cigar afficionados

[reg71]

Now, the title should give everyone a heads up that I won't be typing about motorcycles. Now why on a motorcycle forum would I do that? Quite simply because my online time is limited and vfrworld is where I spend it so I try and get as many answers here as I can.

An interesting thing the other day. I decided to try a 'nice' cigar. Now I am a non-smoker. Never have been able to handle cigarettes. Tried them several times, just didn't like them. So here's what was funny, I had an enjoyable experience smoking a cigar.

Remembering the advice from the chat room a couple days ago, I got a cutter, some wooden matches and went into the humidor with the owner of the smoke shop looking for a cigar. I told him I wanted something mild and good quality. He helped me pick out a slightly sweet mild cigar. Forgot the brand, but will try to find out for those of you who know cigars.

I started a fire out in my firepit in the backyard and relaxed and enjoyed a frosty beverage while smoking a stogie. My wife was having a glass of red wine and I noticed the red wine seemed to enhance the flavor of the cigar. Very interesting so I drank a glass of wine with it.

That got me to thinking about brandy. Now, I have never tried brandy but as I am one always on the lookout for another bad habit, I may be trying that one soon, too. As with the cigars, I'll research a little before I do. But, it seems I have heard they enhance the flavor of one another.

Couple questions, KC-10 mentioned a couple decent priced cigars that had some initials but I forgot to write it down so I lost it. With this being a saved thread, it'll stay up and I can reference it to find out what those who enjoy cigars here like. So, questions: #1 What is your favorite cigar? Why? #2 What is a good brandy to try with a cigar?

I would like to further enhance the relaxing experience I had with the cigar and alcohol complementing each other and prefer to draw on the experience of others rather than waste my money on a less than adequate brand of either.

[derstuka]

sitting around a fire smoking a cigar and drinking "wine".....sheez Reg, next thing you are gonna tell us is that you like listening to Kenny G and you shave your legs....

[reg71]

sitting around a fire smoking a cigar and drinking "wine".....sheez Reg, next thing you are gonna tell us is that you like listening to Kenny G and you shave your legs....

hmm, I had to reread who this was from. I was thinkin it was elf for a minute! Now as far as shaving my legs go, you've met me and know how hairy an SOB I am. I did shave before my first triathlon, it was a PIA. Now :topic: what kind of cigar and or brandy do you like? answer the damnquestion!

Oh, and I went back to the humidor and got another, it's called Naturale by Drew Estate Dirt Torpedo. Gotta love the name...

[KC-10 FE]

sitting around a fire smoking a cigar and drinking "wine".....sheez Reg, next thing you are gonna tell us is that you like listening to Kenny G and you shave your legs....

Wow, that's FUNNY. Now I have to turn off my laptop & let it dry out after shooting water out my nose from laughing...

For the original questioned asked by Reg, here are some recommendations. CAO is my favorite brand with Perdomo being a close second. CAO's strength is consistent quality & excellent pricing. The entire Gurka brand is excellent as well. No matter what anyone tells you, Cubans are good but there are plenty of great non-Cuban cigars to not worry about it.

Great quality cigars:
Mild:
Davidoff Millenium Blend (PRICEY but excellent)
CAO Gold
Rocky Patel Connecticut

Medium:
CAO Black & Black VR (one is a natural & one a Maduro)
Partagas Spanish Rosado
Gurka Centurion
La Aurora Preferidos (the oldest continually operating cigar brand in the Dominican Republic)
Olivia Series V
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Series

Med-Full:
CAO MX2 (my current favorite)
Gurka Black Puro

Full:
CAO Italia (fan-freaking-tastic)
Perdomo Habano (the maduro will knock your socks off if you aren't a regular cigar smoker)
Partagas Black
Gurka Super Fuerte

When I first started smoking cigars (an interesting story by itself), I bought lots of samplers, that way, I only had a few if I didn't like that brand.
Go here, this is also where I get the majority of my smokes:
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/mcatDisp.asp?cat=6

I would also just go to a good Tabaconist & just chit-chat. You'll get lots of recomendations that way. Red wine is indeed a great companion to a great smoke. I also have been know to have a shot of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel around when I smoke. A good German beer is not an uncommon sight near me either. For a good brandy of cognac, I don't know, I would say anything that's VSOP.

One thing I can't stress enough, unless you already smoke in your residence, DO NOT smoke a cigar inside. It will take WEEKS to get the smell out. I always smoke outside or in a bar/establishment where it is allowed. Just like motorcycling, your behaviour with a cigar will influence how people think of you. No one bats an eye about a guy smoking a Marlboro but they will think you're the anti-christ if they see you with a Montecristo or Cohiba.

Just off the top of my head, I would estimate the value of my two humidors with cigars to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $900-$1000.

KC-10 FE out...

[derstuka]

Sorry Reg...but you just left yourself wide open and I couldn't resist.

Regretfully, I don't know my head from my ass when it comes to brandy or cigars. Seems to me that KC already gave you the 411 though.

BTW....the dirt torpedo looks like a...awwww...forget it....

[reg71]

Sorry Reg...but you just left yourself wide open and I couldn't resist.

I'd never leave myself wide open anywhere near you, you perv...

Regretfully, I don't know my head from my ass when it comes to brandy or cigars. Seems to me that KC already gave you the 411 though.

BTW....the dirt torpedo looks like a...awwww...forget it....

yeah, they all look like that but they are too high to flush!

[Lgn001]

Almost all brandies made by Germain Robin are very good. The "standard" stuff is about $25 a bottle, and is much better than most brandy. The Shareholders Reserve or Old Havana is frikkin' wonderful, but is about $80 - $90 a bottle.

Cognacs, which are essentially brandy with the grapes grown in the Cognac region of France, are a real mixed bag, and are usually overpriced for what they are. The one that is my current favorite is Kelt XO, priced at about $175 a bottle.

If you are new to brandy, the best bet might be the $25 dollar Germain Robin. It is an excellent brandy, compared to most garden variety types. Or you could find a local pub with a decent selection and try what they gave before you commit to a bottle, but anymore, even that is expensive.

Scotch also goes well with cigars. It took me about three years (I am serious) to acquire a taste for the stuff. I'll add more info at your request.

Kinda funny; I'm smoking a CAO MX2 as I type this, KC-10 's current favorite. With regard to cigars, the link KC gave you is a good source for a lot of decent cigars, and you can buy a 5 pack to try, or the sampler combos. For a new smoker, I would recommend two that are on his list and a third;

1. CAO Gold
2. Arturo Fuente Hemmingway, "classic" or "signature" size. Avoid the "short story"; little cigar, too much money.
3. 5 Vegas Classic ; excellent cigar, particularly for the money.

You have noticed, I am sure, that the sizes of cigars have a lot of names. I would say stick to a corona or a robusto. Churchills are a big cigar, and the nicotine can sneak up on you.

Oh, one more thing; beer is not a bad choice, either. The problem with hard liquor is that the combination of alcohol and nicotine can REALLY make you feel awful until you figure out your personal consumption limitations.

And the common way to refer to a crummy cigar is "dog turd".

I listed the brandy/cognac prices just for reference... a bottle lasts me a long time, like 6 months to a year. The Germain Robin label is a favorite of mine because the price/flavor is really tough to beat.

[SLOVFR]

Next thing you know he will have the above garage converted to a smoking room and will walk around all day in a smoking jacket calling Teri - Holly.......

[Nungboy]

Yes, CAO is a fine brand. I find PADRON to be my all time favorite. I believe it was Buddha's favorite back in the day.

[Joey_Dude]

Google is your friend. I found this one: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...,4320,,00.html

If you just enter terms like "cigar reviews" or "brandy reviews" I'm sure you'll find something.

[BJ Sim]

This and the Beer thread are great threads. It allows us to connect on a deeper level than just our motorcycles. And now I've got some great suggestions for cigars the next time I'm in the mood.

I'm a casual cigar smoker (3 to 6 times a year) and can't give any input into what are good or bad (mostly because I never seem to remember brand names). But I've found a good wine or beer really does enhance the enjoyment.

[reg71]

So I did some checking and found the Germain-Robin webiste and e-mailed them for more info. I also found where I can get it so I may be picking up some CAO smokes and Germain-Robin here pretty soon. I'll report my findings as always.

[KC-10 FE]

I smoked a new cigar today, a Perdomo Lot23 & it was accompanied by a shot or 3 of Jack Daniels Single Barrel on the rocks. Very good smoke, notes of wood & nuts, not too harsh, good draw & no aftertaste. One of the signs of a good cigar is no aftertaste. If you feel like you licked an ashtray 3 hours later, switch smokes.

For the real aficianado's, I am aging 20 cigars until I retire. There are 10 CAO MX2's & 10 CAO Italia's. The 20 have been in their own humidor for 17 months. I am elligable to retire at 20 years, which is 4 years from now. I am planning on doing 24 years which will make the smokes over 9 years old when I pull chocks & pins.

KC-10 FE out...

[vfrcapn]

KC-10 FE out...

Thanks for the notes and the link. Just started smoking last year and still figuring my way through. There's a great local shop but buying that way ends up being very expensive, I've been meaning to look online. Thanks!

[jonboymd]

I would definently reccoment the Davidoff Millenium. One of my favorites. Every Padron I have smoked has been great, especially the 1926 series and the 1964 series (but both are pricy). The CAO gold is good too.
As far as alcohol goes, I am a scotch man. Glenlivett goes with anything.

[vfrcapn]

Any recommendations on small humidors (~50 count)? Or is any small one just as good as the next?

[KC-10 FE]

Any recommendations on small humidors (~50 count)? Or is any small one just as good as the next?

This one should be just fine.

http://www.thompsoncigar.com/default...7&page=product

In fact, an generic humidor will work as long as you season it before you add your smokes to it. I use the solution only, no distilled water. Supposedly, the solution prevents mold.

I have this one as well as a generic 75 stick capacity one that I'm using to age my 20 retirement cigars.

http://www.thompsoncigar.com/default...8&page=product

KC-10 FE out...

[Lomig]

For me, so far nothing's been better than a Hoyo epi 2... but. In Canada we get Cuban cigars :p

[KC-10 FE]

One of the best Cuban cigars I ever smoked was a Bolivar torpedo. I don't remember the exact one.

KC-10 FE out...

[Lgn001]

One of my favorite sources for cigars is Bennington Tobacco in Florida. Jack Bennington is the owner, and is a good guy who knows his stuff. His website does not show all that he has, and you do need to order via telephone. The reason I like Jack so much is that he will keep track of what you buy, and recommend cigars that might suit your taste. He listens to your feedback, good and bad, and keeps track of that too.

He has recommended four or five different ones to me, and there was only one I didn't care for. His prices are competitive with most of the internet sites.

http://www.benningtons.com/

The phone number is (800) 237-5074. Thompson's, as pointed out by KC-10, has decent prices on humidors, particularly if you get one of their "specials" that includes cigars. Their premium cigars are expensive, compared to other sites, but their humidors are right in the ballpark.

The one other place that does a good job, not listed above, is Cigars-For-Less/Big Humidor.

http://cigars-for-less.com/index.cfm

Good selection, good prices.


PS My favorites used to be the Cuban Montecristos, circa 1990 or so. They aren't as good anymore...

[KC-10 FE]

I have in front of me, the Cigar Aficianado "Top Cigar Picks Shopping List" if anyone is interested. 22 smokes listed in 6 sizes.

The pick of the litter is the Rocky Patel Decade Torpedo, with a score of 95 out of 100. Less than 2% of cigars rated by Aficianado score over 92.

KC-10 FE out...

[Digitaleejit]

This is so funny as my girlfriend and I had our first cigar together tonight. It was an Ashton that was recommended by a shop. She has been an almost closet smoker of cigarettes and this was her first cigar. She really enjoyed it and we decided to go with me to one of the shops with recommendations from here. What can I say. Life is good.

[KC-10 FE]

Ashton is the high end brand of Arturo Fuente. The Fuente Hemingway is an outstanding smoke. If you liked the Ashton, I believe you would like the Perdomo Edicion Silvio & Perdomo Champagne.

KC-10 FE out...

[Lgn001]

Those Perdomo Champagnes are too strong for me, with regard to the nicotine. Great flavor, though. I like a lot of the Perdomos, but they all overpower me. It ain't easy being a wimp...

[KC-10 FE]

If you find a particular smoke to your liking but think the nicotine hit is too much, age them. They get mellow with age.

KC-10 FE out...

[Lomig]

If you find a particular smoke to your liking but think the nicotine hit is too much, age them. They get mellow with age.

KC-10 FE out...

Just don't let them dry up! Although you can rehydrate them... it's like. Well. Actually, yeah, I won't go with that analogy... just don't let them dry up.

[KC-10 FE]

Naturally. I should have said age them in a humidor. As a general rule, when I buy cigars, they go in the humidor & I don't touch them for at least 6 months.

My after dinner cigar this evening was Onyx Reserve Robusto (5 x 50). Great cigar at a great price.
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...sp?item=CS-O3A

KC-10 FE out...

[Lgn001]

If you find a particular smoke to your liking but think the nicotine hit is too much, age them. They get mellow with age.

Hasn't worked for me. Perhaps I should live in a humidor.

Good idea. I've actually got a few cigars that are about 8 - 10 years old at this point, waiting for the right occasion. My current favorites, or the ones that seem to disappear out of the humidors the fastest anyway, are;

Rocky Patel "The Edge" maduro chisel
CAO MX2 robusto
Padron 3000 maduro (good as the 5000, lots cheaper)
Fuente Hemmingway classic (long time favorite)

Happy Smoking!

[reg71]

8-10 yrs? don't they reach a point where it's too much? I know in wines, there is a such thing as too much aging...or at least the taste changes drastically I am told... I have yet to let a bottle age over 2 yrs so that's as far as I know and they tasted pretty ok to me. Now, I tried a new cigar the other night recommended by the shop since he didn't carry the CAO gold, it was a don tomas. He said if I liked the CAO gold I'd probably like it. I didn't really care for it, though. I'm not really sure what I'm looking for so I pretty much just figure I'll either like it or not, and go from there...

[Lgn001]

Yeah, they can get too old. It varies a lot, based on the combination of tobaccos used. What can really foul things up is different cigar types being stored right next to each other, particularly if they do not have cellophane wrappers. The oils and smells will blend together, which sometimes makes them taste very bizarre. Most humidors have adjustable dividers so you can keep them separated.

Typically, I try to keep maduros in one humidor, connecticuts and cameroons in another, etc. My "ancient" ones are stored about an inch apart in a top tray, and I am hoping that they age OK. But it is a crapshoot.

I remember a place that had some Dunhills that had been "laid down" in 1918 that were being sold for like $75 each, limit 1 per customer. I passed on that once-in-a-lifetime offer...

Interestingly enough, some tobacco leaves are aged an incredibly long time (many years) before they are used to produce a cigar, and then the cigars are aged for years after that. I think I used to know what governed such decisions, but I don't remember anymore.