My Opinion on NCs and ISOMs

[punch]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

I don't think you can have an informed opinion until you have sampled as many, or more, cubans then you have had nc's. That being alot of both.


NCRM's

I would tend to disagree with this. I would agree that one should try several Cubans of different makes before drawing a conclusion. But given the fact that there are probably three times as many vitolas of DR cigars alone than Cubans, and that is not even counting Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dutch, German, Swiss, and on and on, to say that you would need to try as many OR MORE Cubans as NC seems a bit illogical.

[Hydrated]

Originally Posted by punch

...It makes no difference if you just happen to prefer pork.

I like pork!!

But seriously... I have little experience with Cuban cigars, but I know that I have had some really good NC sticks. Different? Sure... but I can't see completely passing on the NC's because Cubans are different.

But what the hell do I know? I'd get tossed from the wine tasters club for admitting that I like an occasional snort of Boone's Farm!!

Bobby

[punch]

Originally Posted by donp

>>I don't think there is enough variety in Cuban cigars to satisfy my varying moods/tastes/occassions! Maybe I just myself saying that but it is my <,

Hung yerself in whose eyes? I for one appreciate your comment, and am in agreement.

Same here. Granted, as long as Cuba makes a PSD4, there will be room in my humidor for it. But I am nowhere near ready to say that I would be willing to give up my Don Carlos No. 3s, or my Davidoff 2000s, or my Anjeo No. 50s, or even my Afrique Machames.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by punch

I would tend to disagree with this. I would agree that one should try several Cubans of different makes before drawing a conclusion. But given the fact that there are probably three times as many vitolas of DR cigars alone than Cubans, and that is not even counting Nicaraguan, Honduran, Dutch, German, Swiss, and on and on, to say that you would need to try as many OR MORE Cubans as NC seems a bit illogical.

You forget that each year of each vitola will probably taste different, so you must add that to the total. For example, one boli pc, but taste from 12 separate years. That equals 12 different cigars.

By smoking more cubans, you really start to notice many more flavors than just having one every once and a while. Just like any cigar I reckon.

NCRM

[audio1der]

Taste is so sublective, it's impossible to say something is universally "great".
for instance, I do not care for RASS, or much care for PSD4 for that matter. Even after years of smoking ISOMs, I'm still figuring our which brands I like best as there are som many to try, and they can be very different from one another.

That being said, a great cigar (to me) is a great cigar (to me). Who cares where it comes from? I like ISOM RYJ's, Rocky Patel, ISOM H. Uppman and anything by Rolando Reyes. I'm sure your tastes differ, but that's great!
If we all liked the same few smokes, there would be no selection!

Smoke on, my brothers, smoke on.

[donp]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

You forget that each year of each vitola will probably taste different, so you must add that to the total. For example, one boli pc, but taste from 12 separate years. That equals 12 different cigars.

By smoking more cubans, you really start to notice many more flavors than just having one every once and a while. Just like any cigar I reckon.

NCRM

Yikes! For those having difficulty managing "the slope" the prospect of trying them all would be daunting and, prohibitive Hell, I fortunately don't feel I have to smoke every new smoke that comes out, other than RPs; Tats, Pepins, etc etc. It would become damned difficult to go after Cubans in the same way I been going after non cubans. So, it's a good thing I am not enamored of cubans at this point. Ignorance is bliss, and a lot less expensive

[audio1der]

Talking like that will get your mailbox blown to smithereens

[punch]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

By smoking more cubans, you really start to notice many more flavors than just having one every once and a while. Just like any cigar I reckon.

NCRM

I think we are talking the difference between coarse adjustment and fine adjustment. I will agree that once you settle on a given general taste, noting the differing subtleties between year to year vitola to vitola can be interesting and enjoyable. For me, I look for certain flavors to determine if I am going to spend more time with a line or not. The first PSD4 that I tried did not impress me. However, it was interesting enough to try some more. Ends up this is now my favorite Cuban. Same with the DR Davidoff. IF you would have told me this time last year that my favorite cigar would be made of DR tobacco wrapped with a CONN wrapper, I would have said . I am partial to neither DR tobacco nor Conny wrappers. However, The first Davidoff that I smoked showed promise, and it went from there. On the other hand, I have yet to find a Thompson that has any promise. I don't think that I need to smoke 300 of them from 10 different years to figure that out.

The point that I was making is not that you can set your tastes with a dozen cigars. But, rather that a few dozen different cigars can send you into an area to further explore. From there the fine adjustment comes in. I get the impression that you did your coarse adjustment a long time ago, and are now enjoying the fine adjustment of the different Cuban vitolas. Same for me, except that I concentrated in a different area (or areas). Not that I exclude all others by any means. It is just that if I have $300.00 to spend on a box of cigars, they will probably be Davidoffs and not Partagas. Now if I have a spare $600.00, I see no reason not to have some of each, and a few Anjeos with any left over change!

[ca21455]

Thanks for all the great feedback, it has really got me thinking.

Taste is the key to a great cigar. However for me cigars are also a hobby. Searching for a cigar with a great look, feel, band, box, etc is all part of the fun!

I only know and experienced a small fraction of what there is to know about cigars. A good deal of knowledge is gained by smoking, therefore I now have a good excuse to tell my wife why I need to buy more cigars.

[donp]

Originally Posted by audio1der

Talking like that will get your mailbox blown to smithereens

I aint a skeered! Although my wife will wanta know why the color of our mailbox has changed.

[donp]

Originally Posted by ca21455

Thanks for all the great feedback, it has really got me thinking.

Taste is the key to a great cigar. However for me cigars are also a hobby. Searching for a cigar with a great look, feel, band, box, etc is all part of the fun!

I only know and experienced a small fraction of what there is to know about cigars. A good deal of knowledge is gained by smoking, therefore I now have a good excuse to tell my wife why I need to buy more cigars.

I have had a lot of hobbies ca, and none of them have affected me this way, except for maybe a WW2 aircombat flying sim I was addicted to for many years. Come to think of it, I still go up and do battle every now and then.
But this has got em all beat. It satisfies my need to explore, and learn things, and know things and then, share them with like minded individuals. And finally, there is so much more to know
Thanks for starting this thread.