Cigar Aficionado Discussion Thread ...
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Curly J
I still have Champagne I believe. I was a big winner tonight in the raffle. Won a box of Padilla Reserva 20 count Toro 5.75x50.O-Trap;1373948 wrote:I miss the Cx2 Maduro. Always packed a healthy, spicy punch.
Padilla 1968? Those are delicious.
Myself, I'm having a Perdomo Grand Reserve Champagne tonight.
Gonna split them with my Cousin, who won a sampler pack and a t-shirt...along with the big prize which was a cigar from every tasting this month. About 12 sticks.
I did have a Padilla Reserve Maduro short stick. Very nice smoke. I smoked it until it burned my fingers. And the Rep from Padilla was HOT!!! Rumor had it she was the Daughter of the owner. She was a hottie latino babe!!!
Within the next 2 Weeks Larry Drew from Drew Estates will be there. Looking forward to that. -
O-Trap
Decent. Box apparently runs about $150. Never had them before.Curly J;1374113 wrote:I still have Champagne I believe. I was a big winner tonight in the raffle. Won a box of Padilla Reserva 20 count Toro 5.75x50.
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http://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-PL2&cat=3
What did the jarhead have to say about this?Curly J;1374113 wrote:I did have a Padilla Reserve Maduro short stick. Very nice smoke. I smoked it until it burned my fingers. And the Rep from Padilla was HOT!!! Rumor had it she was the Daughter of the owner. She was a hottie latino babe!!!
Oh this would just be cool. I wish I lived closer.Curly J;1374113 wrote:Within the next 2 Weeks Larry Drew from Drew Estates will be there. Looking forward to that. -
Curly J
O-Trap;1374130 wrote:Decent. Box apparently runs about $150. Never had them before.
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/prodDisp.asp?item=CS-PL2&cat=3
What did the jarhead have to say about this?
Oh this would just be cool. I wish I lived closer.
Yea I saw the sticker for it by the cash register where other were buying them.
And the Jarhead is cool about it. I was even bragging to her about the ladies' hotness. She knows where I'll end up. Just that much less work to get me turned on if I come home primed.
I wish you lived closer too my Brother. Should be an educational tasting. -
O-Trap
There are a few newer brand names (sometimes backed by a bigger, more experienced name) that I've really taken a liking to. Cain, Room 101, and Gurkha are the ones who come to mind most readily, and while I pretty much think Acid cigars are for little, pink, puckery things, I'm open to hearing if DE is doing some other stuff as well.Curly J;1374153 wrote:Yea I saw the sticker for it by the cash register where other were buying them.
And the Jarhead is cool about it. I was even bragging to her about the ladies' hotness. She knows where I'll end up. Just that much less work to get me turned on if I come home primed.
I wish you lived closer too my Brother. Should be an educational tasting. -
Curly J
I know DE has their hand in a lot of things. I was a fan of the Acids early on, but have since moved on. I do have a couple Room 101 and Gurkha's. Weird to see the cigar world is much like the beer world.O-Trap;1374186 wrote:There are a few newer brand names (sometimes backed by a bigger, more experienced name) that I've really taken a liking to. Cain, Room 101, and Gurkha are the ones who come to mind most readily, and while I pretty much think Acid cigars are for little, pink, puckery things, I'm open to hearing if DE is doing some other stuff as well. -
O-Trap
Yeah, you can see the similarities. There are people who will swear by anything that Fuente puts out ... just because it's Fuente. They'll also turn their nose up at anything by an up-and-comer just because it's not one of the old school companies. They don't ACTUALLY care about quality. They just care about the name. Annoys the hell outta me.Curly J;1374300 wrote:I know DE has their hand in a lot of things. I was a fan of the Acids early on, but have since moved on. I do have a couple Room 101 and Gurkha's. Weird to see the cigar world is much like the beer world.
I'll take most Gurkhas over the Fuente Unnamed Reserve, based on the smoke. Some won't hear of that because Gurkha didn't really do anything before 1996. -
Curly J
O-Trap;1374303 wrote:Yeah, you can see the similarities. There are people who will swear by anything that Fuente puts out ... just because it's Fuente. They'll also turn their nose up at anything by an up-and-comer just because it's not one of the old school companies. They don't ACTUALLY care about quality. They just care about the name. Annoys the hell outta me.
I'll take most Gurkhas over the Fuente Unnamed Reserve, based on the smoke. Some won't hear of that because Gurkha didn't really do anything before 1996.
Well I'm a nOOb when it comes to cigars. I just know what I like when I'm smoking it and what I'll buy again. -
Curly J
Tonight was a Padilla Reserva. Very nice.
Currently having a Padron 1964 Anniversary Series. Even Nicer -
O-Trap
Do want!Curly J;1378837 wrote:Currently having a Padron 1964 Anniversary Series. Even Nicer
If you like the '64 Anny (as I rarely know of someone who doesn't), you should keep an eye out for the 1926. Delicious.
I'm going to do a good, ol'-fashioned Cohiba maduro tonight. -
Curly J
O-Trap;1378870 wrote:Do want!
If you like the '64 Anny (as I rarely know of someone who doesn't), you should keep an eye out for the 1926. Delicious.
I'm going to do a good, ol'-fashioned Cohiba maduro tonight.
Liked it so much I bought another tonight. I believe they had the 1926 there too, but passed since I was fixated in the '64. I'll grab the 1926 next visit.
Last stick I had was a Torano Exodus 1959. Wasn't big on it after having the '64 Anny, but the more I had the better it got. The last third was great. Would. Smoke. Again.
Jonathon Drew will be at the tasting next week. Looking forward to that. -
O-Trap
Forgot how much I love the taste ... but hate the tight wrap.
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O-Trap
Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary tonight. Box press.
An acquaintance of mine, actually a big infomercial guy, sent me a box of them awhile back. This is my last one.
Delicious smoke. Earthy, VERY woody, and with a spice on the back end. -
gutCan't wait until the weather gets better again so I can smoke a few.
Speaking of which, should we have take this thread to the Big Smoke convention in Vegas? Nov 8-10 -
O-Trap
Diamond Crown Maximus tonight. One of Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 cigars in both 2010 and 2011.
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O-Trap
Just found another Patel 15th Anny in my traveling humidor.
I'll have it in my possession for about an hour more. -
Curly J
O-Trap;1383209 wrote:Just found another Patel 15th Anny in my traveling humidor.
I'll have it in my possession for about an hour more.
I've got a 15th and a 50 still. Think I'm going to give them to my Cousin Thursday when we have the cigar tasting. Along with the 10 Padilla Reservas that I promised him.
Finally got my humidor going and have no room in it. Time to buy another one I guess as I still have about 20 sticks that didn't fit in it. -
O-Trap
Yep. Gotta get those sticks into some good climate.
I was lucky. My old boss was going to get into cigars, but never did, so he just wanted to unload his humidor. Since he knew I was a cigar guy, he just gave it to me. It's got a capacity for 125 sticks, and it cost him around $300 (I looked it up when he gave it to me). As a result, I've never had to worry about where I was going to put my cigars since then.
However, I'm always looking at humidors, and I've seen some good deals lately. Check CI. -
Curly J
Shocked my Humidor the past few days. Got it up to 86%. Let it settle and added about 50 plus cigars. It's down to 76%. Problem is I just found another 20 plus sticks that won't fit. Well it's time to re-season the smaller humidors and try to fit them in there. #firstworldproblems.
Currently having a pretty dried out Don Tomas. Smoking pretty well in spite of being in a humidor I forgot about. Hopefully The Wife won't wake up and smell the 'stinkiness'... Hoping to try to smoke the dryer ones as not to waste them. Luckily the are cheaper ones.
I am looking forward to meeting Johnathon Drew tomorrow at the cigar tasting. I even got my Chateau Real hat laid out, in fact I'm wearing it right now. Just hoping he might bring a special one to buy. I'll provide pics if it happens.
Oh and the Dom Tomas is smoking good...or maybe it's the Hopslam that it making me think that, but I am enjoying it. -
O-Trap
Was going to treat myself to one of my Opuses, but I decided I've still got too many Gurkha Vintage 1999s to be smoking the rest of my lot.
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Curly J
Got to meet Jonathon Drew tonight. Totally seemed like a douche. With his hat, sunglasses, and chain around his neck...and his whole Posse rushing him out. But that's a millionaire for ya.
But I did get his autograph on my hat. He did pay more attention to The Wife than me. Understandable.
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O-Trap
Dude makes ACID, Tabak, and Java brands. He has not earned the right to be a douche. Those brands all blow tar.
His only decent line are the Drew Estates ones. Those aren't half bad. The rest of his stuff is boo-boo wrapped in a weak sauce maduro wrapper.
He's like a miniature InBev of cigars. An occasional nut from the blind squirrel, but otherwise, it's just proper marketing to people who have no idea about cigars. -
Curly J
O-Trap;1384819 wrote:Dude makes ACID, Tabak, and Java brands. He has not earned the right to be a douche. Those brands all blow tar.
His only decent line are the Drew Estates ones. Those aren't half bad. The rest of his stuff is boo-boo wrapped in a weak sauce maduro wrapper.
He's like a miniature InBev of cigars. An occasional nut from the blind squirrel, but otherwise, it's just proper marketing to people who have no idea about cigars.
Bingo. We have winner !!!
There were so many hipsters tonight in their tight jeans. And when he talked, it was all about The World was against him and how he over came. I was a big Acid Fan in my early smoking days, but have since moved on... no more of them.
The autograph was basically a joke. Especially after his entourage told me he couldn't do anything after the person in front if me. Which was my cousin. He was getting a hat signed that I gave him from buying his sticks months ago.
At least he loved The Wife because she had "warm hands". I didn't have the heart to tell him where her hands were prior to that.
Oh and he only said Nicaragua about 50 times in his speech...glad you lived there Dude and you make your cigars there, but enough about Nicaragua !!! Hipsters are buying your sticks now. Shut Up!!! -
Terry_Tate
Alright, I'm in Key West and want to get a few good cigars. I'd prefer a sweeter and smooth cigar, so what are some good suggestions? Reps when I get back to Cincy. -
Curly J
I really don't know, but from what I hear in Ohio they make the cigars for you down there in Florida on a street corner.Terry_Tate;1384874 wrote:Alright, I'm in Key West and want to get a few good cigars. I'd prefer a sweeter and smooth cigar, so what are some good suggestions? Reps when I get back to Cincy.
And isn't Key West a big Gay place...just saying. :rolleyes: -
O-Trap
Curly J;1384859 wrote:Bingo. We have winner !!!
There were so many hipsters tonight in their tight jeans. And when he talked, it was all about The World was against him and how he over came. I was a big Acid Fan in my early smoking days, but have since moved on... no more of them.
The autograph was basically a joke. Especially after his entourage told me he couldn't do anything after the person in front if me. Which was my cousin. He was getting a hat signed that I gave him from buying his sticks months ago.
At least he loved The Wife because she had "warm hands". I didn't have the heart to tell him where her hands were prior to that.
Oh and he only said Nicaragua about 50 times in his speech...glad you lived there Dude and you make your cigars there, but enough about Nicaragua !!! Hipsters are buying your sticks now. Shut Up!!!
Hipsters??? Is he the owner of American Spirit, and I just haven't heard about it???
Seriously, he appeals to that crowd. Funny thing is, his brands might be the worst of the brands that appeal to that kind of crowd. Room 101, Cain, and a new one I tried a couple weeks ago called "Swag" (I kid you not) are all better.
Find something with just the word Bahamas on the label. It should cost you like 75 cents.Terry_Tate;1384874 wrote:Alright, I'm in Key West and want to get a few good cigars. I'd prefer a sweeter and smooth cigar, so what are some good suggestions? Reps when I get back to Cincy.
In all seriousness, you're not going find a "sweet" cigar of any real quality. Now, if you want a MILD cigar, look for a cigar called the Ashton Cabinet. Relatively easy to find, and smooth, but they hold their flavor well.
Other lighter ones would be:
Oliva Series O
Oliva Series G
Romeo y Julieta Vintage I
Gurkha Gran Reserve Natural (comes in a tubo ... lighter wrapper)
Fuente Spanish Light Candela
Man-O-War Virtue (if you can ever find it)
Ave Maria Grand Reserve
Macanudo Jade
Macanudo Cafe
Montecristo #3 (Connecticut version)
Pretty much any Davidoff brand cigar (though they're stupid expensive, and not worth the price, in my opinion)
As I don't know whether or not you're a cigar guy, I'll give you a few tips and/or rules of etiquette for cigar smoking in the presence of others (even non-cigar smokers).
1. First of all, the light. There are a few common ways to light a cigar. FYI, the end you light is called the 'foot', though people rarely use it in conversation. The method I use has been known by a couple names, the most descriptive of which is called the "Toast, Roll, & Blow" (have fun with that , OC). First you clip your cigar.
Then, you take either a match or a butane lighter (I like a match, but if you're new the lighter is probably better -- I would try to avoid a non-butane lighter, as it can affect the taste of the tobacco near the foot), and you hold it againt the foot, moving it around, until the entire foot is black, or "toasted." NOTE: You don't puff on it while doing this, and if you really want, you can watch what you're doing to make sure you singe it all.
Next, you start puffing on the cigar as you hold the lighter to the foot of it and slowly rotate the cigar, making sure you try to get as much of the foot completely lit as possible.
Finally, when you think you've lit the whole foot, you turn it around and blow on the foot, looking for the whole thing to light up when you do. If you blow on it, and part of it stays black while the rest burns orange, that means you missed that spot with the roll, and you just have to puff on it and touch up that spot.
If, however, the whole foot burns orange, you've got yourself a nicely-lit cigar.
2. Relax. Cigars are meant to be enjoyed. "Toke 'til you choke" is for cannabis. Not fine tobacco, so chill out as there is no worry of coming in last in a race. Take a slow draw or a couple puffs and let the big, thick smoke slowly rise in the room. If you get through a 5.5-inch (or more) cigar in less than 45 minutes, you're probably doing it wrong.
3. Finishing up. It's not really acceptable to use a roach clip, so a cigar is normally finished when it's about 25% of its original length (different for presidente length). Maybe 1.5 - 2 inches. At that point, you set it down in or next to the ash tray and let it go out on its own. Do NOT tamp or mash it out. That actually causes the light to run through some of the foot too quickly and creates a gross burnt tar smell that will likely offend the people around you. It will die on its own, so just set it down and let it go out.
Hopefully that was helpful. Enjoy your time down there!
* BONUS - A little tip: If you're concerned about getting tobacco bits in your mouth after cutting, I recommend cutting the cigar, blowing on the cut end, and then dipping that end into a drink of some kind. Blowing on the end will get most of the really loose flakes, so that they don't get in your drink. And dipping it in your drink will help ensure that anything that might come off in your mouth later instead sticks to the cigar. Good drinks for this that I've tried are: Water, beer, coffee, whiskey, and sambuca (don't ask). Just don't do it with milk. Disgusting.