good cigar?

[disco_drum]

I only smoke cigars when I go camping, but I want to break into the "good cigar" realm. What is a good cigar that is not terribly expensive. Again, I don't smoke cigars very often so I guess a mild flavor would suit me best. Looking forward to everyones input! Thanks!!!

 

[Ballah06]

Surprised there are not a bunch of replies already. I suppose theoretically a 'good' cigar is a subjective thing-all based on personal preference, however i really like Java by Drew Estate/Rocky Patel. Very mild and has a great taste with a hint of cocoa and espresso beans. If you get those, go for either Maduro (my favorite) or Latte, just as good but a bit lighter. Some 'purists' may suggest something else along the more 'traditional' lines but I have never had any cigar smokers who tried the above not like them. If you want something with a 'regular' taste, Macanudos are mild. I also really like Perdomo 20th anniversary if you want something with a bit of a more full body flavor.

 

[robertf]

Oliva has several that are good and under $8

$8 is my personal border between affordable and oppulant

 

[Mongo]

I've been smoking a Gurka "ghost" lately…about 7 bucks, it's a nice medium bodied cigar

 

[rovercanus]

I've been smoking a Gurka "ghost" lately…about 7 bucks, it's a nice medium bodied cigar

I had a Ninja last night that was not too bad. Started off strong but finished up nicely.
I'm a big fan of CAO cigars. I smoke the Criollo sticks mostly with the Brazilia, LX2 and MX2 as a change up.
Alec Bradley Black Market is also another good one.
If I were you, I would go to a good tobacconist, not a cigarette store that sells cigars and ask them exactly what you asked here. They will gladly help you.
We can all tell you what we like, but its up to you to determine what you like.

 

[kennith]

I'll be keeping an eye this thread, which will invariably develop into a competition to determine who can run out and smoke the most obscure and strange cigar in the world, simply so it can be mentioned here.:rofl:

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[roverMc]

My favorite: macanudo maduro (they almost taste like chocolate)

 

[Tugela]

I'll be keeping an eye this thread, which will invariably develop into a competition to determine who can run out and smoke the most obscure and strange cigar in the world, simply so it can be mentioned here.:rofl:

Cheers,

Kennith

Please allow me to start.

The first cigar I ever smoked was a Davidoff Cuban, obtained by a South African real estate agent who knew the secret handshake to access the confidential stash of the proprietor of a cigar specialist in London. I smoked this cigar in the company of said South African real estate agent and a musician who used to tour Zambia playing in the clubs during the Kaunda regime. The cigar would burn and burn but the ash would not fall off. The cigar was all the more memorable because we were smoking it beneath the stars in the middle of the desert of the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. And the musician, being a rookie to the whole "backpacking light" concept, had thankfully brought a liter of Scotch. It was the final night of our 4-day hiking trip through the canyon. It may have been the setting, but no cigar I have smoked since has compared to that one.

 

[Tysmagic]

Oliva has several that are good and under $8

$8 is my personal border between affordable and oppulant

Want to second this. I'm a big fan of just about everything Oliva. Particularly the V.

 

[61rover]

I really like Arturo Fuente cigars. A good affordable Dominican cigar. I like the Double Chateau in the darker wrappers.

 

[kennith]

Please allow me to start.

The first cigar I ever smoked was a Davidoff Cuban, obtained by a South African real estate agent who knew the secret handshake to access the confidential stash of the proprietor of a cigar specialist in London. I smoked this cigar in the company of said South African real estate agent and a musician who used to tour Zambia playing in the clubs during the Kaunda regime. The cigar would burn and burn but the ash would not fall off. The cigar was all the more memorable because we were smoking it beneath the stars in the middle of the desert of the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. And the musician, being a rookie to the whole "backpacking light" concept, had thankfully brought a liter of Scotch. It was the final night of our 4-day hiking trip through the canyon. It may have been the setting, but no cigar I have smoked since has compared to that one.

Nonono. You're not following the rules. That's a good story.:rofl:

We can't have that, now.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[jhk07]

Backwoods for value. ACID when I feel the need for an more opulent smoke.

edited because I learned a new word....

 

[Mike_Rupp]

Please allow me to start.

The first cigar I ever smoked was a Davidoff Cuban, obtained by a South African real estate agent who knew the secret handshake to access the confidential stash of the proprietor of a cigar specialist in London. I smoked this cigar in the company of said South African real estate agent and a musician who used to tour Zambia playing in the clubs during the Kaunda regime. The cigar would burn and burn but the ash would not fall off. The cigar was all the more memorable because we were smoking it beneath the stars in the middle of the desert of the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. And the musician, being a rookie to the whole "backpacking light" concept, had thankfully brought a liter of Scotch. It was the final night of our 4-day hiking trip through the canyon. It may have been the setting, but no cigar I have smoked since has compared to that one.

Ok, so my story isn't quite as dramatic, but I completely understand how the situation can heighten the senses and make it nearly impossible to recreate later.

Back in the late 90's I went to London. I had been an occasional cigar smoker for the preceding few years, so as you might imagine, I was pretty excited to try a real Cuban cigar. There were tons of fake ones circulating around Chicago at the time. I had been to Mexico and I was convinced that the Cubans I got there were fake also.

Other than going into the factory itself, I believed that the most likely place to get the real deal was the Davidoff store on Jermyn St. I'll never forget walking into the store and this 6' tall, incredibly beautiful black woman with the sexiest accent walked over to help me out. I spoke with her for a few minutes, remembering absolutely nothing of what she said, and left the store with a Cohiba Siglo IV. Best cigar ever.

 

[robertf]

Backwoods for value. ACID when I feel the need for an more opulent smoke.

edited because I learned a new word....

Acids tasted like they were dipped in sugar. I thought they were an overpriced philly

 

[Jimmy]

Cigars are like beers - lots of different flavors and only you can decide what's "good". Everyone's palate is different.

I've learned I favor Nicaraguan habanos and corojos (or a mix of the two). The few maduros I've had don't appeal to me, and I don't have an interest in Connecticuts and mild flavored sticks. The one I keep coming back to is the Perdomo Habano Corojo. Part of it is the name, but the other part is knowing which leaves are used. As far as flavor, Cigars International (and other sites) is pretty good about labeling the strength, and you can start at a pulldown menu and select the strength you want.

I by no means am heavy into cigars. I get by with a 5-stick travel humidor (the black plastic ones) and the replaceable pillow. I'll either order a 5-pack from CI or grab some locally from a store. CI usually has deals that include a humidor, a cutter and butane lighter. Though, there's something very pleasurable from properly lighting a cigar from the heat of a lit match (not from direct flame contact with the stick).

 

[SGaynor]

I really like the Kristoffs.

http://kristoff.com/

In particular the Kristoff Ligero Maduro (~$10). The Britannia Reserva is good too (~$8)

I had a Cuban in Madrid once; it wasn't that great. My Spanish hosts told me that all the good leaf and expertise had been smuggled out/left Cuba and set up shop in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, etc. In their opinion, the Cubans were living on their reputation and that they were average at best.

As I learned more about cigars (and I'm not an aficionado), I'd have to agree. Heck, Ybor City (Tampa) has some great shops that do hand rolled cigars (using Dominican/Nicaragua leaf) that are very good, and not that expensive.

Edit: Here's an example of a Ybor company: 25 Churchill Maduros for ~$150 ($6/stick).

 

[kennith]

~$150 ($6/stick[/I]).

Not in Obamamath...

Cheers,

Kennith