Newbie, what is the best Cuban cigar (for the money)?

[SmokeyDave]

Smaller smokes I love are a Ramon Allones Small Club Corona or Trinidad Reyes, slightly larger a Siglo II or Hoyo De Monterrey Petit Robusto.
Going bigger I shall also champion a Partagas SDNo4, truly outstanding in my opinion, also a Hoyo Epicure No2.

Like others have said, try to get sticks with a little age on them, it makes a world of difference, also 2008 seems to have been an exceptional year.

Oh and welcome to the forum

Dave

[M1F2R3]

Thank you to everybody for all of the insights into the cigar world.

I'll defiantly order some cigars, quite inclined to try the RyJ Small Churchill first as well as the Upmann conny. I will probably order all of these suggestions over time and see how they taste .

Thanks for the warm welcome too! You've obviously got a decent, well run forum here. I've been on some forums (car forum) where there has been a lot of argy bargy between certain members and new members don't really receive any sort of welcome.

[AlanWood]

Try something vintage. if you have the money get a Punch Churchill 25 Box.

[M1F2R3]

I decided to purchase a RyJ Wide Churchill, I saw these in my local shop and just had to buy one!

[EddieCigar]

The best cigar is the one you are smoking...

[daverave999]

Hmmm. Such a simple question yet possibly unanswerable!

Are you new to smoking tobacco in general? If so, brands like Partagas or Bolivar may well overpower you both in taste and nicotine. Even if you've been a long-time cigarette smoker, a whole cigar could still be too much, especially if you haven't eaten.

Perhaps starting out with H. Upmann or Vegas Robaina as a middling ground would be a nice start if you are looking for creamy. I must admit I've barely touched Montecristo or Cohiba in my few years as a cigar smoker so couldn't suggest anything specifically similar to them, and I wouldn't consider cigarillos representative of the brand flavours btw.

I totally agree with senor_robusto's suggestion to investigate Cigars Review as you can spend many an hour there getting an idea of strengths and typical flavour profiles. Everyone's tastes are different but common flavours will pop up in the reviews. I reckon the time I spent reading those reviews when I first started was well spent.

As a beginner, I would recommend either buying the Petit Corona (for value for money) or the Robusto/Hermoso No.4 (quite forgiving of smoking too fast) sizes as they generally take 40 mins to an hour to smoke and give you a good idea of what the different brands signature flavours are like. I would also checkout The 12 Robustos of Christmas.

Also, as you're in Cardiff at least some of the time, go to the Bear Shop in Wyndham Arcade! It can seem intimidating the first time, but they've got a pretty good selection and know how to look after them. If you want someone to go with, give me a yell.

Might also be worth checking out the blogs of a few of the members here. People generally advertise them in their signature. Some are great, like Yiorgos's cigars.ie linked above, or shite, like mine, linked below. :P

[Agricola]

For creamy my best experience so far has been an RYJ coronas and the RYJ churchill. I also prefer the petit coronas and for value (of the ones I've smoked) Trinidad reyes and Partagas short are excellent smokes at an excellent price. From what I've been told RASCC are a must try which I'll be testing and reviewing here next month.

[M1F2R3]

Hmmm. Such a simple question yet possibly unanswerable!

Are you new to smoking tobacco in general? If so, brands like Partagas or Bolivar may well overpower you both in taste and nicotine. Even if you've been a long-time cigarette smoker, a whole cigar could still be too much, especially if you haven't eaten.

Perhaps starting out with H. Upmann or Vegas Robaina as a middling ground would be a nice start if you are looking for creamy. I must admit I've barely touched Montecristo or Cohiba in my few years as a cigar smoker so couldn't suggest anything specifically similar to them, and I wouldn't consider cigarillos representative of the brand flavours btw.

I totally agree with senor_robusto's suggestion to investigate Cigars Review as you can spend many an hour there getting an idea of strengths and typical flavour profiles. Everyone's tastes are different but common flavours will pop up in the reviews. I reckon the time I spent reading those reviews when I first started was well spent.

As a beginner, I would recommend either buying the Petit Corona (for value for money) or the Robusto/Hermoso No.4 (quite forgiving of smoking too fast) sizes as they generally take 40 mins to an hour to smoke and give you a good idea of what the different brands signature flavours are like. I would also checkout The 12 Robustos of Christmas.

Also, as you're in Cardiff at least some of the time, go to the Bear Shop in Wyndham Arcade! It can seem intimidating the first time, but they've got a pretty good selection and know how to look after them. If you want someone to go with, give me a yell.

Might also be worth checking out the blogs of a few of the members here. People generally advertise them in their signature. Some are great, like Yiorgos's cigars.ie linked above, or shite, like mine, linked below. :P

Thanks for the reply, Dave! I actually went into the Bear shop yesterday and purchased a RyJ Wide Churchill :P

I thought they had quite a decent selection in there! I'll try a Partagas SD4 next I think. Thanks for the offer of coming along too! You're obviously more experienced than I am, give me a shout if there are any meets going down in Cardiff. I know I'm only 20, lol, though I do actually "hang" around with people older than myself. I'm always up for a laugh, regardless of age. Which part of Cardiff are you from ?

[daverave999]

If they've got the Wide Churchills in, I may have to pop down to investigate what else they've got in that's newish.

I'll reply in your Newbie Greet thread for the rest to avoid a thread derail.

[M1F2R3]

If they've got the Wide Churchills in, I may have to pop down to investigate what else they've got in that's newish.

I'll reply in your Newbie Greet thread for the rest to avoid a thread derail.

I think they were ?18.x, definitely just over ?18 though. I think that's quite pricey but I read reviews and I don't think I saw a single negative review. I know they had Partagas SD4's in stock too, I asked especially for one of those but instead I opted for the RyJ.

Do you know the owner? His opinions seemed quite honest, I asked about certain cigars and his perspective was similar to those expressed on cigar review websites.

Ok, I'll keep my eye on this thread especially then!

EDIT: Which cigar(s) do you usually buy from the Bear Shop? Are they reasonable in terms of price & how is the age/condition?

[sbthang]

The 12 Robustos of Christmas.

Good link, Dave - what a superb review by yiorgos... As a noob myself, finding a good starting point (without chucking money at below-average cigars) is a minefield. I've opted for a bunch of Petit Coronas and Robustos to gain some sort of base from where to grow from. Us beginners appreciate sound advice. JM2P.

[M1F2R3]

I can't thank some of the members enough, I really do appreciate all of the advice. Without it.. I'd be lost.

[daverave999]

I think they were ?18.x, definitely just over ?18 though. I think that's quite pricey but I read reviews and I don't think I saw a single negative review. I know they had Partagas SD4's in stock too, I asked especially for one of those but instead I opted for the RyJ.

Do you know the owner? His opinions seemed quite honest, I asked about certain cigars and his perspective was similar to those expressed on cigar review websites.

Ok, I'll keep my eye on this thread especially then!

EDIT: Which cigar(s) do you usually buy from the Bear Shop? Are they reasonable in terms of price & how is the age/condition?

Blimey, that is quite steep. I don't know if that's typical for the UK though! I've not tried them yet but hear they are more like the Cazadores than the Short Churchill in flavour which encourages me to try one.

I don't often buy from there in truth; I use it to try singles as I like to support them, but as my tastes diversify they are less likely to have what I want. I do recall the individual Trinidad Reyes in the cardboard boxes were really good though. No idea on age or price sorry.

I've not met spoken to the man I believe to be the owner. Which guy are you talking about btw, as I've come into contact with quite a few different people at various points! Some more eccentric than others...

Good link, Dave - what a superb review by yiorgos... As a noob myself, finding a good starting point (without chucking money at below-average cigars) is a minefield. I've opted for a bunch of Petit Coronas and Robustos to gain some sort of base from where to grow from. Us beginners appreciate sound advice. JM2P.

Glad to be of service.

[M1F2R3]

[QUOTE=daverave999;144229]Blimey, that is quite steep. I don't know if that's typical for the UK though! I've not tried them yet but hear they are more like the Cazadores than the Short Churchill in flavour which encourages me to try one.

I don't often buy from there in truth; I use it to try singles as I like to support them, but as my tastes diversify they are less likely to have what I want. I do recall the individual Trinidad Reyes in the cardboard boxes were really good though. No idea on age or price sorry.

I've not met spoken to the man I believe to be the owner. Which guy are you talking about btw, as I've come into contact with quite a few different people at various points! Some more eccentric than others...



Oh man! I've been meaning to try a Trinidad Reyes, I hear good things about them! How much was a single from the Bear Shop? The gentleman was quite skinny, very calm and soft voice yet polite. He was well-dressed also, he seemed to be overlooking the shop.

[thomasblack]

For creamy my best experience so far has been an RYJ coronas and the RYJ churchill. I also prefer the petit coronas and for value (of the ones I've smoked) Trinidad reyes and Partagas short are excellent smokes at an excellent price. From what I've been told RASCC are a must try which I'll be testing and reviewing here next month.

I would recommend you trying Cohiba Esplendidos, it's just superb.Romeo y Julieta Churchill is also one of the best within this shape. And cheaper then Cohibas.