Cigars - Country of Origin Tobacco and Your Favs

I must say, I generally prefer Cuban cigars to those from other countries. They have a richness other cigars lack. That said, I agree with grundie: the different Cuban brands tend to be very similar. Worse, they're inconsistent in flavor and strength, so it's hard to know what your going to get.

But when they're good, they're very, very good . . .

CigarMan said:

I have to admit that I like the Nicaraguan puros a lot, Padron's, Tatuaje's. But I also enjoy Dominican Fillers/Binders with Connecticut Wrappers whether they be shade grown, broadleaf or sungrown.

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Perdomo...that’s my go to stick. I also like the AVO line and The Aging Room Bin 1.


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grundie said:

I'm more of a pipe smoker, but I do get to smoke a cigar at least once a fortnight, and maybe once a day around Christmas time. So I'm probably not the best qualified to offer an opinion on this, but I'll have a go.

One thing I've noticed is that Cuban cigars can be maybe just a little bit bland? Did I actually say that? Yep!

I've smoked cigars from at most major Cuban brands and to me they all seem to have the same distinctive Cuban flavour. The difference between brands being more to do with the strength and intensity of the flavour. E.G. A Cohiba tastes to me like a Romeo y Julieta, just a bit smoother.

I find that cigars from other countries such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and the like tend to offer so much more in terms of flavour variations and styles.

Perhaps Cuba relies so much on the money from cigar sales they have created a very homogenised range of cigars that all offer a distinctive Cuban flavour so as not to offend customers palettes and preserve their market?

Here in Dublin, the handful of serious cigar shops we have give incredible prominence to Cuban cigars over those from other countries. That's a pity as I think Dominican cigars edge out Cubans in terms of range, choice and flavour.

I also rather like the Aruhiba.

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I find that Cubans need to go in my humidor for at least six months before they are smoke worth. Realizing that Cuba needs funds they age them less to get them to market faster. So put them away and they mellow and the flavors meld.


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rkwilker said:

As a general rule of thumb I prefer Nicaraguan's. They tend to be more full bodied than say Dominicans. Hondurans are a second choice, though all three have some winners. I like a nice oily maduro wrapper, long filler, hand rolled stick. Lately I am in a my "Cain" phase. This is a fine Nicaraguan with a nice full bodied, spicy profile. Not for the beginner as they can pack a nice punch. I agree that a good cuban is hard to beat but I find them to be somewhat uneven these days in terms of production quality.

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Exactly, couldn’t agree with you more. I used to smoke Don Jaun which was Nicaraguan with a Connecticut wrapper but they’ve been left by the wayside by the powers that be. Perdomo is now my go to stick.


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Tatuajes from Pete Johnson. Liga privada
Drew Estates, My father.

Thank God for Tobacco

John in Covina said:

Bargain cigars aren't always fabulous, but there are some out there that can come up with some well made and with good flavors.

That brings up the topic of "the Quick Cigar versus the long smoke" in that I favor robustos for a shorter smoke. For an all around smoke i like Toros about 6X50 size. Monster cigars are only for special occasions and I rarely smoke the big ones these days.

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I routinely get an hour or more out of a robusto. Don't know why, but I simply smoke slowly, I guess.

John in Covina said:

Way back in the begining of the Cigar Afficionado run some of the CA writers said that the quality of Cuban cigars is tied to what country they are shipped to regarding GB and Europe. I could not say.

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I don't know about the quality, I do know from reading over the years, that certain blends and tobaccos are used depending upon the destination market.

I don't really have a favorite, I like them all in some way or another. Companies based in Nicaragua and using Nicaraguan tobacco, over the last ten or so years, are really making great cigars. The Don Pepin Garcia family--My Father, including Tatuaje and Ilusione, are all top-notch. Perdomo and Padron of course with excellent consistency, are great, too; I am partial to the Perdomo Habano and Perdomo Lot 23.

Steve Saka, working with the Joya de Nicaragua factory is making some outstanding cigars in the last two years. His company called Dunbarton Trust, makes: Sobremesa (really good,) Mi Querida (OUTSTANDING,) Todos Las Dias (not a misspelling...OUTSTANDING,) Umbagog (have not had one,) and Muestra de Saka (I have them, just haven't tried, yet.)

Another OUTSTANDING Nicaraguan-based company is A.J. Fernandez, and he's about the hottest thing going in the past four or five years. His Ave Maria brand is simply wonderful, these were my last box purchase. He makes lines called New World, Enclave, San Lotano, and has collaborated with both Altadis and General cigar companies to make line extensions of the H. Upmann, Monte by Montecristo and a Romeo y Julieta. For General he has made two versions called the Hoyo la Amistad. The original is a great cigar, and actually affordable, in the $6.00 per cigar range at my local shop. I received and reviewed these over on Cigar Weekly within the past year.