House Brand Vs. Name Brand

**cigarsarge** · 12-22-2005, 09:41 PM

The only really decent house brand I have smoked is JR Ultimates. They are nice.

**nic** · 12-23-2005, 02:10 PM

JR Ults are one of my favorites. The Fuente made Holts house brands are good, at $80-100 a box, they aren't the cheapes either - if you like Fuente anyways.

**Hap** · 12-23-2005, 03:10 PM

Hey there SLC,
My preference has always been the family brands, have not been real impressed with JR alternates, but to each his own! I have heard a lot of complaints about Thompson's but do not have personal experience. Do you go to Jeannies or Havanna Brothers in SLC? I've done some consulting at the VA Hospital in SLC and thought very highly of both shops, both seemed to have a nice selection and knowledgeable tobacconists.

**slcraiders** · 12-23-2005, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Hap

Hey there SLC,
My preference has always been the family brands, have not been real impressed with JR alternates, but to each his own! I have heard a lot of complaints about Thompson's but do not have personal experience. Do you go to Jeannies or Havanna Brothers in SLC? I've done some consulting at the VA Hospital in SLC and thought very highly of both shops, both seemed to have a nice selection and knowledgeable tobacconists.

Hey, Hap-

I have been to Havana Bros. a few times. I live on the south end of the valley so I do most of my cigar shopping at the Tinder Box or online. The franchise owner of the Tinder Box in SLC is the greatest! Thanks for the warning on the Thompsons.

**CoventryCat86** · 12-28-2005, 04:54 AM

Originally Posted by nic

JR Ults are one of my favorites. The Fuente made Holts house brands are good, at $80-100 a box, they aren't the cheapes either - if you like Fuente anyways.

Excellent advice nic!

**Bubba -NJ** · 12-28-2005, 03:58 PM

I've had the Thompsons that came as part of a gift set with a humidor , lighter and cigars . They had black bands with white lettering and a red outline in a robusto size , nothing special , not harsh , just an uneventful smoke . I did smoke all 25 that came in the set , they were all pretty bland but none were plugged . I've also tried the Free Cuba brand that Cigarsinternational.com sells , nothing special either . So my experience

with these 2 were nothing that would get me to buy more . However taste is subjective so you'll never really know unless you try some .