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

[Silencer]

It's about to rain here after weeks of mid 80 degree weather and bright blue skies with no clouds whatsoever. So, before it starts to rain, I must go out for a 'schmoke 'N a pancake!'

I'm going to finish an EXCELLENT Henry Clay I started before the booger machines wanted dinner and then a Montecristo Buena Fortuna Maduro.

I had a Gurkha Legend Toro and it was SUPERB! I give it a 10/10!


Oh, and I have some of the following from Thompson:

Partagas 1845 Gigante
Arturo Fuente 858 Candela Lonsdale
829 by Felipe Gregorio Churchill
Iguana Papa Candela Churchill

[mjp28]

I've tried almost every cigar you listed there. I was on a Henry Clay kick years back, same with Partagas, still have a few now and again.

Auturo Fuente 858's are classic, can't go wrong with AF.

I remember in the early 1990s, used to smoke AF Curly Heads, lonsdales, I'd tell the wife when she was out shopping stop by the Smoke Shop get two boxes of Maduro, one Natural.

40 cigars just $24 a box!

Now CURLY HEAD EMS · 6.50 x 43 Box of 40 MSRP $100.00 J&R $86.95 a box.
(No Maduro or Natural listed, the EMS aren't bad for a 43 ring cigar.)

[vonotterskull]

The last real good cigar I had was a Napa Valley. My sister went to a big cigar expo in Vegas and was given a box of them from the owner. (she was an assistant to a producer that was looking to do a cigar afficanido show) She brought back all kinds of different cigars. Lone Wolf from Chuck Norris, Bigg Butt Cigars (meh not so great) and dozens of others. Well I ended up being very well stocked for a while, and honestly the best were the Napa Valley. Short thick cigars that made me feel like Sgt. Rock at the range!

[mjp28]

Rarely does a cigar come around that I haven't heard of but I pulled a blank on Napa Valley Cigars. I know there are new cigar labels coming around...and going bust every year, some years more than others.

I checked Napa Valley Cigars, I got:

Napa Valley Wine & Cigar
www.napavalleywineandcigar.com/

No online sales, nice cigar list but no Napa Cigars by name. Sometimes someone will just get a maker to put their label on boxes.

ALSO the cigar source is Pearlman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars but mine is pretty old.

[vonotterskull]

Sorry I should have said this was at least 10 years or so ago. The story as it was told to me by the sis, is Old man Napa has the vineyards, and the son was the one doing the cigars. They were kinda high priced 200$-300$ a box. I am by no means a cigar expert except for trivial facts about this and that. Could be they discontinued the line? I found the same link you did a few months ago and that was about it. When I had them and ran out, I checked here in San Antonio and no one carried them, one old shop feller said they had them in Houston and could order them. They were a little on the steep side for me and I never did. All this poor old country bumkin knows is "them was some mighty fine tasting stogies!"

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by vonotterskull

Sorry I should have said this was at least 10 years or so ago. The story as it was told to me by the sis, is Old man Napa has the vineyards, and the son was the one doing the cigars. They were kinda high priced 200$-300$ a box. I am by no means a cigar expert except for trivial facts about this and that. Could be they discontinued the line? I found the same link you did a few months ago and that was about it. When I had them and ran out, I checked here in San Antonio and no one carried them, one old shop feller said they had them in Houston and could order them. They were a little on the steep side for me and I never did. All this poor old country bumkin knows is "them was some mighty fine tasting stogies!"

That is somewhat common, a lot of big shots, movie stars or just people with money and want their own cigar brand.

Some actually make it like PLAYBOY (not too bad a cigar) or Sopranos which got picked up by the CAO brand, and some just fade away or end up on the $29.99/box clearance list.

Truth is the established 25, 50 or even 100+ year brands are generally there for a reason, consistant quality and established distributors and a loyal customer following.

[Silencer]

Bought some cigars for the Holiday Season!





Sorry about the blurry close ups.

[mjp28]

On your holiday cigars:

Never tried - Mr.B, Iguana, 829

Tried the rest including just finished some of those vintage Henry Clays.

[Silencer]

Originally Posted by mjp28

On your holiday cigars:

Never tried - Mr.B, Iguana, 829

Tried the rest including just finished some of those vintage Henry Clays.

Mr. B Candelas are very good, especially for less than a $1.25 a piece. Peppery, with a very light grassy taste and subtle sweetness. It adds to the complex flavors. I really enjoyed it. Mr. B Maduros are not as good, but still pretty decent for a inexpensive cigar. I'll buy more of both.

The Iguana Papa Candela Churchill was EXCELLENT! I was really surprised how smooth, creamy and tasty it is. Like the Mr. B Candela, it had similar flavor, only more so and a bit more strength to it. I'd give these a medium-light while the Mr. B candelas are light.

Haven't tried the 829's yet. They're next. Another inexpensive maduro cigar.


Henry Clay cigars are my favorite! Nice choice.

[01brian]

My lovely wife brought home a Baccarat tonight. It was sooo good . Been a long time. Super nice evening on the back porch.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by 01brian

My lovely wife brought home a Baccarat tonight. It was sooo good . Been a long time. Super nice evening on the back porch.

Wow, I haven't had one of those in a while! ENJOY,

[01brian]

Thank you! She got me two! So this afternoon I went through my workshop and found my old humidor. Still in great shape! Now, I'm going back through and re-reading the thread what a nice and relaxing weekend!

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by 01brian

Thank you! She got me two! So this afternoon I went through my workshop and found my old humidor. Still in great shape! Now, I'm going back through and re-reading the thread what a nice and relaxing weekend!

Hey a good humior properly kept will last a long, long time.

Just don't do like I did once and oversaturated a big old 100+ cigar box. The water got all through the wood and even through to the bottom felt and it started to STINK. Nothing, nothing would get the odor out, sanding, new cedar chips, nothing.

So get it going, get a good hygrometer....and ENJOY a few cigars.

[Silencer]

A box of 20 Partagas 1845 Gigante cigars.






2 bundles of 10 Flor De A. Allones Certified Vintage 2001 No. 7 cigars.

[mjp28]

Oh yes Partagas, an old classic name.

And two weeks ago we went out to eat with friends, they got me some smaller cigars made in the DR that I've never heard of (that's rare!), in the humidor now but I may break out this weekend.

Supposed to be record highs in the 60s in NE OHIO in January, whoa!

[ampaterry]

My daughter and son-in-law were in Honduras, and he brought me back a pair of Santa Ana 1965 cigars. Too cold to go outside since Christmas, but today got up into the 70's, and when everything was caught up and lunch was finished, I went out on the back porch, sat down in a comfortable Aderondak chair with a big stein of Coke and fired one of them up.
Outstanding!
Full flavor, excellent aroma, and remarkeably mild. I was out there for almost two hours, and really enjoyed it!

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by ampaterry

My daughter and son-in-law were in Honduras, and he brought me back a pair of Santa Ana 1965 cigars. Too cold to go outside since Christmas, but today got up into the 70's, and when everything was caught up and lunch was finished, I went out on the back porch, sat down in a comfortable Aderondak chair with a big stein of Coke and fired one of them up.
Outstanding!
Full flavor, excellent aroma, and remarkeably mild. I was out there for almost two hours, and really enjoyed it!

WOW that sounds great, very thoughtful of them...just curious how did they get them back in the USA? But then again they aren't Cubans.

ALSO the Nicaraguans and Hondurans have been steadily improving their cigars over the years right up there with the DRs and even some Cubans.

[Silencer]

[mjp28]

JAN 12, 2013 - Went outside today to watch NFL football in NE OHIO, ~62 degrees, about 14 in Denver with a 2 degree wind chill -and- of course with these:

Romeo y Juliet 1875 Anniversario, one of my favorites

A small Dominican from a friend that I couldn't make out the band (???) I'll have to check that out

And finished with a Sancho Panza that I buy in those small wooden casks, not a bad deal

[ampaterry]

Originally Posted by mjp28

WOW that sounds great, very thoughtful of them...just curious how did they get them back in the USA? But then again they aren't Cubans.

ALSO the Nicaraguans and Hondurans have been steadily improving their cigars over the years right up there with the DRs and even some Cubans.

They were on a cruise - Carnival lines. You can buy any cigars at any island without issue, but the last night of the cruise is a "smoke out", where everyone is invited to enjoy their cigars - and they remind everyone that Cuban cigars will not be allowed back into the US, so smoke them up now. The last cruise we were on, about a year ago, I took part in this night with the first Cuban I have ever smoked.

Now, would it be possible to buy a batch of cuban cigars AND other cigars, then swap the bands and re-seal the wrappers sufficient to get them past customs? Yeah, probably. But in all honesty, this Honduran was better than the single Cuban I tried on that cruise.

[Silencer]

Originally Posted by ampaterry

They were on a cruise - Carnival lines. You can buy any cigars at any island without issue, but the last night of the cruise is a "smoke out", where everyone is invited to enjoy their cigars - and they remind everyone that Cuban cigars will not be allowed back into the US, so smoke them up now. The last cruise we were on, about a year ago, I took part in this night with the first Cuban I have ever smoked.

Now, would it be possible to buy a batch of cuban cigars AND other cigars, then swap the bands and re-seal the wrappers sufficient to get them past customs? Yeah, probably. But in all honesty, this Honduran was better than the single Cuban I tried on that cruise.

Cuban cigars are so overrated, it's ridiculous. I've heard some are better than their DR, HD, NR counterparts, but some are worse and most have no real bid difference. Getting Cuban cigars in the USA is not that difficult. Best place is a trustworthy Canadian supplier that will ship them not labeled 'cigars' on that package is key. I don't do it. I don't want to lose out on several hundred dollars if customs opens my package for inspection.

Oh, and customs have a way of knowing if the cigars you're trying to bring in are Cuban, or not. But, they almost NEVER bother to check.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by Silencer

Cuban cigars are so overrated, it's ridiculous. I've heard some are better than their DR, HD, NR counterparts, but some are worse and most have no real bid difference. Getting Cuban cigars in the USA is not that difficult. Best place is a trustworthy Canadian supplier that will ship them not labeled 'cigars' on that package is key. I don't do it. I don't want to lose out on several hundred dollars if customs opens my package for inspection.

Oh, and customs have a way of knowing if the cigars you're trying to bring in are Cuban, or not. But, they almost NEVER bother to check.

MANY Cuban cigars are now overpriced compared to many decades ago, thank Fidel and his commie friends for that.

There are good Cuban cigars out there but not for the average USA smoker.

The Pinar del Rio has a great cigar growing region on earth but other factors have kept it from being as great as it once was. AND there are a ton of fakes out there!!

And the DR, HON, NIC, and others have come up over the past two decades.

For more about Cuban cigars check out:

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

[mjp28]

CLEARWATER, Florida (AP) - A giant cigar sitting in a Clearwater warehouse has been sold for $185,000.

The cigar is 19 feet long and three feet wide. It's covered in 16,000 wrapper leaves - enough to make 25,000 regular size cigars - and weighs 1,600 pounds.

Juan Panesso runs the online cigar shop CigarsDirect.com. He told the Tampa Tribune that a collector asked him to find the rare cigar, which was located in Miami. Panesso says the private buyer got a good deal on the cigar that had a recommended retail price tag of $200,000.

The cigar, called El Gigante (The Giant), comes in its own carrying case - a 900-pound round wooden crate. It's sitting in a warehouse in Clearwater until Tuesday when it will be shipped to its new owner.

I have two questions: WHO and WHY???

[mjp28]

CLEARWATER, Florida (AP) - A giant cigar sitting in a Clearwater warehouse has been sold for $185,000.

The cigar is 19 feet long and three feet wide. It's covered in 16,000 wrapper leaves - enough to make 25,000 regular size cigars - and weighs 1,600 pounds.

Juan Panesso runs the online cigar shop Cigars Direct dot com. He told the Tampa Tribune that a collector asked him to find the rare cigar, which was located in Miami. Panesso says the private buyer got a good deal on the cigar that had a recommended retail price tag of $200,000.

The cigar, called El Gigante (The Giant), comes in its own carrying case - a 900-pound round wooden crate. It's sitting in a warehouse in Clearwater until Tuesday when it will be shipped to its new owner.

I have TWO questions, WHY and WHO would buy that?

[Silencer]

It's been known that King Kong loves a good stogie, now and then. His death was obviously just a rumor...