Your #1 of all time?

[Dr Voss]

With so many different makers and styles out there if you had to pick only one to give as the very best there is what would it be? And is this from your first hand knowledge or by reputation? -(P

[irratebass]

Kristoff by first hand knowledge, I haven't had a bad one yet, but I am a noob so I look forward to reading this thread.

[gator_79]

Being that this is the NC side I'll have to go with the:
Anejo Shark

[Doctorossi]

I couldn't tell you "the best", but I can certainly tell you that my very most favoritest cigar in the whooooooooooole entire world is the Punch Double Corona. :tu



* and that's from plenty of, but never enough, personal experience

[hscmit]

padron 64 natural

[Dr Voss]

Kristoff by first hand knowledge, I haven't had a bad one yet, but I am a noob so I look forward to reading this thread.

Which Kristoff? I haven't tried the Sumatra yet and can't say I remember the one I have tried off the top of my head.

[ApexAZ]

I'm still such a noob so my experience is limited, but I'd say an Opus X.

[gator_79]

Kristoff by first hand knowledge, I haven't had a bad one yet, but I am a noob so I look forward to reading this thread.

The Kristoff Maduro is a great smoke...but then again I do consider myself a maduro whore.

[gator_79]

I'm still such a noob so my experience is limited, but I'd say an Opus X.

Which Opus? The Super Beli. and Perfexion #4 are staples in my humi.

[E.J.]

Best cigar I ever had was a H.Up Mag 48 on Jan 10th 2011.... I have had a few since & though very good, they didn't have the same magic of that one.

[markem]

early 1960s H. Upmann Corona gifted to me by my good friend Allan.

[Zanaspus]

Today, it would probably be the Tatuaje Cojonu 2003. Next week, who knows?;)

[kelmac07]

Tie for me...Viaje Holiday Blend (2009) and the 601 Blue Maduro. :dr :dr :dr :dr

[Mattso3000]

Everytime I think I have a #1, I smoke something I like better. Impossible to say. For the price point, tho, the 601 Blue stands up to anything, I would never let my humidor be without one.

[Bill86]

Cohiba Lancero. These always deliver. The lowest I've scored a CoLa is probably 91-92.

[bigswol2]

Opus #2 for me

[irratebass]

Which Kristoff? I haven't tried the Sumatra yet and can't say I remember the one I have tried off the top of my head.

The Kristiana for me. Not a full flavor more of a mild to medium but just a fantastic smoke

[Dunkel]

Anejo or San Cristobal for me.

[pektel]

I don't have an absolute favorite. But the top 2 are the 2004 hoyo de Monterrey double corona, and 2004 cohiba sig vi. 05 plpc follows very closely behind. As does the skull and bones "?" release.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mattso3000]

I don't have an absolute favorite. But the top 2 are the 2004 hoyo de Monterrey double corona, and 2004 cohiba sig vi. 05 plpc follows very closely behind. As does the skull and bones "?" release.
Posted via Mobile Device

The 2010 "?" release? I didn't think this years held a candle to last years ROTT. Might have more potential if it sits for a while IMO.

[Bax]

The best I've had was a '90's Cohiba Lancero. It was simply amazing. :dr

[Devanmc]

my 98 R&J churchills :dr

[ASU Maduro]

Arturo Fuente - Work of Art (Maduro)

[ApexAZ]

Which Opus? The Super Beli. and Perfexion #4 are staples in my humi.

I've only had one (robusto) and I'm not sure which it was. It was gifted to me.

[darkninja67]

I love my Padron Anniversary and Tatuaje Cojonu but an Opus X with 3-5 years on it is very hard to beat.

[pektel]

The 2010 "?" release? I didn't think this years held a candle to last years ROTT. Might have more potential if it sits for a while IMO.

I did not like them rott. But after a year of rest they are a whole different cigar. I'm thinking the entire s&b line will be similar, as far as my tastes are concerned. And I have no problems resting them for a year.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Ismith75]

NC: OR Dirty Rat CC: '04 Boli GM

[Commander Quan]

Ashton VSG.

[RevSmoke]

1980 Monte #2. Smoked them with my uncle in July 1993.

[Taki]

Not really sure but I would have to put the LP#9 up in the top two right now for me

[MurphysLaw]

Cohiba Lancero for me as well :dr

[VirtualSmitty]

Taboada Sublime.

[ckay]

Anejo Shark always knocks my socks off.

[NCRadioMan]

Taboada Sublime.

I'm getting in this lline. :)

If they are all out, the 1994.

[Ismith75]

Taboada Sublime.
If I could choose a number one without ever smoking it, this would be it.

[Smokin Gator]

The best #1 I have had is an '01 Monte Especial #1

[dave]

Today, it would probably be the .......... Next week, who knows?;)

This. I might answer this question different every month.

However, as to OP, I'd never suggest that my number one cigar was one which I'd never tried. More often than not, I'm 'disappointed' by a cigar that I've built up in my mind. Guess that is good -- while there are always cigars out there that I think I'd like to try, I don't salivate or get overly excited about anything new to me.

[BlkDrew]

My ultimate fav is the 1926 Padron, second was the Partagas black label.

[maninblack]

Padron 80th.

[icehog3]

"Someday (We'll Be Together)" - Diana Ross & The Supremes

[Doctorossi]

"Someday (We'll Be Together)" - Diana Ross & The Supremes

You wrote that, Tom? :tu

[Brooks W]

The two best cigars I have had so far have been the Cohiba Gran Reserva and a 1980's Dunhill Estupendos...

~brooks

[Doctorossi]

The two best cigars I have had so far have been the Cohiba Gran Reserva and a 1980's Dunhill Estupendos...

Come on, Brooks- we asked for one! :sl

[BlindedByScience]

...I might answer this question different every month....
That's my problem, too.

The two that really stick out for me today are the Padron Family Reserve 45th in maduro, and the Don Pepin My Father Le Bijou 1922 in box press. Big, complex, wonderful sticks that always play nicely and are a real treat.

...tune in next month for the next installment of "..What's the best ever?..."....:D

Cheers - B.B.S.

[Gophernut]

Big fan of the Oliva V Special V Figurado

[big a]

AF Shark so far.

[LigaPrivadaT84]

Flying Pig as of late; if you asked few months earlier it would've been a Fuente or Padron.
:tu

[Davis]

In my short, budget limited smoking career I have two favorites.
RP 1961 & 601 Blues

[Dr Voss]

Thanks for all of the great recommendations. I'm going to start looking online to try to lacate a few of these and give them a go.

[INT]

Liga Privada 9 Parejo.

[Chemyst]

The two best smokes I've had are
1) AF Hemi signature with plume
2) LA Cien Anos

Both were unexpected. Both on crisp, fall afternoons.
Maybe there was something in the air, although they
were a year apart.

Chemyst :cool2:

[Ion_Warp_Drive]

Kristoff by first hand knowledge, I haven't had a bad one yet, but I am a noob so I look forward to reading this thread.

Got to agree. Kristoff has to be one of my favorites at the moment. I particularly like the Maduro Ligero, but one of my all time favorites is the Camacho Pre-Embargo. I have had the privilege to enjoy this stick twice. Very pricy($25), but affordable if you get one as part of a sampler on Cigar.com. The only legal cuban in the US because the tobacco is from a bale that predates the Cuban embargo. Gotta love loopholes. :)

[hammondc]

padron 64 natural

+1.

[T.G]

Got to agree. Kristoff has to be one of my favorites at the moment. I particularly like the Maduro Ligero, but one of my all time favorites is the Camacho Pre-Embargo. I have had the privilege to enjoy this stick twice. Very pricy($25), but affordable if you get one as part of a sampler on Cigar.com. The only legal cuban in the US because the tobacco is from a bale that predates the Cuban embargo. Gotta love loopholes. :)

I like McRib sandwiches. They are the only legal pork rib sandwiches sold in the US.

Mmmmmmmm ribs....

[icehog3]

The tide is high but I'm holding on,
I'm gonna be your number one.

[Bill86]

I like McRib sandwiches. They are the only legal pork rib sandwiches sold in the US.

Mmmmmmmm ribs....

:lr

[bobarian]

Got to agree. Kristoff has to be one of my favorites at the moment. I particularly like the Maduro Ligero, but one of my all time favorites is the Camacho Pre-Embargo. I have had the privilege to enjoy this stick twice. Very pricy($25), but affordable if you get one as part of a sampler on Cigar.com. The only legal cuban in the US because the tobacco is from a bale that predates the Cuban embargo. Gotta love loopholes. :)

That bale sure has been spread a long ways. Amazing how thousands of cigars can continue to be rolled out of these "legendary" bales. See the blurb below on another "famous" cigar rolled with Pre-Embargo tobacco. Its been many years since I dared smoke the Pinar 3000 but they taste nothing like the Pre-Embargo Partagas I had the pleasure of sampling a few weeks ago with some friends. :sh

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2282/lincolnv.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/lincolnv.jpg/)

The current tobacco being used by Armando Ramos to construct the PINAR line of Pre Embargo Cuban Cigars came from the Grossman Estate in Tampa. The Grossman family was involved in the cigar business in Tampa when everything being rolled was Cuban tobacco. The Sr. Grossman died almost 25 years ago and a large quantity of pre embargo Cuban tobacco was tied up in Probate while his estate was being settled. One of his sons finally inherited the tobacco and realizing the value, decided to hold on to it. The tobacco had been in a 70F/70% environment since it was imported in '56, '58'and '60. In the late stages of the Clinton administration, rumors were that the Embargo would be lifted as one of Clinton's last acts as President. The Grossman son, if this happened, realized that his holdings would be be greatly devalued. He sold his tobacco to the Puros International de Armando Ramos, Inc. (PINAR) in 1999. The tobacco is sent to Equador to be rolled and blended and then shipped back to the US. It has gone through Customs 3 times and is well documented to be authentic.

The P3000 Pinar
After painstakingly sorting and classifying every single leaf, we
combined several of the Cuban tobaccos (with an emphasis on Ligero for
classic Cuban strength, despite the tobaccos age). The result, rolled
100% from Cuban leaf (filler, binder & wrapper) is the quintessential
Cuban cigar. The flavor is deep, rich and complex, but with over 40
years of aging on the tobacco, it is also incredibly smooth and easy
smoking. Compared to the original, crude PINARs, a richer, stronger
Cuban blend, better Cuban tobacco, more Cuban flavor.

P3000 Edicion Limitado Maduro
Of course, 45 years ago, there was no such thing as Cuban Maduro. So
there is no processed, cooked or colored PINAR maduro. However, when
you take a 300lb. bale of Cuban wrapper tobacco and let it rest
comfortably for 45 years, some of he oils migrate to the center of the
bale. A degree of low-level fermentation even continues there. We
hand-select wrapper leaf from the very center of each bale, dark and
fairly dripping with flavorful oils, and use that as the wrapper for the
E.L. Maduros. The flavor is a little denser, a little milder and a
little sweeter, but still, a pure 100% Cuban Pinar.

P3000 el FEROZ "the Ferocious One"
Amidst the 46,000 pounds of tobacco that made up the Grossman purchase
was one shipment of extremely spicy Cuban wrapper. This tobacco was
shipped in barrels rather than bales (not uncommon at the time). As far
as we can tell, these were actually sherry casks. The incredible spice
of this wrapper was perfectly mellowed by the subtle hint of oak and
sherry imparted by the barrels over nearly 50 years. EL FEROZ combines
this wrapper with a double dose of pre-embargo ligero, to create the
true powerhouse of the P3000 line-up.

P3000 Cuban Criollo
Long before corojo leaf from Honduras became all the rage; long before
Corojo became the Cuban wrapper of choice in the 1960's, classic criollo
was the mainstay of Cuban wrapper, for nearly 500 years. Nearly ALL
cigar tobaccos grown in the Americas are derivative of that particular
seed. About a quarter of the wrapper in the Grossman purchase was a
rich, simple Cuban Criollo. Slightly lighter in color than the other
PINAR wrappers, rounded and mellow in flavor, with a solid foundation of
spice characteristics.

Habanito - 100 % Pre Embargo Cuban Tobacco - mixed filler. These cigars are the best value in the store. The cigars are made from the rough leaf edges and trimmings from the P3000's. They are sold at a small fraction of the cost of the P3000.

P2000 - 70% Pre Embargo Cuban Tobacco with 30% Equadorian. The same richness of taste but about 20% less in cost.

P2000 - Fiero Negro - 70% Pre Embargo Cuban Tobacco. 30% Equadorian Liguero leaves gives this cigar some real strength with the taste of the aged Cuban tobacco. If you like a strong cigar, this one is a real "lung buster".

Magus - An excellent Equadorian cigar. Armando Ramos uses a little known drying and curing technique to enhance the flavor of these fine cigars. Bold flavor with a smooth finish.

AR / Robaina - 40% Pre Embargo Cuban Tobacco. 60% Equadorian tobacco grown from 1st generation Cuban seeds. It also features a delightful Sun Grown Wrapper from Equador. For around $5 each, this is one of my favorite cigars in the store. If you like Sun Grown wrappers, this is a "Must Smoke"

Javier Vizcaino - 35% Pre Embargo Cuban Tobacco. 65% Equadorian with a true Connecticut Shade Wrapper. For those customers who want the taste of aged Cuban tobacco without the strength. The true Connecticut Shade wrapper imparts a smoothness to the smoke yet still allows the Cuban flavor to come through.

[lenguamor]

PLPC; any year, anytime, anywhere. My desert island smoke.

[dom1n8r]

Noob to cigars, but I'll have to go a "top three." MOW Ruiation, COHIBA "red-dot", and CAO Black Fathom 5. I hear that Rocky Patel makes great cigars, any suggestions?

D

[taltos]

Oliva V Double Robusto

[HollywoodQue]

Opus X super belicoso xxx

[shilala]

My #1 is generally what's hanging out of my face at the time. If it dips below #1, I chuck it and find a new #1 and spark it up.
I've probably answered this same question about 1000 times now, and at this point I've smoked so many incredible cigars I can't even remotely place a #1 of all time on any of them.
I could plunk a bunch in a top 100 list, I suppose, but I'm not sure that'd do any of them justice, either.

[kuzi16]

the best cigar that i have ever had was an original release Avo 22.

[Flounder]

Perdomo Lot 23.

[Doctorossi]

I hear that Rocky Patel makes great cigars, any suggestions?

Vintage 1992 Torpedo. :tu