Like many of the newer members and lurkers here, I'm spening a lot more time reading posts then posting. Much to learn...Much.
However, i've been an avid golfer for a number of years, and one of the problems with many "best of" lists, or course critiques, is that most of the courses on the list are, or nearly are, impossible to play. It really does me little good to understand where Augusta National ranks on courses...if i've got an extremely thin chance of every playing it. (holding out hope though )
Recently, some of the golf magazines have started to add a Best courses you can play list. Makes alot of sense to the common guy like myself.
In that spirit, I was hoping some of the more seasoned folks on the board would be willing to contribute to a top 5 CC's you can find.
Hopefully, it will help guide those of us just beginning to dip our toes into the CC waters. A list of first acquistion targets, that will be available at a high percentatge of sources.
Thoughts?
"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." -Winston Churchill
Posts: 177 | Location: First Tee | Registered: May 07, 2008
It would also be great if folks could give a ballpark price range of the rec's.
"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." -Winston Churchill
Posts: 177 | Location: First Tee | Registered: May 07, 2008
CCs have not been troublesome to find. Granted you have a reputable source, you may have to wait until a resupply. However, I haven't had to wait an extended period of time in quite a while. Now, if I had to list the first 5 must try cigars, I would recommend... 1. Bolivar Royal Corona 2. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 3. Partagas Serie D No. 4 4. Ramon Allones Special Select 5. Cohiba Robusto
On the other hand, if you want a list of what I find to be the easiest to obtain and well worth the time... 1. Montecristo No. 4 2. Diplomaticos No. 2 3. Montecristo No. 2 4. Montecristo Edmundo & Petit Edmundo (tie IMO) 5. Cohiba Siglo 2
I hope this helps. Remember cigars, like lists, are totally subjective and greatly open to debate. You need to look no further than the magazine's recent top 25 list. Most members here would argue against at least half that list if not more.
The 10 cigars I have listed would probably be considered staples in most collections. They are in my own. Then again I'm sure I've listed a few some would call trash. Again, highly subjective.
You mentioned August National as a great course that most of us will never get to play. I couldn't agree more. There are several cigars that are obtainable but are greatly limited to me because of price... 1. Cohiba Esplendido 2. Montecristo A (box of 25) These two are fairly obtainable, but really pricey. At least, they are where I shop. I don't think I have the cheapest source, but I am comfortable with the authenticity and service. Those two traits are worth a lot, IMO.
Originally posted by A Work Of Art, Inc.: There you go with the SLR A's again D, You have really got my curiosity up. How do they and the Partagas Lusitanias compare to the Cohiba Esplendidos?
quote:
Originally posted by D-Mud: This is my list:
SLR Serie A Partagas Lusitanias RyJ Churchill (06/07 years) PSD4 Siglo II
same as with the one for the top 5 of the decade..
Its the same list!! I like both the SLR A and the Lusitanias more than the esplendidos. SLR A I like because of the hint of fruityness and aroma, very unique. Lusitanias is a classic of course, I much prefer it to the esplendido.
No3putts; I think your question makes no sense and any straightforward courtroom style answer to it would be more misleading then informative.
Let me explain my opinion lest I will be arrogant or rude:
All real Habanos made of pure Vuelta Abajo leaf (which for clarity of my explanation would exclude just a very few like SLR, LFdC, JLP and Quantanamera) are equally excellent and nothing other comes even close to that. This statement is based on a simple and self evident fact that a real value of any cigar comes only and only from a tobacco it is made of (unless it is faultly constructed of course).
Now, there ARE differences within Habanos. Just for commercial purposes, variety and smoker's personal preferences they produce different blends, sizes, vitolas, names etc; sky is the limit. But the quality as such is the same. The seed is the same (Habano 2006 hybrid is recently used quite exclusively) the soil, fermentation processes all essentially the same.
Different people have different preferences as far as aroma and strength are concerned,but much more importantly then that, the individual perception of any cigar by any smoker varies greatly depending on time of day, recent meal, mood etc. and these differences are the greatest; I am referring here to different perceptions varied for one and the same man.
For instance for me on this particular day at this particular time the IDEAL cigar would be such and such one from this box and not the other. Another day and/or at the other time my ideal cigar would be quite different one and just this cigar will bring me the biggest satisfaction. The only thing is, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE?
The answer is: the only way to know is through years of experience. It is a process and you cannot hurry it. You will get there eventually but the only way is to do it yourself. Opinions of others not only do not matter at all but they will only confuse you and prolong your learning process.
Also, for the above reasons, you cannot form an opinion about any cigar just by smoking it once, twice or even several times. How would you know if your ideal time for this particular cigar is not just around the corner? Only experience will tell.
For all these reasons all these "experts" tasting notes, rankings, lists and tastes are not even worth the paper they are printed on. They do more harm then good IMO. Follow your heart, follow your own mood and preferences, form your own opinion because only this opinion has any value to you.
Posts: 154 | Location: Left Coast of White North | Registered: April 18, 2007
The 10 cigars I have listed would probably be considered staples in most collections. They are in my own. Then again I'm sure I've listed a few some would call trash. Again, highly subjective..
Red, I think you nailed it. What I was trying to accomplish was a solid foundation of staples. Go to cigars that folks like myself can target as a foundation to build their collection on. Appreciate your contribution!
quote:
I don't think I have the cheapest source, but I am comfortable with the authenticity and service. Those two traits are worth a lot, IMO.
I would agree with this as well. As I begin this jorney, I'd have to say my comfort with the service is much more important that attaining the lowest price.
"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." -Winston Churchill
Posts: 177 | Location: First Tee | Registered: May 07, 2008
For all these reasons all these "experts" tasting notes, rankings, lists and tastes are not even worth the paper they are printed on. They do more harm then good IMO. Follow your heart, follow your own mood and preferences, form your own opinion because only this opinion has any value to you.
Janusz, thanks for the response...now Where's my FIVE .
Seriously though, I do understand the points you make. Trust me when I say that I'm not looking to build my top five off of other people's recomendations. I recognzie, even from my own experience with cigars, that people's palates, tastes etc vary greatly. The only way to discover one's "favorites" are to explore, sample, experiment...
However, for one to truly make anything their own, they need to start somewhere. The goal of the exercise was to take some of the experiences of folks on the board to provide others with an introduction to CC's. Of course not everyone is going to have Esplendido's on their top five...but smoking one will give you a sense of what you do or don't like about it.
I was just hoping to narrow down some starting places for myself and others. From there, we can branch out and find our own way.
"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." -Winston Churchill
Posts: 177 | Location: First Tee | Registered: May 07, 2008
trinidad coloniales diplomatico #2 HdM petit robusto cohiba robusto PSD1 EL2004 (Ok ok.. i know.. but I simply had do... althought not easily, but they're still obtainable)
As ever, I'm ending up complicating things - two lists, one for folks who are newer to Havanas as you've suggested, and then one that suits my personal taste.
For folks getting their feet wet:
-Montecristo No. 4 -Partagas Serie D. No. 4 -Cohiba Siglo IV -Bolivar Royal Corona -Hoyo Epicure No. 2
If I could only smoke 5 regularly available Havanas:
-Cohiba Lancero -H. Upmann Mag 46 -H. Upmann No. 2 -Bolivar Coronas Extra -Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No. 1
When I sstarted buying here are 5 that I had heard enough about that I thought should be must haves. They were based on a combination or reputation, price, and having varied sizes to choose from. In no particular order:
1) Bolivar Royal Coronas (first box purchase ever!) 2) PSD4 3) Monte #2 (at which point I was told I need the PSP2 as well, ended up with 10 counts of both, and No CCsccrstud this only counts as 1 on MY list ) 4) Punch DC (the staple here was to have a mix of sizes and I had the chance to get 98 Punch DCs so thats how I chose that brand) 5) Siglo VI
Originally posted by tiggerp: As ever, I'm ending up complicating things - two lists, one for folks who are newer to Havanas as you've suggested, and then one that suits my personal taste.
Glad I'm not limited to 5.
The more...the merrier!
"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." -Winston Churchill
Posts: 177 | Location: First Tee | Registered: May 07, 2008
Originally posted by bburnham17: When I sstarted buying here are 5 that I had heard enough about that I thought should be must haves. They were based on a combination or reputation, price, and having varied sizes to choose from. In no particular order:
1) Bolivar Royal Coronas (first box purchase ever!) 2) PSD4 3) Monte #2 (at which point I was told I need the PSP2 as well, ended up with 10 counts of both, and No CCsccrstud this only counts as 1 on MY list ) 4) Punch DC (the staple here was to have a mix of sizes and I had the chance to get 98 Punch DCs so thats how I chose that brand) 5) Siglo VI
"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." -Winston Churchill
Posts: 177 | Location: First Tee | Registered: May 07, 2008
Wow this question/thread has had me thinking how differently I'd answer this question at many points over the past several years. There's so often that euphoria of initial discovery that can ebb over time, and the reverse has also been true on occasion when I've become increasingly enamored with a particular CC over time. 1.) CoRo 2.) Boli BF 3.) Sir Winston 4.) MC 2 5.) Hoyo Epi 2
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