I was reading the latest issue of European Cigar Cult Journal and they did reviews of several different Robustos. I didn't agree with all the ratings, but found them overall to be pretty much aligned to my tastes. I don't think they really factor in the value aspect when they do a rating.
Anyway I noticed something surprising, many of the Cubans got what I'd consider subpar ratings. Mostly the complaints were construction and bitterness. Now I'm taking it for granted that these guys know their stuff when it comes to storage, aging and what not. So that makes me wonder what the hell is going on in Cuba? Are they slowly destroying their brands by using under trained rollers and inferior tobacco to keep up with demand? Are we really missing out on much by not being able to get these cigars?
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
From what I can tell, it’s pretty much a roll of the dice with Cubans. I know some people (most notably, Min Ron Nee) advocate letting your Cubans rest for up to 3 or 4 years during their “sick period” before smoking.
Of course I would never smoke or own a Cuban cigar, this is just what I hear! LOL
I certainly can’t say for sure, but I have this friend who has been trying Cubans for quite a while and he’s only found 2 that were worth a crap; Bolivar PC and Romeo y Julieta Romeo #2. Others he tried included Cohiba, Cohiba Maduro, Partagas D4, Monte #2, HDM Epicure #2 and more.
If he had smoked them 5-10+ yrs ago would he have liked them? Can’t say for sure, so take it for what it’s worth.
Hard to say. I lived in Germany for 6 years but I’ve been back in the US for 2. I’ve tried a lot of legal cigars here and frankly haven’t found any as good as my favorite Cohiba Siglo VI’s. But I guess it’s a matter of taste. On the other hand, I sure like the prices better back here in the US.
I’ve tried Cohibas in Germany and in Dubai and was not very impressed. I spoke to a Cuban friend of mine about this and he told me that it has to do with irrigation problems in Cuba. Of course we want them so badly here because they are illegal and we all what that which we cannot have.
There are plenty of Dominican blends that are just as good (perhaps not a good as a Cuban back in the day) and surprisingly enough there are some domestic premium boutique blends that are getting my money right now.
While the PSD#4 will go down as one of my favorite cigars it is one of the few robustos and larger ring gauges coming out of Cuba I really enjoy, (one of the Punches and the MC2 are a couple others). My personal thoughts is Cuba seems to excel in smaller ring gauges.
Then again I’ve stopped seeking out Cuban cigars as there were too many fakes out there and chances of getting busted to high.
And the Cabiguan Guapos seems to have many of the flavors I liked in the PSD#4. (Been a long time since I had a PSD#4 though, so I may be completely off base.)
I can say that most of the Cubans I tried lately were very good. However, I chose them because they were well rated in recent European magazines – I can’t state that the overall quality is very high.
I have had some Cuban’s that were total garbage. I mean REALLY bad. But nothing (nothing I say!) has been as nice as the Partagas Serie P and D in my opinion. Always nice…
But, I agree that the legal cigars out there are easily giving the Cuban’s a run for their money. I’ve always felt that we really aren’t missing out by not having Cuban cigars.
Having grown up in my relatively short cigar smoking experience (4-5 years) with the likes of Pepin Garcia, Rocky Patel, the Fuentes, Espinoza y Ortega, the Padrons, Giolito … and the list goes on, my palate is quite satisfied without the famed “Cuban” cigar. I haven’t been smoking cigars long enough to weigh in on how Cubans today stack up against those that brought them such fame but I can say they haven’t impressed me all that much. Some very good, like the PSD4 but certainly not worth the chase and investment IMHO.
With the exception of the awful, machine-made Guantanamera I’ve never had a Cuban cigar that I didn’t like. I did have a bad experience with a Cohiba Siglo VI, but I think it was more due to my own negligence than the cigar itself.
I have heard, however, that the quality of Cubans in general has gone down in recent years as they try to produce larger quantities to meet the growing demand.
Personally, I enjoy most Cuban cigars, and I wouldn’t say that the quality is slipping. That said, though, there are many non-Cuban cigars that are just as good, if not better. I think some of the best cigars these days are coming out of the Dominican, rather than Cuba.
I’ve tried 4 Cubans. Romeo Y Julieta Churchill was by far the best. Cohiba Siglo VI was simply too mild for me and I’d take a RP Connecticut, Carlos Tarano Tarano or similiar over it. Excellent construction though. One an unknown gifted from a friend that went to Canada and it was simply strong, harsh and nasty. I think it needed that 3-4 years of aging. The other is a Romeo Y Julieta Mini and same basic flavor as the Churchill so it’s very good. In general, Don Pepin, Padilla, Rocky Patel, Carlos Tarano, Oliva, Fuente etc are far better in my opinion.
Cuban cigars and Cuban flavor is something personal. If you like it you will love any Cuban cigars. Lately the quality has gone up significantly specially 2007 production of Montecristos. I am sure there are allot of other great cigars but for my taste Cuban cigars and Don Pepin cigars have the falvor I am looking for which is pleasent tobbaco with hint of cocco.
i couldn’t help by laugh everytime i hear or read about americans criticizing about cuban cigars or boast about how strict their quality control standards are; ie rocky patel, whose website screams wannabe cuban. non cuban cigar brands obviously know where cuban cigars stand, otherwise they wouldn’t have to overcompensate in such tacky packaging and presentation.
Hm. I live in Europe, so Cuban cigars (and any other) are available in every good cigar shop. The prices of cuban cigars are about the same or a little higher than for instance dominican cigars. Because cuban cigars are not outlawed here, we can compare them with all the others and it seems most smokers like the cubans best. They are usually more complex and “spicy”. I wonder if the few people in the US that get their hands on cuban cigars are not really buying fake cubans or “seconds”. Tastless Cohiba cigars do not exist. They are fairly heavy and complex, so anyone saying that they are bland or tasteless is probably smoking a fake, or the cigar has had a VERY rough life. Also, how can anyone that has only smoked 3 or 4 cubans in his life ever say that cuban cigars are no good?
My personal favorite at the moment is a Honduran made cigar, well made and tastes good while not breaking the bank. I have not liked any dominican cigar yet (and I tried a bunch of them). No wait, I liked the Macanudo cristal, that was pretty good but still no where near a Montecristo or a ryj. I have had Ashton cigars that I threw away halfway trough the cigar as they where crap. Oliva cigars do not do anything for me either.
The only Cuban I have not finished was a Partagas deluxe….a most horrible cigar.
It just strikes me as odd that the only country in the world that is not allowed to smoke cubans is also the only country in the world where people say that cuban cigars are no good….
A Macanudo cristal costs the same as a ryj over here, so I know what I’m buying next!
Personally after smoking many Cubans especially Montecristo and Partagas while stationed over in Germany and the UK I believe that they are great…but if you put one up side by side with their Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan cousins without bands you couldn’t pick them apart.
I will say that I had more plugged cigars and unravelled wrappers when I smoked cubans…maybe that’s due to the best wrappers abandoning Cuba to go where the money is? I don’t know..just my opinion..but the hype is a bit much.
Cheers,
R