Great Interview again Nic as always. I tend to notice there is a large focus on Cuban cigars and with these interviews and I disagree with James' comments when he claims that Havana, Cuba has the best quality tobaccos in the world. They most likely did have the best tobaccos in the world for hundreds of years, but it's safe to say that in the last 20 years, the quality of tobaccos from Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Dominican Republic and in some other countries around the world has greatly improved and are now undoubtedly rivalling the quality of tobacco grown and produced in Havana, Cuba, especially in the much higher quality brands of cigars being manufactured in other countries nowadays. Just some observations I have made as a cigar smoker for 20 years.
If you like cigars and you want to try something completely new for the most of people, come in Tuscany, in particular to Sansepolcro, near Arezzo, and try the cigars of CTS (compagnia toscana sigari), like "Mastro Tornabuoni Long" or "Stortignaccolo" ;)
I can agree and disagree. Taste is such a subjective thing. I started smoking cigars with non Cuban varieties and settling mainly on Padrons. I was then given a sampler of Cuban cigars. And to honest Cuban cigars have the best flavors for my palate. So much so that if I couldn’t get Cuban cigars anymore I’d stop smoking all together. Fantastic video and discussion guys. Enjoy the comments.
100 per cent. not only the tobacco,, but construction, quality control, variety, all of it. they use automation in their curing barns, vertically integrated operations where the same people control the whole process seed to smoke. you get so much more variety also. cubans are all puros, its all leaf from cuba. these new world cats use leaf from all over the americas. the variety is beautiful. sumatras and mexicans and ecuador and honduras, the DR. i dunno just far more interesting to smoke stuff from all over imo. the best cigars come from everywhere, but the most consistently well made ones come out of nica, regardless of where the leaf is grown. then you wanna talk about what youre getting for the price and its a no brainer. i smoke mainly cigars that use leaf grown at the aganorsa farms and lemme tell you, the embargo could be lifted tomorrow and it wouldnt change my routine in the least.
there is something special about the soil in Cuba. but for me Nicaragua and Peru have a lovely flavor as well. Peru has a smoothness that u often don't get with that much flavor. I used to live in lima, and it was one of my favorite activities to go down to the water and have a fine cigar while the sunset. highly recommend it.
Cuban tobacco is the best, margin isn't as wide as many think among Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco...but the construction isn't as consistent in my experience
It just depends. Try things for yourself that you think you may enjoy together, then find out. I'd recommend from my personal preferences to drink with cigars that a nice, soft sparkling wine can go really well - the flavour is delicate and refreshing and also the fizz helps clean the palate. Any wine that's particularly tart or sharp tasting won't compliment too well. Heavy tannin wines coat the palate with tannins. I used to try more red wines with cigars, some were nicer than others and also the cigars tended to be fuller bodied. However these days I've settled on my favourite drinks with cigars to be coffee (whatever style I fancy at the time really), a good complex single malt (particularly Lagavulin) and glass of water or a soft sparkling wine of some sort.
Great extra clip. Thanks for the upload! One suggestion: Depending on the camera settings try changing between 25/30 or 50/60 hz to get rid of the flickering of the light in the humidor in the background! In the close up shots the focus is on his watch and in the wider shot the focus is on the humidor, was the camera guy sleeping? :D But except that excellent quality as always!
Great Interview again Nic as always.
I tend to notice there is a large focus on Cuban cigars and with these interviews and I disagree with James' comments when he claims that Havana, Cuba has the best quality tobaccos in the world.
They most likely did have the best tobaccos in the world for hundreds of years, but it's safe to say that in the last 20 years, the quality of tobaccos from Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Dominican Republic and in some other countries around the world has greatly improved and are now undoubtedly rivalling the quality of tobacco grown and produced in Havana, Cuba, especially in the much higher quality brands of cigars being manufactured in other countries nowadays.
Just some observations I have made as a cigar smoker for 20 years.
If you like cigars and you want to try something completely new for the most of people, come in Tuscany, in particular to Sansepolcro, near Arezzo, and try the cigars of CTS (compagnia toscana sigari), like "Mastro Tornabuoni Long" or "Stortignaccolo" ;)
I can agree and disagree. Taste is such a subjective thing. I started smoking cigars with non Cuban varieties and settling mainly on Padrons. I was then given a sampler of Cuban cigars. And to honest Cuban cigars have the best flavors for my palate. So much so that if I couldn’t get Cuban cigars anymore I’d stop smoking all together. Fantastic video and discussion guys. Enjoy the comments.
100 per cent. not only the tobacco,, but construction, quality control, variety, all of it. they use automation in their curing barns, vertically integrated operations where the same people control the whole process seed to smoke. you get so much more variety also. cubans are all puros, its all leaf from cuba. these new world cats use leaf from all over the americas. the variety is beautiful. sumatras and mexicans and ecuador and honduras, the DR. i dunno just far more interesting to smoke stuff from all over imo. the best cigars come from everywhere, but the most consistently well made ones come out of nica, regardless of where the leaf is grown. then you wanna talk about what youre getting for the price and its a no brainer. i smoke mainly cigars that use leaf grown at the aganorsa farms and lemme tell you, the embargo could be lifted tomorrow and it wouldnt change my routine in the least.
there is something special about the soil in Cuba. but for me Nicaragua and Peru have a lovely flavor as well. Peru has a smoothness that u often don't get with that much flavor. I used to live in lima, and it was one of my favorite activities to go down to the water and have a fine cigar while the sunset. highly recommend it.
Cuban tobacco is the best, margin isn't as wide as many think among Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco...but the construction isn't as consistent in my experience
Great interview with the great James Suckling! I enjoyed my pipe while watching this video.
Great clip thanks for sharing Nic!
Do cigars generally taste good with wine or is it rarely a match ?
It just depends. Try things for yourself that you think you may enjoy together, then find out. I'd recommend from my personal preferences to drink with cigars that a nice, soft sparkling wine can go really well - the flavour is delicate and refreshing and also the fizz helps clean the palate. Any wine that's particularly tart or sharp tasting won't compliment too well. Heavy tannin wines coat the palate with tannins.
I used to try more red wines with cigars, some were nicer than others and also the cigars tended to be fuller bodied. However these days I've settled on my favourite drinks with cigars to be coffee (whatever style I fancy at the time really), a good complex single malt (particularly Lagavulin) and glass of water or a soft sparkling wine of some sort.
You are sooo off the track James !!
Great extra clip. Thanks for the upload! One suggestion: Depending on the camera settings try changing between 25/30 or 50/60 hz to get rid of the flickering of the light in the humidor in the background! In the close up shots the focus is on his watch and in the wider shot the focus is on the humidor, was the camera guy sleeping? :D But except that excellent quality as always!
+LAtechniker Thanks, we will pass on your comments.