I always smoke cuban cigars because in Turkey we don't have ambargo and cuban cigars are very easy to find. I like the taste and the strength but besides about the quality of production in Cuba is not the best and they live its legend without improving theirselves. Last week I ordered a non-cuban monte-cristo from my cousin from JR's in NYC and he brought me No:60 cabinet 1996, it is a churchill size, very reasonble priced cigar. ($130 a box) The wraping is perfect, the color is very good, the strength is medium. After legendary cuban cigars this non-cuban monte cristo experience was very very pleasent because it long lasts and burns very well. So I think Cuban manufacturers must improve themselves to deserve their prices. I don't like to light up my cigar 5 or 6 times per smoke (minimum).
Do you agree? (esp the non-us smokers)

Cuban quality control sucks compared to many non Cuban mfgs. The best quality in non Cubans is Arturo Fuente, Padron, Davidoff, El Rey Del Mundo, JR Ultimate, and most Villazon products. These mfgs have a long history in delivering consistent cigars that burn to perfection.

I don't agree with that at all. CC construction, overall, is far superior to any premium NC. The worst burns I have ever got were all from NCs. I rarely get a plugged or poorly burning CC, unless it's machine made.

You got to be kidding me with those NC brands. Comparing a CC upman or hoyo next to any of those...it's no contest.

sobek, you have obviously not had much experience with the above brands I listed. No where did I compare taste, only construction.When it comes to construction Cubas quality control sucks in comparison to the above mentioned non cuban mfgs.

To qualify my experience I smoke a minimum of 1200 Cuban cigars a year along with another 700 or so non cubans. I have been doing this for the last 8 years.

I've had draw/construction problems with cc's and nc's alike. Out of cigars I've smoked a good deal of the best constructed cigars I've ever had were Zino's.

quote:

Originally posted by The Master:
sobek, you have obviously not had much experience with the above brands I listed. No where did I compare taste, only construction.When it comes to construction Cubas quality control sucks in comparison to the above mentioned non cuban mfgs.

I have had plenty of experience with those brands. Enough to know they are still NCs, prone to plugging and made with thick leafed and sometimes baked tobacco.

There is no way you can hold a esplendido in your hand and think, "Gee, not as nice as a fuente!" That's just not going to happen. Sorry.

As for your qualifications...BFD. Showboating gets you nowhere. it only makes you look like a douche in this forum.

sobek, you obviously have little experience with Cuban cigars. The Esplendido cannot compare construction wise to a Fuente Don Carlos or a Padron Aniversario or a Davidoff Millenium.

Why don't you enlighten us as to how much experience you have in regards to Cubans and non Cubans. Tell us how many years you have been smoking, how many do you smoke in a day, how many cigars in your collection,how many boxes did you buy this month or this year?

Here is the thing...I don't have to enlighten anyone. the only one who is in question is you.

You go running around the cc forum saying you get boxes with half the sticks plugged. ROFL. not even a box of guantanameras would be that bad. That just shows how full of shyt you are.

I got to agree with sobek that cuban cigar production isnt as crappy as you would like to think it is. I favor cuban cigars but i dont believe that i am being bias on this subject.
There was a time a few years back when a lot of Cubans were poorly made, but there have been huge steps taken to curb the older quality issues.
Lots of dominican cigars are rolled terribly but some companys make them better. (like stated above, fuente,padron,etc) Same goes in cuba, lumping all cigars together is stupid, better rollers are going to make cohibas, monte 2s and R&J churchills while new or poor rollers will be making belindas and petit corona sized cigars. The key is knowing where your cigars are made, that goes for cigars made anywhere.
I'm not going to tell you that i never get pluged cubans but i wouldnt say that they're any worse off than non-cuban cigars.

sobek, I have been at this site since it's inception in January of 1997. I am known at all of the major cigar sites on the web.

I have many friends with large cigar collections like my self and we have all had bad experiences with the construction of Cuban cigars over the years. The newer stuff has been fine(from 01 and on), but back in 99 and 00 the rush to bring Cuban cigars to market led to disastrous amounts of poorly constructed cigars. This is not just my opinion this is a known fact.

Just to add, the newer cigars are not having problems with overfilled cigars, but I know people who are having problems with underfilled cigars.

In respect to the topic of this thread, the mfgs. I mentioned above are still better at construction than Cuba.

Late 96 or 97 was about the same time I posted here originally. Just because you buy alot, does not mean you are the only one. Don't think you can just whip out your yearly tally and trump everyone else when it comes to an opinion.

NC production suffered alot in the surge too. So I don't feel that was specific to ccs. I have had plenty of underfilled fuentes. I still cant deal with the lame cap on Padrons. All these brands use tobacco that is thick leafed, which was origninally regarded as trash tobacco. They use it because they can ferment at higher temperatures with it and create that artificial sweetness.

As for davidoff, I would sooner stab myself with an iguana than pay the prices.

sobek, it looks like we will just have to disagree on this subject( padron caps may suck, but they burn perfect everytime)you have your opinion, I have mine. No hard feelings I hope.

WHAT is up with Padron caps?

Seriously?

You pay over 10 bucks for a PAM 64 and the cap is so tiny and there is hardly a shoulder at all, you clip it and invariably you lose most or all of the cap and sometimes even the wrapper.

I hate that!

They do burn even, though.

quote:

Originally posted by JSprizzle:
WHAT is up with Padron caps?

Seriously?

You pay over 10 bucks for a PAM 64 and the cap is so tiny and there is hardly a shoulder at all, you clip it and invariably you lose most or all of the cap and sometimes even the wrapper.

I hate that!

They do burn even, though.

Seriously. They really need to work on those caps.

Guys,
I think there is nothing to be stressed about cigar talk. Remember it's a joy, pleasure. Esp. Sobek and Master.
I never prefer ncc to cc. All I wanted to say is if Cubans give more importance to construction and the silkness of the wraping, it would be superb, because I give too much importance to the shape also. (the 5 senses)
Sobek, I always prefer cubans, I wanted to mention that I got a taste which I didn't expect from a NC Monte Cristo.
NC are mostly like a very delicious fruit by vision but when you get to smoke them you never get the taste I am used to (cuban taste) and I miss.

Unless they're CAO's.

quote:

Originally posted by El Presidente:
Unless they're CAO's.

Tongue in cheek humor slays me.

COOBAN SCHMOOOOBAN BEYOTCH

"cuban shmooban" is that what they say? lol

I believe that when the enbargo ends that there will be cuban and other fillers that will produce some great cigars.