NFT: BBI Cigar Smokers: What's your favorite?

fantastic, my favorite. Link to Cigar Factory Outlet below. They are the sole distributor of Oliva tobaaco in the US. Right here in Norwalk. Great lounge too. Or was before Little Ned closed everything.

For an everyday smoke, I also keep Gilberto Oliva Blanco Torpedo 6 inch by 52 ring. A little lighter smoke.

These are the only 2 I buy anymore.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado - ( New Window )

My personal go to with that line is the Kuba Kuba.

I will use JR Cigar, Thompson and if they are running a good deal, Famous Smoke.

All of them have their positives and negatives and will run different specials. If you haven't found a cigar taste/brand you like yet, I would suggest starting with JR Cigar. They have their own brand of cigar called JR alternatives which are essentially knock offs that are pretty damn close to the same taste as the originals.

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JR Cigar - ( New Window )

I am bias being Cuban

all day every day

My Way HD 7 X 66, designed by Bayron Duarte, box price $10.00 per cigar, a bargain for what it gives back.

In comment 14930274 George from PA said:

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I am bias being Cuban

Partagas Serie D No.4 are fantastic. Havent had them since I went to London in 2011

so I'm rather partial to the Camacho line; especially the corojo. Cigar.com is another good on line place to shop.

In comment 14930274 George from PA said:

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I am bias being Cuban

Been a while since I’ve had a good Party. But yeah - good smoke. Are Montes finally available in the US? Used to get these in Canada when I up there playing hockey.

and not kill your wallet, get on Cigars International mailing list. They have deals almost every day, i just usually wait till i see something i like, and they have a lot of variety packs too. Well worth it.

In comment 14930257 Victor in CT said:

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fantastic, my favorite. Link to Cigar Factory Outlet below. They are the sole distributor of Oliva tobaaco in the US. Right here in Norwalk. Great lounge too. Or was before Little Ned closed everything. For an everyday smoke, I also keep Gilberto Oliva Blanco Torpedo 6 inch by 52 ring. A little lighter smoke. These are the only 2 I buy anymore. Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado - ( New Window )

I second the Oliva Serie V Melanio, they are fantastic cigars. Recently bought a box of 10 Robusto’s, got a box of 10 Serie O Toro’s for free, those were good too, but the Serie V Melanio”s are just flat out awesome.

I have Cuban connections....🤫

Put Acid cigars in your humidor with your other cigars. Acid infuses their cigars with flavorings that can seap into your other smokes over times.

The magic of a humi is that your smokes can rest for a period of time which really helps with the flavor profile and burn of your cigar. I keep mine at 65%.

Remember to season your humidor before filling it. Google how to do it but I just put a bowl half filled with distilled water in the closed humidor for a few days.

Java is a personal favorite but I had a few of the Naturals over the 4th specially the English which is newer I presume- highly recommended as well. I’d get some Romeo and Julieta in there as well.

SLR Titan Maduro

JFR Lunatic Maduro

For a LONG time, i would smoke La Gloria Cubana Serie R Esteli or Maduro, but I havent had one with a good draw in probably the last 10 ive smoked. I cannot stand an overly tight draw on a cigar

is one of my favorite readily available cigars. I easily have over 7k cigars.

Romeo y Juliet (anniversay was awsome)
Montecristo (white, Platinum, nicauguan)
Perdomo Champaign 10th anivarsary (for a light smoke)

I smoke 1 day a week on sundays if its not bad weather.

as for cubans you can bring in up to a certain amount if you go on vacation outside the country. I usually do 5-6.

Cuban Cohibas are the best!!!

cigars international runs one called C-BID and you can get some great deals on most everyday things. Key is to know the best sale price before you bid and keep your bid at 70% of that. You need to be patient and eventually you will win.

In comment 14930352 Mark from Jersey said:

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Put Acid cigars in your humidor with your other cigars. Acid infuses their cigars with flavorings that can seap into your other smokes over times. The magic of a humi is that your smokes can rest for a period of time which really helps with the flavor profile and burn of your cigar. I keep mine at 65%. Remember to season your humidor before filling it. Google how to do it but I just put a bowl half filled with distilled water in the closed humidor for a few days.

Boveda Humidity packs are much easier, cleaner and also self adjusting so they will absorb excess as well as emit moisture. They have been a game changer for me. Boveda link is attached but you can buy them at any decent cigar shop.
boveda humidity packs - ( New Window )

is and excellent smoke and you can't go wrong with a Portofino in a pinch

Of people love them. What's the appeal? Is it the mechanical aspect of smoking them? The taste? The little bit of a buzz?

Seriously curious since I've tried and just can't get into them.

I like the Classic and the XO. Tried a Syncro Nicaragua for the first time 2 weeks ago, thought it was really good too.


As for Montecristo, there’s a HUGE difference between the authentic Cuban version, and the Dominican or Nicaraguan version under the same brand sold in the US

I had a Cuban Montecristo last time I was in Panama, loved it

Montecristos sold in the US are a classic case of brand recognition confusing the marketplace. They’re mediocre. Every cigar aficionado I know won’t touch one.

Went out with a girl once who brought me box of Montes from Spain. Man, they were really something. (So was she!) Got hooked on them and always was chasing that taste and that smoke. So smooth and delish! Wish I had one now!

It’s been a while, the Party’s made in DR were the closest I came to a genuine Cuban Monte. And it wasn’t really that close.

I was given 6 buy a salesman I used to do business with back in 1998. They were phenomenal. HUGE. 8" by 50 ring if I remember correctly. Had an orange/chocolate quality to it. I never tasted anything like it before or since. ANd they seem to be difficult to find. I Couldn't get them in London, nor in Toronto

Anything rocky really

They are good but I do not like smoking gigantic cigars. I like the shorty’s

Very solid for fair price.

I smoke 2 a day so some less expensive smokes
Liga undercrown
padron 3000
Herrera Esteli
My Father The Judge
La Gloria Cubana Serie R

that way I can get several different brands all at once. I find Cigars International has the best deals and prices (link below).
Link - ( New Window )

Serie O is my personal choice but the V, the G, and the connecticut are all very good cigars.

I also love the Illusione brand, Tatuaje el Triunfador, and Cabaiguan for a few more bucks.

I can't recommend cubans for a casual cigar smoker they are a pain to get hold of and unless you go through their approved network you are just about guaranteed to get fakes. I love some cubans (including the partagas serie P already mentioned) but the other islands make great cigars.

I saw someone recommend Padron. Along with Davidoff it's a great cigar. But an abusive price.

But, my wife used to manage a members only cigar club and brought home a lot of good stuff given to her by members, including some good Cubans.

In comment 14930409 oghwga said:

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Of people love them. What's the appeal? Is it the mechanical aspect of smoking them? The taste? The little bit of a buzz? Seriously curious since I've tried and just can't get into them.

Its the flavor. A really good cigar is very complex flavor-wise. I also really enjoy the relaxation aspect of it, and I LOVE having one on a long drive.

I agree with the suggestions to get on Cigar International and the Jars seconds/alternatives. Also, everything depends on what kind of smoke you want. Try a few different brands and bodies. You'll figure out what you like soon enough. I prefer medium/light body cigars...my go to brands are Romeo y Juliet, Ashton, Rockey Patel, H Upmann, and Gurkas.

I like pretty much any top name cigar, whether their high end series or lower end, either maduro or natural. Corona size is what I prefer but toro to robusto is fine. Once you get above san luis rey & macanudo, I'm not real picky LOL.

I'm not a huge cigar smoker so I don't buy boxes, simply due to cost. It works out better for me to just make my own sampler pack of singles at my local store once in a while just to make sure to always have at least a few sticks on hand.

You can often find at least one or two high end cigars in my humidor but since they are so danged expensive, here is what you'll usually find there, mostly due to what I think is good for a lower cost.

Total Wine house brand (TWM)
Brick House
Sancho Panza double maduro
Fuente curly head
La Gloria Cubana Wavell natural and maduro
Gurhka Ghost
Gurkha Ancient Warrior (haven't seen these for a while)
Pargagas Black Label

Ok now I want a cigar and some bourbon. No high ends nor Gurkhas nor Partagas on hand, which are my < $10 favorites, but I do have a couple of Oliva G's and O's. So I think a Oliva G.

The only bourbon I have right now is George Dickel, which is certainly not bad. Not sure if that is a good pairing or not LOL But that's what it is.

In comment 14930463 mattlawson said:

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They are good but I do not like smoking gigantic cigars. I like the shorty’s

I could take ‘em off your hand. You know, as a favor and all that.

😀

In comment 14930547 Aaroninma said:

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In comment 14930409 oghwga said: Quote: Of people love them. What's the appeal? Is it the mechanical aspect of smoking them? The taste? The little bit of a buzz? Seriously curious since I've tried and just can't get into them. Its the flavor. A really good cigar is very complex flavor-wise. I also really enjoy the relaxation aspect of it, and I LOVE having one on a long drive.

Thanks for the answer. I like the smell usually but not the taste that coats your mouth. Just me being picky I guess.

Edge. Now, I'm enjoying the CAO MX2 and LX2. Both are on the bold side with a very strong pepper flavor from burn to finish. I can get a good hour-and-a-half from a Toro sized smoke.

Sad news that CAO has discontinued the LX2, so smoke 'em if you can find 'em.

I keep my humidor at 70/70 (Humidity/Temp). I was storing my cigars without the individual wrapper. It affected the taste of the cigars, so I started storing them in the indivual wrapper. It seems to work pretty well... does anyone know if there's any consequences to store the cigars in the wrapper.

On a completely different note, I watch quite a few cigar reviews in YouTube and find that very helpful. It bothers me when they call cigars "sticks". Sounds like someone that's trying too hard to be cool. Okay... got that off my chest.

5 Pack of Oliva Series V Robusto for $23

5 Pack of Man O' War Armadas for $13

10 stogies for $36.

Highly recommend cigarbid for you smokers out there.
CigarBid - ( New Window )