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My second son is being born today I will post pictures as soon as I can, but have a good cigar in honor of him mates and send your good vives He will be a good Son of the leaf

Good Question: Collecting doesn't look to make sense many times, with they eyes of another person. I think it's not specific for cigars. You can take as example a stamp collector. Make it sense to collect actual stamps and don't use it to send letters? Or a car collector, makes it sense to collect oldtimers and don't drive with it? Collecting something gives a nice feeling, especially when you have complete series of something - that's all, I think. To look at it, to touch it, to smell it and sometimes to smoke it. Collecting and hunting was ever a characteristic of mankind. I don't know where the point is reached. As long as I have the motivation and the money I will be a collector. I don't smoke it all alone. I smoke very often with friends, business-partners, do an exchange of cigars with other aficionados, etc. And at the end, when I have to go, it's a heritage for my son and others, like all the things I have made / done in my life. I'm sure, I'm not the only one here with a huge collection. There are other members with a much larger collection, but they never had posted it like I do. For me, posting my collection has nothing to do with, hey look at me, I have more than you. It's really only about sharing our passion. Everybody is invited to meet me in my lounge and enjoy a good smoke, have a nice talk, build up a relation which turns maybe in a good friendship. I like to meet people, hear what they have to say and exchanging points of view.

The main apeal of CC's to me is the aging potential of most of the sticks When I first really got into cigars I was buying 90% NC's. I still have a few of the very first boxes i bought 5 years ago an they are now bland and tasteless. It can take me up to 5 years to smoke through a whole box so now i buy CC's because i know that there is a good chance they will still be smoking well in the future If i want something to smoke right now, I'll buy a 5'er of NC's while I let my PLPC's rest for a bit longer. I'm not saying all CC's have to be aged, but from my experence a 12 month rest after buying them tends to do wonders for a good CC. If you have the storeage to stash a few of your fav boxes for a few years, there are rewards to be reaped. If you are only buying enough cigars to last you til your next re-order, perhaps NC's are more up your ally. I heard a good point of view on the Stogie Geeks last week I'm paraphrasing a little here but this is a quote from Andrea Farkas of Viaje: "If you look at the wine world, people will hapilly buy a bottle or a case of wine with the intention of letting it age for a long period of time, but in the cigar world it seems people want thier cigar to be all it can be the day they buy it and tend shy away from cigars that may need a few more months in the humidor before they are starting to find thier feet. Its a culture that really needs to change if people want to understand how tobacco works and all it can be"

I've been snatching up all the Punch Coronas I can find (even 1999s - never had an issue with one). They are AWESOME.

It seems to me that mk05 was being critial of HSA for producing cigars that are pandering to the "instant gratification culture" of smokers more used to NCs. (The same might also be said of the trend towards more larger RGs.) While he was also critical of that "culture" as well, I do not feel that he was being disrespectful to the previous posters. Whether he is correct or not is certainly debatable; many recent boxes that I have sampled show great potential for further development as well as considerable up-front flavours. Once again, a wine analogy - When the 1982 bordeaux were released, there was so much rich fruit, that they were immediately delicious. Many wine critics at the time said that they would never age. Robert Parker made his reputation by bucking that generally accepted belief, highly praising the '82s as perhaps the best vintage ever. Time has shown him to have been entirely correct. It is entirely possible that smokers 10-20 years from now may well look back to our time as the golden age of Habanos.

Some beautiful wrappers on these 2012 Serie E #2 and 2013 JL#1.

Me. And I'm probably older than you. And all the smokers who know what to expect and are not spoiled by the instant gratification culture.

This thread, right here. This is the death of Cuban cigars, as many of us have witnessed for however many years (relative to experience). Expecting a cigar out the box to be perfect, not giving a cigar a chance to make a case for itself...the instant gratification culture of the NC world has truly destroyed whatever Cuba had left. At least now we have 6 month old cigars that smoke like they are 4 years old ROTT and still taste like 4 yrs old 2 years later! We should all just smoke e-cigarettes.

I like the Juan Lopez #4s and Saint Luis Reys Asia Pacificos. Regarding the 'athores', I would thee a thpecialitht.

For this weekend I want to present another special humidor. Vegas Robaina 5th anniversary. Enjoy!

Cigars are one of my really huge passions. They are a good companion for me at home and at work. I've said to me: If you work long and hard, you have the right to do a good chill-out. For this I have built a small lounge in my work-office. Let's say it has been transformed in an aficionado office. Very good to do business meetings, relax and enjoy the work-life with a good smoke and wine or rhum.

LMAO! Had to share as soon as I saw this. http://themetapicture.com/if-wwi-was-a-bar-fight/

Still recovering but wanted to get this up. The first of hopefully many posts from Festival 2014. 4 years ago, I managed to buy a 1989 Dunhill Malecon in the Dunhill shop in London. I had kept it since, my only Dunhill, wanting the right occasion to smoke it. I decided to bring it to Havana this year, thinking it would be nice to smoke a "Malecon on the Malecon". It turned out that Laura from the Dunhill Humidor, as lovely in person as she looks in the pictures, joined us on this trip. I asked her if she'd be kind enough to join me to share it, she was up for it. I wanted to go around sunset, to avoid the heat and as it turned out, Punch Joe and Stuart Fox came along as well. Of course I was very happy to share the cigar, especially with Punch Joe. There are very, very few people whose opinion on cigars I would hold higher. So with a flask of Caney and some bottled water, off we went down the Prado from the Partagas factory to the Malecon. Of course there is a valid argument that such a cigar should not be smoked outdoors but there was more to it. The cigar itself was sublime, performed beautifully, even in the slight breeze. Perfect draw, bursts of flavour from salty toffee to sweet spices in every draw. It was Laura's first Malecon, she loved it. A fantastic cigar, we shared the first half and left the rest with Punch Joe, who had to rush off. I asked him, if he has time, if he could post a review of it on this forum at some stage. The thing is, it was one of my most enjoyable cigars ever. I'll never forget it, not because it was a Dunhill Malecon, almost certainly the only one I'll ever smoke, but because of the company, the location and the opportunity to share something just a little bit special with some of the best people I know. As I said to Punch Joe, times like this are a little like falling in love, it makes you want to be a better person.

Ah ah , just like me! The Punch corona is my 2nd favorite after the Partagas corona. The SLR was very good as well if you have the patience to age them.

Any advice on how to tell, specifically with a stick that doesn't always show much up front, like the PLPC, whether it has what it takes? Should if be stronger to begin with? Should it be darker in the final third? Is there no way to know?

Well, as trends go.......maybe this big ring gauge cigar fad will fade soon and coronas will come back. The Upmann Super Corona was a fav of mine in the mid to late 90s....

...fookite said : .... look at the people acting like jerks and snobs when a couple possibly less-experienced smokers dare to try to actually have a discussion about cigars on a discussion forum. No one else on this thread has been doing anything other than having a rational, polite discussion. Your attitude, however, has consistantly been sarcastic, agressive, confrontational and patronising. Some of the points you make are well considered, but your manner of presenting them entirely negates their value. Perhaps another forum might be more up your alley.

That's the Swiss RA,taken from Portmann Tabac twitter feed

Cigar No. 1 No. 1 is covered in a silky smooth, veiny, light brown wrapper. A squeeze indicates that it's well packed and solid. Touching the cigar to my nose gives a wonderful barnyard smell. The pre-light flavor alone is that of spicy cinnamon. Into the first inch, my palate is covered in spice and roasted nuts - a cashew note to be exact. There's a slight harshness on the finish. No. 1 has a bit of a tight draw, the smoke output is low. It continues on into the second third... the spice has picked up (especially through the nose) and the harshness has receded. It's all roasted cashews, some cinnamon and spice. At the halfway point the draw opens up, pouring smoke. The flavors of roasted cashew remain. The spice covers my palate like a syrup, tingling my entire mouth and lips. The ash is rock solid and dark gray; staying for two inches at a time. A well constructed cigar. By the final third, the harshness is back, only accompanied by that wonderful spice. This is definitely a medium-strength cigar, never going into the full category for me. I throw it in the ashtray with half an inch left. Overall this was a good cigar, not great. Cigar No. 1 needs some time to come together and alleviate the harsh note. I think I know what this is. The flavors of roasted cashew, cinnamon and spice reminds me a lot of a cigar that I love (when I'm able to get a good box). I'm going to go smoke one of those now to see if my hypothesis is correct!

Maybe 15 or 20 years ago I have done it. I would give a few friends a Cohiba Robusto at a party and later would notice there were 2 that had maybe been smoked a quarter of the way down and left! Needless to say they never got another CORU, but I did grab the cigars they left and either smoked them there or cut them and bought them home to smoke later. Now I mainly smoke at my house or a cigar bar and smoke every cigar down to the nub. Guess I am a nicotine fiend or don't have the distractions that would make me have to put it down and walk away.

Tasty. Serie E#2

i have tried PL encantos, robusto and the belicoso extras, the JL #4, SLR Pacificos, LFDC Grandiosos. i think if you wanna smoke something now or just short term aging, your best bet would be the JL #4 and SLR Pacificos. something long term aging LFDC Grandiosos. of course all of the above are really good, i suggest getting a sampler before investing in a box as the choice ultimately relies on your palate my friend.

Monte 3

I've said it before (twice actually ;-) and I'll say it again, if someone told me I could only smoke PSP Monte 2s for the rest of my life I imagine I would be a happy man.

for finally adding the dots next to the threads, been waiting for that for awhile cheers

Pretty sure if you waited 5 years to find out you didnt like cigars you'd always get your money back. I seldom see aged PLPCs turn up on the secondary market, and I've been looking for a while. I figured the huge aging potential is one of the reasons you can only get PLPCs in a 50 cab. Smoke half a cab, rest half a cab Buy another cab and repeat At around $4us a stick its not a huge commitment when compared to other sticks that need 5 years to open up (I'm looking at you, Esplindidos)

MAR 09 LGC Tainos

it took me three minutes for the current release of H.Upmann Royal Robustos - pitched not even an inch in.

+10, well said...

RA Celestiales Finos LFDC Grandiosos

I've gone even lower I've picked up the last third of a Boli PC left by a friend I gave one to who is only a novice smoker, and finished his off after finishing mine.

In spite of the apparent sarcasm, that is basically correct. If you like to drink fine wine, you can either spend big money on aged bottles, or, if you have decent storage conditions, buy them young at the opening price, and enjoy them in their prime. Works for me, on both counts.

X2

Me too. I'm well into my 60s, and still buy boxes that I intend to lay down for many years. Most of what I smoke these days is 7+ years old, and I generally enjoy them much more than what I have been sampling from recent purchases. Perhaps it takes a certain maturity to learn patience, but if you expect smoking will be a long term passion, do yourself a favour, and buy more than you smoke.

Trinidad robusto T, tasty! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds worse then marriage to me.

Sir Winston

A great weekend of birthday smoking Worked my way through some of the cigars on my “I really should smoke that” list Friday night was a fresh Monsdale Custom- Considering this cigar was still a pile of leafs at the beginning of the year it smoke suprisingly well. Smoked like a strong, young Monte 1. Not mind blowing by any stretch but should age exceptionally well. I’ll put the rest down for a spell. Saturday lunchtime was a 12 month old Johnny O Belicoso from March last year- I’ve been sitting on these sticks for just on a year now and have been looking forward to seeing how they are. Very nice. A creamy, buttery sweetness that turned into strong black cofffee in the end. I will be buying a few more bundles to sit on for another 12 months me thinks. Definatly worth the price and time Saturday night was a Montecristo Double Edmundo- These have been bashed by pretty much everyone i’ve asked about them. COuld that fact with the a bit of wrapper damage casued by those STUPID green Gov Approved bands, and my expectations werent great. This stick smoked really well. It tasted like a Montecristo with notes of coffee, cream and spice.; Not a game changer, but if you enjoy the size I can see no reason why you should overlook this new addition Sunday night was a Boliva Britanicas RE- I’m not a huge fan of the Boliva marca but do really like this size. The cigar was a solid Boliva profile of earth, sweet spice and leather. Great change of pace cigar. Worth grabbing if you’re a fan of Boliva and enjoy quirky sizes.

I got a chance to smoke a belicoso today. You can tell the cigar is fresh and very young. It hasn't developed any legs but that's to be expected. The flavor profile is very vegetal and earthy (fresh roll). Slight nuances of cocoa, dark unsweetened chocolate, and leather are present through the cigar. Hints of black pepper come and go. A sweet nuttiness quality is present along with hints of wood, although I can't say cedar. Towards the end a sweetness and cinnamon come forward. The construction was great. This cigar had about a half inch tear starting at the foot which I thought would throw off the entire burn. It didn't. A solid burn throughout. The ash held firm and was strong, not flaky. You can tell this is a young cigar, as expected. Although it hasn't hit it's sick phase yet, I feel the flavors aren't overwhelming, they are subtle. As has been told, I think a year of down time will do wonders for this cigar. Some of you may like young, fresh, cigars. They are good for a change of pace. If you can find one with age it will probably be a treat. My advice, be patient, do not expect to be knocked off your feet immediately with these. I'll revisit in a year. I think it has great potential.

Yes. One box for each shed. Arthur would approve.

Any S.L.R. SERIES A. Is what I would smoke all the time . !!!!!!!!

How about one of these threads for a start? http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=116468&hl=%2Bdesert+%2Bisland http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=114059&hl=%2Bdesert+%2Bisland http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=113193&hl=%2Bdesert+%2Bisland

Box of Connie 1's. Never had em...they come highly recommended tho, so I'm really looking forward to sparking one up soon! Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Couple more boxes of one of my faves:

Hide them away for 2 years after purchase and the blossom beautifully, 5 years are you are really in for a treat I was told that the names of his cigars are a nod towards the regular cigars that the rollers put their own take on Eg 1966-1966 Genios-Cohiba genios Mag 47 -upmann mag 46 Not sure on if it's true or not though

Here is a picture 'playing Tetris with humidors antiguo'...

But the most cigars I have in my Swiss cigar bunker... here they have silence and are aging perfectly...

Here are my @home humidors. Because I life directly under the roof, it could be very hot in summertime. These humidors are from Chambrair. They are modified winecoolers and keep the cigars cool.

I have a box from March 2010 and they look and smell good but I just haven't had the heart to smoke one yet - they seem so young and innocent still I wanted to wait until they are a year old but I don't think I can.