You've had 2 out of 5 that you really liked though. Do you like every NC you smoke?
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Decided to smoke one myself, although I got caught up in designing stuff for my wife's new business (she's FINALLY opening her dance studio and going out on her own), a call and the making of plans from a great friend I haven't seen in a while who is coming to visit.

As for the cigar, I really liked it... mild, creamy and flavorful, but not over-powering. Here's some pics:

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:-)
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I have tried to retrohale with them, I guess I just don't get anything out of it...:-)
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I am not sure I understand what folks mean by retrohale. is that when you blow out then breathe some back in with the nose?

I just simply take a puff and in the middle of the exhale I close my mouth while still exhaling and the smoke is forced out of my nose.

But don't worry if you don't like Cubans, their are ALOT of other choices out there and no shame in liking what you like.
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Well lets just say that I have "enjoyed" 90% of the NC's I have smoked so far.

I haven't exactly found any dog rockets but then again, I haven't gone out of my way to look for them either.

It just baffles me that A LOT OF MEMBERS ON CA seem to think that CC's are a lot better than NC's.

I feel like I am missing something, I just don't get whats better about them I guess.......

The NC's I have smoked generally have a LOT more smoke and a deeper more rich spicy flavor.


Don't get me wrong, this is fun and I appreciate Dan doing this but I guess the CC's just aren't what I thought they would be.

Not the Holy Grail that I was expecting.
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Maby I don't understand what retrohale is either, I do what you do.
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Still love these blind reviews. Very interesting to see the differences between two people.
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Perhaps that is part of the problem. Based on prior threads, you probably came into this expecting these all to be Cuban and having the expectation of a "holy grail" type experience for all CCs, it would be very easy to be let down (and that is just a general statement, not even accounting for the simple fact that everyone's palette is different).

The only way to do this is to experience it one cigar at a time, regardless of origin (you never know... what if I mixed a couple NCs in there...), and document what YOU think about the cigar for what it is... just a cigar that you are smoking at that point in time.

There's no wrong answers in this kinda thing... you may leave this experience thinking all these cigars you tried suck, and that is totally fine :-)

As far as the spice and depth, I seem to find that on the newer CCs... the older ones are more refined and are my preference (as I am admittedly a mild cigar smoker). A fresh Partagas or Bolivar may put some hairs on your chest and will seem a lot stronger than a 12 year old Hoyo for sure.

I do prefer CC's (and older ones at that), personally, but that is not a result of anything other than trying everything I have over the years I have been in the hobby and the changing of tastes I enjoy. When I first started, I was looking for the strongest damned cigars I could find and then my tastes changed. Hell... my tastes still change all the time. LGC MdO #4's used to be one of my favorite smokes, but every time I light one lately, I'm underwhelmed. A year from now, I may smoke one and be pissed that I wasted all the ones I had when I didn't enjoy them... hahaha.

You're doing just fine... just don't place any expectations on them and take 'em one cigar at a time. :-)
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That's what retrohaling is.

If I retrohale I usually only retrohale about 20% through my nose and the other 80% through my mouth like normal. Even with mild cigars it's still something I'm not completely used to.

I don't think that a lot of members on CA think that CC's are superior to NC's. I do however think that a lot of members might prefer to smoke CC's over NC's. The general consensus here is smoke what you like and like what you smoke :-) CC's might not be your bag, but as Dan said, if you're used to and enjoy that strong peppery kick that a lot of NC's have, aged CC's might not be your thing.

That's what's great about this whole exercise though. You can come into it being completely new to everything about a CC and derive your own thoughts and opinions about them without "smoking the band" or even unconsciously having somebody else's opinion affect what you think about a cigar :-)
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Frankly a lot of times some CC's just aren't for you. I've wrote off many of marcas, just because they don't fit my flavor profile no matter how many I smoke. That or I haven't been able to give any cigar from that marca a solid "90" points.

I would definitely try a few from each marca and decide based on that. There are A LOT of hidden gems out there. I find new ones all the time, cigars people have slept on that I find are just plain wonderful. To me that is the fun of it.

Some examples of lesser smoked cigars
Anything Cuaba (Very unique tasting)
Diplomaticos No. 2 (last cigar of this marca, tasty as hell)
Bolivar Petit Belicosos EL '09 (Bolivar Chocolate bar, yes please :-))
Montecristo Tubos (Probably one of the least reviewed Monte's)
Partagas Culebra (goofy looking but with a few years, good stuff)
Quai D’Orsay Coronas (This marca gets no attention but these smokes more than tasty)

Just a few ideas of things that fly under the radar but are gems that I have found thus far.

Keep smoking them, I'm sure you'll find at least a few good ones. If you like Punchy full bodied cigars the fresh Bolivar Royal Coronas or Partagas 898V's will probably be your cup of tea.
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So Dan, is this the infamous patio?
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Yup... you should be seeing it soon enough... :-)
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Looks like an amazing place to relax with a cigar :-)
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Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed some of the CC's.........

I guess I was just waiting for that cigar that was deeper in spice.
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The best thing about how shitty my memory is is that I have no recollection of what I sent. I do, however, have the pictures (and no, I don't add them to photobucket until I'm ready to reveal). I have to check the folder to remember what I shipped out.

There may be some stronger, fresher cigars... I honestly have no idea... :-)
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Don't let your expectations get in the way.
I've ruined many a good cigar looking for something that wasn't there, instead of enjoying the flavors that were.
If your mind is open you will always be surprised at what pops up.

I did this review in the last installment.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...&postcount=107

5 CC's is a small sample size.
You never know what lurks in the other 5. :-)
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What was it Dom?
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It was an 08 Partagas Princess
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My only comment is that those are a lot of cigars for a noob to smoke in a timely manner
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Ehh... only going for roughly 1 a week. :-)
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