I too like "rustic" looking cigars, and agree that Padrons always have a bit of character to them. I'm usually wary of cigars that look too perfect. Too much sheen = over-humidified and will taste bitter. I keep my cigars at 65RH. My wrappers might lose some sheen, but they taste and smoke great.

I will say I'm a bit of a sucker for marketing. I can't help but like some of the more intricate bands, such as My Father. It sometimes steers me wrong. I had a La Galera Habano in lancero that looked pretty impressive, but underneath all of that artwork was a very mediocre smoke. I also love all of the marketing that's being done by the boutique sellers, particularly Dunbarton and Caldwell. They just look cool.

But the most important thing to me is finding a good reviewer that you trust. I like Katman, and if I'm buying online, I like to poke around his website. His end of the year "best of" lists are always top notch.