Padron 40th Anniversary

[larrysson]

I tried my first Nicaraguan leaf Padron cigar today, which also represents the first non-cuban cigar I have ever smoked in the UK. It was bought in the USA some years ago (not by me) and it had a US price tag on it of just under 25 dollars. It has to be one of the best cigars I've ever enjoyed. I immediately looked them up on several UK websites, and was shocked to find this very cigar selling for £48....in the US, it is now selling for 27 usd. I think I'll wait until next visiting my folks in the US to pick up a box. Even with duty, that price difference makes me question what is going on with how the UK prices cigars.

But all this isn't really a complaint....I'm thrilled to find out that there are cigars out there that can be just as good as, if not better, than Cubans. Having grown up in the states and hearing nothing about the greatness of Cubans, then moving to the UK where I could have them, I never ventured elsewhere in the cigar world.

So, I would love some recommendations for good, full body cigars that are not Cuban. I don't want to pay 50 quid a stick, so suggestions around 15-25 per stick would be appreciated.

[Romeo Allones]

The Padron Anniversary series is very good but very pricey, the Padron 64 small size can be had for around £20 so much more reasonable. Other premium NCs I like under £30 are the Andalusian Bull, Fuente Opus X, EP Carrillo Encore Majestic and Plasencia Alma Fuerte.

[mcdee]

Oliva Serie V series is pretty good. Not sure if you can get them here but the Julius Caesar brand is also worth trying.

[Vitola]

I would also recommend Crowned Heads and some of the Dunhill Aged if you can get hold of them. Casdagli/Bespoke - is probably my favourite they can be pricey, but they are damn good smokes. From their 'Traditional' range try Grand Cafe or Cotton Tail; from 'Daughters of the Wind' range try Sabino or Cremello ( in fact I had a box of Cremello delivered today) and anything from their Club Mareva line is also excellent!

[Max A]

Oliva Serie V series is pretty good. Not sure if you can get them here but the Julius Caesar brand is also worth trying.

I found the Oliva V series to be a great smoke too.

[Midas]

Serie V are very good, I’ll throw Arturo Fuente Don Carlos out there as well.


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[TonyN]

Serie v very nice cigars the melanio is even better
in my opinion

[Kickback]

Drew Estate Undercrown also worth a look

[Sean]

La flor de las Antillas by my father

Lovely smoke


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[PeeJay]

La flor de las Antillas by my father

Lovely smoke


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You should buy some of my Sinistros Sean, I found them very similar

[puropunch]

As above any oliva, drew estates are great just watch for flavored ones. Try the nubs, Alec Bradley nica puro is a great smoke. But there's loads of great new world cigars. Just explore

[Sean]

You should buy some of my Sinistros Sean, I found them very similar

I was very tempted mate,


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[larrysson]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've been reading reviews and making a list of everything I want to try.

[Niela]

Oliva V can be spicy, the melanio series is much better.

Almost anything from Crowned Heads won't leave you disappointed.

And I recently discovered Pichardo and MXS from Ace Prime cigars. They're absolutely lovely.

Welcome to the world of NCs! You've made the first step into a bigger world.

PS: Padron are known to be very strong and spicy when fresh and become excellent with a bit of age on them. Just so you're not disappointed when you buy more of them and smoke them fresh.

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[Niela]

Oh, and before I forget. Davidoff are absolutely amazing. They're more expensive, but really high quality and complexity. You can try pretty much anything from them, I have yet to try one I wasn't impressed with.

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