...
Thoughts?
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If you don't have a humidor to store it in, it won't keep very long.
 
Morca007 said:
Hmm, any advice for a first time buyer? I just turned 18, and want to buy myself a present.

My Aunt was just in Cuba and brought back a Romeo y Julieta 'Romeo No.2' in the white case (meaning handrolled in Cuba). I'm not sure I want to have it now, or if I should save it...
Thoughts?
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Only one advice, don't start smoking! All I know who smoked with 18 couldn't quit later, myself included.

My father quit smoking with 45 and quitted quitting with 60.

Nicotin is as adicitive as Heroin, if not more so.

Don't do what I do, do what I say 🙂
 
Not much chance of that, I can only afford one expensive habit. 😉

EDIT: Meine gott, the more I read about proper cigar storage and smoking, the less I want to waste this. I don't have a cutter, but I'm not going to buy one for a single cigar, but then again, I don't want to ruin an expensive (?) cigar.

Edit again: Moot point, it's already been cut. 🙁
 
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Want to impress him? Trinidads (robusto extras or fundaderos) are some of the best smokes around (but bring your AMEX Gold card).

Want to surprise him? The new Cuaba line is fascinatingly innovative and traditional at the same time and almost approaches the Leica M3 for build quality. 🙂
 
Kyle said:
I've heard that lots of Cubans are counterfeits, how do you know if you're getting the real deal?
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Ideally you need to see the sealed box then open it up to see what is inside - there are numerous identifiers of the real deal - seal, factory number, type of lettering on the bottom of the box (burnt - genuine, or printed - fake), uniformity & quality of the cigars themselves and conformity with the vitola (stated size) etc (this info is all out there on the internet). Can be really tricky, as there is apparently a thriving trade in second hand or empty boxes from the factory. Looking at the cigars themselves, the triple cap is a good indication (the wrap of the leaf around the uncut end of the cigar - cubans show three lines where the cap is finished). Looking at the cut end, watch out for uneven fill with what look like twigs - these are the stalks & veins of the leaves which cuban factories remove before rolling.

The poor fakes are pretty easy to spot, they look poor quality, the packaging is not right, they don't smell right (usually too much ammonia), and if you cut them open they usually have chopped fill, whereas genuine ones have leaves which run the full length of the cigar. The good fakes are less easy to spot (and can be fine cigars in their own right). The genuine article can be poor too, depending which factory it originated from (I have 20 genuine Monte Cristos festering in the humidor because they are just poorly rolled..)

Price is a good indication too. If it is cheap, it is definitely fake. As a lowest end benchmark, you should look up the direct factory price in Cuba - I've seen these prices on the internet before - cheaper than this, and they ain't what they seem.

Ultimately, the best thing to do is smoke one - havanas have a quite distinctive taste and the ash should easily run to an inch or more before it drops off. Any reputable seller (and Casa Habanos are usually pretty good) will not have a problem with this or at the very least will offer, without being asked, to open the box for you to inspect.

You need to trust your cigar dealer, just like your barber or your lawyer.

Good luck (reaches for Partagas Series D no 4.)
 
gb hill said:
Ah shucks....and I was considering trading you my FED 2 for that Cuban.
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Damnation!
Well, the upside is, not having anything to compare it to, it'll be the best cigar I've ever had, dried out or not. 😀

Besides, that Canonet is way more attractive. rowrr

EDIT: Mmm, forget the Canonet, that was worth it. Very enjoyable.
 
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Magus, you're the first exception I know off. My yellow teeth and left thumbnail show that I'm not playing in your league :-(
 
so - apparently I've been smoking really crappy cigars when I've tried them over the years. Last weekend, my neighbor gave me an Avo to try - and it was fantastic!

We're starting a weekly cigar club meeting to share and try new ones in the $4-10 range. I have an Avo, Avo Domaine, an Ashton Cabinet, CAO Cx2 and CAO Brazillia to start with (all in the robusto or toro sizes). 🙂

I'll make a temporary humidor with some tupperware, and a piece of floral foam with 50/50 solution in it. should work until I decide how invested in this I want to get. 😀
 
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