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[gui_tarzan]

Anyone else love a good cigar? My favorites are Perdomo, Flor de Oliva and pretty much anything by AJ Fernandez.

When I started about ten years ago I liked the El Rey del Mundo, Punch and Hoyo but General Cigars pretty much ruined them for me when they bought several lines.

[johnnyreece]

For my money, I enjoy a Torano Exodus 50 Years.

[bradicusmaximus]

I'm a huge fan of Padron 1964 or 1926 maduros. I'm also partial to Oliva Melanio Serie V. When I'm really looking for something good, I reach for an Opus X.

My everyday smoke those is a Ramon Bueso Genesis the Project or an Odyssey.

[stretch2011]

I lost my interest in cigars a few years ago. Although I do love a good howl of sheisha. Or a really good non filtered Turkish tobacco cigarette.

[RWood]

Opus X with a snifter of Hennessy or E&J Brandy

[TUBEDUDE]

Turkey week is family reunion time. 5 years ago I started a tradition of Cigars, Guitars and Bourbon. The Guitars are first rate,(vintage Strat n Jazzmaster, Larrivee n Taylor) the Bourbon is also, (Angels Envy, Blanton's Single Barrel), but the cigars needed an upgrade (Punch, Gurkha, RomeoYJulieta, and some fruit flavored ones for the girls. Thanks for the list of cigar upgrades!

[gui_tarzan]

I'm seriously enjoying a Man 'O War Virtue right now waiting for the World Series to start.

[jon]

I really enjoy the Bossner Reserve. They are pricey but soooooo good.

[Firestorm]

I used to work with a French guy who smuggled high-end Cubans in the battery compartments of his laptops (until Customs caught him). Pretty much ruined most of the legal stuff for me.

[gui_tarzan]

That's what I don't understand, I've had several Cubans over the last ten years and with only a couple of exceptions, there are "domestic" cigars that are far better. They have a superior blend and most of the experienced rollers are from Cuba so they know what they're doing. I had a couple of Cubans when I was in Canada the first of this month and they were nothing special.

[TUBEDUDE]

Guitarzan, I've had Macanudo and several Cuban seed varieties from central America and was underwhelmed. Which domestics would you recommend? Thanz, cvk

[Firestorm]

There's nothing special about Cuba. There is something special about SOME of the cigars made there. Those guys could work anywhere. But they don't.

[galtjunk]

Most of the great cigar makers from Cuba moved to Central America to make cigars there.

Would you buy a cigar from a guy who gets paid by the government and has no incentive to produce a great product, or would you buy a cigar from a guy who takes pride in putting his own name on the product?

I travel to El Paso, Tx on a regular basis.
There is a high end Mexican chain store called Sanborns in Juarez.
They sell real Cuban cigars.
If you don't buy from a registered Cuban dealer you will get fakes.
If you buy cigars in the Mercado they will most likely be fake.
If you buy cigars on the streets of Havana they will most likely be floor sweepings.
If you find a $20 R&J for $10, it's a fake.
The Cubans can sell every cigar that they make.
They have no reason to discount.

I have tried plenty of real Cubans.
I was not impressed with many of them. Your mileage may vary.
I'll take the Dominican or Central American versions of the Cuban cigars in most cases.

For a really great cigar try almost any Padron.
For a mild cigar try a Leon Jimenez #1.
When you have smoked a 7x50 down to the point of burning your fingers, you know it's a good one.
There are many Central American cigars in the $3 - $5 range that will rival their $20 Cuban cousins.

[Structo]

I used to enjoy CAO cigars occasionally.

Many different wrappers and sizes.

[gui_tarzan]

Guitarzan, I've had Macanudo and several Cuban seed varieties from central America and was underwhelmed. Which domestics would you recommend? Thanz, cvk

It's going to depend on your taste profile. If you like one type, you'll go for Punch, RyJ, El Rey del Mundo, Sancho Panza, Macanudo or others sold by General Cigar (which was bought by a Swedish company a few years back).

If you like another type you'll look for brands like Man O' War, Oliva, Perdomo, San Lotano, Kristoff, Padron, Camacho, CAO, Room 101, and so on. There are a lot of different brands today, many more than were around just ten years ago and a lot of them are really good.

As far as I'm concerned, Kristoff and Padron are overpriced but very good. My go-tos are Flor de Oliva naturals, almost anything by Perdomo and anything made by AJ Fernandez.