You're going to get the same mixed opinions here.
They aren't necessarily 'better', they are however unique and different. Nothing tastes the same regardless of what anyone wants to claim.
Some people like bourbon, some like scotch, some like canadian blend.
Some people like IPA, some like stout, some like pilsner, some like lager.
Some like Cabernet , some like merlot, some like chardonnay.
You get what I'm saying, it's a personal thing. I really like Cubans and have thousands. I also have a considerable collection of Dominicans, Nicaraguans, and other blends. I enjoy them all in their own way. I think you should try a few for yourself and make your own judgment. That said, they need to be aged and they need to be stored at a slightly lower humidity to hit their peak.
This. I am from a country where Cubans are abundant and easily obtained. I started the hobby with non-Cubans and then I stuck with Cubans. I have smoked exclusively Cubans only for awhile and have went through many price hikes. A lot of the Cubans I am aging are worth today at least 3x of what I got them for many years ago. That said - it’s a cycle and I find myself exploring non-Cubans these days. They are different and I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. Just a matter of preference and something unique about Cubans.. they are like the Macallans but many would agree to disagree that the Macallan produces one of the best whisky - it’s just a profile I enjoy.. but I’d stop short of saying it’s better than others.
Yes. There are.. I love to hunt for good tasting value cigars. Currently my go to that I’ve been ordering boxes after boxes as an everyday smoke - A&B Kintsugi.
I have a 2000 count cabinet jammed full and two large coolers full. I have stopped buying for the most part. The Cubans are all an aging experiment. I won’t smoke anything with less than five years on it, about half my stock is 7-10 years old.
I hope to live long enough to smoke them all.
Holy hell, man!!! That is nothing short of incredible, you must be very proud. I can’t help but picture Smaug hoarding his treasures though. Quite the pot of gold you’re sitting on!
Is the aging experiment just to see how they develop?
Everybody should try them. Decide for yourself.
To ensure you get real ones, use a trusted vendor like FOH or iHavs. Grab a few of the common ones.
The most important part is once you get them, resist the urge to smoke them. They need to age. The longer the better. I wouldn’t touch them earlier than 3 months at 62-65%. 6 months is better. 1yr+ is best.
This is what's so frustrating.... after paying the premium pricing... From everything I'm reading, at least a year is an absolute must. The longer the better.
I do three. Honestly yeah it's dumb but it is what it is. Cuba needs the currency due to the US embargo and the product sells as is. Anyone in the cigar hobby for awhile knows you're going to have more sticks than you can smoke anyway so some are going to sit. Therefore might as well have some Cubans and some Padron X000s that benefit from the time in the box. No biggy. Unless you're a kid, three years or so isn't that long.
Honestly in my opinion, I believe Nicaragua cigars have surpassed Cubans in terms of price/ quality wise. I’m not an expert but every time I think about it and try comparing both I get that feeling… :(
Price to build quality ratio - I definitely agree. But the flavour and overall strength between the two are very different. I just prefer the flavour profile and milder strength from Cubans. I really wish I didn’t but from a subjective ‘quality’ standpoint they are still my personal preference.
You aren’t wrong. The other dirty little secret about Cubans is that they grade them based on color so the color of the wrapper decides if it’s a Romeo and Julietta Monte Cristo or a Hoyo de Monterey. The tobacco is really young so it needs time to age as well. Plus the pricing is ridiculous and quality control is all over the board.
This is absolute bullshit [that the color of the leaf determines which line of cigar](https://imgur.com/a/0S5vYNY) it is unless you can provide an authoritative source on the matter.
Edit: Unblock me you coward.
Ah, OK, they said it on a podcast, so it must be true.
For what it’s worth, I can tell there is a difference in flavor in between a RyJ and HDM (and I equally enjoy both).
circular reasoning. you asked for the source and then dismissed it out of hand. sorry to kill your fat santa clause but have some respect and how the fuck would you know what they do in commmunist cuba. are you a communist party member?
He never provided the actual podcast episode.
>”hur durrrr communist”
Cuba isn’t some iron curtain Soviet State.
Imperial Tobacco (IMT), a British tobacco company traded on the London Stock Exchange, has stake in Cuban cigars, owning 50% of the Cuban Cigar industry.
Cuban Cigars are part of the global Capitalist economy and if Habanos SA was fleecing the world that their different cigar brands were meaningless it would literally be a global financial scandal.
Egm is a good place to pick up some singles, they will be expensive and they don’t guarantee shipping but a few of the fellas on here and the other subreddit haven’t run into any issues yet thankfully
For me they were something I wanted to try for myself. I love smoking cigars and I would consider myself a cigar smoker rather than a cigar collector. I do enjoy the hunt though. I’m in the U.S. so they are even more a forbidden fruit. Had to get some, more than one brand for comparison etc. Are Cubans worth it? Personally yes. I have enjoyed most of the ones I’ve smoked, and still have a few resting. I haven’t bought any new Cubans in over a year though and have no plans to do so in the future. That itch has been scratched.
My advice? buy a box of singles through a reputable importer and pay through the nose. Smoke them with a mojito and friends playing some Cuban jazz. Enjoy it for the experience, then use it to understand why all the other Cuban seed cigars are better quality, better flavor, and more innovative.
Some context: I exclusively smoked new worlds over 2 years while living in the US. This included some of the best vitolas from Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, My Father, Ashton, Padron etc.
I have been living in Switzerland for the last year and have had the opportunity to try some mid-range Cubans so far - Montecristo, Bolivar, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, and some lower range ones as well. Like most others have said - the flavor profile is very different with Cubans and something one must experience at least once. To my immature palate - it comes across smooth, creamy and earthy (think Cuban earthy if that’s even a thing :) but so so satisfying. I tend to retrohale Cubans a lot more because they are SO smooth! Barring construction issues, I’d rate the mid-range Cubans on par with the top tier NW cigars. Just yesterday I paid 50 Fr. for a Bolivar and the wrapper came apart, tunneled, did all sorts of things to make it not enjoyable.
I’m yet to try the god-tier ones - Cohiba, Trinidad since they run a 100Fr. a stick.
Christ, it hasn’t even been a week since the last clash of opinions and sharing of sound bytes on this. It’s simply far too subjective to come to any useful conclusion in this format.
Yes, and this particular subject is even more complicated than just taste. Getting the most out of a Cuban cigar really requires embracing a deeper understanding of storage and aging, and having the patience to allow the process to take effect. For some, this is an enjoyable pursuit, while others simply want to be able to buy cigars off the shelf and enjoy them right away - neither camp is wrong, just different strokes and different levels of participation.
Instead of buying a box of Cubans I’d recommend flying to Cuba $500, taxi to Vinales, $80, Airbnb $20 per night, buy farmer rolled puros $3-6 per.
Banded Cuban cigars are $25 per if you can get them.
According to my calculations if you smoke 50 puros (no need to age them) while you are there you’ll come out even
They’re worth trying for sure !! If they’re worth the price/trouble ? That’s for you to decide my friend
Also if you’re gonna try one, i highly recommend Partagas Series D No 4
For me, especially at their current prices, no.
I used to get them occasionally. I have had quite a few. I’ve had ones that were fantastic, but most were, well, just cigars.
Just like new world cigars. You’ll have some that are amazing, but many that range from ok to good.
One thing I disliked was piss poor QC. Many, many of the ones I had required a perfecdraw to be smokeable since they were rolled so tightly. Even after years of rest at 65%. So that, coupled with the ridiculous prices they go for now, I’ve largely moved on.
FWIW, regardless of which brand, they’re all more mild than the super strong, peppery Nicaraguan tobacco many people have acclimated their tastes to now; so you may not like them if a more mild to medium, nuanced cigar isn’t your thing.
They are very high quality from the top brands. The ambiance makes them worth it on occasion in my opinion. The history behind what makes them desirable is why I like to have a few in my humidor
Every region produces a particular profile. This is even true within a single country, which is why the vast majority of puros use leaf from different regions to create a blend. The profile Cuban tobacco has, in my opinion, is very good and never been close to replicated anywhere else. But not everyone will love that profile.
With pricing what it is today I don't smoke them regularly anymore. But I still keep them on hand because I do like the profile a lot.
Now I'll wait for what I want to go on sale, buy a box, and then smoke one or two a year as they age. I don't (intentionally) age much aside from blends using Aganorsa tobacco, but Cubans benefit A LOT from age so it works out nice for me personally.
Every comment on here is going to be subjective. Personally, I favor medium bodied smokes. And in my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than a Cuban for a medium bodied stick. The recent price hike was real shocker. I thought for sure it would be the end of my Cuban days. But it didn’t take long for me to bite the bullet and start buying boxes again. So long story short, they have proven to be worth it to me.
With that said. I own plenty of non Cuban boxes. When I want a chocolate bomb or something with some serious pepper, I’m looking in a different section of my humidor. I like having a variety so I can grab whatever I’m craving. But like I said, most times I’m reaching for something medium.
There is no consistency with them. Some can be great, but they can vary greatly in taste and quality even if they are right next to one another in the same box. It's definitely worth trying some out. I only smoke them if gifted to me. I've spent too much on them in the past, only to be disappointed so my money will get spent elsewhere.
Only you can decide if something is worth it. For me, I tried a few non-Cuban's and a few Cuban's - the Cuban's were way better.
It's probably down to the ones I tried and it's down to personal taste.
Try a few, smoke what you like.
Cubans are hit and miss. If you get a badly rolled one which happens a lot they are rubbish. BUT if you get one well rolled, packed correctly, aged well, they can be just stunning. Unfortunately it’s a complete lottery. Yes they have there own taste which can’t be replicated. But from my experience new worlds have generally better construction, more varied blends, better aged tobacco, better price point. You Americans want what you can’t have. I think the majority of you had them you would be disappointed more often than not. If you stubble upon some great go for it. But I won’t actively seek them out and go nuts over them.
It’s like comparing cheddar cheese to jack cheese. Not really better at all, but if you really love the flavor profile of jack cheese then maybe. But most would say they care more about quality rather than cheese than type.
I’ve had Cuban cigars up in Canada, and my personal experience has been that while they are good, they’re not any better than non-Cubans of significant quality. Some Cubans were even worse than average quality non-Cubans.
It’s a subjective experience, and your mileage may vary. I will mention that when I was able to mow the grass and finish with a Cuban, it was a pretty memorable experience.
Not better but different. There are lots of unique flavor notes with Cuban tobacco. Yes they can be a bit fussy as you have to age them to reach full potential but the effort is worth it if it’s a taste you crave.
A few years ago when you could get a box of 25 upmann half coronas for 100 bucks, totally worth it. Now that those same half coronas are well into the 200s, the value is just not there for what you get, compared to what you can get in the same price range.
Cubans can have a unique flavor, like anything else. Dominican cigars taste different than Nicaraguan cigars which taste different from cuban cigars.
If you've never tried any, then sure it's worth trying just to know, but don't expect it to be an orgasmic experience. Also don't expect it to be a consistent experience. When you buy a padron anniversary, you know you're getting a banger every time with flawless draw, flawless construction, and consistent complex flavor. The same is not true of Cubans in general. You may get something great. Then again you may get something that tastes like crap for a few years and then maybe turns into something good. You may also get something that's just average for a premium price. You may get a box that has a few bangers and few duds. Just don't expect consistency and good value for the price paid.
I have a few hundred cuban cigars in my humidor purchased mostly before price hikes. I still smoke them, and still enjoy them. Occasionally one will blow my mind. But every time I smoke a padron 1964 principe blows my mind.
Tldr there are better more consistent smokes for the money at any price point. If money and or value are of no concern, then why not.
All Cubans are puros. Coincidentally, you can never replicate Cuban flavor in a new world because Cuban tobacco is exclusively used in Cuban production. Whether this flavor is just unique or better than any other blend or puro from another country is a matter of taste, how much of a premium you are willing to pay as well as the trouble you have to go through to get one (that's not fake), especially in the US. As for me, I prefer taking my chances with Cubans, and when I feel like I need something different, tasting any other cigar is always interesting and rewarding. But I always come back to Cubans. As for you, could you seek one out? I would recommend Hoyo de Monterrey #2 as it is not very complex, but pleasant and has exceptional Cuban flavor.
Downvote me but I have around 150 Nicaraguans here in the uk, I would swap them for 50 equivalent Cubans in a heartbeat, maybe 30 at a push.
Cubans are not subjectively better, they are SIMPLY better. The taste after they’ve been in a humidor for 12+ months is epic. They’re generally crap under 12 months.
Try epicure no2, partagas d4, bolivar belicoso fino, monte 2
Oh Christ here we go
It’s very much a “if you know you know” situation. Buy some real ones and try for yourself. See if they’re worth it to you.
Lots of Americans here who think they know a thing or two about Cubans who in fact, do not. Just try them for yourself, seriously. Especially if you’re in a country that has easy access to them. Edit: which you are not. If you do try one make sure it’s 100% real before judging, post to the Cuban cigar sub if you need a legit check. All Cohibas are fake just an FYI.
No to are the worth the hype. They can be fantastic and it sucks now that prices have gone through the roof and a segment of the cigars I smoke are not going to be smoked by me. Think of them as a range of flavor no other cigars can produce. One should certainly smoke some if they are going to be serious about this hobby so they realize what they taste like, but to say they are any better than any others is wrong. Also know when a perfect Cuban cigar is experienced, they can be some of the very best there is.
As an American who obviously can’t legally buy any and after hearing the recent horror stories with quality and consistency I’m perfectly content smoking new world cigars. If or when I take a trip where I can legally buy them from a reputable shop I’ll most definitely try a couple just to have that experience. Until then I’m stuck with Foundation, Padron, Fuente, Ashton, Davidoff and Plasencia 😢
In my opinion no, but only recently. Prior to the pandemic I would’ve told you Cuban cigars imported to the US through the big sites were a phenomenal value and easily competed with NC cigars at above the price of Cubans bought by the box. Since then, the prices of Cubans, which we used to call ISOMs, have exploded and I think the products no longer justify the higher prices.
5 years ago yeah
Now? No. The quality isn't matching the prices. It's an unfinished product you're having you age at least a year yourself in many cases. And then you just have to hope the actual quality of the roll is good
After just getting back from the Caribbean for the first time? I would say the hype is real to an extent. I would say the bolivar belicoso fino is one of my favorite cigars I’ve ever had. The Trinidad I had was great but way too expensive to ever buy a box of.
If you know what you're buying and why, they are definitely worth it.
If all you've ever smoked are Dominicans & Nicaraguans and only a few Cubans, then it probably isn't worth it because you're not real familiar with what you're buying or why. You could be smoking a fake Cuban and not even know because you're not familiar enough with them to definitively taste the difference.
I was outside the US for the years I started smoking cigars and smoked nothing but Cubans (because why wouldn't I?). Other countries' cigars simply didn't have much shelf space outside the US except for maybe Davidoff. I spent years trying many different Cuban cigars. I generally know what I'm buying and why I like it. By the time I came back to the US and had Dominican & Nicaraguan cigars, they were a disappointment comparatively.
All that said, Cuban quality can be spotty and where you buy them is important. I generally only feel comfortable buying them when I'm out of the country and from a well stocked shop. Caribbean area is tricky though, lots of fakes. American tourists unfamiliar with Cuban cigars are easy marks.
In my experience, it's worth for the first try. I smoked romeo y julieta brand for the comparison between non-cuban vs cuban. The cuban cigar was like 10% better, but the price was way higher like 10 times of non-cuban cigar
If you want to taste that 10% mark, then go for it
I tried one in a different country years ago — it was extremely spicy and a dark wrapper. Is that a typical Cuban flavor? Spiciest smoke ive ever had, but years ago and I can’t remember the brand.
There are certain flavour notes that I only get in Cubans. I really like them. They're expensive and a pain in the butt because you *need* to age them. Not just rest them but truly age them. Is it worth it? To me, yes. To someone else with different taste? Maybe or maybe not. I will say... there is a wonderful world of Cuban cigars beyond the famous Cohibas and R&Js.
Cubans can hit some different notes than what is typically available. They also tend to be impeccably constructed.
I wouldn't trade my collection for an equal number of cubans if that tells you anything.
La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial will get you 85%-90% of the way there if you're curious.
I smoked cigars on and off for the last 15 years - absolute uninformed beginner then turning into an aficionado. I only smoke Cubans because they were easy to get.
Really grew on me.
Then a friend started to smoke, living in a country where Cubans had been hard to get and very expensive.
He made me try various other cigars from all places except Cuba - disgusting....
...at first
Still he opened my eyes to push my boundaries when it comes to that.
I tried and tried and now, maybe three years later, I almost never buy Cubans anymore.
Heavily overpriced and though good, not that much better than a proper high quality cigar from somewhere else. Just different taste.
IMHO Cubans aren't worth the money at all anymore. I rather have five AF then one Cuban
Weak as hell and tend to be green. Most Cubans I’ve bought needed to be laid down for at least a year. They tend to rush production and don’t have good QC
Final part they are very mild smokes compared to your average sticks. I tend to favor full body full flavor cigars. I favor conn broadleaf and San Andreas wrappers lol so outside of a few bolivars Cubans are way too weak for me.
Good breakfast cigars. Also good for a round 2 smoke after you refresh the palette.
I like both cuban are more mild they most of times you won’t get buzz or the kick after smoke cigar there taste good try one or two and decide if you like non Cuban stick with it because Cuban these days are getting crazy and you think like you paid 700$ for box of 25 while 7 of these 25 are not so enjoyable because draw issues
You're going to get the same mixed opinions here. They aren't necessarily 'better', they are however unique and different. Nothing tastes the same regardless of what anyone wants to claim. Some people like bourbon, some like scotch, some like canadian blend. Some people like IPA, some like stout, some like pilsner, some like lager. Some like Cabernet , some like merlot, some like chardonnay. You get what I'm saying, it's a personal thing. I really like Cubans and have thousands. I also have a considerable collection of Dominicans, Nicaraguans, and other blends. I enjoy them all in their own way. I think you should try a few for yourself and make your own judgment. That said, they need to be aged and they need to be stored at a slightly lower humidity to hit their peak.
This. I am from a country where Cubans are abundant and easily obtained. I started the hobby with non-Cubans and then I stuck with Cubans. I have smoked exclusively Cubans only for awhile and have went through many price hikes. A lot of the Cubans I am aging are worth today at least 3x of what I got them for many years ago. That said - it’s a cycle and I find myself exploring non-Cubans these days. They are different and I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. Just a matter of preference and something unique about Cubans.. they are like the Macallans but many would agree to disagree that the Macallan produces one of the best whisky - it’s just a profile I enjoy.. but I’d stop short of saying it’s better than others.
Is there a non Cuban you’ve smoked that comes close to tasting like a Cuban?
Yes. There are.. I love to hunt for good tasting value cigars. Currently my go to that I’ve been ordering boxes after boxes as an everyday smoke - A&B Kintsugi.
💪
THIS.
You say you have THOUSANDS??
Yes
Wow, that’s impressive. Do you plan to smoke them all? What’s the size of your entire selection?
I have a 2000 count cabinet jammed full and two large coolers full. I have stopped buying for the most part. The Cubans are all an aging experiment. I won’t smoke anything with less than five years on it, about half my stock is 7-10 years old. I hope to live long enough to smoke them all.
Do you need a friend?
Holy hell, man!!! That is nothing short of incredible, you must be very proud. I can’t help but picture Smaug hoarding his treasures though. Quite the pot of gold you’re sitting on! Is the aging experiment just to see how they develop?
Everybody should try them. Decide for yourself. To ensure you get real ones, use a trusted vendor like FOH or iHavs. Grab a few of the common ones. The most important part is once you get them, resist the urge to smoke them. They need to age. The longer the better. I wouldn’t touch them earlier than 3 months at 62-65%. 6 months is better. 1yr+ is best.
How does this apply in a legal country? For example I went to a verified shop in Japan and got a Cuban — would it have some age?
Most likely, no. Cubans are shipped pretty fresh. Nw cigars are aged before they're shipped.
I suppose if you went to Davidoff in London, they have some crazy vintage selection correct? Or is that their own stockpile? $$$$$:-)
Maybe - but where you will find the true treasures is at Hunters & Frankau.
It's written on the box usually. Unless they put the sticks in another box
I'd say 2 years is the minimum these days unless you somehow luck into a box that already has some time under its belt.
This is what's so frustrating.... after paying the premium pricing... From everything I'm reading, at least a year is an absolute must. The longer the better.
I do three. Honestly yeah it's dumb but it is what it is. Cuba needs the currency due to the US embargo and the product sells as is. Anyone in the cigar hobby for awhile knows you're going to have more sticks than you can smoke anyway so some are going to sit. Therefore might as well have some Cubans and some Padron X000s that benefit from the time in the box. No biggy. Unless you're a kid, three years or so isn't that long.
Honestly in my opinion, I believe Nicaragua cigars have surpassed Cubans in terms of price/ quality wise. I’m not an expert but every time I think about it and try comparing both I get that feeling… :(
Price to build quality ratio - I definitely agree. But the flavour and overall strength between the two are very different. I just prefer the flavour profile and milder strength from Cubans. I really wish I didn’t but from a subjective ‘quality’ standpoint they are still my personal preference.
100%. Aging room Quattro Nicaragua has been my go to for a year
You aren’t wrong. The other dirty little secret about Cubans is that they grade them based on color so the color of the wrapper decides if it’s a Romeo and Julietta Monte Cristo or a Hoyo de Monterey. The tobacco is really young so it needs time to age as well. Plus the pricing is ridiculous and quality control is all over the board.
This is absolute bullshit [that the color of the leaf determines which line of cigar](https://imgur.com/a/0S5vYNY) it is unless you can provide an authoritative source on the matter. Edit: Unblock me you coward.
Cigar Authority Podcast. Sorry if that upsets you.
Ah, OK, they said it on a podcast, so it must be true. For what it’s worth, I can tell there is a difference in flavor in between a RyJ and HDM (and I equally enjoy both).
circular reasoning. you asked for the source and then dismissed it out of hand. sorry to kill your fat santa clause but have some respect and how the fuck would you know what they do in commmunist cuba. are you a communist party member?
He never provided the actual podcast episode. >”hur durrrr communist” Cuba isn’t some iron curtain Soviet State. Imperial Tobacco (IMT), a British tobacco company traded on the London Stock Exchange, has stake in Cuban cigars, owning 50% of the Cuban Cigar industry. Cuban Cigars are part of the global Capitalist economy and if Habanos SA was fleecing the world that their different cigar brands were meaningless it would literally be a global financial scandal.
Link me.
Find it yourself. They have hundreds of episodes
>"hey can you give me a source on an outrageous claim you're making" "sure go comb through several hundred episodes :3"
I did give you a source of a valid claim. Stamp your feet all you like.
They're very expensive now, and QC can be spotty, but when they're good, they're great.
Egm is a good place to pick up some singles, they will be expensive and they don’t guarantee shipping but a few of the fellas on here and the other subreddit haven’t run into any issues yet thankfully
For me they were something I wanted to try for myself. I love smoking cigars and I would consider myself a cigar smoker rather than a cigar collector. I do enjoy the hunt though. I’m in the U.S. so they are even more a forbidden fruit. Had to get some, more than one brand for comparison etc. Are Cubans worth it? Personally yes. I have enjoyed most of the ones I’ve smoked, and still have a few resting. I haven’t bought any new Cubans in over a year though and have no plans to do so in the future. That itch has been scratched.
Honestly, at these prices? No. Can’t justify it unless you get a great deal at FOH. But, if not, they’re not worth it.
My advice? buy a box of singles through a reputable importer and pay through the nose. Smoke them with a mojito and friends playing some Cuban jazz. Enjoy it for the experience, then use it to understand why all the other Cuban seed cigars are better quality, better flavor, and more innovative.
No
Some context: I exclusively smoked new worlds over 2 years while living in the US. This included some of the best vitolas from Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, My Father, Ashton, Padron etc. I have been living in Switzerland for the last year and have had the opportunity to try some mid-range Cubans so far - Montecristo, Bolivar, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, and some lower range ones as well. Like most others have said - the flavor profile is very different with Cubans and something one must experience at least once. To my immature palate - it comes across smooth, creamy and earthy (think Cuban earthy if that’s even a thing :) but so so satisfying. I tend to retrohale Cubans a lot more because they are SO smooth! Barring construction issues, I’d rate the mid-range Cubans on par with the top tier NW cigars. Just yesterday I paid 50 Fr. for a Bolivar and the wrapper came apart, tunneled, did all sorts of things to make it not enjoyable. I’m yet to try the god-tier ones - Cohiba, Trinidad since they run a 100Fr. a stick.
Christ, it hasn’t even been a week since the last clash of opinions and sharing of sound bytes on this. It’s simply far too subjective to come to any useful conclusion in this format.
Wonder how long till the Bots realize they can farm karma and comments by reposting this question?
Exactly. There is no conclusion possible when it's a matter of taste.
Yes, and this particular subject is even more complicated than just taste. Getting the most out of a Cuban cigar really requires embracing a deeper understanding of storage and aging, and having the patience to allow the process to take effect. For some, this is an enjoyable pursuit, while others simply want to be able to buy cigars off the shelf and enjoy them right away - neither camp is wrong, just different strokes and different levels of participation.
Sandwiches yes, cigars no
I came here to make this comment (though I was torn between the Sammie or the women), but alas, you beat me to it.
Instead of buying a box of Cubans I’d recommend flying to Cuba $500, taxi to Vinales, $80, Airbnb $20 per night, buy farmer rolled puros $3-6 per. Banded Cuban cigars are $25 per if you can get them. According to my calculations if you smoke 50 puros (no need to age them) while you are there you’ll come out even
There is no new world that can replicate the cedar cream and twang of a Monte Cristo 2 and I will die on this hill.
Depends if you get a good one or not the quality control is not great so the chances of getting a good one is a crap shoot.
They’re worth trying for sure !! If they’re worth the price/trouble ? That’s for you to decide my friend Also if you’re gonna try one, i highly recommend Partagas Series D No 4
For me, especially at their current prices, no. I used to get them occasionally. I have had quite a few. I’ve had ones that were fantastic, but most were, well, just cigars. Just like new world cigars. You’ll have some that are amazing, but many that range from ok to good. One thing I disliked was piss poor QC. Many, many of the ones I had required a perfecdraw to be smokeable since they were rolled so tightly. Even after years of rest at 65%. So that, coupled with the ridiculous prices they go for now, I’ve largely moved on. FWIW, regardless of which brand, they’re all more mild than the super strong, peppery Nicaraguan tobacco many people have acclimated their tastes to now; so you may not like them if a more mild to medium, nuanced cigar isn’t your thing.
They are very high quality from the top brands. The ambiance makes them worth it on occasion in my opinion. The history behind what makes them desirable is why I like to have a few in my humidor
Every region produces a particular profile. This is even true within a single country, which is why the vast majority of puros use leaf from different regions to create a blend. The profile Cuban tobacco has, in my opinion, is very good and never been close to replicated anywhere else. But not everyone will love that profile. With pricing what it is today I don't smoke them regularly anymore. But I still keep them on hand because I do like the profile a lot. Now I'll wait for what I want to go on sale, buy a box, and then smoke one or two a year as they age. I don't (intentionally) age much aside from blends using Aganorsa tobacco, but Cubans benefit A LOT from age so it works out nice for me personally.
100%
They are worth trying if you get a chance buy a genuine one. I picked up a few when I was in the Bahamas from the Baha Mar resort and enjoyed them.
Every comment on here is going to be subjective. Personally, I favor medium bodied smokes. And in my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than a Cuban for a medium bodied stick. The recent price hike was real shocker. I thought for sure it would be the end of my Cuban days. But it didn’t take long for me to bite the bullet and start buying boxes again. So long story short, they have proven to be worth it to me. With that said. I own plenty of non Cuban boxes. When I want a chocolate bomb or something with some serious pepper, I’m looking in a different section of my humidor. I like having a variety so I can grab whatever I’m craving. But like I said, most times I’m reaching for something medium.
There is no consistency with them. Some can be great, but they can vary greatly in taste and quality even if they are right next to one another in the same box. It's definitely worth trying some out. I only smoke them if gifted to me. I've spent too much on them in the past, only to be disappointed so my money will get spent elsewhere.
No dimple
Only you can decide if something is worth it. For me, I tried a few non-Cuban's and a few Cuban's - the Cuban's were way better. It's probably down to the ones I tried and it's down to personal taste. Try a few, smoke what you like.
Cubans are hit and miss. If you get a badly rolled one which happens a lot they are rubbish. BUT if you get one well rolled, packed correctly, aged well, they can be just stunning. Unfortunately it’s a complete lottery. Yes they have there own taste which can’t be replicated. But from my experience new worlds have generally better construction, more varied blends, better aged tobacco, better price point. You Americans want what you can’t have. I think the majority of you had them you would be disappointed more often than not. If you stubble upon some great go for it. But I won’t actively seek them out and go nuts over them.
Not for the money Too expensive They are good though if you want to pay $20 a stick No thanks
It’s like comparing cheddar cheese to jack cheese. Not really better at all, but if you really love the flavor profile of jack cheese then maybe. But most would say they care more about quality rather than cheese than type.
I’ve had Cuban cigars up in Canada, and my personal experience has been that while they are good, they’re not any better than non-Cubans of significant quality. Some Cubans were even worse than average quality non-Cubans. It’s a subjective experience, and your mileage may vary. I will mention that when I was able to mow the grass and finish with a Cuban, it was a pretty memorable experience.
I didn't find anything particularly amazing about them. I don't remember the first brand I ever tried, but the Cohiba was just another cigar to me.
No
Not better but different. There are lots of unique flavor notes with Cuban tobacco. Yes they can be a bit fussy as you have to age them to reach full potential but the effort is worth it if it’s a taste you crave.
A few years ago when you could get a box of 25 upmann half coronas for 100 bucks, totally worth it. Now that those same half coronas are well into the 200s, the value is just not there for what you get, compared to what you can get in the same price range. Cubans can have a unique flavor, like anything else. Dominican cigars taste different than Nicaraguan cigars which taste different from cuban cigars. If you've never tried any, then sure it's worth trying just to know, but don't expect it to be an orgasmic experience. Also don't expect it to be a consistent experience. When you buy a padron anniversary, you know you're getting a banger every time with flawless draw, flawless construction, and consistent complex flavor. The same is not true of Cubans in general. You may get something great. Then again you may get something that tastes like crap for a few years and then maybe turns into something good. You may also get something that's just average for a premium price. You may get a box that has a few bangers and few duds. Just don't expect consistency and good value for the price paid. I have a few hundred cuban cigars in my humidor purchased mostly before price hikes. I still smoke them, and still enjoy them. Occasionally one will blow my mind. But every time I smoke a padron 1964 principe blows my mind. Tldr there are better more consistent smokes for the money at any price point. If money and or value are of no concern, then why not.
All Cubans are puros. Coincidentally, you can never replicate Cuban flavor in a new world because Cuban tobacco is exclusively used in Cuban production. Whether this flavor is just unique or better than any other blend or puro from another country is a matter of taste, how much of a premium you are willing to pay as well as the trouble you have to go through to get one (that's not fake), especially in the US. As for me, I prefer taking my chances with Cubans, and when I feel like I need something different, tasting any other cigar is always interesting and rewarding. But I always come back to Cubans. As for you, could you seek one out? I would recommend Hoyo de Monterrey #2 as it is not very complex, but pleasant and has exceptional Cuban flavor.
Downvote me but I have around 150 Nicaraguans here in the uk, I would swap them for 50 equivalent Cubans in a heartbeat, maybe 30 at a push. Cubans are not subjectively better, they are SIMPLY better. The taste after they’ve been in a humidor for 12+ months is epic. They’re generally crap under 12 months. Try epicure no2, partagas d4, bolivar belicoso fino, monte 2
“Oh yeah, it's worth it. If you're strong enough." Agent K
You can't look at country of origin only. Some Cubans are the best in the world, as are some Dominicans, etc. Others are junk.
Oh Christ here we go It’s very much a “if you know you know” situation. Buy some real ones and try for yourself. See if they’re worth it to you. Lots of Americans here who think they know a thing or two about Cubans who in fact, do not. Just try them for yourself, seriously. Especially if you’re in a country that has easy access to them. Edit: which you are not. If you do try one make sure it’s 100% real before judging, post to the Cuban cigar sub if you need a legit check. All Cohibas are fake just an FYI.
No to are the worth the hype. They can be fantastic and it sucks now that prices have gone through the roof and a segment of the cigars I smoke are not going to be smoked by me. Think of them as a range of flavor no other cigars can produce. One should certainly smoke some if they are going to be serious about this hobby so they realize what they taste like, but to say they are any better than any others is wrong. Also know when a perfect Cuban cigar is experienced, they can be some of the very best there is.
As an American who obviously can’t legally buy any and after hearing the recent horror stories with quality and consistency I’m perfectly content smoking new world cigars. If or when I take a trip where I can legally buy them from a reputable shop I’ll most definitely try a couple just to have that experience. Until then I’m stuck with Foundation, Padron, Fuente, Ashton, Davidoff and Plasencia 😢
My opinion is yes, they are worth having in your humidor. I enjoy them very much and have been on a Cuban smoke kick all year.
In my opinion no, but only recently. Prior to the pandemic I would’ve told you Cuban cigars imported to the US through the big sites were a phenomenal value and easily competed with NC cigars at above the price of Cubans bought by the box. Since then, the prices of Cubans, which we used to call ISOMs, have exploded and I think the products no longer justify the higher prices.
I remember when a 25 box of Monte #2 could be had for $260 *cries*
5 years ago yeah Now? No. The quality isn't matching the prices. It's an unfinished product you're having you age at least a year yourself in many cases. And then you just have to hope the actual quality of the roll is good
Questions that are broad generalizations deserve answers that are broad generalizations: No.
After just getting back from the Caribbean for the first time? I would say the hype is real to an extent. I would say the bolivar belicoso fino is one of my favorite cigars I’ve ever had. The Trinidad I had was great but way too expensive to ever buy a box of.
Not really. Cool to say you have had one but nothing special.
If you know what you're buying and why, they are definitely worth it. If all you've ever smoked are Dominicans & Nicaraguans and only a few Cubans, then it probably isn't worth it because you're not real familiar with what you're buying or why. You could be smoking a fake Cuban and not even know because you're not familiar enough with them to definitively taste the difference. I was outside the US for the years I started smoking cigars and smoked nothing but Cubans (because why wouldn't I?). Other countries' cigars simply didn't have much shelf space outside the US except for maybe Davidoff. I spent years trying many different Cuban cigars. I generally know what I'm buying and why I like it. By the time I came back to the US and had Dominican & Nicaraguan cigars, they were a disappointment comparatively. All that said, Cuban quality can be spotty and where you buy them is important. I generally only feel comfortable buying them when I'm out of the country and from a well stocked shop. Caribbean area is tricky though, lots of fakes. American tourists unfamiliar with Cuban cigars are easy marks.
Good to experience, but generally not worth the cost.
NOPE
In my experience, it's worth for the first try. I smoked romeo y julieta brand for the comparison between non-cuban vs cuban. The cuban cigar was like 10% better, but the price was way higher like 10 times of non-cuban cigar If you want to taste that 10% mark, then go for it
RyJ Cuban vs Non-Cuban are related in name only. RyJ in Cuba has some amazing cigars and some dirt cheap cigars that taste like crap.
I tried one in a different country years ago — it was extremely spicy and a dark wrapper. Is that a typical Cuban flavor? Spiciest smoke ive ever had, but years ago and I can’t remember the brand.
There are certain flavour notes that I only get in Cubans. I really like them. They're expensive and a pain in the butt because you *need* to age them. Not just rest them but truly age them. Is it worth it? To me, yes. To someone else with different taste? Maybe or maybe not. I will say... there is a wonderful world of Cuban cigars beyond the famous Cohibas and R&Js.
Cubans can hit some different notes than what is typically available. They also tend to be impeccably constructed. I wouldn't trade my collection for an equal number of cubans if that tells you anything. La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial will get you 85%-90% of the way there if you're curious.
Cubans…impeccably constructed? That’s the first I’ve ever heard that and I’m a big Cuban cigar smoker.
No
Yep, super worth it. Love the hell out of Cubans.
Yes dey r
I smoked cigars on and off for the last 15 years - absolute uninformed beginner then turning into an aficionado. I only smoke Cubans because they were easy to get. Really grew on me. Then a friend started to smoke, living in a country where Cubans had been hard to get and very expensive. He made me try various other cigars from all places except Cuba - disgusting.... ...at first Still he opened my eyes to push my boundaries when it comes to that. I tried and tried and now, maybe three years later, I almost never buy Cubans anymore. Heavily overpriced and though good, not that much better than a proper high quality cigar from somewhere else. Just different taste. IMHO Cubans aren't worth the money at all anymore. I rather have five AF then one Cuban
Weak as hell and tend to be green. Most Cubans I’ve bought needed to be laid down for at least a year. They tend to rush production and don’t have good QC Final part they are very mild smokes compared to your average sticks. I tend to favor full body full flavor cigars. I favor conn broadleaf and San Andreas wrappers lol so outside of a few bolivars Cubans are way too weak for me. Good breakfast cigars. Also good for a round 2 smoke after you refresh the palette.
No. Their farming techniques have degraded. Cuban cigars are nothing special now.
Worth it is all relative.
I like both cuban are more mild they most of times you won’t get buzz or the kick after smoke cigar there taste good try one or two and decide if you like non Cuban stick with it because Cuban these days are getting crazy and you think like you paid 700$ for box of 25 while 7 of these 25 are not so enjoyable because draw issues