I'm 44 years old and have been smoking at least one big cigar per day for about 10 years. I usually buy the double corona sizes and cut them in half with my large cutter and then have two 45 minute robusto smokes for the price of one.
At this stage, there is really only one hand rolled long leaf brand that satisfies me (I'm having my morning smoke in my office as I type). That brand would be the La Gloria Cubana in EMS wrapper (English Market Selection). I of course do not inhale...I don't know how anyone could inhale what is arguably one of the world's strongest cigars. I do though enjoy the sting when I let in roll into my nose a bit...and they are quite salty. They are Dominican made.
I will also smoke Bauzas or Padron or Partagas if I'm out of LGCs. Of the Cubans, I really only like Sancho Panza, Bolivar, and Trinidads or maybe Cohiba. The rest although tasty are simply too light for my palate now.
I have become so used to cigars that anything but the heartiest taste grassy or straw-like to me. La Gloria Cubanas come by the box from
http://www.mikescigars.com/main.cfm or
http://www.jrcigars.com/ for about 3-5 dollars a stick in the big sizes. Cubans if authentic, will run you at least 10-12 dollars a stick. I have some pilot friends and truck drivers who bring them from the Registered Habana Stores outside the USA. Do not under any circumstances trust discount Cubans from any source besides the Habana stores or Davidoff or Dunhill shoppes. The rest are fakes.
The La Gloria Cubana Charlemagne stick is in my view as good a cigar as there is available on the planet. Rich, peppery, cedary, and very very pungent. I have two boxes on order from Mikes in North Miami(Bay Harbour) as we speak for 84.95/box of 25 sticks.
I hope I've been of help. Cigars are my last vice I allow myself and they are a pleasure my wife allows me to indulge.
Why am I not surprised that you know your way around cigars? I get mine from Nat Sherman in NYC or via the mail from Thompson Cigars in Tampa. My taste runs a little milder than yours.....Now how do you feel about single malts?