For a long time, I didn’t like Connies. I had smoked enough of them to decide they weren’t my thing, and that opinion followed me whenever I encountered another one. I already knew what I liked. Why spend time and money on something I probably wouldn’t enjoy?
But I’ve since smoked several different Connies that have completely changed my mind. I just had to open myself up to them. Had I kept treating my previous experience as the final word, I would have missed cigars I now thoroughly enjoy.
That has made me think about how we use the experience we accumulate. The more cigars we smoke, the more we have to draw from. We recognize flavors, discover preferences, and become familiar with what particular blenders and factories produce. We learn what makes us reach for another cigar and what makes us put one down. All of that helps us make choices.
It can also make our opinions harder to change.
We see a wrapper designation and anticipate a profile. We recognize a factory and expect a particular style. A favorite brand gets the benefit of the doubt, while a brand that disappointed us once has to fight its way back into consideration. Before we’ve cut the cap, we’ve already formed an idea of what the experience will be.
I do this too. I research the cigars I buy. I look into the blender, the factory, the tobacco, and previous reviews because I want some context before spending my money. That research has helped me find a lot of wonderful cigars. But it also means I arrive at the smoking experience with expectations. I have to pay attention to whether I’m discovering what’s there or looking for what I’ve been told should be there.
Once we have an opinion, it’s easy to keep finding reasons to hold onto it. If I expect a Connie to bore me, familiar flavors can become evidence that I was right. I can recognize the profile and stop paying attention to how it develops, how its elements interact, or how the whole experience holds together. I’ve identified something familiar and allowed that recognition to settle my judgment.
That can happen with cigars we love, too. A favorite blender releases something new, and our enthusiasm arrives before the cigar does. We’re ready to find the qualities that made us fans in the first place. Giving a cigar a fair hearing takes attention even when we’re inclined to like it.
Whether we publish reviews or simply decide what deserves a place in our humidors, we all evaluate what we smoke. Our preferences belong in that evaluation. Enjoyment is personal, and I’m certainly not going to pretend mine isn’t. But I want those preferences to remain open to revision. Saying “I haven’t enjoyed these” leaves room for another experience. Saying “I don’t like these” can close that door without our even noticing.
My experience with Connies reminded me that I can know my palate and still discover something new about it. Those cigars changed my opinion because I gave them the opportunity. The history I brought to them was real, but so was the enjoyment they gave me.
The longer I smoke cigars, the more I want to keep that willingness alive. I want my experience to help me pay closer attention and understand more of what’s in front of me. And when a cigar contradicts what I thought I knew, I want to be able to enjoy that discovery.
Keeping our judgment open as our experience grows takes a little willingness to reconsider ourselves. There are still cigars out there that can change our minds. We have to give them a chance.
You’re probably wondering what Connies I love. I extracted the following cigars from All My Reviews.
| Cigar | Wrapper | Rating | What stood out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privada Rare Box Eladio Experience Robusto | Connecticut Shade / Ecuador | 99 | Rich, layered delivery with sparkling spice, sustained energy, and medium strength as the profile deepens. |
| Pospiech Smoke This Trust Me Connecticut Toro | Connecticut | 96 | Balanced, creamy delivery develops into a latte-like finish without harshness or loss of composure. |
| Domain Attenuation Toro Extra | Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed / Ecuador: Cajuaca | 97 | Clarity, expansiveness, and energy as body builds, without becoming heavy. |
| Penn Standard Gold Standard Toro Deluxe Tubo | Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade | 90 | Citrus lift and smooth movement balance a darker, more muscular foundation as spice builds late. |
| Cayman Sovereign II Robusto | Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed / Country: Ecuador | 96 | Effortless movement and savory complexity remain smooth and disciplined through the finish. |
| Cigar Page Scratch Blends Retrohale #1 | Ecuadorian Connecticut | 92 | Brightness and subtle complexity remain articulate as spice and strength build, without late harshness. |
| Attaie One & Only Connecticut Toro | Connecticut | 97 | Shifting points of emphasis within a coherent, refined profile, with citrus, nuts, and a composed finish. |
| Megilla Miami Toro | Connecticut Shade (USA/Ecuador) | 94 | Refinement and composure persist as the profile gains depth, remaining flavorful without harshness or muddiness. |
| Martinez Don Antonio Escogido Numero 5 | Connecticut | 93 | Bright, lightly creamy delivery reveals greater underlying depth and rewards a slower smoking pace. |
| Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut | Connecticut | 90 | Subtle, delicate flavors remain consistent, offering steady enjoyment rather than pronounced transitions. |
That’s a lot of enjoyment I would have missed by sticking with “I don’t like Connies.” And it makes me wonder what else I’ve been passing over because I think I already know how I’ll feel about it.
I’m looking forward to finding out.
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