Some of My Favourite Cuban Cigars (+ Rankings)

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[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

An easy tell for fakes bought on the ground in the Caribbean, South America, cruise tours, etc is that none of the major brands have ever sold glass or plastic fronted single layer boxes.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Fascinating window into a World i know little about. Really appreciated that ( in the sunshine having a wine ). Very enjoyable, civilised hour. Thanks AA.

[@dramares]

Damn… This dude loves his smokes.

[@vaunmalone3064]

What a collection 😃

[@specialforces4947]

Can you do something short on storage and maturation?

[@chrisgardbard]

There's no real secret to storage and curing. 70°f at 70% (favouring 67-69%) is perfectly fine. Left undisturbed for long enough, the plume develops nicely and the character really starts to build. Simple cedar wood humi at 70/70. Prepare them for a smoke for 2 weeks at about 67-68%. If you want to austistically prepare each one for the smoke. You can smoke them nicely straight out of 70% but the burn isn't quite as good as having a boost at 67-68% for a couple of weeks after curing for quite some time at 70%.

[@Lord-Inquisitor]

I said to myself that line from Black Hawk Down. "Miami isn't Cuba, my friend" Then, I remembered you lot across the pond don't have a ban on Cubans. We need to drop that embargo.

[@wiggawithattitude]

There are ways for you to get Cubans if you want them.

[@TheVleckChannel]

And we in the UK need to drop the tax and make all the New World cigars available over here.

[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

@@TheVleckChannel I order from The US, 3/4 of orders make it through undetected as long as you don't get too greedy.

[@TheVleckChannel]

Same. If you keep the order total (including shipping) under £150 you should be fine. I like a lot of Cubans, H Upmanns especially, but not enough to pay the prices.

[@wiggawithattitude]

@@TheVleckChannel the amount is not the key factor. It's luck. I've had orders of 4 sticks caught when 8 or more have come through. There are ways of gaming it but they will charge for whatever amount they find.

[@smokingsnowman7838]

Sadly it is almost impossible to get any kubans in germany since the coof. Online shops have basically been sold out for years. And my local shops do not have any as well :(

[@ccchikw]

Such a fantastic primer on Cubans. Thank you!

[@steveelliott8640]

Would be nice to know what drinks you recommend with each cigar.

[@whiggles9203]

capri sun

[@chrisgardbard]

The upmann connoisseur no. 2 is unbelievably good.

[@Mr_Bogan]

My top 5 cigars in no ascending order -Baccarat Rothschild Maduro -Partagas D4 -San Cristobal La Punta -Rocky Patel Hamlet 25th Anniversary -Montecristo Double Edmundo

[@02tom46]

Arturo Fuente is on par with the best Cuban brands.

[@AcademicAgent]

I agree with that.

[@user-bq9xy3js4u]

I haven’t tried those but I do hear good things about them!

[@02tom46]

@@user-bq9xy3js4u as mentioned by AA, the Hemingway Short Story are great and would be a great introduction to AF. Not expensive relative to Cubans too.

[@SirHargreeves]

I’ll be having a Short Story at the weekend.

[@willgoins218]

Good shout, will keep that in mind

[@jamespurchase4035]

Great content. Really enjoyed it. Bit of a cigar newbie, been a newbie for yrs tbh given I probably only get around to 1 cigar a year !!! So recomendations beyond the upmann corona or MC#4 are very welcome. Will rewatch next year hahaha.

[@bruleham]

Fantastic show. More cigar content! CC are far better than NCC...

[@James-WM]

Fair to say this was a mellow moment.

[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

You can get the depth of flavour and construction quality (often better) from New World, the variety available dwarfs that available from Cuba as well, but for half the price. Without the embargo and the "forbidden fruit" aspect it grants to Cuban made sticks in The US, Cuba would fade in to obscurity as a producer or have to significantly increase their QC.

[@wiggawithattitude]

It wouldn't. That's the americentric view of Cuban cigars. Cubans have their issues, and are going downhill, but there's a reason for their rep.

[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

@@wiggawithattitude I'm British and have access to the full world-wide lineup, agree to disagree.

[@wiggawithattitude]

@@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami yes, same. I can agree that maybe you don't rate Cubans, but your statement about the market for them is just factually incorrect. The US isnt propping up the Cuban market, that would be the Chinese and Middle Eastern markets. That's why the prices are so high. As I say, Cuba has it's issues, but it's certainly not the US keeping it afloat.

[@AcademicAgent]

@@wiggawithattitude Cubans have 80% of worldwide market share and yes it's the Chinese pushing those prices up. Paying full UK prices with tax and everything NCs are not "half the price". Buying Cubans where I do, the CCs even work out cheaper.

[@wiggawithattitude]

@@AcademicAgent I'm not sure if you replied to me by accident, but I didn't say new worlds are half the price. Id like to know where you're buying from though ha... I have sources for cheaper Cubans than UK retail, but generally only singles, not boxes.

[@An_Draoi]

Interesting. Although I just roll my own cigarettes. I used to smoke a pipe for a while and partake in the odd cigar on rare occasions. This has inspired me to go and get some nice ones though.

[@user-bq9xy3js4u]

Does AA recommend any New World cigars? I haven’t tried any New Worlds however I hear they’re hot on the heals of the cubans?

[@SupersaiyanChristian]

Dang, now I really want a cigar. 😂 Any non-cuban recommendations? I have only just started cigar smoking and need to be careful with my budget. Any good cigars on a budget?

[@gilbert2303]

How do you compare the connoisseur vs magnum line? Also which is your fav conny cigar?

[@chrisfactoryboi]

Any light introductory cigars? I enjoyed the Vega Fina classic corona a while back

[@AcademicAgent]

Upmann Half Corona or Hoyo Epicure 2

[@Desertduleler_88]

I got a bundle of Cuban Rounds in the Churchill’s, very cheap compared to the other brands you mentioned. I have to say good bang for buck for the money.

[@twospoonstim3195]

Might be a stupid question but I noticed that you didn’t like one cigar touching another, can they contaminate each other?

[@wiggawithattitude]

no

[@CatholicBossHogg]

AA, you should try the Pappy Van Winkle familia Reserve. Legendary bourbon clan making cigars

[@CatholicBossHogg]

This one is salty, AA, btw, so you may like it.

[@constanza86]

In all honesty, I think that Epicure 2 is too mellow for my taste, I much prefer Epicure 1 as it's still not a strong cigar, but has bit more character. Also Qual D'orsay Coronas Claro are not so expensive, but rewarding cigars. And the staple, Partagas Serie D 4.

[@AcademicAgent]

Try an Epi 2 first thing before you've eaten and see if it makes any difference. They are very mellow it's true.

[@constanza86]

@@AcademicAgent I have smoked before meal, so I guess that it is a question of preference. Still, I know it is a good cigar. As such, for those who want to get into cigars, Epicure 2 is one of the best out there. I have recommended it to few people, that initially ware discouraged by the intensity of other brands.

[@CatholicBossHogg]

Thoughts on pressed? Padron 1964 is classic

[@AutistCat]

There are some Honduran cigar brands with identical names to some of these Cubans. I wonder what that's all about.

[@______638]

this is how much he smokes before noontime on an average day. quite a bit.

[@Ned.1274]

Coffee and a smook

[@unoriginal_username1]

Good morning AA

[@newglof9558]

Proper smokes mate

[@jhonfrancis6.0]

gud vîd

[@vladimirkraynyk]

Ого

[@odond36]

Stop singing the praises of my favourite affordable cubans... there's enough demand already!@!

[@RosemaryBeeds]

Cancer sticks

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Who wants to live to 90 in a old people's home?

[@AcademicAgent]

Not really, these aren't like cigarettes.

[@nonnobis2232]

​@@evolassunglasses4673 that would drive anyone to smoke

[@Desertduleler_88]

Don’t inhale the smoke like cigarettes.

[@Mambojambo157]

Google Prententious meaning

[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

The Big-Mac box is the perfect profile picture for you. Unremarkable, disposable and entirely unsatisfying.

[@whiggles9203]

Heaven forbid a man enjoy something

[@Mambojambo157]

@@whiggles9203 he just needs to work out they’re for smoking, not insertion up the arse.