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Trinidad Robustos Extra [emoji7] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Took the family too pick out a puppy today...meet the newest member of the family, Fergie.. Now I'm enjoying that Connie A I've been trying to get to for the last two days with a Victory Anniversary Ale 20! Cheers! Bill

BTO SEP 12 CORO. All the talk of CORO's recently had me reaching for one. It was a good decision, enjoyed with some Zacappa 23.

Today's smoke by the pool. Box date JUL 12. Very nice!

On the deck this morning watching our new puppy play and enjoying an ETP OCT 15 QDO Corona with my morning coffee... Cheers! Bill

A quite evening on the porch. Another first for me Fundadores! Some FOH, Coke Zero and a little "piece" of mind. :-) taste a bit of bread and a bit of cocoa. Nice and rich.

To see what the fuss is about....first puffs sucked...then cigar settled in nicely, shortbread cookies all the way, one dimensional but tasty, box worthy at 107€

Format: Double Robusto Dimensions: 56 ring gauge x 150 mm Date: Saturday 25th of June, 2016 Cold Draw: A lovely, quality barnyard and tobacco smell. The cold draw was good with cocoa, bean and barnyard flavour coming through. Lit: 1:00 p.m. Initial Draw: I used my 3-in-1 Credo Punch Cutter, using the largest 14 mm cut, to make a perfect punch. (After) The first few draws in and I could easily tell that this was quality cigar. It was medium to medium-full in body, but the smoke output was exceptional. Chocolate, Upmann Shortbread, perhaps licorice, and a hint of pleasant spice through the nose. First Third: I've paired this with a nice black espresso, my usual beverage of choice. I'm telling myself to slow down as I want to take multiple puffs, much like what Laurence Davis does in his Sautter Video Cigar Reviews when he enjoys a cigar. Thankfully for me, the burn is a little uneven, so this forces me to slow down and reflect/contemplate the cigar experience so far. (There's) Some nice, mild spice is detected now with each puff. As I see the burn start to correct itself (the sign of a quality cigar), I can make out the iconic H.Upmann toasted tobacco profile married with hints of pepper. (There's) Exceptional smoke still per draw. Second Third: The Upmann toasted tobacco and pepper is coming through stronger now, but is not overpowering the cigar to the point where you'd want to re-visit this in 3-6 months to get some flavour out it, as there's flavour to be had now! There's a little licorice to each puff, I'd describe it as being more than your standard chocolate flavour which you associate with recent Limited Edition releases. I am really enjoying the subtle spice and pepper on the aftertaste. The burn has corrected perfectly and smoke output is consistently outstanding. Final Third: At the beginning of the final third, and the question I ask myself is, "how do I slide off the band/s?" Experience tells me to slide off the 'El 2015' band forward, and use the heat of the cigar to attempt to slide off the other one later. The intensity is identical to the second third, again, another sign of the quality of this cigar. As I draw down I marvel at how smooth this is in comparison to the second third and I'm well-pleased that I have had the opportunity to review it at the 12-month stage. With very careful manipulation, I was able to slide off the large H.Upmann 56 band towards the head of the cigar. Completed: 2:30 p.m. Conclusion: I am indebted to my dear friend and brother-of-the-leaf Jimmy (jimsta10) for gifting me this superb cigar to review. I also struggled (mentally) with the concept of a 56 ring gauge cigar prior to lighting, I much prefer a standard ring gauge 42 mm Marevas or Corona/Corona Grande cigar. I'm not going to excuse the size though, it is a jaw-breaker. I compensated for this by 'sipping' from the 14mm punch cut all the way throughout smoking the cigar, at least the smoke output was able to compensate for small draws and maximum flavour/s! It's easy to understand why El Presidente has found it difficult to keep his hands off these so young, the fact is that this is brilliant. If you've haven't committed to getting a box or partaking in a split, the simple truth is, you've made a mistake. You simply must get your hands on this! My recommendation is to smoke one every 3 to 6 months, and patiently wait until they get to 3 to 5 years in age, when they will become exceptional in my opinion. In the meantime, I aim to re-visit the other recent Limited Editions (2015 Ramon Allones Club Allones, 2014 Cohiba Robusto Supremo, Bolivar Super Corona and Partagas Seleccion Privada) in the next coming weeks to compare.

A nice Trini Colonial on a balmy Miami afternoon. Got my homemade AC cooler rockin on the patio, Tis the season Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PSP/HQ PSP2 (ULA MAY 15) I'm really enjoying this box. Trying to decide if I like this or the D4 better, and it's a tough decision.

Purchased a box of Dip 2 from our host before ever having tried one. Now I think one box isn't enough! King of the Pyramids?

Nubbing this ERDM Choix Supreme on the patio to close out the week. What are you smoking tonight? Whatever it is, savor it! If you're smoking, life is good!

From a couple weeks ago. First 898.

Slavos in the house[emoji851] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A favourite of mine, on my 2nd box now & loving them! A Perla after lunch for me today

Celebrating my son's graduation! Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Had to grab the Caribbean Cask ....and surprised to see the Lime Burners in Dan Murphy's ..so picked that p as well

Friend brought these back for me recently.

Slavos in the house[emoji851] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MUR MAR 13 LGC2 with an Americano. Yum.

Mr Beaver and I just returned for Ireland and Scotland where we enjoyed the trip of a lifetime! This included at the trip's climax a visit to Jame's Fox in Dublin. The afternoon in the dungeon with none other that Yiorgos Manesis (I am sure this is not his real name... it is probably Paddy O'Lantern or something like that) explored boxes and boxes of the world's rarest cigars, including the oldest Monte No 2 known to Man. I know different by the way. My father's name is Monte and he is 85. Later that evening we met at McGrattan's, next door to where VP Joe Biden was staying. Two policeman said they would be glad to take him a Cuban cigar, but it might be a good bit shorter by the time it got to him! Anyway... on with photos!

Partagas no.4 Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Fantastic smoke, all milk coffee and cocoa Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great Diplo No2 after a great weekend.. Tomorrow it's work time... Hope u all hade a great weekend

Ryj Mille Fleur

One of my favourite red wines!

Hi all, This Is only my take on this whole affair about the U.K. leaving the E.U., The U.K. was never really In E.U. . It kept the Pound and It's ways and was really never In, only the economy side for Itsself. The E.U. really did not do much for the European Citizen. All the E.U. does Is put a lot of laws of don't do this and don't do that without really fixing anything . It didn't fix the economy, It didn't fix unemploment,It didn't fix immigration,It didn't fix the fishing ,It didn't fix agriculture and the list goes on. The only thing It did was to ask for more money from It's people. How can you have a united Europe If you don't unite the politics In all the states first before you unite the money ? The way the E.U. Is at the moment, there Is nothing really interesting for the European people. The E.U. can't go on this way ,It can't go on being against Its Europeans. This Is only my 2 Euros Worth of It and I'm very far from the thinkings of the extrem right . Guy

Irn-Bru

JL1 love these, plenty of floral notes

Like all referendums there is always a losing side, but that doesn't mean the outcome is necessarily bad just leaves a period of uncertainty. The EU is a screwed up project that year after year leaves national governments with less say in how to run their countries. 20 years ago I would have called myself European first and then British, but once the Scots got back into being anti establishment and loving ABE ( any one but England) I saw myself as English. Now thankfully I'm Australian. In all my years as an expat before settling in Australia, it's clear to me that Britain is a well respected economic and political power in today's ever shrinking world. I think Britain can still have that respect , to the benefit of all the home nations, even after leaving the EU political integration experiment. Why can't Britain continue to prosper whilst politically outside the EU? I don't think things willchange too much, I'm sure the remaining EU members would still love to have Britain as an ally, and at the same time the UK can explore the globe for new areas of growth. It will be interesting to see what happens next, perhaps all the Scots will move back to Scotland to remain in the EU with the SNP after devolution, I somewhat doubt that though.By the way a Scottish vote to remain doesn't necessarily translate into a vote to leave the UK if another referendum on independence is held, though today that probability may be higher than previously. Australia survives perfectly well in this competitive world, why can't the UK, with or without Scotland. lets forget scare mongering and see what come out positive for all involved,the entire UK, the EU and the rest of the world. If the English prove to have screwed it up for everyone then so be it, but I believe Britain as a whole is still an extremely enviable example to democracy, freedom of speech and will continue to welcome migrants and workers from all countries as it did before joining the EU. enough waffling from me

As a survivor of some truly breathtaking hangovers I came to realise one has to have a drinking strategy. Here's mine. After a certain point during drinking I go 1:1 alcohol:sparkling mineral water. Before bed I then take what was called in Australia in the 1960s "The Water Cure". Drink as much water as possible. Wait five minutes, repeat. Don't be shy! Get that H2O in. Fill to bursting. Sleep. If you wake for a piss, repeat Water Cure, but only once. Bacon and eggs for breakfast with black coffee and orange juice. Fry the eggs and get hot sauce on 'em. I've found this works very well but requires a discipline that's difficult to maintain in an inebriated state and, unfortunately becomes less effective with age. If you've entered the realm of the two or three day hangover (O! The humanity!) the only true cure is prevention. Like a Pyrrhic victory, the costs (hangover) are greater than the reward (best night ever). Which is why Boris Johnson looked positively, stone cold, ashen-faced hungover at his Brexit victory news conference. Cheers [emoji482][emoji485] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The most recent 50 cab to join the stable. Damn shame Habanos doesn't offer more cigars in this format.

Can't wait to try out the Siglo IV's. My first box of Cohiba. Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

HDM Epi2 - Sep 05 Smoked one ROTT, all cream and almond

I think it's the hoarder in me that makes me want to get any and every 50 cab I see! And that sir is a beutiful cab of Epi 2s!

No guess about it. They only came in a 50 cab. I was able to get some from '06 and they are phenomenal!

Zig, mate, do I really have to ruminate our posts from above? There was no dismissing, really not, I thought I did make clear my arguments, but perhaps I was implying too much. I say, there is no particular "special" skill, no adjustment of the rolling technique, which you seem to be postulating. You say, your assumption would be that the skill of the roller allows him - within "certain limits" - to compensate technically for more or less fill. I say, the bunching technique will be all the same, whether the roller is using 11 g or 13 g of tobacco for a Robusto. From a workflow perspective, what you think would be easier, always adopting a particular "rolling technique" in response to the amount of tobacco in a bunch, or properly adjusting the amount of tobacco in a bunch in the first place? In the end, moist tobacco is an elastic, compressible material. It all boils down to the ratio between air channels and tobacco, i.e. cigar density. The pupa will be pressed two times in the wise into predetermined form. How at all could a roller, by using his "skills", influence the crossectional airway proportion for a given amount of tobacco? Make air channels wider or narrower or magically adjust their number in response to the amount of filler, when it finally becomes all compressed to fixed diameter in the mold? The nicest and most meticulous entubado-bunch will be squeezed to suffocation if it is too much tobacco used for the vitola. What's the special roller's compensation trick then, which you have in mind? First and foremost, the amount of filler and vitola (ring gauge) will determine the final density and thus draw and in particular the burn of a cigar. But perhaps there are people (Cubanos?) in the know on this board, who are in a position to enlighten us on the matter first hand.

Amazon.de has a German version for 95 EUR I think...if you want to continue practicing!

Agreed. If you ever found a cab, you would not have a problem getting rid of them with the ravenous bunch that frequent this watering hole

a monopoly will do as it do.....

I am another that does not get hangovers! I don't drink...(not regularly anyway) -LOL When I did, sometimes to excess, prior to sleeping I would take 4 ibuprofen, 1 quart of water and eat something with salt. -Piggy

I don't need a sippy cup!

People -- nations, societies -- are better off together when there is a commonality of culture, of purpose, of goals. When that is the case, such as in Britain or the US, things can and do work. The EU, however, is a different case. There are different legal traditions that clash to the point of incompatibility. There are widely divergent business cultures that do not play well together. One-size-fits-all economic policies are prescribed that suit some countries but are disastrous for others, such as the current ECB interest rate that works a treat for the Central European nations such as France, Germany or the Netherlands but is little short of catastrophic for Southern Europe. The political cultures, too, are vastly mismatched, ranging from strongly centralist countries such as France to heavily federalised Germany. And above all, there is a fundamental problem with the overall legitimacy of a European Union whose citizens are asked to vote for a parliament which has no legislative powers, whose member governments treat it as a self-service arrangement for national advancement and profit (see agricultural subsidies), and the very existence of which has never been put to a popular vote in many member countries to give it sovereign legitimacy. If you keep trying to reform an institution that is patently in urgent need of root and branch overhaul and you fail time and again, at what point does it become an exercise in futility? On a lighter note and with tongue planted firmly in cheek, here's a short video to explain Britain's attitude to Europe:

Best thing I found, before I go to bed, I pound some water and take a couple aspirin. Hydration is key to hangovers, plus the aspirin helps the headache.

Came in a few weeks ago from a hand-picked-clearance. They look absolutely stunning, TOS DIC15

Who would have thought the book on cigars from 2004 would appreciate to the same degree as actual 2004 cigars!

The ultimate combo[emoji15][emoji851] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk