Closest ISOM tasting Non-ISOM

[summerkc]

Hey guys, just wanted to ask the old timers here which non-ISOM is most like a common ISOM.

I had a Gran Habano Corojo #5 today and it seemed to be what I would imagine a ISOM to be, strong and really earthy, leathery flavors.

Which cigar would you say in a blind taste test would be hard to tell from a ISOM?

[BayouDawg]

Not an old timer, but I'd have say the Camacho Diploma.

-bd

[Wetterhorn]

I would put the TTT Trinidad line of cigars up for nomination. Very rich and earthy with a great deal of smoke. Very enjoyable...

[2chairs]

Only a Cuban tastes like a Cuban.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[MoTheMan]

The old Don Melo Centennario line (the ones with the picture on the band and produced at the Felipe Gregorio factory).

[wk-mang]

Originally Posted by flipflop

Only a Cuban tastes like a Cuban.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I agree with FrippaFroppa 100%

Wade

[coppertop]

Originally Posted by flipflop

Only a Cuban tastes like a Cuban.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

That pretty much sums up what I was going to say.

[Bruce5]

Sorry to say but,
Chicken will never taste like steak.
.
Good news is there is some good chicken out there.

[summerkc]

Originally Posted by Bruce5

Sorry to say but,
Chicken will never taste like steak.
.
Good news is there is some good chicken out there.

Thats a little extreme, how about comparing just differnt cuts of meat, like rump roast will never taste like Filet Mignon, but some other cuts of meat come pretty close if you cook them right.

There has to be one cigar that is close to an ISOM, I mean, a cow raised in Texas tastes the same as one in South Dakota right?

[Matt R]

The only thing I've had that comes close is the Camacho Diploma and that was only a partial match. I would swear that they put Havana leaf in the first quarter inch of that cigar. After the first two or three puffs though they sour to the usual crappy taste of Honduran tobacco.

In general I would tend to agree with Flip Flop's post, but some Havana machine mades do not always hold a unique taste charateristic.

[Matt R]

Originally Posted by summerkc

I mean, a cow raised in Texas tastes the same as one in South Dakota right?

Not necessarily.

[MoTheMan]

Originally Posted by summerkc

Thats a little extreme, how about comparing just differnt cuts of meat, like rump roast will never taste like Filet Mignon, but some other cuts of meat come pretty close if you cook them right.

There has to be one cigar that is close to an ISOM, I mean, a cow raised in Texas tastes the same as one in South Dakota right?

Yeah, but was the cow corn or grain fed?

OMG, now we're talking about cows!!??!

[clovis]

Answer #1
To me, there are two primary differences between an ISOM and a nonISOM. First, a good ISOM cigar (they are all handmade afterall) usually has multiple flavors within each puff, and changes flavors significantly as a cigar is smoked down. Might taste light and creamy for the first third, switch to a more earthy flavor for a while, etc...... In my experience, few nonISOMs switch flavors like this. In addition, I usually love the last third of most ISOMs, and usually discover that most nonISOMS taste bitter during the last third. Second...body...many (not all) ISOMS tend to have a greater kick to them.

In this way, I agree that basically only an ISOM tastes like an ISOM.

Wouldn't you agree that only a nicaraguan puro like Padron tastes like a pure Nicaraguan?

Answer #2

SO... which nonISOM is most like an ISOM? I second the Camacho... To me, the Camacho maduro, corojo, and diploma have flavors that I usually only notice in an ISOM. Though the camacho doesn't change flavors as near as often like an ISOM.

Some of the Joya De Nicaragua smokes have the power that many of my ISOMS have...though the actual flavor seems harsh. The camacho diplomas tend to kick it up a notch too.

[Matt R]

Originally Posted by clovis

(they are all handmade afterall)

Uhhh.. nope....

[clovis]

oopps...matt is correct
there are machine made cubans...
what I was meaning to say was a "good cuban" will change flavors often, however, not every cuban is good, not every brand is good everytime...each cigar will change based on the roller (handmades, handfinished), and the tobacco used...

my fault, was trying to qualify what I meant when I said a "good ISOM" tastes like this or that..