Chasing the Dragon: First CC advice

[Thirdcoastwatch]

I have a neighbor who claims to be a big cigar fan.   He’s Canadian but has only smoked mid-to-high end NC cigars (which I find odd given his access to all CC’s).    Davidoffs, Fuente etc.   He claims medium body or just under is his wheelhouse.    This same guy also spent a portion of his quarantine building a walk in humidor in his basement, so he’s down to clown.   

What is the first stick I should give this guy to blow his mind?  Do I give him the dragon to chase or work up to it?  Am I obligated to deal with the repercussions of the man spending all of his disposable income once his eyes are opened?   

Options are:

Cohiba Espendido, CCE

Hoyo Epi 2, Double Corona

Monte 1,3

Upmann Sir Winston

Fundadores

 

I’m initially thinking HDM DC or Cohiba Esplendido.   
 

I’ll let the experts weigh in.   What are your thoughts?

 

 

[smbauerllc]

Honestly I think all of the ones listed are quality smokes and would be just fine, but if I had to choose, i would probably pick the Montecristo no.3.

One of my favorite all time smokes, and are definitely in his preferred strength range, as are all the Montecristos I have had. So if he likes the flavor profile, there are a bunch of Montecristos to choose from, and the vast majority are reasonably priced too

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[Edicion]

Give him the Epi 2 which is a regular, nice tasting, good value cc, and let him work it up from there. There's no need to impress with a big cigar (read : waste) at the first occasion.

Chances are it takes time for your neighbor to adjust his palate (and perception) and taste to cuban cigars and flavors.

Let us know how it went! 

[ChangBang]

Of the 2 you mentioned - the Esplendido...make him chase that dragon!  Think the HDM DC(epi2 too) maybe a bit too light for him if hes into med NCs.  Do you know what size he usually smokes?  Think it'll be more approachable if it looks familiar at least.  Not sure if there are easily accessible high-end NCs in long skinny like the fundie?

Also if he's Canadian then maybe he can become a mule with easy access to Cuba once that opens back up 😈

[Bijan]

1 hour ago, Edicion said:

Give him the Epi 2 which is a regular, nice tasting, good value cc, and let him work it up from there. There's no need to impress with a big cigar (read : waste) at the first occasion.

A Robusto also has the advantage of the least chance of construction issues. Let him find out CC consistency sucks later on when he's hooked 

[KCCubano]

Monte 3 is what I would gift him. 

[griller]

Your list is pretty killer, but I'm going to suggest maybe a Monte Especial #2 if you have one in inventory. The flavor profile should be right up his alley, and construction quality is consistently good in my experience. 

Good luck & let us know what you decide to offer (and his reaction, too).

[cigaraholic]

A medium body NC smoker means full body+ CC smoker, give him the Monte #1....and bring along a pepper-mill Incase it’s not strong enough 👻 

[Rhinoww]

How much time do you want to spend with him?  Starting w the dc/Churchill’s would be a good start if you want 2 plus hours. Otherwise, I’d stick to robustos. 
great list though. Lots of winners there. You can come over here anytime 

[Thirdcoastwatch]

4 hours ago, ChangBang said:

Of the 2 you mentioned - the Esplendido...make him chase that dragon!  Think the HDM DC(epi2 too) maybe a bit too light for him if hes into med NCs.  Do you know what size he usually smokes?  Think it'll be more approachable if it looks familiar at least.  Not sure if there are easily accessible high-end NCs in long skinny like the fundie?

Also if he's Canadian then maybe he can become a mule with easy access to Cuba once that opens back up 😈

Have a couple votes for Monte 3 ( @smbauerllc, @KCCubano).  A couple for Epi 2/Robusto ( @Edicion , @Bijan).  Good call on the construction idea- don’t want to start with a plugged one.   Epi2 is a the gateway drug of the CC world. 

Also good point on time spent.    Guy is more of a neighborhood acquaintance (who lives right next door), so it’s definitely a good thing to be able to burn one with the guy.    I’ll be smoking with him, so we’ll see how the mood strikes.    Also love @ChangBang ‘s idea of prepping him for duty as a Canadian Cigar Mule (CCM).   We all need one of those!   😂.   One hour would be a good exit strategy, but could easily chill for 1.5-2 hrs as this is a vacation week for me.       

I guess I have to grapple with my true responsibilities here.   Am I trying to knock his socks off?  If so, Esplendido or Hoyo DC all day long.     Or am I the guy who opens the door with the Epi2 and casually mentions that we have other work to do later with a gradual incline?   Ie.   High bar or low bar scenario?   If the bar is set low enough, you surpass it every time!

Probably a game time decision but will report back.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

 

[KCCubano]

I think the Epi 2 is also good choice. Just the last few I have had of recent production have been bland and flavorless. If yours have been on point its a good option. Ive been in your camp giving Espies etc away to rookies and always regretted.

[Thirdcoastwatch]

7 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

I think the Epi 2 is also good choice. Just the last few I have had of recent production have been bland and flavorless. If yours have been on point its a good option. Ive been in your camp giving Espies etc away to rookies and always regretted.

My only holdup with the Epi2 is that my box is pretty new (GEL ABR 21) and I haven’t yet had one.    Esplendido is my favorite cigar, but one I reserve for special occasions given their rarity and price.   Good point on not wasting them.  
 

The guy seems to have smoked a fair amount of NC’s (and has a pretty sizable collection).   He isn’t an overall rookie, but has never had a Cuban.    It’s like the person who is hard to shop for at Christmas…

 

[Chibearsv]

Many NC smokers aren't "blown away" by the subtlety of Esplendidos.  I'd give him something with a little more flavor punch like a BRC.  Of the choices you've listed, I'd say Monte 3 or maybe Sir Winston if I really thought he'd enjoy it.

[Thirdcoastwatch]

15 minutes ago, Chibearsv said:

Many NC smokers aren't "blown away" by the subtlety of Esplendidos.  I'd give him something with a little more flavor punch like a BRC.  Of the choices you've listed, I'd say Monte 3 or maybe Sir Winston if I really thought he'd enjoy it.

Good call.   I have a couple of RASS (RASSi, RASSes….?).     And a few of the bolivar variety.     The plot thickens!

[BrightonCorgi]

Give him three that you are big on.

[teamrandr]

One of each problem solved.

[RichG]

This afternoon I had the pleasure of a random call from a friend I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. I knew he used to be a NC smoker, and nowadays he doesn’t smoke much at all anymore. 

We were going on a boat ride before lunch and I threw a couple of beautiful D4 tubos in my bag. 

On the way back to the harbor I pulled out the cigars, and we lit up. This was likely his first Cuban ever. At first he stated that he was enjoying the cigar. Then about halfway through, I saw the genuinely impressed look on his face when he turned to me and said, “damn…this is one a hell of a cigar buddy”. 

D4 is the cigar that hooked me on Cubans, and I think it’s a great smoke to give NC smokers.

[DaBoot]

I’d personally share a Ramon allones, or a bolivar. The strength of NC cigars, his pallet might be too burnt to appreciate a lighter Cuban… my two cents.

 The fun of the choice as a first Cuban. Report back how it went👍🏻

[Trimming]

17 minutes ago, DaBoot said:

I’d personally share a Ramon allones, or a bolivar. The strength of NC cigars, his pallet might be too burnt to appreciate a lighter Cuban… my two cents.

 The fun of the choice as a first Cuban. Report back how it went👍🏻

Agree, Bolivar…

[Habana Mike]

You have a RASS roll with that!

[coug28]

A new CC smoker shouldn’t ever start off with a Sir Winston or an Espie. Their beauty would be lost on em’. 

Put me in the RASS or PSD4 camp…whichever has the most age on it. RASS is a great choice. Dark, rich flavors he’ll be accustomed to from smoking NCs, but unique enough to be something he’s not yet experienced before with the raisin/fruitiness layered in. Both awesome gateway cuban cigars that I loved early on in my transition, and always have on hand still. 

[Fuzz]

Just don't do what I did, giving @JohnS's son his first cigar... a beautifully aged HdM Des Dieux. The poor guy is still chasing cigar nirvana.

[JohnS]

1 minute ago, Fuzz said:

Just don't do what I did, giving @JohnS's son his first cigar... a beautifully aged HdM Des Dieux. The poor guy is still chasing cigar nirvana.

He's been fortunate (my son), hasn't he? He's had some good cigars over the years! 😉

[Fuzz]

10 minutes ago, JohnS said:

He's been fortunate (my son), hasn't he? He's had some good cigars over the years! 😉

Fortunate is an understatement.

[Connoisseur Kim]

Like others, I'd like to add RASS and D4 since they have oomph that might be suitable for NC smoker. CCE & Espy; Monte 1 & Esp #2; Sir Winnie & Connie A; Party Lusi & 898 are also great options if he likes long CCs 😃.