My First Non-Cuban Cigar

[96Brigadier]

Yesterday I spoiled myself and tried two different sticks, one in the afternoon and one last night while taking the kids around trick or treating. The afternoon was a Cohiba Siglo IV. The second smoke last night was a Rocky Patel Summer Selection, and it was my first ever non-Cuban smoke.

I'm not going to bother going into a review of either, the purpose of this post is sort of the reverse of those posts where a guy has tried a Cuban for the first time and says how he now understands what the big deal is.

So, having tried my first non-Cuban I now know what the big deal is with Cubans and what the "twang" is all about! I'm trying to keep in mind that this was my first non-Cuban and maybe it was just this one cigar, but it wasn't anywhere near the same or anywhere near as good as all of the different Cubans I've tried.

I was going to put an order in for some non-Cubans but now I don't think I will, especially since I'm heading to Cuba in December and I'll be bringing back at least 100 sticks (hopefully more if the friends we're going with don't fill up their limit).

Steve

[triad47]

There are a bunch of Non Cuban cigars that are available. I wouldn't base my opinion off of one representation in a sea of Non Cubans. I enjoy a Cuban everyonce in a blue moon...but to be honest my favorites are not Cubans.

[96Brigadier]

Originally Posted by triad47

There are a bunch of Non Cuban cigars that are available. I wouldn't base my opinion off of one representation in a sea of Non Cubans. I enjoy a Cuban everyonce in a blue moon...but to be honest my favorites are not Cubans.

I'm definitely trying to let that one turn me off. I have another 4 different kinds of non-Cubans in the humidor to try out (Padron, Camacho, Oliva, and one other I can't remember). Maybe one or more of those will be different. Plus next time I'll be sure not to try one of them after having smoked something like a Cohiba Siglo IV hours earlier.

[veteranvmb]

The last time I smoked cubans(in cuba) I did not care for them. That was a long time ago.

Just curious, what is the limit for a canadian on bringing back cuban cigars? What is the cost factor, as oppossed to buying them in Canada? If there is no difference in price, why do you bother to bring them back, and why cant your friends by their own if this is the case?

Just curious, enjoy your trip and say hello for me down there. Post 17 mirror.

Much thanks Jerry

[96Brigadier]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

The last time I smoked cubans(in cuba) I did not care for them. That was a long time ago.

Just curious, what is the limit for a canadian on bringing back cuban cigars? What is the cost factor, as oppossed to buying them in Canada? If there is no difference in price, why do you bother to bring them back, and why cant your friends by their own if this is the case?

Just curious, enjoy your trip and say hello for me down there. Post 17 mirror.

Much thanks Jerry

If you're of legal age to smoke in Canada then you can bring back up to 50 cigars per person (hence the 100 I can bring back, 50 in my limit and another 50 in my wife's limit).

The price difference is ENORMOUS. They're at least four times more expensive in Canada, especially here in Alberta that has extra taxes that some of the other Provinces don't have. For example, the Cohiba Siglo IV that I smoked yesterday goes for about $9.50 in Cuba (last time I heard anyways). It sells for $45 at my local B&M. A Ramon Allones Specially Selected is about $5 in Cuba, or $25 at my local B&M.

Generally speaking if a box of 25 is $150 in Cuba it's going to run about $600 here. The price savings on 100 cigars can actually be equal to the cost of the entire trip for one person.

[Shaz]

Although everyone's got their spin on cubans vs non cubans, I wouldn't base your entire impression of non cubans on one cigar. Seeing as you are going to have an opportunity to stock up on Cubans, I would definitely go for that. But try out more nc's when you get a chance.
I love Cubans, and there's nothing close to the ones I like best. But I also like a lot of nc's as well. I find they offer up a nice change up once in a while.
I wouldn't want to eat only filet mignon. I also enjoy fish and chicken.
What I find is, there's a lot of Cubans that are exceptional cigars, quite a few very good ones, and some that just don't cut it for me. With non-cubans, there's a lot of them are from dog rockets to meh...many that are very very good, and a small percentage that are exceptional. Almost the opposite of Cubans.
But there are many on this forum that are exclusive to Cubans, and probably more to non cubans. In the end, smoke what you like.

[Tarks]

In my mind, most of everything that RP has sucks. I might offend some people in saying that but this is just my opinion.

If you a like a full bodied, full flavored cigar (I am assuming you do since you enjoy the Cohiba Sig IV) then you should try some Pepin 601's, Tat browns, Illusiones, Oliva V's. These are some of my favorite nc's that I have had to date.

[96Brigadier]

Originally Posted by Tarks

In my mind, most of everything that RP has sucks. I might offend some people in saying that but this is just my opinion.

If you a like a full bodied, full flavored cigar (I am assuming you do since you enjoy the Cohiba Sig IV) then you should try some Pepin 601's, Tat browns, Illusiones, Oliva V's. These are some of my favorite nc's that I have had to date.

Thanks for the suggestions. Two of the NC's in my humidor are Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra's. Those are a couple of big sticks, looking forward to trying them but it may not be until spring when the weather gets better.

[RobustBrad]

Nice information here. Thanks guys.

Cheers,
Brad

[jadeg001]

Personally, I think that there are much better NC smokes than the RP Summer Collection. I would suggest you give them a second chance as you have stated. Which Padrons do you have? I have yet to be disappointed by a Padron (though I have only had the anni's).

[bdw1984]

try tatuaje, padron 1964 or 1926 or some of the top end fuente stuff (opus x, anejo)... also some of pepins stuff, cubao, 601... if u need help pm me ill send u some good stuff to try... (also for the record i prefer cc's but there are some great nc's out there too)

[Dread]

When you smoke a $45 stick and then smoke a $5-$10 stick back to back id imagine youd come to the same conclusion no matter the origin. Post up what you think of the other non-cubans you have after you try them out, Im very curious. I live about 2 hours from the canadian border and have never had a cuban so Im contemplating taking the drive up one weekend and grabbing a few.

[commonsenseman]

Originally Posted by Tarks

If you a like a full bodied, full flavored cigar (I am assuming you do since you enjoy the Cohiba Sig IV) then you should try some Pepin 601's, Tat browns, Illusiones, Oliva V's. These are some of my favorite nc's that I have had to date.

Originally Posted by jadeg001

Which Padrons do you have? I have yet to be disappointed by a Padron (though I have only had the anni's).

^^^^^^ what both of these guys said, there are much better NC's than what you had. I'd also recommend trying some Camachos, the Padilla Miami & Padilla 1932.

[96Brigadier]

Thanks for all the advice and the offer guys. I'll be sure to give the other NC's a try and keep an open mind.

I'm not sure which Padron I have, friend of mine picked it up (along with the other NC's I have) in Denver a few weeks ago. There's a good chance I'll be going down to Denver in the next two weeks myself, if I do I'll see if Jerry's on 16th street has any of the ones you guys have mentioned.

[Rev2010]

Dude seriously?? I've had Cubans plenty of times and to be honest my favorites are all non-cubans, I'll be honest, I'm a fan of Rockey Patel and he is indeed known for some excellent sticks but the summer selection is not one of them. Never tried one, might be good but might not be. Regardless, try that Padron you have and come back here with your opinion. In my opinion Nicaraguan tabacco is the best on this planet and Padron is my absolute favorite. I would also recommend you pick up a La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero. If you don't like the Padron or LFD then there's no helping you, stick with your Cubans


Rev.