OK...what say we do a poll...most of us on this board are constantly trying a variety of gars looking for the holy grail...maybe it would be of interest to list our pleasant surprises and biggest disappointments over the last say 90 days...let's post our favorite smoke to date in or to establish some baseline for shared taste....could be a good data base for trades...oh yeh..could also list one cigar that we HAVEN'T tried but would like to....mine....
favorite to date:

AF hemi signature
pleasant surprises:
Alex Bradley Trilogy
Ramon Allones
Cupido line-up several
Disappointments:
La Pearla Black Pearl
Indian Tabac Buffalo...your thoughts???? phenix

surprises: Genuine by Rolando Reyes with about a year of box time- very good (who would have thought). Juan Lopex Seleccion No. 2- I had heard that they were okay, but the one that I had was simply one of the best sticks that I have had in a long time.

disappointments: Monte platinum- no wait, this wasn't a disappointment because every non-cuban monte I have ever had was crap, and this one met expectations. Trinidad toro- heard it was full bodied and good- okay, whatever.

J

Being relatively new to cigar smoking I haven't found a lot of cigars that I am immediately disappointed in....however, the one that I have found is (no suprises from what I have read here) The Pimp Stick.
My best surprise to date: Ras Tafari!! I picked up a box here for $19 so I wasn't expecting too much, but I really like em', and for a buck a stick I don't mind giving them away to my friends who can't tell the difference between a good cigar and a marlboro!

Suprises:

- Bohemian North Beach Corojo (Had a different taste than I expected, but in a good way)
- Cu-Avana (very mild, but very consistent from cigar to cigar and the construction is very nice for suck a cheap stick)

Disappointment:
- Ghurka Master Select (thought it was bland and uncomplex for the price)
- Drew Estate Medusa (Utter Crap! Draw was like sucking a bowling ball through a garden hose and the taste was bitter/sour as hell - one of the worst I have ever tasted...Period!)

Spence...have a full box of Ras Tafari....interested in a trade????e-mail to Bohncarlhotmail

Pleasant surprises:
CAO Bella Vanilla Corona
La Floridita Belicoso Maduro

Major Disappointment:
Acid Blondie

Mild Disappointment:
Baccarat Rothschild

Recent favorite: CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon

Surprise: H.Upmann 100 - this has become my fav. robusto and no one talks about it...

Dissappointment - Hoyo de Nic - haven't had one that I liked yet... most are barely smokeable...

Surprises within the past month have been La Aroma de Cuba, Torano Exquisitos and Punch Rare Corojo.

Recent disappointments have been Trinidad (good, but overpriced), Savinelli (would probably improve with age) and Jose Marti.

Suprises
joya ds nicaragua(great smoke)
Cusano corojo(nice for the price)
Zino platinum septor(fantastic taste)
Disappointments
hoja de nicaragua(unsmokeable)
Perdomo the cigar(bad burn and taste)

OK a little review and reading here suggest that 2 or more people posting to this thread should be getting together for a trade or too...your likes/their disappoints and vicey/versey....

Don't confuse "joya de Nic" (butt-kicking good) and "hoya de Nic" (tastes like butt)

Very different cigars.

surprises.
La Fontana Vintage
Havana royale

Disappointments
Baccarat Panatela

So far, give me time, I'm still looking.

true wer hoya had to be spelled by a Gringo...good tell-tale sign kinda like cuba and kuba as in Libra...por nada

Like em'
Trilogy Corojo
Padron 4/5000
Cusano Corojo

Want to try
La Perla Black Pearl
Buc Salsa

Only real Disappointment was the Montesino it was just not very good. Then I found out it is a Fuente which I love?! so go figure maybe I have to give them another shot. Find I like the Maduro's ERDM and La Gloris's. Have tried some hand rolled by a guy I found on the net (email if You want info) his are really good BUT!!!! The Partagas R from ISOM and the Ashton ASG are at the top of my list for now. Of course this may change with the next one I light up 🙂

Cheap's that seem good with age Ybor City Consgura and the El Credito enjoy Rob

Hey GoRob,
Was that montesino, on of the sungrowns??? I had a sungrown super Beli, that I enjoyed very much. Have another one resting.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)