So you tried them, Tab-- I'd been waiting on these. I'll pick some up posthaste.

Yea I did, and the first one was fantastic as my review states. I smoked another last night and the expericence wasn't as sweet. Could have been me, the nasty weather, etc., but this one wasn't nearly as good. Same basic characteristics, but not as full bodied.

I still recommend them highly though as I'm pretty sure the problem was me

Tab

In the fourteen years I have been smoking cigars, including a stint working in a shop, only a handful of non-Cuban cigars are truly "must try" in my opinion:

- Ashton VSG Enchantments
- Padron Anniversario maduros and naturals, particularly the Principes and Exclusivos
- Davidoff for anyone who likes mild cigars
- Cuesta-Rey Cabinet #47
- Fuente Don Carlos, just about any size.
- La Flor Dominicana L500s for anyone who likes a full-bodied cigar. Age them for 3-5 years and they are much better.

And that's it. I have smoked many, many other cigars and feel comfortable leaving them off the list.

I have not tried Tatuajes and some of the more recent hyped up cigars -- been concentrating on smokes from another land.

Opus X = over-hyped. I have had a few that were nice, but the majority are ridiculously bad. I have about 20 of them sitting in my humidor, all between 4 and 5 years old.

Okay, tonight I tried to smoke 2 Tatuage I received as a Holts Sampler. The first, a piramide, I had to toss, it was rolled way too tight. The second, a double robusto looking cigar named the "Cojono", or something like that, was not too tight, but was very one dimensional imo. Not a terrible NC, but nothing to write home about. I've had much better, i.e. Padron 1926.

I ended the night with a Siglo 6, and spent the rest of my night wondering why I even bothered with anything else.

Tab

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Maduro:
Ok, after years of smoking cigars, one notices that there are just way too many cigar brands out there. Most of which are either over-priced or just plain unenjoyable, while only a handful are even smokeable.
I, Tony Maduro, hereby propose that we start an official non-Cuban "Must-Try List". This list should contain cigars that are, without a doubt, worthy of being smoked. The cigars in this list should either have excellent, or pleasantly interesting, taste characteristics.
Any cigar that is 20 years old

So if I produce a 20 year old phillie blunt, it's a must try? Not that it's a *real* cigar, but you know what I mean

I live in San Juan and ever since i was old enought to smoke i've been going to the same place to get my cigars. It's a local shop that carries Puertorican cigars handrolled here on the island. It's called "Don Collins" and they carry a very small but varied selection. I personally love the "Corona Grande". It has a great draw, kind of a medium taste to it, it's like a 48 ring size with a nice thick white ash that seems to hang on for ever. Anyhow, I haven't seen them on anyones list so I put it up. They also have a rum soaked cigar called the "Puros Indios" but that one has more of a smooth taste to it. It's great for those who are just getting into cigars. So give them a try, but like I said, the "Corona Grande" is the must smoke.