Least Favorite Pepin Blend.

pinotguy · 03-02-2010, 04:26 PM

I am a dyed-in-the-wool Pepin fan. So much so, that his cigars are all that you'll find in my humidor right now (save the odd Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial). While I have managed to taste all of his readily available brands (his own and the things he does for other people) as well as most of his "private label" things, I am wondering what is your least favorite Pepin blend and why?

My least favorite are the new La Aroma de Cuba (regular) and the Serie JJ (both wrappers). I found the new LAdC to be harsh and lacking the balance normally found in his blends. Try as I might, I just cannot get into the JJ. To me, they don't have the strength and flavor that I find appealing, especially when compared to some of his other blends.

(For the record, I have not smoked some of his more obscure, harder-to-find, cigars like Giralda, Los Imperialista, or Capanna d'Oro. I have also not tried the new El Triunfador line, mainly because those were released just last week.)

NickyTeen · 03-02-2010, 05:18 PM

Tobacos Baez. Tried these about 5 times now and find them absolutely flavorless! Gave the rest away.I love DPG ,but I would not buy these again at any price.

jaydub13 · 03-02-2010, 05:18 PM

Agreed, I just can't get into the JJ. I do love the new LAdC EE, but haven't tried the new blend....

longknocker · 03-02-2010, 05:22 PM

I Would Have To Say JJ Nat. Pure Spice & Nothing Else IMO. Love All The Others, Though!

kelmac07 · 03-02-2010, 05:23 PM

And I LOVE the JJ maduro.

03-02-2010, 05:28 PM

I'm gonna say the Vegas Cubanas. Definitely did not float my boat.

Pat1075 · 03-02-2010, 05:32 PM

Tabacos Baez but I do need to revisit it and for the record JJ natural frickin fantastic!

Mr B · 03-02-2010, 05:33 PM

I did not dig on the Vegas Cubana or either of the JJ series series either. Have not had the Tabac Biez yet, but dont really look forward to it either.
I love so many of his others though!

03-02-2010, 05:47 PM

Suprised to see the Tabacos Baez mentioned so much in this thread so far.

I liked the TB Habano, & the Serie SF is a stellar smoke for the $$$ IMO. I get the TB SF for under $3 @ my B&M, & will smoke the shizzle out of em'!

tenbaseg · 03-02-2010, 06:26 PM

I'm not a big fan of the JJ natural. The maddie however is one of my favorites. Go figure.

BryanB · 03-02-2010, 06:28 PM

I did not like the Tobacos Baez Series H at all.

CigarNut · 03-02-2010, 06:37 PM

I was gifted a La Aroma de Cuba on Sunday and found it to be a decent smoke; could have spent a little more time aging (drying out) in a humi, but it is definately something I would try again...

That's the cool thing about cigars -- we each have our own unique tastes -- which makes for endless discussion

Smokin Gator · 03-02-2010, 06:39 PM

That is a really hard question for me as so many of the blends I may like one or two vitolas and not so much on others. Overall though, I would have to say the JJ is my least favorite. Not to say I don't like some, but overall, I would say there have been more of the JJs that left me wondering than any others.

neoflex · 03-02-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuente~fuente

I'm gonna say the Vegas Cubanas. Definitely did not float my boat.

I absolutely hated this stick.

Silound · 03-02-2010, 09:44 PM

La Aroma de Cuba EE line. Tastes like wet cardboard, and I've tried a dozen different ways to smoke em, store em, all that. I just can't get one that tastes good.

guado · 03-02-2010, 10:35 PM

White label JJ for sure. I love the JJ maduro though.

montecristo#2 · 03-02-2010, 10:35 PM

I would say 75% of my collection is Pepin's / Tatuajes.

For me, my least favorite Pepin's would probably be: Old Henry (never did it for me), Black Label Cuban Classics, CI Legends, Casa Royale (Holts) also not a huge fan of the Tatuaje red label. I tried both versions of the new La Aroma de Cuba and I was not impressed with either. I also had a 601 a while back, do not remember the color and it was not for me.

I really like the Blue label, the Series JJ, most Tatuajes, Ambos Mundos, San Cristobal Seleccion del Sol (more than the regular San Cristobals). . .

guado · 03-02-2010, 11:07 PM

Oh yea the Casa Royal, thanks for mentioning that. What a boring stick!

theonlybear4CORT · 03-02-2010, 11:14 PM

CI brand and JJ natural.

03-03-2010, 04:54 AM

Huge fan of Pepin. The two that didn't do anything for me were the CI Legend and the Casa Royal. Not bad sticks but not much going on with these in terms of flavor either.

03-02-2010, 04:26 PM	#1
pinotguy Still Watching My Back Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 200 Trading: (13)	Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I am a dyed-in-the-wool Pepin fan. So much so, that his cigars are all that you'll find in my humidor right now (save the odd Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial). While I have managed to taste all of his readily available brands (his own and the things he does for other people) as well as most of his "private label" things, I am wondering what is your least favorite Pepin blend and why? My least favorite are the new La Aroma de Cuba (regular) and the Serie JJ (both wrappers). I found the new LAdC to be harsh and lacking the balance normally found in his blends. Try as I might, I just cannot get into the JJ. To me, they don't have the strength and flavor that I find appealing, especially when compared to some of his other blends. (For the record, I have not smoked some of his more obscure, harder-to-find, cigars like Giralda, Los Imperialista, or Capanna d'Oro. I have also not tried the new El Triunfador line, mainly because those were released just last week.)

03-02-2010, 05:18 PM	#3
jaydub13 aka Little Pickle Join Date: Feb 2010 First Name: Jason Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 227 Trading: (5)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. Agreed, I just can't get into the JJ. I do love the new LAdC EE, but haven't tried the new blend....

03-02-2010, 05:22 PM	#4
longknocker Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 11,233 Trading: (82)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I Would Have To Say JJ Nat. Pure Spice & Nothing Else IMO. Love All The Others, Though!

03-02-2010, 05:23 PM	#5
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. And I LOVE the JJ maduro. __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

03-02-2010, 05:28 PM	#6
fuente~fuente Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I'm gonna say the Vegas Cubanas. Definitely did not float my boat.

03-02-2010, 05:18 PM	#2
NickyTeen My barn door is open Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kriss Location: The Barn Posts: 561 Trading: (12)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. Tobacos Baez. Tried these about 5 times now and find them absolutely flavorless! Gave the rest away.I love DPG ,but I would not buy these again at any price.

03-02-2010, 05:32 PM	#7
Pat1075 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Patrick Location: Lakewood, OH Posts: 755 Trading: (11)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. Tabacos Baez but I do need to revisit it and for the record JJ natural frickin fantastic!

03-02-2010, 05:33 PM	#8
Mr B Livin' in a Van.... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,233 Trading: (79)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I did not dig on the Vegas Cubana or either of the JJ series series either. Have not had the Tabac Biez yet, but dont really look forward to it either. I love so many of his others though!

03-02-2010, 05:47 PM	#9
fuente~fuente Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. Suprised to see the Tabacos Baez mentioned so much in this thread so far. I liked the TB Habano, & the Serie SF is a stellar smoke for the $$$ IMO. I get the TB SF for under $3 @ my B&M, & will smoke the shizzle out of em'!

03-02-2010, 06:26 PM	#10
tenbaseg Saying no to daily deals! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Garrett Location: Masshole Nation Posts: 1,094 Trading: (40)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I'm not a big fan of the JJ natural. The maddie however is one of my favorites. Go figure.

03-02-2010, 06:28 PM	#11
BryanB Have My Own Room Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Bryan Location: Benson, NC Posts: 1,177 Trading: (58)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I did not like the Tobacos Baez Series H at all. __________________ "Cheap cigars come in handy; they stifle the odor of cheap politicians." Ulysses S. Grant

03-02-2010, 06:37 PM	#12
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I was gifted a La Aroma de Cuba on Sunday and found it to be a decent smoke; could have spent a little more time aging (drying out) in a humi, but it is definately something I would try again... That's the cool thing about cigars -- we each have our own unique tastes -- which makes for endless discussion __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

03-02-2010, 06:39 PM	#13
Smokin Gator Just plain insane! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Swamp Posts: 6,237 Trading: (106)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. That is a really hard question for me as so many of the blends I may like one or two vitolas and not so much on others. Overall though, I would have to say the JJ is my least favorite. Not to say I don't like some, but overall, I would say there have been more of the JJs that left me wondering than any others. __________________ Check out the Cigar Asylum Newbie Sampler Trade

03-02-2010, 09:44 PM	#15
Silound ex-CS Swamp Gorilla Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Somewhere in a swamp, south of sanity Posts: 802 Trading: (15)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. La Aroma de Cuba EE line. Tastes like wet cardboard, and I've tried a dozen different ways to smoke em, store em, all that. I just can't get one that tastes good. __________________ Back in black, and better than ever! You can't keep a good gorilla down! LSU Geaux Tigers!

03-02-2010, 10:35 PM	#16
guado OCD cigar hoarder Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa Posts: 379 Trading: (4)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. White label JJ for sure. I love the JJ maduro though. __________________

03-02-2010, 10:35 PM	#17
montecristo#2 Don't Taze me Bro! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,063 Trading: (49)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. I would say 75% of my collection is Pepin's / Tatuajes. For me, my least favorite Pepin's would probably be: Old Henry (never did it for me), Black Label Cuban Classics, CI Legends, Casa Royale (Holts) also not a huge fan of the Tatuaje red label. I tried both versions of the new La Aroma de Cuba and I was not impressed with either. I also had a 601 a while back, do not remember the color and it was not for me. I really like the Blue label, the Series JJ, most Tatuajes, Ambos Mundos, San Cristobal Seleccion del Sol (more than the regular San Cristobals). . .

03-02-2010, 11:07 PM	#18
guado OCD cigar hoarder Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa Posts: 379 Trading: (4)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. Oh yea the Casa Royal, thanks for mentioning that. What a boring stick! __________________

03-02-2010, 11:14 PM	#19
theonlybear4CORT RIP Nick Montano Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Santa Rosa Posts: 2,040 Trading: (14)	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. CI brand and JJ natural.

03-03-2010, 04:54 AM	#20
silentjon Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Least Favorite Pepin Blend. Huge fan of Pepin. The two that didn't do anything for me were the CI Legend and the Casa Royal. Not bad sticks but not much going on with these in terms of flavor either.