Cigars

[mimprevento]

My greatest vice besides new trucks- I have been a loyal smoker since my old Navy days before it got popular and even though the market has softened there is great product out there and good values- I smoke La Gloria Cubana Churchills a mid priced offering from El Credito in Miami- I was on Calle Ocho in Little Havana last week and bought some and smoked one in a nearby eatery while enjoying a high calorie lunch- they bring the ash tray to the table!!! I shouldn't but I am stinking up Big Green puffing away to the tune of the turbo- anybody have a favorite brand am open to new brands and dealers- I have used Holts and Cigar International and factory direct from El Credito- input welcome- BTW there is a new offering in the Cigar International catalog called the Diesel but one of the sizes is called the "High Octane"- someone didn't check that octane and diesels are mutually exclusive but I think I will try them.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Oh man, cigars are really high on my list of passions. Since my daughter was born I rarely have enough time to sit down and truly enjoy an entire fine cigar so I don't smoke nearly as many as I did before. One bonus of this is that when I do smoke I basically smoke cigars at the very tip top of my list! My absolute favorite cigar in the world is the Padron Anniversario Diplomatico maduro BY FAR. All the others fall below them, but they are so hard to find that it took 4 years of searching to buy a box! For a way outdated look at my cigar stock check out http://my.voyager.net/~stevest/dorstock.htm . For a pic of my custom 150 qt Coleman igloodor check out http://my.voyager.net/~stevest/dor.htm - I did it all myself except for Coleman making the cooler . What's not on that cigar stock list is the box of Padron Anni Diplo's and the box of Padron Anni Exclusivo's that I scored after many years of searching! My favorite every day cigar when I had the time to smoke regularly was JR's alternative to the cuban Cohiba - about $1 ea. For the next level, the semi weekly cigar it was the Padron 3000 Maduro.

 

[mimprevento]

That Igloodor Rocks

Ingenious!!! I like humidors and consider them art and have a few of them- my workhorse is an old Zino smoked plexiglas unit that has two really good clay humidifier elements. I bought an endtable with a huge humidor built in and a couple of others that I have in my offices- Those La Gloria Maduro Torpedos sound great- how old?? That is a great smoke- your others are too rich for my taste hold on the the Fuentes they are hard to come by- Padron and Sosa are favorites of mine and Sosa has always been reasonable in price even during the boom days when gouging was the norm.

 

[Okie-Go]

I don't do the cigars but I take my pipe bag with me wherever I go and the custom blended tobacco. I agree that it takes time to smoke a bowl as would a good cigar. Where I buy my tobacco at they also have cigars. One guy yesterday bought one for 6. 00 Must have been a good one.

 

[KPhillips]

WOOHOO Cigars

My god TDR is great, I'm new here but so far I have found people that share my three favorite things in life,,,big trucks, Jeep and my most favorite CIGARS!!!!



I love cigars, there is nothing more relaxing after a stressful day than a good stogie... My everyday smoke is also the La Gloria... but as stated above my all time favorite is the PAM (Padron Anniversario Maduro)... .



I also smoke alot of other brands depending on my taste, I like the Fuentes Hemingways and I also like VSG's every now and then, XXO's are a really good cigar that I highly recommend if you like La Glorias,



I like alot of different cigars, another one of my favorites is El Rey de Mundo's, they are really good too,,,,





I better stop now, My mouth is starting to water for a smoke, I really look forward to talking about the good things in life with you guys,



c ya

 

[jpolston]

Great thread, anybody heard of a pipe from Turkey, Mer?????? ( I don't remember the exact name); anyway thay are supposed to be handcarved, made from a soft stone thats not supposed to be touched by hand when hot. ( a piece of soft leather was provided for handling). I found one in an antique shop for $70, like new condition; I may go back and get it, if it's a good value??? Any information is appreciated.

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

Not to make you guys jealous, but I am a buyer for a large candy/tobacco/grocery wholesaler and one of the categories I buy is cigars. Sad to say, I don't smoke but there is nothing finer than the aroma of a good cigar. Funny how I get samples of Swisher Sweets or Garcia Vega Cigarillos frequently but not Macanudos or Partagas Steve, if I see you in Muncie, I'll bring you some samples if I get some decent stuff.



Paul

 

[mimprevento]

Meershaum

I believe this is the right spelling- it is a soft white lining or a complete pipe ( I have seen all white ones)- supposed to cool the smoke or something like that- I have some but I have a hard time keeping them lit- I think it is an art or something

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I also smoke pipes, but I only smoke pipes alone. Something about a pipe causes me to reflect upon past experiences and deep thoughts - plus it's difficult for me to keep a pipe burning while holding a conversation (I talk too much). So my pipes are for reflection and cigars are for everything else.



-Steve

 

[The patriot]

Occasionally...

Macanudo, Partigas, Opus X. I like the milder stogies.

Nothing like sitting out front on the front porch with a smoke and a drink (B&B )after a long day.

I dont do it often, but that makes it that much more enjoyable.

The local smoke shop went out of buz, I'll have to find somewhere else to go now. Guess I should have went more often.

Eric

 

[redneckdr]

meerschaum

jpolston, i spent 2 years in turkey in the late 60's. brought home about 30 meerschaum pipes i smoked a pipe in those days. some of the ones i brought home are about 18 inches long and very delicately carved. meerschaum is a soft ivory to white stone, which is very absorbent, one of the appeals for pipe material--ie absorbs the moisture and saliva during smoking. i brought several completely plain pipes for "everyday"smoking, and have some gorgeous hand carved one. they are fairly fragile. the leather glove during smoking is to keep the color of the smoked pipe uniform on the outside, as they turn to a dark tan to brown as they are smoked. fingerprints will make them "season" unevenly.

 

[jpolston]

Thank you for the replies on Meerchaum Pipes. I don't smoke, but I do like the aroma of pipe tobacco. A nicely carved Meerchaum would be great for an occasional endeaver.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have wanted a merschaum but haven't dropped the $ yet. They run close to 200. 00 depending how delicate the carving and the size. I like Nording. They are hand carved by Eric Nording. Usually run from 80 to about 160, depending on size of the bowl. Of course they are carved from handpicked briar.

 

[mimprevento]

Nording

I bought an all wood Nording- it darkened with use and it is the only one I can keep lit for a reasonable period of time- this is not a pastime for the impatient that is for sure

 

[Gunny]

The internet has been a real boon to cigar smokers, it has made the buying of some really good cigars easy. I love a good cigar, for my everyday smoke the Don Diego Pravada #2 is hard to beat, also like the Punch Robusto for a quick and relaxing smoke. When money is no object there are some really good expensive cigars out there. The Cohiba Triangulo is a fine smoke but pricey, also the Monte Cristo's are all good. If we only could get real Cuban's on a regular basis that would be great. Gunny

 

[mimprevento]

The Punch Chateau L Maduro is a great smoke and priced reasonably- I have to disagree on the Cubans- since the Soviets pulled out a lot of resources and raw materials went too and they have very inconsistent tobacco and cigars- the last two boxes of Cohibas I got ( they were vouched as genuine by trusted sources) were unsmokable due to bad draw- what is coming out of the Dominican and Honduras seems excellent although I am no tobacco expert- I think the difference between a good $5. 00 Dominican smoke and a $20. 00 Cohiba Esplendido is negligible - I wish I could have tried one in their hey day- I spent a short time in Gitmo and never tried one.

 

[Gunny]

mimprevento, I couldn't disagree more with your assesment of Cuban's. Don't know when you where in Gitmo last, but I was down there two months ago, and was able to get a box of ROMEO Y JULIETA Belecosa's. If there is a better cigar I sure would like to see it. I also think that the cigars from the Domican Republic and Honduras are very good cigars, but in my experience the Cubans are in another class, Russians or not. As far as I can tell the Russians haven't been known for there cigar making talents. Gunny

 

[redneckdr]

i ventured into the "better"cigar smoking for a couple of years. now chronic bronchitis makes that impossible. i was surprised to find that a reasonably priced cigar, "Baccarat" was a very tasty , mild and nice smelling cigar. my memory was it was in the $3-5 range. different sizes and lengths. at that time, i always wanted a big cigar, so i could sit and enjoy it for an hour at least. one of those and a good glass of port... ... ... ..... ah, makes my mouth water... .....

 

[gatoram]

UPMAN

A good cigar is part of my "pat on the back" for a job well done. Upman makes a "demi tasse", medium sized cigar that is mild and tasty. About a dollar apiece.



I love it!! Testosterone flows freely at TDR... ...

 

[mimprevento]

Cubans

The Russians gave them fuel and other raw materials that they needed to keep up the crops- Cigar Aficionado reported that burners were used to keep the crops warm during "cold" snaps and special tenting that left with them and now there are chronic shortages since they are not subsidized- Many Cuban brands are still given very high numbers by the raters but the other brands are close or better at a fraction of the price- I was down there in 84 and it would have been a good time to get some "hey day " stogies. Remember it is the talents of Cubans who fled Castro to all corners wwith some seeds that are giving us the non-Cubans that we can cheaply and legally enjoy- example Ernesto Carillo of La Gloria Cubana.