Toolguy Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 Newbie question. Please forgive. Is there much variation within Cuban brands re flavour profiles? Like one Monte vitola to the next Monte vitola I’m wanting to invest and increase my inventory but am confused at what to buy. Currently just looking for deals. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alki Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 I will offer my opinion with the caviet that I smoke more NC than CC, but the principal should be the same. I look generally at the RG as more of a determining factor to possibly indicate that there may be flavor differences between vitolas. If the RG is different than the blending may differ more so than if the length is different. For instance if you have a 50 RG Robusto and a 52 RG Toro I would expect the profile to be more similar than a 47 RG Lancero and a 60 RG Double Churchill. Keep in mind that even if there are differences; they may be suttle. Remember that two identical vitolas from the same line could smoke differently because of construction. This could include such things that effect the burn such as how densely it is packed. If the burn is effected, so will the taste profile be effected. Other things that could effect the taste is what you have / may have eaten, your choice of beverage, how much you are paying attention. This is why when I purchase first try cigars they are purchased in pairs. If I can get through two of them and like the profile then it can potentially become a regular in my humidor I find with CC there are nuances that are similar with many cigars from cuba. Not that cigars from the Dominican or Nicaragua don't have similar taste profiles that are inherent to that country, but I find it more pronounced with CC. About a month ago I was smoking a HDM with a newbe and my wife (not a smoker) came in the back yard and asked how we were enjoying our CC. She was able to tell that it was a CC before she hit the backyard from the side of the house because of the unique smell. The newbe thought that was cool. IMO you would have to be able to identify major difference between countries or brands before being able to pick out differences between vitolas in the same line. Also you will probably have to critically (pay attention) smoke to make these determinations. I am also an audiophile and listen to music for enjoyment but will also sometimes listen critically, especially when I make changes to my system. With age I seem to care less and less about being critical and smoke for the enjoyment and comradery that goes with this hobby. The fun part is smoking all those cigars while attempting to figure out the differences. If you take a friend or friends along on the journey, that it is even better yet. Happy Puffing. holidaynation, tricam_bob and Toolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share Posted July 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Alki said: I will offer my opinion with the caviet that I smoke more NC than CC, but the principal should be the same. I look generally at the RG as more of a determining factor to possibly indicate that there may be flavor differences between vitolas. If the RG is different than the blending may differ more so than if the length is different. For instance if you have a 50 RG Robusto and a 52 RG Toro I would expect the profile to be more similar than a 47 RG Lancero and a 60 RG Double Churchill. Keep in mind that even if there are differences; they may be suttle. Remember that two identical vitolas from the same line could smoke differently because of construction. This could include such things that effect the burn such as how densely it is packed. If the burn is effected, so will the taste profile be effected. Other things that could effect the taste is what you have / may have eaten, your choice of beverage, how much you are paying attention. This is why when I purchase first try cigars they are purchased in pairs. If I can get through two of them and like the profile then it can potentially become a regular in my humidor I find with CC there are nuances that are similar with many cigars from cuba. Not that cigars from the Dominican or Nicaragua don't have similar taste profiles that are inherent to that country, but I find it more pronounced with CC. About a month ago I was smoking a HDM with a newbe and my wife (not a smoker) came in the back yard and asked how we were enjoying our CC. She was able to tell that it was a CC before she hit the backyard from the side of the house because of the unique smell. The newbe thought that was cool. IMO you would have to be able to identify major difference between countries or brands before being able to pick out differences between vitolas in the same line. Also you will probably have to critically (pay attention) smoke to make these determinations. I am also an audiophile and listen to music for enjoyment but will also sometimes listen critically, especially when I make changes to my system. With age I seem to care less and less about being critical and smoke for the enjoyment and comradery that goes with this hobby. The fun part is smoking all those cigars while attempting to figure out the differences. If you take a friend or friends along on the journey, that it is even better yet. Happy Puffing. Thanks for the very thoughtful reply @Alki. You're on the right path of what I'm asking about. I'm a little further along in experience versus your note. I'll pose my question another way: I like Drew Estates Liga Privada #9 Robustos. All Drew Estates are not the same. Not even close. All Liga Privada are not the the same. They are all premium but different. However, all #9 are the same. If I smoke a corona, Robustos or any other, they are the same. Differences only in the ring size and roll etc. Now if we look at Romeo and Juliet from Cuba, many sizes and ring gauges, but are there significant differences in the make up other than proportion due to ring? So, I'm asking if most R&J's taste similar. Same with others like Partagas etc. Cheers, Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I think the main difference in same blend/ different vitola is the wrapper to filler ratio. This could most definitely have an effect on the tastes experienced, and I believe it often does. holidaynation, Sanchez, Boss Hog and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rone Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 The other thing I notice more than the flavor profile between two vitolas of the same cigar is the complexity. Obviously with more tabaco in the larger vitolas there is far more complexity. When smoking say a half corona, I mught notice the flavor changing halfway through. A robusto might change every third and so on. Just my 0.02. tricam_bob, Toolguy and Shorty 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zedman05 Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I have found that the RyJ line up is all over the board. The Churchill is smooth and complex. Changes up a few times and has a nice cherry note to them without being brash or powerful.You smoke a Cazadores next to it and you may find a touch of similarity, but it seems to be, IMO, more powerful and doesn't change up much at all. It just gets more full bodied and powerful as it goes along. Those shitty tubos that you can get for an "ok" price at the shops are very light and airy. I don't seem to pick up much other than the typical lightly roasted tobacco and a bit of sweetness. Never tried any of the EL's with the dark wrapper, so I can't help you there. I have found that the Churchill and Cazadores are the 2 I lean towards more often as more enjoyable. I like the Cazzie as a last cigar of the day, if I have more than one, to really give that bold pop. tricam_bob and Toolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holidaynation Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Being relatively new to cigars and typically find bigger differences between offerings in NC brands which I am very fond of, I have been investigating CCs more of late after having been gifted some aged CCs. In my humble and relative uneducated opinion the biggest differences between offerings either within the same marca or others seem to be age and storage. I was gifted a 16 Trinidad Reyes that was hands down one of my favourite puffs, but the Sep18s I acquired are buried for now as they were meh. In this case I enjoyed the flavours of a cheap 16 Quintero which came closer to the 16 Reyes than the 18 Reyes did. Again my palette is far from that of others, but I can state, I have enjoyed any aged CC that I get my hands on vs a new release from any brand. 😁 tricam_bob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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