Fellow cigar afficionados...

[warbeak2099]

Ashtons are made by Fuente, and I believe all CAOs are contracted through other manufacturers.

Wow did not know that.

[punkncat]

I am partial to many of the Drew Estates creations. I like the nasty, Juicy Lucy, and Blondies.

[Mikey B]

lol, nothing beats Black and Mild for $4 for 5. :)

[warbeak2099]

lol, nothing beats Black and Mild for $4 for 5. :)

An $11 Ashton beats them

[paint magnet]

I've got a Cusano that I'm gonana try. Anyone smoke those?

I smoked two of those a while back. It was a great cigar for the money, and a very enjoyable smoke...I think you'll love 'em, especially since they've got double Connecticut Shade wrappers. You might also want to look at some of the Montecristo white label stogies and the H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon collection.

lol, nothing beats Black and Mild for $4 for 5. :)

Except when you consider that they're made with Middleton "pipe tobacco." And $4 will buy you about 3 oz. of decent pipe tobacco (1/5 oz. will typically fill most hour-long pipe bowls).

Speaking of which, I recently picked up a Savinelli Duca Carlo briar pipe for $40 and have been smoking a local blend called Merchant's choice. I love the variety and selection of pipe tobaccos, and they're dirt cheap too. Once I get it broken in, I doubt I'll go back to smoking cigars except for special occasions...pipe smoking just opens up a whole new world of flavor, whereas cigars are much more similar in taste, with a varying range of strengths. If you're going to do it, make sure to get a decent pipe made of good briar (or meershaum) and good tobacco, not that trash they sell in drug stores and gas stations. It's not for everyone, and there's a learning curve to packing a pipe correctly, but I'm definately glad I switched.

[warbeak2099]

Cool, can't wait to break out this Cusano then. And yeah I'm somewhat interested in getting into pipes.

[fire1811]

Current favorites are

Acid - Kuba Kuba

Drew Estates - Java

CAO - Brazilia

[edweird]

alot of good mentions here... I prefer a robusto, corona type size

my favs:
All Fuente's except OpusX, I survived the last Opus, dont know about the next.
Padron's especially the '64s, yum yum yum
Acids are good too
Ashtons have fallen out of favor with me, as they have become almost too mild for my already mild tastes