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In addition to the thread about Rum Runners, and since quite a few, including wanyburger who appears to be an experienced smoker, I'd like to open a debate about flavoured cigars in general. It often appears that flavoured cigars by some not are considered "real cigars" and "dog rockets" by others. Now everyone, get out of Your closets and lets hear it. Who likes Vanillas, Mints, Amarettos and others? Share Your thoughts! - Personally so far, I've only tried Rum Runners (my impression's shared in the other thread), but have Amarettos in store.

Once one learns to appreciate all the facets of a good cigar, is it possible to ever respect the flavored cigars? I always thought flavored smokes to be the white zinfandels of the cigar world. Kind of the “starters” for those who want to learn the hobby. Some will always like these smokes but it becomes increasingly difficult to ever go back once a rich maduro or a 5-year-old cabernet franc crosses your lips. I remember when I started drinking wine, Berringer white zin frequented the table and was the wine of choice. Sweet and providing no complexity this wine was an easy favorite for the inexperienced. Then you tried a good Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Much like your first Connecticut shade cigars. More flavor and little more complexity but not full bodied enough to overpower the rookies. The quality left the explorer intrigued and looking more. I remember drinking all different kinds of white wine before ever graduating to the reds. Similarly, I can recall a ton of different milder smokes I’ve tried before having my first maduro. Nothing compares however, to your first experience with a bottle of Groth Merlot or similarly with a rich CAO maduro. Once you’ve lived this experience you quickly realize where the best of both worlds reside. Of course I still drink white wine and smoke an Ashton Cabinet here and there, but it just not the same. I will try a flavored cigar every once in a while out of curiosity and just to shake the taste buds up a bit. Most I don’t care for, but with some, like the rumrunner I was pleasantly surprised. Paying less than .50 a stick may also helped the flavor as well!! Nonetheless, I think the flavored cigars have their place in the stogie community. Maybe not on the same shelf and maybe not in the same stores but they do belong.

Some of the flavored are OK. I have a box of the Islamd Amaretto, and the taste OK and smoke well. I do not smoke these often, but the do have there place. Very few people in my family smoke, and these seem to be the least offensive. Hey, we have flavored cigars, as do pipe smokers have flavored tobacco.