As I sit by the pool watching my kids play I can smell the smooth nutty aroma of a delicious cigar. It's one of my favorites, only rivaled by one other that I have found. It makes me wonder, if I enjoy this one so much why should I bother to find another? While I love to try new cigars in hopes that it is as good or better than my favorite I am often left disappointed that I even bothered.

The cigar in question is a Fuente Fuente Opus XX Belicoso. Its only rival in my humidor is a Julius Caesar that is just as costly and almost as hard to find. But because of their cost and rarity I find it difficult to take one of the old dogs out of its atmosphere only to be burned by fire and enjoyed for the handful of minutes one will last. It begs the question; what, if any, is almost as good yet not so costly?

Do any of you aficionados know what else is comparable? Do you have a favorite? What is it?

 

Cuban Monte Cristo No. 2. Best cigar I have ever had.

 

That might be a great one...but can you find it in the states? I have a whole box of Cohiba's...and not the red dots but they were inherited from a family member. They sat in a closet for 10 years. I tried reconstituting them but they are still a little bitter tasting.

 

http://voices.yahoo.com/cigarettes-c...r-4000891.html

 

I smoke a pack a week. That's it. I only smoke so I can take advantage of the smoke breaks at work. I have been known to smoke a cigar or two. I find it ironic that people that have never had a lick of alcohol die of liver failure and you get guys who drink like camels drink water and they die old. It's all good in moderation.

 

Ok, this is a cigar thread...one asking about the quality of certain cigars. It wasn't a question about health problems associated with smoking...please let's keep this one on topic so it doesn't turn into a debate about carcinogens.

 

I love a good cigar. I've also experienced the problem of spending money to try something new, only to be disappointed. I usually buy them individually, and a lot of times the selection is limited and changing, so I have had to adapt to various styles. The absolute best cigar I ever had was a Miura, I don't know the exact description, but it was a perfecto. I got it along with a handful of others in a closeout bin. By the time I was done with it, I knew it was something special. I've never seen them since. I've found various Nicaraguan cigars to be the most flavorful. Never had an authentic Cuban to compare. Unfortunately at this point, I'm limited to cheap stuff, I can't afford the good ones.

As for health, what can I say? I'll take a good cigar, an Islay Scotch, a hot woman and an unfiltered Olds 455 over a cocoon of healthy boredom any day. I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory right at this very moment than pasteurize the fun out of life for the next fifty years.

 

As a 32 year old cancer patient I have learned to enjoy life. However, I'm a cigar a month type of guy...but that's mostly because the Fuente Opus XX is a $17 cigar and I can't afford to smoke them daily. I usually buy 5 at a time and let them sit in the humidor for about 6 months before I break one out.

So you say Miuria huh? I will put that on my "if I see it list". It's funny, being a cigar smoker I find most of us have lists or something to remind us of what to try, and sometimes what to stay away from.

 

Miura, it means bull in Spanish. It definitely had a nice kick. It looked like this, but it was a claro. I think this is considered a perfecto, I don't see that shape with the small tip very often. I'd guess their other claros would be similar. If you're into Scotch, I have a LONG list of those.

 

There is a cigar company in San Antonio, hand rolled. Fink Cigar Company. Steve next time you venture there check them out, they make some great cigars.

 

I don't want to make an incriminating comment on that.

Also, JR Cigars makes a copy of the Monte #2 that is cheap, legal, has a great draw, delicious. I'm not saying its a top of the line cigar, but its a good one to have a large quantity of.

I can't wait for the summer to be over here so I can start smoking cigars again next to the pool. I only smoke outside and right now its so frickin hot that it is not enjoyable to sit out on the patio and smoke. After about 5 minutes you are sweating your *** off. The rest of the year is fantastic cigar smoking weather though!!!!

 

Yeah, last night my kids wanted to go swimming so I figured we'd go at night so it was tolerable enough to smoke one. I enjoyed it but it's not the same as smoking one when the weather is cool and the sun is out

 

The absolute best time to smoke a cigar is when camping in the forest. There is just something about polluting the fresh cool mountain air with a stanky cigar and a big dog sitting next to you.

 

We make 2 trips a year to the Buffalo National River in Arkansas to camp and canoe. I have to agree, that is when I enjoy a cigar the most. In the middle of the woods, laying in a hammock, sipping a cool one

 

My uncle got me started with cigars but unfortantlly passed away before it really took hold. I think I need to get one and smoke it in his memory. We had some good times.

Thanks for reminding me.

Larry

 

Glad to see there are some cigar guys on here! I wish I could help you out with a recommendation, but I’ve never tried that cigar. Man are they rare! All the places I usually order from and my local shop has no availability right now.

I tend to prefer the lighter tasting cigars, usually Connecticut wrappers. A few years ago I found my favorite smoke, the Davidoff classic line. Of course I had to fall for one of the super expensive ones too… I spent a few months and I was able to find a much cheaper alternative, Por Larranaga, at 1/3 of the price, and “almost” the same cigar. I was able to find my cheap alternative by setting a max price, then try cigars with the same type of wrapper, then I did some research on different binder tobaccos online and starting noticing the flavors with different combinations.

 

I've had the Davidoff stuff...it's good, but I like a bolder flavor. If you can find one, you should try the Opus XX Belicoso. Delicious!