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Last post 21 years ago by Mr.Mean. 10 replies replies.
1 of 7 La Rosa Especial Mi Favorita Maduro
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wanyburger Offline
#1 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 10:36 AM EST
Joined: 07-21-1999
Posts: 665
Ok, I’ve narrowed my list to 7 cigars. Please keep in mind a few key points. These are not my favorite 7 cigars although I have included a few in this list. What I tried to do was match up the cigars I felt would be compliment to the AF line in taste, aroma, quality and price. (I will admit however my last selection does not meet the price criteria, but I still think it is better than the Hemingway line so I included it) Since I am a few days behind, I’ll post a few tonight. Drum roll please………….

1.) La Rosa Especial Mi Favorita Maduro – Most of Arturo Fuente’s cigars are not considered to be “powerful” in flavor strength. With the exception of the Ashton VSG (yes made by the Fuente family) you will be hard pressed to find a real ass kicker in the line. Because the VSG is such a good cigar I struggled finding a comparable smoke. I narrowed my pick to two cigars. The first, The La Rosa cigar has been a winner for me for some time. I still believe that pound for pound and dollar for dollar (if you like powerful smokes) this remains your best bet. Superior construction, shrouded in wonderfully wrapped tissue paper this cigar will knock your socks off. Very much like the Perdomo Estate selection less all the pepper. Best part less than $40 a box.
Slimboli Offline
#2 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 10:57 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Comparable to VSG? Hard to do that, but somewhat in line with the VSG I would add ...

... Oliva 'O' Natural and Maduro (both 5 year aged sun-grown wrappers)

... Astral Talanga Valley Selection (Cuban-seed wrapper is sun-grown in the Talanga Valley of Honduras)

... and definately less expensive.
wanyburger Offline
#3 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 11:04 AM EST
Joined: 07-21-1999
Posts: 665
Slim,

It's funny you mentioned the Astral TVS. At first I thought I needed to match VSG with another VSG but gave up that idea. In the process I smoked another Astral yesterday and like my first TVS I was not impressed. It's a good cigar but nothing that stands out. It’s very well made, very good aroma, but taste was, well, average. I crossed it off my list as a potential suitor. I did give it a shot though..
Slimboli Offline
#4 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 11:09 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
You are correct on the TVS ... it is a very one dimensional cigar, IMHO. but, like I've posted before ... I am partial to sun-grown wrappers.

Disregard my post on your #2 selection. You've answered that here ... LOL!

Now I'll button it ... and let you have at it. I'm understanding your selections more, now that I'm aware of the parameters you've set up.
Mr.Mean Offline
#5 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 12:30 PM EST
Joined: 05-16-2001
Posts: 3,025
My experience with these is yes, they can be a powerful, tasty smoke. Yet, the construction has been consistantly poor with bad burns 90% of the time. Also, never been able to nub one due to harshness that begins after getting halfway down the cigar. For the money, it is a great value.
Mind you, my experience with these has strickly been in the robusto sized smokes.
hegemonic Offline
#6 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 12:31 PM EST
Joined: 01-17-2000
Posts: 1,294
Just a note on the VSG similar cigars, I'd have to say that the closest cigars in taste to the Ashton VSG are :
1. La Escepcion - Series II (closest I've had to date)

2. Cusano Xclusivo (close enough)
RobertParrott Offline
#7 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 2:13 PM EST
Joined: 06-27-2001
Posts: 344
MrMean,
I find that the La Rosa Especial Mi Favorita Maduro needs about two to three months of humidor time to smooth them out a little. I do like them right out of the box and have had some of the same burn problems that you had. After the humidor time the burn problems go away.

Robert
wanyburger Offline
#8 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 3:12 PM EST
Joined: 07-21-1999
Posts: 665
hedge - happy new year bud! I have not had these cigars you mention and would love to give them a shot. Where do I find? If not here let's give our c-bid friends the tip so they may hunt them down for us. I know Keith is always game for finding the goods if indeed they are as good as you say.
wanyburger Offline
#9 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 3:17 PM EST
Joined: 07-21-1999
Posts: 665
btw - Robert you are right in your assesment. La Rosa's are very "moist" upon delivery. I have found this to be the case more and more with many cigars. About a year ago I decided to lower the humididty in all my humidors to about 66-67%. Every one of my cigars smoke better with the exception of the CAO Extreme. To this day I still can not get a clean burn out of this cigar. It's ashame. I expected this cigar to age well, and it simply has not for me.
hegemonic Offline
#10 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 5:45 PM EST
Joined: 01-17-2000
Posts: 1,294
wany, Happy New Year to you too :) You can rarely find the La Escepcion Series II anymore because the Series III are out now, but I just may be able to track some down. Send me your snailer at hegemonic-at-yahoo-dot-com (I remember you're in L.I., so it should only take a day or two to reach you).
Mr.Mean Offline
#11 Posted: Wed, Jan 1 2003, 6:51 PM EST
Joined: 05-16-2001
Posts: 3,025
Wany, I agree with assesment on the extremes except for the tubos #1. These are one of my favorites due to the fact the I have not experienced the burn problems or the harshness that sometimes accompanies the other sizes.
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