1. Best of show: Taboo HSG: I have a bit of a "love/hate" relationship with Rob's creations. Rob is a wonderful guy, a stand up fellow who I sing the praises of unequivocally. I love him to death and do most of my (admittedly much reduced) business with Taboo.

I have one teensy tiny problem: Most of his cigars are just not in my taste profile. Most of the cigars that I buy are non taboo.

I did a blind taste test with Robs smokes (and others) and the cigar I liked above all others was the HSG. This blend is back, and boy howdy does it please. It is spicy and sweet (I love spicy and sweet as you may be able to tell)

If you guys haven't tried his HSG I give my recommendation.

2. EP Carillo Short Run. I love this smoke, strong and sweet with very complex flavor. I haven't tried the other "makes" because they are out of my price range.

3. Casa Fernandez - Casa Fernandez. Robusto. Good, Cheap strong smoke. Sometimes coffee sometimes bitter, but when it's on, it's on.

4. Jesus Fuego - Origen: I like these but cant quite tell you why. I like the taste, I like the price.

5. Tat 7th reserve. This is good.

6. Tat Sir Winston. This is also good.

7. Tat Pork tenderloin: Spicy, sweet, good flavor when on. These cigars hint that they could be amazing with a years time, unfortunately they won't live that long.

8. La Gloria Cubana Artisan (or as I call it "Two tone") I believe somewhere a seal has to have been broken. General is capable of making a good smoke, who would have thought? I love this smoke. It essentially is like smoking two different cigars. Starts out sweet and ends up spicy.

8. Illusione MJ-13: I loved these, sweet and spicy. Unfortunately I cannot find them anywhere, and I am broke.

9. Origin (the ones that come in a packet) I like these, they were a surprise. Not quite worth 15 dollars for five but definitely a good after cigar, cigar.

10. Famous Nic 3000. These are actually last years release, I bought two bundles, sat on them for a year and then brought one out. Smoked it, it was horrible. Removed cello bundle, and individual cello and let it sit in my drybox for two months, then I let them rehumidify. Now they are smokable. Not quite what I expect out of previous releases but still good.
[Reply]

No one else has a top ten?
[Reply]

"4. Jesus Fuego - Origen: I like these but cant quite tell you why. I like the taste, I like the price."


Those Origens in the soft pack are fan-freakin-dang-tastic. I got my hands on one pack a few months ago and have not seen them yet.

My top 10 is always something like

1. Padron 1964s
2. All other Padron
3. Oliv Serie V
4. LFD Air Bender
5. LFD Chiselito
6. Alec Bradley Tempus
7. Tat Miamis
8. Punch RC
9. J Fuego Origens (soft pack)
10. Ehhhhh Maybe Man O War??
[Reply]

My b&m has the Origens for $9/pack. They're very good and easily worth $2. I would put them in my top 10
[Reply]

1. Esencia Corona Gorda
2. Arturo Fuente King T

That's all I got.
[Reply]

Top 10 NCs...not from 2010, but, oh well...

1. CAO MX3
2. Camacho Triple Maduro
3. Viaje Holiday Blend
4. 601 Blue
5. 2005 Camacho Liberty
6. Oliva "O" Cloth band
7. LFD Maduro Chisel
8. LFD Factory Press I Maduro
9. DPG JJ Maduro Belicoso
10. Cubao Maduro Belicoso
[Reply]

1. Padron 45th Maduro
2. Padron 1964 Imperial Maduro

Those are my 2 favorite NC.
[Reply]

Current Top Ten for 2010:

1. Davidoff Puro d'Oro Notables
2. Tatuajue Black Tubo
3. Paul Garmirian Symphony 20
4. Tatuaje l'esprit de verite
5. Tatuaje Pork Tenderloin
6. Padron 45th Anniversary Maduro
7. Alec Bradley Prensado Gran Toro
8. Viaje Summerfest Robusto
9. E. P. Carrillo Short Run Populares
10. Cain F Robusto
[Reply]

That is one BadAss smoke Brother!:-)
[Reply]

El Triunfador No. 1
Murcielago
Tatuaje PorkTenderloin
[Reply]

2010 Release:

AVO LE10
Avo Heritage
Davidoff Puro d'Oro Notables
J Fuego Origens (soft pack)
La Gloria Cubana Serie N
Gran Habano Azteca
Viaje Summerfest
La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros
LFD Air Bender Chisel
La Aurora 107 or El Primer Mundo Liga Miami
[Reply]

Great Choices. I totally forgot about the LE10.
[Reply]

Heres my top 5 so far

1. Viaje DES
2. Casa Fernadez Arsenio
3. Tat 7th Reserva
4. Viaje Exclusivo
5. Illusione HL Candela
[Reply]

Davidoff Tubo (I don't recall which)
AF King T
Casa Fuente Lancero
CAO La Triviata
LFD Air Bender
Litto Gomez
Brick House
La Gloria Cubana (ummm the one with two different wrappers)
[Reply]

Tatuaje La Verite
EP Short Run
Viaje Exclusivo (jar)

No particular order. Just 3 really good NCs I'll smoke any day.
[Reply]

What?! Mac put a non-maduro in his top ten?! :-):-):-)

What is this world coming to?!?! :-)
[Reply]

Its coming to its END, of course!:-)
[Reply]

Well, it is still a little soon to finalize a Top 10 list for this year, but these will most likely be on mine somewhere...(This is assuming NC cigars released this year):

Padron 46th Maduro
Tatuaje Pork Tenderlion
Illusione Singulare "Phantom" (LE 2010)
Viaje Double Edged Sword
E.P. Carrillo Limited Edition 2010
Liga Privada "Dirty Rat"
Tatuaje Petit Cazadore Reserva
Viaje Skull and Bones

and more of course...

~brooks
[Reply]

Padron 45th
La Requiza 2
La Vertie
CAO LX2
LFD AirBender
Tatuaje Reserva J21
CAO Soporano
DPG JJ Natural
Opus X Super Belicoso
Padron 1964 Robusto Natural
[Reply]

Great Top 10's. I have not thought about it. But thus far in no particular order:


Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
Partagas Benji
Tatuaje Reserva J21 and Sir Winston
EP Carillo Short Run (don't miss out on this one)
La Traviata by CAO and the Maduro version
Davidoff Puro d'Oro Notaboles
La Glora Artesano
Padron 1945 Natural
Cain F Robusto


That is 11 sticks! Sorry!
[Reply]