I just smoked my first Habano! First impressions...

[Clint1]

Hello everybody!

This morning I went to a big tobacco shop in my town to buy some Toscanos (italian cigars), but while I was waiting for my turn, a ray of light hit my mind and I yelled into my thoughts

"I want HABANOOOOS!!!" :dr

Then I asked the shop assistant if they had Cuban Cigars in store and... in half a minute I bought a three-cigars pack of Cohiba Siglo II. :noon

Oh boys, what a cigar, what a taste! I finally tasted some serious aroma evolution, every third of it tasted differently and at the end, a marvellous taste of tobacco remained in my mouth. And when it was done, I just wanted to have another. But obviously I didn't. -(P

Well I have to say that I love Toscanos and they are extremely good (for me at least), but Habanos are extremely good in the same way, and I just don't want to compare them for wich is better, simply because they are two different worlds, it would be like comparing classical music to progressive hard rock: you just can't.

I took my decision! For the everyday smokes I'll buy Toscanos, also because they cost much less, and I will keep Habanos for special moments.

I couldn't ever imagine that a cigar could make me so happy :cf1


Happy smokes!

[longknocker]

Another One "To The Dark Side"!:D Enjoy!:tu

[big_jaygee]

Another One "To The Dark Side"!:D Enjoy!:tu

that no lie :tu :r

[mahtofire14]

I would have to say my first experience with a CC went very similar to yours....:noon

[Blak Smyth]

Not very often I hear about somebody's first experience being so wonderful.
Most people say "I don't get it", and I think Mmmm more for me.
It took me several attempts before I fell in love, it was a RASCC that turned me.
Enjoy the dark slope! I have heard a lot of people from outside the US like those Toscanos.
No idea what they are, they sound coffee infused? Fire wall has me blocked from informative websites.

I think "I want HABANOOOOS!!!" about 23.5 hours a day, I think Leo planted the idea deep in my subconsious.

[cjhalbrooks]

I love to hear this bro

[Clint1]

Thanks you all for your replies! :)

Happy and joyful smoking! -(P

[Kevin(n)tn]

Congrats. I have yet to smoke a cc but I will one day.

[Subvet642]

Sig II's are my favorite, too! No wonder you love them.

[Big Maduro]

Very nice. Someday I will see for myself. Congrats

[cmitch]

Just remember, just because they're 'Cuban' doesn't mean they're good. I had a dog rocket last night. But, most I've had have been great. I stay away from Cohibas because of the price. I can get nearly 2 Montecristo #2's for the price of one Cohiba.

[Remo]

All of the CC's I have smoked have been awesome, mind you that I have not smoked many and all have been gifts so I figure they all were top of the line and had some age but they are great!!

[AdamJoshua]

I'm the same way, smoking my first CC was a "wow" moment all in itself, since I'm a cigar noob probably more so for me because it was a mild / medium partagas short and I actually got all of the different flavors on my palette and that was a first. Now I'm totally hooked.

I think it was icehog3 that said he has only smoked like 4 NCs in a year, now I understand why!

Hi my name is Adam and I'm hooked on the CCs ...

[jjirons69]

On a side note, you've got me wondering what an Italian cigar tastes like. Hmmm...

[Clint1]

Since @Blak Smyth and @jjirons69 are wondering how a Toscano is made and how it tastes, I'll give you some info.

Toscanos are made with fire-cured Italian and North-American Kentucky tobacco, they are short-filler made and have a strange shape, I would describe it as a double truncated cone.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JwDWujEbdjI/TM8zKARJcvI/AAAAAAAAAU8/2i520jX7sfU/s1600/toscano2.jpg

Yep it's not good-looking :sh but it has a good taste :dr

Its taste is strong and not so refined, with strong aroma of wood and earth.
The cigar produces a very strong smell!

I don't know how to describe better, I'm still a newbie :)

Thanks for asking about Toscanos, it's a honour for me to illustrate this made-in-italy product to my overseas brothers :)

[Dave128]

While I was in the Bahamas last fall I watched a guy roll some cigars that he said were made from 100% cuban leaf. There was no filler, just some dark and yummy leaves that he expertly rolled. I bought one and smoked it on the porch next to him. It was by far the best cigar I have ever had. Other than that, I have never had the pleasure of smoking a CC.

[Blak Smyth]

I stay away from Cohibas because of the price. I can get nearly 2 Montecristo #2's for the price of one Cohiba.


Maybe you are talking about a higher value Cohibas? Sig2s should be in line the Monte2s.
Would I rather have a Monte2 than a Sig2? Sometimes, but I like both and I like variety.

[CJS]

I know exactly what you mean! I'm a BIG fan of Siglo-II myself...

[Lear31MX]

Blak Smyth and JJirons 69 send me your addy's and I'll get you out a few Toscanos.

[Subvet642]

Blak Smyth and JJirons 69 send me your addy's and I'll get you out a few Toscanos.

:po

[Emjaysmash]

Not to deter from the current thread, but are Toscanos found in America Parodi's and DeNobli's, or are they "Toscano Style"?

[Clint1]

Blak Smyth and JJirons 69 send me your addy's and I'll get you out a few Toscanos.

wow bro that's a cool idea! I'd like to be able to do the same, but unfortunately here in Italy it's illegal to send tobacco by mail :sh

[Lear31MX]

Not to deter from the current thread, but are Toscanos found in America Parodi's and DeNobli's, or are they "Toscano Style"?

https://www.italiansmokes.com/pages/Toscano-Cigar-Primer.html
Not sure if this answer your question or not.

[Lear31MX]

wow bro that's a cool idea! I'd like to be able to do the same, but unfortunately here in Italy it's illegal to send tobacco by mail :sh

:tu

Thats cool! I was there on vacation last year and picked up a few boxes of them. There a good smoke.

Do you cut them in half or smoke them whole? I ask because I saw a lot of locals cut them in half and smoke them.

Cool story, My wife and I where eating dinner in Firenze. After the meal I went to light up a smoke and found I forgot my cutter. So I asked the waiter and he said wait one minute. The owner of the restaurant came out and said ( in very broken english) he didn't have a cutter and then handed me a Toscano that was cut in half, and even lit the thing for me. Very cool guy we talked, smoked and finish our drinks. I tired to give him the cigar I was going to smoke ( I think it was a BRC) he would not here of it.

I really liked Italy best vacation I've been on hands down.

[cmitch]

Maybe you are talking about a higher value Cohibas? Sig2s should be in line the Monte2s.
Would I rather have a Monte2 than a Sig2? Sometimes, but I like both and I like variety.
Comparing apples to apples in cigar size, the Montecristo #4 is the comparable size to the Siglo II. The Siglo II is 9.00 while the MC #4 is $5.92. I've had the MC #4 and they're good. I've not had a Siglo II yet so as far as taste goes, I don't know. But, I know the Sig IV is good but they're almost $3 more than the MC #2.
But each to their own. I'm not knocking Cohibas. I just don't go after them.

[Emjaysmash]

https://www.italiansmokes.com/pages/Toscano-Cigar-Primer.html
Not sure if this answer your question or not.

Thanks! It looks like these are made quite similarly as the Parodi's (except the Parodi's are made in USA). I think that the Toscano cigar isn't just the style but al so the Brand Name? Is that correct?

[Lear31MX]

Thanks! It looks like these are made quite similarly as the Parodi's (except the Parodi's are made in USA). I think that the Toscano cigar isn't just the style but al so the Brand Name? Is that correct?

yep:)

[RobR1205]

I'll never forget my first Habano... a Hoyo De Dieux. I've been corrupted ever since!

[omowasu]

I still remember my first one - I had befriended a local tobacco store owner who knew I was underage and still sold me cigars at age 13 and 14. I kept going there for a couple years and when I was 15 he happened to have some "special" cigars behind the counter. He gifted me one, it was a Habano RyJ Belicoso (from what I can ascertain). I fired it up while I was there and enjoyed it with him. I was 15 years old.

Needless to say, about 1/2 way in, I stepped outside and sat down on a bench and had one of the worst dizzy spells of my life. I must have hovered there for about 5 minutes ready to blow chunks all over myself :pu. The RyJ was just too strong for my young unadulterated taste buds. That said, the flavors were great, and I still remember that smoke.

Of course, I now prefer stronger cigars de facto. Go figure.

Comparing apples to apples in cigar size, the Montecristo #4 is the comparable size to the Siglo II. The Siglo II is 9.00 while the MC #4 is $5.92. I've had the MC #4 and they're good. I've not had a Siglo II yet so as far as taste goes, I don't know. But, I know the Sig IV is good but they're almost $3 more than the MC #2.
But each to their own. I'm not knocking Cohibas. I just don't go after them.

They are both excellent smokes, but Ill pay the premium for a Sig II.

[dwoodward]

While every CC I have smoked were very good, none of them were "Wow!" cigars... Just not for me I guess. More for you guys lol.

No idea what a Toscano is lol.

[NeuRon]

I'll never forget my first Habano... a Hoyo De Dieux. I've been corrupted ever since!

sorry bout' that :)

[RobR1205]

sorry bout' that :)

You spoiled me Ron! I can remember the days when I thought Nica Libre's were the $#!t

[Nathan]

https://www.italiansmokes.com/pages/Toscano-Cigar-Primer.html
Not sure if this answer your question or not.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which Toscano to try? I wanna get some.

[Clint1]

Does anyone have any suggestions on which Toscano to try? I wanna get some.

Glad to hear that bro, I can tell you that my favourites are Toscano Classico, Originale and Soldati. Many people says that Soldati's taste is similar to that of the carribean cigars in some way.

:tu

Thats cool! I was there on vacation last year and picked up a few boxes of them. There a good smoke.

Do you cut them in half or smoke them whole? I ask because I saw a lot of locals cut them in half and smoke them.

Cool story, My wife and I where eating dinner in Firenze. After the meal I went to light up a smoke and found I forgot my cutter. So I asked the waiter and he said wait one minute. The owner of the restaurant came out and said ( in very broken english) he didn't have a cutter and then handed me a Toscano that was cut in half, and even lit the thing for me. Very cool guy we talked, smoked and finish our drinks. I tired to give him the cigar I was going to smoke ( I think it was a BRC) he would not here of it.

I really liked Italy best vacation I've been on hands down.

Cool story! :) Yes I usually cut them in half, I don't smoke it whole so often.

[NeuRon]

You spoiled me Ron! I can remember the days when I thought Nica Libre's were the $#!t

lol... i couldnt let you go out like that!

[CigarNut]

Welcome to the proverbial Slippery Slope -- and all the discussion that goes along with it :)

[jjirons69]

Blak Smyth and JJirons 69 send me your addy's and I'll get you out a few Toscanos.

Wow, very cool of you Anthony! Should be a treat. Thanks!

[JenksAnejo]

Had a similar expereince with a Trinidad Reyes that Drez sent me. Completely blew me away, now I'm selling off all my NC's to buy as many CC's as I can. Very slippery slope indeed.

[AdamJoshua]

Had my first Monty No. 2 last night ... I don't care if I ever smoke another NC... just saying.

[Skywalker]

Another one bites the dust...:tu

[AdamJoshua]

I think the slope actually starts at CCs, before that it's just like this little tiny downhill jog.. nothing too step just a stroll...then you try a CC and hit the slope