Tobacco Trading Company - What Do I Like?

The Readers Speak!
This section is dedicated to the "random" opinions of a.s.c.'s readers on their favorite smokes. Compiled by IGC, these opinions include any short, positive comments which described a particular cigar's character in 25 words or less. Note that it is not intended to be a complete list of fine cigars, just some favorites...

As far as fine cigars go, I prefer Montecristo #4's, When I'm really celebrating, it's a #2...

I would suggest the Macanudo Portofino. Quite mild yet flavorful, readily available, consistent quality. A bit expensive (over $3 here) but worth it IMO. When you are ready to move to something spicier try the Fuente (maybe the Maduro wrapper) or a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, which I find *excellent* although the spiciness sometimes gets to me.

For consistency of taste and flavor, nothing beats a Macanudo or even a Partagas. The companies that own them are just too big and have lots of money so they can buy the many blends necessary to insure consistency.

The Partegas is a good cigar and the Vintage is even better. It's less harsh as it is aged much longer. It costs about $8.00 though.

Here's what comes to the top of my head for favorites... Cuesta-Rey 1884 maduro, JR Ultimate double corona, double maduro, Punch (Cuban) double corona, Montecristo (Cuban) #2

Try a Macanudo Ascot. They are mild and are small in size. One could almost get away with smoking them in public (where smoking is allowed). It seems that a cigar of any size attracts a lot of attention and the Ascots are just a bit larger than a cigarette.

I would recommend a box of Royal Jamaican Maduro wrapped Coronas. I have only been smoking for about a year, but these medium priced smokes have remained my favorite non-Cuban cigar.

I ordered 20 El Ray del Mundo Robustos a few weeks ago. They were 2 bucks each. They are the best 2$ smoke I've ever had. In fact, I'd rate them as one of the best cigars I've tried. Very smooth and flavorful.

Fonseca 8-9-8. Very smooth and very nice. Good tobacco flavors. Yet light enough for a first time smoke.

Griffins. 1000 is A great first time smoke. Creamy, smooth light. My personal favorite "light" smoke.

I just wanted to say that I smoked a Santa Rosa Lonsdale size cigar for $1.95 and it was great. I often overlook Santa Rosa when I'm cigar hunting but I won't anymore. It has a pleasant aroma and is smooth for being Honduran.

To give you an idea of how much I like these cigars, I've gone through eight Padrons and three Rey del Mundos (I'm happily chewing on the third as I type) In the last 5 days, and I'm usually a cigar-a-day smoker.

I tried a Montecristo #1 from the Dominican Republic today, purchased at De La Concha on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. It was a pleasant-tasting cigar, but was tough to draw and had a bitter finish.

I tried a Carribean Cigar Signature Collection Torpedo recently - thought I was in heaven! Rich and creamy with a touch of chocolate and nuttiness, this was one great smoke!

Grabbed a pair of Series "D" Robustos for a change of pace from the Ashtons. Full flavor (no doubt due to the ring size) and an easy draw.

I have tasted chocolate very distinctly in several Cuban cigars, but never a non-Cuban. Try a Romeo Y Julieta Churchill - They taste just like Heath bars!

The Partagas. This is the cigar I can't quite get enough of. This cigar in a #10 is a permanent part of my humidor. I've tried the Partagas Limited Reserve (at over two times the price) and still come back to this cigar. A nice smoke indeed.

When I started, half the fun was trying different kinds. Many of the previous suggestions: Macanudos, Arturo Fuentes are great. I like Ashtons, Ramon Allones and Upmans. For a great smoke try Dianas, Avos, Zinos, etc. Montesino, and Ashton Vintage... Very nice cigars. Lots of that "toasty" flavor I like.

Hoyo de Monterrey (Havana) - A powerful smoke. Really rich. Like a super intense Fuente Hemmingway.

I started with an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 in a maduro wrapper, and have yet to find a finer cigar for the money! They are wonderful.

I like almost all the Ashtons. The Vintage Cabinet Selection, is by far the best, but it is quite expensive. (I forget the exact price, maybe $6-7.) The 8-9-8 is also excellent, and it is probably a better bargain for your money. These cigars are mild with an almost woody taste.

I tend to enjoy Macanudos myself, but I would also try a Partagas for a little different flavor. I would also have to suggest something in a Royal Jamaica.

My current favorite is the Nat Sherman Hunter (6 inches and about 43 ring gauge). A very satisfying smoke and I love the slightly sweet wrapper.

The Arturo Fuentes Masterpieces are all pretty good - and the Hemmingway series are really tough to beat, especially for the price. If you don't have quite the time needed for the bigger versions, try the Signatures. Delightful.

Yep, I sure like the Fuente Rothchilds, little 4.5" about 50 ring and white ash and quite nice smoke.

Canellas are wonderful Mexican cigars. I don't think they're available in the states. They also have a much inferior machine made that's lousy, of course. but the quality hand rolled are beautiful.

A Dominican Cigar, shipped to Paris for distribution. Pleiades are quite wonderful cigars, though extremely mild and delicate in flavor. I particularly like the Sirius (a classic lonsdale), the Pluton (a robusto) and the Aldeberon (a double corona of epic proportion). Lightly spicy, sometimes a bit herbaceous, nice toffee like notes with a a short, but pleasant finish.

If you're looking for stronger cigars, I think you should try a nice Honduran smoke. Hoyo Excaliburs are very nice, and I've had robustos made by Don Tomas. These are especially strong, I've found. I like them both.

Punch Presidente is a very rich and flavorful cigar. It represents the one of the finest Honduran cigars made. Significantly strengthened near the end. Very smooth draw and, quite a complex flavor.

By far IMO the A.F. Churchill is the best Dominican cigar that I've experienced. I was really impressed on how well it smoked. It was truly pleasurable, beautifully constructed, burned evenly and smoked very smoothly. I sensed hints of mint and cedar along with a warm coffee finish.

I had a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure #1 (Havana) last year and it sent a blast, a big blast of taste from start to finish. The peppery spiciness really kicked in about half way down the cigar.

An old favorite of mine, and all time champ in unlit scent, is the Partagas Maduro.

Tonight I had my first A. Fuente double chateau and for an hour and a half I was in heaven.

The Te-Amo Robusto is one hell of a great cigar. It has everything I'm looking for in a full bodied heavy ring gauge cigar.

The Punch was wonderful. I have never smoked a cigar like it. It was like a combination of the flavors of an A.F. 8-5-8 and a J.R. Ultimate.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos #3 (corona size). This cigar is heaven on earth!!! As good as the Cuban coronas I've smoked. The richest tasting cigar I've ever experienced.

El Rey del Mundo - Robusto Larga (maduro)...dark, beautiful wrapper, great draw and flavor (what I as a beginner would call complex and creamy for lack of the proper adjectives).

Henry Clay Breva Fina. Nice wrapper, dark and oily for a natural. Strong taste. Rich flavors of roasted coffee with pepper and other spices. One of the strongest Dominicans I've tried.

I recently tried a Joya de Nicaragua No. 6 lonsdale in the natural wrapper. It was a very enjoyable cigar--medium to full bodied with a spicy, chocolatey flavor. I would heartily recommend it.


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