Brand qualities/properties (RyJ, 5 Vegas, RP etc)

[ralford]

Began to wonder if there were any general properties that can be attributed to a manufacture? I would expect the construction and consistency can be more or less constant across a brand.

Is it best to sample within a brand (RyJ or 5V for instance). Also wondering if there is any correlation between price and ??? - at least after one passes the Dutch Master/ Swisher Sweet category?

Anyone think I should simply stop attempting to think/analyze and instead concentrate on whoring and smoking?

Cheers to all,

Rusty

[ashauler]

Began to wonder if there were any general properties that can be attributed to a manufacture? I would expect the construction and consistency can be more or less constant across a brand.

Is it best to sample within a brand (RyJ or 5V for instance). Also wondering if there is any correlation between price and ??? - at least after one passes the Dutch Master/ Swisher Sweet category?

Anyone think I should simply stop attempting to think/analyze and instead concentrate on whoring and smoking?

Cheers to all,

Rusty

Not sure about the whoring, that can be dangerous , but yeah, concentrate on smoking and finding what you like......the rest will fall into place, imho, as you smoke more and more.

[spiffykyle]

It is very personal experience. I say try everything until you find what you like. A lot of people end up with a favorite maker, but then they still smoke a wide variety of cigars. I am personally a big fan of Pepin and RP, but I have a wide variety of smokes in my cooler.

For the most part, there is a correlation between price and quality. But not always since there are way overpriced sticks as well as some inexpensive jewels. If you search the forum you'll find plenty of threads relating to people's favorite cheap smoke.

Enjoy the ride.

spiffy

[cigar no baka]

I have found, through vast trial and error, there are three categories of cigar manufacturers.'

First, there are those committed to excellence and it shows in so many ways. Avo, Davidoff, Zino, Griffin, Don Pepin Garcia, Ahston, La Aurora and many others offer excellent construction, consistent taste and quality, with draw and burn being consistent and usually perfect.

Second, there are companies that are consistently good, but occasionally have a bad cigar. For example, I love Carlos Torano, La Flor Dominica, Fonseca, Camacho and Joya de Nicarauga cigars, but they do not have the near-spotless record of the the superior lines I listed above.

Third, there are cigars I smoke that are less than stellar in construction and quality, but their price makes them affordable, I do enjoy them, and since I smoke once per day, I need to smoke some lower priced cigars to stay within budget. Examples are Alec Bradley, Rocky Patel, Gran Habano and Gran Cubita.

Keep in mind the only way I came to these conclusions is by smoking dozens of cigars in each line before I made up my mind. That's what made it so much fun, I got to find out by trying lots and lots of cigars.

There is not always a direct correlation between price and quality. Graycliff is a good example. Very expensive and unimpressive cigars. I've had some 5-7 dollar Carlos Toranos that were better than Graycliffs I have tried.

Best of luck, try some of these and see what you think.

[ashauler]

Excellent points CNB. I have found the same to be true within a certain manufacturers lines as well. For me, Oliva is a good example. There is a significant difference between the Fdo line, the various serie lines ( O-S-Special S), and the Master Blends. IMHO, the quality of construction and consistency improves as you move up the line......just like the price.

I smoke quite a few FdO maduros, @ $2/stick......but I also have the $11 MasterBlends and the $6 Series O and S in the cooler.

[DeeDubya]

I've smoked a couple Oliva Serie V, one was great the other no so. For a quick smoke I love the little "Special G" in either maduro or camaroon. IMO they are very close to the Hemingway Short Story, for half the price. I have smoked a few different Olivas and for the price they are pretty consistant in construction, even draw and burn. Like Ashauler said, consistancy improves with the price.

[cigar no baka]

I've smoked a couple Oliva Serie V, one was great the other no so. For a quick smoke I love the little "Special G" in either maduro or camaroon. IMO they are very close to the Hemingway Short Story, for half the price. I have smoked a few different Olivas and for the price they are pretty consistant in construction, even draw and burn. Like Ashauler said, consistancy improves with the price.

Exactly. In general, excellence improves with price, but not always.

[nhcigarfan]

I have found certain manufacturers do have some flavor trends. I think the most apparent is Perdomo. Their construction is above average. I put it at the top with the others CNB mentioned. Most, if not all, of their cigars flavor profiles are grounded in "earthy" profiles.

That being said, a lot of their cigars don't develop, flavor-wise, past the earthy profile, or that profile overpowers the rest.

I think their newest line, the habano is a bit different from the others. I like the flavor, strong yet not as earthy, with some spice up front and the construction is far superior than a high 4 to low 5 priced cigar.