Nica Libre
 

There has been a lot of talk about these on this forum. So I went on a quest to find some. Today there is a good deal on them at cigar.com:

http://www.cigar.com/DailyDeal/ccCigarDeals.asp

5 for $9.95 and if you buy 2 you get free shipping. I took advantage of this and when you go to order it allows to you to buy the 5 cigar Nica Libre sampler for $9.95 also. For 15 cigars for $30.00 ain't bad!

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These are good cigars :tu

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They are quite good. Just had my second tonight. I got the sampler when I ordered the deal of the day rockys they had. I need to find a box. For 2 bucks a stick these things are fabulous.

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Anyone know who manufacturers these? I'm having one right now and it is excellent, and you can get 25 for $50...

They look and taste like Padron knockoffs, but are they? Or are they manufactured by the same folks?

I can't find info on these things anywhere...

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I've seen these and wondered about them myself. Whoever designed the band earned his money because the first thing I thought was Padron.

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The taste was pretty spot on w/ Padron, and the label is so similar that it makes me wonder if they are connected...but I can't find info on this cigar anywhere..as far as manufacturer, etc...

Help!

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I have heard thay they are an A.J.Fernandez brand.

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You can get an actual Padron for about 2.50 a piece.

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Got a Nica Libre 10-pack sampler for $19.95 from CI and smoked 2.
Good effort at packaging them as a Padron knockoff. Nice draw, a flavorful smoke that was surprisingly eventful, a raggedy wrapper like a Padron, but no way these cigars are Padrons. They are just that - a knockoff.
For a bit more $, you can smoke the real deal.

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I have not tried them although I have been intrigued since so many said they were Padron knockoffs.

Unfortunately, I got to hang out with a BOTL recently, that other than my dad and myself, he is probably the luniest Padron Anni fan I know. He told me while they are OK smokes, they are not Padron.

After listening to that, and knowing his knowledge of Padrons and experience with them, I can't help but think if I do try these, my mind has now been tainted.

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I think they are tasty in their own right.

I also think I am a Padrom maddy whore.
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My question then to you is, are they Padrons?

Tasty in their own right is OK. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I have yet to find anyone that didn't enjoy them. That said, they must be well made and blended.
However, the thing with these is the comparison to Padron, at a fraction of the cost.

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I just recently tried one that was given to me in a PIF and i was pleasantly surprised by it. I really enjoyed the one I had and may have get a fiver or two in the near future.

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Anyone care to comment on what they taste like? (besides a Padron)

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While they are tasty and well made, the ones that I have smoked burned a little off and burned quick. The torp lasted about 45 minutes when the Padron torp generaly last me around a hour and a half (maybe I unconsiencly smoke Padrons slower because I know that I spent so much on it). The flavor was good and steady but seemed not as refined as a Padron.
They will be smoked to a lip and finger burning nub every time just like a Padron.

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I reviewed them recently. They are not Padrons, they have a unique flavor. Not as complex, not as strong - I liked it - but if anyone thinks they taste like a Padron they haven't had many Padrons - or it's been a loooong time ;)

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No I don't think they are Padrons. They do IMO have flavors in common though. Earthy and cocoa are a couple of the common tastes. Would I smoke this instead of Padrons? I am not really sure, but I do know if you like Padron maddies you need to at least try one or 5 and decide of yourself. Taste is a funny thing like that. I may think they are the bee's knee but you may think you just wasted a couple of bucks on a crap stick.

If you end up not enjoying them though let me know I will gladly take them off your hands.

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I smoke Padrons. I own Padrons. I love Padrons. You sir, are no Padron.



















But it is a good cigar. ;)

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Though full of flavor, the Nica Libre was a one-dimensional smoke for me. The finish throughout was very dry and earthy, and the dominant profile was sweet chocolate, without the bitterness. Throughout the smoke, there was a subtle creaminess that fought to break through the dryness, and only rarely made it to the surface. There were also notes of espresso and hazelnut with a palate-soaking finish. I’ve been on a non-Maduro kick as of late, so this was a nice, steady re-introduction.

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Thanks! I've been on the same non-maduro kick. These sound like a bargain but I don't know if I'm ready to delve back into maddies just yet.

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Comparable in size to the Padron Delicias, the Nica Libre Principe sales for $2 ($50 for 25), while the Delicias goes for $2.70 ($70 for 26). But for me the NL has a bit less strength, which is preferable, and I'd probably go with it 2 out of 3 times. Am I crazy?

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:confused:

Anni?

:confused:

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I'm with Mr. Blueface. Where are you shoping at? The cheapest 64 I can find is the 64 Principie @ $10.50 (before the taxes hit) a pop. I can pick up the NL's for ~$2.00 a pop on cbid. I don't think any are trying to say the NL is a one for one replacement, but close enough to the 64's for me. With a $8.50 difference in price, I'll smoke the NLs. I have had many of the x000 smokes and none to this point have appealed to me.

I find the NL to match a lot of the Padron creamy/chocolaty range (as in not spicey at all) and as other have noted pretty much one demensional. But then I also find the Padron 64 to be one demensional as well. Just is what is from start to finish. I would love to smoke an "aged" NL just to see what qualities change over time.

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Not the 64's, just the regular line at $2.70 a pop: here

Even though the difference is only $.70 a pop, I'd still go w/ NL and bag the savings...

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What do you mean unfortunately. :D
It is a nice cigar, especially for the money. But it is far from a Padron

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:r

Perhaps not written right.

I meant you ruined it for me.:r

Will definitely try it.

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Looks like I too will soon know what they taste like.
Ordered a 10 pack (5 sizes, 2 of each) that's on special on CI for $19.99.

I consider myself a Padron Anni whore from day one in '94. Can't wait to try these and compare. I will be open minded. I will remind myself I paid $2 each. I will remind myself to play nice in sand boxes.:r

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I'll be waiting to hear what your thoughts are. I think you'll be happy if you don't expect a Padron, but a cigar with some of the same characteristics.

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Great stuff Blueface; make sure to post your thoughts!

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If you don't like them Blueface let me know I will buy them off you.
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I think with all the folks that have chimed in on these cigars and with folks I know well that are Padron Anni fanatics like Mikey (Made in Dade), I think I will in fact enjoy these very much and truly look forward to them.

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I believe these are blended by AJ Fernandez, and for that reason alone I would try them. If you include free shipping and 2 bucks a stick it's probably a win.

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Got my two sampler packs earlier this week and lit up the Exclusivo version with my dad last night.

I figured I would post here and save another thread.

Folks, I SWEAR I went into this with an open mind.
I SWEAR my dad did also.

I got two 5 five packs for $19.99 plus $5.00 shipping.
At $2 a cigar, was it a great deal? Heck yeah. No doubt about it.

Upon looking at the stick, it is very, very similar to a Padron Anniversary.
It has a dark, oily wrapper very similar to that of a Maduro Anniversary.
It has a band that is so, so similar to that of a Padron Anniversary.
It is box pressed just like a Padron Anniversary.

That my friends is where the similarities end. Before lighting this cigar, I inspected all five. Something I got from my dad. I took each cigar and felt for firmness/construction. Two of them have voids in the middle of the cigar that will clearly present burn issues. Shame that one of the is the large Diplomatico version. The five I gave my dad had no voids at all in the cigar. They were all fine.

Upon initial light, nothing like an Anniversary. It left a bitter after taste that both my dad and I picked up immediately.
After a few drags, the after taste was not only still evident but I could sense the taste by the smell of the tobacco also.
It was quite peppery, more so than a Padron Anniversary. The Padron starts out peppery but after a few drags, quickly tones down. This pup didn't.

Burn wise, this was a very good cigar. Burned quite similar to that of an Anniversary. It stayed lit the entire time.

While the flavors did evolve ever so slightly as I went along, it frankly wasn't very much. It pretty much gave me two thirds of the way in the very same I got from the start. About two thirds of the way through it, I developed an unusual throat itch and cough and put the cigar out.

Both dad and I agree that at $2 a stick, one can't help but shut up, light it up and smoke away. Not much you can get that is made in the manner that cigar is for that price. You can clearly see it is a quality cigar. HOWEVER, to say this is a good replacement for a Padron Anniversary is purely one's opinion that neither I nor my dad can agree with. This is not an Anniversary nor is it remotely close. While you do get a bit of resemblance from the cigar to an Anniversary, that resemblance is certainly far from the real thing and comes purely from the box press, the label and the shade of the wrapper. The flavor similarity, while I must confess there is a twang of resemblance, frankly, it is quite minimal.

Bottom line for me, while this cigar can save me a considerable amount of money as compared to a Padron Anniversary, so can a Toyota Yaris in lieu of my BMW convertible. I rather have the ultimate driving machine for those moments I consider special, which is every time I light a cigar, which is a moment I always try to smoke the one I would enjoy the most, then move down the line. Unfortunately for me, that means I can never, ever have a single Padron Anniversary in my humidor. At this moment, that holds true.

Do I regret buying them? I never regret trying any new cigar, specially at the price I got them.
Would I buy them again? Jury is still out. I will reserve that decision for after I have had a chance to smoke the remaining four, which I promise I will. Dad feels the same.

Respectfully submitted by a Padron Anni whore and his yet greater Padron Anni whore dad.:D

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Padron whore myself. Thanks for saving my money!

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Very nice review Blueface!! And with an open mind. :D

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Erick,
I would try them if you are a Padron Anny whore too.
They are worth trying and your taste may differ significantly to mine.
They are a fantastic value.
Just can't expect them be a replacement for the real thing.
I plan on smoking all five as they may be different based on vitola.

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Pretty much sums up my experience with 'em. Thanks for the review.:tu

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Mine also. After I originally posted this, I had gotten 15 of them. Quite frankly I think they are pretty bad and experienced the same aftertaste as mentioned. It is like going for a Coke and getting the Sams Club brand of soda.

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More like going for an ice cold Coke and getting a very flat and hot Sam's Club brand.

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These caught my attention in a cigars intl magazine. Now I just need to get money to spend in ******.. XD.


Or not.. They sound dirty after reading the rest of this thread.

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Why not get involved in the NST?
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14254
It's a great way for people to get involved and try new sticks. The only $$$ you'll need is for postage. :2

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Man, pnoon, you are all over me today. You are my hero! Haha

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Just trying to guide you in the right direction, Grasshopper. ;)

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I bought them based on the blender not that they are supposedly like Padrons. I think that's just some BS marketing. Haven't had one yet as they need a weeks rest in the humi to stblize the RH. If I like them I'll smoke them if I don't I will let them rest. Not sure what the NST trade is as my B/B won't go there but if you can have a Fog set you up with some tried and true good stix it's a great idea.
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I figure I will let the other four rest for a while before I go back to them.

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I smoked through 5 of the Nica Libra Torps. I thought they were crap.

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:r:r:r

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I have just decided. The Nica Libre will be tonights cigar, computer in hand at least a pencil anyway and will see if they suck or not. If they do I'll let em rest for 6 months and revisit.

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Give Us Your Review, Please, Ken! Thanks, Brother!:tu

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I smoked 1 yesterday in the afternoon with some bourbon and diet coke and I really liked it. I'm considering a box purchase :-)