I'm interested in what others perceptions are in strong cigars. As everyone's palate is different, I know this isn't and exact science, but here goes. If we can agree on a scale on 1-10, with a Macanudo a 1 and an Ashton VSG a 10, what do you guys(and gals) find to be towards the higher end of the scale? No cubans please-at least not yet.

ISOMs not included..OK. I agree with the Ashton VSG, also La Luna Maduro Fuerte, Opus X xXx, and El Original Toro M.


Others that are up there but not quite as strong: JR Ult Padron/Principale X, LGC Serie R #5 Nat, Indian Tabac Box-Pressed Super Fuerte, and La Rosa Mi Favorita M.

ßigÞTrainecho

If by "strong" you mean robust and full flavored...then I would have to add La Gloria Cubana Wavel Maduro, Indios Puros (sp?), and Bahia Gold.

hmmm, as a lover of Puros Indios, and all the reviews of hearing them being full flavored, I could never understand why, I find them very smooth and earthy, but not full flavored at all, especially compared to Bahia Gold! I did have a La Luna, and on the full flavored side, but I have had many stronger, perhaps because these two cigars are so smooth and rounded they don't seem to be full flavored, (maybe full bodied is a better description) compared to cigars that go after pure strength, sometimes bordering on harshness, I don't like that, for it can be hard to get past the power and taste the flavor, I have heard that La Rosa is suppose to be the strongest cigar on the planet.

I agree, Aberdeen, that one cannot really compare Puros Indios with Bahia Gold....they are two very different smokes. But for me they both fall into the catagory of stronger than medium.

To me there are "strong" of "full flavor" cigars and there are "harsh" cigars. I smoke full flavor cigars or ones I consider "full" flavor but also smooth. I agree with the posts below that a good full flavored cigar can seem mild at the same time. My list consists of....Hoyo de Monterrey, Punch, Puros Indios, Padron and an occasional Perdomo. I also enjoy mild corona's like macs and less heard of brands for day time yard work smokes.

By strong, I mean full-bodied also. Not harsh but a cigar you need to sit down to smoke. On my scale of 1-10, I find the LGC, the Puros Indios, Hoyo's maybe a 6.
Perdomo's, Punch, and Padron, maybe a 7. The Bahia Gold an 8, and I do find the Indian Tabac Super Fuerte quite full-bodied, maybe a 9. Do any of you guys find the new H2000 wrapper adds a lot of fullness to the taste? I find that some of Consolidated's new H2000's, the Cabanas, Henry Clay's, and Flor de Copan's are quite full bodied.

I found the La Luna Fuertes to be pretty strong, in fact I would have rated them stronger than the La Rosa. I also agree that the El Original is up there.

It's funny though, sometimes my taste buds are more sensitive than others. A cigar that bordered on harsh last week will seem less powerful on another day. Sometimes it could be due to some inconsistency in the blend, but a lot of times it's just that my tongue is more numb today than it was the last time.

Either way, I love that "ligero" flavor that accompanies a strong, full-bodied cigar. If it gives me the hiccups it's the right strength.

TheFez brings up an interesting point re:his/her hiccups. I get a burning(if you can get burning in a good way!) feeling in the back of my throat. That is my standard......burning feeling/full-bodied cigar.

The only cigar with the Habana2000 wrapper I've sampled is the Hoja XXO Topedo. I found it to be very much on the mild side, but tasty.

By La Rosa I take it you mean La Rosa Especiale. I enjoy the Maduro but sometimes it just seems strong tobacco without a whole lot of taste. The La Luna seems to have alot of full flavor and complexities, a really tasty smoke.