Cigars/San Cristobal de la Habana
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Question
I've just started to get into smoking cigars seriously and have started to sample various brands. I really like the San Cristobal de la Habana. What are your thoughts on this brand? and are there any similar brands that smoke like the San Cristobal?
Hi Mike,
I absolutely love San Cristobal cigars. My favourite size is the La Fuerza. San Cristobal de La Habana cigars has that traditional Cuban cigar strength but it also a creamy flavour that perfectly balances that Cuban cigar strength out; very similar to Vegas Robaina cigars. The brand is classified as a medium-bodied brand and the smoke is pleasantly aromatic, not too heavy and very smooth. I've also had good luck with aging San Cristobal cigars and the cigars just explode with really flavours at the 4-5 year mark.
The wrappers haven't always been super oily or extremely dark but the cigar typically has a nice milk chocolate colour and the wrapper texture is velvety smooth and has a nice light sheen; much like the Vegas Robaina, Bolivar and Saint Luis Rey brands.
San Cristobal is a great, underrated Cuban brand. You should definitely keep some La Fuerza and La Punta in your humidor and let them age.
Hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.
Regards,
James
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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