Brown Leaf Monthly Discussion (Cigars) for June: Favorite Maker

[the_edski]

Can't ever be said that I don't listen! Since the BL is not solely about pipes, I noticed that some our cigar junkies don't want to be left out of discussions that can be hijacked into talking about cats, so here is one for you guys! Have an open-ended discussion about cigar makers and hijack to your hearts content!

I'll open. I have a tie on my list: Davidoff and Avo will fight to the death for #1 in my book. (I know Avo is owned by Davidoff, but I still wish to separate them)

 

[Tannhauser]

Padron was my first cigar 14 years ago, and is my main cigar today. The Padron Churchill and 2000 are my "everyday" cigar, with the Anniversaries as an occasional treat. I also like Tatuajes and A. Fuente Hemingways.

 

[The Dean]

For my tastes Padron is simply unmatched. Even their base series (2000, 3000, etc) are fabulous--and as usual, I prefer the maduros but their naturals are good too (and pretty dark).

Been smoking them for many, many years and I have yet to get a bum stick. His rollers are simply fantastic. That speaks volumes to me. Also, during the cigar boom in the early 90's, many producers jacked up their prices and/or cranked out more cigars to meet demand. Padron did neither. The prices remained pretty much what they were and when he sold out they were gone. That's integrity many companies simply can't match. They also took the brand away (at least for a while) from many retailers caught jacking the price during that time.

Fuente is a very good producer, but I only like select sticks in their line--it is just simply too big to like them all. And there are a number of producers I respect (Alec Bradley, Aston, Oliva, Patel--to name a few) but I can't say I like everything they make or that I've never had a bum stick in one of those brands.

When a Cuban is great, they are tough to beat and Bolivar is my favorite go-to of the Cubans. But overall, stick-in and stick-out I prefer Nicaraguan smokes and I think that is because I smoke so many from Padron.

 

[wvridgerunner]

Could not agree more with the other gents in stating that Pardons are very nice to smoke.

Here recently I have been on a CAO and Cigars International Copper Label kick. Nothing too exciting but I do enjoy the CI Copper Label that is a Drew Estate creation. I know that when you think if Drew you think of flavored cigars but this is a great combination of the two and to me it is smooth coffee tasting finish.

 

[oldhickory]

Padron's are amazing. Everyone is just a treat. After that I would go with anything Don Pepin and then Carlos Torano. Those 3 companies are the only ones I would be comfortable getting a box before trying one of their cigars

 

[Bk124tt]

Fuente! I think the name says it all!

 

[Gingerbread]

I've been a long time lover of Partagas, but I've recently started smoking Alec Bradleys and they're pretty great - specifically the Prensado. Smooth, even burn. Last a decent amount of time especially considering the price. Real easy to snip and re-light if you have to, haven't had one so much as crack yet. Others in their line are of similar quality, but they sure don't get to see the light much recently...

 

[sychodelix]

Liga Privada.

Padron is way up there too.

 

[Laz]

I am a big fan of A. Fuente. If I could only smoke their sun grown, Hemingway and Opus X, I'd be pretty happy. Although I've had better cigars, the consistency in these 3 is hard to beat!

 

[shavious]

A. Fuente Hemingway is an always consistent, always enjoyable brand for me. I also like my Oliva Serie G sticks. My problem, though, is that I like to sample things. So even though I very much enjoy these two brands/lines, I like to try new stuff as much as possible. I had a La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor recently that was quite nice.

 

[Boro62]

Liga Privada, especially the feral flying pig.

Padron's up there as well. Seems like me and sychodelix have same tastes lolz.

I see a lot of A Fuente Lovers, which one is your favorite?

 

[shavious]

Liga Privada, especially the feral flying pig.

I see a lot of A Fuente Lovers, which one is your favorite?

I really haven't had a Fuente Hemingway I didn't like!

In regards to Liga, if they live up to the hype surrounding them I'm sure I will love them but so far I haven't been able to find any!

 

[Hirsute]

Some of my favorites include
H Upmann Vintage Cameroon
Partagas Decadas and Spanish Rosado
Perdomo 10th Anniversary
Bolivar
Punch rare corojo

 

[Boro62]

I really haven't had a Fuente Hemingway I didn't like!

I was thinking about this, and there is actually one that stands out that i really didn't think too much about. It was the arturo fuente 8-5-8 candela. Well then again I don't think candela's are my cup of tea in general.

 

[GA Gator]

Tatuaje.
And just to stir the pot the Liga Privada T52 is considerably better than the #9 IMHO.

 

[Price]

Tatuaje.

Yep. I have half a box still from 2002, when they first hit the streets, and man is that one tasty smoke.

I'm a Rocky Patel fan (Vintage1990 & Decades, for the most part), and as has been said you really can't go wrong with Padron.

Call me a sucker, but when it comes to Cubans it's tough to beat the Monte #2.

 

[Boro62]

Call me a sucker, but when it comes to Cubans it's tough to beat the Monte #2.

I'm going to have to challenge your monte #2 with my RyJ wide churchill

 

[The Dean]

I see a lot of A Fuente Lovers, which one is your favorite?

For me, the Anejo is easily the best. I used to be a Opus X fan, but I think they have gone dramatically downhill over the years--that or my taste has changed. The Anejo is the Opus blend but with a much more flavorful maduro wrapper, IMO of course.

The King B is pretty good, too.

 

[the_edski]

Mea maxima culpa gentlemen for not having a cigar-centric discussion along with the Latakia one last month. Great participation so far!

 

[shavious]

I was thinking about this, and there is actually one that stands out that i really didn't think too much about. It was the arturo fuente 8-5-8 candela. Well then again I don't think candela's are my cup of tea in general.

I have yet to try one and very little desire to do so. The green wrapper just doesn't appeal to me, and most reviews don't really sound like something I'm looking for in a cigar anyway.

Any non-candela Hemingways you don't care for?