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Last post 4 years ago by USNGunner. 51 replies replies.
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anyone tried the Class 34 Maduro Blend No.9?
clintCigar Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Herfing
BLISTER Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 11-24-2003
Posts: 1,798
Nope, but here's a review from someone I trust


"Smoked one OTT. Ugly as sin but rolled like a railroad spike. Fully packed and no soft spots. Wrappers are dull and veiny. Light it up, perfect resistance on the draw and TONS of smoke! Just like LPs seem like they are dipped in oil, the smoke off of the cigars as they rest is quite similar. Full bodied for sure, but a bit young tasting. Ligas? I dunno, but with a little rest, this was a good buy after just the first one."
BLISTER Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 11-24-2003
Posts: 1,798
.... And another

"My robusto were tagged June 2019. But they were not wet. Smoked 1 and got a big blast of pepper at first then it smoothed out to a medium strength. I don't know who made them but the maduro wrapper is very, very thin. Cracked a bit. They should be good after they settle."
clintCigar Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Nice. Thanks!
ZRX1200 Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
I only smoke class 5
clintCigar Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
ZRX1200 wrote:
I only smoke class 5


Oh I bought those no questions asked.
delta1 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,753
never heard of them...so they aspire to LP status....any idea who makes them?
clintCigar Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Here is the sales pitch... I mean story:

To say these are value cigars is an understatement. That phrase sounds like the cigars are basic, economy, or even low-quality. This is the Holy Grail of cigars - a top-quality, factory-direct handmade first made by one of the finest factories in Nicaragua. The brand is Class 34 and this blend is called simply Maduro Blend No. 9. It's medium-bodied, slightly sweet with some spiciness. Gorgeous maduro wrappers, slow burners with ample flavor from head to toe. Basic branding, factory-direct.

Here's the Class 34 story:
Why do some good cigars cost so much – and why so much variation in costs between blends? The answer, which may be obvious, is brand name. I’ll acknowledge there’s some art to cigar making but at this day in age the production itself is more science. Established, accepted processes for growing tobacco, fermentation and pre-industry, and cigar production are more uniformly followed than at any point in history. Innovations are only incremental at this point, as fewer barriers exist with less hidden knowledge than ever before. So any factory that wants to meet the threshold of making quality cigars can.

To make an analogy: there are some objectively bad or inexperienced micro-breweries (not simply makers of beer that doesn’t suit your taste). But these low quality brewers don’t last. Meanwhile quality brewpubs and craft brewers are ubiquitous and you'll find them in every town from Dubuque, IA to Tampa FL to Oxford, MS to Albany, NY. Likewise, there are bad or inexperienced cigar makers, corner-cutters, or factories who choose to specialize in cheap cigars for the “barely premium” value market. Set those aside for a minute. For the rest, with any volume it costs a dime more at the factory level to make a good premium vs. basic handmade…which after taxes landed in the states call it a 20-cent difference. With each additional cent of cost put into the production of a cigar, there’s a quickly diminishing - if not vanishing - incremental increase in quality.

Back to cost, why is it $10, $12 or more a cigar on the shelf? 75-cents might be import taxes and shipping cost. There are middlemen markups. There is often pricing policies where brands mandate that retailers double the price. There are also sales taxes. But mainly, some brands can simply command more – as they count on their marketing spending to capture that premium price, not because it’s any better. These brands often pay retailers co-op and other fees for placement in their store. These costs and markups are all passed to you, and what you get in return is zero. Hence the old saw: “what’s the difference between a $2 cigar and a $12 cigar?” Answer: “10 bucks.”

Today, there is no reason for that. Better cigars need not cost more. Class 34 cigars are straight from factory to you. No middlemen, no inefficiencies, no needless markups.
ZRX1200 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
I hate marketing people.......
clintCigar Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
So I tried one of these (toro) with only 2 days humi rest. I'll have to say these sticks are a steal for $2. Easily a $4-$5 stick ROTT and with some age could be a $6-$7 stick IMO. Has a nice maduro sweetness all the way through with a little spice build starting around the halfway point. Nice construction, burn and draw. I smoked it down to almost a half inch nub. Herfing Here are a few pics I took:

http://warriorbreaks.com/misc/cigars/Class34Maduro01.jpg
http://warriorbreaks.com/misc/cigars/Class34Maduro02.jpg
http://warriorbreaks.com/misc/cigars/Class34Maduro03.jpg
http://warriorbreaks.com/misc/cigars/Class34Maduro04.jpg

(side note: having auto hyperlinks turned off for everything except cbid and CI is phuucking DUMB. Also the cuss word sensor BS)
KingoftheCove Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
ZRX1200 wrote:
I hate marketing people.......

Heh heh..................sometimes it’s a toss up as to who is worse......marketing or sales.
Back in da 80s and 90s when I was in pharma consulting, there was this sales wiz who we loved.............and hated.

That fuqer could sell yellow snow to an Eskimo.
The problem was that he would promise the Eskimo that the yellow snow would attract fish, cure cancer, and make his car battery last 10 times longer.
We got the sale, now we had to deliver magic yellow snow.......................those were some stressful days that I don’t miss a bit.

Over promising sales people are worse than marketing clowns....
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
234 cigars in 35 days and you couldn't find the time for one?

Slacker.
clintCigar Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Thunder.Gerbil wrote:
234 cigars in 35 days and you couldn't find the time for one?

Slacker.

Eh? Eh? Confused Confused
ZRX1200 Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
I used to say **** sales reps.

Then I did.


Look where that got me.
USNGunner Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
KingoftheCove wrote:
Heh heh..................sometimes it’s a toss up as to who is worse......marketing or sales.
Back in da 80s and 90s when I was in pharma consulting, there was this sales wiz who we loved.............and hated.

That fuqer could sell yellow snow to an Eskimo.
The problem was that he would promise the Eskimo that the yellow snow would attract fish, cure cancer, and make his car battery last 10 times longer.
We got the sale, now we had to deliver magic yellow snow.......................those were some stressful days that I don’t miss a bit.

Over promising sales people are worse than marketing clowns....


I was an field service engineer in the Machine tool world. I hated those freaking kind of salesmen. And they quickly learned that if they did that to me, I would hang them out to dry, I had no facks to give. whip
clintCigar Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Smoked another one of these yesterday and these are way under valued imo. Won my longest ash ever. Was over 3/4 of a 6.5in toro. Check it:
http://warriorbreaks.com/misc/cigars/Class34MaduroLongestAsh.jpg
tonygraz Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,173
Do they use love potion # 9 to make that blend #9 that has you so smitten. Is that why you have become such an ash man ?
clintCigar Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
<-------------ash and a$$ man right hur
dstieger Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
so.....fieldsupply and cigarpage are the same outfit? didn't know that til now....thanks
midmofan Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
Anyone try the Habano ones?
pacman357 Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 02-27-2006
Posts: 42,596
ZRX1200 wrote:
I hate marketing people.......

Well, it's not like they're going to market themselves. Well, maybe prostitutes and politicians.
pacman357 Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 02-27-2006
Posts: 42,596
clintCigar wrote:
Smoked another one of these yesterday and these are way under valued imo. Won my longest ash ever. Was over 3/4 of a 6in toro. Check it:
http://warriorbreaks.com/misc/cigars/Class34MaduroLongestAsh.jpg

Never thought I'd say this to another man, but I admire your big ash.

Wait a minute. The one review said the wrapper was thin and easily tore. IIRC, the LP9 has a CBL leaf which is quite thick. Could be the same cigar, and my memory could be wrong since it's been a while since I smoked an LP 9 (they have gotten quite expensive, and I prefer the cousin, the T52 just a little bit more). If it's got an easily torn wrapper, that doesn't sound like many CBL-wrapped cigars I can recall.

Anyone? Ever smoke a line of CBL-wrapped cigars that had fragile wrappers? Seriously wondering. I've smoked many good maduros with wrapper grown elsewhere (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, etc.).

Maybe it's like the Undercrown, but they only had a small pile of wrappers. or perhaps they had SA wrappers that were too ugly to invite to the big dance.
USNGunner Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
midmofan wrote:
Anyone try the Habano ones?



Want to split a bundle?
ypetryna Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 07-19-2012
Posts: 1,323
USNGunner wrote:
Want to split a bundle?


toros?
USNGunner Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
ypetryna wrote:
toros?


I'm game. You're looking at the Habano or the Maduro?

I was going to order some of the maduros anyway, I can order them and forward if you're in.

MidmoFan, we can go 3 ways, or you and I can spit the split if you're interested.
ypetryna Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 07-19-2012
Posts: 1,323
USNGunner wrote:
I'm game. You're looking at the Habano or the Maduro?

I was going to order some of the maduros anyway, I can order them and forward if you're in.

MidmoFan, we can go 3 ways, or you and I can spit the split if you're interested.



you can count me in for a 5er or 10er of either, i can also do both. let me know how youd want $ buddy
midmofan Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
I have ordered a bundle of the maduros but would like to try the habaneros as well, will split it swap, just let me know.
USNGunner Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
OK. They are ordered, a bundle each Habano Toro's and Maduro Robusto's. PM me your addresses and we'll sort it out.

V
clintCigar Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
pacman357 wrote:
Never thought I'd say this to another man, but I admire your big ash.

Wait a minute. The one review said the wrapper was thin and easily tore. IIRC, the LP9 has a CBL leaf which is quite thick. Could be the same cigar, and my memory could be wrong since it's been a while since I smoked an LP 9 (they have gotten quite expensive, and I prefer the cousin, the T52 just a little bit more). If it's got an easily torn wrapper, that doesn't sound like many CBL-wrapped cigars I can recall.

Anyone? Ever smoke a line of CBL-wrapped cigars that had fragile wrappers? Seriously wondering. I've smoked many good maduros with wrapper grown elsewhere (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, etc.).

Maybe it's like the Undercrown, but they only had a small pile of wrappers. or perhaps they had SA wrappers that were too ugly to invite to the big dance.

The Maduro Blend No 9 I'm pretty sure is not a CBL. Just says "Top of the line maduro wrapper."
I like the T52 better than the LP9 as well.
pacman357 Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 02-27-2006
Posts: 42,596
#29 Thank you. It bugs me a little when I'm trying to find out the origin of a wrapper, that is the type. Just listing "maduro" doesn't tell me much besides the fact that it's dark. I suppose they have their reasons for secrecy, but I have enough smokes to sit this one out on the sidelines (although I do appreciate notice of bargains as much as the next BOTL, so many thanks for your info.).

Oddly, I see the same cigars, same price, same sales pitch on another...shall we say field? Looks like our friends in PA have another online biz, or someone is plagiarizing the heck out of them and just happens to carry the same cigars. Both are sold out in the same vitolas as well.

With all of the mergers, purchases, partial purchases, spinoffs, retirements that get unretired, sales followed five years later by solo efforts, etc., I'm glad I'm not single and working in the cigar business. I'd be afraid that if I dated a co-worker, a few years down the road, I'd find out I'd married a half sister or cousin or something. I need a Game of Thrones-like map to see who all owns what in the cigar business now.
midmofan Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
Just got my pack of Maduro blend 9 in. I got the Toro Grande III version. No humi-pack or anything and the cigars look and felt a bit dry. Normally I would let these rest a while but decided to fire one up to review it.

As noted above, all of them were very firm and packed tight. The cut created a small crack in the wrapper that didn't cause any issues during the smoke, probably the result of being dry.

Also as above, although it is packed tight, the draw was perfect. Lots of smoke. Good, strong, typical maduro flavors of espresso/coco/heavy tobacco throughout. No real changes for the most part. Much stronger than I would have thought - definitely not a morning smoke. Took it on my walk and it held up well to the walking and wind and inconsistent puffing.

In the last 25% or so it became noticeably less-strong. Not ever mild or even really medium, but not as powerful as at the start. Perhaps this was the result of me sucking the humid air through the stick for about an hour. I expect the rest will mellow a bit after some humi time.

In all a great bargain for maduro fans. You could easily spend quite a lot more on cigars that are not as good. I will say there was no evolving of flavors - except for it becoming milder at the end - so it is pretty typical of many one-note maduros. But the flavors were good ones so that is not a real detriment, just does not elevate the cigar to the next-level. Hope to try some of the Habanos soon and we will see how those are.
Cyrus Vance Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 09-19-2017
Posts: 57
Low price and good.
Cyrus Vance Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 09-19-2017
Posts: 57
They now have #3 and #6. Haven't tried them yet.
midmofan Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
Gunner was kind enough to split a bundle of the Habanos with me. Since they went from one mailing to the next, i assumed they would be even drier so let them rest in the humi for a couple of days.

Should have let it rest more. Still dry and had a very severe cracking problem after the cut and during the smoke.

The flavors were pretty good. Much milder than the Maduro -- on the mild side of medium I would say. Despite the cracking, it burned a good long time. Hopefully after enough rest, they will not be so fragile.

A good cigar and I think worth the price, but I do prefer the Maduro, Stronger, more flavor, more spice.
USNGunner Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
Thanks for the heads up. Mine are still resting peacefully post Operation Deepfreeze. I'll probably let them all sit another month anyway given your experience. Can't hurt.
midmofan Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
UPDATE: After a month of humi-time the cracking problem seems to be resolved. They must have had these cigars just sitting on a loading dock out in the sun or something.
USNGunner Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
I actually thnk they're keeping them all out there. The last few shipments I've got acted the same way. I've just gotten to the policy of operation deep freeze, 1 month in solitary, then and only then "fire one for effect" . Patience is rewarded.

What did you think of the habanos?
ypetryna Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 07-19-2012
Posts: 1,323
good man. factor in the price, and then fing good
midmofan Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
USNGunner wrote:


What did you think of the habanos?


I like them and they are worth the price, but I do prefer the Maduro's. They were stronger and spicier. Habano's been good for morning coffee on the patio until it got so friggen cold!!!!
midmofan Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
Went over to that spot to order some more. Many sizes are sold out. This time I decided to try the Churchills.
USNGunner Offline
#41 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
midmofan wrote:
Went over to that spot to order some more. Many sizes are sold out. This time I decided to try the Churchills.


I was going to get some more of the habanos. Those were good. But then I looked in my humi. Damn thing is almost full. This is getting ridiculous. Think
midmofan Offline
#42 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
USNGunner wrote:
I was going to get some more of the habanos. Those were good. But then I looked in my humi. Damn thing is almost full. This is getting ridiculous. Think



No excuses....

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-120-Quart-Xtreme-6-Day-Heavy-Duty-Cooler-Dark-Blue/14574678
clintCigar Offline
#43 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
yes no excuses. or get these:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ziploc-60-Quart-15-Gallon-WeatherShield-Storage-Box-Available-in-Single-or-4-Pack/37299945
USNGunner Offline
#44 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
Guys, I would get skinned alive if I augmented this more than the two desktops I already have.

https://imgur.com/RSabgoM
https://imgur.com/UeNLazL


Skinned.

Sunoverbeach Offline
#45 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2017
Posts: 14,583
I hear ya, Gunner. Mrs Beach's increased awareness of the depths of my willpower issues wouldn't be healthy. I've worked out a number of hidden spots around the house, but I'm about maxed out unless I go into the walls.
clintCigar Offline
#46 Posted:
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
No excuses. I know a guy who does good drywall work.
Sunoverbeach Offline
#47 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2017
Posts: 14,583
I can manage drywall. She does want to remodel the upstairs. Hmmmm.....
midmofan Offline
#48 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/20-sneaky-storage-ideas-12281#slim-kitchen-storage-unit
izonfire Offline
#49 Posted:
Joined: 12-09-2013
Posts: 8,642
Sunoverbeach wrote:
I hear ya, Gunner. Mrs Beach's increased awareness of the depths of my willpower issues wouldn't be healthy. I've worked out a number of hidden spots around the house, but I'm about maxed out unless I go into the walls.

Time to go underground
USNGunner Offline
#50 Posted:
Joined: 05-17-2019
Posts: 4,402
midmofan wrote:
https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/20-sneaky-storage-ideas-12281#slim-kitchen-storage-unit


LOL.
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