Popular cigars through the years.

[Ashcan Bill]

During the boom of the nineties, Fuente and Padron were two of the better brands. I can also recall smoking (NC) brands such as Rey Del Mundo and Hoyo de Monterey that weren't bad. The vilest I recall from that time was something with a red band that Nestor Plasencia produced. This was before the internet brought cigar shopping to your electronic fingertips, and buying cigars meant either a trip to the B&M or perusing a catalog.

And the Cohiba Esplendidos from that period (the real ones) were stronger than today's. A different profile if memory serves.

That's all I can recall from twenty years ago. Whatever else I smoked back then didn't leave any lasting impressions on my memory. And, I didn't smoke as many cigars then as I do today. At that point in time, cigs were still high on my hit parade.

[area51]

Lars Tetens

[N2 GOLD]

Originally Posted by MajorCaptSilly

I can speak some about the 90's. The early-mid 90's were crazy. The boom was big and brands came out of on a dialy basis to cash in on the cigar craze. I sometimes wonder how many people stuck around when the boom went away. I feel many folks were just being trendy. A few brands that were popular and some oddities I can remember are listed below:

Arturo Fuente: This was as always, a staple for the cigar boomers. The regular line like the 8-5-8's would sell out at my local Tinder Box the same day. They were charging $8-$9 a cigar in those days.

Punch/Hoyo De Montery/El Rey Del Mundo: These were quite popular with all the boomers. Scoring a 50-cab of Punch Rothschilds was a big deal.

La Gloria Cubana/El Credito/El Rico Habano: These made a huge splash in 93-97. Everybody loved Ernie Carillo and his store in Miami was a big hit. They made a version of the cigars in the DR and at the Miami store. Scoring the stuff from the Miami store was always considered best because they were supposed to have a better flavor profile. The original release El Rico Habano was a powerhouse cigar that I've never seen matched. That cigar would make my lips numb from the nicotine every time.

Puros Indios: Believe it or not, these were all the rage for awhile. They fetched $12-$16 a stick for a couple years. I think they tasted better back then but still not one of my favorites.

Chessman Royal Reserve: This cigar was made exclusively for Cigar Express and were popular among the alt.smokers.cigars gang in the mid-90's. I was in love with the Rosado wrapped churchills.

V-Cigar: An oddity for sure. This was the first cigar that could only be purchased on the internet. They only sold them from the V-cigar site. They sucked real bad.

Garmeister Cigars: A very unusual and expensive cigar rolled by a husband and wife team in Eureka Springs AR. I split a sampler of these with a buddy and have to say they were one of the best cigars I ever had. Think Davidoff.

One of the interesting things about the 90's was that Honduran/Dominican cigars were all the rage and Nicaraguan sticks were generally frowned upon. Padron was about the only exception and they were really only enjoyed by the hardcore smoker.

Ahhh, the 90's!

MCS

AHHHHHH, I remember the 90's...(Loved them) This was when I first got hooked(1995) on the LEAF. The A/F 858 have always since day one been in my humi & always in the rotation for me.

I agree, with you on the Indios. They did have alot more taste back then. That is when their band still have the RED border around it. The price tag was also in the bouble digits. WOW, how time has changed.

Originally Posted by area51

I'm very interested in this as well. Not to hijack the thread, but what has been popular trends through the years (Ring gauge, Wrapper type, Length). Great thread.

One thing I notice is that people who don't even smoke cigars for whatever reason know Arturo Fuente and Cohiba, maybe it is great advertisement but in my mind they are the Nike of Cigars.

This is true, Fuente & Cohiba are associated/recognize with cigars on a global scale. That truly is product recognition/marketing at it's best. IMO

[Zanaspus]

Originally Posted by area51

Lars Tetens

Priceless!

[CRIMPS]

Great reading here. I suspect the majority of the members here haven't been smoking for "many" years. I always enjoy a good history lesson.

[Tredegar]

My grandfather used to smoke Tampa Nuggets, I believe,
back in the 60's and 70's. I can remember the ads for Fuente and Macanudo cigars even when I was not smoking.