Surrogates
 

Surrogates..... are they good or what? Just looking for some opinions. I like LP #9's t52's, Padrons, tats, Oliva V's, you know the typical good Med-Full NC's. How do the surrogates stack up? and are they all very different? Thanks, Jon

Re: Surrogates
 

Love the Tramp Stamp! I've gone through a box in less than a week. Bone Crusher is good as well but not as good as the Tramp.

Re: Surrogates
 

The Skull Breaker has been my hands down favorite. Between me, my boss, and those we recommended them to we went through 2 boxes in 2 weeks. The Bone Crusher has been a good substitute since we've been out of the Skull Breakers, but its not quite the same. The Tramp Stamp is a good little smoke, and the Crystal Baller I'm still not sold on, I need to try another couple.

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Funny how quickly I fall out of the know. I'm already lost in this thread.

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I liked both the Bone Crusher and Skull Breaker. I haven't tried the ones with the lame names yet.

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Yinz need to welcome Bart (crgcpro) to our stellar group. He just bombed this Western old Bart with a sampler of 11 cc's, plus a Surrogate Tramp that will br burned while tailgating o at Oregoon St.-Washington game Sat. nite.
Welcome Bart to the bestest cigar group anywhere!

Re: Surrogates
 

I'm a big fan of the Surrogate line. Really enjoy the Bone Crusher, Skull Breaker and the Tramp Stamp...stayed away from the Crystal Baller though.

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Then, I can't wait for the neck twister, knee capper, and joint grinder.:D

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I like them especially the Bone Crusher and Skull Breaker. For me I rate them SB, BC, Crystal Baller, Tramp Stamp.

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I second what John said!

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Don't forget the a$$kisser and c__ksucker
:=:

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The surrogates are amazing smokes.

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I love the Skull Breaker and Tramp Stamp :tu

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Must be a CC lover and NC hater! Just a guess????:sl

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Wrong, Sonny.
How little you know.

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Well then I stand corrected!;s

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It's all good.

I will clarify.

I am primarily a CC smoker. But I do enjoy many NCs.
What I hate are the stupid lame ass names some of these NC brands come up with. Which is what prompted my earlier post. And what demographic are they trying to appeal to?

Re: Surrogates
 

I agree that some of the names of these new cigars sound very gimicky. I think with all the competition, they are trying to stand out. Does it work...I don't know, but some are very good and some suck, regardless of the name. The true afficianados can see through the ridiculous names and don't care what the hell they are called. But I bet the occasional smokers that walk into a B&M for a bachelor party or frat party would be attracted to them, because of the band and name.:2

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Don't think that I'll ever put anything in my mouth with the name Tramp Stamp.
Why don't they name they're next smoke Herpes, The Clap, or Crabs? :pu

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Those aren't?:sh
:D

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:tpd:

I thought the same thing.

Re: Surrogates
 

I always find it comical at how much anything pertaining to Pete brings out the hate. :bdh There are a ton of smokes from many manufacturers with dumb ass names that no one ever mentions but if it's a stick produced by Pete a thread can grow to pages of hate. I always wonder what it is about the guy that makes people hate him so much. Hell for my palette his sticks very rarely disappoint and after meeting and speaking with him I had whole new respect for the guy. When it comes to tobacco they guy knows his sh*t.
The original concept when these dropped was a pretty awesome one. They were released exclusively for New Havana and the concept behind it was to offer a stick that had zero information behind it and have people try it and judge it strictly on the way it smokes. There was no info on who produced it or what factory it came from, where the tobacco originated from etc. They were a hit way before the information of what it was a year or so later. I know for myself after smoking the BC and SB that I had a sneaking suspicion that it was a Pete stick but I tend to smoke more Tat product than anything else so the profile was very familiar to me. I even heard rumor that Andre Farkas called Dan at NHC complaining about the bands which I too think was a private dig back at Andre as he has stolen many an idea from Pete and had the tables turned on him with it. That's just my opinion.
Yes, the names are goofy but the sticks are pretty solid and anyone who would automatically right off a stick and not try it because of the name will miss out on a lot of great sticks especially in today's day and age in the industry as goofy names are becoming more and more commonplace. Personally when people say that I usually silently call BS and figure they are trying to put up some fake online persona.
If a stick smokes great but is named the turd burglar I would have no shame in smoking it on a regular basis. At the end of the day you don't smoke the name.;):D

Re: Surrogates
 

:tpd:

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For me, it has nothing to do with Pete.
A stupid name is a stupid name - no matter who makes it.

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I might have to pick up some of these. I have heard good things.

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I had no idea who made it nor did I say I thought they sucked or wouldn't try one ever based on the name. Just think the name is stupid.

Re: Surrogates
 

I can only find 5ers of the BC and the CB at SmokeInn... $37.50 & $40 respectively.. Any place sell for a different price, or possibly a place that sells any of the other lines? I wouldn't mind trying them. Thanks in advance!

Re: Surrogates
 

Re: Surrogates
 

Prior to seeing this, I never heard of the Surrogates brand, so I decided to check out their Web Site. I don't know what the rest of you think about the pricing but I don't see much of a difference from what they are charging for their "every day" stick and what I pay for more of a premium priced cigar. Maybe I'm spoiled living close to Ybor City. I can get locally rolled every day cigars at 3-5 dollars per stick which IMHO is a true cost savings and they taste great. Now the taste/flavor of the Surrogates is a whole different subject. It seems like most here enjoy the Surrogates but I don't see much of a cost savings as advertised. My .2.

Re: Surrogates
 

Compare them to prices on Tatuaje & Viajes then you will see the savings. The Skull Breaker and Bone Crusher really are IMHO vaguely similar to the Tatuaje T110 & Viaje Skull 'N Bones line when compared to strength and flavors. Price a box of Tatuaje T110 or Viaje Skull 'N Bones (if you can find them) and tell me if you still feel the same way. :2

Re: Surrogates
 

I've been wanting to try the skull breaker but I get mixed reviews, some stating it has a ton of pepper and others saying not so much. I'm not a big fan of a lot of pepper in my cigars, so if somone could confirm this either way it would help my purchase decisison. Thanks.

Re: Surrogates
 

Confirmed...loads of pepper.

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I love the skull breaker and bone crushers. Great sticks regardless of the names. Pete is the man!

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I was only looking at the single cigar prices. You're right about the box price. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

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Works for single sticks as well...price the Tatuaje T110 & Viaje Skull 'N Bones singles versus the Surrogates..we're talking a $ 5-7 per stick differential.

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What Mac said. I love t110's but at 15 per smoke, if you can even find them, it's a no brainer.

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Shoot me a PM with your snailer and I will try and get a couple SB and BC out to you. I will be out of town so it will be later next week when I get them out but at least you will get to try them.
If you like a spicy heavy smoke these will be in your wheelhouse for sure.:2

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"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to neoflex agian"

Fine gesture, John. :chr

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I took care of this for ya :tu

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I agree. It just seems to be the way of the world, Peter; doncha know that, deep down inside, we all wanna be bikers and/or SF snipers?

I will say that I tried a Bonecrusher; got about 1/4 in, definitely not my cup of tea. I gave it a shot, though.

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Great gesture John!

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Thank you kind sir. Will do.

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I find them very similar to the Viaje Skull & Bones and the Super Shot line in flavor, the Viajes may be a little "heavier" but for the money, I would opt for the Surrogates. I like them when I'm in the mood for that type of flavor; however, I couldn't smoke any of them on a daily basis.

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Curious how these have aged since this thread started. Thoughts?

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Like most things Tatuaje/Pepin, they age pretty well. I find with age you lose a little of that initial pepper blast on most Tats but overall anything that comes out of the Pepin factory ages very well. :2

Re: Surrogates
 

since were reviving and old thread, the new animal cracker is a beast of a smoke!

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I've had the bone crusher, and skull breaker, or skull crusher and bone breaker, I can't remember. Either way, they're both good. I am a die hard DL700 maduro fan, so they weren't quite as strong as I like, but for what it was, I appreciated it, and thought it was a solid $6-$8 stick.

Re: Surrogates
 

These folks can be out of stock from time to time but they will restock and have the best box prices I have seen under L'Atelier Surrogates:

http://www.cigarplace.biz/

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Animal Cracker? Where did I miss seeing this one come out.

Skull Breaker is a good smoke. I want to try a tramp stamp.

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Yes, the Animal Cracker is my new favorite of the line. Pretty Stout but flavorful smoke. Would love to see it in a smaller ring,