Cigars

**SwordsMaster** · 05-16-2006, 20:44

Partially inspired by the Smoking topic. Does anyone here smoke cigars? If so, what are your favourite brands, etc? I'm also curious about brazilian cigars, brands etc, I've heard contradicting opinions.

Please, Churchill-wannabes, speak!

**Duke Malcolm** · 05-16-2006, 20:50

Cafe creme is quite pleasant... although I have few other experiences with which to compare... And now that there is the smoking ban, I doubt I shall find an opportunity to indulge in cigars with my brandy or whisky...

**Avicenna** · 05-16-2006, 21:20

You forgot to mention Sherlock Holmes!

**Vladimir** · 05-16-2006, 22:09

Originally Posted by Tiberius

You forgot to mention Sherlock Holmes!

**Reverend Joe** · 05-17-2006, 04:28

Don Tomas- A very good Honduran cigar; has a distinctive flavor; a little sharper than the average Dominican, but much smoother overall.

Ashton- Exceptionally smooth; they make a damn good Maduro.

Cuesta Rey- Rather rough for some, but a great basic Dominican cigar.

Macanudo- Best overall cigar; unfortunately, it may sometimes be a little bland.

Backwoods Cigars- A cheap brand, but currently probably the best cheapo cigar around. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the unflavored variety anywhere; all the tobacconists and drug stores in town carry the flavored versions. It would be a real shame if they stopped making the unflavored version, because it was the best, most natural tobacco on the market; for a while, it almost replaced my usual tobacconist brands, all the more remarkable considering that they are made from American filler tobacco, with Dominican wrapping.

There are several others I forget at the moment. Oh, yeah- stay away from the Monte Cristos. I used to buy them, but even though they are good, they are prohibitively expensive, and they have no real advantage over other, cheaper brands.

**English assassin** · 05-17-2006, 09:50

Left to my own devices, Romeo y Juileta or (sorry Zorba) Montecristo. But there is a first class cigar shop on High Holborn about five minutes from my office. On the basis that they have forgotten more than I will ever know about cigars, and I only buy at most a dozen a year anyway, I often tell them what I feel like and then buy what they recommend.

**Fragony** · 05-17-2006, 12:06

Al capone's are great, tiny cigars dipped in cognac

**English assassin** · 05-17-2006, 12:21

Originally Posted by Fragony

Al capone's are great, tiny cigars dipped in cognac

Fzzzzzzzpt wommmmp

"Hey, where did my eyebrows go?"

**Kanamori** · 05-17-2006, 22:32

I don't think that brands are all that important; obviously they are at a certain point, but when it gets to the best, you should probably throw out any notions of the brands. In my experiences, many cigars can change flavor drastically when they are of the same size, shape, company, and even color. The best I've ever smoked was an Arturo Fuente Hemmingway. They tend to get a lot worse toward the end of the cigar though. Ashton are smooth, but I've also found that they seem to trade the taste for it. Really, I think it comes to personal preference. I will say that I've generally found Montecristo, Dunhill, and Romeo y Julieta to be hyped.

**yesdachi** · 05-18-2006, 13:52

I don’t smoke them very often but when I do they are usually Macanudo, that’s what they commonly have available at the golf course.

When not playing golf I typically like the smaller ones, Macanudo has a good tin with 12 in it that are bigger than a cigarette but smaller than the typical cigar. If I don’t smoke at least half I feel like I’ve wasted, so the smaller ones are better for me in that respect.

**Don Corleone** · 05-18-2006, 14:10

I smoke about 2 a week. For myself, I buy Nat Shermans. Nat Sherman actually started as a cigar club in Manhatten. Each year, they fly down and sample tobaccos from most of the major plantations, then make their own. The Metropolitans are the best.

Mrs. Corleone frequently buys me cigars for gifts. When straying off the ranch, I like La Unicas, Asthon VSG and Arturo Fuente (especially the Fuente y fuente).

**Goofball** · 05-18-2006, 15:15

Since I quit smoking cigarettes, I have indulged myself from time to time in a nice cigar. I try to stick to expensive ones in order to minimize the risk of them becoming a regular habit.

Cohibas are my current favorite.

**SwordsMaster** · 05-19-2006, 23:54

Wow, more cigar smokers than I though. Cool. How about brazilian cigars? Any experience with those?

**mercian billman** · 05-21-2006, 23:28

I only smoke cigars on special occasions, the last time I smoked a cigar was on New Years and it was an Acid Blueline.

**Red Peasant** · 05-22-2006, 12:46

They Stink!

**Lemur** · 05-22-2006, 14:24

I used to love cigars, but I have to steer clear of them now. I fear they would lead me back to my old drugs, you know, a gateway to Camels or Marlboros. Maybe in a few years, when I'm well and truly safe from my old ciggie habit, I'll get back into cigars.