So i'm Australian...

[XsorXpire]

A Cohiba robusto over the counter here is about $60ea. (AUD)

Buying them through Puro, we can get them here for just under $20ea.
Taxes are nasty, but not as bad as retail.

At the moment i have about 400 Cubans getting some age, but i notice i can pick up cigars through the USA cheaper.
I am not looking for cheap shitty cigars, but am wondering what non cuban cigars i should try.

I have only ever smoked cubans, and they are pretty good.

What cigars do you think me and my friends should import to try?

I currently love most things Partagas. (898, Serie P#2, LE2010, Serie D#4), HDM (Nearly all), Montecristo (Apart from the annoying construction issues) and Bolivar Royal Coronas. (I have many others too young to risk).


Are there any non Cuban cigars you would recommend that we should import to try that you believe will sway us from our love (and perhaps misunderstanding) of Cubans?

And where would you recommend we buy them from?

Much love from Down under.

Neil.

[orangedog]

Hey Neil,
I view NCs as falling under two branches - Nicaraguan and Dominican. This is an oversimplified view, but these seem to be the base drivers of palate in NC smokes. Neither really compare to CCs: Nicaraguans are generally more in-your-face, black pepper, etc. Dominicans tend to be more of a almond, creme, mocha type profile. I would say it depends on where you think you fall in those lines.

If you think Nic sounds better, the most likely starting point is probably Tatuaje or something else by Don Pepin Garcia.
If you think Dominicans sound better, I'd stick to Fuente: Opus X, Hemingway (esp. maduros), Anejo.

It may make sense to get a sampler of those - maybe 5 Tatuajes and 5 Fuentes - and see which you prefer.

[XsorXpire]

Thank you orangedog.

I think the Domenicans would be more me, so i might look in to those.

I have a soft spot for Partagas, though i am sitting here smoking a Monte #4.

I wondered if the NC's would stack up. Prices would be similar across the board for me here, so may have a chat with a couple mates and see if they want to buy in.

I appreciate your comments.
Thanks again.

[stickman]

I'll second orangedog's recommendations: go with Fuente, but maybe give a more emphatic recommendation for the Añejos. The Añejo 50 is an outstanding robusto, and if you can get ahold of a #77 'Shark,' you're in for a real treat. The Opus X, however, is much more in the style of a Cuban, as the wrapper for an Añejo is aged in a Cognac barrel, and it turns very dark in color, with lots of rich, sweet flavors. Nonetheless, I'd call it a 'must try.'

I'm also an avowed fan of Don Pepin Garcia, but if your tastes are predominantly toward Cubans, I'd give my highest recommendation to the Tatuaje (which are made by Don Pepin) 7th Natural (also comes in a killer 'Reserve,' which is simply the same binder/filler but with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper - but less 'Cuban' in style) or the Reservas named J21 (robusto) and SW (literally Sir Winston, obviously a Churchill). The regular My Father robusto and/or toro (named a No.3 'Cremas by MF) are also worth a try IMHO.

Also suited to your tastes, I believe, but pricier and more difficult to acquire would be the My Father LE 2011 and the AVO LE 2011. 'Both in the $17-20 USD, but absolutely incredible smokes.

If you're genuinely interested in getting some diversity in style, I think you should try a Padron or Oliva Serie V - very full-bodied, potent smokes that really showcase the 'terroir' of Nicaragua IMHO.

Good luck, and do let us know what you end up buying/smoking.