I've been smoking cigars 21 years, strictly Cubans with FEW exceptions the past 11 years. Recently I have tried some Non Cubans just to see the State of The Industry of Non Cuban Cigars. Here's my list. Your milaege may vary:
1) Liga Privada #9 THE BEST non Cuban, hands down. Deep flavors, complex, layers of velverty smoke. Shockingly made by DREW ESTATES of all people!
2) Illusione - Great cigars with a nice complex flavor profile.
3) Padron Anniversario Naturals - still a great non Cuban cigar, just way overpriced.
4) The Miami Tatuajes - These are good cigars, but they are over-rated and over priced. Many are rather one dimensional, but at least that one dimension does not have that usual non Cuban metallic aftertaste. They would be a good every day non Cuban, but for the over price. Still, much better than the usual Macanudos, Partagas Blacks, and non Cuban Montecristos, Don Diegos, etc.
5) Non Cuban Bolivar Maduro Churchill - tried one a few days ago; it was a gift. I was prepared to hate it, but was shocked. It had that nice non Cuban maduro flavor that I used to like many years ago. Yeah, I'd smoke these in a pinch.
That's about it. Opus X is still over rated garbage with a loose white ash that gets all over my clothes. Padron Anni Maduros are great for cigar ROOKIES, but real knowledgeable smokers prefers the Naturals. The rest of that non Cuban stuff, the Upmanns, Henry Clays, Onyxes, etc., are still trash.
Again, your milaege may vary.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Johnny Loco,
Have not had many NCs (though I've been smoking more of late), and few which I would smoke on a regular basis. I find the metallic taste is quite pronounced for someone who usually smokes cubans.
One that I would smoke would be the Tatuaje miamis brown label. Reminded me strongly of the Bolivar marca, rich earthy uncomplicated and smooth, and as you say, no metallic aftertaste. Very very good. Another one I have a soft spot for would be the Joya de Nicaragua natural line, with a browny gold label. I don't know if you can get them in the U.S. but they are again not complex and have a light perfumed wood aroma, with a little sweetness, kind of like a Rafael Gonzalez crossed with a HdM.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: did64,
"You want WHAT on the fu<king ceiling?" - Michelangelo, 1566
Who here has tried the Liga Privada #9? I tried it after smoking all these Pepins and Tatuajes and the difference in quality is staggering. The way that those cigars are head and shoulders above the old "typical" non Cubans, the same way the LP#9 is head and shoulders above all these Pepins and Tatuajes .
That's very funny, but far from the truth. The only Liga Privada rep I know of is a guy named Steve Saka of JR Cigars and cigarnexus fame. He's the guy that Drew Estates, the makers of the putrid Acid line of cigars, supposedly hired to make the Liga Privada. Anyway, I've known Saka since the late nineties; he's a decent guy, but far from a pal of mine. I smoke Cuban cigars pretty exclusively. But this year I tried a few Non Cubans basically for the hell of it. I was ok with the Illusiones, I considered them the best, and the Tats were OK, like I said above. And that was gonna be the end of my Non Cuban experimentation phase until some guy gave me a LP#9. Well, when I heard it was a Drew, I had no hope that it would be any good, but the guy who gave it to me spoke very highly of them so I smoked it. And it was fantastic. As for being their Rep, I wish I was! Apparently these are hard as hell to even find, and I bet they sell like hotcakes.
Drew Estates cigars SUCK...PERIOD!!! Not one of there offerings can come close to ANY Padron, Tatuaje, or Pepin cigar. As a matter of fact, Drew Estates is far behind MOST other cigars as well.
The only thing you got right with your post was your screen name..."LOCO"...because you've got to be crazy if you think Drew Estates is comparable to any cigar you mentioned!!!
Tatuaje Noella and Padron 26 #1 maduro are the 2 best NC's IMO
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
Posts: 1147 | Location: Here | Registered: December 11, 2006
Yes a lot of us like NC cigars. And it is your opinion, but to come in here and claim that all other NC's besides the one you listed are trash, is wrong.
Also the no #1 non cuban you claim is a Drew Estate cigar??!!
Originally posted by The Wolfe: Tatuaje Noella and Padron 26 #1 maduro are the 2 best NC's IMO
^+1. The Noella, and J21 Tatuajes are close. Also the Padron 26th No. 9 is very similar. Many Pepin blends such as the Cuban classic and Series JJ taste very cubanesque as well.
Personally, I think Opus X is the best garbage around.
Posts: 652 | Location: Bay Area, CA | Registered: November 16, 2007
FWIW, My B&M who just about carries everything just sent his weekly email with new arrivals and said he just got in the Liga Privada#9. His comment was the cigar has been getting rave reviews. He is usually pretty right on with his tastes so I will have to try one.
Had a LP #9 last week - was good; but there are many others that are better and at a modest price. There are two that I mix with my CC: - Padilla 68 Toro - 5 Vegas Miami Churchill
Posts: 69 | Location: Outdoors, USA | Registered: April 01, 2004
FWIW, My B&M who just about carries everything just sent his weekly email with new arrivals and said he just got in the Liga Privada#9. His comment was the cigar has been getting rave reviews. He is usually pretty right on with his tastes so I will have to try one.
Well, I guess your guy knows what he is talking about. As for the rest of you guys, you are all entitled to your OPINIONS, which we all know are like...well, never mind. Anyway, I've been smoking for over 20 years, so I certainly don't need LECTURES on what YOU think about Drew Estaates cigars, LOL. I knew they suck long before some of YOU even started smoking, LOL. However this is not a regular Drew Estate Cigar, but something new made by Steve Saka, which is the only reason I even tried it. And yes, in my opinion, it blows away all those Tats and stuff you all rave about. Anyway, those are MY opinions, and I'm entitled to them! As for those who won't buy the LP#9, that's GOOD! Leaves more for those of us that like them!
Patio Smoker, I had my first Padilla, a robusto that said Padilla Miami on it. Spent $12 on it. It was nowehere near as good as the LP, IMHO. But hey, if you like them, that's great.
quote: Originally posted by Johnny Loco: Apparently these are hard as hell to even find, and I bet they sell like hotcakes.
Not that hard:
Liga Privada No. 9
That's funny. Because they're available on line doesn't mean they are easy to find. Very few stores have them. But hey, no problem. You guys who are haters right now will eventually sheepishly change your minds. Those with class might even re-visit this thread and say "hey, you know what, you were right, these are damn good."
