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Picking my top cigars of the year is fun. Picking my disappointing cigars of the year is a work of pain Let me define disappointing. Primarily where quality was consistently average to poor. Where a cigar has gone backwards in late 2015 into 2016 production in comparison to 14/early 15. Where I inadvertently wince as I move to the mastercase and say the prayer "please God....this time" Caveat: I find good to great cigars in all marca and vitola throughout the year. The ones below consistently made me raise my eyebrows ....and often it was shipment after shipment of finding a needle in a haystack covered in crap. Let's start from Number 10. 10 Por Larranaga Petit Corona I love this cigar. It is only on this list because quality in 2016 was obviously down compared to 15 and 14 which were great years for PLPC. I found plenty of brilliant ones and even an average cab of PLPC is a good cigar. Certainly one of the cigars I would like to see revert to previous years quality. The recent TOS 16's was a great start. 9 Montecristo Edmundo You wonder if they are sometimes just going through the motions with the Edmundo. It is shared around factories like a bottle of rum at a dinner party. I was lucky to find some hot shipments but overall it was a disappointing year with inconsistent construction and plenty of shoddy wrappers. 8 El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme We saw hardly any after the first quarter of this year. I suspect they simply gave up and saved the yellow wrappers for domestic Peso cigars. I really only saw a half dozen mastercases in 2016 and of those one was a cracker and the other five are seared into my brain ala a Freddy krueger nightmare. One of the brilliant cigars when done well. I hope they hold back production until they can actually do it some justice. 7 Partagas Shorts Generally a good cigar but quality was off in 16 compared to 15/14. Suffered much the same fate as the PLPC and like the PLPC an average short is still a good to very good smoke. They need to pick up their game here as in the Shorts they have a benchmark minuto. Don't screw with it. 6 Trinidad Coloniales It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that if you are going to put out a premium cigar with a premium price tag then a little bit of love and attention goes a long way. The recent SLE codes have been very good in particular and I have found some excellent stock throughout the year. But for the Love of God it is hard work. I would say that all the other Trini's have significantly improved in 2016. They missed the memo on the Coloniales. 5 Partagas Salomones Master rollers my arse. Underfilled, underweight and pure wind tunnels for way too many of them. I pick the good boxes by assessing the wrapper and then just holding a cigar at a time in the palm of my hand. Some feel like a feather and the follow up pinch test sees my index finger and thumb bumping uglies. I have a 50% failure rate in my boxes of Partagas Salomones. Mind you I can't tolerate a wind tunnel. If you see them in 24:24 then jump on them as you have just picked a four leaf clover. 4. Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion Number 4 I love this cigar so much. I know it like the curves of a lover. it was crap for most of the 2000's and then for close to a year from 2nd quarter 13 it was one of the finest cigars coming out of Cuba. The rosado wrappers were sublime. The flavours so delicate yet complex. late 2015/2016 hasn't been kind. It is one of the first mastercases I look at simply because I will keep a box for myself. The good news is that Sept/OCT shipments produced some nice PSP/HQ. That doesn't hide the fact that it has been a tough year. 3 Partagas Serie P Number 2 What in hell are they doing with the P2. there is no consistency to the mastercases. 1-3 boxes of PSP/HQ and then we are into a half dozen PE and then the crap. I would estimate they would have double the fail rate as the Monte 2 and they produce 1000 times more of those. I just don't get it. I get a headache just going through them. 2. Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill If the Partagas P2 gives me a headache, then looking through a mastercase of R&J Short Churchill puts me in the foetal position. I think I have put up 20 boxes this year in 24:24. Pitiful. Long gone are the Rosado wrappers of previous years. Now we have scratchy paperbark rubbish in the main. They need to get back to pre 2014 levels on these. 2015 was a bad year for them, 2016 was annus horribilis 1. Hoyo De Monterrey Hermoso Number 4 Anejado Some of you guys actually enjoy this cigar and God bless you for it. I can only go by my tastes/experiences. This is one cigar where I have copped a fair bit of flack over given the video review and general commentary. I have even been referred to as "uncouth" and "ill informed". Badges of honour I assure you! To my mind what we have is snake oil at its finest. "Oh but it is delicate with notes of almond and cream". I don't light an $18 USD cigar for "delicate notes of almond and cream" of which in reality you would need to send a search party to find ...and then you will have as much luck trying to find MA flight 370. "almonds and cream?".....pay half as much, get a box of young Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure Especial and have your palate assaulted with almonds, cream, stonefruit and cake. Pure Snake Oil.

BTO Siglo VI with some single barrel last night and a Famoso for breakfast

Coro to kill the Monday's. It worked.

Lot's of smokes arrived today...This was a highlight for me. Amazing presentation to say the least. Cannot wait to smoke these after a bit of sleep.

Parcel locker at work was full. 3/4 of a box ERDM Petit Corona (AEP February 07): Bolivar Tubo No.3 (ULA May 15): PLMC (EML July 15): HdM des Dieux (POS September 08): D.C. Sampler: ERDM RE Switzerland 2010 and Spain 2015: ERDM Lonsdales, Diplomatico No.1, Partagas Lonsdale, La Corona corona : Diplomatico Bushido:

H Upmann # 2 from 2011. Mind has officially been blown. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PLMC (EML June 15):

What can I say the wife really loves BCG's and wants to start aging them. She calls them her birthday cigar.

When I am asked a trick question like this I often fake a heart attack or seizure, it's the only reasonable grown-up solution.

The big man himself, pre-getting KeithedTM

2nd smoke of the day with some outstanding true vintage Robaina's that arrived. This one Don Alejandro HGS NOV 003. Amazing big wheat flavors thus far.

My Top 10 Cigars for 2016... 1) H.Upmann Magnum 56 LE 2015 LUB Jun 2015 (Thanks Jimmy) I didn't want to like this, believe me! The reason? That 56/64s of an inch ring gauge. I used my Credo 3-in-1 punch cutter and used the largest punch (14 mm - for cigars up to 60rg!) to sip on the head. Man, oh man, you can't believe the smoke I got per draw! And the flavour? Aplenty! H.Upmann toasted tobacco and shortbread, chocolate, licorice, pepper, spice. Thank you @jimsta10 for allowing me to review this earlier this year! 2) Por Larranaga Petit Coronas GMA Mar 2014 (Thanks Jimmy - again! ) Yet again, I need to thank @jimsta10 for the opportunity to sample these cigars. You'd have to think that the chance of being gifted two of the best current production cigars from the same person is like finding a needle in a haystack. What can I say? For this one, I didn't want to touch it! Why? Because I like my Por Larranaga aged, I love that caramel, and I didn't want to touch this before they were 3 years old (about 4 months away). I was looking for a mild, sweet smoke last week, and I was fearing a young strong toasted tobacco PLPC here, but boy was I wrong! Complexity to the core (a mix of wood, cream, honey, tobacco, caramel and toast), mild, I didn't want it to end. Heck, I was thinking and tasting it two days later! 3) Cohiba Robustos MUO May 2014 I had the chance to enjoy this when Alex or @ATGroom, the proprietor of Cuban Cigar Website, was up in Sydney in February this year. It was full of cream, plus the ubiquitous Cohiba honey and grass helped to make it memorable well into March! 4) Partagas Shorts GEO May 2014 (Thanks Nick!) Gifted by my brother-in-law @Cuzz, I couldn't get enough of that Partagas sourdough and leather. I've been searching for the same perfection ever since. Thankfully, Partagas Shorts are such a consistent smoke, construction and flavour-wise, that they very rarely disappoint or let you down. (It's) A fantastic 'go-to' cigar! 5) Montecristo No.2 OPG Jun 2015 I bought these as a 'clearance' box of 10s and I think I hit the jackpot! Ok, so the wrappers a slightly pale for Montecristo, but heck, I love them! Each cigar from the box has that true Monte DNA...cocoa, leather, toasted tobacco, nut, a hint of coffee and cream. Oh thank GOD, I have 2 left to last me until Christmas! 6) Diplomaticos No.2 TOS Dic 2015 Yes, you know these are good. Mine have been a medium-mild mix of sourdough, a hint of cinnamon and spice. I have another box resting because I need them milder for my palate. They're good now, but I know they'll be sensational later! 7) Ramon Allones Club Allones AUM Jul 2015 & RAE Jun 2015 (Thanks Rob and Steve) I couldn't split these. One was gifted to me to try by @El Presidente. What does one say when offered a cigar by El Pres himself, "no"? (As if!) Ok, so I think I was rolling on the floor enraptured shortly after the first third, or perhaps I was dreaming about it that night after sampling it. Okay, so I figure I should try Steve's one a few days later. You know what? Yep, the same thing. I thought to myself, "how could Habanos S.A. hit a 'grand slam' on two Limited Editions?" They're a fuller-bodied cigar, but it's that delicious Ramon Allones stewed fruit profile that I love in these. Some of you have 12 boxes in your home humidors. Is that enough? 8) San Cristobal de La Habana La Fuerza TOS Mar 2016 I think, or at the very least, I plan to die with a San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe in my mouth...it's a 'go-to' smoke that I can't do without. I was a little skeptical about the La Fuerza due its dimensions (it's a gordito at 50 rg x 141 mm)...is it as flavoursome as my beloved El Principe? You bet it is! Yeah, it's got that quintessential SCdLH coffee, cocoa, tobacco and molasses, only how beautifully refined is it? 9) Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo San Juan OLM Oct 2014 I have a few of these in my humidor. About every 6 to 9 months I pull one out to see how they are progressing. Each time I do, they get more and more creamier, a little at a time. Coupled with that HdM cedar and being light-bodied, I think these will be brilliant at 3 to 5 years onwards. I have a box resting, but in the meantime I enjoy these singles from time-to-time too! 10) Montecristo No.5 AUM Jul 2014 Again, the wrappers are a little paler than perhaps your standard Montecristo offering, but hey, I don't mind, I like them that way I suppose. I think this was graded 'PE' on a 24:24 sale. Well, they've been just fantastic. I've enjoyed the strong hit of Monte cocoa and coffee that these have provided in a 35-minute smoke. I stopped smoking them a few months ago because I really want to enjoy the last 5 I have in this box, I might do so in a few months time. And for reference purposes, the FoH Top 10 for 2015 and @planetary's FoH 2015 Top 10 Cigars Tally. I wonder which cigars will be voted the highest this year?

A man and his dog pretty much says it all. His calm smile and laughing eyes just makes you want to sit and talk for a while.

Opened them, admired them, sniffed them and them put them to bed for a long nap. Sleep well. See you in a few years.

Left to Right: Rob Fox, Jose Candia, Hector Luis Prieto, Me. Stuffed with Food and Mojitos at the end of a great day on the farm!!

You're not really comparing apples with apples here When you purchase from our host you are paying (mostly) tax free prices where as when you purchase from a B&M directly you are paying for the local state taxes as well Look at the AUD prices compared to USD prices in todays 24@24, while a chunk of the difference is due to the exchange rate, the lions share of the difference is due to Australian duty and tobacco excise on tobacco products. I imagine you'd have the same issue if you purchased from a Canadian B&M as well

A couple of recent daily smokes while traveling for work. Some of the few times I can smoke without getting the stinkeye from the wife Partagas Short Scottsdale, AZ Cohiba Siglo II Houstonian hotel bar patio. Houston, TX Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Keeping with the Robaina's...BIG fan of them and these just arrived, all vintage of course. Don Alejandro HGS NOV 003 Robaina Classico AUG 99 Robaina Swiss Regional LOE JUL 12

I couldn't hold back and smoked one of my new Glorias - infanticide, I know. While definitely very young, it was a tasty stick and - unlike some other examples I saw - not underfilled. Over 2hrs of smoking time. Didn't particularly taste like a LGC which I found the case with all LGC RE so far. One touch up needed to correct the burn in the beginning.

RASS

Fishing is a common pastime in Cuba. We ran into one fella who just fished with a line and no pole. Whatever he caught, he sold to a restaurant. The guy in this picture was fishing off the seawall, and continued after dark for a bit.

Mild morning for this time of year. Taking advantage with a Monte from the singles drawer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually a couple of shops, not all though, did provide us with facturas (the official form) for house rolls. Alex will do it for you. Sticks were running between 4-12CUC depending on what and where, mostly toward the lower end. I doubt there'll be big change to US policy as much has already been sunk into the infrastructure for US domestic flights to Cuba, hotel interests, etc...too much liability I would think, but who knows.....

Am I crazy or does 13$ for a premium cigar seem NOT expensive (let alone insanely expensive)?

Another HQ from our Host. Unfortunately the delivery timing was off today "You need another box of cigars because???".....................

Smoking a 2012 Ramon Allones Superiores MUR OCT 12 while watching the insanity on today's Tuesday 24:24

I would consider going prior to inauguration day in mid January. Trump has been saying he is going to undo the Obama executive orders which relaxed travel to Cuba and bringing in CC's. This could very well happen on his first day of his Presidency.

1. Cohiba Reserva Piramide - 2003 2. Davidoff No.1 - 1992 3. Montecristo #2 - 1998 4. Montecristo #1 - 2002 5. Hoyo Doble Corona - 1998 6. Hoyo Epicure #1 - 2006 7. Partagas Lusitania - 2003 8. H.Upmann #2 - 1999 9. Romeo y Julieta Churchill - 2003 10. Montecristo Salomones II - 2004

I'm still going through my photos, but this is probably the best one I've seen with me (I'm famously unphotogenic). I can't take credit for taking this one, as my good mate Stephan was the photographer - but I love the focus difference, as well as the look of surprise/bemusement on John Decosta's face in the background.

Upon our arrival back home last month from Cuba, found her in our backyard, and has since never left our side. Hence her name. She also likes sitting in my big ash tray a bit too often!

This FOH'ers nightly smoke is a NC Fonseca 2-2. Last one from an old box. Not as tasty as its Cuban namesake, but well made and enjoyable nonetheless.

Top photo of the lovely Kelly! Habana Cafe Welcoming dinner....

Eagle Rare single barrel, HdM Depute (OMS March 16):

Flawless sig III from 2014.

My standouts for 2016 in no particular order would be: H.Upmann Magnum 56 LE - I have never been as bothered by the large ring gauge cigars as many others here (although I do have a preference for the long skinnies), but this was pushing things even for me. On a positive note, it is impossible cut this one too deep given that it doesn't fit in my cutter. That aside, this was a fantastic smoke that felt like it was only going to get better with age. I could only get my hands on five and I'm so glad I did. H.Upmann Connoisseur A - This one took me by surprise even though everybody was raving about them. I only picked up a sampler but I'll be looking at grabbing a box in the new year. Punch Punch - My prior experiences with these had been underwhelming and I had all but given up on these until the wonderful example I smoked this year. I don't know if it's me that changed or the cigar, but I'll be keeping my eye out for a box regardless. Cohiba Siglo IV - I picked up a three pack of these on a work trip and we didn't get off to the best start. The first stick was plugged so badly it proved that either they don't draw test everything or they don't care what the results are. But that second stick was absolutely amazing, leaving me to wonder how they could get it so right and so wrong in the same pack. Partagas Serie D No. 4 - This was another cigar I historically overlooked but picked up again purely for the sake of the review contests. It turned out to be a fantastic stick, and the fact that I won that week only made it more memorable.

I've had a day to digest the race and I'm changing my opinion slightly. Lewis ran a technically perfect race and was a cunning bastard toward the end of the race. I still think he was riding in the wambulance though. Where I think he crossed the line wasn't the slowing the pace down to induce something behind him was when he ignored team orders. He definitely slowed down hoping that Vettel and Max would pass him. Given how long Max was out on those softs I think Nico would've only been passed by one car at most had the race gone on another lap or two. But the disobeying team orders is where the red line in the sand is drawn. If they tell you to speed up, you do it. He obviously had the ability to be faster, he just chose to be selfish and ignored the order. In the end it didn't hurt anything so my hunch is Merc isn't going to do much except some maybe a slap on the wrist and a very stern warning for next year about following orders. A conversation that they would have with Nico as well to ensure everyone was on the same page. I don't think either of them will have much of a leash when it comes to racing next year though, I don't think Paddy or Toto will put up with any bullshit. Merc also holds the cards because they could put just about anyone in the feel and they'd consistently be in the top 5 every single race no problem.

Welcome to the dilemma! Bye bye NC's! (For most of us from the US) 100% agree with @Bohn007 on this..

"It's an investment opportunity!" Investment in your happiness.

Since I discovered FOH, I have stopped buying NC cigars completely. I only buy them to support my local B&M and then I usually just give them away.

Cigar prices in Canada are insanely high. If it's cigar you want head south to this island name Cuba. I heard there might be some cigars there and the weather is much better this time of year. Plus unlike nanny state Canada you can smoke almost everywhere in Cuba.

Great flying thread Tupps! I've been in a syndicate that owns recreational category a/c (under 600kg MTOW in Oz) here in SE Qld for a few years now. Have taken Smithy up for a couple of flights and he only squealed once or twice! SE Qld is a beaut place to fly as the weather is generally awesome. Had always wanted to fly in the airlines but in a moment of stupidity when I was in my early 20's, broke my back rolling a car while not wearing a seatbelt. Had the opportunity prior to that of working as an instructor and charter pilot for a couple of years, so can't complain too much! Now I plan Duxnutz's 737 flights here in Oz. Whenever I see he's operating one of the flights I'm planning, I try extra hard to route him right through the rough stuff I'm in Fort Lauderdale next March doing the FAA Dispatcher rating, and would be keen to catch up with any Florida based flying members who might be keen to take me for a spin! Moreton Island just to the east of Brisbane. Taking Owsta for a fly the day after last years Havanathon. If you look real hard you can see El Pres bass fishing down there.

Being KeithedTM is something best experienced in person, let's be fair. Watching Keith waltz in a 8 am still dancing and buzzing from the night's frivolities is an experience that no camera can properly capture!

Here are some threads that contain the info you're looking for:

I found the answer to my question. The duty rate is 4% for amounts over $800/100 cigars which seems quite reasonable.

Hence our leash for the birds she wants to run after... Ours is an indoor cat until I adjourn to the backyard and she cries like mad seeing me out there. We thought the same thing she was just an outside cat as she was pretty scrawny and cried like crazy. Ever since we got her inside, she just lounges around like she owns the place! Great pic btw...

Espy

PSD4, PSP Rott and smoked great. I smoked it on an empty stomach and got my butt kicked

From our host

It's Cigar Saturday at the house. While the wife is away, we all can play. Fresh Behike 54's AMO JUL 16 and LGC Glorias TOS SEP 16