Remedial Cigars 101-A (still no question too goofy)

[bourboncc]

Bourbon cc, I am pretty new to cigars. What would you recommend from Drew Estates that won't put a whole in the wallet and is readily available? I have a couple cigar stores in the area that do have good selections. I have also ordered online. I have tended to like Rocky Patel maduro 2nds. Great cigar for $3-5 each, IMHO. Most of what I have tried and liked have been maduros.


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We don't really have much in that price range, but for a few dollars more you can get our Undercrown. If you enjoy maduros, I think you will definitely enjoy it. Very rich and priced right at ~$7.

If you want to try something different, a lot of people love our infused cigars, especially new smokers. Oddly enough, ACID Kuba Kuba was my first cigar when I turned 18, and definitely helped me get into cigars.

[moose]

Some good cigar talk in here so far. Put me in the "Cigar Crazed" category, its a bit of a fair weather deal for me though being in Colorado. Hasn't been really nice enough to sit out on the patio and have a good smoke. I love good rich toothy cigars, but can always go for something a little lighter bodied too, I don't discriminate much. I somewhat share the dissent for Acid, or at least I did. I was at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Fest down in Boulder this past summer (pouring wine and enjoying the festivities), and wouldn't you know it, our tent was right next to the Drew Estate guys. The one I tried and somewhat liked was the Red Eye (IIRC, had a different cap wrapper). The guys were great to talk to, the one I remember was Fabian, I can't remember exactly what he said he did with the company, but he was having a good time along with everyone else.

Anyways, that was just my long way of subscribing to this here thread, I think its a good idea. I'll pop in if I feel I can help.

I'd love to work in the industry, how did you get into it bourboncc?

-B

[bourboncc]

Some good cigar talk in here so far. Put me in the "Cigar Crazed" category, its a bit of a fair weather deal for me though being in Colorado. Hasn't been really nice enough to sit out on the patio and have a good smoke. I love good rich toothy cigars, but can always go for something a little lighter bodied too, I don't discriminate much. I somewhat share the dissent for Acid, or at least I did. I was at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Fest down in Boulder this past summer (pouring wine and enjoying the festivities), and wouldn't you know it, our tent was right next to the Drew Estate guys. The one I tried and somewhat liked was the Red Eye (IIRC, had a different cap wrapper). The guys were great to talk to, the one I remember was Fabian, I can't remember exactly what he said he did with the company, but he was having a good time along with everyone else.

Anyways, that was just my long way of subscribing to this here thread, I think its a good idea. I'll pop in if I feel I can help.

I'd love to work in the industry, how did you get into it bourboncc?

-B

Fabien is the man! His official title is National Sales Director or something to that extent. The Red Eye is a stronger version of our coffee infused cigar Tabak Especial.

I got the job after meeting the founder of Drew Estate, Jonathan Drew, while writing for a cigar review site I ran at the time. I was interviewing Jonathan for my site and we started talking about what I did in regards to running the site and he decided Drew Estate needed someone to handle that type of stuff. I run all of our online entities, including Facebook, Twitter, forums, interacting with blogs, etc. We are extremely active on social networks, especially Jonathan. He's a huge Facebook nut.

[JayMonster]

Bourbon cc, I am pretty new to cigars. What would you recommend from Drew Estates that won't put a whole in the wallet and is readily available? I have a couple cigar stores in the area that do have good selections. I have also ordered online. I have tended to like Rocky Patel maduro 2nds. Great cigar for $3-5 each, IMHO. Most of what I have tried and liked have been maduros.


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While not the Drew Estate cigars you asked for, I have another suggestion that may be more along your budget. Are you familiar with Consuegra Cigars?

Consuegra are seconds, originally from the Villazon factory (and now I presume from the Danli factory that took over producing these brands for General Cigar), and these are the seconds of brands like El Rey Del Mundo, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey.

Up through around the early 2000's, it used to be a real challenge to get some of these as they would sell out as fast as they would come in. In particular the #9 Maduro, which is either a Punch, HDM or JR Ultimate in a Dark Marduro Wrapper and a very popular (and tasty) 4.5 x 50 runs about $29.95 (currently on sale for that price at JR Cigars, which is $5 off the regular price) for a bundle of 25. (other sizes and prices vary of course). Even if 1 or 2 in the bundle is plugged, you are still getting some great smokes for well under $2 a stick.

When I used to golf, this was my go to smoke. So if I dropped it, or was made to put it out... so what? And if not... well, I had a great maduro at a great price.

Google "consuegra conversion chart" and you will see the lists of what each of the sizes and bundles of Consuegra match up with in regular brands..

[Ejmharris]

While not the Drew Estate cigars you asked for, I have another suggestion that may be more along your budget. Are you familiar with Consuegra Cigars?

Consuegra are seconds, originally from the Villazon factory (and now I presume from the Danli factory that took over producing these brands for General Cigar), and these are the seconds of brands like El Rey Del Mundo, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey.

Up through around the early 2000's, it used to be a real challenge to get some of these as they would sell out as fast as they would come in. In particular the #9 Maduro, which is either a Punch, HDM or JR Ultimate in a Dark Marduro Wrapper and a very popular (and tasty) 4.5 x 50 runs about $29.95 (currently on sale for that price at JR Cigars, which is $5 off the regular price) for a bundle of 25. (other sizes and prices vary of course). Even if 1 or 2 in the bundle is plugged, you are still getting some great smokes for well under $2 a stick.

When I used to golf, this was my go to smoke. So if I dropped it, or was made to put it out... so what? And if not... well, I had a great maduro at a great price.

Google "consuegra conversion chart" and you will see the lists of what each of the sizes and bundles of Consuegra match up with in regular brands..

Kay appreciate the info. Will look these up for sure.


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[jtexaslonestar]

Now, I think this is one I am going to have to rely on somebody else to answer. As I said, I am within 1/2 hour of three JR Cigar locations, 2 in NJ and the one in Midtown Manhattan (sadly, the one downtown closed not long after 9/11).

As such, I have a very grandiose (to put it mildly) scale shops to compare anything else to. That, and the ability to get great cigars online from places like jrcigars.com, Cigars International, Holts, etc, rarely do I find myself needing to go into a shop I do not know.

That being said, there are certain things I do tend to look for at the time when I find myself shopping elsewhere. (Like recently on a trip to Baltimore).

If there is a hygrometer in the humidor, take a peek. If it is 80% humidity or higher, I will pass. Too wet is just as bad as too dry. It can breed mold annd will take a while for the cigars to be dry enough to be smoking ready.

Traffic. Low volume places are great for finding hard to find items. It is also a great way to find old stock you may not want. True tobacco can be aged (I have sticks in my cooler-dor that date back more than 10 years), but I don't want old tobacco without knowing how well it has been taken care of over the years.

Back to the humidor.. If it gets too much light (close to a picture window, or has a picture window), I will pass. Same for humidor "cases" I prefer a place that has a separate climate controlled "room" over a place that only has display cases with sliding glass. Those cases will almost always lead to the humidity being too low, too uneven or in some cases too high as the humidor fights the leaking of humidity from the case.

All of this though is my personal rules of thumb (but like I said, I have rather high standards because I am lucky enough to be able to have them). Somebody else may have some other more general (and perhaps less strick standards than I).

Thanks for the info! I found one close to my work that is better than others in the area. I stopped by one last week and they had mold on the glass door. Not going back there.

[Janko]

I lost touch with Steve a long time ago, so... No, I had no idea. Spent a lot of time learning a lot from the man as he was a fixture at every herf we had back then (which of course happened to be at the Whippany office where he worked). He is definitely a great guy.

Guess I will have to stop bashing Drew Estates now. (Still can't show any love for ACID though... sorry).

Steve had Liga Privada created (was his personal blend) because he could not stand ACID. I personally wish Steve would buy the rights to Liga and do it himself, as the "power that b" at drew is the tool of all tools!

[bourboncc]

...as the "power that b" at drew is the tool of all tools!

Not really sure who you mean...

[Janko]

Jonathan Drew is owner Drew estates

[bourboncc]

Jonathan Drew is owner Drew estates

So in you're roundabout way you're saying that Jonathan is a tool? Surprising to hear, I've never met anyone that didn't immediately like Jonathan. He is a unique character, but is extremely likable, humble, and friendly. Did you have a bad experience with him at some point?

Also, FYI, it is Drew Estate, singular.