"Legacy" brand recommendations

Hi everyone, hope this Sunday finds you all well. I'm looking for some recommendations, specifically from what I would call the "legacy" brands. I don't know if that is the right word for it but I consider legacy to mean your Cohiba, Montecristo, RyJ, Partagas, H. Upman, ect... maybe I just mean companies whose reputations originated on the island. The cigar industry is an ocean of offerings from cheap to top shelf, flavored to fermented, cigarillos to 8x80s and I seem to have lost myself in that ocean. Most of what I have tried have been brands that may not be technically new, but new to me and for the most part I've enjoyed them, the Leaf and the Firethorn come to mind. But I want to make a cigar pilgrimage back to some of the brands that paved the way and I don't know where to start. I thought if I could give you what I look for in a smoke, that you might be able to furnish a few recommendations. Generally I like darker leaf and small RG (Churchills are ideally as thick as I go but lanceros, panatellas, and petite coronas are my wheelhouse) but if there is something in a larger RG or a lighter wrapper that I just have to try, I'm open to suggestions. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Note: As true habanos are not legal here, I'd appreciate only NC recommendations.

my overall opinions of the legacy brands is not worth the price. They have no connection to their cuban counterparts other than name only.

@josh lucky 13 beat me to it - if you really want to make a pilgrimage, look up some of the makers who left Cuba vs a name some manufacturer bought.

Based on your post, I'll recommend something in Padron 000 series in the vitola of your liking.

I have asked a very similar question to yours, and I'm pretty new to the hobby. There's a thread called "Unfamilar General" (within the NC general discussion banner) - check it out. I've come to agree with what that Bums have put out - the Cuban legacy brands aren't worth the MSRP compared to non-legacy brands such as Tatuaje and Room 101. I haven't ventured far in to the NC legacy stuff such as H. Upmann, Partagas, Cohiba, but I have had some I like, but not for the MSRP. You can definitely get a lot of these legacy brands for much cheaper than MSRP, but to me, there's much more interesting things to check out (at least to me). Check out Cigarbid, and the major online retailers for heavily discounted legacy brands. Part of the fun I'm having with being a Bum and the hobby in general are exploring what's out there.

I'd recommend these if you want to stick to legacy:

RyJ Reserva Real Nicaragua (blue band and reviewed by me)

H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez and Jose Mendez

Partagas 1875 Clasico (can score cheap off cigarbid and was review by me)

I really appreciate that you guys took the time to reply with your experiences and your advice. Honestly, if I’m not missing anything, and that seems to be the general consensus then I’m good with that. I’m not gonna go out of my way and pay more for a name when I can spend that money elsewhere on smaller name brands like DoC and the like.


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Agree with what had been said above - in general not anything I'm going after.
One exception I would recommend is the Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez - great cigar.

Welcome ah to be in Tampa, Ybor City and all those smokes and stores

As others have said, with all that is happening in the world of boutique cigars, going back to General or Altadis cigars is not recommended.

My best advice is to browse the What Did You Smoke Today thread and see what others are firing up. We may be a few bricks short of a full load when it comes to many things, but most of us have a discerning palate when it comes to cigars. Here are some stalwart modern brands that will never leave you dissatisfied:

My Father
Tatuaje
Espinosa
Padron
Anything blended by AJ Fernandez

While not a "legacy" brand I do find CAO (owned by General) to put out good cigars. I'm a Maduro whore so I particularly love the CAO Mx2. Other solid mid-price offerings are American, Italia and Brazilia (for my taste at least).

Otherwise I'd echo a lot here - for the same or cheaper price there is so much out there now that I would rather smoke.

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Originally Posted by DogRockets

While not a "legacy" brand I do find CAO (owned by General) to put out good cigars. I'm a Maduro whore so I particularly love the CAO Mx2. Other solid mid-price offerings are American, Italia and Brazilia (for my taste at least).

Otherwise I'd echo a lot here - for the same or cheaper price there is so much out there now that I would rather smoke.

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I am very much rowing the same “maduro gentleman of leisure” boat and for some reason I never give the CAOs a fair shake. I’ve enjoyed the La Traviatas that I’ve smoked in the past and both the Brazilia and American are gorgeous smokes, I often pass by and think “those look good, I’ll have to try them one day” and that day never comes but I think I’m going to stop BS’n and start with the Mx2.


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Check out the Fuente Hemingway series and the Anejo. I love Fuente cigars, they are very consistent, excellent construction and grow excellent tobacco. Their tobacco tastes the way good tobacco should taste IMO. Pick up a Hemingway Short Story and an Anejo 46 and see what you think. drop into Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Shop and meet the Fuente family and explain you are interested in trying their cigars. They are a wonderful hospitable family. And their cigars only improve with age.

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

Check out the Fuente Hemingway series and the Anejo. I love Fuente cigars, they are very consistent, excellent construction and grow excellent tobacco. Their tobacco tastes the way good tobacco should taste IMO. Pick up a Hemingway Short Story and an Anejo 46 and see what you think. drop into Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Shop and meet the Fuente family and explain you are interested in trying their cigars. They are a wonderful hospitable family. And their cigars only improve with age.

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The Anejo is definitely on my list. I’m a pretty big fan of the Fuentes although I stick mostly to the Gran Reserva (read: inexpensive lol) sticks. Their Esquisito Maduros are a favorite of mine since I love smaller, quick smokes. I haven’t tried the higher end stuff like the Opus, the only thing I couldn’t really dig was the cheap curly heads. The construction was too spongey and the taste was meh. For me, the extra two bucks was worth a GR.


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Ryan, I completely understand financial constraints. Just curious, how many cigars would you say you average smoking a month?

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

Ryan, I completely understand financial constraints. Just curious, how many cigars would you say you average smoking a month?

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I’d say between 35 and 45 not counting little 4x30 tin smokes. Luckily I had a pretty well stocked humidor when I broke back into the life. Lol.


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Originally Posted by CitizenZero

I’d say between 35 and 45 not counting little 4x30 tin smokes. Luckily I had a pretty well stocked humidor when I broke back into the life. Lol.


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Thank would be difficult to smoke $8-10, for me anyway. I tend to smoke those $8-10 cigars, but I only smoke about 3 cigars a month. But I am also a cig smoker.

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

Thank would be difficult to smoke $8-10, for me anyway. I tend to smoke those $8-10 cigars, but I only smoke about 3 cigars a month. But I am also a cig smoker.

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I think $8-10 is the sweet spot. So many good smokes in that tier but that price point gets a little tough without some strong income. That’s why I appreciate things like cigarillos, esquisitos, and petite Coronas. I can usually snag a good deal on 10 packs.


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Citizen, we do have a habanos side too, it just has to be turned on for you if you so desired.

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Originally Posted by jhedrick83

Citizen, we do have a habanos side too, it just has to be turned on for you if you so desired.

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I’ll definitely dive into the dark side of life at some point. I just wanted to take my time and introduce myself to the community and get to know everyone. I figured it would be weird if I just showed up like an old piece of Puff driftwood and was like “where all dem Cubans at?!?” Lol


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Originally Posted by CitizenZero

I’ll definitely dive into the dark side of life at some point. I just wanted to take my time and introduce myself to the community and get to know everyone. I figured it would be weird if I just showed up like an old piece of Puff driftwood and was like “where all dem Cubans at?!?” Lol


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I would say most of us escaped from POOF almost 6 years ago. POOF was having some major problems during that time and we left under the Identity Protection Act.

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

I would say most of us escaped from POOF almost 6 years ago. POOF was having some major problems during that time and we left under the Identity Protection Act.

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It is kinda funny when I look at everyone’s join date of 2/15. Seems like the exodus was definitely on. Shame... I had so much RG there. Lol


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by CitizenZero

It is kinda funny when I look at everyone’s join date of 2/15. Seems like the exodus was definitely on. Shame... I had so much RG there. Lol


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I think we all did. I never logged in again after the Bum began. Never missed it.