A couple of questions...once again.. and some comment

[veteranvmb]

Hello to all>
First a comment. I have been a one cigar a day smoker for almost 40 years. Being in the military active for many years and then as a reservist, I did several rotations in Cuba.
While not being knowledgable then about Cuban Cigars, I had the opportunity for months at a time, and several rotation of that to smoke the genuine Cuban Cigars. From the run of the mill, to the suppossedly better ones.
I truly feel, on average, the non cuban cigars that are available today, are a much higher quality then the Cubans. I think the cubans are running on reputation to a certain point.
I have smoked a lot of them, and indeed there were a few really really good high quality ones, but I would put a good 5-8 buck dominican or honduran cigar up against a 20 buck cuban any day. Thats just my opinion.
Now for some questions LOL

1) Looking to fill up my new humidors with cigars and looking over the reviews on the forums on puff site. Nice contributions by all, and thi puff site, is such a pleasure to read. Genuine good information and good personalities aboard, What I want to know is, that for instance in one type of cigar that comes in eight or nine sizes, I sometimes see a vast difference in the rateings between sizes. Is that because of a longer smoke, having the opportunity to experience the different degrees of heat on the tobacco which could affect the taste? Or are there other reasons.
I have been looking at the reviews and trying to determine what different brands and varieties to stock up on to tast, but I notice(I generally prefer a 45x6 or seven)but not fussy, that the shorter ones get better reviews, or the longer ones, or the thicker ones. So whats up.
Also, When comparing prices, I have seen that j r cigars usually has the best prices, but I see a lot of comments that they are shipping out dried out cigars, and that there are other places that might be better.
Can someone inform me of what they think. One criteria I have is that what I order one day is shipped the next and I only want ups shipping. Neither usps or fedex.
Jr has been great so far with this, but they dont carry the Rocky Patels, which I seem to always reach for. I like the Patels 1990. I dont know why, but it seems to be my go to cigar. I didnt see any reviews on the cigar reviews, so where do you order from.

Much regards Jerry

[madurolover]

Jerry, there is sometimes a vast difference in taste from vitola to vitola. This is basically due to the wrapper to binder to filler ratio (although you bring up a good point about the heating up of the tobacco that holds some merit IMO).

As far as vendors, there are several that offer quality product and quality shipping. In my experience there is nothing wrong with the shipping practices of JR's.

As far as Cuban cigars go, i smoke quite a few of them and I would venture to say that I own some $5 Cubans that are better than any premium cigar from any other country. It is a misnomer that Cuban cigars are so expensive. Of course they can be but so can a lot of others.

Hope this answers your questions and Welcome to the forum!