Habanos, Tastes and Flavors

[lz6]

Tastes and Flavors
Cigar Directory

This guide is an attempt quantify something that is highly subjective- personal taste. Cigars are organic matter and therefore subject to variation. Just as with grapes each crop is different and cannot be duplicated. Master craftsmen ply a trade that is more art than science.


When it comes to Cuban cigars it is important to remember that quality control was not one of the hallmarks Communism was most proud of. Many factors can affect the cigar before it reaches the smoker.

Once lit, a whole different array of variables will affect how it is appreciated. Mood, time of the day, food, and drink will all affect the smoking experience.

BOLIVAR
Well-constructed, rich, full-bodied with lots of aroma. Some would say strong. Not a cigar for beginners. Even the smaller ones pack a punch. Petit Corona: CA 85, Corona Gigante: CA 86, Royal Corona: CA 86, Corona: CA 86, Corona Extra: CA 87, Belicoso Fino: CA 91, Churchill: CA 91, Lonsdale: CA 91.

 


COHIBA
Some of the finest cigars you can lay your hands on. Only the best leaves from 10 farms of the Vuelta Abajo region supply Cohiba. The only brand with three fermentations. Very expensive. All can apreciate this brand, rich, buckets of flavor without being overpowering. Siglo V: 84, Siglo III: CA 87, Esplendido: CA 87, Lancero: CA 87, Siglo IV: CA 88, Corona Especial: CA 89, Siglo I:CA 89, Robusto: CA 92.

 


CUABA
Unique in that the shape is fat in the center with pointed ends. Rich, smooth plenty of flavor for their size.
Exclusivo: CA 84, Divino: CA 86, Generoso: CA 87.

 


DIPLOMATICOS
Medium to full-bodied. Good value but not often available.

 


El REY DEL MUNDO
Smooth aroma, medium strength.
Elegante:CA 83, Taino: CA85, Grandes de Espa񡺠CA 88, Gran Corona: CA 87, Lonsdale CA 87, Choix Supreme: CA 91, Corona de Luxe: CA 91.

 


FONSECA
Wrapped in white tissue paper, some call it silk paper. Light smooth brand easy smoke, the No.1 may be the lightest lonsdale made in Cuba. Excellent value for money. Cosacos: CA 90, Invictos: CA 91, No.1: CA 88.

 


H. UPMANN
These cigars vary a lot depending on wether they are hand made or machine made. The lmachine made are fine cigars with smooth to medium flavor. No.2: CA 88, Magnum 46: CA 90, Connoisseur No.1: CA 89, Monarch: CA 89, Sir
Winston: CA 89, Corona: CA 86, Lonsdale: CA 86, No.1: CA 84.

 



HOYO DE MONTERREY
Smooth and flavorful. The Epicure No.2 ranks highly with knowledgable smokers as does the Double Corona. Epicure No.1: CA 85, Le Hoyo Du Roi: CA 85, Double Corona: CA 85, Le Hoyo des Dieux: CA 90, Epicure No.2: CA 90, Churchill: CA 91, Le Hoyo du Prince: CA 88, Le Hoyo du Dauphine: CA 88.


 



LA FLOR DE CANO
Well made, not overpowering. Beginers and pros can enjoy these cigars.


 



LA GLORIA CUBANA
Full-bodied rich but easy to smoke. Made in the Partagas factory. Medaille d Or No.2: CA 89, Taino: CA 86.


 



LOS STATOS DE LUXE
Entirely machine made. Rich, spicy, might be too much for a beginner.


 



MONTECRISTO
Lots of flavor, not overpowering. The Brand has a lot of choice, among them the finest pyramid in the world, the No.2.
No.5: CA 89, Edicion Limitada Robusto: CA 88, No.3: CA 88, Millenium Reserve
Robusto: CA 94, Especial: CA 91, Especial No.2: CA 87, No.4: CA 87,  A : CA 86, No.1: CA 86, No.2: CA 85,


 



PARTAGAS
Rich unusual flavor. Stick to the larger ones for best quality.
8-9-8: CA 88, Presidente: CA 84, Short: CA 82, Churchill de Luxe: CA 87,
Corona: CA 87, Serie D No.4: CA 90, Selection Privada No.1: CA 91, Lonsdale: CA 88, Lusitanias: CA 88, Edicion Limitada Piramide: CA 88.


 



POR LARRAсGA
Rich, smooth, aromatic, with a slight sweetness. Oldest brand still in production.


 



PUNCH
Medium strenght, flavorful with a woody aroma. Well priced quality cigar.
Churchill: CA 88, Double Corona: CA 88, Punch: CA 88, Royal Selection No.11: CA 91, Corona: CA 90, Super Selection No. 2: CA 87, Petit Corona: CA 86. QUAI


 



QUINTERO Y HERMANOS
Fine smooth cigars with a spicy flavor.


 



RAMON ALLONES
Very Strong, close to Bolivar. Not a beginners cigar.
Corona: CA 89, Specially Selected: CA 88, Gigantes: CA 94.


 



ROMEO Y JULIETA
Rich flavorful cigars, everyone can enjoy these.
Belicoso: CA 91, Cazadores: CA 86, Celestiales: CA 86, Corona: CA 86, Cedros de Luxe No.1: CA 85, Cedros de Luxe No.2: CA 85, Shakespeare: CA 85, Belvedre: CA 84, Exhibicion No.3: CA 90, Exhibicion No.4: CA 90, Churchill: CA 91, Exhibicion Limitada-Exhibicion No.2: CA 88.


 



SAINT LUIS REY
Fine quality, full bodied aromatic cigar.
Corona: CA 89, Churchill: CA 88, Lonsdale: CA 92, Regio Cabinet: 91.


 



SANCHO PANZA
Very aromatic, too strong for beginners.
Belicoso: CA 90, Sancho: CA 85, Non Plus: CA 85, Molinos: CA 86, Corona: CA 86


 



SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA HABANA
Superior quality cigars. Strong and aromatic.
La Fuerza: CA 86, El Principe: CA 85, El Morro: CA 80, La Punta: CA 92.


 



TRINIDAD
One model, the Fundadores. Medium strength, very aromatic.
Fundadores: CA 88.


 



LA TROYA
Inexpensive machine made, hand finished cigars.


 



VEGAS ROBAINA
Rich, spicy, medium strength. High end cigars, using the same wrapper as Cohiba. Classico: CA 88, Famosos: CA 88, Unico: CA 88, Familiares: CA 82.
again, thanks to puroexpress

[CigarGuy]

SUPER POST MAN!!

MAKE THIS STICKY RIGHT AWAY!
Well done LZ way to get the Habano room started!

[Beerlord]

Nice find, disagree with some of it, but nice find none the less.

[Headley]

Fabulous thread LZ!  This is great general information for all levels of cigar smoker looking into Habanos!

[lz6]

Beerlord Wrote:Nice find, disagree with some of it, but nice find none the less.

I agree with the disagree on some........just a starting point.

[Mark]

I would also like to say to the Habanos newbies that even though Cuban cigars are very highly sought after and highly rated the flavors are more subtle than most cigars.  There are plenty of great Non Cubans out there to try out before going out and dropping tons of cash on Cubans.  Yes I will admit Cubans are wonderful cigars but if you are new to cigars please try everything else out there before trying Cubans.

[Joe]

Mark Wrote:I would also like to say to the Habanos newbies that even though Cuban cigars are very highly sought after and highly rated the flavors are more subtle than most cigars.  There are plenty of great Non Cubans out there to try out before going out and dropping tons of cash on Cubans.  Yes I will admit Cubans are wonderful cigars but if you are new to cigars please try everything else out there before trying Cubans.

I would have to agree 100% on this one. Sure if you're new you could drop a few hundred on a box of Cubans, but you wouldn't be able to appreciate the complexities of the cigars. Work your way up.

[Irishcelt]

Great post LZ. It is a good place to start when trying to figure out what to get or where to begin.

[Tfire136]

Holy crap this some more great reading material

[-PO-]

Thanks for the info LZ, all of your posts have been very helpful.  Makes things easier when you don't have to search a ton of sites to find good info like this.  Thanks for taking the time to put this together.