Comments on: Boutique Wednesday Cigar Review: Cigar.com Cuban Label

By: Cigar Review Roundup: Cigar.com House Blends | Toasted Foot | Cigar Reviews

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:33:21 +0000

[...] Cuban: The wrapper has prominent veins and a very sloppy cap. The cigar is very light and spongy in spots, especially toward the foot. The draw is loose and the ash does not hold well, but this is not surprising considering the construction of the smoke. There were no re-lights or touch ups required and the smoke produced tons of smoke at a good temperature. The flavor on the Cuban was great, with earthy notes of tobacco, pepper, leather, and a hint of sweetness. The Cuban worked through thirds, though they were quite subtle. Not exactly the most complex smoke but consistent and tasty. 8.5/10 (Full Review) [...]

By: RisingD

RisingD — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:11:30 +0000

Just re-read the comments: a great discussion.

By: bigphil

bigphil — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:45:50 +0000

I’ve been wondering about these. I like your review.format.

By: RisingD

RisingD — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:09:34 +0000

Good read. Thanks!

By: Chris McCann

Chris McCann — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:30:52 +0000

Thanks for the review. I’ve never tried a Cigar.com smoke. I might give these a try.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:11:39 +0000

I like Michaela’s stuff. Had some out in NOLA this last year. 5 Vega, and Jose Carlo’s stuff rock too.

I don’t know if you’ll get a response from Bahia as I know he was traveling, but if you don’t, then I would be happy to call him for you. I think I still have his cell number somewhere.

By: toasted

toasted — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:01:12 +0000

Great post Greg; I’ll send some emails to these companies about review samples – I haven’t seen any of these in my B&M. I have heard lots of folks say that they’ve noticed a big difference in the Vintage line as the years have passed; I haven’t had any recently and the ones I have in my humi are a couple years old. Some boutique blends we’ve really enjoyed are Berger & Argenti, Jose Carlos, Cigar.com, Marco V, and 5 Vegas (if they fit into that category)…

By: dj

dj — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:00:05 +0000

Hey: More insights here in the COMMENTS than in the main post!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:43:06 +0000

Yup. Does anyone really think that there’s still 93 and 94 “vintage” tobacco out there when there’s 2 million cigars rolled per month at the rocky factory? *cough cough* general factory *cough cough* shavings go into swishers *cough cough*

That’s why I’m a boutique guy… Take Bahia for example… his vintages, when they’re out, are limited in production, and when they’re gone, they’re gone… none of this blend changing to get it close…

Here’s some great boutiques in addition to the wonderful stuff that’s already up here.

Bahia: Gold, and Gold white. GREAT sticks. His new bundles are a $5-7 stick depending on taxes, and here locally are flying off the shelves. And I’ve heard rumor that he’s completing more blends.

Garo Habano: a wide range of cigars. Not many people have heard of him, but he’s been around for over 15 years. Prices from 7-14 retail. He was manufacturing as a hobby untill recently (also a chiropractor), but he’s put his practice on hold, and is now a full time cigar man.

Avalon cigars: Out of mississippi. I have a wide palet, and they fit every peak and valley of it. Their white is, personally, the perfect morning, or “white wine” type of after dinner cigar. Their torque, and hell hound rock!

What would it take to get toasted to review these?

By: toasted

toasted — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:17:33 +0000

Me personally, I am more apt to try a cigar w/ DPG on the label than I am something he’s blended for someone else, though I did recently pick up the Benchmade that he worked on for Ashton. I just have this sneaking suspicion that if DPG doesn’t slow down, he’s gonna become talked about like Rocky Patel is talked about, to much stuff, all tasting the same, with dipping quality.

By: LooseCard

LooseCard — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:03:10 +0000

Greg and Toasted, you guys raise some great points.
I know guys that will swear by Pepin sticks as their favorite, but there are many, many to choose from in my opinion.

Thanks for the review, and the discussion.

By: Keith1911

Keith1911 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:42:52 +0000

Thanks for review. Don’t think this is something I’d look for, but something I’d try if someone gave me one.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:44:45 +0000

I don’t mind natural progression… J. Fuego breaking free from RP… But I agree with you on the DP stuff. Not that the Don doesn’t blend a great cigar, but he’s whoring himself out… Eventually all of the blends will start to cross, and everything will start to taste the same.

By: toasted

toasted — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:14:47 +0000

Great insights Greg; another thing I find interesting is companies bringing in other blenders and touting their blender over their company, ie Don Pepin working for absolutely everyone. I love DPG cigars, but he is being so overused that companies seem to think if they can just get him associated w/ their line they’ll soar into popularity, which for the most part is true; now whether the quality is there, who knows…

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:08:45 +0000

And I think the Siglo is simply another attempt at cross marketing. Pretty soon we’ll see Bolivars with coffee flavoring being made by Drew (nothing at all against Drew Estates), for Altadis.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:06:23 +0000

The big gorillas in the industry are trying all sorts of things to sell… I’m a boutique guy… Always have been. I think it’s better for the retailer, and most of the time better service from the manufacturer. Sure there are issues with supply sometime, but you don’t’ have to take, as a retailer, 20 boxes of crap before you get one box of something that really sells. And there’s a unique factor. How cool is it to be asked what your smoking because no one’s ever seen it in a standard big box store (read: altadis and general store), or in a catalog.

If your cigar can’t stand on it’s own, then don’t try to use someone elses success.

By: toasted

toasted — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:51:15 +0000

Totally agree Greg, especially messing with the Cohiba. What do you think about Siglo? Have you seen their logo, fits into the same category in my opinion.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:37:57 +0000

A lot of occasional smokers arn’t as educated as the average board member here. They see the name Cuban, see the square dots, see something that looks like a cohiba, or other well know cigar, and they don’t know the difference. My friends and I actually printed up some bands that said “Monticrystal” in dark green with “hencho en habanero” (and we used orange and large round dots on a “Cobiba” band too), then took them to a local cigar shop. Most of the people that came in asked where I’de got the cuban cigar, and when I gave them one they were ecstatic.

Maybe I’m being cynical, but putting out an inferior product, while using similar labeling, and branding to an iconic product doesn’t work for me.

By: toasted

toasted — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:17:30 +0000

Curious to know what you mean by “others marketing”

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:10:01 +0000

I’ve always tended to stay away from a cigar that tries to use others marketing to sell it’s products… Cojiba, and Cuban Label are two of those.

By: Cigar Review Roundup

Cigar Review Roundup — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:51:53 +0000

[...] Cigar.com Cuban Label – toastedfoot.com [...]

By: toasted

toasted — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:30:41 +0000

I agree the Cuban Label is misleading, especially since it wasn’t as good as some of their other smokes, even though they list it as their best seller. Regarding veins, I’m not sure what the options are, I just know sometimes I get a cigar that is nearly plugged from a cluster of stalks…

By: dj

dj — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:04:09 +0000

I can imagine that prominent veins would affect the burn but, really, there must be LOTS of leaves w/veins… what else would the ‘gar makers do with ‘em?

“Cuban Label” seems a bit misleading… or at least an ATTEMPT at being misleading.

Thanks for the review!