I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Hello everybody!

This morning I went to a big tobacco shop in my town to buy some Toscanos (italian cigars), but while I was waiting for my turn, a ray of light hit my mind and I yelled into my thoughts


Then I asked the shop assistant if they had Cuban Cigars in store and... in half a minute I bought a three-cigars pack of Cohiba Siglo II. :noon

Oh boys, what a cigar, what a taste! I finally tasted some serious aroma evolution, every third of it tasted differently and at the end, a marvellous taste of tobacco remained in my mouth. And when it was done, I just wanted to have another. But obviously I didn't. -(P

Well I have to say that I love Toscanos and they are extremely good (for me at least), but Habanos are extremely good in the same way, and I just don't want to compare them for wich is better, simply because they are two different worlds, it would be like comparing classical music to progressive hard rock: you just can't.

I took my decision! For the everyday smokes I'll buy Toscanos, also because they cost much less, and I will keep Habanos for special moments.

I couldn't ever imagine that a cigar could make me so happy :cf1


Happy smokes!

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Another One "To The Dark Side"!:D Enjoy!:tu

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

that no lie :tu :r

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I would have to say my first experience with a CC went very similar to yours....:noon

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Not very often I hear about somebody's first experience being so wonderful.
Most people say "I don't get it", and I think Mmmm more for me.
It took me several attempts before I fell in love, it was a RASCC that turned me.
Enjoy the dark slope! I have heard a lot of people from outside the US like those Toscanos.
No idea what they are, they sound coffee infused? Fire wall has me blocked from informative websites.

I think "I want HABANOOOOS!!!" about 23.5 hours a day, I think Leo planted the idea deep in my subconsious.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I love to hear this bro

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Thanks you all for your replies! :)

Happy and joyful smoking! -(P

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Congrats. I have yet to smoke a cc but I will one day.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Sig II's are my favorite, too! No wonder you love them.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Very nice. Someday I will see for myself. Congrats

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Just remember, just because they're 'Cuban' doesn't mean they're good. I had a dog rocket last night. But, most I've had have been great. I stay away from Cohibas because of the price. I can get nearly 2 Montecristo #2's for the price of one Cohiba.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

All of the CC's I have smoked have been awesome, mind you that I have not smoked many and all have been gifts so I figure they all were top of the line and had some age but they are great!!

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I'm the same way, smoking my first CC was a "wow" moment all in itself, since I'm a cigar noob probably more so for me because it was a mild / medium partagas short and I actually got all of the different flavors on my palette and that was a first. Now I'm totally hooked.

I think it was icehog3 that said he has only smoked like 4 NCs in a year, now I understand why!

Hi my name is Adam and I'm hooked on the CCs ...

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

On a side note, you've got me wondering what an Italian cigar tastes like. Hmmm...

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Since @Blak Smyth and @jjirons69 are wondering how a Toscano is made and how it tastes, I'll give you some info.

Toscanos are made with fire-cured Italian and North-American Kentucky tobacco, they are short-filler made and have a strange shape, I would describe it as a double truncated cone.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JwDWujEbdj...0/toscano2.jpg

Yep it's not good-looking :sh but it has a good taste :dr

Its taste is strong and not so refined, with strong aroma of wood and earth.
The cigar produces a very strong smell!

I don't know how to describe better, I'm still a newbie :)

Thanks for asking about Toscanos, it's a honour for me to illustrate this made-in-italy product to my overseas brothers :)

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

While I was in the Bahamas last fall I watched a guy roll some cigars that he said were made from 100% cuban leaf. There was no filler, just some dark and yummy leaves that he expertly rolled. I bought one and smoked it on the porch next to him. It was by far the best cigar I have ever had. Other than that, I have never had the pleasure of smoking a CC.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Maybe you are talking about a higher value Cohibas? Sig2s should be in line the Monte2s.
Would I rather have a Monte2 than a Sig2? Sometimes, but I like both and I like variety.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I know exactly what you mean! I'm a BIG fan of Siglo-II myself...

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Blak Smyth and JJirons 69 send me your addy's and I'll get you out a few Toscanos.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

:po

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Not to deter from the current thread, but are Toscanos found in America Parodi's and DeNobli's, or are they "Toscano Style"?

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

wow bro that's a cool idea! I'd like to be able to do the same, but unfortunately here in Italy it's illegal to send tobacco by mail :sh

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

https://www.italiansmokes.com/pages/...ar-Primer.html
Not sure if this answer your question or not.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

:tu

Thats cool! I was there on vacation last year and picked up a few boxes of them. There a good smoke.

Do you cut them in half or smoke them whole? I ask because I saw a lot of locals cut them in half and smoke them.

Cool story, My wife and I where eating dinner in Firenze. After the meal I went to light up a smoke and found I forgot my cutter. So I asked the waiter and he said wait one minute. The owner of the restaurant came out and said ( in very broken english) he didn't have a cutter and then handed me a Toscano that was cut in half, and even lit the thing for me. Very cool guy we talked, smoked and finish our drinks. I tired to give him the cigar I was going to smoke ( I think it was a BRC) he would not here of it.

I really liked Italy best vacation I've been on hands down.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Comparing apples to apples in cigar size, the Montecristo #4 is the comparable size to the Siglo II. The Siglo II is 9.00 while the MC #4 is $5.92. I've had the MC #4 and they're good. I've not had a Siglo II yet so as far as taste goes, I don't know. But, I know the Sig IV is good but they're almost $3 more than the MC #2.
But each to their own. I'm not knocking Cohibas. I just don't go after them.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Thanks! It looks like these are made quite similarly as the Parodi's (except the Parodi's are made in USA). I think that the Toscano cigar isn't just the style but al so the Brand Name? Is that correct?

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

yep:)

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I'll never forget my first Habano... a Hoyo De Dieux. I've been corrupted ever since!

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I still remember my first one - I had befriended a local tobacco store owner who knew I was underage and still sold me cigars at age 13 and 14. I kept going there for a couple years and when I was 15 he happened to have some "special" cigars behind the counter. He gifted me one, it was a Habano RyJ Belicoso (from what I can ascertain). I fired it up while I was there and enjoyed it with him. I was 15 years old.

Needless to say, about 1/2 way in, I stepped outside and sat down on a bench and had one of the worst dizzy spells of my life. I must have hovered there for about 5 minutes ready to blow chunks all over myself :pu. The RyJ was just too strong for my young unadulterated taste buds. That said, the flavors were great, and I still remember that smoke.

Of course, I now prefer stronger cigars de facto. Go figure.

They are both excellent smokes, but Ill pay the premium for a Sig II.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

While every CC I have smoked were very good, none of them were "Wow!" cigars... Just not for me I guess. More for you guys lol.

No idea what a Toscano is lol.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

sorry bout' that :)

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

You spoiled me Ron! I can remember the days when I thought Nica Libre's were the $#!t

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Does anyone have any suggestions on which Toscano to try? I wanna get some.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Glad to hear that bro, I can tell you that my favourites are Toscano Classico, Originale and Soldati. Many people says that Soldati's taste is similar to that of the carribean cigars in some way.

Cool story! :) Yes I usually cut them in half, I don't smoke it whole so often.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

lol... i couldnt let you go out like that!

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Welcome to the proverbial Slippery Slope -- and all the discussion that goes along with it :)

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Wow, very cool of you Anthony! Should be a treat. Thanks!

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Had a similar expereince with a Trinidad Reyes that Drez sent me. Completely blew me away, now I'm selling off all my NC's to buy as many CC's as I can. Very slippery slope indeed.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Had my first Monty No. 2 last night ... I don't care if I ever smoke another NC... just saying.

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

Another one bites the dust...:tu

Re: I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...
 

I think the slope actually starts at CCs, before that it's just like this little tiny downhill jog.. nothing too step just a stroll...then you try a CC and hit the slope