DBall's Newb Blind Taste Test #5

[awsmith4]

Originally Posted by Bill86

I enjoy the '00 des Dieux. Surprised this one got such a low score, although the box I got the draws have been perfect so that might be it.

The Du series seems to be rather mild and the nuances are hard to pick up, especially of you have congestion and cant nose smoke. I love them but they are not straight forward and require some patience to truly appreciate.

Great reviews guys, I look forward to the rest

Originally Posted by Bill86

I enjoy the '00 des Dieux. Surprised this one got such a low score, although the box I got the draws have been perfect so that might be it.

Me too, I have loved the few '00 Hoyo des Dieux I've smoked.

[ApexAZ]

I liked it. Allergies just messed with me.

[smitty81]

Man, I am starting to think that CC's just aren't my thing. Seems you guys love some of these sticks.

[awsmith4]

Originally Posted by smitty81

Man, I am starting to think that CC's just aren't my thing. Seems you guys love some of these sticks.

It could also be the way you smoke, I blow at least part of every puff out of my nose. I used to have to put thought in to it but now its second nature, I almost can't make myself blow only out of my mouth. CCs do not seem to have the strong "mouth" flavors NCs do and if you aren't nose smoking you may be missing what they offer. However if you don't like them, you don't like them and chalk it up to everyone is different and that is what makes the world great.

[smitty81]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

It could also be the way you smoke, I blow at least part of every puff out of my nose. I used to have to put thought in to it but now its second nature, I almost can't make myself blow only out of my mouth. CCs do not seem to have the strong "mouth" flavors NCs do and if you aren't nose smoking you may be missing what they offer. However if you don't like them, you don't like them and chalk it up to everyone is different and that is what makes the world great.

I have tried to retrohale with them, I guess I just don't get anything out of it...

[awsmith4]

Originally Posted by smitty81

I have tried to retrohale with them, I guess I just don't get nothing out of it...

I am not sure I understand what folks mean by retrohale. is that when you blow out then breathe some back in with the nose?

I just simply take a puff and in the middle of the exhale I close my mouth while still exhaling and the smoke is forced out of my nose.

But don't worry if you don't like Cubans, their are ALOT of other choices out there and no shame in liking what you like.

[smitty81]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

I am not sure I understand what folks mean by retrohale. is that when you blow out then breathe some back in with the nose?

I just simply take a puff and in the middle of the exhale I close my mouth while still exhaling and the smoke is forced out of my nose.

But don't worry if you don't like Cubans, their are ALOT of other choices out there and no shame in liking what you like.

Maby I don't understand what retrohale is either, I do what you do.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by smitty81

Man, I am starting to think that CC's just aren't my thing. Seems you guys love some of these sticks.

There are plenty of people who don't like CCs, it just isn't the profile of flavors everybody enjoys. If it is a slope you are serious about, I reccomend taking a break from strong NCs. Smoke only CCs for a while and really pay attention to the flavors. I had one CC that really caught my attention while I was smoking NCs regularly, and everything else was just okay. After I took a break from NCs and let my palate rest, then I smoked CCs almost exclusively and I started to pull tons of incredible flavors out of almost every stick. But the flavors are subtle compared to most strong NCs. (Also what Albert said above)
Either way, you are doing a fine job reviewing CCs in this thread, keep up the good work. This is a great program, thanks Dan.

[ApexAZ]

Originally Posted by smitty81

Man, I am starting to think that CC's just aren't my thing. Seems you guys love some of these sticks.

You've had 2 out of 5 that you really liked though. Do you like every NC you smoke?

[DBall]

Decided to smoke one myself, although I got caught up in designing stuff for my wife's new business (she's FINALLY opening her dance studio and going out on her own), a call and the making of plans from a great friend I haven't seen in a while who is coming to visit.

As for the cigar, I really liked it... mild, creamy and flavorful, but not over-powering. Here's some pics:

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by DBall

Decided to smoke one myself, although I got caught up in designing stuff for my wife's new business (she's FINALLY opening her dance studio and going out on her own), a call and the making of plans from a great friend I haven't seen in a while who is coming to visit.

As for the cigar, I really liked it... mild, creamy and flavorful, but not over-powering. Here's some pics:

So Dan, is this the infamous patio?

[DBall]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

So Dan, is this the infamous patio?

Yup... you should be seeing it soon enough...

[smitty81]

Originally Posted by ApexAZ

You've had 2 out of 5 that you really liked though. Do you like every NC you smoke?

Well lets just say that I have "enjoyed" 90% of the NC's I have smoked so far.

I haven't exactly found any dog rockets but then again, I haven't gone out of my way to look for them either.

It just baffles me that A LOT OF MEMBERS ON CA seem to think that CC's are a lot better than NC's.

I feel like I am missing something, I just don't get whats better about them I guess.......

The NC's I have smoked generally have a LOT more smoke and a deeper more rich spicy flavor.


Don't get me wrong, this is fun and I appreciate Dan doing this but I guess the CC's just aren't what I thought they would be.

Not the Holy Grail that I was expecting.

[DBall]

Originally Posted by smitty81

Not the Holy Grail that I was expecting.

Perhaps that is part of the problem. Based on prior threads, you probably came into this expecting these all to be Cuban and having the expectation of a "holy grail" type experience for all CCs, it would be very easy to be let down (and that is just a general statement, not even accounting for the simple fact that everyone's palette is different).

The only way to do this is to experience it one cigar at a time, regardless of origin (you never know... what if I mixed a couple NCs in there...), and document what YOU think about the cigar for what it is... just a cigar that you are smoking at that point in time.

There's no wrong answers in this kinda thing... you may leave this experience thinking all these cigars you tried suck, and that is totally fine

As far as the spice and depth, I seem to find that on the newer CCs... the older ones are more refined and are my preference (as I am admittedly a mild cigar smoker). A fresh Partagas or Bolivar may put some hairs on your chest and will seem a lot stronger than a 12 year old Hoyo for sure.

I do prefer CC's (and older ones at that), personally, but that is not a result of anything other than trying everything I have over the years I have been in the hobby and the changing of tastes I enjoy. When I first started, I was looking for the strongest damned cigars I could find and then my tastes changed. Hell... my tastes still change all the time. LGC MdO #4's used to be one of my favorite smokes, but every time I light one lately, I'm underwhelmed. A year from now, I may smoke one and be pissed that I wasted all the ones I had when I didn't enjoy them... hahaha.

You're doing just fine... just don't place any expectations on them and take 'em one cigar at a time.

[Brutus2600]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

I am not sure I understand what folks mean by retrohale. is that when you blow out then breathe some back in with the nose?

I just simply take a puff and in the middle of the exhale I close my mouth while still exhaling and the smoke is forced out of my nose.

But don't worry if you don't like Cubans, their are ALOT of other choices out there and no shame in liking what you like.

That's what retrohaling is.

If I retrohale I usually only retrohale about 20% through my nose and the other 80% through my mouth like normal. Even with mild cigars it's still something I'm not completely used to.

Originally Posted by smitty81

Well lets just say that I have "enjoyed" 90% of the NC's I have smoked so far.

I haven't exactly found any dog rockets but then again, I haven't gone out of my way to look for them either.

It just baffles me that A LOT OF MEMBERS ON CA seem to think that CC's are a lot better than NC's.

I feel like I am missing something, I just don't get whats better about them I guess.......

The NC's I have smoked generally have a LOT more smoke and a deeper more rich spicy flavor.


Don't get me wrong, this is fun and I appreciate Dan doing this but I guess the CC's just aren't what I thought they would be.

Not the Holy Grail that I was expecting.

I don't think that a lot of members on CA think that CC's are superior to NC's. I do however think that a lot of members might prefer to smoke CC's over NC's. The general consensus here is smoke what you like and like what you smoke CC's might not be your bag, but as Dan said, if you're used to and enjoy that strong peppery kick that a lot of NC's have, aged CC's might not be your thing.

That's what's great about this whole exercise though. You can come into it being completely new to everything about a CC and derive your own thoughts and opinions about them without "smoking the band" or even unconsciously having somebody else's opinion affect what you think about a cigar

[DBall]

What they smoked:



2011 Roxy N Corona (Nicaragua)

ApexAZ score: 7

smitty81 score: 7

Ha!!! It's not a Cuban!

[never_enough]

Still love these blind reviews. Very interesting to see the differences between two people.

[Bill86]

Frankly a lot of times some CC's just aren't for you. I've wrote off many of marcas, just because they don't fit my flavor profile no matter how many I smoke. That or I haven't been able to give any cigar from that marca a solid "90" points.

I would definitely try a few from each marca and decide based on that. There are A LOT of hidden gems out there. I find new ones all the time, cigars people have slept on that I find are just plain wonderful. To me that is the fun of it.

Some examples of lesser smoked cigars
Anything Cuaba (Very unique tasting)
Diplomaticos No. 2 (last cigar of this marca, tasty as hell)
Bolivar Petit Belicosos EL '09 (Bolivar Chocolate bar, yes please )
Montecristo Tubos (Probably one of the least reviewed Monte's)
Partagas Culebra (goofy looking but with a few years, good stuff)
Quai D’Orsay Coronas (This marca gets no attention but these smokes more than tasty)

Just a few ideas of things that fly under the radar but are gems that I have found thus far.

Keep smoking them, I'm sure you'll find at least a few good ones. If you like Punchy full bodied cigars the fresh Bolivar Royal Coronas or Partagas 898V's will probably be your cup of tea.

[smitty81]

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed some of the CC's.........

I guess I was just waiting for that cigar that was deeper in spice.