mike v.

From now on, I'm sticking to the tried and true for the most part.
I started smoking cigars in 1987 and a lot has changed since then.
There were SO many new brands that popped up and even since the "boom"
(hate that word, actually) they still do. Some were awesome like
Padron and are still around, others ****ed ass and we bought them
cause we couldn't get A. Fuente's.
Over the years I have (like many of you) bought untold 100 dollar
boxes of cigars that wound up being... nothing.
Post boom, the old lines got their leaf and quality back (and the
availability for that matter) and I have to say, I think I am done
buying new lines.
There are some awesome cigars out there. MonteCristo comes to mind.
But are they worth the money when I can buy a flawlessly made cigar
from the DR made by H Upmann or Don Diego for half the price???

Tell me where I can buy a better box of 50 maduros for 100 bucks than
the HdM (or Punch) Maduro or MM???
They are ready to smoke (imagine that) and get even better with some
age.
I just finished one out on the deck and it was so damn good.
Not a 100, probably a solid 87, but what a solid deal.
Medium to full, with a great CTBL aroma.
Perfect burn and draw, just like every other one that I have smoked
from them or Punch. And for some reason, I just love that white ash
they seem to have (though of course I know that means nothing other
than high Mag. in the soil).
BTW, the "new " lines from the old makers have been good, of course
like the HdM Dark Sumatra, the Punch Gran Puro or Corojo (THAT is a
fantastic cigar!) and you get them for an awesome price.
Add the new Fuente Sun Growns to that list, too. My box if Chateau's
have been great.
Old Guard, you have my money..

mookdoggie

Mike sez (with some extensive snipping):

<snip>


A long-time favorite. One of the first "real" cigars I ever smoked WAAAY back
when I first started smoking. Loved 'em then...love 'em now.

Yep. Most quality cigars are ready to smoke when you get them. Any aging has
been done by the manufacturer. The reason so many of the boom brands were such
crap was lack of aging. Got to get the $$ while you can.


True, the established names turn out a consistently good product...that's how
they stayed in business so long, but there are many "new" cigar companies that
will stand the test of time, IMHO.
The boom years introduced a bunch of quick-buck artists who put out crappy
product and are now gone. The quality cigars from the boom are still available
for the most part.
Sad to say, many of the manufacturers are turning to gimmicky cigars again, so
we may be in for a mini-boom.
All in all, my advice (for what it's worth) is to stick to the tried and true
for your go-to smokes, but don't be shy about trying something new and
different. You never know when the new Punch/CAO/Padron/whatever will be coming
out....and wouldn't you LOVE to be one of the guys who, five years from now
poasts: Yeah, I remember when "****" came out in 2003. I still have a box of
the old blend from back when they were REALLY good. ;-P

Ray
If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No sense being a damn fool
about it.

Drop TROU before replying to post.

greg in nj

Smoking a Punch as I read your post. I love the prelight aroma as
well (possibly the best of any non-Cuban). But what the heck is
"CTBL"?

Greg in NJ

las vegas torano man

CTBL = Connecticut broad leaf?


--
Lawrence Wade

Registered Nurse and/or Nut

Pull the PLUG to reply

mike v.

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 03:36:17 GMT, Greg in NJ <genzod@optonline.net>
posted :

Sorry, should have said CTBL wrapper aroma.
I always forget how to spell CT...

priveye

I have been smoking the Hoyos MM and the Punch MM for years but for some
reason prefer the Hoyos. I know they are supposed to be the same but I do
find subtle differences between them. They are a great smoke with real full
bodies flavor. I get mine from Famous in PA. 96 bucks plus a few dollars
for shipping. Delivery the next day. Can you beat it?

Roscoe
http://www.metrocigar.com (NJ's foremost cigar club going into our 10th
year!)

"Crisis occurs when women and cattle get excited"...James Thurber