Alright CC Fans...

jarubla

With the announcement of POTUS today re-opening the U.S. Embassy in Cuba and vice versa, a question comes to mind.

The embargo created a cigar diaspora of sorts; manufacturers had to adapt, had to increase quality, had to innovate.

Have the non CC companies surpassed the CC companies? Has innovation and a helluva lot of BST resulted in a changing of the guard?

When I can finally afford to go to Cuba, and light up a few CCs, am I gonna wish I were smoking something else?

-Jay (who has only ever possessed a fake Cuban)

Eulogy

Cubans are a different experience than non ccs. It will probably depend on how much you enjoy mild cigars.

jarubla

Eulogy, what may I smoke that had the most CC-esque profile? 

My first thought leans to cigars constructed from Cuban seed leaves, but I understood terroir would be a large be a factor here -- much like wine or spirits, the place where something was grown imparts nuances that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

-Jay

jd50ae

The two real Cubans I have smoked were far and away superior to the non Cubans I smoked at the time. But that was a long time ago and changes have been made all around. I will be curious to see what, if anything, has changed. Or if my preferences have changed.

raisindot

Eulogy said:

Cubans are a different experience than non ccs. It will probably depend on how much you enjoy mild cigars.

I don't think that's necessarily so. Not that I'm am expert on the subject, but recently (on a ship in international waters, yeah, that's the ticket) I had a CC that was very full-flavored and strong and not mild at all, and probably the best stogie I've ever had. It had that "soda pop" liveliness and full creaminess that supposedly some CCs are known for. The closest non-CC I've had the compares to it is a Pardon 1964. 

avengethis

IMO I have not had a NC that resembles a CC.  If you enjoy big powerful spicy cigars then CC's probably wont be up your ally but if you like a nice smooth complex cigar it is hard to be a properly aged CC.

Eulogy

There's cigars that have Cuban aspects to them but I've never found one that's a dead ringer. The Allison and the Goldie have some Cuban flavors. It's not too hard to find actual Cubans and might be worth the effort.

jarubla

Cool, I have had a Padron, and really enjoyed it. The Goldie is in my list. 

Thanks Guys

-Jay

Eulogy

I enjoyed the natural Padrons I've had but they didn't remind me of Cuban cigars. Might just be me.

ExpendableYouth

DPG Series JJ is Cubanesqe to me.

jlmarta

Not all CCs are mild. I've had one or two that weren't. I think it's probably more accurate to say that, on the whole, CCs are MILDER than non-CCs. 

That is to say that a given CC is likely to be a bit milder than it's non-CC counterpart. 

Lee.mcglynn

IMO if it has a Cuban name but it's not Cuban it's overpriced poop. One of the only cigars I've had that I found anything close to Cuban was the smoking jacket and only because it had that twang to it. I wouldn't say that they are all mild but I find them not to be nearly as strong as some of the stuff being produced today. I will say the QC has gotten a ton better but still is far behind. 

jarubla

I have a DPG JJ en-route from Ccom, based on the fact that it was mentioned as one of our weekly reviews. 

I am sure the stick will be a bit green, but I will most likely fire it up Fri or Sat after it rests a little

-Jay

Eulogy

They were discontinued about a year ago so it will have some age.

danielzreyes

I've "reviewed" numerous CCs, real and fake.  They're all the same ........ they all perish ... the same.  

ExpendableYouth

Your reviews are very in depth.

variant2

jarubla said:

With the announcement of POTUS today re-opening the U.S. Embassy in Cuba and vice versa, a question comes to mind.

The embargo created a cigar diaspora of sorts; manufacturers had to adapt, had to increase quality, had to innovate.

Have the non CC companies surpassed the CC companies? Has innovation and a helluva lot of BST resulted in a changing of the guard?

When I can finally afford to go to Cuba, and light up a few CCs, am I gonna wish I were smoking something else?

-Jay (who has only ever possessed a fake Cuban)

CC are mostly sought after here in the states because they're our forbidden fruit of cigars and most people will automatically rank them as the best cigar they ever had even though there's a high possibility that it's a fake and not from Cuban tobacco.

Once a person has smoked a good portion of the CC marcas and understands their flavor profiles, they then just becomes another cigar in your stash. In my experience, there are days that I prefer a NC cigar and there are others that I want to light up a CC. It just adds to the variety.

Now, as far as quality is concerned... well, this is where I think most people have got the wrong impression that the Cuban cigars are the benchmark for quality. That fact is that many companies like La Palina, Davidoff, A. Fuente, etc., can and will produce cigars with far less problems and inconsistencies than their Cuban rivals. 

With those NC companies, finding a plugged cigar in a box would surprise me whereas it is almost expected to find one (or two, or three) in a box of Cubans. That also includes their prestigious Cohiba line.

At the end of the day, a Cuban cigar is just another cigar with a different flavor profile. Since taste is subjective, only you can answer the question if you're going to like them or not -- assuming that it won't be plugged.

0patience

jarubla said:

When I can finally afford to go to Cuba, and light up a few CCs, am I gonna wish I were smoking something else?

-Jay (who has only ever possessed a fake Cuban)

Most likely, yes.
When we can get something that was previously not available, we often find more enjoyment out of it at first.
Once the novelty wears off, you may find it just another cigar.

That said, you might find ones that will be that good that you will want them in your rotation. 

Gray4lines

Like variant said, non-Cuban companies have superior qc.  Probably because Cuba strains to keep up with the market.  They aren't bad (quality) but I'd expect more qc issues with cc's.  

Other than that, just a different profile.  All about aroma and complexity.  They don't do many maduros either.

Cuban brands have reacted to recent trends in the global market though.  Fatter cigars and more limited editions.  

Lee.mcglynn

Gray4lines said:

Like variant said, non-Cuban companies have superior qc.  Probably because Cuba strains to keep up with the market.  They aren't bad (quality) but I'd expect more qc issues with cc's.  

Other than that, just a different profile.  All about aroma and complexity.  They don't do many maduros either.

Cuban brands have reacted to recent trends in the global market though.  Fatter cigars and more limited editions.  

Cohibas makes some maduros

Dark_Roast

It is difficult to replicate the growing conditions of Cuba (soil and environment) not to mention their fastidious detail to fermentation, which is second to none. I am concerned the influx in demand may cause some short cuts. Hope that doesn't happen. I hope they hold true to their heritage. 

Gray4lines

Lee.mcglynn said:

Gray4lines said:

Like variant said, non-Cuban companies have superior qc.  Probably because Cuba strains to keep up with the market.  They aren't bad (quality) but I'd expect more qc issues with cc's.  

Other than that, just a different profile.  All about aroma and complexity.  They don't do many maduros either.

Cuban brands have reacted to recent trends in the global market though.  Fatter cigars and more limited editions.  

Cohibas makes some maduros

Yeah, those are the ones I was thinking of. I don't know of any others.

Gray4lines

Dark_Roast said:

It is difficult to replicate the growing conditions of Cuba (soil and environment) not to mention their fastidious detail to fermentation, which is second to none. I am concerned the influx in demand may cause some short cuts. Hope that doesn't happen. I hope they hold true to their heritage. 

I hope so too... but Habanos has increased production in the past in order to meet demand only to have really crappy cigars for a couple of years.  

I think competition will help keep qc high.  Most consumers probably prefer a good product in lower quantities (the boutique boom seems to indicate that at least).

Lee.mcglynn

Personally I'm against the whole embargo lifting. I'd love to travel there but if they get into our market...well quality goes down and prices sky rocket! Everything will go up in price and since the QC as of now is better it will only get worse plus the "formentation" will only be quicker as it already is to fast. 

blutattoo

I can't say I've ever had a non CC that tastes like a regular CC, but I have had a few CC's that taste like they where from the DR. Partagas, Bolivar, Ramon Allones are all pretty strong cigars without having a very spicy profile similar to a quality cigar from the DR. The one really identifiable trait in CC's has always been that very mineral quality that I just can't taste in anything else. In my opinion CC's aren't always better, just different. If I went to a B&M that sold both I may only get one or two CC's, I'd vary the rest. That being said the quality will probably drop and you'll probably have to age them for a considerable amount of time to get the best out of them. 

Hays

variant2 said:

jarubla said:

With the announcement of POTUS today re-opening the U.S. Embassy in Cuba and vice versa, a question comes to mind.

The embargo created a cigar diaspora of sorts; manufacturers had to adapt, had to increase quality, had to innovate.

Have the non CC companies surpassed the CC companies? Has innovation and a helluva lot of BST resulted in a changing of the guard?

When I can finally afford to go to Cuba, and light up a few CCs, am I gonna wish I were smoking something else?

-Jay (who has only ever possessed a fake Cuban)

CC are mostly sought after here in the states because they're our forbidden fruit of cigars and most people will automatically rank them as the best cigar they ever had even though there's a high possibility that it's a fake and not from Cuban tobacco.

Once a person has smoked a good portion of the CC marcas and understands their flavor profiles, they then just becomes another cigar in your stash. In my experience, there are days that I prefer a NC cigar and there are others that I want to light up a CC. It just adds to the variety.

Now, as far as quality is concerned... well, this is where I think most people have got the wrong impression that the Cuban cigars are the benchmark for quality. That fact is that many companies like La Palina, Davidoff, A. Fuente, etc., can and will produce cigars with far less problems and inconsistencies than their Cuban rivals. 

With those NC companies, finding a plugged cigar in a box would surprise me whereas it is almost expected to find one (or two, or three) in a box of Cubans. That also includes their prestigious Cohiba line.

At the end of the day, a Cuban cigar is just another cigar with a different flavor profile. Since taste is subjective, only you can answer the question if you're going to like them or not -- assuming that it won't be plugged.

This - I don't really think there's much else to say. I've lived in Spain for almost 3 years, and I have much easier access to CCs than I do NCCs. After such easy access... I'm looking forward to visiting California later this year!

rsherman24

Lee.mcglynn said:

Personally I'm against the whole embargo lifting. I'd love to travel there but if they get into our market...well quality goes down and prices sky rocket! Everything will go up in price and since the QC as of now is better it will only get worse plus the "formentation" will only be quicker as it already is to fast. 

My hope is that when they lift the embargo, everyone will need to smoke CC's driving the price up which will drop the price on NC's.  Within a year the novelty will wear off, and all of the occasional smokers who loved the 6 x 60 maduro gaggers will realize that they do not like CC's and will switch back to the big dark sticks which make them look special.

Being smart consumers who have a sufficient supply of CC's prior to the embargo being lifted, it is our job during that year to stockpile quality NC's while the price and demand are low.  When everyone switches back to NC's, we have an abundence of CC's to choose from at a great price point.

Just my optimistic thought

avengethis

rsherman24 said:

Lee.mcglynn said:

Personally I'm against the whole embargo lifting. I'd love to travel there but if they get into our market...well quality goes down and prices sky rocket! Everything will go up in price and since the QC as of now is better it will only get worse plus the "formentation" will only be quicker as it already is to fast. 

My hope is that when they lift the embargo, everyone will need to smoke CC's driving the price up which will drop the price on NC's.  Within a year the novelty will wear off, and all of the occasional smokers who loved the 6 x 60 maduro gaggers will realize that they do not like CC's and will switch back to the big dark sticks which make them look special.

Being smart consumers who have a sufficient supply of CC's prior to the embargo being lifted, it is our job during that year to stockpile quality NC's while the price and demand are low.  When everyone switches back to NC's, we have an abundence of CC's to choose from at a great price point.

Just my optimistic thought

I love your thought processes sherm. I'm ok if it would go that way.