mjp's CIGAR NEWS* and my picks and other cigar info, please add your own comments!

[stumpjumper]

Originally Posted by jack404

i buy or trade for HOYO DE MONTERREY or BOLIVAR...

http://www.cigars-review.org/Bolivar...s-Gigantes.htm

jack, you read my mind. give me a nicaraguan or honduran hoyo and i'm in heaven

[stumpjumper]

as for cuban cigars, i don't care for them. the taste seems to linger well after I've finished it. I do grab a box or two when I go to the carribean, no need to take off bands, customs will generally let you slide with a small amount of them. they figure it's for private use. found that out when i got stopped with them by a customs agent who used to be stationed at the same cg base as me.

[polishshooter]

Yeah, I too have seen a decrease in the quality of the Cubans over the past 10 years or so...

The word I get is they are running out of the legendary "12 year old Virgin thighs" they roll them with....

[Maine04657]

Originally Posted by DixieLandMan

Maine, some of those Opus X look really old. Better send me one to test so you do not have any bad ones. Better make it 2 just to make sure.

Some are but they are for when I desire one that is why I have them. Though I do trade now and then.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Yeah, I too have seen a decrease in the quality of the Cubans over the past 10 years or so...

The word I get is they are running out of the legendary "12 year old Virgin thighs" they roll them with....

At one time Cuba "the Jewel of the Caribbean" was the best place in the world for cigars, particularily in the Pinar del Rio area but years of improvements elsewhere plus the long effect of Castro's rule and other factors has taken it's toll. The sight of rusting tractors in the field isn't a good thing. Still some some real top cigars still are made there.

Investments in DR, Honduran, Nicarguan and other areas has improved quite a bit over time.

For more about CUBA & Cigars go to those who cover it there:

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/home/channel/name/cuba

[jack404]

cuban or not , go for the taste , thats what you pay for in a good cigar , and yeah cuba aint the only place where theres taste now days

but you still pay for taste

a good box here runs $400 or so ( 50 )

only thing i spent money on was a humidor and good cigar cutter , couldn't trade for em

[mjp28]

Cigar order I got today, not best light. Box of PUNCH MADURO DOUBLE CORONAS.
Two casks of SANCHO PANZA, a sample pack of Belicosos with Siglo, Gurkas and others.

[polishshooter]

I have to admit, of the dozen or so Cubans I have smoked, I loved them ALL except the one I actually PAID for...

My buddy who is a pilot who had some nebulous connection with a diplomatic pouch from another country that supplied his BEST buddy who is also a buddy of mine with a steady supply of Cubans over the past 10 years...and I have enjoyed a goodly number of excellent Cuban cigars during that time...

BUT a few maybe 4 or 5 years ago my company had a National meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario, based at the "new" Casino Niagara...

I got lucky at the Casino slots, the first night +125 Canadian, the second +$64 and the last +$32 Canadian....back when Canadian $ were worth LESS than Amercian, not like NOW... And I decided a good cigar and a scotch would taste good....

Down the hallway from the casino was a "Tabacconist," who sold Cubans...he escorted me into the wall to wall humidor of Cubans, and I innocently asked at one display how many I got for the one displayed with the price of $129.00..."Oh ONE sir..."

Well anyway, even though I was playing with THEIR money I remembered I was still a "Cheap@ss" And bought one of their H. Upmann "Havanas' in the Grey tube which was their cheapest Cubans at $17.95 Canadian.

Back at the Casino, at the bar, I drank a nice single malt which did NOT cost much more than I would have paid in the States at the time...had a NICE conversation with some elderly tourists from New York who lived not too far from where I grew up....and marveled that this $17.95 Canadian "Cuban" Uppman was not all that different from the $6.95 Honduran Uppman's in the GOLD tubes I have bought many times in the past!


But the Grey Upman "Havana" tube looks GOOD in my Swift case holding my cleaning brushes and tips, LOL

[Maine04657]

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Down the hallway from the casino was a "Tabacconist," who sold Cubans...he escorted me into the wall to wall humidor of Cubans, and I innocently asked at one display how many I got for the one displayed with the price of $129.00..."Oh ONE sir..."

Fully 90 percent of "Cuban" cigars sold in Canada are fakes. Just like those you may hear of being ordered from Hong kong or most of that region of the world.

Also just a word here about legality. It is ILLEGAL for a American citizen to buy or consume ANY product of Cube even when your NOT in the USA. Yes that's right if your a us citizen in Canada or any other country and buy a Cuban cigar or are given one and smoke it there your still in violation of US law. It is also unwise for a American citizen to put in writing on say a forum they have or have had a cigar or any other item from post embargo Cuba.

Customs is not known for going after people for this but they CAN and have. Many who order them online get there order and inside the box is a letter saying the items have been seized and gives you a number to call to claim them otherwise the matter will be dropped. IE you call your in trouble you do nothing then you just write off the money you spent as they will not charge you unless you call and tell you the items are yours.

I do not mean to be the bg here but just thought a little food for thought may be good at this point for those who are US citizens. Those of you who are not have fun and enjoy what you can.

[polishshooter]

Lighten up, Maine!

It is also illegal to cross the border without a visa or passport and it's not like our wonderful Justice Department is enforcing THAT little law...

Now granted as a Republican I think JFK just MIGHT have been the last REAL Amercan President that happened to be a Democrat, but the EMBARGO was the worst thing we could have come up with....

The REASON those tractors are rusting in the fields AND 1952 Chevys are considered "Late Model" trucks long after the fall of the Soviet Union is BECAUSE they didn't learn to "embrace capitalism."

Even the SOVIETS learned they couldn't make better Coca Cola, Levis, OR Deep Drill Oil Bits they got from Dresser Clark Industries, so had to BUY them...

Cuban Cigars would NOT have declined in quality if the millions of US $ would have been spent in Cuba on their cigars over the years....and the Cuban people WOULD have been better off for it....and the Castro's would be a FOOTNOTE of history by now....

Capitalism is POWER.


Obama doesn't get it.

[jack404]

so me bringing cigars into the USA and giving one to , and smoking a cuban with , a US citizen makes them a criminal ??

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiP!

hmmmm i wonder if i could get'z me a invite to the white house ??

time for Brother Khalid to re emerge maybe ? slip obozo a cigar and call customs ..

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by Maine04657

Fully 90 percent of "Cuban" cigars sold in Canada are fakes. Just like those you may hear of being ordered from Hong kong or most of that region of the world..

I've had a lot of well meaning friends buy me Cubans from primarily Canada but also Mexico, Bahamas and other areas.

They paid a lot, many in tubes and I didn't want to hurt their feelings -but- many were OK at best, some were dreadful!

A very few actually got caught doing it.

And watch anyone on the street or under the counter who has a box "authenic" Cuban Montecristo #2s for $50 (or whatever) .....they're fake.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Lighten up, Maine!

..... but the EMBARGO was the worst thing we could have come up with....

The REASON those tractors are rusting in the fields AND 1952 Chevys are considered "Late Model" trucks long after the fall of the Soviet Union is BECAUSE they didn't learn to "embrace capitalism."

Even the SOVIETS learned they couldn't make better Coca Cola, Levis, OR Deep Drill Oil Bits they got from Dresser Clark Industries, so had to BUY them...

Cuban Cigars would NOT have declined in quality if the millions of US $ would have been spent in Cuba on their cigars over the years....and the Cuban people WOULD have been better off for it....and the Castro's would be a FOOTNOTE of history by now....

Capitalism is POWER.
Obama doesn't get it.

Initally we "the USA" did not want dollars to go to the brutal Castro regime....but 40-50 years later it's just kind of a pissing contest now. Other countries are investing in Cuba and their beautiful climate and beaches.

I believed later we could have toppled Castro with a massive dose of VD...or maybe better yet CAPITALIST fever! Drench the people with that power and see how long Fidel would last.

Actually Castro was never really into the Commie thing, especially when his USSR buddies went away, Cuba was ripe right then!

[Maine04657]

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Lighten up, Maine!

I am super light. I live way up in in the woods of Maine. I own all the land around me and can stand on any side of my home and shoot my machine gunss all day without a worry in the world what could be more light?

However being I have been on the net for quite a few years back to the days of the BBS and been on several cigar forums I have known a few people who talked and got in legal trouble for doing so. Just like firearms the gov mines forums looking for activity they can act on. I was simply putting it out there. I am not a nanny or your guardian just a guy passing along a little information to any of those who may not know they may be breaking a law and admitting to it in a public forum.

[gun runner]

Ive never smoked the real expensive cigars just the swisher sweets. I dont smoke cigars anymore because its like smoking 10 cigarettes at one time and you cant really inhale. I stick to marlboro lights shorts in a box. I wish I could quit but they calm my hands when I am target shooting

[whirley]

Quoting Kipling....A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke!

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by gun runner

Ive never smoked the real expensive cigars just the swisher sweets. I dont smoke cigars anymore because its like smoking 10 cigarettes at one time and you cant really inhale. I stick to marlboro lights shorts in a box. I wish I could quit but they calm my hands when I am target shooting

Nothing wrong with what I call the "drug store cigars", Dutch Masters, RG Dunn, White owls, A&Gs, all that. I smoked Dutch Masters Perfectos by the box.

Swisher Sweets, OMG, I'd buy 3, 4 boxes at a time, all NOT premiums, the tar just used to glob out of the SS, it turned my blonde mustache dingy brown.

I'd smoke maybe 1200 of those a year, easy. I'd burn one down in 12 minutes. burn a 5 pack in about 1 hour (+/-)

Then I saw the light, premiums, a good Churchill will last 45-75 minutes depending on how often you puff on it and taste way better. Dollar for dollar a better deal. Smoke less, enjoy more.

Still like wine, it's what you like, try samplers!

[Clipper]

An evening spent on my deck, by the pond, enjoying either a good single malt, or maybe some Jameson's or even a good 100% Agave Tequila and one of my Honduran, Nicaraguan or even Jamaican cigars is time well spent. My old dog (soon turning 19) also enjoys those times, and seems to enjoy the smell of the cigars as much as I do.

[polishshooter]

Originally Posted by Maine04657

I am super light. I live way up in in the woods of Maine. I own all the land around me and can stand on any side of my home and shoot my machine gunss all day without a worry in the world what could be more light?

However being I have been on the net for quite a few years back to the days of the BBS and been on several cigar forums I have known a few people who talked and got in legal trouble for doing so. Just like firearms the gov mines forums looking for activity they can act on. I was simply putting it out there. I am not a nanny or your guardian just a guy passing along a little information to any of those who may not know they may be breaking a law and admitting to it in a public forum.

Maine, I appreciate your concern and technically you are correct.

But it is tough ENOUGH to get witnessed, written and signed admisions "given freely without any threats or promises being made" admitted in court as evidence any more WITHOUT any other direct forensic evidence, be it video, DNA, direct witnesses, etc, etc, etc.... (trust me, I do it for a living, and have done it so far in 28 states)

Yeah, I agree, it may not keep you from being investigated or questioned....depending on what the admission is and/or to WHAT...

But PROSECUTED for an "admission" to smoking Cubans on the 'net?

[mjp28]

An evening spent on my deck, by the pond, enjoying either a good single malt, or maybe some Jameson's or even a good 100% Agave Tequila and one of my Honduran, Nicaraguan or even Jamaican cigars is time well spent. My old dog (soon turning 19) also enjoys those times, and seems to enjoy the smell of the cigars as much as I do.

Clipper, TRUE STORY -- (yeah I have a million of 'em), about 1997 or so my old bookie friend used to smoke cigarettes like crazy, nervous guy, and NEVER had a light!

One day I said whoa buddy you've got to cut back on the cigs, try cigars. Maybe one in the morning, maybe afternoon or evening. You soon will learn to relax and slow down a bit....enjoy not inhale pack after pack.

It worked!

A few weeks later he was thanking me and bitching me out, he was smoking 3 or 4 $10+ Ashtons a day and this was about 15 years ago.

Well find a cheaper smoke for driving (drove a lot ) and save 1 or 2 good ones for those special wind down moments.

It worked, you don't always need an expensive cigar, just a good one at the right time. Enjoy!

[Silencer]

I smoke Dutch Masters Corona Grape when I want something sweet and flavored. Good stuff. Pom Poms are good, too.




My usual brand...

[mjp28]

Hey some flavored cigars are good if you like 'em.

Henry Clay, oh yeah, just finished some vintage ones!!

[Clipper]

Yep mip, when I drive any long distance i have a comfortable clutch of cigars to help while the miles away. Daughter lives in El Paso, that's a bit over 7 hours from my house, and it is exactly 4 cigars for me. Cigars also keep me more alert and awake...

[01brian]

Wow, great thread. I quit smoking a long time ago...quit chewing about 4-5 years ago...and have had cheap and good cigars over that time. Sometimes when golfing or camping or whatnot, i get an urge for a good cigar, but have been afraid it would get me going on the other stuff again. Is it possible to have a good cigar and not go back to the others? Just curious

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by 01brian

Wow, great thread. I quit smoking a long time ago...quit chewing about 4-5 years ago...and have had cheap and good cigars over that time. Sometimes when golfing or camping or whatnot, i get an urge for a good cigar, but have been afraid it would get me going on the other stuff again. Is it possible to have a good cigar and not go back to the others? Just curious

Well I've smoked cigars ~43 years now, ONLY outside on the deck. If it's too cold or blowing snow in NE OHIO, no cigars, no problem.

In bad months I don't have any at times.