strange brands in MT (elsewhere?)

Hi, I'm new to this board, and started smoking cigars fairly recently. I recently moved to Montana and have a question about some of the cigars i've seen around here. At golf shops and some convenience stores i've noticed small humidors with 'sweetashcigar' stickers on them. There are usually several different cigars in them that say hand made, but I don't recognize the brands (e.g. dos reinas, spider, florentino, dynasty o' pintor, etc.). They appear to range up to $8 or so. Questions:

Do you know anything about them?
Have you ever seen or smoked them?
Do you have other cigars similarly available in your area?
Would you ever buy a cigar from something like this?

Thanks for any replies.

florentino is a brand made for arango cigar...my guess is that he's buying from arango and adding a bunch o' dollars to the price....check out caminoviejo.com or rockyscigars.com and buy good cigars at great prices...life is too short to buy shit!!...

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Originally Posted by bozone

They appear to range up to $8 or so.

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Per box or per stick?

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Originally Posted by bozone

Hi, I'm new to this board, and started smoking cigars fairly recently. I recently moved to Montana and have a question about some of the cigars i've seen around here. At golf shops and some convenience stores i've noticed small humidors with 'sweetashcigar' stickers on them. There are usually several different cigars in them that say hand made, but I don't recognize the brands (e.g. dos reinas, spider, florentino, dynasty o' pintor, etc.). They appear to range up to $8 or so. Questions:

Do you know anything about them?
Have you ever seen or smoked them?
Do you have other cigars similarly available in your area?
Would you ever buy a cigar from something like this?

Thanks for any replies.

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Welcome to the board:smiley37:

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Originally Posted by SuperChuck

Per box or per stick?

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Per stick.

Holy shit, another Montana member.

Haven't seen anything like that around here, but I mainly purchase from internet, or at the local b&m.

I'm guessing by your screen name you're in Bozeman, are there any decent shops up there? If you ever make it to Billings, there is a nice shop downtown, Stogies, at 2717 1st Ave N.

Oh, and welcome to the board!

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Originally Posted by heftysmokes

Holy shit, another Montana member.

Haven't seen anything like that around here, but I mainly purchase from internet, or at the local b&m.

I'm guessing by your screen name you're in Bozeman, are there any decent shops up there? If you ever make it to Billings, there is a nice shop downtown, Stogies, at 2717 1st Ave N.

Oh, and welcome to the board!

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Ya, I'm in Bozeman. I've got an uncle in Billings, so I'm sure I'll make it over that way before too long and try to check out your shop. There is a place in downtown Bozeman called Poor Richards that seems to have a decent selection.

I guess maybe I'll just try one of these sticks sometime. I checked out the website from the humidor stickers (sweetashcigars.com), but several links are broken and there is very little info. It looks like they're imported from Nicaragua, but there aren't too many details. Looks like it's probably a regional deal, but not sure.

Anybody have anything like this in your area? They look like this.

as i stated previously...it looks to me as if they're buying their cigars from arango....if you ask a question and i give a response and you choose to ignore it...then why ask the question??...

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Originally Posted by bigpoppapuff

as i stated previously...it looks to me as if they're buying their cigars from arango....if you ask a question and i give a response and you choose to ignore it...then why ask the question??...

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Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you. I think you're probably wrong about Arango, but I hereby acknowledge your post. The website listed on the humidors (and linked in an above post) suggests that they are from Nicaragua, but the names on the site aren't familiar to me.

It brings up a question about how cigar manufacturing and branding work in general. I mean, it seems to me that many cigars look very similar and could easily have the same band placed on different makes (especially on the lower end). I could also imagine different bands being used on cigars from the same lot. I also wonder about the buying and selling of tobacco lots between mfgs. Any thoughts on this? Is there any control (apart from consumer feedback) on cigar manufacturers in Honduras or Nicaragua? Anyone have any experience with this industry?

BTW, I asked several questions, one of which was about the origin of the cigars...

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Originally Posted by bozone

Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you. I think you're probably wrong about Arango, but I hereby acknowledge your post. The website listed on the humidors (and linked in an above post) suggests that they are from Nicaragua, but the names on the site aren't familiar to me.

It brings up a question about how cigar manufacturing and branding work in general. I mean, it seems to me that many cigars look very similar and could easily have the same band placed on different makes (especially on the lower end). I could also imagine different bands being used on cigars from the same lot. I also wonder about the buying and selling of tobacco lots between mfgs. Any thoughts on this? Is there any control (apart from consumer feedback) on cigar manufacturers in Honduras or Nicaragua? Anyone have any experience with this industry?

BTW, I asked several questions, one of which was about the origin of the cigars...

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Anyone have any popcorn?

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Originally Posted by Empire23

Anyone have any popcorn?

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Sorry, I'm pretty new to internet forums in general. Does this mean I've stumbled into an rehashed or avoided topic? Or is it in reference to the sarcastic shit?

First welcome to the site. This is a great site with a lot of experience. Enjoy yourself.:smiley1:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...VM/popcorn.gif

bozeman, welcome to the board.

You are asking some interesting questions and there are absolutely none here more qualified to answer than bigpappapuff. A little research will show you why. Calling him (or anyone, really) wrong about anything cigar without being very, very sure of yourself is foolish. And even if you are pretty sure of your position, well, brace yourself.

Now, the sarcasm. Since you are, by your own admission, pretty new to forums, I can understand the temptation to be sarcastic with folks you cannot see, hear, feel, and maybe (probably) never even meet. You must resist this temptation if you intend to:

1) get your questions answered.
2) stick around here.
3) not get your head handed to you.

To the point: sarcasm, for the howdyfuckingdoody walking in the door for the first time, is considered very bad form.

So, just back out of this semi-predicament you seem to've blundered into, ask nicely, be gracious, and enjoy yourself.

i know for a fact that they're buying "florentino" from arango.....they're made in nicaragua specifically FOR arango...the others i'm not familiar with...they could be made for other distributors like arango...in any case,they're no-names and not worth $8 a stick...maybe not even $8 a bundle..

i gave you the names of two sites that i highly recommend...i also suggest that you have fun with the search function....and try to learn instead of being newbieknowitallbutknowsnothing......capiche??....

Someone get a bandaid.....we have a bleeder!!!!!

As I said enjoy yourself!!! As hard as they hit you, they will help you. Take it from experience.:smiley29:

Ok, so I come across as an ignorant ass. Turns out I am ignorant, but I'm usually not an ass. Didn't mean to offend or come across as arrogant. I searched around in the forum some, but didn't find much to the point (perhaps that's incompetance as well).

I'm still interested in this though, if I haven't completely alienated myself.

This whole deal has me thinking about obscure brands. I moved states, and most of the big names were still available, but suddenly there was the distributor I mentioned before showing up all over. I couldn't find any info on any of the cigars by doing web searches (even their own site was little help) and the outlet attendants knew nothing about what they were selling (or, for that matter, cigars in general).

So, I wonder if this thing happens all over. Do serious cigar smokers buy from sources like this? Do they ever 'discover' great new makers or good values? Are distributors buying 'generic' sticks and putting their own bands on? Is the 'Florentino' brand is used by multiple makers/distributors? Do the $50-'Rolex'-guys pull the same shit with cigars? Stuff like that.

Seriously, I don't have an ego here. I do in some relms, but not cigar knowledge. I am a slight reactionary sometimes, but I'll try curb that here.

On the positive side, thanks for so many replies (even before the 'show' started).

I would not buy cigars from someone who doesn't seem to know anything about them. I like to buy from the people that are nice and helpful and willing to talk about cigars and educate me on what I am buying.
If you look hard hard enough and try enough different brands I am sure you are to stumble across a good price stick that tastes like a high dollar one, just depends on your taste though too I would think. But I am no expert myself and am new to this too so don't take anything I say as gospel. lol

Dont worry about it. If you like cigars youll fit in just fine here.

Its just that when you ask a question, and someone gives you an answer, you usually take that answer, not assume they are wrong.

This forum has been the best thing since sliced bread since Ive started smoking cigars and Im sure youll start to love it too.

With that, welcome to the board!

btw...i've been in the industry for 13 years.....and there is a difference in cigars....some private label product is used by many...as mentioned...most of the shit you've mentioned is ......shit.....i still suggest you ask about particular brands available to you from the two sites i mentioned....



new record...used "mentioned" three times.......:smiley20:

Word of advice... don't buy cigars form a convenience store or a gas station. I wouldn't even buy them from a golf pro shop, bring your own. These are probably dog rockets in a pretty package. For $8 you can have a very good cigar, or 2 to 3 decent ones. If you're low on funds, buy some bundles from the sites BigPoppaPuff mentioned.

A wiseman once said that this forum is the "Deadwood of fucking cigar BB's". Try not to get fed to Mr. Wu's hogs. Stick around, read up, use the search function, and learn along with the rest of us.


Welcome from MS.

Welcome from Canada, eh.


I must say, that was a very smooth diffusing of the situation:smiley36: *shakes hand* Usually things go from bad to worse when a thread starts out like that:smiley1:

Everytime I've seen one of those glass top boxes you showed in the pic - ANYWHERE (Golf Pro Shops, Convenience Stores, Hotel Gift Shops, etc.) I've seen nothing but overpriced cigars. Sometimes I've seen cigars I recognize at a 50-100% markup over MSRP - most other times they are cheap bundled cigars at a huge markup. Either way - many I've handled were pretty dry...

BPP made some great suggestions - I'd suggest you give them a try if you're serious about wanting to smoke decent cigars at decent prices. If you stick around for any length of time, I think you'll find most of the members here to be great people with a varying amount of good cigar knowledge. Some will be like you - fairly new to the game - others will have been smoking cigars for a LONG time (including those elusive and forbidden products of Fidel Castro).

And, on this board anyway, I really don't think you need to question what someone may say as being true or not - I assure you - if it's not true, you'll know... :smiley2:

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Originally Posted by ggiese

...And, on this board anyway, I really don't think you need to question what someone may say as being true or not - I assure you - if it's not true, you'll know... :smiley2:

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And whatever you do, NEVER EVER EVER piss off Kevin! :smiley2:

I was up in your neck of the woods last week and noticed them at a shop in Yellowstone. I wasn't willing to fork over the $8-$10 they wanted for what appeared to be a very gimmacky package so I couldn't tell you if they were any good or not. Their website does have a working 'About Us' link which does appear to lend them some credit so I now regret not trying them. Give them a shot and let us know what you think. I may never make it back to Yellowstone but they just might make their way down here some day.

they're overpriced!!!.....and probably shit!!!....is this a tobacconist??.....if not, walk away...

Welcome from the UK.

I make a point of only buying cigars from specialists (B&M or Internet), saves me spending money on shit.

Lets all play nice now :smiley41:

as far as net beatings go this was really mild. Good job for saying I'm sorry I don't know anything so quickly Bozone. Stick around it will teach you a lot. There is a lot of knowledge here and a really good group of guys. They'll watch your back and help you out if you need it, just don't turn into an asshat and you'll be fine.

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Originally Posted by bard

I was up in your neck of the woods last week and noticed them at a shop in Yellowstone. I wasn't willing to fork over the $8-$10 they wanted for what appeared to be a very gimmacky package so I couldn't tell you if they were any good or not. Their website does have a working 'About Us' link which does appear to lend them some credit so I now regret not trying them. Give them a shot and let us know what you think. I may never make it back to Yellowstone but they just might make their way down here some day.

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I'm heading out for a 5-day river trip this afternoon. A couple of the other guys also smoke and are bringing travel humidors. I just bought a few robusto Dos Reinas ($5) to take along (I only have an 8-stick box, so I could only spare 3 slots). I'll let you know what I, and my more experienced buddies, think.

BPP, I did check out the sites you linked. The prices and selection look great--I'm sure I'll be trying them soon enough.