Once again I am in the fortunate position to receive a box of Cubans as a customer is coming over from the Netherlands, therefore I am wondering with the hit and miss Cuban cigar market, if anyone has any opinions on what presently is good coming out of the commy stronghold?

Last two I had were the San Cristibol La Punta and a Monte #2. Both were excellant. Monte #2 is like a 4 course meal. It keeps changing and growing into an incredible smoke.

Hey Mr.Mean,What did U think of those S.C. La Puntas? X

I had a Partagas Serie D No 4 last Saturday that was one of, if not the, best cigars that I have ever had. I would snap up a box of these in a second if given the chance. It was loaded with spice and coffee flavours, had a perfect draw and burn and lasted for a good 45 minutes. Plus, from what I am seeing everywhere, it was not a fluke, but rather the norm for this stick to be perfect. The Bolivar Belicoso Fino Cabinet that I had also was very good.

I would recommend that your friend try to find you a box of "San Cristobal de La Habana" I am currently in love with these cigars. They're a 7 x 48, and have a really cool complexity. I was turned on to them about 2 months ago. You won't find them rated anywhere, which is amazing. These things are a long smoke, with a constantly changing taste. The first half will remind you of a typical Montecristo, but the last half will literally knock you down with flavor (jeez, now I'd better go light one up, my mouth is watering). Saint Luis Rey would be a good choice as well or a Diplomatico. You can never go wrong with a Romeo y Julieta or Montecristo, however I will give you my two cents on those...as a regular smoker of Cubans (I live 2 blocks from a store) you have to be a pretty impressive taster to really know the difference between a Cuban Romeo/Montecristo and one bought locally. There really isn't that much difference...therefore my recommendation would be to go with something a little more Cuban "specific" as I decribed above. Perhaps a better choice would be to have your friend pick you up a variety box with several different brands? Then you can get a true taste of Cubans. Good luck.

Mighty tasty and surprisingly mild. Stayed cool throughout the duration. Beautiful cigar and burned wonderful with just the right amount of creamy smoke. It sat for about 4 months prior to me smokin it. I think I built it up in my own mind, but it was not as complex as I hoped it would be, but that should not deter others from trying it. It was a satisfying smoke that burned to the fingertips.

The San Cristobals are definitely worth the $ and seem to be the flavor of the month so to speak,the el Principe(the only one I've smoked so far) are extremely tasty for a smaller cigar.My favorite is probably the Hoyo de Monterrey de Deputes from "98" a petite corona and then the HDM Epicure #2's.I'd ask him to get an older box from 1998 or 1997 unless your considering the San Cristobals or from what I hear most of the 2001 cubans are very good now.

monte #5 and monte A

Saint Luis Rey 'A' ... hands down.

No idea Aberdeen......I have found that the Nic's and Hondurans are still making a better quality smoke to date. I have about 20 R&J Cuban Churchills brought to me from Cuba that are decent smokes but nothing to jump up about and give your first born away for. I still believe it is the newbie's to cigars who create this demand by us all at times. The elusiveness of the Cuban will always have a hand in the demand for them. I however still prefer a good Puros Indios or Perdomo 2.

thanks for your replies, I will send him a list of some of these suggestions. This use to be a regular routine for me as people from his company use to come over here 6 times a year, and I have about 12 boxes of Cubans at present, but I haven't purchased any for about a year now and that was why I was wondering what is currently hot. Tom P.

First off, I think we can all say that they are mostly overrated. Compared to some of the ultra fine smokes we can get at CB, they don't stack up any better. In fact they're way overpriced. It's just like the kids reacting to the ice cream truck. When it comes by, they run franticaly to get money so they can get what they want. Knowing that it not always around and it may pass by and miss them. All along they have ice cream in the freezer that they could've had any time. Supply and demand and strong PR. Sometimes a traveling buddy of mine will bring me a RyJ or Cohiba. O.K.! Great. After the ooohs and ahhhs you say, "not for that price". All in all, smoke em if you can get em. But don't be misled to think they're better than any other fine cigar you can get here at CB!

I have to agree with the HYPE factor. In fact even many of the domestic smokes often don't measure up to the hype.

There are some great Cubans out there and I have my share of them here, but I have many less pricey and difficult to get smokes in my dors that I actually like better.

You could get a year's supply of Lone Wolf for the price of a box of habanos. Think about it.

el, you mean I could get a box of ISOMs for $3.00?lol Barry

One of the available gars that taste as close to an ISOM as U can get is the EL Rico Habana. Much cheaper too. X

Occidental Havana Sungrowns (Not ISOMS) are excellent!!...Some of my favorite Habanos include Partagas Series D #4s, Monte #4s, Quintero Brevas (machine rolled and inexpensive but very nice ISOM tobacco!), and Partagas Shorts!

Also try (if you get a chance) the new Camacho Habano (Not the "Havanas")....Whattacigar!!!

look, you don't have to lecture me about Cubans comparaed to Dominican or other non Cuban cigars. I wouldn't pay an armload for Cubans as for the price I can buy usually two boxes of my favorite non Cuban, and with control and quality issues in Cuba, especially the draw problems that makes it worse. But there are price controls on Cuban cigars in the Netherlands and it one of the cheapset places in the world to get Cubans,plus in the small town my friend gets them, hardly any chance of getting fakes, therefore I don't mind getting a box when the opportunity arises.

Thats true aberdeen,thats why I like the smaller cigars like the Coronas and PC's.Get the San Cristobal El Pricepe's you won't be sorry IMO and they're only about $112 a box.