Insipred by Garry's thread about being affraid to burn a stick he has high expectations for, I would like to share some of my expectations that ended in dissapointment and some of my successful surprises, please do the same!

I look forward to seeing your experiences, I have a feeling there will be many surprises!

This is all based upon my own personal tastes and experiences, just my opinions.

(Keep in mind, I am not saying these sticks are good or bad. I am saying I either had low expectations that a cigar far exceeded or I had high expectations that the cigar underwhelmed. The first two I had high expectations and they were still exceeded.)

Exceeded my expectations:
LP#9
L40
Kristoff Maduro
Diesel UHC
Famous Nic 5000
Famous Nic Maduro
Omar Ortez Original Maduro
RASCC
My Father El Hijo
San Lotano Habana Lancero
EP Carillo NWC

Failed to meet my expectations:
Liga Undercrown
Viaje Holiday Blend
Obsidian
Famous Nic 3000
Tatuaje La Casita Criolla
My Father Lancero
Legends Yellow Label by DPG
Carino Maduro
Man o War Virtue
AB American Classic Blend
[Reply]

You seriously had high expectations on that Carino? or was it just that god awful? Either way, :-)
[Reply]

Exceed: Illusione CG4 and MK.....every time.....no idea how every one can keep being better than the last

FAIL: Every Fuente I've ever tried
[Reply]

I was hoping the Carino was "Okay", it was not. Sorry Haha:-)
No need to apologize brother, you told me going in they are cheap maddies.
I hope the troops can enjoy them more than I did.
[Reply]

I agree with Dave on the Fuente disappointment. I had heard a ton about the Hemingway series and am a huge Hemingway fan as well. It wasn't bad, just didn't lived up to my own internal hype. I keep trying them though.
[Reply]

Hmm, lets see...

Exceeded:
Curivari Reserva Limitada Epicures
Cain Dayona 646 (far far and FAR exceeded)
Viaje Platino/Oro
Padron Family 46th
LDF Factory Press IV
Oliva V Maduro 2011
LP Dirty Rat
Altadis products: Vega Fina, Montecristo 75th, Omar Ortez
Davidoff Colorado Claro


Failed:
Room 101 (anything I've tried)
Padron Family 45th
Casa Magna (anything)
LP Flying Pig (size issue mostly)
Viaje Holiday (I suspect these would taste better if they were a little better filled)
Davidoff Puro d'Oro
[Reply]

Silound, you reminded me, I need to add the Room 101 namakubi to my dissapointment list.
Not bad but I was expecting something really good.
[Reply]

Exceeded
Feral Flying Pig
Rocky Patel Cuban Blend Petite Belicoso (still in shock over this one)
La Herencia Cubana Dos Capas Toro
MUWAT Bait Fish
Cain FF Torpedo
Purofino Milenio
Holts Little Havana Small Batch
Illusione 88 Maduro
San Lotano Oval
Cohiba Black Corona
San Cristobal Fabuloso
LFD El Jocko Maduro

Failed
Room 101 Namakubi Papi Chulo
Alec Bradley Black Market
Liga Privada L40
Tatuaje TAA
Tatuaje Wolfman
Litto Gomez Small Batch #3
E.P. Carrillo Small Batch
Ave Maria Reconquista
[Reply]

Time to torch that Undercrown that I've been avoiding.
[Reply]

Biggest shocker to me so far is seeing Mac put the L40 on his fail list. Perfect example of how we are all different, that just may be my favorite stick now! So tasty all the way down to the nub!

That Room 101 Namakubi seems to be a popular dissapointment!
[Reply]

Exceeded:
Tat Face
Tat Petit Cazadores
San Lotano Maduro
Quesada Tribute(good flavors, albeit a tight draw)
LP Undercrown
601 Blue
EPC Core Line

Failed:
Feral Flying Pig
LP L40
Padron 45th
Padron 1926
EPC Core Line Maduro
601 Red
Tat Havana VI(still not a big fan of these to this day)
[Reply]

Great idea.. I will have to think about the sticks I have had...
[Reply]

Fun thread idea!

Exceeded expectations on first encounter:

Illusione 4/2g
La Flor Dominicana Coronado Toro
Padilla Series '68 Lancero
Punch Double Corona
Ramon Allones Small Club Corona
San Cristobal Lancero
Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazadores Reserva J21

Underwhelmed on first encounter:

Carlos Torano Master Robusto
H. Upmann Magnum 50
La Flor Dominicana Airbender Villanos
Oliva Serie V Lancero
Padron 2000 Maduro
Romeo y Julieta Churchill
Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazadores Tainos
[Reply]

Man. All this Fuente hate. They are the only NC I am really digging these days. For me it's mostly Fuente and CC's. To each their own but Fuente almost always lives up to expectations for me.
[Reply]

I don't get it either. It may be a cost and expectation vs. results thing, but Fuente is consistently in the top echelon of the best. Construction, blend, everything—they're near the top.

A cigar exists apart from my expectations; neither it nor its maker are responsible for anything except bringing a well-made cigar to the market; the rest is up to me.
[Reply]

You know the old saying, smoke what you like, like what you smoke. Some people just don't like the flavor profiles of Fuentes, much like some don't like the flavor profiles of Tats(like I did at first).
[Reply]

All??? only one person said they didn't care for Fuentes. :-) :-)
[Reply]

yeah, I didn't say I hated Fuentes, just that they were a disappointment. I had them built up in my mind so high that even though they were good, it wasn't as good as I expected them to be. I wanted them to be awesome. And they were just ok. Certainly didn't think they were worth the premium though.
[Reply]

In my earlier days AF's are what I smoked most beside Padrons. The Don Carlos and Hemmingway lines were my fav's.
[Reply]

Off hand the only thing that's really missed it for me are the Illusione line, except the Holy Lance. Also most of the Viaje line. I do like the Exclusivo Robusto but the rest are just meh for me.
[Reply]