OOPS, I hope it's not the "BLACK PEAL", that sounds nasty. That would be the "BLACK PEARL"

GTO, I like the LaPerlas, but I've had some tight ones too. Some of the Perdomo Reserves that I've won recently have had the same problem.

Tight draw on Nicaraguan Cigars almost always means they are too humid! The are best at 60-65% rh. Perdomos for sure.

Mike Gardner (iquester)

I have also tried some of the expensive big boys and like many of you, was not impressed. Most of my favorites I've found right here on CB. Most wind up being less than $2.00 a stick!!

I'm a big fan of Padrons. I am a faithfull "3000" and "Delicias" fan. I also like the "Indian Tabac Cameroon legend Gorilla" and "Super Fuertes". One of my favorites, is the "La Rosa Especial Mi Favorita Maduro" - got them for $37 a box!!! Another I recently came across and love are the "CI Rare Corojo Toro."

Like I said, any of these cigars are available here and for a great price. You can't go wrong!

Anyone back me up on that??

Good luck and good smoking!!

Joe

I second the motion. Padron is an every-day go-to for me. IMHO, super premium cigar at everyday pricing. I like the ITs, and Onyx Reserve mini belis, too. I think the Onyx Reserves are highly under-rated smokes for the money. Dark black, oily, snow white ash that holds on like glue. OK ... I gotta go grab a cigar.

One man's poison . . .

YMMV, but I have never been disappointed by 3 everyday smokes: Punch Roth Maduro Maduro, HdM Roth MadMad, and LGC Wavell maduro.

You got that right eleltea. I've never had a bad Hoyo , Punch or LGC. Sometimes we forget that these are the cigars that others try to be. Take a HdM double maduro, give it a gold wrapper or individual coffin box and call it Cigare de Artsy Farte and you could sell millions of them.

GT,

All the LaPerla Habanna's are rolled too tight even the Black Pearls.

I just don't understand what anyone sees in the Arturo Fuente brand (the ones with the green or black stripe on the band). I have had many different vitolas, and in my opinion (for what it is worth), they are a serious letdown. And the worst part is seeing how many of you guys have such great luck with them. I have had many Hemingway Signatures and Classics, and with the exception of one Signature they have been major disappointments. Have had many 8-5-8's and about half have been truly good, and the other half have been green tasting and not worth smoking. Have had Corona Imperials, Chateau Fuentes and Maduro Double Chateaus and have not liked any. Have two Don Carlos in the humidor, but am afraid to try them because if they suck as bad as the Hemingways then I will be truly saddened. I have smoked Montesinos, Cuesta Reys and Ashtons (the regular line) galore, and they just are not very good. The Ashton VSG, on the other hand is an example of cigar perfection. Not being able to smoke Habanos every day is a lot easier to bear knowing that I can get some of these babies whenever I want one.

Anyway, that's my experience.

J

I think that part of the beauty of Cbid is that you can get great deals on cigars. The 5 packs are for sampling. It is not realistic to try and get high end cigars on the cheap here. People know what they cost in stores and bid accordingly.

The beauty of Cbid is to sample and sample until you find a number of great cigars that are suprisingly inexpensive that taste as good if not better than the primo, hyped up "high end" cigars.

Some of the cheapies found here aren't expensive because they aren't heavily advertised, made readily available to the mass market and aren't produced by the millions. The sales expectations of some of these companies are humble but the quality is phenominal many times.

Follow the leaders of this forum. They have tried a lot of cigars. Except for the special occasion cigars that people are willing to spend $15 plus a sitck for, most people here, it seems, have found cigars at excellent prices that are of a quality which match or surpass the big ticket cigars.

I, personally, am not impressed by what cigar band someone has on their cigar. If they enjoy what they are smoking and I enjoy what I am smoking, all is well.

It seems that the market is driven by Cigar Afficianado ratings. Every time I see a non ISOM cigar touted by C.A. I see a comparable price jump. All the big ad cigars cost $$ accordingly. Many don't measure up to their hype.

Find some gems here, ones you like. Buy 'em up, smoke 'em. Enjoy 'em.

Rayder1, I've bagged many "high end" cigars for cheap on CBID. Vigilance pays off. I don't buy anything if it's going to cost more than it does at various discount sites on the internet. 5 packs of: Perdomo Reserves for $13, Cohiba XVs for $31, Estavan Cruz Churchills for $11, Oliva "O" for $17. There are 3 full 100ct. humidors and a coolerdor in my basement that will back me up. Maybe 5 sticks are in there that I paid full retail for. The rest were all bought at a discount and mostly from CBID.

That said, I rely heavily on the opinions of other CBID users. They are an invaluable resource for all cigar related stuff. Include yourself among them. Your idea of using the debit card has helped my marriage. LOL Unless I get caught. That could mean trouble.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Holy Cow! Someone actually took some advice of mine?

Really...I'm glad it helped out. Shhhh! Don't let too many people know or the word will leak out to the estrogen syndicate.

For the most part, I really am as stupid as I look. Every once in a while though, despite my best efforts, I learn something. Who'd a thunk it?