Cigar Recommendations: Good “Start Here” Cigars – Part 1

We’re often asked for cigar recommendations…but these are a little different. If you’ve never had the chance to try any of these brands, these lines make great introductions to the nuances and blending characteristics of their manufacturers; so if you want to try something new from these manufacturers, these make for great start here cigars.

601 (Blue) Maduro Toro – The “Blue” line is the most “user friendly” of this all full-bodied brand, and one of dozens of cigars on the market blended by Don Jose Pepin Garcia. The Toro offers gobs of complex flavor, nice length, a wide, 54 gauge ring, and not as heady as the 601 Red or Green. The box press shape also gives it an appealing, candy bar-like chewiness.

ACID Blondie – Far from your average primo, but so many cigar smokers are curious about this unparalleled brand, I had to include it. Blondie is a 4″ x 38 Petite Corona with a lush Connecticut wrapper. It starts out very sweet and blooms into a full-flavored smoke laced with creamy-honey flavors and a piquant, herbal-botanical aroma. One thing about ACID cigars, you’ll either love ’em or hate ’em, but those who love ’em are extremely loyal to the brand.

Maxx The Fix by Alec Bradley Corona – During the past three years Alec Bradley has released mostly full-bodied cigars. But for the cigar smoker who wants to “get into” this brand, the Maxx Fix Corona is the perfect start here cigar for it’s shape, smoothness, complexity, high quality and reasonable price.

Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Flor Fina Maduro – Most new cigar smokers learn about Arturo Fuente cigars pretty quickly since their reputation precedes them and they’re fairly priced. At 6″ x 47, the 8-5-8- Flor Fina offers excellent proportions. The smoke is nutty, creamy, relatively mild, and the Maduro wrappers are sweet as sugar. Often hard to find in-stock, too. Try one and you’ll know why.

CAO Italia Largo – I chose this cigar because it’s medium-bodied, and a great example of the kind of complex, full-flavored tobacco blending that CAO does best. The smoke is thick, creamy and loaded with earthy, woody and sweet spice elements. Plus the balance is perfectly aligned and the 6½” x 50 Toro shape allows for a long, enjoyable experience.

Carlos Toraño Exodus 1959 Torpedo – This is The Toraño Family’s flagship line, and for good reason. The 1959 series offers a 5-nation blend that’s ultra-creamy, chewy and brimming with nutmeg, coffee and cocoa bean essences. Plus the box-pressed figurado shape keeps the cigar well packed for a flawless burn and firm ash.

Davidoff Gran Cru No.2 – Some cigar smokers tend to flinch at Davidoff prices, but they tend to pay for themselves in pleasure. At 5 5/8″ x 43, the Gran Cru No.2 is a gorgeous-looking Corona and a fine example of what to expect in a Davidoff blend. The smoke is medium bodied offering a rich cedar wood bouquet, plenty of depth, and an eloquent aroma.

Gran Habano No.1 Connecticut Gran Robusto – I tend to recommend this cigar often for new smokers who are still into milder fare, but want more flavor. The 6″ x 54 Gran Robusto has a Nicaraguan core which gives it a lot of depth, while Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers give it a mild, creamy edge with a toasty, nutty and caramel toffee-like finish. Just one caveat: the wrappers are extremely delicate.

I hope you get to try some of these cigars, and in a couple of weeks I’ll present Part 2 covering eight more cigars from K to R.

To move on to Part 2 click here.