Why Cuban?

[Niela]

I saw on a comment to a video the other day that someone would never be prepared to pay cuban prices for a NC cigar. The cigar in question was a very expensive Padron.

Now I wonder. I have smoked as many NCs as I have Cubans. And I have to say, I had quite a few badly rolled Cubans and hardly ever a bad NC. On the flavor side, there are Cubans that I tried that tasted heavenly but there are also NCs that I tried that tasted fantastic. I would go as far as to say that Cubans 'can' have a unique flavor but then again, NC have flavours that you never find in Cubans, so those flavours are therefore unique as well.

So why is it that we all crave Cubans so much? Would you really say that the flavour profile of a great Cuban is so much better than anything a NC can provide? Is it just a hype? Isn't the whole Edicion Limitada nothing but a great marketing trick that makes us pay for a cigar a lot more than we would usually pay?

Somehow, when I smoke a Cuban I expect perfection but most Cubans in my experience do not live up to that expectation.

You can tell, I am a bit torn and confused about this. Maybe your opinions can bring some clarity.

[Motormadj]

cos cubans is most bestest.

[monkey66]

I just trust my taste buds and for me Cubans win hands down. This is not snobbery or hype, just my preference.

Smoke what you enjoy, nothing else matters.

[Niela]

So you would say that none of the NC you have had ever had were as good as a Cuban? Maybe I have to smoke some more but so far I can't really say that I could pick a favourite, especially when I compare them at the same price.

[PeeJay]

So you would say that none of the NC you have had ever had were as good as a Cuban? Maybe I have to smoke some more but so far I can't really say that I could pick a favourite, especially when I compare them at the same price.

Not at all because we haven't all got the same tastes. I smoke as many NC as Cubans. As previously mentioned the quality is hardly ever and issue but I've smoked a lot of frogs before finding the princes.

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[Niela]

OK, it is down to taste... And I think I have found many great cigars in the NC as well as in the CC category. How would you say Cubans do price wise against NC? Taken the average Cuban for ?20 and compare it with a NC for ?20... Would you say you get better stick for your money when you go NC? Obviously it's hard to say what is better and what it worse... I am looking for your personal experiences.

[cigarmo]

I think innthe UK its more the price difference between the NC and CC that swings people to CC. by this I mean a $3 cigar will cost around ?15 at the local b&m, for a couple of ? more you can get a top quality CC I know which i would choose.

Now if buying at non ems prices while on holiday, then i am sure there will be NC that can be as good as CC at a similar price point.

[monkey66]

So you would say that none of the NC you have had ever had were as good as a Cuban? Maybe I have to smoke some more but so far I can't really say that I could pick a favourite, especially when I compare them at the same price.

For me almost none. I have enjoyed a couple but they are not part of my regular rotation. Personally I do not bring price into my decision. I have no interest in smoking bad cigars regardless of price.

NB - there are plenty of Cubans I don't like and would not smoke.

But most importantly the only opinion that matters is yours, if you like 'em, smoke 'em.

[Nick2021]

Cubans for me--although I do enjoy some NCs like the Quesada brand and aged OpusX. The problem I've had with NCs is some brands seem to go downhill quickly if not smoked within a certain time frame. I also hate "pepper-bombs" which I know a lot of my friends enjoy.....

[cj121]

We all recognise the CC/NC construction and draw anomalies, but for me it comes simply down to preferring the flavour of Cubans. Like others, there's some I don't care very much for, but pitch them against the average NC (if there is such a thing) I'd go CC. Palate and how that has been accustomed plays a big part I think. If, over here we had massive exposure to NCs since time, it may be different, who knows.

[PeeJay]

There are similar differences between NCs as well though, I usually prefer Dominicans to Nicaraguans because the latter tend towards a more peppery flavour.

[cj121]

Whereas I'll go Nicaraguan for a similar reason. I find them to have more body about them.

[Wigan]

Not at all because we haven't all got the same tastes. I smoke as many NC as Cubans. As previously mentioned the quality is hardly ever and issue but I've smoked a lot of frogs before finding the princes.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]24159[/ATTACH]

Nail on the head there mate

[ValeTudoGuy]

NC's are like a minefield to me. Loads of crap and dodgy production practises to ensure uniform and "consistent" product runs.

Almost all NC's I have had get excessively strong towards the end and suffer from one dimensional taste profiles.

Cubans are a smaller world and for me provide more cigars that I have enjoyed to smoke. I also find they tend to have more flavours in a given stick and the flavour changes more during a smoke.

[TheMonk]

Haven't tried a lot of NC's, but I gotta say I have yet to be really impressed by any of them, so I've pretty much given up on them and gone 100% Cuban.