Heading to Mexico - Which CC's Should I Try?

[Bearclaw]

I'm headed to Puerto Vallarta this Friday (if hurricane Carlos passes in time!) and I'm planning to try a few CC's while I'm there. I've done some research and there are several respectable shops in town that should have a complete selection.

The question I have is simply: which to try? If you had $100-150 to buy CC's to smoke over a week, which ones would you buy? I'm assuming the stores will be well stocked, but I'm not counting on a stock of aged or rare smokes.
Things to Note:

• I'm a CC newb, never smoked one. Generally enjoy medium to medium + strength, and Medium to full/complex flavor

A short list of smokes I've enjoyed:

• Warped La Colmena Unico
• Warped Flor Del Valle Las Brumas
• Tatuaje Habano VI
• Oliva Serie V Melanio
• AF SSM
• Aging Room F55 Quattro

I'll be bringing NC's to smoke as well, so this isn't about quantity. I just want to try a good spectrum of sticks that will help me discover those I may want to buy in larger quantities later.

 

[ZippoGeek]

PARTAGÁS SERIE D NO.4!

That said, be very wary of counterfeits!

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

Only purchase them here:

http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150793-d2056381-Reviews-La_Casa_del_Habano-Puerto_Vallarta.html

-Bolivar Royal Corona, Petit Corona, Coronas Junior, Belicosos Finos
-Partagas Serie D. No. 4, Lusitania
-Trinidad Fundadores (Lancero, so set aside a few hours with plenty of Margaritas!!!)
-H. Upmann No. 2, Half Corona, Royal Robusto
-Montecristo Edumundo, No. 2
-Cohiba Behike 54, Siglo IV, Siglo VI, Esplendido, Robusto
-La Gloria Cubana Immensos
-Punch Coronas. Punch Punch
-Hoyo de Monterrey No. 2, Epicure Especial
-Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills
-Ramon Allones Specially Selected, Allones Extra E.L.
-Saint Luis Ray Churchills

Perhaps someone here can offer you store advice if they have been there and shopped around. But I would stick to La Casa Del Habano. It is the authorized franchised vendor of Habanos S.A. Do not buy anything off the street or in little boutique shops. The prices you see on their website are Mexican Dollars (Pesos), and not American dollars. Prices seem pretty typical there, so most of those sticks should be in $10-$40 range.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

I'll be bringing NC's to smoke as well, so this isn't about quantity. I just want to try a good spectrum of sticks that will help me discover those I may want to buy in larger quantities later.

i usually suggest going for the limiteds on hand because its a fun hunt. However, you are on a different path it seems. First, make sure you go to a licensed Habanos SA disty(LCDH)

If your true intention is to sample the market for considering purchases then i suggest a wide array of standard issue goodies like:
PSD4 as @ZippoGeek said
HdM Epi1
Cohiba Siglo 4 or Robo(whichever one is calling your name)
Bolivar Royal Corona
H Upmann No 2 or Connie 1
El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme(looking at you @Tennessee Dave )

I suggest checking box codes while walking through to try and find some gems with a little age. If youre at an LCDH then they will def have some that have been relaxing for a bit.

Other than that, grab whatever calls your name too. No point in gridding up a battle plan entirely. Go there not knowing what you're looking at and just grab things that look interesting. Probably not going to get a bad one Not knowing is half the fun. Its like a pre-snob routine!

 

[JuzCallMeDee]

i would grab something old. something with a couple years on it. or a mexico regional if available.

 

[samb]

If whatever store you go to has custom rolled, for sure get one.

 

[Bearclaw]

Only purchase them here:

http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150793-d2056381-Reviews-La_Casa_del_Habano-Puerto_Vallarta.html

-Bolivar Royal Corona, Petit Corona, Coronas Junior, Belicosos Finos
-Partagas Serie D. No. 4, Lusitania
-Trinidad Fundadores (Lancero, so set aside a few hours with plenty of Margaritas!!!)
-H. Upmann No. 2, Half Corona, Royal Robusto
-Monte Cristo Edumundo, No. 2
-Cohiba Behike 54, Siglo IV, Siglo VI, Esplendido, Robusto
-La Gloria Cubana Immensos
-Punch Coronas. Punch Punch
-Hoyo de Monterrey No. 2, Epicure Especial
-Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills
-Ramon Allones Specially Selected, Allones Extra E.L.
-Saint Luis Ray Churchills

Perhaps someone here can offer you store advice if they have been there and shopped around. But I would stick to La Casa Del Habano. It is the authorized franchised vendor of Habanos S.A. Do not buy anything off the street or in little boutique shops. The prices you see on their website are Mexican Dollars (Pesos), and not American dollars. Prices seem pretty typical there, so most of those sticks should be in $10-$40 range.

LCDH is exactly where I planned to go. Thank you for the solidifying that choice for me, and for the list of things to try! There is another shop called El Gato Gordo that gets good reviews and is known to carry only genuine smokes. I may stop in there too just to see what they have. Obviously counterfeits are everywhere down there, so I'll stick to the proven sources.

i usually suggest going for the limiteds on hand because its a fun hunt. However, you are on a different path it seems. First, make sure you go to a licensed Habanos SA disty(LCDH)

If your true intention is to sample the market for considering purchases then i suggest a wide array of standard issue goodies like:
PSD4 as @ZippoGeek said
HdM Epi1
Cohiba Siglo 4 or Robo(whichever one is calling your name)
Bolivar Royal Corona
H Upmann No 2 or Connie 1
El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme(looking at you @Tennessee Dave )

I suggest checking box codes while walking through to try and find some gems with a little age. If youre at an LCDH then they will def have some that have been relaxing for a bit.

Other than that, grab whatever calls your name too. No point in gridding up a battle plan entirely. Go there not knowing what you're looking at and just grab things that look interesting. Probably not going to get a bad one Not knowing is half the fun. Its like a pre-snob routine!

Thanks for the tips on box dates, etc. I'd like to go in with an idea of what to buy, but I agree it's fun to shop and get the experience. If I were to look for one or two limiteds, what would be good examples of those?



The nice part about this trip is that I should have have TONS of time to smoke. We will be spending a lot of time on the beach and at the pool. If I find something I love, I can always go back for more.

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

LCDH is exactly where I planned to go. Thank you for the solidifying that choice for me, and for the list of things to try! There is another shop called El Gato Gordo that gets good reviews and is known to carry only genuine smokes. I may stop in there too just to see what they have. Obviously counterfeits are everywhere down there, so I'll stick to the proven sources.

Hopefully a brother here can confirm that. But avoid street vendors and boutiques at all costs.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Thanks for the tips on box dates, etc. I'd like to go in with an idea of what to buy, but I agree it's fun to shop and get the experience. If I were to look for one or two limiteds, what would be good examples of those?

Like Aaron said, look for Mexican regional but any other limited will be random to that shop and there is so many.

If you're feeling like a baller grab a cohiba siglo 6, piramide extra, or BHK54

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

There is another shop called El Gato Gordo that gets good reviews and is known to carry only genuine smokes.

From the pictures of a Google search, it looks legit. He might have better prices and a better selection. Have fun, man.

 

[Bearclaw]

Like Aaron said, look for Mexican regional but any other limited will be random to that shop and there is so many.

If you're feeling like a baller grab a cohiba siglo 6, piramide extra, or BHK54

Oh I'm always feeling like a baller

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Oh I'm always feeling like a baller

then i expect a post in whatt CC you smoking with you poolside with a Behike and a Mojito with a hot broad in teh background

 

[Wicket]

Edmundo Dantes Mexico RE was a nice stick

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

If I were to look for one or two limiteds, what would be good examples of those?

http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/150
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/habanostore/buscar-producto?brand=6
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/31
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/habanostore/buscar-producto?brand=11
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/68
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/208
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/207
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/193
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/194

I combed through the La Casa Del Habano website and pulled out all the links to Edicion Limitadas, Edicion Regionals, and LCDH specials. The store may have more in stock than advertised on the website, but those links are everything it has now currently.

 

[Wicket]

To be honest I'd save the money and find a sampler when your back

 

[D Quintero]

wear something white and buy something old or something like that

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

I'd try:
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/68
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/208
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/193
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/194
http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/203

But @Wicket has a good point. Those sticks will probably be $40+ each. But I couldn't resist the urge to try those Trinidads from 2007!!! Lol! It's $30.67. Not terrible. 2011 Edmundo Dantes, $39. The Montecristo No. 4 Reserva 2007 is $45. But what the hell, you're on vacation, right? LOL!

Damn, a box of Bolivar Royal Coronas is $192! Buy a box of those and mail the rest home.

 

[Senor Perfecto]

http://www.casadelhabano.com.mx/detalle-del-producto/208

This.

And bring me back as many as will fit into your anal cavity. Really push it.

 

[SurpriseMVP]

Stick to a LCDH as mentioned. Since you have little cc experience I would suggest a Bolivar bf. Any of the other suggestions are going to be way to mild for your liking based on the fact that you smoke NC. Boilvar is what got me started and it took me a long time to figure out what the Cohiba hype was all about. Palettes differ so you never know.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Stick to a LCDH as mentioned. Since you have little cc experience I would suggest a Bolivar bf. Any of the other suggestions are going to be way to mild for your liking based on the fact that you smoke NC. Boilvar is what got me started and it took me a long time to figure out what the Cohiba hype was all about. Palettes differ so you never know.

A fellow cohiba whore!