The Herrera Esteli (by Willy Herrera for Drew) and the Pinolero by AJ Fernandez. I've not been a big fan of AJ's smokes (just don't suit my tastes) but this one is a winner in my book. It has a good balance of strength and tang, at least in the corona. The Herrera is very well crafted with a silky wrapper, great burn, creamy with a little bit of tanginess. Both are medium in strength. They both come from Nicaragua (no surprise LOL), but I'm not sure if they are puros.

Anyone else tried them......opinions?
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Yes like them both but not something I'd smoke alot of. Too mild for my tastes. Give me a maduro any day over these. But they are a nice change of pace.
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I like the Herrera Esteli cigars, but have not tried the Pinolero yet. I have been going down the maduro highway at full speed lately, but I still enjoy this type of cigar.

You should also try the CyB cigars by Joya De Nicaragua. I think they have a similar vibe to the Herrera Esteli line.
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I really enjoyed the few Herrera Estelis I have had. As Kevin said, these are a great change of pace sticks from my regular diet of maduros.
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I smoked a Herrera Esteli a month or so ago and was pleasantly surprised with not only the flavors, but the fact that those flavors held throughout the entire smoke and until it was nubbed. Definitely the closest NC to having a Cuban profile that I've smoked.
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Note to self when I want to be disappointed by a cigar I should smoke a Pinolero and Herrera Esteli. :-)
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I bit on a fiver of Esteli short coronas, and the one I had was very enjoyable. Agree on your point. At at a very reasonable price.
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Pinolero corona sat me on my a$$. Really enjoy the toro though and definately get that "cubanesque" taste from it.
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From my understanding, there will be a Hererra Esteli Maduro in the near future. At least that has been teased. I do like the HE quite a lot and have smoked them pretty regularly since they were released.
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Glad y'all had some luck with the HEs and Pinoleros. Neither of mine I could consider good. The HE was bland and boring and the Pinoleros I've tried have been flat out awful. If I want a CC-esque profile, I'll reach for a Curivari any day. Fratellos too, they have some striking similarities to some Partys.
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Love the HE and the Curivari, but one of the most CC tasting NCs I have had is the Quesada Espana Corona/Lancero...Awesome :-)
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+ 1 for Fratello,but they are bolder than the average cc.....

Curivari are just good,always.
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I'll have to check out the cigars you guys mentioned.
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I liked the Hererra Esteli (my review is here) but I didn't think it was particularly Cubanesque.
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Nice review....I've personally detected a good bit of tang in the ones I've smoked which also happens to be the short corona.
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Like the orange juice the astronauts drink? :-)
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I've always wanted to try a Tang
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Two astronauts walk into a bar.............
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I realize "tang" can mean several different things.......LMAO
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I ahve heard "twang" used to describe Cuban cigars, although I find it kind of non-descriptive....that the word you were meaning to use, Mike?
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