On one of my more recent Cigar buying sprees I purchased a few higher dollar cigars (from a brick and mortar store). I figured that since I am starting to recognize the differences in more cigars that it would be a nice change of pace to try something different.

I picked up:
1 ashton VSG (don't remember which one) $9.60 ea
2 Cohiba churchills $16.55 ea
1 RYJ Vintage IV $9.00 ea

I loved the Ashton and the RYJ, but when I smoked the Cohiba I was unimpressed. It was a dry smoke with a flavor that held constant through its entire length. Very little complexity to it. I figured something had to be wrong, so the next day I smoked the other one...Same thing.

What I am wondering (as a new member to the board) are there any smokes that you would say are not worth their prices? Even the CB prices?
I am not talking about lone wolf's or low dollar smokes, I am wondering about some of the big guns out there.

Thanks,
JL

jleveque underscore 1999 at hotmail dot com

I am not really that new, but I am new to posting on here. I have been reading the boards for the past 2 months and bidding for the past 3 months.

I find myself consistently dissappointed with Montecristos. An excellent cigar with flawless construction and legions of loyal smokers; just not for me. That's why I'm trading the ones that I have.

I liked Montes at first, but now feel the same as you about them...boring cigar. Of course the ISOM is a different story

I couldn't begin to even count, much less describe all the disappointments ... not just with cigars, either ... it's true of restaurants, movies, cars and of most other things ... at the age of 10 or 11, knowing that I liked milk and that I liked butter, I just KNEW I'd like buttermilk ... BZZZZZZZZZTTTT!!! ... Wrong!!

Each of us at some time or another, falls victim to hype, our imaginations, or the opinions of others, whether paid reviewers or just plain folks ... bottom line fact is that anticipation is often greater than realization ...

But you know, it can work the other way around, too ... sometimes, when you expect it least, a wonderful gem will be discovered ... like the moral of the old fairy tale says, "you gotta kiss a lot of frogs to find a handsome prince" ... (but not BAD Frogs ...LOL)

I don't know what you are into Steve. But I'm not about finding any princes.

I was speaking metaphorically, of course ...

Ay! Domestically available Montecristos bother me too. Just don't get it. Even smoked one of the new series (the silver band) and the aroma smelled like a cigarette. Don't get it at all. Glad to hear someone else agrees. I wondered about my palate for awhile.

Too bad about the Cohibas. Were they the XV series? I love that series, especially with a few months of humidor time on them...very flavorful and chocolatey. Just my take.

John

I think one of them there toad lickers that Limbaugh talks about came up with that one SteveS. But I get your drift. And I'm starting to really enjoy thread transmogrification.

LOL at Steve,but his words ring very true indeed. X

I am not drunk enough to figure out what Steve said.
Try mixing chocolate and milk. Does a Lone Star mix with a Lone Wolf?

I have tried some upper price Fuentes recently and they are all good. The Sungrowns are good. The anejos are good. Most of the Don Carlos line are very good.

Try some of those.

I don't like Dominican Montecristo either. Try the Habanos, it's great.
I haven't tried the Dominican Cohiba. Ditto the Habanos if you can afford it.

jluv97, I'm guess I'm in your position. I'm not that experienced, trying new cigars, developing my taste in cigar, finding what I like and what I don't. So far I find that what I like is Habanos (some people say ISOM but I hate that). There really is something about Cuban cigars that I don't find in the couple dozen non-Cuban brands I've tried. I have yet to try some of the high price cigars like Opus and Ashton VSG so I'm looking forward to that. But since I can get Cuban Bolivars for less money then Opus or VSG they better be pretty good to be worth the price. But of the stuff I've tried nothing comes close to a Cuban Montecristo or Bolivar or Cohiba -- with the possible exception of AVO XO.

Incidently if you like the RyJ Vintages they show up on CBid sometimes.

Hey efm... Let me in on some of those Bolivar's!!! The belicoso's are great. Also had a Gigante that was awesome!! :^)

Low

God help me, I tried a Macanudo Maduro.......yuck. I can't believe I admitted to that, well, at least I didn't pay for it. Not too crazy about Pimp Sticks either, but I still like Drew Estates. Had a Cohiba that was dry and tasteless (the wrapper blew up on me too). Remember, 1 stick doesn't reflect the product as a whole though.....you must smoke a few to be completely impartial. Guess that means disregard my comments as I only smoked 1.........this has been a long day.

You will enjoy the RYJ Vintage IVs. I have a box of 'em in long-term aging. I grab one whenever I want a high quality (albiet somewhat mild for my taste) after-dinner smoke. The Ashton is at the other end of the scale, but also a great smoke IMHO. Sorry about the Cohiba. You have to watch those. I, too, love XVs. I saw one poor SOB buy one of the yellow bands the other day from a cigarette store and pay almost $10 for that dried out stick. His face told it all when he lit it up in the car. I'll bet it didn't make it to the first stoplight. LOL

all of the high dollar smokes disappoint me. some are very good but they are just not 3 times better than other very good but less expensive smokes.

I was a bit disppointed in the Fonseca Series F, which I tried for the first time recently. It was, how shall I say, singularly uncompelling. I'm hoping the others will improve with some aging in the humidor. A pity, since I really like some of the others in the Fonseca line.

I agree. I have smoked some outstanding "super premiums", but have yet to find one that was truly worth the buck. I agree with many of the other posters here that there are some dandies to be had for a good price. Love tryin' those 5-packs of new cigars (well, new to me, anyway) and finding a gem. Keep up the great work, CBID!

Agree with SONNY-LSU on the Mac Maddie (allthough the one I tried was was a small ring size. May have something to do with it.)

Let's see.... first I wouldn't call any cigar a disappointment, I'd call it a lesson. After all, I could be in the office working. Even a bad cigar is better than that.

I have never met a Montecristo I didn't like. I do like the H2000s less than the rest. So maybe psychologically I'm a Monte "ho". But Series V and Peruvians are terrific. Can't comment on the Platinums cuz I've only had one of those.

Some lessons I have learned.... the cohiba red dots aren't as good as the XVs or even the old yellow bands. So I won't spend my money on red dots.

PAMs are overrated, I'd rather have a PAN or a 2000 or 3000.

And lastly.... you can't go wrong with a Fuentes (not La Unica, Montesino or curlyheads, but one with a red band and a green or black stripe) as long as you don't buy it at the Tinderbox.

Just my thoughts.

I know this is blasphemy on this board but LaPerla Habanna Maduro. With all the positive comments on this board I tried a 4 pack maduro sampler. Great construction, oily wrapper but they were all too tightly rolled and I was not impressed by the weak flavor. Maybe the “Black Peal” is better I don’t know.
GT