last night when rearranging some cigars in the cabinet, I came across this jose piedra. I have no idea where I got it or how long I have had it, so I decided what the hell and smoked it last night. What are these? The band was plain, it did not mention where the cigar came from. I suspect this might have been a Cuban, as it had the full bodied deep taste of Cubans. But if it was, it wasn't a very good Cuban, it had a soapy taste to it that I just couldn't get past, I give it an 86.

Rookie sent me one of those a few months back, and it is indeed Cuban. I guess there is the 'legal' one out there too, but I don't remeber what country it's from. It's a low end Cuban, if I remember what Rookie told me ... machine made, short filler, low price. Not the best Cuban, but a decent smoke ... and one of the better machine made Cubans. Rookie, correct me if I'm wrong!

Aberdeen, I could swear that I have seen this cigar on a close-out page of a recent catalogue. I'll keep you posted.

I did a little research and it is indeed a Cuban for more info try this very helpful website and search jose piedra. Cigar afficionado ratings.

CA tasted it in May,June and rated it an 89. Good call aberdeen

If it is the non-cuban, Perelmans says it was introduced in 1999. Made by the Padron operation in Nicaragua.

thanks for the help!I did a bit of research today and found the non Cuban to be Honduran of origin, this was no Honduran cigar, so I am sure it was a Cuban, and indeed it was short filler, the ash kept popping off taking me by surprise. I just can't figure out where I got it! But it was the worse Cuban cigar of those I have tasted.

Yeah..they aren't very good for a Cuban...Bought a five pack in Canada last year...I think athe five pack cost me about $30-35..Cheap for Canada...I've tried the Non ISOMS...They taste VERY SLIGHTLY like a Padron with that characteristic Chocolate taste but that's about it..I wouldn't recommend either of them myself

These cigars were imported by the main distributer of cubans in canada as a long filler gar that would fit price point for a low cost cuban... They arrived there unbanded and the distributer made up all the packaging against the cuban gov't wishes..Dont know why could be that they didn't want a lower end of handle rolled conected to higher end cigars at the same factory..JMHO...If you pick these up ,barring the 5 packs if you can pick them out at a shop from a regular box then take the darkest ones , they seem to have a little more ageing then the others ( Probably the wrappers have more time then the lighter ones) and always if you can try to age them 6+ nonths..

I have some from almost a year ago and they are as good as any top ISOM's....

As usual JMHO

BigBro..I remember reading that last year in CA about them being unbanded and not selling well..Then, they put the Jose Piedra bands on them and they were selling like hotcakes at those prices..Very interesting story.