Wow...you managed to buy an entire fistful of cigars and not get one really good one. The best of the bunch is the CAO Gold but that's not saying much. At the same time, you didn't get anything really bad and since it sounds like you're just starting out these will make for fine starter cigars to help you define your preferences. Enjoy...
5 Vegas Gold Churchill (7.0"x50) passable stuff made exclusively for CI
CAO Gold Robusto (5.0"x50) one of the more flavorful and consistent mild cigars and unusual in that it's all Nicaraguan
Felipe Dominicana 'T' (6.0"x52) never had it but Felipe Gregorio's stuff has traditionally been less than stellar
Fonseca Connecticut 5-50 (5.0"x50) good quality mild cigar from Manuel Quesada
Gurkha Master Select Robusto #4 (6.0"x52) not too bad
Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Robusto (5.0"x50) not too bad
Perdomo Reserve La Tradicion Cameroon 'R' (5.0"x54) not too bad
Reserva Maxima Media Corona by Puros Indios (5.5"x44) not too bad
I'm definitely just starting out. I'm enjoying the sampler thing for sure just to get to know the different varities. I enjoyed the 5 vegas, so if these are just ok's I can't wait to taste the good ones! (good thing is they were only $3 per)
I also ordered these, they just are not here yet. Would these rate any better?
Can I make a suggestion? Try www.holts.com for a better selection of brands like Ashton VSG, Cabinet and Heritage...La Flor Dominicana...Padron...Fuente...Davidoff.
Here's a GREAT sampler right now for $90 including some of the best cigars on the market right now
These are higher quality, "boutique" brands with more character that what yo've been buying. Torano is a great line, I'd encourage you to keep trying different stuff there. So is Oliva. Nothing wrong with Patel for the most part nor Joya de Nicaragua though some of their cigars can have more strength than flavor.
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2 - Torano 1916 Cameroon Robusto now you're talkin'
2 - Gispert Churchill good for the money
2 - Graycliff Original PGX (toro) overpriced but not bad
2 - Gurkha Class Regent Toro everyone here knows how i feel about Gurkha
2 - Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Consul very good, smoke it on a full stomach only
2 - 5 Vegas Classic Torpedo eh...
2 - Montecristo White Rothschilde decent
2 - Perdomo Reserve Cameroon 'E' not too bad
2 - Romeo y Julieta Cedro Deluxe #2 decent...very well made...
2 - Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro some people love 'em, some people hare 'em
I'm with EC on this one. I didn't post at first because I looked this long list over and didn't see anything I'd smoke in it. No need to be too negative for someone that is clearly jumping in with both feet.
My guess is that your palate is going to out pace your current purchases, so take it easy or you'll end up with lots of product you won't want to smoke.
Use these as learner sticks, get some storage experience, and read reviews on the sticks prior to or after you smoke them.
I do like your Cedro Deluxe #2's, and with a couple months sit time, they will make a good short smoke for you.
Where are you buying these cigars? and are you purchasing samplers, boxes, or what?
Posts: 613 | Location: Alabama | Registered: November 09, 2006
Thanks again for the replies. I do want to hear the good and the bad since I'm learning.
I kind of figured I would start somewhere in the middle and work my way up. I was thinking that if I didn't know what the bad, so so and good cigars taste like I wouldn't appriciate the excellent ones.
These were both sampler packs. The first 8 were 25.00 and the second 20 were 79.00 with a 20 count humidor. I'm heading out on vacation and wanted something to travel with. The price didn't seem too bad even if I didn't like a few of them.
I wanted some opinions so I could pick the ones people like and save those for certain points in my trip. Like the best for when I'm floating in the ponton boat, fishing pole in water, drink along side and drifting where ever the breeze takes me
Everything's relative. Compared to Altadis and General? Yes, I believe it is. Fuente's production is a fraction of what the conglomerates produce. Compared to El Rey de los Habanos with 20 rollers total? No. But...brand for brand...say, Opus X total production vs. Tatauaje...then yes again. Also, the fact that Fuente is privately held contributes to my opinion that it's a boutique, albeit a large and diversified one.
It seems more like Mondavi to me, they have their hand in everything, cover every price point, and are a dominant name among consumers. Some products are disgraceful, some incredible.
Altadis is a conglomerate, but brand by brand are they made/distributed much differently from Fuente? A few years ago, a cigar store owner told me that Fuente green label is in such over-production that they artificially perfect the wrappers to achieve uniform color. Is there any truth to that? They are good but overpriced for a baseline cigar.
In the context, you are probably right, thanks for the response.
I like my single malts like my entendres, double, please.
Posts: 90 | Location: Gwinnett Co. GA | Registered: June 09, 2003
I think you will like quite a few of those. I'm not sure about others, but I think 5 Vegas is a brand that gets too much hype from the places that sell it. I don't think it is a very good cigar, and the distributors must be paying these people a hefty sum to tout the cigar like they do.
I agree with extensioncord in regards to most of his tastes. The Torano lines are outstanding, the Graycliffs are a bit overpriced but not a bad smoke, I have had good and so-so Gurkhas, but I have to disagree with him on the 5 Vegas. I have a humidor stuffed with the 5 Vegas gold, "A" series, and Limitada 2006. I have a few of the classics, which are decent, but not the best. I love the gold and "A" series, and have literally burned my fingers on them by smoking them too far down. I have yet to have a dissapointing gold label.
I say experiment, different people have different tastes. Try whatever you can afford to get your hands on. Contrary to that, the only thing I recommend staying away from is the Zino Platinums, they are super expensive pieces of garbage.
5 Vegas Gold Churchill (7.0"x50) Enjoyable, mild cigar, would smoke another. Not my favorite though.
CAO Gold Robusto (5.0"x50) Have not tried this one yet
Felipe Dominicana 'T' (6.0"x52) I would not bother with this again, way to mild for me.
Fonseca Connecticut 5-50 (5.0"x50) Not tried this one yet
Gurkha Master Select Robusto #4 (6.0"x52) Decent smoke, good burn.
Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Robusto (5.0"x50) Have not tried this one yet
Perdomo Reserve La Tradicion Cameroon 'R' (5.0"x54) I found this to be very enjoyable. I bought more of these.
Reserva Maxima Media Corona by Puros Indios (5.5"x44) Have not tried this yet
2 - Torano 1916 Cameroon Robusto great smokes, bought more and the 1964 series
2 - Gispert Churchill Good cigar especially after lunch
2 - Graycliff Original PGX (toro) another good cigar, For the price I would not buy more.
2 - Gurkha Class Regent Toro Just OK
2 - Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 Consul With the comments about smoking on a full stomach I have been to chicken to try these.
2 - 5 Vegas Classic Torpedo I enjoyed this smoke, great for after lunch. Not my favorite though. I would smoke again.
2 - Montecristo White Rothschilde Good smoke ....
2 - Romeo y Julieta Cedro Deluxe #2 Another good smoke, a little harsh at the start though.
2 - Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro I enjoyed these as well. another good smoke.
That said I have also smoked Opus X, King B, Ashton VSG, Pardon Aniversary, Hoyo De Monterey's Excalibur and Epicure, Partagas D4's, Monti's which are all some of my favortes. I think the Perdomo's and the Torano's are the only ones I have re-purchased.
Two great samplers I tried was the Snowman and Fast-n-Furious from Holts. Great packages.
Everybody's opinion will vary, but I think the 5 Vegas, which is now a Cigars Intl. exclusive, I think, is good for the money. The Vegas Gold to me tastes a lot like a CAO Gold for about $2-$3 less per per cigar. Not as creamy as CAO, but well made and tasty.
I've only had one Felipe Dom but I liked it.
I've yet to have an Indian Tabac that drew well. I'll have to try it one more time. Some people love them.
The Perdomo Cameroon was very harsh to me. I'll have to try another, because I love Cameroon wrappers and lots of people like this cigar.
The Reserva Maxima is the only Puros Indios I've ever enjoyed.
I just smoked by first Graycliff Orginal (red). I loved it-- tasty, medium-bodied with creamy spiciness and a perfect draw. Expensive, though. Overpriced.
I've smoked a coupler Joya and haven't found them interesting. I'll have to try another.
Monecristo Whites are good, put pricey (although not as much as Graycliffs).
The Rocky vintage cigars are good.
I always keep a variety in my humidor. Price doesn't always equate to quality or enjoyment.
