Thanks for the review but I'm a little confused. I like spice in a cigar but I dislike black pepper. Correct me if I'm wrong but you seem to use the two interchangeably. I was always under the impression that spice was used to describe flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon and the like. Either way I'll probably steer clear of this due to the predominant black pepper. Great review, thanks again.
(NHC) Surrogates Cigars Bone Crusher
- Thread starter Reeve11
- Start date
danthebugman
BoM Nov '10
It's funny that Dan intended this smoke to be free from the hype that surrounds other brands. To smoke it and see for yourself if you like it or not and not be influenced by how rare it is or who made it. But that's exactly where this is headed...
Dan
Dan
Has Dan ever had a cigar done by Raices? Seems like this has to be a "surrogate" Viaje S&B. Honestly I cant see somebody so well know doing such a blatant rip off with a name like surrogate unless there is a connection with said rip off. Which in turn makes it not a rip off but a play on the idea which is what it seems he is implying.
thegoldenmackid
Why Can't I be a Lancero?
EL was made at Raíces.
Look I like Dan and I told Dan what I thought, but still... the Skull Breaker from far away looks like a S&B Red.
Based on how well Dan runs his business Im sure he's done well on this regardless of whom makes it. Albeit, I dont like the viaje I've tried, but I'd give this a shot possibly, cuz of Dan.
But wish it was cheaper. $5-$6 sounds better to me.
But wish it was cheaper. $5-$6 sounds better to me.
orangedog
Navin R Johnson
By design...
Maybe he means his new source is Viaje? Raices wouldnt be new but making a cigar with Andre is. Either that or he is using the name Surrogate and the similar bands as a play on the idea of it being a regular production version of an LE. Honestly this whole thing has me a bit confused, I just cant see Dan ripping off an S&B this blatantly.
I will say I'm getting a bit tired of the cheesy bands. I don't want it to look like a toy or such. Keep it classy or simple at least...no gimmicks.
I.e. Pete's Halloween line...the box is borderline gimmick but clever, but more importantly the cigars still have normal label. I love the Anarchy blend, but the label is so gimmicky, non-smokers always seem to look at it like a amateur gas-station cigar(not that that matters to my smoking pleasure, rather it proves my point of it being gimmicky.)
I.e. Pete's Halloween line...the box is borderline gimmick but clever, but more importantly the cigars still have normal label. I love the Anarchy blend, but the label is so gimmicky, non-smokers always seem to look at it like a amateur gas-station cigar(not that that matters to my smoking pleasure, rather it proves my point of it being gimmicky.)
Yea I agree with the pricing as well. When I think of go-to sticks I think of cigars under $6 a piece. But thats definitely subjective and considering Dans clientele are people that chase expensive LE's its safe to say that theyre go-to smokes could be significantly more expensive.
njstone
BoM January 2010
It's not Pete, Dan has said that already.
I never smoked a "Donkey Dropping," but most seem to think they are Viaje (and I could see Viajes in general being called "watered-down Illusiones," lol.
But the Cro Magnon line is what I thought of as well while I was reading this review here and elsewhere. I love the CroMags and these Surrogates sound right up my alley as well.
Based purely on what I've read, I'd guess these are made at Tobacalera Tropical or Raices.
I will say this, though:
The name is "Surrogate," so think about what that word means, and check out the vitola names, and then look at the bands for these cigars. It's tough to do that an not wonder if this is an unofficial regular release of a Viaje S&B blend, or something very similar. Dan sells Viaje, and I'd think Andre would be pissed at these band designs/vitola names if he had nothing to do with it. But who knows. Cromagnon has a skull as it's moniker, and nobody claims that's a S&B rip.
At any rate, I plan to get a few to try, because I'm always looking for tasty uber-bodied cigars, like the Cromagnons.
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orangedog
Navin R Johnson
Agree. CCs have this right.
orangedog
Navin R Johnson
At >5", it reminds me of the ?s. Maybe an unofficial "white" band release? How many boxes were made?
:hysterica
Well I suppose if you think about it, a surrogate is basically a substitute, and Dan did say these were meant to be readily available as opposed to all of the LEs and one-offs.
I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but the words skull and bone are right in the names of these cigars. So its either witty wordplay or a slap in the face, I can't call it either way.
I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but the words skull and bone are right in the names of these cigars. So its either witty wordplay or a slap in the face, I can't call it either way.
njstone
BoM January 2010
The Surrogates are a REGULAR RELEASE, so as many boxes as will sell, besides typical factory bottlenecks. That's the main (only?) evidence against these being a S&B blend, imvho.
But like I said, I DO NOT CARE WHERE THESE ARE FROM. If Dan thinks they're great, that's enough for me to try them. I agree with him that the extra-full-bodied but flavorful category in the cigar world is currently lacking (i.e. more demand than offerings). So I'm looking forward to trying this one.
njstone
BoM January 2010
I've only met Dan once, but he did not strike me as a "slap in the face" kind of guy at all. Very nice dude, actually. But even if he were, Dan only sells a few labels at NHC, Viaje being one of them, and you don't slap one of your major accounts in the face.
This seems true. I have been ordering from Dan since I started smoking and have never had one single issue. In fact quite the opposite, the customer service has always been top notch.
Well I am out of ideas. Guess I will just need to smoke a few for myself.