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Discussion Contest: Your Desert Island Brand?

Discussion Contest: Your Desert Island Brand?

Happy Wednesday, folks! 

I’m super excited to be heading to Connecticut next week to visit Nicholas Melillo and discuss Foundation Cigar Co as well as tobacco in general.  And, considering that Foundation has yet to let me down with a single release, it got me wondering: 

Which cigar brand would you choose as your desert island brand? 

Login and comment for a chance to win a Small Batch gift card this Sunday! 

Speaking on Foundation specifically, I’ve been really impressed with how consistent Nick has managed to keep both the original lineup as well as his new releases.  Some might say that it has to do with his smaller portfolio, but it can’t be easy juggling cigars at two different factories. 

 

Foundation Cigar Co

  

It might also be that I generally gravitate towards his range anyway, with the bulk of my cigars being in the medium-bodied sphere with the occasional full-bodied dive into something like his Tabernacle blends.  I’m all about the flavor, and his cigars rarely push the envelope too far in terms of flavor vs body and strength.  The new Highclere Castle Victorian would be the furthest I’d venture unless I’m trying something new, and he managed to keep it just this side of, “Whoa! I’ll need a snack before I can finish this thang.”

There are a couple other brands, too, that would also be in the running for my desert island pick.  Coincidentally (or not) these brands also have a smaller portfolio and have a batting average of ~1000 for my preferences.   

 

Serino Cigar Co

  

Serino Cigar Co is another brand that comes to mind with an impeccable track record.  Everything they’ve released has been top notch, and each time I reach for one I’m amazed that I don’t reach for them more often.  And, even though the Royale line has already been aged for a couple years before release, they just keep getting better without going over the hill.  If I were on an island with only Serino cigars, I’d be living my best life!  

 

Cavalier Geneve

 

Cavalier Geneve is another one of my do-no-wrong brands, with amazing flavors from the White Series, Black Series, and limited editions.  I was hesitant to pick up the 2019 limited edition because of the ring gauge, but then one of our Blind Reviewers reminded me that it’s from Cavalier. I picked ‘em up, and sure enough that 58 ring gauge sings like it belongs in an Opera House! 

Lastly, I’d have a hard time picking any one brand without giving deliberate consideration to Casdagli. There’s just something special about this brand.  And, while I can say that there is a stick or two that aren’t in my wheelhouse, the ones that are really are.  There are even a few cigars from Casdagli that would be my desert island cigar, and I’d be content to bide my time with a familiar friend for the rest of time without variation.  

 

Tell Us!  Which brand is your Desert Island brand? 

 

DISCUSSION CONTEST DETAILS

One of the comments below will win a $25 gift card.  The gift card will automatically be sent to the email address that you login to comment with, so please use your regular sign-in.   

I’ll be randomly selecting a comment below this Sunday after sending out the Weekly Newsletter. The winner can expect a comment with his or her name in it, a congratulations email, and an email with the $25 gift card information.  The actual gift card email takes some time to generate from the system and may lag behind by up to 48 hours. 

Only available to U.S. customers.

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Comments

10/23/2019 10:58 AM
This is tough. Some of my favorite cigars are from Roma Craft and Illusione, but my favorite cigar isn't from either brand. I guess for brand I would go for Warped. I'm also curious as to the circumstances that led to me being stranded on a desert island.

Anyways, have a good trip to Connecticut. While you're there, I hope you get some Battleground cigars. Great expressions of broadleaf and shade.
10/23/2019 11:35 AM
Had to give this a lot of thought because I always smoke a wide variety of cigars. Most of which are full bodied so I would have to go with a brand that stacks up in the flavor/strength department. They also would have to be cool to look at because I would probably get bored on an island after a while. Crowned Heads checks all the boxes.
10/23/2019 12:10 PM
Tatuaje
10/23/2019 12:49 PM
Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust by far. Steve has a Connecticut, a Broadleaf, an elegant ecuadorian, and lots of special releases. His portfolio has everything!
10/23/2019 1:10 PM
I’d have to go with Dunbarton. Like Travis said, he has everything I could ever need. The Sobremesa Short Churchill is my all time favorite morning cigar with coffee. The Umbagog and Mi Queridas are solid workhorses, the Brûlée is nice and light, Sin Compromiso is hearty and dark. He’s got it all.
10/23/2019 3:12 PM
Warped is my desert island cigar brand.
10/23/2019 5:33 PM
That’s a hard choice to make....maybe Crux or Foundation or BOTH! Love the Crux Limitada line and the Tabernacle 142 in toro. Great stuff!
10/23/2019 7:18 PM
Bespoke is the one brand I could smoke all the time if it was the only choice. The price is only thing that prevents me from doing so. If I'm in mood for a stronger cigar, Black Label Trading has a lot of good choices.
10/23/2019 7:27 PM
Archetype
10/23/2019 7:34 PM
Definitely Dunbarton. Between the sin compromiso  and tld  I'd be set during the  day. Then wrap up each day with a Unicorn and I'm content and looking forward to the next day a la Groundhogs Day!
10/23/2019 11:05 PM
I could live with Casdagli, Crowned Heads, Ventura, or maybe Crux. I think I would do Davidoff though with Padron a close second.
10/24/2019 4:49 AM
Byron, hands down.
10/24/2019 5:01 AM
Depends on the desert island.
If it’s a “cash only” island, Crowned Heads, Illusione, or Warped - any of these 3 brands would be fine.
If the desert island takes a credit card, Davidoff all the way!
10/24/2019 5:33 AM
Undercrown. Specifically, the maduro in ¡Corona Viva!
10/24/2019 6:44 AM
Foundation or Dunbarton for me
10/24/2019 8:20 AM
Tatuaje
10/24/2019 9:46 AM
While not my favorite line of cigars I think I would have to go with Padron. They are extremely consistent in flavor and roll.
10/24/2019 11:08 AM
Illusione has yet to let me down. They kinda are what got me started and really excited about cigars. I bought an Illusione sampler early on in my cigar journey without reading any reviews prior and they just keep blowing me away. Haut 10 especially is my favorite of their blends.
10/26/2019 1:10 PM
Oveja Negra brands. Accept no substitutes.
10/27/2019 12:20 AM
My initial reaction was to think Padron. That said, I think I could live on Cornelius & Anthony and get all the variety I crave! I feel like they just keep putting out winners in my book. Daddy Mac and The Gent address two of my favorites, but I love all that I've had!
10/27/2019 1:15 AM
I've never deleted and re-typed an answer so many times. That said, I've gotta give it to Warped at the moment. I feel like all of our "desert island brands" change all the time with new and more refined experience, but for the time being, it's hard to beat Kyle man.
10/27/2019 2:25 PM
Fuente!
Fuente has so many lines. The breadth of flavor profiles from the don Carlos to anejos to their holiday releases would leave almost anybody happily sitting on the sand watching ship after ship pass by. Does my island have butane or cedar trees?
10/27/2019 5:05 PM
Congrats Cristof!  And thanks to everyone else for participating!
10/30/2019 6:14 PM
Hi, new to the discussion boards.

I'd have to go with Padron - my all time favorite brand. In particular, if some patron could airdrop me a box of Serie 1926 No. 2 Maduros about once a week, well that would be stellar. There's no Padron I haven't liked (save for the Damaso), so any of them would make me a happy lost soul!