Cigar Social Network

What have you smoked?

There have been a couple of recent posts discussing cuban cigars. I would like to point out that every time this issue comes up the same thing happens. The discussion always devolves into a political argument and everybody seems to put cigars into 2 classes; cubans and everything else.

Cuba manufactures 33 different brands and hundreds of individual sizes and editions. Rarely will a discussion center on the merits of a specific cuban cigar or brand.

There are plenty of people who have tried specific cuban cigars but who I think are uncomfortable discussing them, I know I am, because of the bullying mentality of a few big posters. Those posters insist on putting their irrelevant and too often repeated point across, I suggest because they are terrified others will discover they know absolutely nothing on the subject of cuban smokes.

I for one would like to hear what people have to say about cuban cigars especially the ones I have not smoked. What have you smoked and what did you think?

(Update) This discussion is now closed. To those of you who enjoyed posting here I am sorry but the original spirit of the post is being ignored. At least we kept this one small part of Social Cigar respectable and without the derision of the bullying few for a while.

(re-Opened for Christmas 2011) Please be nice. Limited time offer, POST NOW time is running out.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Addiction on March 14, 2009 at 2:59pm

Actually its not a requirement that you talk about politics to talk about Cuba.

Permalink Reply by DeepFriedDoom on March 14, 2009 at 2:23pm

Being in a country that does not widely sell non-Cubans, I can say that Cuban cigar brands and vitolas that are marketed internationally and are talked about everywhere generally have inconsistent characteristics. Take the Montecristo No. 4, for example. Widely known to be the best-selling Cuban in the world, the few I've smoked were outright beauties, in construction as well as in taste. However, one stick I had just last week was plugged, the wrapper cracked (despite Singapore's high 74% hPa humidity level), the taste was like burnt wood and it had burn problems. I was particularly mad because it was not a fake, because the cigar market in Singapore is too small to encourage counterfeiting (and also because of the hefty jail terms meted out to counterfeiters of such a small and unprofitable market).

However, I have found that Cuban brands that are not widely exported, such as Ramon Allones and Sancho Panza, are very consistent in taste and construction. And while not as high in quality as the best from Cohiba, they never fail to please. This is probably due to the fact that these 'local' brands are not produced in as vast quantities as those sought after all over Europe and the former Soviet bloc. As such, it allows the overworked (and underpaid) torcedores to put more time and attention to making the cigars that are to be smoked largely by their own countrymen, with only a small percentage being exported to specialty smoke shops the world over. With popular brands this is not the case, as the torcedores probably have a very high quota of big-name cigars to roll every day (and why not, since with demand, there has to be adequate supply, especially in the face of the increasing popularity of non-Cuban cigars in Europe) and probably do not spend as much time in quality control, resulting in inconsistencies like my Monte 4.

My personal favourites are the Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas, Sancho Panza Non Plus, and the Diplomaticos No. 4. First reason for these is because they are affordable, not being marketed as much as the 'premium' international brands whose prices reflect their fame, and secondly because I like to imagine myself as a common Cuban, relaxing with a cigar rolled with love and affection by the people for the people.

Since I have never smoked a non-Cuban before, I believe that I know more than my fair share of Cubans (and not much else, haha).

Permalink Reply by Limey B'stard on March 14, 2009 at 3:59pm

How does the Diplomatico No.4 compare to the Montecristo No.4. Is it just the size that is mirrored in this brand or are the flavors similar/the same?

Permalink Reply by DeepFriedDoom on March 15, 2009 at 6:32am

The Diplomaticos are made as a milder version of the Montecristo, for those who favour a lighter smoke while retaining the floral qualities of the Monte 4, so you don't get distracted by the nicotine headrush. Also, Diplomaticos are a relatively new brand, beginning production in '66, and as such are slightly cheaper, if a bit lacking in the prestige that a Montecristo brings.

Permalink Reply by Limey B'stard on March 15, 2009 at 9:19am

A milder No.4? That sounds like an excellent cigar to smoke in the morning with a cup of coffee.

Addiction have you tried this one? What did you think?

Permalink Reply by Addiction on March 16, 2009 at 6:56pm

I have only tried the Diplomatico #1. I would say thats its lighter and a different taste. More sweetness and a lit of bit of that floral flavor.

Permalink Reply by William Morat on June 9, 2010 at 2:41pm

Are you refering to a Montecristo No 4?

Permalink Reply by JohnLongIsland on June 9, 2010 at 6:45pm

I smoked my first Diplomatico (#5 '09) yesterday. I couldn't resist, ripped one out of the box as soon as it was dropped off. The best way to describe this little bomb was that it was a real straight forward chest thumper, totally different taste profile than a Monte #4. It seems that this marca really gets an undeserved knocking; great price value, to boot.

Permalink Reply by Bildo792 on March 14, 2009 at 2:54pm

Well as you said there are a lot of options out there. My favorite would be the El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme. But I also smoke RyJ Churchills, and have been working my way through 5 Cohiba Edicion Limitadas on special occasions. I'm going to be buying more cuban cigars now that Schip passed. The RA specially selected is a good smoke but Im not sure what year the ones gifted to me were. I have also smoked a bunch of fakes because people are constantly gifting them to me when they go on cruises or vacation. Thoughtful so I will smoke them with them. Not all fake cigars are bad cigars....

Permalink Reply by Addiction on March 14, 2009 at 2:58pm

Bravo Limey, Bravo!

I agree with all the above you stated, and its well put.

I'd start by dividing things up into a few categories. Regular production cigars denoting all cigars from regular production, even if the are currently discontinued. Special Edition Cigars things like the 10th Anniversary Cohiba Humidor, the Cohiba Reserva, etc. Edition Limitadas (ELs) of which there have been 3 types every year since 2000. And lastly Regional Edition cigars which are created when a wholesaler in a region goes to SA Habanos and commissions a special cigar (RA Estupendo, Boliver Simones, LGC Gloriosos). As I recall the original plan allowed for as many as 31 REs, but the detail I can't remember is was that per year or ever. I suspect they meant at a time tho.

When I think about regular production stuff I've smoked lots of Cohibas, Partagas, Punch, RA, PL, SLR, VR and Trinidad. I've smoked smatterings of everything else, and yet I have barely scratched the surface of CCs. If I might suggest something it might be easier to have people ask about specific cigars than try to get them to talk about everything they have smoked.

Permalink Reply by Limey B'stard on March 14, 2009 at 4:14pm

I have only ever had one regional edition, the por Larranaga Magnifico. It was a UK regional last year, purchased from Davidoff London. I thought the flavors similar to Partagas. The biggest thing I remember was the hard draw. Not plugged but much firmer than I like. What RE's have you smoked?

Permalink Reply by Addiction on March 17, 2009 at 12:48pm

Limey,

I've had more regionals than not. In fact off the top of my head I have not had the Boli Armonia, The Punch Diademas, the PL belicoso, Punch Serie d'Oro No. 1, El Rey del Mundo Especiales, Portugal's Vegas Robaina Petit Robusto and France's Bolivar Petit Libertador So out of the 17 available this year I've had 10. Last year I had 8/8 I was on a bit of a chase for these things. I believe I've had all the ELs as well but I'd have to think about that a bit. My favorite EL is the Cohiba Pyramid. My favorite RE is prolly the Boliver Simones or the Boliver Colassals.