Any really good, underrated non-cubans from lesser known brands I should be aware of?

[cigarssogood]

Just wanting some recommendations for brands of non-cuban cigars that are really good - perhaps underrated - and a reasonable price. I am not a snob when it comes to cigars. I am willing to try anything. Each new cigar I light up gives me child-like joy. Not that that joy lasts very long if the cigars sucks, but nevertheless...

Any thoughts? I have ordered some CAO Gold robustos and am going to get some Rocky Patels, but those are really popular brands. Something new and perhaps not extremely well known. I like to surprise my buddies with new and obscure smokes, especially when they aren't so expensive I wince when I hand a few out at parties. Haha.

[Big_T_UK]

Hmm........

Racking my memory. What was the thing they really suggested we try at JJ Fox. Lascaux, can you remember?

T.

[Lee Nub]

Perdomo lot 23. Unreal tbh T .

[Lascaux]

hmm

think that was a smaller ashton VSG, maybe the mystique?

will pop in there when my flu's cleared up and check it out.

[Big_T_UK]

Sorry to hear you have the flu, and yes, Ashton VSG is supposed to be good.

Which Rocky Patel you thinking of?

T.

[cigarssogood]

The Rocky Patel Sun growns (I read they are lacking in flavour though) and the Rocky Patel 92 vintage robustos, but those aren't super cheap.

Where would you recommend a Canadian to buy some of these recommended non-cuban cigars from btw? Most companies ship everywhere except canada.

[HabanoSy]

Here are some of my 'sort of budget' suggestions...

Arturo Fuente Cuban Corona
Ashton Tres Mystique
Carlos Torano Silver Edition Robusto Corto
Hoyo Excalibur 1066 Dark Knight I
Oliva Serie O Robusto
Oliva Serie V Belicoso
Padron 3000
Padron 6000
Padron Executive
Padron Magnum
Punch Gran Puro Rancho
Saint Luis Rey Belicoso
Saint Luis Rey Churchill

Try these and see how you get on...

There are many more out there and Im sure so of the others will be along in a while to give you their favourites...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[cigarssogood]

Wow...that's a lot of variety! I would love to find a few smokes that are around 5 dollars per stick...would feel less like I'm smoking 20 dollar bills...haha...suggestions for where to buy, being in Canada?

[SeanP]

I tend to go more medium to full and stay away from the milder smokes. But for your money, and in that $5/stick range (without shipping) I would offer these 'sleepers' and somewhat 'sleepers'

5 Vegas Series "A"
5 Vegas Miami
A. Fernandez
Cu-Avana Intenso
Rocky Patel Edge Maduro
Fonseca 5-50 (this is on the mild side but lots of flavor)
Gran Habano 3 Siglos
Gran Habano #5 Corojo
Hoyo Dark Sumatra (Espresso Vitola 4.5 x 50 is excellent)
La Cuna Bin No. 85 try the Habano wrapper, "super sleeper" , super cheap.
Partagas Black
Onyx Reserve (Mini Belicoso v.nice)
Man-O-War (Corona is a nice smoke)

A few to get you going.

[celsis]

Perdomo lot 23. Unreal tbh T .

I'll second that! Got a sampler of 5 and they're luvverly!

[misterbulgarin]

Anything Perdomo, really have alot of respect for that brand.

Jose Marti provide some nice mild smokes, but they're hard to find. I buy these in Churchill vitola, it's 19 bucks for 10 churchills, leave them in the humi for a month or two and they provide you with a light smoke which is just easy going, and they burn really well too. Can only get about an inch of ash though (if that).

Georges Reserve! Excellent everyday smoke with some nice chunky vitolas, great prices too. Mild, super strong ash and plumes of smoke. Made by the people who do Oliva. I've had about 15 so far (collectively) and EVERY one has smoked, performed and tasted brilliant. Big respect.

Gran Habano make some nice conneticuts, I like the torpedo especially

Black Pearl, had one of these and the quality, complexity and body of it really knocked me back, wasn't expecting such a good experience with a NC

I had an Ashton Cabinet cigar (Torpedo) and it was real easy going, I heard bad things about Ashton but my experience was ok.

[kingcohiba]

id say quite a few of the brands mentioned are not under rated at all. especially the vsg! thats a top brand to be honest. a very good stick too i might add. if you are looking for inexpensive ncs which are totally worth purchasing a box, let me recommend some for ya.

anything punch....i prefer the punch elites at about $50.00 a box
romeo y julieta reserva real.....coronas
padron delicias........i prefer the maduro to the naturals
oliva serie o.....robustos for me
h upmann vintage cameroon....p coronas for me...i didnt say the p word!
excalibur 1066.......merlin cameroon, although some like the sumatras
about any fuente.....i prefer the opus and anejo and some hemingways but from their regular line try the 858s or the chateau are a personal favorite of mine

with the exception of opus anejo or hemingways from fuente you are looking at about 75 bucks or under a box. they are not under rated any of these, but priced rather nicely.

white owl swisher sweet and dutch master are pretty nice on the wallet too!

[cigarssogood]

I doubt I've ever gotten so much info in so little time on a forum. So much to choose from...this could take months. Haha.

I would love to buy some Fuente's and Padrons, but I worry about getting counterfeits. A box of Fuente's costs the same in Canada as a box of Cubans...about $500. So, I assume that, even if I can buy some for half that price overseas, it is still very likely that I could get burned. Thoughts?

[kingcohiba]

padron anniversary and high end fuentes are the ones counterfeited. i dont think you will have to worry much about their normal brands being counterfeited. i have never to my knowledge seen a counterfeit padron or fuente, only the high end from both companies. you need to research a little bit better because these cigars are inexpensive and not $500 a box. buy them elsewhere.....or from me! they are only $300.00 a box from me! haha jk

[cigarssogood]

I wonder how much duty I would pay on a Humidor? I really want a Xikar Artisan humidor for my buddy, and they have them, but I know they make you pay duties up-front. I'll have to email them and ask.

Btw. I just smoked a Royal Corona and whilst it didn't have the same burn issue (A bit, but nothing a lighter couldn't fix) it was quite bitter. I think maybe I must have had the lighter too close. I tried to toast it perfectly but you think the bitterness was because of the way it was lit? Please note that I am a noob to cigars and have yet to perfect all the nuances of smoking them, and that is why I am asking such a simple question. Ha.