Cigarillo for this newbie

[Raphael]

Hey fellas,

Just recently joined what I am hoping will be an enjoyable hobby. To give you a brief description of my past smoking experience, no I have not had a lot of cigars


I have smoked the usual garbage - colts, whenever my friend would have one handy. I have smoked pipe tobacco - captain black. And the finest cigar I have ever had was a Romeo y Julieta which took nearly an hour to extinguish. She was a tasty one.

I have smoked cigarettes for many years, starting with the bland stuff, moving to Marlboros, then settling with Davidoff Classic (always wishing to try the Magnum, but never being able to find one). Then curiosity hooked me on kreteks (indonesian clove cigarettes) for about a year. I have found one brand out of many that has been worth the kretek run for me, and the quality has been very very inconsistent. Some great smokes, and some very bad, in the same package!

So, I thought I would try cigarillos. Cigars I will eventually get into (when the funds allow), and especially when I have time to sit outside for a good hour+ for a smoke. In the meantime, I thought cigarillos would be a good choice. I've done my research for a few days and I have come up with a few choices that seem to be okay, but naturally, I wanted to ask you, the experts


1) Cafe Creme (probably overrated as they are very popular, but I could be wrong)

2) Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Miniatures (these are very cheap, and received an outstanding score of 92 for the larger cigar, which makes me think that the cigarillo may hold a fraction of that reputation)

3) C.A.O. Brazilia Minis (also holds a very high rating for the cigar)


The most attractive choice to me are the Excaliburs as they are surprisingly cheap! But I will not sell myself short for lower class smokes if they aren't worth it. In the end, I am looking for something short, but flavourful and enjoyable. Something that doesn't want to kick the crap out of your throat, but delivers an enjoyable flavour profile with many subtleties.

I know that may seem like asking a lot of a cigarillo, but I am not expecting anything too spectacular. What do you guys think of those three choices, and what would you recommend if you have tried them and prefer something else? Many thanks in advance!

[Dom]

Im pretty sure that tings like the CAO and Hoyo arent cigarillos, but instead just small cigars, theyr long filler. Cigarillos look more like cigarettes but these are all mini cigars.

Anyways, the Brazilias are great and some other good short smokes are the CAO Italia Novellas and Fuente Short stories(alittle more expensive)

[RHNewfie]

Yeah, be careful what you are looking for. If your intention is to inhale one of those mentioned above you will gag and choke!! At least I did :-D

[RGD]

Welcome to CS! First thing is - don't rely to much on those ratings - most of them are way out of line and no doubt fueled by ad money. Best thing is to read reviews (see the Top25Cigar link at the top of the page) and of course - just try them your self.

In addition to your short list - I enjoy the Ashton small cigars when I'm out at a restaurant that doesn't really allow cigar smoking. Rocky Patel makes a small Sun Grown that you may enjoy.

Everyone has different tastes - so nothing is going to substitute for you just trying them out.

Good luck with it -


Ron

[oldforge]

Originally Posted by Raphael

C.A.O. Brazilia Minis (also holds a very high rating for the cigar)

I am looking for something short, but flavourful and enjoyable. Something that doesn't want to kick the crap out of your throat, but delivers an enjoyable flavour profile with many subtleties.

I know that may seem like asking a lot of a cigarillo, but I am not expecting anything too spectacular.

Leaving aside the "cigarillo" definition issue (and there is one) the "many subtleties" is a lot to ask of a small smoke.

The only one I have had "with many subtleties" that didn't "kick my ass" was a six year old aged CAO Brazilia mini gifted to me. Since I have totally failed to keep my paws off my Brazilias for that length of time that is the only one I have had. :-)

You just aren't going to get "many subtleties" with a small smoke off the truck imho, and the only minis with the potential to meet your criteria will need years of age to get there and will probably kick your ass in the first year or two. I am talking about Petite Tatuajes, Camacho Corojo Machitos, CAO Brazilias, Padron Corticos, Partagas Black Prontos and (to a lesser extent) CAO Italias.

Milder cigarillos (often available for a steal at the Devil site) that I like include the Davidoffs and Nat Shermans. The Devil also has some no-name Brazilian and Sumatra cigarillos that are quite good.

My other suggestion is give the Holts minis a shot. They have the standard Dominican profile but I find them rather tasty.

(Devil site = http://www.cigarbid.com, Holts = http://www.holts.com)

[cpk]

Hello Raphael,
Welcome to the jungle. I am glad you made it over here from av123.


Joe

[Wharf Rat]

Originally Posted by oldforge

Leaving aside the "cigarillo" definition issue (and there is one) the "many subtleties" is a lot to ask of a small smoke.

The only one I have had "with many subtleties" that didn't "kick my ass" was a six year old aged CAO Brazilia mini gifted to me. Since I have totally failed to keep my paws off my Brazilias for that length of time that is the only one I have had. :-)

You just aren't going to get "many subtleties" with a small smoke off the truck imho, and the only minis with the potential to meet your criteria will need years of age to get there and will probably kick your ass in the first year or two. I am talking about Petite Tatuajes, Camacho Corojo Machitos, CAO Brazilias, Padron Corticos, Partagas Black Prontos and (to a lesser extent) CAO Italias.

Milder cigarillos (often available for a steal at the Devil site) that I like include the Davidoffs and Nat Shermans. The Devil also has some no-name Brazilian and Sumatra cigarillos that are quite good.

My other suggestion is give the Holts minis a shot. They have the standard Dominican profile but I find them rather tasty.

(Devil site = http://www.cigarbid.com, Holts = http://www.holts.com)

I second the Partagas Black Prontos! There's a simalarlysized regular Partagas which is milder.

[Will_S]

Old Fashioned chicos are seconds of macanudo and partagas. You can find them at Mikescigars.com for $22/100. Since finding them I have ordered 200 and am just about to place an order for the next hundred. These are real cigars, so as above, dont inhale.

[Raphael]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. And the welcoming notes. Thanks for linking me here cpk.

I'm considering Old Fashioned Chicos as they are priced more than fairly. I checked the Top25Cigar list as some of you have suggested, and surprisingly enough, I cannot find the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Miniatures there. There are various other sizes, but not the miniature. The larger version of the cigar is listed as one of the Top 25, which is what makes me think that the miniature would be very good. No idea though... Has anyone here smoked one of them?

And no worries guys, I know better than to inhale

[guy g]

Dont worry about the top 25, just smoke what tastes good to you!! I`ve smoked HdM, RyJ, Sancho Panza Matadors (real inexpensive) Baccarat, Even CAO flavors. Nice little smokes. I like them first thing in the morning.One more I forgot... Macanudo Robust Ascots.

[Raphael]

Originally Posted by guy g

Dont worry about the top 25, just smoke what tastes good to you!! I`ve smoked HdM, RyJ, Sancho Panza Matadors (real inexpensive) Baccarat, Even CAO flavors. Nice little smokes. I like them first thing in the morning.One more I forgot... Macanudo Robust Ascots.

If only there was some sort of a small cigar sampler. Then I wouldn't have to invest in a large shipment. I will look around for some.

[guy g]

True, but for the price of box of regulars, you can get several tins of cigarillos and minis.

[Will_S]

Originally Posted by Raphael

If only there was some sort of a small cigar sampler. Then I wouldn't have to invest in a large shipment. I will look around for some.

That is a great idea and something that I have actually looked online for. With many of the smaller cigars the minimum buy quantity seems to be 50 or 100 and what if you don't like them.

[guy g]

Look closer, most can be had in tins of 10. Bundles and seconds probably not, tho.

[crafty199]

I also have to recommend the Old Fashioned Chicos. Not really into small cigars, but the price lured me in. A real tasty smoke for being a second, and when you dont have an hour or two to dedicate to a real cigar. Surprisingly flavorful. If you are patient, Mike's runs a 2 for 1 special for 19.99 every couple of months. I picked up 4 boxes last time for 40.00 bucks. Unbeatable....also great to give to your moocher friends when they come over. If I can only find a beer this cheap for those same moochers........