Back in the ‘90’s, Carlos and Carlito Fuente became the first real superstars of the business and their brand has been a mainstay for many a cigar lover. I’ve heard some put down Fuente, but I don’t know how the hell that is possible. They consistently make some of the best cigars in the world – pricey, yeah, but we’re talking quality, here. The Hemmingway and the Signature, the Don Carlos, the Cuban Belicoso and the King B are cigars I could never get tired of. The Fuente’s have successfully positioned the Opus X as an elite smoke, I’ve always felt the Opus was just a strong cigar without a lot of depth and not a regular choice of mine, but many swear by it. But I will say, age an Opus X for a few years and it’s a very different smoke, indeed. JC Newman, who has teamed with the Fuentes, make an interesting mix of old favorites like the Cuesta-Rey and La Unica, and also the upscale Diamond Crown and Maximum series.

Then of course we have the boutique brands who have taken the world by storm. Many of these cigar makers have put their face behind the name creating a sort of stardom within the cigar industry. The Ozgeners at CAO, Rocky Patel, Christian Eiroa at Camacho, ,

Gene Arganese, Carlos Torano, Litto Gomez at La Flor Dominica, and Don Pepin have given smokers new and excellent choices, and as I said, have taken branding within the industry to a whole new level. There has been a rise in the full-bodied market as a few of the players have created a real niche. I can attest that the La Flor Chisel and the Camacho Triple Maduro have grown hair in places I had none, and sent my brain to another galaxy while smoking. And now the Nub and other stubby half-pints are becoming quite popular.

Lastly, there are those who will still only smoke Cuban cigars. I have seen some of these people and they are indeed elitists and need to realize that many companies out there are making products that are a hell of a lot better than many Cubans I have tried in the past. During the cigar boom, the Cuban government couldn’t pump out enough cigars to meet demand and the product was oftentimes horrible. The stench of ammonia upon opening a box was nauseating, and I’ve had some, where the draw was like trying to suck air through a rock. Yes, they have done a better job over the past few years with their products, and yes I still think the Monte #2, Partagas Serie D, and Hoyo Double corona are terrific, but the mix of “expensive and illegal” have been a good enough deterrent for me.

Hey, sorry to ramble here, but I love cigars and could talk about my passion for hours on end. Different smokes for different folks – it’s why the industry exists. And DAMN, am I in the mood for a premium stick right about now! Smoke’ ‘em when you gottem, boys!