What NC is most like an ISOM stick?

[zmancbr]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Pepin is probably the one coming closest to a Cuban cigar today.
He rolls and blends them in that tradition.
However, they are not Cuban tobacco.
He can replicate the process but he doesn't have the McIntosh.

I would also say Pepin... I bet I could smoke 10 cigars, with 5 CCs and 5 Pepins and not be able to tell which is cuban and which isn't... they are that good. I still love a good fuente more than a good pepin, but pepin is more Cuban flavored IMO.

[krisko]

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Tat black

A Tat black tastes like an aged Cuban Partagas to me. It's really a perfect cigar without the hassles of waiting and legality issues.

And I agree with those who said Pepin...specifically the blue label. Ironically the black label (cuban classic) is very good but doesn't taste particularly cuban to me.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

Pepin was the first to come to mind for me too, but yeah...




Psssst.. and it's OK to say....

[SIZE="5"]CUBAN[/SIZE]

Originally Posted by mander153

I've not really smoked enough CC to know, but I'm told that the Tatuaje's come close (I think someone had already mentioned Don Pepin). Again, I don't have a good basis for comparison, but I had a Tatuaje "brown" the other night and really liked it.

Originally Posted by Footbag

Tat Brown Label was the first thing to pop into my mind.

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

They are nc's.


Cabaiguans are a good second to cuban cigars, imo. But it really is like comparing apples to oranges.

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Tat black

Wow!!!
Interesting.
Pepin all the way!!!

Duhman,
How can you not like this guy?
He is as Cuban as they come. Not sure if he still has the three ring cap after this photo.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by zmancbr

I would also say Pepin... I bet I could smoke 10 cigars, with 5 CCs and 5 Pepins and not be able to tell which is cuban and which isn't... they are that good. I still love a good fuente more than a good pepin, but pepin is more Cuban flavored IMO.

Originally Posted by krisko

A Tat black tastes like an aged Cuban Partagas to me. It's really a perfect cigar without the hassles of waiting and legality issues.

And I agree with those who said Pepin...specifically the blue label. Ironically the black label (cuban classic) is very good but doesn't taste particularly cuban to me.

Forgot to add you guys to the list.

[ahbroody]

also agreeing with blueface.
Pepins while not having cuban tastes are often complex and share some characteristics of cubans.

Horrible these days I am becoming more and more of a habanos head. I still enjoy pepins and illusiones, some padrons. That said given the choice when I open the humi 8-10 times I want the cuban over the NC. Except the maduro. I still say the cohiba mad sucks compared to padrons.

Thanks Mean Darrell! Had to give me that JLP to try.

[duhman]

Duhman,
How can you not like this guy?
He is as Cuban as they come. Not sure if he still has the three ring cap after this photo.

I like Pepin cigars, especially San Cristobols, I just think they are stronger flavored and more spicy than most Cuban cigars.

[Smokin Gator]

It is interesting that many of the replies are Pepin blends. I was reading the Pepin Whore thread when I posted the question!

[JohnnyFlake]

All Cuban Cigars are Puros, therefore, there are no non-Cuban Cigars (NONE), that even come close in taste! The very same is true of Puros from any other country!

[borndead1]

Originally Posted by duhman

I disagree about Pepins. Maybe one tastes like some CC to somebody. I have found that many different NCs reminded me of one or another CC, but I don't remember the specifics. I have even found a bundle cigar I thought would fool a smoker in a blind taste with a cuban cigar if the cap were cut and it was dark.
This is such a subjective question that there is no answer except to try them all out and decide for yourself.

Me too. "Cuban Leaf", by Tabacalera Tropical, to me tasted like a CC. And it wasn't a trick of my imagination, because I smoked my first CC long after I had finished the bundle! When I lit up my first CC (a Siglo II), i was like, "Holy s**t, this tastes like a Cuban Leaf!" I got more of them, but they changed them to a short filler piece of crap.

Out of curiosity, which cigar was it that you speak of?

[duhman]

Originally Posted by borndead1

Me too. "Cuban Leaf", by Tabacalera Tropical, to me tasted like a CC. And it wasn't a trick of my imagination, because I smoked my first CC long after I had finished the bundle! When I lit up my first CC (a Siglo II), i was like, "Holy s**t, this tastes like a Cuban Leaf!" I got more of them, but they changed them to a short filler piece of crap.

Out of curiosity, which cigar was it that you speak of?

I think it was a Flor de Oliva Corojo. I can't remember the CC it reminded me of.

[borndead1]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Not sure if he still has the three ring cap after this photo.

Does he still have a wedding ring after this photo?

[d.o.]

In my obviously humble opinion lol -- with the quality in craftsmanship and growing and caring for the tobacco that occurs presently, Cuban's are becoming more of a 'flavor profile' than necessarily being automatically BETTER than all other cigars. I think the biggest difference is the tobacco. Find what you like-- what you like is what you like. The simple mystique behind cubans will wear out on you eventually. There will still be amazing cubans-- but I believe there's just as many amazing non-cubans. But afterall, just my opinion.

[RicoPuro]

I guess it also depends what type of Cuban puro we are talking about. It is not fair to place say a Bolivar PC next to a PSD#4, a HDM churchill or a Monte#2. Having said that, there is a very specific twang to Cuban tobacco which would be difficult to duplicate even from Cuban seed elsewhere.

IMHO, some of Pepin's cigars resemble the PSD#4 in style but then again, "close but no cigar"...

Blueface, that pic of DPG is seriously incriminating!!

jorge

[chippewastud79]

I would say something similar would be a LaRiqueza and some Tatuaje stuff.

Originally Posted by elderboy02

I would say a Illusione CG:4

Really? Which ones are they similar to?
Illusiones taste nothing like any cuban I have ever smoked. They are filled with spice and pepper and I have never had a cuban with that kind of pepper.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by RicoPuro

Blueface, that pic of DPG is seriously incriminating!!

jorge

I hear they are "cousins".