I know some of you enjoy cigars - share!

[drewkaree]

If you get a little pyramid in the center after it starts to hollow out on you, that's another indicator that you're smoking too fast. A perfect squared-off ash is the best indicator that it's smoking well, and at a perfect pace. Depending on the rolling and the humidity, you may never achieve that with a stick you're smoking, but the next one from the same box smokes like a dream. Such is the curse, and pleasure, of a handmade cigar

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Newish to the cigar realm…. I picked up a few at Total Wine and started trying some flavors. I seem to lean towards medium body with a sweet side. Smoked a

Dunbarton Sobremesa Brulee Blue (6 1/4 x 46)​

it was right up my alley and unfortunately $14 a log. Yikes…I’ve always had this bougie taste for things. . What else is out there that might compare to the flavor at a lower price point?

 

[F.M.]

Newish to the cigar realm…. I picked up a few at Total Wine and started trying some flavors. I seem to lean towards medium body with a sweet side. Smoked a

Dunbarton Sobremesa Brulee Blue (6 1/4 x 46)​

it was right up my alley and unfortunately $14 a log. Yikes…I’ve always had this bougie taste for things. . What else is out there that might compare to the flavor at a lower price point?

I just discovered the Fat Bottom Betty. Medium bodied & sweet with just a little spice. And about $10-11/stick where I’m at.

 

[drewkaree]

Newish to the cigar realm…. I picked up a few at Total Wine and started trying some flavors. I seem to lean towards medium body with a sweet side. Smoked a

Dunbarton Sobremesa Brulee Blue (6 1/4 x 46)​

it was right up my alley and unfortunately $14 a log. Yikes…I’ve always had this bougie taste for things. . What else is out there that might compare to the flavor at a lower price point?

Not only is that not a cheap date, it's expensive no matter where you buy it from. The mix of everything with that stick will make it quite difficult to find something comparable. You may be able to find something similar from a brand that @F.M. mentioned. Drew Estate makes those, and they're really one of the types of blenders that would flavor or use different methods to create something like that.

Links included for online purchase here: A few that I think you might appreciate would be the Liga Privada (although, just as expensive), the Factory Smokes Sun Grown (worth a shot at that price, and they should have fistfuls at Total Wine), the Undercrown Shade sounds very similar to your choice and should be easy to track down - the Total Wine near me has them, and the last suggestion I have is a Crowned Heads Mil Dias.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Not only is that not a cheap date, it's expensive no matter where you buy it from. The mix of everything with that stick will make it quite difficult to find something comparable. You may be able to find something similar from a brand that @F.M. mentioned. Drew Estate makes those, and they're really one of the types of blenders that would flavor or use different methods to create something like that.

Links included for online purchase here: A few that I think you might appreciate would be the Liga Privada (although, just as expensive), the Factory Smokes Sun Grown (worth a shot at that price, and they should have fistfuls at Total Wine), the Undercrown Shade sounds very similar to your choice and should be easy to track down - the Total Wine near me has them, and the last suggestion I have is a Crowned Heads Mil Dias.

I appreciate the list!

 

[drewkaree]

https://www.cigarbid.com/a/drew-estate-undercrown-maduro-gran-toro/5507518/

Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro, 200 10-packs available, so setting a minimum bid of $45, and a max bid of $50 should get you at least one 10-pack.

At $5/ea, that's a great price when compared to $8-10 for me, locally. Not sure how much for your local areas, but I doubt it's close to this price.

Darker, reasonably strong, if you haven't had many strong cigars, this might be a stick to try after a meal. The Maduro hits with darker flavors, coffee, dark chocolate, espresso type of stuff.

I have never had an Undercrown that wasn't a good stick, the differences will be in the wrapper (shade, Connecticut, Maduro) and the size. This one is a Gran Toro, but if you look, a 52-ring is often close to a Robusto for many sticks. The length is why I would consider this a Toro.

I'm in for a tenner, hope you guys enjoy, if you grab some!

 

[Murf'n'surf]

https://www.cigarbid.com/a/drew-estate-undercrown-maduro-gran-toro/5507518/

Drew Estate Undercrown Maduro, 200 10-packs available, so setting a minimum bid of $45, and a max bid of $50 should get you at least one 10-pack.

At $5/ea, that's a great price when compared to $8-10 for me, locally. Not sure how much for your local areas, but I doubt it's close to this price.

Darker, reasonably strong, if you haven't had many strong cigars, this might be a stick to try after a meal. The Maduro hits with darker flavors, coffee, dark chocolate, espresso type of stuff.

I have never had an Undercrown that wasn't a good stick, the differences will be in the wrapper (shade, Connecticut, Maduro) and the size. This one is a Gran Toro, but if you look, a 52-ring is often close to a Robusto for many sticks. The length is why I would consider this a Toro.

I'm in for a tenner, hope you guys enjoy, if you grab some!

I'm an auction winner! lol Looking forward to their arrival.

 

[sunbyrned]

I got the notification today that Cigars International has free shipping from now on. Nice!

 

[gthh]

My Father is a very smooth smoke and goes well with a MacCallen and a cool summer evening!

 

[Murf'n'surf]

@drewkaree Did not like any of the Liga sticks, my golf buddy enjoyed all of the duplicates! The Liga presented with a bitter aftertaste. The Drew Estate Maduro from Cigarbid.com was nice. Starting to dial in where my taste is, but hard to throw the dart at the board of options. Should I start to dial in on the commonality of blends that i enjoy? Is that the key or is it more?

 

[drewkaree]

@drewkaree Did not like any of the Liga sticks, my golf buddy enjoyed all of the duplicates! The Liga presented with a bitter aftertaste. The Drew Estate Maduro from Cigarbid.com was nice. Starting to dial in where my taste is, but hard to throw the dart at the board of options. Should I start to dial in on the commonality of blends that i enjoy? Is that the key or is it more?

I'll try to tackle those questions without a laptop to type on, but I'll add more when I'm not limited to my phone and fat fingers.

Re: your tastes - look for the lower shelves at total wine for budget sticks to work out a rough idea of what you prefer, and move up the shelves to "better" sticks when you start to pick up on your preferences, if you really want to get into cigars.

The Quorum sticks aren't bad, and they have a decent variety. They should also have some Flor De Oliva's as well, to broaden out the options. Those 2 brands should run $3-6, and for branching out, look at the Nub's at TW too. They look small, but they should smoke as long, time-wise, as bigger sticks.

The outer wrapper is a big contributor to the flavor, and you enjoyed the Maduro wrapper of the Drew Estate, and the Dunbarton is a Connecticut wrapper. The Connecticut wrappers are almost always creamy and easy smokes, but tend to lack as much flavor as other wrappers like the Maduro.

Those 2 wrappers would be a good thing to look for, with the Connecticut wrappers being a more "safe" option. Your flavor preferences can, and most likely will change over time, and you may find yourself looking for more flavor options the more you smoke.

The strength is often listed on the tags at TW, and the Liga Privada may have been too strong for you, which may explain the bitterness. Connecticuts are typically low strength, but check to see. Maduro's can have a much wider range, so check that, and stick with lower strength for now.

Smell the stick. If you get any ammonia scent, that almost always hints at that stick needing to get some humidor time to mellow out. It's likely too "fresh" to smoke, but a week or more can change it drastically.

There's LOTS more, being handmade products, but hopefully that can help until I can reach a keyboard.

If you hit TW, look for the Nub Cameroon, and just smell it to see if that interests you. I find them to be somewhat sweet, and spicy in a flavorful (and not hot) way. Montecristo White label, Rocky Patel, and Quorum should all have a Connecticut example at TW too, if you want to test your theory of what you may lean towards, in regards to the wrapper, at different price points

 

[drewkaree]

From my stash at the lake house, and you should be able to find at least 5 of these at your local Total Wine too.

This is to show that some testing and research will help you in your quest to find your preferences. It's also an indicator that not every stick should be written off if it's not your typical preference.

I started with smoking Connecticut wrappers exclusively. Not harsh, often smooth, and usually not as much nicotine to blow out your senses. Nowadays, I keep some on hand for morning coffee smokes, or to share with others who may be interested in trying a cigar with me.

The Nub (3), Oliva (4) & Perdomo (5) are all Connecticut examples of shade-grown, which is why they're so light. Each of those are great, but not my first pick outside of mornings.

The Ramon Bueso Genesis Project cigars are also both Connecticut's, but they're broadleaf varieties, which tend to be more rustic, and often more flavor and nuance than shade-grown.

Those 2 are also fermented and aged differently, as one is an Oscuro (Y), and the other is a Maduro (9). Clear as mud?

You can see just from those 5, how different a wrapper can be created by aging, growing conditions, and other factors.

Maduros can take on many different colors as well, as the Bueso (9), Cohiba (6), Nub (8), & Rocky Patel (7) are all Maduros. The Rocky Patel is ALSO a sun grown version, which adds yet another layer of flavor and variety to the mix.

Habano's are also in the mix here, as the Nub (2) & Southern Draw 300 Manos (1) are wrapped in that variety.

The H Upmann (7) is one I keep on hand for my neighbor, as he loves those, and I'll have one once in a while for a change of pace, but it's one of the last that I'd choose, simply because I prefer the others over the Upmann's Sumatra wrapper.

The wrapper will tend to be the predominant contributor to the flavor, feel and nuance of a stick, so it's the thing that tends to be looked for, but the underlying binder and fillers can also strongly influence the flavor, as additions to the blend, and you're really able to start to see just why it's sometimes like trying to nail jello to the wall when you're trying to pin down a specific profile

Smoke a bunch of singles, try some samplers, and look for recommendations, and when you hit on something you like, like the Undercrown Maduro you said you enjoyed, and the Dunbarton, then you have something to compare to other new sticks, and can form your own palate and preferences.

It's why coffee and alcohol are often great comparisons, and pairings can enhance a cigar for you. Same nuances, and figuring out what you like is half the fun of the experience for many.

If you EVER buy something I've recommended, and you don't like it, I'll gladly take it off your hands - I want folks to enjoy the experience as much as I do, and I will buy your "mistakes" off you so you can put the money towards something else to your liking.

I'll close with "you'll have a DM", and I think I may have something you'd like

 

[Murf'n'surf]

View attachment 240628

From my stash at the lake house, and you should be able to find at least 5 of these at your local Total Wine too.

This is to show that some testing and research will help you in your quest to find your preferences. It's also an indicator that not every stick should be written off if it's not your typical preference.

I started with smoking Connecticut wrappers exclusively. Not harsh, often smooth, and usually not as much nicotine to blow out your senses. Nowadays, I keep some on hand for morning coffee smokes, or to share with others who may be interested in trying a cigar with me.

The Nub (3), Oliva (4) & Perdomo (5) are all Connecticut examples of shade-grown, which is why they're so light. Each of those are great, but not my first pick outside of mornings.

The Ramon Bueso Genesis Project cigars are also both Connecticut's, but they're broadleaf varieties, which tend to be more rustic, and often more flavor and nuance than shade-grown.

Those 2 are also fermented and aged differently, as one is an Oscuro (Y), and the other is a Maduro (9). Clear as mud?

You can see just from those 5, how different a wrapper can be created by aging, growing conditions, and other factors.

Maduros can take on many different colors as well, as the Bueso (9), Cohiba (6), Nub (8), & Rocky Patel (7) are all Maduros. The Rocky Patel is ALSO a sun grown version, which adds yet another layer of flavor and variety to the mix.

Habano's are also in the mix here, as the Nub (2) & Southern Draw 300 Manos (1) are wrapped in that variety.

The H Upmann (7) is one I keep on hand for my neighbor, as he loves those, and I'll have one once in a while for a change of pace, but it's one of the last that I'd choose, simply because I prefer the others over the Upmann's Sumatra wrapper.

The wrapper will tend to be the predominant contributor to the flavor, feel and nuance of a stick, so it's the thing that tends to be looked for, but the underlying binder and fillers can also strongly influence the flavor, as additions to the blend, and you're really able to start to see just why it's sometimes like trying to nail jello to the wall when you're trying to pin down a specific profile

Smoke a bunch of singles, try some samplers, and look for recommendations, and when you hit on something you like, like the Undercrown Maduro you said you enjoyed, and the Dunbarton, then you have something to compare to other new sticks, and can form your own palate and preferences.

It's why coffee and alcohol are often great comparisons, and pairings can enhance a cigar for you. Same nuances, and figuring out what you like is half the fun of the experience for many.

If you EVER buy something I've recommended, and you don't like it, I'll gladly take it off your hands - I want folks to enjoy the experience as much as I do, and I will buy your "mistakes" off you so you can put the money towards something else to your liking.

I'll close with "you'll have a DM", and I think I may have something you'd like

I truly appreciate your wisdom and time spent helping me along. Many more things to try and nail down 'my taste'.