Lesser known Cuban brands?

[Wildwood]

Hi to all,

Just wondering really...

I've put a couple of posts up on the Forum over the last few weeks, one about Cuabas and the other about Saint Luis Rey...and though they've had a few look-ups, they've not got many responses or comments. This got me wondering about the range of Cuban brands that we actually smoke.

I might be well wrong here, but my impression is that there is a big concentration of purchasing on a relatively small number of brands...the usual suspects being Montecristos, Cohibas, R+Js, Partagas etc. with a big support for Ramon Allones Specially Selected.

I wonder... is this because:

• these are the most commonly availabe?
• they are the best, the others just not being up to it?
• cigars are expensive so we buy what we know we will like?
• we are all pretty conservative in our smoking habits?
• more kudos in certain brands than others? (can't believe this is the case here)
• more people have tried the major brands so inevitably there will be more joining in discussions about them
• some other reason?

Maybe I'm just wrong about this...but where are all the discussions about Larranagas, Saint Luis Reys, Fonsecas, Quinteros, Sancho Panzas, the new San Christobals etc? A bit of me thinks that if Cuban cigars were available in the States, then the discussion boards would be alive with talk of the lesser known ones, in the way that they currently are with some of the lesser known NCs. Are we Brits just a bit too staid?

What do you all think? I'd be particularly interested in Monte's views as he will know the demand from us for one brand over another.

Maybe we are not being adventurous enough? No offence, just curious...

Wildwood

[Montesmoke]

Hi to all,

Just wondering really...

I've put a couple of posts up on the Forum over the last few weeks, one about Cuabas and the other about Saint Luis Rey...and though they've had a few look-ups, they've not got many responses or comments. This got me wondering about the range of Cuban brands that we actually smoke.

I might be well wrong here, but my impression is that there is a big concentration of purchasing on a relatively small number of brands...the usual suspects being Montecristos, Cohibas, R+Js, Partagas etc. with a big support for Ramon Allones Specially Selected.

I wonder... is this because:

• these are the most commonly availabe?
• they are the best, the others just not being up to it?
• cigars are expensive so we buy what we know we will like?
• we are all pretty conservative in our smoking habits?
• more kudos in certain brands than others? (can't believe this is the case here)
• more people have tried the major brands so inevitably there will be more joining in discussions about them
• some other reason?

Maybe I'm just wrong about this...but where are all the discussions about Larranagas, Saint Luis Reys, Fonsecas, Quinteros, Sancho Panzas, the new San Christobals etc? A bit of me thinks that if Cuban cigars were available in the States, then the discussion boards would be alive with talk of the lesser known ones, in the way that they currently are with some of the lesser known NCs. Are we Brits just a bit too staid?

What do you all think? I'd be particularly interested in Monte's views as he will know the demand from us for one brand over another.

Maybe we are not being adventurous enough? No offence, just curious...

Wildwood

There are members on here that have bought i wide varied selection of cuban cigars.
Some have posted their views on cetain brands, & soon they will no doubt post about the other brands they have tried.
I did try the Por Larranaga Magnifico well constructed stick, great flavours & aromas a lovely cigar one of my top 10 stix.
i also like por larranaga panatellas & corona, i find that por larranaga is quite underated IMHO a great brand.

[Wildwood]

OK, that's interesting - thanks Monte.

I'll certainly post up a quick note about the Saint Luis Rey I'm intending to smoke this weekend - weather pemitting. It'd be good to see more of the lesser known brands getting a mention. Given that Cubans are all virtually made in the same factories, I still think it's a bit strange that some are so well known and others much less so...especially when the quality difference is either not that big, or even, dare I suggest, non-existent.

I fancy the Por Larranagas too...could be next on my wishlist together with the Cuabas.

Anyone tried the San Christobals yet? Must admit, I'm intrigued...

Wildwood

[Gary]

I think the majority of people buy the same half a dozen or so brands (the big brands like Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagas, H. Upmann, R&J etc) for several reasons, namely they are perceived (and I agree) to be the best made cigars with the best tobacco by the best rollers in the best factory's, they are some of the brands with the biggest/longest history's so because they've been around for a while they have built up a big following so to speak and they're probably the brands that are pushed/promoted/advertised the most.

However, many of the so called "lesser" cuban brands are still excellent and I would not personally describe them as lesser brands, maybe just lesser known for want of a better word, for example, the Cuaba and Vegas Robania brands are both excellent and I would say they are definately made with just as good tobacco by just as skilled rollers. San Cristobal is also excellent and also try the Trinidad brand it's by no means a lesser brand and I think I'm right in saying that up until not so long ago that brand was reserved for the Cuban government to give out as gifts to state guests, so that speaks volumes about it.

In my humble opinion there are very few Cuban cigar brands that are not good, although Montecristo, Cohiba etc etc are definately the best, well for me and I still find the "lesser" brands still much better that 90% of the non-cuban brands!


PS - I consider the Roman Allones Specially Selected to be the DOGS!

[cohibaIV]

I myself, have just not got around to trying some of the least (lesser) brands.

I have just got into Hoyo's and my list is getting ticks all the time.

I think most will agree with me that you can not judge a cigar from one stick, and that it takes time and a few more to really find out how they smoke and to compare them with others...

It's a process I am willing to undertake for the good of the Cuban brand..hhehehehe

[did64]

Larranagas, Saint Luis Reys, Fonsecas, Quinteros, Sancho Panzas, the new San Christobals etc?

Well here are my thoughts:

Por Larranagas- Noticeable Nutty and caramel flavours. Tend to be very highly thought of, especially the Petit Coronas, which are available in cabinets of 50. Persoanlly I rate the Montecarlos (33X159) very highly, especially at the price point (around $100 for 25), 2007 has been an excellent year for them. In the U.K. we had a very expensive regional release last year- the Magnifico (50X170), good but really need some more ageing to show their potential.

Saint Luis Rey- I've never had much luck with them. Double Coronas, especially from their first few years(2001-2002) can be good. The Petit coronas I hate; bitter, spicy and woody, and suffer from under-filling.

Fonsecas- Seem to have very few fans outside of Spain. Very easy to identify taste-wise, with a kind of mineral-saltiness to them. The No.1, a Lonsdale, is a little more creamy than others and is the only one I would smoke.

Quinteros- Good fora cheap smoke, but like othe short-filler cigars they can be very inconsistent.

Sancho Panzas- Have their fans, but not me. Very aromatic and nuanced.

San Cristobal- Produce the stand-out TPC in my opinion, the El Principe has sweet milk chocolate and rich creamy coffee flavours. Larger sizes can seem to suffer in comparison. The new line; Mercaderes, Muralla, Oficios seem to have markedly different flavours, stewed fruit almost port or mulled wine flavours and dark chocolate (though I have never had a Mercaderes).

[Deano]

Woh great first post, thanks did64!

[did64]

Some more opinions on less well known brands:

Diplomaticos- Compared often to Montecristos, but seem to lack the creamy coffee flavour, instead a little more spiced wood and fruit, and slightly fuller bodied.

El Rey Del Mundo- Light and floral with some mineraliness. The Choix Supreme is among the best cuban Robustos for me. With some light milk flavour creeping in, similar to the Hoyo epicure no.2. The Grandes de Espana, a Lancero, is also first rate with extremly complex flavours.

Juan Lopez- Cuba's most under-rated brand in my opinion. The no.1 (Corona Gorda) no.2 (Robusto) and Petit Corona are all superb. Rich toasted tobacoo, with fruit, cream, and coffee in spades. Can taste similar to some montecristos, but usually more approachable when young.

Vegueros- Just not worth it in my opinion. Older ones can be good apparently, but often they just seem to be grassy and bitter. Soon to be discountinued I suspect.

Cuaba- A brand of figurados. The smaller ones can seem quite one-dimensional; vegitale and woody. The Salomones is slightly richer but still not a favourite of mine. I have two untried Diademas in my humidor (packed in individual cedar coffins) which I will be smoking soon, these are Cuba's larget regular production smoke 55x233!

La Gloria Cubana- The Medaille D'Or series all have their fans, especially the no.2. By all accounts 2002 was a very good year for this brand, which can have coffee and floral/herbal flavours, but is mostly recognized for an peculiar and intense honey flavour. There is a Regional Edition for the U.K. in 2008; the Gloriosos, a Robusto Extra 50x155. They're not out yet (probably around october/november) but I do have a single pre-release example gifted to me, which I will smoke soon and post a review if anyone's interested.

Rafael Gonzalez- A great old English brand. The Lonsdales, discontinued in 2006, were excellent, and are still available in some shops in England. Light and refined herbal and floral flavours with some milk and light coffee. The Petit Coronas are a good alternative. The Panetelas Extra is, for me, the best short filler cigar from Cuba, with flavours similar to the rest of the marca, and only 35 odd euro for 25 in Spain, though they can suffer from tight draws.

All of the above are just my opinions by the way, feel free anyone to tell me I'm absolutely wrong with a palate that couldn't taste cardboard.

p.s. Poor old Lewis Hamilton eh?

[did64]

Woh great first post, thanks did64!

Thanks Deano, great forum you have here.

Apologies for not introducing myself. I'm from London, spend my time between there Oxford and Dublin. I particularly enjoy Montes, Bolivars, Juan Lopez and Rafael Gonzalez.

[Wildwood]

Hi Did64...like Deano says, great post!

We all have different tastes obviously, but one of the real benefits of a forum like this is that we can see what others think of stuff, and then compare when we smoke them. I find this adds a real extra dimension to my enjoyment of cigars.

So thanks for taking the trouble to give us your views...I found them very interesting, and will refer back to them as I extend the range of cigars I smoke myself.

Cheers,

Wildwood

[SmokinCohibas]

Sancho Panza Belicosos - Great smoke!

[Robusto]

I echo what Wild and Deano have written. It's great to have opinions about the less well-known brands because they don't seem to feature in some of the standard cigar reference tomes. You also don't hear much about them.

I'm adding to my cigars-to-try list all the time because of informative threads like this one.

Thank you very much, Leaf Brothers.

[SmokinCohibas]

There are still a few brands I'd like to try.
For example:

http://www.cigars-review.org/Troya-Universales.htm

http://www.cigars-review.org/Vegueros-de-Pinar-del-Rio-Seoane.htm

http://www.cigars-review.org/La-Glor...-D-Or-No-2.htm

[Montesmoke]

Noticed that not many members on here have smoked the Cuaba brand.

[Drewmidorn]

Two of my favorite cigars are the Cuaba Distinguidos and the Diplomaticos No 2.