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A split on some Eslavos (15) and a gift from Anthony (Boosted). Thanks brother, you didn't have to but I appreciate it. I'll put it to use! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Punch Punch Arrived Tuesday. H Upmann 2s came today. Both purchased on recent 24:24s.

I decided to jump on the band wagon

1999 HF Partagas 898......smooth operator. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As promised Also grabbed a BBF to try

Mons Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Had to try one. Some good flavors throughout, burn a Lil wet so needs more time to stabilize. this was received about a week ago but enjoyed nonetheless

All Cuban tobacco this time?

BBF playing hooky from work.

The bands are real and they are pre-revolution. Of course I can't speak for the cigars in the picture. I spoke with Punch Joe about these last February, I came across a few bands for sale on ebay in Spain. Jose told me that Habanos have done everything in their power to cover up the existence of this pre-revolution brand. Owned by an E. Chateloin, the factory was based in Sagua La Grande, a town to the east of Havana. That's all I know. There were five singles up at an auction last year. More. The pre-Revolution Cohiba and 1966 Cohiba (Celia Sanchez chose the name in 1966) have nothing in common other than the name. I have a list somewhere of over 4,000 Cuban cigar company names, right up until present day. Both Cohibas are mentioned. The word "Cohiba" comes from the Taino Indian language and it's just coincidence that it was used twice for a cigar brand. Just as there has been more than one company called "Apple", there has been more than one "Cohiba". Edited to remove anything unnecessary.

Cuaba Distinguidos from 24:24 a few weeks back. EML JUN15.

Been there a long time mate... Larger cigars are just not really my thing. Yeah, I smoke a Monte 2 now and again, same with a Lanceros and Monte Esp 1, and in general if I am going long, I am going long and skinny. But I would rather chain smoke Dip 5's, Monty 5's, du Deputes and others than sit with a long cigar. I almost feel 'tied down' to a longer cigar, to the point that I pass them up often when smoking. I really enjoy a nice long cigar when I take one out and clip it, but getting me past the 'spilled' mixed bag of smaller cigars that I usually pull from is just an obstacle. Good thread. Just had a conversation with one of my Ozzy mates where we talked some about this, today! -Piggy

This just in!!!!!! Yummy!!!

I love checking out B&M's around the world. Wherever possible I chat to the staff and the owner if around. Cigar people are generally good people. Seldom do I not purchase a few sticks. It is not that I need cigars but I love to experience the interaction of staff with a customer. I love being sold to

Buying a NC cigar at the local shop is the entry fee to use their lounge for me. Sometimes I smoke it, sometimes I smoke what I brought. Sometimes both.

And some more DJ..I decided to go with a small sampler to see what all the fuss is about Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bring it on!

The Corona Gorda is for me the perfect combination of sexy and cute.

Redbreast 12. The 15 is fantastic, too, but a bit too spendy.

This and half. As much as I love CCs I am hoping that no matter what happens, that the Cuban people (not just those at the top of government) benefit from this. My fear is that the wonderful culture that makes Cuba (and the products we love) so great will be drowned in a sea of Americanization.

Lol. Reminds me of this old chestnut:-

I'd be happy with just more cab cigar offerings, 50 or 25!

you should see it on the balcony when the camera goes off.

Don't push me. Johnnie Cochran had an easier run in defending OJ Simpson than I have had in defending you. He only had to do it once.

Dear HSA, La Escepcion RE Asia Pacifico Britanicas 2017??? Love, Your biggest fan

Famosos from a recent 24:24 RASS and RJ WC from a mule. Looking forward to warmer days...

No worries at all. These questions are what make our forum great...ask away!

Discuss the Cuba news people The lifting (progressive lifting) of the US Cuba embargo is the biggest Cuban news in half a century and will significantly affect our love of Cuban cigars....for better or for worse. Worthy of discussion. Play the ball and not the man.

Another day, another petit corona. Montecristo #4 I picked up from 24:24 late last year. Fantastic. An absolute pleasure to smoke. When they're like this they're tough to beat!

Hardly. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php

I rediscovered JLP about 3 months ago and I've been absolutely loving them. Been smoking through a vendor's 2013 stock currently. They don't look the best but the good ones in the box could pass for any premium stick on a bad day. Construction has been fine for me. Some do seem underfilled or have soft spots but they burn right on most of the time. They sometimes arrive with some cracked feet and a bit of flaky wrapper but it's never been an issue. About 10% can draw either too firm or too open but not to the point of unsmokeability. The taste is a very medium toasted tobacco and pleasant grassy/herbal flavor. Decent amount of Cuban twang. Never bland. Not complex but not what I'm looking for in these. The flavor is certainly there. Out of the 200+ sticks I've smoked the last 3 months I'd say maybe 5-10 were a bit off. The rest delivered. They certainly don't taste like inferior tobacco in any way. Not the best of course but far from the worst. I recall smoking some Quintero (not Favoritos) last year that just tasted like hay with no rich flavors. Not these JLPs. And at less than two bucks for pretty much all models I'm having a hard time dropping any coin on anything more expensive. I mean, these JLPs aren't the best but is any other marca 3 times better? Even the Favoritos are over $3 each at their cheapest. I can honestly say I've had premium duds a lot worse than these average JLPs. When they're really flavorful you'll think you're smoking a premium stick. Sometimes I just shake my head when smoking them in disbelief that the price is so low. Again, they're not going to blow you away, but I'm very rarely, if ever, disappointed which is more than I can say for some premium marcas... I highly recommend them at the price. I prefer the Petit Cetros but there's not a lot of variation between models.

Great info here. i definitely like cabs a lot better than dress boxes. It also seems that cigars packed in cardboard keep their shape (roundness) better too.

Rob, I just think you are a cigar hipster and like to smoke the skinnies just like I like to wear skinny jeans. Whatever floats your boat I suppose. But yes. Cigars have a beautiful ritual to them and I like to feel a little classy when enjoying a cigar. Those torreon are amazing. But the size annoys me. Same as those 520. Marevas, Coronas, Dalias, Britannicas and Churchills. Are the most hipster cigar vitolas. Which is where I spend my money.

As a newb to the dark side I have started off with PC's mainly for price reasons. Now that I am getting a little more comfortable in the CC game I have been branching out to a little larger cigars but I certainly can still appreciate the smaller formats. They both seem to have their strengths and weaknesses. In the end life is to short to smoke cigars you don't like. As some of my friends say, "Smoke what you like, like what you smoke."

i read the first line/sentence of this and thought, oh yes, with all those hookers the SS might be in real strife. but i see we are on different tracks. ad i am going away before mine is derailed.

Not many good beers for those of us who are gluten free, nice to see New Belgium get into the market: This is my first sample of the golden ale, and I'm impressed! Not the best beer, not even the best beer from NB, but it's darn good for gluten free.

Forget smoking, I wanna eat rice in my car!

Laugh or Cry?

Nothing better than a box with 50

HP Pacificos from our host. As per usual; I question why I bought another box, then the box arrives and I question why I only bought one! Some tasty looking cigars!

Lusis and Pacificos delivered on the same day! The stars must be aligned...

Ramon Allones 35 Phoenicio- 2015 ER Libano 10,000 boxes in this release, I believe that is the largest release from Lebanon

07 Upmann Monarcas, 07 Hoyo Des Dieux, and 08 JL Maximo RE

898, QDO corona, Incas