Closest ISOM tasting Non-ISOM

[(909)]

Actually, it's nice any see any of you guys in Florida responding after all you've been through.

[Bruce5]

From what I understand, Joe and Fred did ok.
I fared well also, just another big pain in the *ss.
Very Grateful the house is ok.

[shelvingunit]

Originally Posted by (909)

I normally like Flor De Olivas and smoke them occasianally when I am undecided. I lit one last night while watching the F1 race live from China and immediately wanted to throw it away.

What happened??

Yesterday morning I smoked an ISOM for the first time and liked it. Then I smoke an old go to smoke and I notice that the flavor sucks, the burn sucks, it lacks depth and the farther it went the worse it got.

Am I an ISOM addict after one smoke??

Do not fear the slope....walk toward the dark side...

[(909)]

Originally Posted by 1f1fan

Do not fear the slope....walk toward the dark side...

Don't worry, I've already put my fear of the dark side away and will be facing my "fear" 25 times unless I share my "fear" with friends. Hopefully my "fear" shows up as promised.


p.s. F1fan..looks like I put the curse on Shumacher!

[cyclops]

I just had my first ISOM a little while ago. It was a Ramon Allones corona. I must say, I've definitely never tasted a domestic that tasted anything like it. It was the best smoke I've had yet!

We'll see how this "slippery slope" thing turns out.

[cigarsmoka]

The new Cusano 10 tastes like a Monte #4. It's unbelievable honest. I know only Cubans taste like Cubans, but this little cigar has some unbelievable potential!

[Fredster]

Originally Posted by cyclops

I just had my first ISOM a little while ago. It was a Ramon Allones corona. I must say, I've definitely never tasted a domestic that tasted anything like it. It was the best smoke I've had yet!

We'll see how this "slippery slope" thing turns out.

Thats a great cigar. Enjo while you can they were discontinued.

[kamikaiguy]

Hey guys

The Cigars that I think are not actually the same as a good ISOM but just as good as a good ISOM are.

TTT Trinidad Natural and Maduro.
Padron 1926's
Perdomo Estate Selections

These cigars are some of my favorites.

[Uniputt]

Well, I got to reading all of this thread, and now I am fearing the dark side approaches....!!!

The best stogie I ever had (to the best of my recollection) was a Cohiba Churchill at the Colonial Golf Tournament in Fort Worth. It was touted as being a ISOM......but I wasn't smoking very much at the time, and have no way to verify that. It could very well have been a fake.....since the DR Cohibas taste eerily similar to me....as best I can recall. It could have also been the legendary margaritas they serve there, too. Hell, it's tough to say why I thought it was the best......could alsa just have been the whole atmosphere.....

I've been smoking about 3 years now, and have found some really fine tasting stogies to my liking. If I'm happy, should I even attempt to get some ISOMs???????

I mean, I'm dying to try what I can positively call an ISOM.....but am I really asking for trouble? Is there any way to stop the slide???

I can't help but ask.....Since there are some smokes that people CLAIM taste like an ISOM.....how much difference can there really be?
Am I doomed? What happens at the bottom of the slope? Is there a bottom?
(Just kidding......but I do wonder so much about what the all hoopla is about with the ISOMs.......If they're really that much better, then why doesn't everyone put up with the trouble of procuring them...inconsistencies and all....seems like it would be worth the trouble, no?)

What to do......begin a difficult quest to find a source, (just to try a few) or simply remain content with what is available here in Texas.....and wait for legalization....if it happens at all.

Is bliss better? If I don't know what I am missing.....am I really missing anything?

.................tortured in Texas..........

[Butch]

Originally Posted by Uniputt

Well, I got to reading all of this thread, and now I am fearing the dark side approaches....!!!

The best stogie I ever had (to the best of my recollection) was a Cohiba Churchill at the Colonial Golf Tournament in Fort Worth. It was touted as being a ISOM......but I wasn't smoking very much at the time, and have no way to verify that. It could very well have been a fake.....since the DR Cohibas taste eerily similar to me....as best I can recall. It could have also been the legendary margaritas they serve there, too. Hell, it's tough to say why I thought it was the best......could alsa just have been the whole atmosphere.....

I've been smoking about 3 years now, and have found some really fine tasting stogies to my liking. If I'm happy, should I even attempt to get some ISOMs???????

I mean, I'm dying to try what I can positively call an ISOM.....but am I really asking for trouble? Is there any way to stop the slide???

I can't help but ask.....Since there are some smokes that people CLAIM taste like an ISOM.....how much difference can there really be?
Am I doomed? What happens at the bottom of the slope? Is there a bottom?
(Just kidding......but I do wonder so much about what the all hoopla is about with the ISOMs.......If they're really that much better, then why doesn't everyone put up with the trouble of procuring them...inconsistencies and all....seems like it would be worth the trouble, no?)

What to do......begin a difficult quest to find a source, (just to try a few) or simply remain content with what is available here in Texas.....and wait for legalization....if it happens at all.

Is bliss better? If I don't know what I am missing.....am I really missing anything?

.................tortured in Texas..........

Well if you were ever able to travel outside of the country to say the Carribean islands, Europe or Canada on business or taking the other half on a trip you could try one, and make your decision. Other than that maybe one of the fellows in your area could explain the dark side personally. Personally I live in Canada and the taxes are nuts for cigars, it make the noncubans and cubans pretty close to parady in pricing so I do the Cuban thing....They may cost a little more but they are worth it......

my $0.02 (Canadian)

[MoTheMan]

Dying to try an ISOM? Asking for trouble? Hmm!! Is there any way to stop the SLIDE?! I've been in freefall for quite sometime now!!

Just FYI the Cohiba Churchill is a darn good cigar (the corresponding Cuban Cohiba is called the Esplendido) and has a lot of subtle smooth cocoa/coffee like flaovrs. Very enjoyable. The ISOMs will usually run stronger, spicier, earthier. You'll find that even a mild ISOM on the same strength parity as the Cohiba Churchill (like a Flor de Cano Petit Corona [which comes with a cedar wrap]) will still be a bit more spicy by comparison. Now, there are some pretty good fake cubans made in the DR. Not the real thing of course, but nice tasting nonetheless. Also keep in mind that the environment/atmosphere of where you're at can also affect your experience of a cigar, just as the company you're with (that's why we herf), what you're drinking/eating/smoking along with it, etc ...

Are you doomed?! I don't know about you, but I (& a few others I know) are damned beyond salvation. LOL And what happens at the bottom of the slope? There no bottom!

Marvin Shanken once commented that when he wa first thinking of publishing Cigar Aficionado, it was hard to decide whether or not to include Cuban cigars in the publication, since they were generally illegal to purchase here in the US. He decided to go ahead & do so citing that the publication just wouldn't be complete if it did not include cigars from one of the major cigar sources in the world.

By the same token, any true cigar devotee, will eventually want to try some ISOM, even if it's just for the experience of it. What true cigar lover wouldn't? BWAHAHAHAHA Some, like me, will also want to try flavored cigars, Phillipine, and even Indonesian cigars as well.

Find a source? Naw. just hang around here and a fellow gorilla will come along and BOMB you!! Hee, hee, hee. Legalizatoin? . . .Patience, patience. All will come in good time . . . actually, you'll be surprised as to how many more cigars you'll be introduced to from people around here.

They say ignorance is bliss, but I think a good ISOM is even more Bliss!!

There are some CS herfs from TX. I wonder if they might chime in?!

So just hang around. The fun's about to start.

[Uniputt]

Thanks, Mo. I appreciate the post.
When I said it was a Churchill, I was referring to size. If it was a real ISOM, then I guess it would have been the Esplendido. They had the box there, but at the time, I didn't really look at it....I just grabbed one, fired up and enjoyed!! (Of course, like we mentioned, the atmosphere, friends, etc, had a great deal to do with the enjoyment...! Their margaritas are hella-strong!!!, too!)
By the way, nice humi-closet you have!!! (Kind of gives new meaning to the term "coming out of the closet, huh?")

I really wished I had found this site earlier.....then maybe I could have tagged along on the recent Dallas Turkey thing.....sounded like alot of fun!!

Butch, it's just a shame I can't really get out of the states too often. In fact, I've only been to Mexico once!!! (And I'm even in Texas!!! )
Work, for me, does not require travel, and with a wife/kids/etc. you can imagine how tough it can be to get away, even for a vacation.
I think though, next summer, we are hoping to go back to Mexico. With all that I've learned here and elsewhere in regards to spotting fakes, maybe I can pick a few up that are genuine!! (I think last time I was the victim of a sly shop owner, who knew I was naive, and I received some fakes! )

We live, We learn, I guess. !!!

[(909)]

Uniputt (I wish all my putts were uniputts), try the Cusano C10s, I think that they've got the kind of taste that you are looking for.

If that doesn't do it, you can get on your sled and start sliding.

Good Luck

[Uniputt]

Funny you should mention the Cusanos......I've always like the 18 (double Connecticut shade wrapper) even though it was on the milder side. I even enjoyed the Corojo that they make. I'm surprised that they don't charge more for their product!! Really a good value, if you ask me!

I think I'll pick up one of the C10s this week. And maybe a Padron 1926 as well.

(That is, unless anyone in North Texas wants to meet up for a herf!)
I usually frequent Ye Old Cigar Shoppe in Arlington.......

[LasciviousXXX]

Uniputt,
Be carefull around that slope its dangerous I just recently started sliding down it and just a short time ago tripped and am now falling...... HARD. You gotta love it though. Some of my favorite strong domestics are the Partagas Black Series and the Opus X Series. Talk about knocking you on your ass. I'm glad I ate something the first time I tried the Opus.