Age & Experience

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Lucky_Hippo

For some reason A. Fuente, who I almost smoked exclusively before, has fallen off my radar. Even the Hemmingway stuff just doesn't hold my attention like it used to.

**Remeber Lone Wolf cigars, a Belushi and Chuck Norris collaborative? With all the differnt flavors I tend to remember them as the Acid cigars of the 90s.

Not my cup of tea at all, but what a unique pairing in the cigar world.

Actually, the Belushi & Norris cigars weren't flavored. That was Lars Teten - and they are still available, only very much limited.

I know what you mean about the AFs. They used to be exquisite. But, during the boom, something happened. Their best were the Hemis. I don't know if it was the addition of the DC and Opus line, but something happened to the flavor, body, strength of their other lines, including the Hemis. I enjoy an occasional SS, but they are not the same. And the Chateaus and the Rothschilds that were my staple, I visit only rarely - though I do have some Chateau SGs that are better. The few Opus I have had, have failed to really "WOW" me. Considering their price tag, I'd expect something spectacular. I must say that one I had was incredible - very, very nice. The other 2 though have left me sorely wanting. When they came out in the 90s, I had a few, but remember construction & burn issues - flavors were decent, but I had Hemi SSs in my humidor that made me happier.

I don't know if I am unusual in that regard, or if others have also noticed the diminished satisfaction that is received from Fuentes in general. It might be that my tastes have changed and I like fuller-bodied cigars. Who knows.

[e-man67]

age 36 been smoking cigars since 93...

It all started with a trip to Windsor, CA...Bought various Partegas, Punch, and a Jose Piedra...started hitting the local shops after:

Top 5 all time favorite NC:
1). El Sublimado (not made anymore)
2). Ashton VSG
3). Monte Cristo Platinums (love whites too)
4). Casa Magna (new and I love them)
5). tie Partegas Black label, Punch Rare Corojo

*I tend to stick with what I like and not venture much...I am exploring more...recently with pepin's stuff which so far I am enjoying. Fuente's with the exception of the Anejo, need more aging IMO...especially the Opus. I do love them when they are right.

Top 5 CC's:
1) Monte Cristo torpedos
2) Various Cohibas Siglos (non cubans are blah)
3) Hoyo's
4) Ramon Allones
5) Romeo J's

[icantbejon]

[quote=e-man67;301508]age 36 been smoking cigars since 93...

It all started with a trip to Windsor, CA...Bought various Partegas, Punch, and a Jose Piedra...started hitting the local shops after:

Top 5 all time favorite NC:
1). El Sublimado (not made anymore)
2). Ashton VSG
3). Monte Cristo Platinums (love whites too)
4). Casa Magna (new and I love them)
5). tie Partegas Black label, Punch Rare Corojo

JK5 and I tried these not too long ago. It was a funny experience (as cigars can be it seems). I bought two from the same box, at the same time. I brought them home and placed them immediately in the humi. We smoked them about 5 days later. Mine burned perfectly and the flavor was solid. JK5's burned terribly and he didn't care for the flavor at all. Just a random occurence from two cigars from the same batch.

[JJG]

I got into cigars briefly in the late 90's (96-98) and most of the brands I remember are still around today although not as widely discussed here. Macanudo, Partagas, Montecristo (non-Cuban)

I would say most of the popular brands today are fairly new. (within the last 10-15 years) I know some of them have been around longer but probably as boutique brands, not widely distributed to the average late 90's B&M.

I think the reason for the shift away from some of the older brands has to do with the fact that the average smoker has a wealth of information available to them online and tend to be better informed than they might have been 15 years ago. In my opinion it has also led to an industry-wide increase in the quality of what's being produced because frankly, smokers have higher expectations.

That being said, I think the internet has done wonders for storefront retailers too. I notice them carrying more of the exciting cigars generally discussed on this board instead of the usual blah brands like Macanudo, red-dot Cohibas, etc...

[PeteSB75]

Been smoking pretty regularly for the last 4-5 years, and occasionally for about 12-15. My tastes have definitely changed over that time, but what is generally to be found in my humi, and what I reach for consistently:

PAM 64s
AF Anejo
AF Sungrown ( Chateau or other, 858s atm)
De La Concha house - Pepin rolled, still think they are one of his best, and I like them better than tatuajes.
Boli CCs - PC or GM usually, depending on how much time I have.

[Geppetto]

20+ for me (Oh Lord, almost 30). Started out with hand rolled (yes, I inhaled) then cigar wise went to machine made, Phillies from Grandfather, Garcia Vega from high school bud's, Wolf Bros Crooks in the mid 80's.
Graduated to bigger and better in the 90's with the friendship of my Navy bud "Monte" who introduced me to the "new" world.

Confirmed CAO & Perdomo ho still today.

Loves:
Partagas Black
Bauza
Romeo y Julieta
Don Tomas Corojo
La Gloria Cubana Serie R
Bolivar Cofradia

Enjoy the larger ring sizes.

Joing CA has opened my eyes even more today.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by JJG

I would say most of the popular brands today are fairly new. (within the last 10-15 years) I know some of them have been around longer but probably as boutique brands, not widely distributed to the average late 90's B&M.

I think the reason for the shift away from some of the older brands has to do with the fact that the average smoker has a wealth of information available to them online and tend to be better informed than they might have been 15 years ago. In my opinion it has also led to an industry-wide increase in the quality of what's being produced because frankly, smokers have higher expectations.

That being said, I think the internet has done wonders for storefront retailers too. I notice them carrying more of the exciting cigars generally discussed on this board instead of the usual blah brands like Macanudo, red-dot Cohibas, etc...

Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back for being one of the nouveau cigar smokers that is so much more educated and has a much more refined palate than the old smokers. (sorry, I just couln't resist the attempt at a bit of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm)

You suggest that the most popular brands are the new ones. Hmmm. Got the figures to back that up? I'd say Fuentes, Upmann, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Partagas, LGC, dare I say it Macanudos, and other long-time brands, outsell the newcomers by a very large margin.

I would agree that some of the newer brands/makers like Tatuajae, Pepin, and such are more "popular," if by that you mean they are discussed more. You hear them talked about more than the long-time brands, but I'd love to see what people have more of in their humidors.

Yes, there is more information available today, but that isn't always a good thing. I remembered the plethora of information out there about cigars during the boom - pooled ignorance I liked to call it. Guys talking on different internet groups about the latest, greatest new cigar to come down the pipe. And the more expensive it was, the more they liked it. It was like a badge of honor to proclaim how many boxes of it they had puchased. I remember a guy talking about the Nicole Miller Robustos he had purchased, paid $10.25 a stick for a box. JR Cigar had them a year later, and I got two boxes for $29.95.

Do smokers have a higher expectation today than they did? I don't know, but I am inclined to lean the other way. I think the "cigar boomers" had great education, the internet was available to them and cigar clubs were all over the place. I think that they had unrefined palates and didn't want to listen to old smokers, "what do you know, you've been smokin' "Brands X,Y,Z,P,D,&Q for 10 years, what would you know about the new blends?" They were shoving their high end sticks in people's facing, trying to impress everyone with their refined tastes. However, there are the smokers that have come through that age which were not, and are not wow-ed by slick packaging, a new name, a high price tag, and the tastebuds of others.

There are some cigars that are bandied about these boards as the beat all and end all of cigar smoking. We won't get into whether they are or are not. Some of them are great. (Like what you smoke, and smoke what you like.) But, again and again, and again I see those old standards being passed around, boxes purchased, and reviews made.

Oh, and red dot Cohibas are not a old time blend, didn't debute until 1997 (if memory serves me correctly). And, as far as I was and am concerned, it is one of the worst cigars on the planet.

This past weekend, my cigars were a very mixed bag: Cabaiguan Robusto Extra, Taboo HSG Toro Grande, Punch Rotschild, Oliva V Lancero, and a AF Chateau maddie.

I do like the fact that this question I have posed has raised such discussion and conjecture.

Love it!

Keep the ideas flowing.

[Seanohue]

Started July 4 when I was 17, so it'll be 3 years this July. My favorites marcas are:

H. Uppman
Cohiba
Partagas
Por Larranaga
SCdLH

[BORIStheBLADE]

I've been smoking for three years. I didn't hit it hard till about late last year.

My Fav CC so far..

Montecristo
Bolivar
Cohiba
Hoyo de Monterrey
Ramón Allones


My fav NC

Don Pepin
Olivia
Cruzado
Ashton

[Cenookie]

I started smoking about 3 yrs. ago. My favorites:
NC
Tat
Monte White
5 Vega "A"
AVO XO
In no particular order
CC
Punch RS 11
Hoyo Petite Robusto
Dip #4
Hoyo Du Prince
Monte #4

[Snake Hips]

Shoot, I haven't been in the game long enough to even say really. Been smoking for almost a year now, but since about December I kind of dropped my NC experimentation for Dark Side experimentation. So as for non-Cubans, I haven't done much but sample around a bit. But here's what I've been attracted to with so far on the NC side, in no particular order:

Tatuaje
Joya de Nicaragua
Oliva
Padron
Saint Luis Rey
Romeo y Julieta

[stitch]

Well, I'm one of those Geezers who's been doing it off and on for over 30 years, ...On for the last 20 at least ... Used to smoke a lot Munimakers, Toppers, King Edwards, A&C's ... That stuff. ... My how my tastes have changed! ... My Favorites?? ...Hmmmm...
La Aroma de Cuba
Padron Aniversary (Actually ANY Padron!)
Tat's
RYJ Habana Reserve
And my newest Fav. ... San Cristobal! (Thanks John!)
But other than that, Hell ...I'll smoke a tree branch if it tastes good!