What's a cigar that's blown your mind?

[Sir Lancerolot]

Blanco Nine Lancero was the first cigar to blow my mind.

I got a cigar as a gift many years ago from Al (Bull). It was in a nice wooden tube labelled "Srintil." Haven't been able to track down another one - apparently not made anymore. It was the Indonesian-est, creamiest, baking-spiciest, little bit citrus-iest cigar I've ever had.

Then, of course, there are a couple from the Mythical Island ...

[Brimy]

The T52 is my #2 LP. The FFP has never disappointed!
But smokes that have really blown me away are the GOD Carlito, the Opus Power Ranger and the Julius Caesar!
No matter what I've had thus far, those 3 in that order have been truly unforgettable and thoroughly enjoyed.
A few "also ran" that I try not to be without are Garcia Blue label, Regius Red & Blue labels, Bishops Blend & Jamie Garcia Especiales.

[FidelCastro]

The cigar I was most recently surprised with was the 2 Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf Maduro that @Old Smokey sent me at Christmas....

Forgot about this one as I have a box and the dense voluminous smoke that it has is a really good cigar.

[Emperor Zurg]

I've never been 'blown away' by any cigar... but then my top dollar cigar expenditure is about $35/5pk. I won't spend any more than that on rolled up rotting leaves. I tried a $12 Padron once. It was good but it wasn't what I'd call twice as good as a $6 cigar. I've smoked a bowl in my pipe and thought "Wow! This is the best blend EVAR" only to smoke the same blend in the same pipe 2 days later and have a 'meh' experience... so it wasn't the particular blend after all but just one of those magical moments.

[Old Smokey]

The T52 is my #2 LP. The FFP has never disappointed!
But smokes that have really blown me away are the GOD Carlito, the Opus Power Ranger and the Julius Caesar!
No matter what I've had thus far, those 3 in that order have been truly unforgettable and thoroughly enjoyed.
A few "also ran" that I try not to be without are Garcia Blue label, Regius Red & Blue labels, Bishops Blend & Jamie Garcia Especiales.

Brian, I am with you on the Fuente stuff. I have only had one GOF and it a Carlito 2009. It was incredible. My first Anejo was a Shark that was at least 5 years old and it too was one of the most memorable cigars I ave smoked. I guess we are Fuente Fanboys.

[DogRockets]

I was blown away by the Little Drac from that Tat Little Monsters box. I was able to smoke 3 or 4 of these after they were about 3-4 years old. Totally blew me away. I'm hoping the Pudgy Drac get to that level in another year or two, so far, it's got a ways to go to hit that level.

[FidelCastro]

I've never been 'blown away' by any cigar... but then my top dollar cigar expenditure is about $35/5pk. I won't spend any more than that on rolled up rotting leaves. I tried a $12 Padron once. It was good but it wasn't what I'd call twice as good as a $6 cigar. I've smoked a bowl in my pipe and thought "Wow! This is the best blend EVAR" only to smoke the same blend in the same pipe 2 days later and have a 'meh' experience... so it wasn't the particular blend after all but just one of those magical moments.

A man after my own heart as I've been smoking cigars and pipes for over 40 years and I can't seem to pay over $10 for almost every cigar out there except for some CC's and Opus. Funny you mention the "magical moments" with tobaccos as when you're in those moments you can love a big girl as much as a skinny girl if the planets are aligned. I've done some world travels and smoked a lot of cigars in some amazing places and the cigar or pipe I smoked on those occasions became so much more significant than smoking them at home or in a B&M. I try not smoke anything when I'm in a foul mood because I know the experience will tarnish that time and cigar with such a memory association. You probably touched on something that is more significant than you realized and our state of mind when we enjoy our tobaccos can enhance it more than we know.

[Brimy]

Brian, I am with you on the Fuente stuff. I have only had one GOF and it a Carlito 2009. It was incredible. My first Anejo was a Shark that was at least 5 years old and it too was one of the most memorable cigars I ave smoked. I guess we are Fuente Fanboys.

Steve, I'm with you! I've been buying a bunch of boutiques and not disappointed but Fuente & DPG smokes seem to hold a special place in my heart! LOL

[Emperor Zurg]

You probably touched on something that is more significant than you realized and our state of mind when we enjoy our tobaccos can enhance it more than we know.

Oh, it is certainly significant. Cynic that I am, it seems the more I'm looking forward to something, the bigger let-down that thing will be. Aromatic pipe tobaccos = big let down: the flavor always plays second fiddle to the aroma. Likewise, I'm almost sure that if I paid $100 for a cigar, then aged it for 20 years, that cigar would be the biggest let-down I ever experienced. I seem to enjoy a tobacco the most when I'm expecting the least from it. Seems it works different for most people; if most folks paid $100 for a cigar, that cigar would be the very best thing they ever smoked and I don't care if it was dried chicken sh!t wrapped in an oak leaf

[Sir Lancerolot]

... I don't care if it was dried chicken sh!t wrapped in an oak leaf

Don't knock it till you've tried it ...

Which is exactly why I'm NEVER going to knock it ...

However, perhaps a little different perspective - it blows my mind that a $1.00 dog rocket Pirate's Gold turns into a pretty danged good smoke with a year or so of rest.