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Inexpensive Cubans
By Micah | June 11, 2007 |
Recently I began the search for an inexpensive cuban that I actually liked. The goal is a machine made cigar of decent size and quality that I can smoke every day, and especially 3 or 4 during a BBQ or other backyard event.
Here is a review of three I tried this week all are machine made and cost $1.50 – $3 a stick.
Quintero y Hermano – Nacionales: The manufacturing is actually pretty decent, no problems with unravelling, relatively even burn, good draw. You really need to smoke this slow otherwise it get BITTER as hell and tastes like burning pine. The first third has some flavor a little tobacco flavor and some coffee, the middle third starts to get a more pronounced flavor but quickly turns bitter like over cooked espresso. I smoke this one once after work with a beer and once in the evening after dinner with water, both times I had a relatively similar experience with these. Overall I don’t think this cigar really tastes Cuban. I won’t buy these again.
Ok decent try but not exactly what I am looking for, I would really wrather smoke 4 cohiba mini than one of these.
Lets move on to another brand.
Guantanamera – Decimos: Holy crap this is horrible cigar, it has no redeeming qualities of any kind. I had to smoke the entire pack to make sure I wasn’t missing something. This cigar taste roughly like a cigarette or a cheap gas station cigar. The cigar burned OK and had an OK draw but all you get is smoke, no Cuban flavor at all. I definately will not buy this cigar ever again, I probably wouldn’t even smoke it if was offered to me free, In fact I think you would need to pay me to smoke one of these. If you like the taste of burning leaves these are for you, but other than that stay away.
Ok I’m starting to get a little restless, may there is no such thing as a good cheap cuban or maybe they are so ellusive that you must know a guy who knows a guy to get ahold of them. One more try.
Jose Piedra – Cazadores: Back to basics with this cigar. The cigar is very well made, has an excellent draw and I swear if I didn’t know better that it was hand made. A very direct flavor which starts almost immediately after lighting, this cigar has the quinisential cuban flavor, mostly tobbacco flavor with just a hint of spice and chocolate. It is not exactly lip smacking good, but the cigar leaves you very satisfied. I smoked 2 back to back on the first sitting to make sure I wasn’t kidding myself. Second day I had a BBQ and smoked the other three while grilling and drinking. This cigar easily competes with some of the less expensive hand made cubans. I am definately going to be smoking these on a regular basis, this cigar just feels good to smoke. I recommend these to anyone looking for a good daily smoke with that cuban flavor.
Now that I have found at least one cheap cuban which I like to smoke, I will try more of that brand, keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the line from JLP is just as good as the Cazadores.
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Topics: Cigar Reviews | 4 Comments »
4 Responses to “Inexpensive Cubans”
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June 11th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Great post! I’ll keep an eye out for those Cazadores! It’s a shame about the Guantanamera, it’d be fund to smoke one just to be able to say the name when people ask. :)
June 12th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Preach on brother Jack…
I am also a big fan of the Jose Piedra – Cazadores.
Being a US citizen I don’t get to enjoy them all too often. ;)
June 21st, 2007 at 12:31 pm
The Piedras are pretty decent smokes – one would never think that they are a “budget” Cuban. :-)
July 28th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I just picked up a bundle and at 50.00usd, I figured why not! At first light it tasted and smelled the part, and I continued to be impressed. I took one apart to see the construction. It looks like a typical machine made, lots of veins in the wrapper, roundish shape, rather scary, but by some miracle it draws well, burns descent and tastes very good! I think I just found an excellent everyday smoke. I have had three others since this post and they have all been very impresive considering the cost. Only the Cubans could pull this one off!