Cigars

Was surprised by the amount of people who suggested buying cigars for a boss in the "Gift for a boss" thread. I'm planning on buying some mild cigars for a friend whose wife is having a baby and have done some research -- have come up with Ashton Classic, Rocky Patel Connecticut, Montecristo Classic or White, and Oliva Connecticut.

Anyone have any good suggestions for cigars that they like?

 

Cubans

"They are all former investment bankers that were laid off in the economic collapse that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have no marketable skills, but by God they work hard."
 

I'm not sure if I've had Montecristo White, but I've had the rest - they are all fine. I generally go with Cohiba's though. In my opinion the Dominican Cohibas that you can get in the states are great (and not overly expensive).

I'm not even close to a cigar conoisseur, but I do enjoy one every so often.

To the guy who said cubans - Cubans can be very good, but just because they're from Cuba doesn't necessarily make them better. Cuba has some great cigars, but the other islands have largely caught up to their quality. Their mystique is mostly due to the trade embargo.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 
accountingbyday:
I'm not sure if I've had Montecristo White, but I've had the rest - they are all fine. I generally go with Cohiba's though. In my opinion the Dominican Cohibas that you can get in the states are great (and not overly expensive).

I'm not even close to a cigar conoisseur, but I do enjoy one every so often.

To the guy who said cubans - Cubans can be very good, but just because they're from Cuba doesn't necessarily make them better. Cuba has some great cigars, but the other islands have largely caught up to their quality. Their mystique is mostly due to the trade embargo.

Disagree. The Cubans I've had lasted significantly longer and had a stronger taste, in a good way. Literally, got a regular corona and it lasted 1.5-2 hours, with normal smoking, about double what Dominicans, Honduran, Jamaican or Nicaraguan.

Don't get me wrong, I rarely have a cigar I don't enjoy (though I research more than most, even on $5-10 cigars), but Cubans are still a step above from my personal experience.

 
Best Response
peinvestor2012:
accountingbyday:
I'm not sure if I've had Montecristo White, but I've had the rest - they are all fine. I generally go with Cohiba's though. In my opinion the Dominican Cohibas that you can get in the states are great (and not overly expensive).

I'm not even close to a cigar conoisseur, but I do enjoy one every so often.

To the guy who said cubans - Cubans can be very good, but just because they're from Cuba doesn't necessarily make them better. Cuba has some great cigars, but the other islands have largely caught up to their quality. Their mystique is mostly due to the trade embargo.

Disagree. The Cubans I've had lasted significantly longer and had a stronger taste, in a good way. Literally, got a regular corona and it lasted 1.5-2 hours, with normal smoking, about double what Dominicans, Honduran, Jamaican or Nicaraguan.

Don't get me wrong, I rarely have a cigar I don't enjoy (though I research more than most, even on $5-10 cigars), but Cubans are still a step above from my personal experience.

Agreed, the Cohiba brand manufactured in the US aren't actually Cohibas. They're actually made by US General Cigar Company, and they suck imo. I've had the Cohiba Espendidos and can say that they really do live up to their name. But since we can't get those in the US, I would recommend Ashton or Romeo Y Julieta like the other poster. Just make sure that whatever you get, you don't open or if you do, stick them in a humidor. Cigars dry out pretty quick and make for an awful taste when they do.

 
peinvestor2012:
If you can't get authentic Cubans, go with Ashton, Romeo Y Julietta or Punch IMO.

I've had R&J ("Real", I think) before and liked them also. I'll look into Punch as well, thanks.

 

Of all the ones you mentioned, I prefer Rocky Patel the most - The Decade is one of my favorite mid-tier, non Cuban cigars. I would also second the poster who mentioned non-Cuban Cohibas.

 

Whatever brand you go with, just ensure that your box is fresh and humidified. Make sure you're getting it from a reputable place that takes care of their inventory. There's nothing worse than getting a nice box of cigars, opening it, and finding out that they are dried out.

 

Authentic Cubans are overpriced for what they are, in my opinion at least. I really like Rocky Patels, and I think they're a better cigar outright in addition to being much less expensive.

"My caddie's chauffeur informs me that a bank is a place where people put money that isn't properly invested."
 

I would recommend anything from the Ashton family. Aroma De Cuba's are pretty solid and arent quite as expesive as Ashtons and are very attractive to look at (about 10-15 per stick). Otherwisem, you can rarely go wrong with anything from Rocky Patel.

 
futurectdoc:
Padron; Ashton VSG; Davidoff

Is Davidoff worth the price? Looked at Classic #2's, gets good reviews, but more expensive than Rocky Patel, R&J, etc. Also, a smaller cigar... 6x38.

 
Cookies With Milken:
I always play it safe and just buy them black and milds

Terrific advice. Related: flavored Philly Blunts

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CRE:
Cookies With Milken:
I always play it safe and just buy them black and milds

Terrific advice. Related: flavored Philly Blunts

Add Swishers and Optimos. Brings me back to my high school days.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

Ashton fan here. The VSG and wood wrapped ones are great. If you are in NYC, I'd also recommend the special edition Montecristo NYC, which is maybe my favorite ever.

 

hmmmm... i thought cigars were like wine, "great taste" is highly subjective... i would suggest going to a reputable store and getting a recommendation on "brand names"...

 

I personally like this cigar for a mild 1.5-2 hour smoke- Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15

“I am always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
 
TheTwoHacker:
Is cigar consider less unhealthy than cigarettes? How do people view an analyst smoking a cigar?
  1. Smoking is unhealthy in general
  2. You don't chain smoke good cigars (or cigars in general) nor do you really get the shakes or whatever if you don't down a pack a day. It's the difference between drinking a glass of a good scotch and downing a case of natty light
  3. As long as you're not doing it at your desk, who cares what people think? You think someone's going to run to your MD and go "I saw TheTwoHacker smoking a cigar outside of his building on Sunday! THE SHAME!" ?
Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
TheTwoHacker:
Is cigar consider less unhealthy than cigarettes? How do people view an analyst smoking a cigar?

You can't really chain smoke a cigar, and it's not something you do often. A cigarette won't hurt you - but smoking a handful everyday for years will.

As for smoking as an analyst, you can't really smoke indoors (and if you are in NYC, not in public spaces, near buildings...basically you need to go to Hoboken to light up). Your superiors aren't likely to see you smoking a cigar, so it doesn't really matter.

 

Ashton classic or Montecristo white is probably your best option, both have relatively mild flavor profiles.

I am assuming you are a not a smoker yourself- but if your friend is generally a fan of milder sticks stay away from anything without a Connecticut wrapper. Connecticut wrappers are the lightest in color so if you are buying a stick that is dark and oily that is most certainly NOT a mild cigar. Also, get a bigger cut of a cigar- smaller cigars that are either too short or too narrow will burn hotter and in tandem have a stronger/more intense/much worse flavor to their smoke.

Stay away from cohiba or the gurkha. Cohibas are great but stronger than the two selections above. If you can find cuban montecristo whites, you are in the clear.

When in doubt, go to a good cigar lounge (not the corner store) and ask for help, store owners often can match you perfectly.

 
mapr89:
Its just stupid to pay for something that kills you

Quick, let's gather a list of everything else we pay for that could "kill us."

  1. Alcohol
  2. Unhealthy food
  3. Healthy food with preservatives
  4. Car
  5. Cell Phone (or was that disproven?)
  6. A beach vacation (Skin Cancer, Drowning, Sharks)
  7. Women (Crazy, STD's)
  8. The electric bill (never know where you're going to stick a fork)
  9. Plane tickets (You could have Denzel flying that shit)

There has to be more

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CRE:
mapr89:
Its just stupid to pay for something that kills you

Quick, let's gather a list of everything else we pay for that could "kill us."

  1. Alcohol
  2. Unhealthy food
  3. Healthy food with preservatives
  4. Car
  5. Cell Phone (or was that disproven?)
  6. A beach vacation (Skin Cancer, Drowning, Sharks)
  7. Women (Crazy, STD's)
  8. The electric bill (never know where you're going to stick a fork)
  9. Plane tickets (You could have Denzel flying that shit)

There has to be more

I knew I would receive that answer.

Whatever, we will all die anyways. That's the attitude.

 
CRE:
mapr89:
Its just stupid to pay for something that kills you
  1. Plane tickets (You could have Denzel flying that shit)

There has to be more

LMFAO

 

Get him a box of any of the more popular brands people have mentioned above. You can't go wrong with most of them. I smoke on a regular basis and thoroughly enjoy coronas with a mild flavor from either Davidoff, Montecristo, or Romeo y Julieta (Cuban or otherwise). Most recently I've smoked and liked Fernando Leon Family Reserve by La Aurora and San Cristobal Elegancia. It's a guessing game as to what he might like but definitely wouldn't do something too big or with too much flavor as a gift.

 

There is some misinformation in this thread. Just because a cigar has a lighter wrapper does NOT make it a mild smoke. Montecristo Whites are more toward the medium-full to full end of the spectrum. A mild smoke would be a Macanudo Cafe etc. This also goes the other way, a maduro (dark) wrapper is not always a heavier ie. fuller bodied smoke. Partagas is a solid line and you really cannot go wrong with anything in their stable. I prefer a heavier smoke, so i like the Black line and also the Spanish Rosado. The Macanudo I mentioned before is a solid, light smoke. another one to try would be the 5 Vegas Gold... (thats Cinco Vegas). Skip the U.S. Cohibas, its a rookie mistake. You can get far far far better smokes for less.

If you want more, PM me. I can give you alot of insight into the world of cigars. Family owns a shop.

 

It's good to be Canadian when it comes to cigars. I try to go to Cuba at least once a year and restock my humidor, but like people have said most cohibas, r&j cedritos and montecristo número 4 are personally my favourites. As an Analyst/intern I smoke/smoked cigars all the time (office had a balcony type lounge you could access from the bullpen) and noone ever said shit (just don't smoke an esplendido that will take 2 hours)... Quite the opposite actually - always gave a topic of conversation with MDs or even clients. My biggest issue is that even buying the top brands in Cuba it will still set you back a couple of hundred bucks... I think I paid 350 for my esplendidos? (Here they are like 750) Can't remember from the last time I went and montecristos are usually around 150... Sure they last a while and are amazing but if you are starting out there are some decent cigars you can buy for much lower prices... I don't know what prices are like in the US but Canada is pretty expensive overall even for the cheapest brands...

"If you survive to my age and you rack up a CV like mine, you can look at HR and say, "Fuck you. I don't try out."- Eddie
 
peinvestor2012:
karypto:
I don't know about you ... but I get heluva horny having a cigar! And bold ... bold enough to wear a pinstriped suit and unzip my fly walking the streets of NYC.

I'm glad I'm not the only that finds it weird he gets horny when putting that kind of shaped thing in his mouth

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

Appreciate the responses. Probably going w/ Ashton Classic. Though, other suggestions are welcome for future reference...

 

Nestor Miranda Art Deco's are very good and aren't overly expensive.

If they really aren't into cigars that much you could get them a box of Acids.

Opstar lifestyle, might not make it
 

Best Cigar for the money right now is CA 2012 cigar of the year, Flor de las Antillas Toro. 1. You can get it for about 7 bucks and it is an excellent smoke for the money. usually perfect draw, construction, and burn. Flavor strength is medium. The flavor is mildly peppery with various woody undertones.

 

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"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 

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