Padron Series
The guys I smoke with often talk about the best everyday smoke. That usually means what cigar is affordable and pleasureable enough to look forward to smoking everyday. While I don’t smoke daily I have pondered the question. I have yet to pick a cigar that I would consider my everday smoke (that’s quite a commitment) but the regular Padron would definitley be in the running. The La Floridita has yet to make it into my top 1000.
Padron is a boutique brand and makes arguably the finest cigar in the world with its 1964 Anniversary line. However, Padron doesn’t skimp when it comes to their regular line. Always consistent in flavor, burn and price I consider the regualar Padron to be a must in every serious smokers humidor. You just can’t go wrong with theses cigars. These are considered in the medium to full bodied range, but the flavor says full bodied all the way. Also with about 13 different sizes available in the same blend you can find one for any occasion. Whether it be a long after dinner smoke with the 9 inch 50 rg Magnum or the 36×5.5 Chicos when you only have 15 minutes or so.
Let me also say these are cheap enough that you can give one to your non-smoking moocher friends without feeling like you might turn them off to cigars forever. Or you can continue to keep a few Macanudos on hand for gimmes.
La Fontana "Consigliere"
This is an interesting cigar. I usually stay away from the big tobacco companies. You know the ones where two or three companies put out 40 cigars a piece, but use tobacco from the same region in every cigar so you really only have two cigars with 40 different labels. I think General Cigars epitomizes this concept.
I bought this cigar for one reason. I thought it had a cool label. I like trying different cigars, so after discovering that magazine ratings are not necessarily an accurate description of good and bad I tried the next approach. Price and label. It seemed to be as much a shot in the dark as the ratings system, but I have had better luck with that system than a subscription to Aficionado.
The Consigliere is worth trying. $4-6 bucks for a premium, smooth, creamy smoke, that is wrapped in American grown Conneticut Shade wrapper. I have smoked 4 of theses now and they are consistent in flavor, burn, wrap, and finish so you shouldn’t get any surprises. Plus you get to smoke a cigar in a tuxedo wrapper. Tell your wife this is your dress up smoke.
Graycliff Chateau Gran Cru
This cigar is supposedly in the top 5 of all premium cigars made. When it comes to high end, hand-made cigars, the Gran Cru is supposedly as high as you can go. When it comes to price there are few cigars that top it. According to Cigar.com “the Chateau Gran Cru is another masterpiece from Graycliff.” According to Graycliff “The Graycliff Château Grand Cru is indeed the grand cru of cigars.”
Let me tell you what the Graycliff Château Grand Cru is. It is an over priced piece of hype. $20 bucks for one of these cigars would be considered a great deal. Luckily for me I have smoked 7 or 8 of these and have not yet paid for one. I love Graycliff cigars, especially the White Label, but Graycliff Château Grand Cru is one of the most inconsistent cigars I have ever smoked. Of the 8 I have smoked only 2 have actually finished. The others either refused to stay lit or after a couple of inches it became so hard to draw I felt like I was attempting to suck a basket ball through a garden hose.
Now about flavor. The two that actually finished were two of the best cigars I have ever smoked. The flavor is bold yet smooth, earthy and creamy at the same time. Yet, it cost someone $160 dollars for my $40 dollars worth of smoke. It ain’t worth it.
So Juan will you smoke another one? Heck, yeah I will. Will you buy one? There is no way. It is too much of a gamble. I will just take my $160 dollars to the local sushi bar.
