Cubans non Cubans

[oskihen]

Firstly congrats to undercover lovely purchases, but reading the comments on your post got me thinking.
I read so many times on here the general advice by lots of botl is that it's a must to age good Cuban cigars but they all say Quote Nc don't bother . Now tobacco is a natural product, a cultivated plant yes Cuban cigars are lovely and a premium smoke but there are some fantastic non Cuban cigars out there and also at a premium price as well.

I've been obviously researching cigars to buy and try and lots of non Cubans are a similar price to Cubans obviously there are exceptions in the extreme high end .

I don't understand the advice to not ageing non Cubans .

Can someone please enlighten me or is the comment more regarding just because they aren't Cuban irrelevant of their quality they don't matter.
Is it Cuban cigar snobbery or is there an actual reason.

[TJCoro]

Is Older Better?

I'll give 'er a go. The biggest difference between NCs and Cs is that NCs are ready to smoke at the point of purchase. Now, does this mean they already have a year on 'em before they are put on the shelf? Don't know....most don't have box dates. I remember reading somewhere that no respectable NC vendor would sell sticks still in the so-called "sick period." The sick period is generally considered to be between 9 and 12 months after rolling.

Furthermore, from my personal studies, I find that NCs do not benefit from aging as much as Cs do. Some will argue this view, but from my own experience smoking NCs, only a few seem to have benefited from multi-year aging. Most aged NCs taste the same as the day I purchased 'em.

But that's just me.

Jay, Ray Jay

[tommy]

It is an interesting point and one that I have often pondered. There are some NC's that are said to benefit from age such as Ashton VSG and Padron. There are also some that are sold as aged sticks but the general opinion as far as I have seen is indeed that ageing of NC's to the larger degree is not necessary. I have some that have been knocking around a while so time will tell I guess.

[oskihen]

I'll give 'er a go. The biggest difference between NCs and Cs is that NCs are ready to smoke at the point of purchase. Now, does this mean they already have a year on 'em before they are put on the shelf? Don't know....most don't have box dates. I remember reading somewhere that no respectable NC vendor would sell sticks still in the so-called "sick period." The sick period is generally considered to be between 9 and 12 months after rolling.

Furthermore, from my personal studies, I find that NCs do not benefit from aging as much as Cs do. Some will argue this view, but from my own experience smoking NCs, only a few seem to have benefited from multi-year aging. Most aged NCs taste the same as the day I purchased 'em.

But that's just me.

Jay, Ray Jay

Mmmm intrigues me more got even more questions
now are you saying that Cuban cigar manufactures or retailers are not as reputable !!
Also as its all tobacco I don't understand why nc tobacco isn't as susceptible to aging as Cuban tobacco ,
also if you put yourself in the shoes of a non Cuban cigar producer trying to take sales away from the most sought after market being Cuban wouldn't you try and make a better product

[TJCoro]

Questions?

Mmmm intrigues me more got even more questions
now are you saying that Cuban cigar manufactures or retailers are not as reputable !!

No.

Also as its all tobacco I don't understand why nc tobacco isn't as susceptible to aging as Cuban tobacco ,

Me neither, but it just ain't. Of course, I ain't no botanist.

also if you put yourself in the shoes of a non Cuban cigar producer trying to take sales away from the most sought after market being Cuban wouldn't you try and make a better product

Maybe....maybe not. NCs have a lock on the US market with no open competition form C. Shouldn't that be enough? But in many countries (not yours) NCs are generally cheaper than Cs which gives them a bit of an edge, I guess.


Jay, Ray Jay

[EdBlackadder]

There are some lovely non-Cuban cigars. In the UK at least they cost the same as a Cuban cigar and often more than a cheap Cuban. Are they worth smoking, absolutely. The problem is the cheap non-Cuban is a gamble and although there are some gems there are some nasty sticks that can sour a man against the rest of them.

[TJCoro]

Value Sticks?

There are some lovely non-Cuban cigars. In the UK at least they cost the same as a Cuban cigar and often more than a cheap Cuban.

Haha! I think the UK has some of the most expensive Puros in the world, from what I've seen....so if NCs are priced as high, god help you.

I think the best prices for NCs are in the US of A which is why I stock up on my preferred NCs when I visit mis amigos americanos.

Jay. Ray Jay

[Wigan]

How about Mexican cigars? Can you recommend any of your own for us TJ?

[TJCoro]

Te Amo Vintage '99

How about Mexican cigars? Can you recommend any of your own for us TJ?

Yes. If you ever come across a Te Amo Vintage '99, scoop 'em up!

RJ

[Wigan]

Found various Te Amo but nothing vintage. Wouldn't recommend unless vintage?

[TJCoro]

One and Only!

Found various Te Amo but nothing vintage. Wouldn't recommend unless vintage?

TBH, the Te Amo Vintage '99 is the only Mex stick that I enjoyed enough to buy again and again.

RJ

[Wigan]

Oh well a bit of a disappointment but thanks for the info

[mightyred]

I'll give you one of my Te-Amo 99 aniverssario next time I see you Wigan mate.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk 2

[Wigan]

Fecking awesome, anything to what I now have listed under the on order section? lol