Cigar enthusiasts?

[PsychedelicFuzz]

I noticed in the lottery thread that there are a few more cigar afficionados here, so I thought I'd start a discussion about what, when and where you smoke.

So on with it. My latest fixation is the Oliveros Classic Collection, especially the Coroneles and Toro. They produce more thick, lush, white smoke than anything I've yet smoked. Absolutely perfect for when I'm spinning "Kind of Blue" and trying to unwind.

[GA Russell]

My Russell Moon cigars are made exclusively for me by La Luna Cigars of Miami. I love La Lunas and encourage everyone to try them. Their number is 1-877-Y-LA-LUNA.

My Second Amendment cigars are private label made for me by blenders in Miami.

Among other Miami cigars, I like La Tradicion Cubana and Padron. Moore & Bode makes a good smoke as well.

Among the imports, I go for Torano. I had one of their latest line a few months ago and it was particularly good.

Remember, as with jazz taste in cigars is subjective. Don't let yourself be buffaloed into liking Cubans or other cigars just because you've been told you're supposed to. Enjoy whatever you like the best! It's supposed to be enjoyable!

[PsychedelicFuzz]

Originally posted by GA Russell

Remember, as with jazz taste in cigars is subjective. Don't let yourself be buffaloed into liking Cubans or other cigars just because you've been told you're supposed to. Enjoy whatever you like the best! It's supposed to be enjoyable!

Amen to that! You'd be surprised...well, you probably wouldn't actually...at the number of people who balk at my fondness for Acid and Lars.

[ralphie_boy]

I enjoy LaGloria Cubana Wavells (prefer those made in Miami). I also like Liencenciados Toros, Padron 3000 and Excallibur #1 to name a few.

[Rocket #9]

I'm a Montecristo #4 (Cuban) man. I like the Cohibas too, but they're too damn expensive.

I'm also fond of the Romeo y Julieta Coronas and various Cuabas.

Ed

[brownie]

Sorry to say this right from the start: there is nothing like a good Havana cigars.
I've been smoking them for several decades and keep a good supply handy with the help of a French friend who works in Havana. He has grown into a Havana cigars fan since he settled in the island ten years ago and contributes to a French specialized magazine for cigar lovers.. He keeps me supplied with various brands at unmentionably cheap prices. And the ones I get are no fakes.
Some favorites:
- Ramon Allones Gigantes and Specially Selected,
- Romeo and Juliet Churchills,
- Cohiba Esplendidos,
- Partagas Lusitanias and Churchills.
The Ramon Allones are my favorites. They are not seen pretty often.
I traveled to Cuba several years ago and my friend introduced me to one of the girls who was rolling those handmades Ramon Allones. She was the one providing him with some of those hard to get RA boxes.

When I'm out of those great cigars, I avoid the non-Havana ones. Sorry to say, they're just not in the same class. I have tried several brands but never got the same fullfiling taste.
French cigar stores now have lesser brand of Havana cigars from Jose Piedra (their Cremas are OK) and Raphael Gonzales which are pretty good and at very acceptable prices. Those are pretty good for a quick smoking experience.

[porcy 62]

Did anyone try italian "Toscano"?
Maybe I have not refined taste, but I like them.
And I like strong tastes, so between the cuban I prefer Romeo e Julieta "cazadores", Partagas "898" (varnished box) and Ramon Allones "specially selected".

[ralphie_boy]

I envy you guys that can get Cubans at a reasonable price. I love full-bodied cigars and relish those rare opportunities that I can come by a real Cohiba, Monte or Partagas.

[jazzguyfromnc]

Ok d@mmit I'm going home and having a cigar now. :D

[GA Russell]

You're from Clayton? I'm practically next door! We should get together for a herf!

[victor]

Originally posted by PsychedelicFuzz
I noticed in the lottery thread that there are a few more cigar afficionados here, so I thought I'd start a discussion about what, when and where you smoke.

So on with it. My latest fixation is the Oliveros Classic Collection, especially the Coroneles and Toro. They produce more thick, lush, white smoke than anything I've yet smoked. Absolutely perfect for when I'm spinning "Kind of Blue" and trying to unwind.

usually when i am unwinding and listening to MILES then i light up a white owl
that helps me relax:smokin:

[JFitzGenius]

I must say, I likes me the La Gloria Cubana cigars. A solid smoke, fit for a Genius. :cool:

[ScreaminJayHawkins]

I'm still experimenting. I go to the shop and ask the guy to make me try something new. I smoke about one each month with my girlfriend who is, herself, an amateur too.

[ralphie_boy]

Originally posted by JFitzGenius
I must say, I likes me the La Gloria Cubana cigars. A solid smoke, fit for a Genius. :cool:

I haven't smoked one in a while, but someone was just telling me that they're not as good as they used to be.

[Rocket #9]

Originally posted by GA Russell
You're from Clayton? I'm practically next door! We should get together for a herf!

Herf? Is that Carolina-speak, or have I been away from home for too long?

Ed

[GA Russell]

Ed, I believe that "herf" is of British origin. It means a meeting for the purpose of smoking (and drinking and gabbing).

The term "herf" caught on in the US in the mid- to late-90s.

[PsychedelicFuzz]

decided to bump this up and share my elation with everyone.
This week I finally got my hands on my first Cuban.:)

[victor]

decided to bump this up and share my elation with everyone.
This week I finally got my hands on my first Cuban.:)

what brand did you get and was it a smooth smoke :)

[spencer096]

CAO Brazil is a very tasty model. Cohibas are amazing, but expensive. Consistantly, for the money and for the quality, my fav cigars are arturo fuente's doenst matter the model.

ahha, i heard white owls mentioned. those are the best drugstore brands, but i only like em as marijuana cigars.

[PsychedelicFuzz]

Flor de Cano,

just finished it as a matter of fact. It was pretty smooth, really thick white smoke for a smaller ring size...but from what I'm hearing they are on the mellow side for a Cuban

and it didn't cost me a dime. :cool:
that makes it an overwhelming success

[wolff]

Wow, a cigar thread! My coolerdors and humidors are full of both Central American and Cuban cigars.

The Flor De Cano is a Cuban machine made cigar and one of the better ones.

Looks like Brownie and I have similar taste in Cuban cigars.
The recent output from Cuba has been top notch.

Isn't La Luna out of business? Great cigar while it was easy to find. Never tried a Russell Moon. Maybe we can work out a sampler trade.

[wolff]

If anyone needs reliable, highly recommended sources for Cuban cigars, PM me.

[Munch]

I am not upmarket like you guys, being now a pensioner and balancing the income between jazz CD's and cigars is a fine art.
My cigars are Classics or King Edwards. The bigger King Edwards are an occasional luixury and ideal for listening to jazz while sipping some vanilla coffee that I got as a present from a friend who had visited Disney World. The two of them go well together, like Bird and Diz, Slim and Slam, Jay and Kai, or Al and Zoot.
Can't beat a fine cigar. The biggies are fine for chewing on as well. I was hunting around the house once looking for a big cigar butt that I thought I had misplaced, until my wife said that it was stuck between my teeth!

[GA Russell]

LOL at Munch!

Wolff, La Luna is alive and well. They are gearing up to open a new factory in Honduras later this year.

[wolff]

Good to hear. Smoking a very tatsy Cuban RyJ Belicosos at the moment.

Drop by Herfer's Paradise and tell them Wolff sent you. Maybe, you can post something in the Commercial forum. I'm sure you have info, stories, specials, etc.. that we'd be interested in. Many rumors about Gael floating about....

[brownie]

Looks like Brownie and I have similar taste in Cuban cigars.
The recent output from Cuba has been top notch.



We also seem to have similar taste in vinyls.
As for cigars, my Cuban connection (who is actually French) was in town for his annual vacation and presented me with a full box of Cohiba Lanceros. The Lanceros is not my favorite brand but the sample I smoked turned out to be excellent. Looks like the Cohibas are back in shape after their pretty long slump in quality.
My friend also presented me with a pack of three Cohiba Siglo VI, a very rare item. Those cigars come in smart metal tubes.
Will smoke one of those on the next major occasion. Will create that occasion if it takes too long!

[wolff]

As for cigars, my Cuban connection (who is actually French) was in town for his annual vacation and presented me with a full box of Cohiba Lanceros. Looks like the Cohibas are back in shape after their pretty long slump in quality.
My friend also presented me with a pack of three Cohiba Siglo VI, a very rare item. Those cigars come in smart metal tubes.

A whole box!! Very nice friend!! I would love to get Habanos at Cuban prices. I think they are at least 50-75% less bought in Cuba than they are from my 'bonded warehouse' vendors.

What are French tobacco taxes like?

Cohibas are a rare treat for me. I usually get 5 packs of the smaller Siglo II.
Heard good things about the VI, so enjoy!!! I have one VI a friend gave me, but am letting it age a year or so.

Have you tried many of the Edicion Limitadas?

[brownie]

Wolf, my friend owes me big.
I also introduced him to Havana cigars before he ever set foot in Cuba. He is now a Havana junkie. He smokes half a dozen a day and contributes to a French magazine for cigar afficionados.
And being a great friend, he provides me with a regular stash at prices you would not want to know about. And what he gets for me are the real thing, not the fake ones that are so easily available in Cuba. I treat him royally when he comes to France.
The latest Cohibai box came in free - along with the Siglo VI. Love my friend!
He also provided me with several of the Edicion (muy) Limitadas. These came in small boxes of two or three which he got at Havana junkies meeting on homeground. I remember a couple of marvelous Trinidads. Things of the past by now but the memory lingers.
As for tobacco taxes in France, they have gone drastically higher last year.
Still a single Cohiba Lanceros retails for €16.5 (about $20) over here. €13.3 in Spain and cheaper in Andorra. But all Cohibas are way too expensive.
When I run out of the expensive brands, I usually wait and buy them in Spain (or Andorra) where I travel several times a year. Can't afford the French prices.
As mentioned previously the Jose Piedra at around €1 keep me happy in the interval. Not great smokes but enjoyable ones and available at any local decent tobacco shops.

[wolff]

Watcha smokin'?

I had a great Diplomatico #2 last night.
About ready to torch a Partagas Series D #4. Need a full stomach for this one. :laugh:

[jacman]

FWIW, Brother GA Russell gifted me several of his cigars a while ago. very tasty. :clap:

i'm fond of ERDM Robust Larga, Punch Maduro X2 Roths, Punch Chateau L, and my daily smoke is usually a Connie #9 or an El Credito.

[bucfever]

I'm still experimenting. I go to the shop and ask the guy to make me try something new. I smoke about one each month with my girlfriend who is, herself, an amateur too.

I have several favorites, but it's hard to go wrong with the Fuentes family, but one brand I'm loving more and more each time I smoke them are called Hav-A-Joe, very clean, consistant medium body/great taste smoke, not easy to find outside of Tampa, but you can get them online. Others I love are Punch, Gurkha and Vegas 5....always looking for something new though.....suggestions are welcome.

[tpt1]

I had a Punch Rare Corojo with a friend the other night -- very nice. And I've been stuck on these from La Aroma de Cuba for the past few months:

http://www.seriouscigars.com/images/La%20Aroma%20De%20Cuba_mfr.gif

[zaragemca]

I have my share of exposure when I was In Cuba,(my GradPa was a Tabaquero).Dr. Zaragemca

[Bill Robinson]

••• My old standby humidor-stuffer is the Flor de Oliva churchill. I get them by mail thru Famous Cigar Co. ••• In a pinch, I go down to my CVS pharmacy and get the handmade hondurans they sell.

[Jack Good]

http://www.jrcigars.com/graphics/logo/FLOR%20DE%20MURIAS.gif

FLOR DE MURIAS - SOVEREIGN MADURO Item Code: FMS3 at www.jrcigars.com Cedar Chest of 20 - Tissue Wrapped; Retail:80.00 JR price:55.95; Origin: Dominican Republic; Length: 6.75 Ring: 45; Strength: Mild-Medium; Wrapper Color: Very Dark Brown (X); Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf; Binder: Mexico; Filler: DR/MEX; Shape: Parejo

** The most satisfying smoke I've found (other than the real goods) in many years of cigar enjoyment - Europe and here. An almost erotic smell to the wrapper (will remind you, with a real rush, of that Jamaican gal used to cut your hair way back when), a slow, steady burn built to last, even tastes good when (god forbid) abandoned and relit the next day. Streets better than the Sovereign with regular wrapper - don't order the wrong one.

** Half-n-half Newcastle Brown and Bass Ale :cheers in a 20-oz frosted mug; a dark Sovereign; a seat on the balcony; Jimmy Smith, Gato Barbieri, Ben Webster and Charlie Shavers on the speakers ... don't bother me, I'm vegetating. Straight ahead, man ...

[jazzcritic]

If you choose to smoke cigars, be sure you're getting regular medical checkups and have your funeral plans ready. As a non-smoking cancer survivor of 27 years, I can tell you that it's no picnic fighting any variety of malignant tumor.

[tpt1]

J. Fuego Gran Reserva Corojo No. 1 ( 2nd from the left in the picture )

Picked one up by chance at a Davidoff store and promptly went back for a few more. An excellent smoke -- highly recommended!

http://www.westcoastcigars.net/theCigars/JFuegoGranReservaCorojoNo1.jpg