America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

I have had very few Cubans over time and frankly have never been impressed with any of them. Guess my tastes have always been for the Nicaraguans, Dominicans and a few Hondurans. But have got the urge to try some ISOMs and would appreciate some information on ordering (procedures, sites, etc.). I believe that I have also seen on some old posts links to government price listings for ISOMs but a search turned up nothing. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks
John

jmiller2225 (at) cox /dot/ net

You've obviously smoked the wrong Cubans. I have come to realize that there are some non-Cubans that stack up quite well, thanks to the folks here that just had to prove it to me. Still have a few sticks in the humi. But smoking mostly Cubans for the first 5 years of smoking, I have found better odds in finding great smokes in this category, but they're gonna cost. I've also had some really crappy Cubans. As many others will tell you, it's unfortunate that there are way more Cubans sold than made. If your not experienced in Cubans, you won't know the difference and might judge a fake for being bad. Even the experts have a hard time telling the difference by just looking, but once it's lit up and it doesn't have that unique Cuban flavor. It’s obvious. Now there are also some good fakes coming out of Cuba. From what I hear, some of those taste pretty good.

I read a story about a guy who bought some counterfeits in Cuba and wasn't pleased. The salesman found out, went to his hotel and replaced them. It's like it's a legitimate industry or something.

I have smoked probably 12-15 cubans. 4 of which were Montecristo #2s. I was really impressed with Bolivars, and Partagas, but was disappointed in my first 4 Montecristos. I recently picked up my first Cohiba that I am anxious to try. I know that alot of people swear by Monte #2s, but they are overrated IMHO. I will pick up another some time, but for now, I am still unimpressed. I have heard that you should not give up on a cigar, until you have smoked an entire box. This may be true, but maybe the Monte's just don't fit my flavor profile. But you can give me a Bolivar, or Partagas, anytime.
Just my .02, I don't have enough experience with ISOMs to give any real assessment of them. But am looking forward to the research.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

OK - this may be what some refer to as 'thread-jacking' (i'm still kinda new here and unsure of this) but i think this is a good place to post this because it was this post that made me think of it - anyway, does anyone here have a LEAST favorite 'country of origin'? I'm speaking generally and relatively, of course; there are always some good ones to be had, regardless of origin. BUT, I find that I tend to be less enthusiastic about honduran smokes. It just seems like every time i have a new smoke that i am less than impressed with, i find out it is honduran (or at least has some honduran filler blended in). Nicaragua and DR (and the few ISOM's I've had) generally tend to have more of a 'WOW' effect on me. especially the nic's. anyway, i was just curious if anyone shared this opinion, or at least have noticed a 'least favorute' trend in themselves.

maybe this is a pointless question.
maybe i should have another black hart stout. ;)

originalgoat,

Cuba. My fondest cigars have been Cuban.

The most fondest, pre-2000. I have had more crappy Cubans since than. If they come back to the glory days, than I still don't think a lot of other smokes can beat average against average. However Dominican and Nic's from what I've read and the 50 or so different one I've smoked, are constantly getting better as farms outside Cuba get closer and closer to replicating the conditions of the original cigar country. There may be a day soon where cigars are rated by factory/brand, rather than one particular country.

Sorry I'm trapped and I don't know if I'll ever get out.

As a side note. The absolute worst cigars I've ever smoked did not come from Cuba.

I think Slim made an exeptional point that I agree with 100%. Over the last 10 years I have spent a lot of time outside of the USA and smoked dozens and dozens of Cubans. What I have come to realize is that there are wonderful Cuban smokes to be had, but to put so much emphasis on them as being "The Greatest" really takes away from the many other contries that in my opinion are producing higher quality, easier to obtain, more reliable cigars.

If you are able to obtain genuine Cubans though one of my favorites you may want to try is the Romeo Y Julieta Romeo No. 2. I recently finished the last of the 10 tubes of these I acquired a year or so ago. Really a quality smoke not a dud out of any of them.

My suggestion then, would be (if you can find them and you want to try an ISOM Maduro), would be either the Cohiba Piramides Limited Edition Maduro, the Hoyo de Monterrey EL Piramides Maduro or the Partagas Serie D No. 3 Limited Edition Maduro ... I have a Romeo y Julieta Robusto Limited Edition Maduro that I haven't tried yet, so I can't say on that one.

And, you can't go wrong with either the Partagas Serie D No. 4, the Punch Punch Cabinet Selection, the Saint Luis Rey Petit Coronas or Saint Luis Rey Regios, the Diplomaticos No. 1, 2 or 4, the Montecristo Especial No. 2, the Sancho Panza Sanchos, and last but not least ... the Trinidad Fundadores.

Not much help, I know ... but I have tried at least one of each of them, and thoroughly enjoyed them, although some were much better than others.

Basically ... it's a 'crap shoot' ...

Cuba does not produce a maduro wrapper.

calavera,

I like the way you think. Are you in sales.

donutboy2000 --- go to 'Picture Post', check out 'Just a few ISOM's I have' ... and look at the two on the left ...

... the ones with the Black and Gold 'Edicion Limitada 2001' bands on them ... are BOTH Cuban Maduro's.

One on the far left is a Partagas Serie D No. 3 Limited Edition Maduro, and the one next to it is a Romeo y Julieta Robusto Limited Edition Maduro ...

If you want, I can email you a link to a site ... possibly the largest Mail Order Havana Cigar Merchants in the UK, and supplied by Hunters & Frankau (Importers with 200 years experience) ... if you want to see all the lines of Maduro Cuban cigars that have been produced now, albeit, in very limited quanties ...

Calaver --- what I wanted you to pay particular attention to (I should have been a little clearer)...

... was when I stated, "It will be a never ending 'clash of opposing views' ... with the word 'opinion' being the only thing that ALL will be able to agree upon."

;^)

smokemed --- I don't have to think about it ... I've already thought about it long enough ... and stand by what I stated. I've smoked many Cuban cigars over the last three years, and still have a good assortment of them right now ... and no, they are not fake.

It's all subjective ... different strokes for different folks, you know. Cuban cigars (if you can find a 'well -aged' one), can be nirvana ... but I'll take any one of my favorite 'domestics' over what's coming out of Cuba these days ...

And face it ... many people smoke Cuban cigars just for the 'mystic' and status it brings ... and 'domestic' cigar rollers, will jump on the bandwagon for the same reason. There is so much hype revolving around Cuban cigars ... it's a good marketing strategy to make their cigars and bands look like ones from Cuba, along with all the other 'hoop-la'. And as far as Cuban seed goes ... that's the biggest crock I've heard in a long time. Anyone with any background in botany or horticulture, or at least anyone with a little nursery experience, will tell you that the seed of any plant will not produce the same results (many times, not even close) if they are grown elsewhere. But, it's cool, and bumps up it's desirability, to say the seed came from Cuba.

And ... for the third time this thread ... I'll say it again ...

It will be a never ending 'clash of opposing views' ... with the word 'opinion' being the only thing that ALL will be able to agree upon.

We agree to disagree ... so let's leave it at that. We have both stated our opinions, so now it's up to everyones 'individual tastes' on what they think is better ... which is the determining factor and 'final answer' for all of us anyway.

OK ... here's what I thought ... and I even smoked it with a fresh cup of 'home-roasted' Cuban 'Crystal Mountain' coffee to stay with the theme ...

Was it a good cigar? No ... it was an OUTSTANDING cigar! It was perfect in every aspect.

It was a beautiful cigar, dark and oily, and the construction was flawless, except for an ocassional splitting of the wrapper, which can happen with any cigar.

The draw couldn't have been better. I've become accustomed to tight draws and plugged cigars with many Cuban cigars lately, but this one was perfect. Lot's of thick smoke ... and an effortless draw.

How did it taste?

Just like smokemed described ... with a noticeable sweetness to it that left a very pleasant 'finish' on my palate. And, it also had the unmistakeable 'creaminess' that is the trademark of most Cuban cigars ... and that is something you won't find in many (if any) domestic cigars, unless they are of the 'top-shelf' variety, and have a great deal of age on them. It had an incredibly good flavor and aroma, and not the slightest bit of harshness ...

Did it make me dizzy? Did leave my nose and tounge with that unmistakable 'tingle'?

Absoulutely! But then, maybe I shouldn't have been inhaling it ... but it was that good! I didn't want to waste any of it ...

All they way through ... I was thinking to myself, man ... if only they were all like this. I would then become one of the 'extremists' of Cuban cigars. I would smoke only Cuban cigars ... and tout their virtues to anyone who would listen.

But, unfortunatley they're not ...

... and there are just as many domestic cigars out there that can stand up to the Cuban cigar, and hold its own. A blind taste test is just that ... blind. Panelists do not know what they are smoking, at least that's the way it is with Smoke Magazine. I don't believe much in what CA has to say ... but I know that Smoke Magazine conducts their tastings this way ... and are highly respected.

Keep in mind ... I never said that Cuban cigars are 'dog-rockets'. I just think that there is too much emphasis put on them. I'll smoke a good Cuban cigar any day of the week ... and I will continue to keep a 'special' humidor stocked with them, and will continue in my search for the best of them.

But, on the same token, I will also continue my quest for the 'other' equally great cigars that are out there(just different their flavor profiles), and are easier to get, the quality control sets higher standards, and are many times less expensive ...

I really think it has a lot to do with what mood you I'm in. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a specific 'cigar experience' ... and that cigar could be one of the many Cuban cigars, or it could be any number of the many others that have become favorites of mine.

I just think that having an open mind and a 'balanced plate' to choose from, is what makes 'variety the spice of life' ... and that will be as different as the people are who smoke cigars.

For very personal reasons, I no longer buy Cuban cigars. After speaking with a young man whose sister was gunned down by Castro's thugs while trying to leave the island almost two years ago, I decided to stop buying Cuban cigars. Again, it's personal.

The comments about the quality of pre-2000 Habanos flies in the face of everything the Cuban cigar industry has done to correct the problems that plagued the industry. Your chance of getting poorly aged, plugged Cuban cigars, rolled in the late 90s was greater than it had been in decades. In 2001, the Cuban cigar industry began aggressively using mechanical draw testers to sift out the plugged cigars that are anathema to every cigar smoker.

Yes, of course, there were some great Habanos made in the 90s. I smoked hundreds, if not thousands during the decade, and I also threw away 20 to 30% that just wouldn't draw.

The point is, the Habanos rolled after 2000, are consistently better cigars. If given the choice of a box rolled in 1999 or one rolled in 2002, I'd take the younger box. There's a far greater likelihood of quality cigars.

A quick note about Cuban farm cigars. For extra money many Cubans grow a little tobacco, home process it, and either roll fakes of well known brands, or just sell what they've made for what they are. Some of the most memorable Cuban cigars I've ever smoked were farm cigars. They were hand rolled like an old cheroot, but what a great smoke!

Wholy Crap Robby, your only the 2nd person to ever have this opinion on this board. I being the first. That means we agree on something. Say it aint so.

If others share this opinion, I just haven't heard it expressed lately.

Steve,

Those pre- 2000's I talked about were likely 96, 97 and 98. The ones I've had in 2000 and 2001, just haven't been the same. I am pumped that things are getting better now.

Hey aren't you the guy that's also boycotting French wine, you were supposed to send me all your stock. hehehe

Slim,

Bull, on 3 seperate threads, I was on my own when it came to this topic. Of course not every person on this board chimed in. I took that as the majority opinion.

Of course what I should have done was research every post for the past 2 years that I've been here.

I stand corrected, there's 3.

Hey Slim, I was only ribbing Robby anyway. Keep'm in the holster LOD

Side note, I have a personal interest in the demise of Mr. Castro. I'm one of those citizens of the world that can do bisiness there legally. So thanks for the obvious, but of done a little research off this board.

Slim,

So what your saying is although many disagreed, it's a no-brainer and I should have just ignored the pessimists because it's a no-brainer. Hmmm, I could do the same thing when it comes to other no-brainer topics, like Cuban's are better, hehehe JK

Many believe when he's gone he will have a successor. Even if he did, I think it would be short lived.

Others believe the US will never end the Embargo because of the political clout the x-patriots in Florida have. Florida does have the 3rd largest voter base. Just look at the last election. Some valid points...

OK - this may be what some refer to as 'thread-jacking' (i'm still kinda new here and unsure of this) But, how come Britney Spears hasn't released any good videos lately? I really enjoy watching her shaking her grove thing. Takes me from a robusto to a chruchill...