I need a reality check

[Ted Nasty]

So, over the past couple years I found myself really struggling to find a good NC that I can call my "go to" smoke. Something I can call my own, lol. Sure there have been some really good ones along the way, but nothing I’ve come across screams “this is the one”! My next comments will probably offend many here, but…..nope, not even the Tats I’ve tried have done it for me.

Over the years I’ve come across an occasional CC. Most were given to me because of various celebrations, i.e. weddings, new kid, etc. None of which were any good. After being turned on to this forum and reading the numerous posts for the past few months I would be willing to bet my entire stash that what I’ve had were all Cohibos. Stale ones at that!

Well, my life has been turned upside down. Because of the good graces of some fellow brothers I was able to try some real CCs. I absolutely loved them! THIS is what I’ve been searching for! Then I thought, maybe it’s the forbidden fruit mentality, and maybe this is just in my head. So I expanded my horizons and went on a hunt. Again, same outcome. I can’t stop thinking about these...I’m obsessed!!! This leads me to my question. Is it all in my head? The CCs I’ve tried had some good age to them. Is that what I’ve been missing on the NC side? Or, did I finally see the light?! Are they that much better? I read on another post here where a fellow brother said he hasn’t had any CC that was any better than his NCs. Really?!

I understand everyones tastes differ, but has anyone out there had a similar experience?

What say you?

 

[Jfire]

I say lately I've been chasing the aged chedder like a crack whore on a Saturday morning!

 

[Alwayslit]

There are good and bad cc's and nc's. It's all individual taste.....and yea you've been bitten by the bug and there is no going back. So don't fight it

 

[Ted Nasty]

.....and yea you've been bitten by the bug and there is no going back. So don't fight it

LOL. I don't plan on it. It just made things a little more complicated I would say.

 

[njstone]

The answer is NO--CCs are not inherantly better than NCs. In both cases there are good, bad, and truly remarkable.

What you have discovered here is that your personal preference, right now at least, is for tobacco from a certian region. Some people really prefer Dominican tobacco, others Cuban, others Nicaraguan, etc. If you really prefer the taste of a certian regional tobacco, than that's what you smoke. It doesn't mean others will agree, bu who cares.

 

[podman28]

To me CCs are just like another brand of cigar to choose from. Different flavors for different times.

 

[e-man67]

I hear ya Tony...I have been able to think of nothing else besides CC's in the pipeline lately...the flavors are beautiful. When I started with several extreme sale boxes about 1 year ago I thought they were terrible (and I have had CC's here are there since 92 though not regular rotation, sporatic)...construction was poor and the flavors were horrid. Fast forward to maybe 6 months ago when Dan gifted me several sticks including a Bolivar CE...this turned me around 180 degrees. Maybe it is a kick I am on..not sure...but I've got the feva big time. I always thought the bigger ring guages and the darker with more punch (ligero) sticks were it...always thought that CC's were too mellow..when you sit back and take your time slowly and think about what you are smoking they can be tremendous. The flavors cannot be produced in a NC...now the same can be said for NC's that they have unique flavors...it is just what you find more appealing.

 

[Hot_Sauce]

Aged Cubans are better for my tastes. Of course other people's opinions may vary.

 

[e-man67]

Aged Cubans are better for my tastes. Of course other people's opinions may vary.

and the 08 crop has been great smoking ROTT...the aging potential looks very promising.

 

[Le Buzz]

don't know how long youve been smoking but i'll tell you this... it takes a long time to really refine your palate and find the smokes that really satisfy you.

Maybe CC's are your thing but I would not give up on some great NC's that imho stack up to some of the best CC's out there. (DPG, Tat's, Padrons to name a few.)

 

[hdroadglide]

even my "go to's" will change. sometimes i want what i feel is a "mineral" tone so i'll grab an opus or viaje or lfd. then sometimes i want 'spice" so i'll grab a tat. then other times it's the "leather" of a good cc. is one better than the other? NO! one just tastes better to me at that point in time.

 

[Ted Nasty]

don't know how long youve been smoking but i'll tell you this... it takes a long time to really refine your palate and find the smokes that really satisfy you.

Maybe CC's are your thing but I would not give up on some great NC's that imho stack up to some of the best CC's out there. (DPG, Tat's, Padrons to name a few.)

I'm a newb, been enjoying cigars for just over two years now. You're right, I have a long way to go before I would feel comfortable reviewing a cigar as my palate just isnt there yet. Its only been in the past six months that I've been able to start picking up on a lot of the tastes I read about in the reviews. I have no intention on giving up on the NCs. Just gonna take a little break on those purchases. There are some I really enjoy but the impression the CCs have left on me has got me focusing future efforts in a whole new direction.

 

[Pooh Bore]

I have really only smoked CC and found some that people rave about (Monte Sublime Partagas 898) that I really don't see what the fuss is about. But throw me a PSD4 or P2 and I'm a man in heaven. I have received an intercontinental missile of nc from the top man shuckins which I'm planning on sampling in the summer.

What CC's have you tried that blew you away ?

 

[Ted Nasty]

I have really only smoked CC and found some that people rave about (Monte Sublime Partagas 898) that I really don't see what the fuss is about. But throw me a PSD4 or P2 and I'm a man in heaven. I have received an intercontinental missile of nc from the top man shuckins which I'm planning on sampling in the summer.

What CC's have you tried that blew you away ?

Le hoyo Du Roi
Cohiba Robusto
PSD4
Punch Dbl Coro

 

[e-man67]

Le hoyo Du Roi
Cohiba Robusto
PSD4
Punch Dbl Coro

wait till you try the Boli CE and Sig III....

 

[Ted Nasty]

wait till you try the Boli CE and Sig III....

Sinner

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

To me CCs are just like another brand of cigar to choose from. Different flavors for different times.

I agree with Tim 100% on this issue.

"CCs are not inherantly better than NCs. In both cases there are good, bad, and truly remarkable."

No truer statement could be made Nate! :thumbsup:

 

[smokem94]

Opinions are like #^*€> well you know what I mean. To me, there is no tobacco on earth like that from Cuba, and I have yet to find a NC I would even think of buying a box of. Even Tatuajes. I have wasted a lot of money on NC's I end up giving away. My personal opinion, (and I think I know about some of the CCs you have recently tried), is that your tastes are very refined and you are not mistaken!!

 

[jmatkins]

Just go with what you like for now, it could change over the next year.

When I started smoking I was only smoking the generic cigars you find in small cigar shops, I did not like Pardons, or OPUS. Now I can not get enough of anything from Nic, smoke what you like and it will all come clearer as you go.

 

[athenstroutbum]

I agree. I have had some OK NC's and a couple (purchased directly from a little store in miami) that blew my mind.

though for me (again, no offense) the only realllly really amazing cigars have been cuban.

i once bought a box of 98 lanceros that were supposedly only for 'special occasions.' I blew through those in maybe 4 months. Tasted like the best burnt grassy vanilla milkshakes and honey with creme brulee pieces in them.

also good at killing boxes of Sig IIIs, any aged RASS, Boli/Upmann/SCdH/Party PCs, ERDM choix, etc. all to me are so so good. Gone through boxes of all that stuff. Smoked a few Davidoff habanos and a few Dunhills as well. Both are amazing, and if I had that $$$ i would spend it.

I love some of the small Fuente products actually. nice stuff. sharp, peppery.

Ive had amazing and horrible PSD4's, and some boxes of Monte 4's that were amazing and others that were acrid. I've never enjoyed a Punch habano. OpusX are okay, I like the pepper tastes in there. Never minded Padron Annis or VSG's, but theyve never blown my mind either. Though I can also say the same thing about RyJ Habano Churchills.

Looking forward to trying more Tat's and more of these 'New Habano' blend styles coming out of Nic and Miami.