re: Cigar Smokers of the OT

quote:

---

I think the edge is a bit too strong for what he wants.

---

They make an Edge Lite. Probably fine for him.

Perdomo's are my favorite.

the guy asks about a good mild to medium stick and he suggests a full body, overpriced yard gar. yes, people like different things, but that doesn't make them good. The Italia is widely considered a poor stick, with subpar tobacco, poor construction, and uneven burn. Even at it's highest rating, it rarely breaks the mid 80s which is pretty bad, all things considered.

Feel free to read dealer reviews and get less than an honest opinion, or read real reviews from guys in the industry. General ruined the CAO label, much like I suspect Swisher will ruin my favorite label, the Liga/Unico series. Knowing cigars doesn't make you a douche. Leaving gaudy, real/faux cuban, etc bands on your sticks and waving them in everyone's face makes you a douche.

Want to try a few cheap cigars that will blow your doors off?

Curivari
Southern Draw
low end Olivas
Nat Sherman 1830 Rothschilds
Antilles

Any one of these bury the Italia. Like I said before, the Basin was a very good, VERY GOOD stick, but it's impossible to find, and the only thing CAO has produced worth a shite in a very long time.

The Italia is the Natty light of cigars. There are some very good recommendations in this thread, but that ain't one of them.

quote:

---

What's a good cheapish cigar in the $3 to $4 range thats good for daily smokes, handing out to people, something to smoke when you're not in a situation to sit down and enjoy it but would still like to partake.

---

believe it or not, Cigars international has some seconds (they are Oliva seconds), that come out to just about 1.80 a stick and they are not bad.

LINK

Be warned, it can be hit or miss. I have probably ordered close to 250 of these, and one batch was a dud. The others made it well worth it. I also suggest checking out the ligero seconds, again can be hit or miss, but at 25 bucks it's a fairly safe gamble.

You can often find La Gloria Cubana Serie N in a Robusto for about 4 bucks if you buy the box, and they are a bargain at that price. If you catch a sale you can also find undercrowns in a robusto for about 4.50 a stick (when you buy the box).

quote:

---

a good smoke.

---

Last post on CAO and "a good smoke".

General has ruined the line. Many reviews you are referring to were written before the acquisition, and or on previous stock. The CAO you smoked a few years ago is not the same as you will smoke today. Go to an old school cigar shop and ask if they have any original CAO sticks, and they will know exactly what you are asking for.

Here is a link that identifies the beginning of the end:
LINK

Here is a link that identifies the desecration of whatever was left:
LINK

CAO went from a boutique that produced some really good cigars to a subpar product. General changed the blends with meh tobacco, went cheap on the wrapping leaf, started to mass produce them and they lost what made them good.

Camacho (and this makes me so damn sad) is going through the same thing now. Davidoff bought the line and changed the blend, made it cheaper. The Camacho triple maduro was a blow your doors off stick that comes around once in a blue moon. It is now nasty. Oliva is rumored to be next, and Drew Estates was recently bought by Swisher.

This is what makes brands like Fuente is damn special. Rarely will you ever get a bad Fuente. The quality control is insanely good, and something that a company like General is just not interested in.

Hopefully the latest rounds of great boutiques will stay independent. Tatuaji and Illusione are doing some amazing things.The Surrogates Animal Cracker is another exciting stick as is the CroMagnon line. AKA does some good work and Jay Lundy is a good guy (for a Texan). If you can get your hands on the AKA 2011 Respect, buy as many as you can, amazing sticks. La Palina, especially stuff coming out of the Miami factory (goldie, Mr. Sam) is very good.

If you want to drink Natty light, have at it, but are you going to suggest it if someone wants a good beer? Yeah, people have different tastes and no one taste is "right or wrong" but Natty light =/= Chimay.

No cigar ages better (in my opinion) than Padron. Here is a tip for the patient, and it will pay huge dividends. If you have a large capacity humidor, buy a box of Padron 2000s, you can find them for around 110-130. Put them in the bottom of your humidor (open box, no cello, etc) and forget about them for 3 years or so, then break them out. I have never seen a cigar develop such plume and come out PERFECT like the cheap Padrons do over the course of a few years.

Ashton is also a plume monster if you have the patience...

Thanks for the suggestions.

quote:

---

Padron 2000s

---

In my quest to find a good cigar that I like so I can buy boxes to fill my oversized freaking humidor (the thing must hold 80 cigars, easy), I have just purchased two of these. Saw them at the shop and thought "why not?" Then I come back here and turns out they're pretty good smokes. Looking forward to trying them out now.

And yeah, I'm worried about the Swisher acquisition of Drew. I don't really care that the infused wrappers and such are gimmicky and impure, I fricking love Acid cigars. I'll continue to buy those until I die... Unless Swisher shits on them.

quote:

---

If you have a large capacity humidor, buy a box of Padron 2000s, you can find them for around 110-130. Put them in the bottom of your humidor (open box, no cello, etc) and forget about them for 3 years or so, then break them out

---

Not sure if I have the patience, but that is a great suggestion.