your view on house brands

[Paddy]

Ha, I think I did that once, and he accused me of having my panties all bunched or something.

EDIT TO ADD: I smoke some of the Famous house brands....NIC 3000, VSL Honduran and Nicaraguan, Buenos maduritos. Holts has a good blend called Fumadores that are made by Pepin.

+1 to that!
Holt's also had the Miami Small Run something or other made by Pepin in bundles. Deals can by found you just need to keep an eye out.

[househarley]

The thing about house brands are they vary greatly. You really have to try them to see if you like them, or find someone who gave them an honest review. For local stores you just have to try and see really, for the online retailers sometimes you can find reviews. Either way I have smoked some good "house brand" cigars from different cigar retail stores. When I travel I like to try house brands from different places, they are usually very low priced so easy to try.

[ashauler]

The thing about house brands are they vary greatly. You really have to try them to see if you like them, or find someone who gave them an honest review. For local stores you just have to try and see really, for the online retailers sometimes you can find reviews. Either way I have smoked some good "house brand" cigars from different cigar retail stores. When I travel I like to try house brands from different places, they are usually very low priced so easy to try.

And very often, the exact same cigar....just maybe a different size, or band, or not banded at all. How long you been smoking cigars?

[brotherdew]

And very often, the exact same cigar....just maybe a different size, or band, or not banded at all. How long you been smoking cigars?

I smoked them for around eight or ten years when I was young, but only smoked the machine mades. (mostly Roi-Tans and Phillies) I picked up the habit again about two months ago after trying a pack of Phillie Blunts. I smoked three of them and threw the others away. I decided I might want to try a real cigar and now I am right back in the thick of it.

[househarley]

And very often, the exact same cigar....just maybe a different size, or band, or not banded at all. How long you been smoking cigars?

3-4 years, I'm only 25. They were different sizes/bands. I don't travel often but I have gotten house cigars in Florida, New Orleans, Ohio, St. Louis, and more. (No where special haha) None of them were amazing but some of them were good. Were they all the same cheap cigar with different bands on them? Possible, but I dont think so given that I could smoke some, and some were like smoking a newspaper.

[ashauler]

3-4 years, I'm only 25. They were different sizes/bands. I don't travel often but I have gotten house cigars in Florida, New Orleans, Ohio, St. Louis, and more. (No where special haha) None of them were amazing but some of them were good. Were they all the same cheap cigar with different bands on them? Possible, but I dont think so given that I could smoke some, and some were like smoking a newspaper.

Um, yeah, that's most likely why I said "very often" and not always.

[FightingFish]

I have to say, I'm a big fan of the Siboney toros I've been smoking. The wrappers are gorgeous; really dark and oily. The taste is of semi-sweet cocoa and the smoke is thick and chewy. These cigars are packed well, but have some soft spots and voids. Touch ups are pretty regular. I got them on auction for $2 a stick, so I'm happy.