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Happy New Years To end the year I am closing with a Mag 46 USE JUL08 and some Pyrat Cask 1623. FYI, this cigar is just wonderful.

Starting off late today. RASS near the original exhaust hood. Amazing how a hot fire takes the smoke up up and away! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The game was not what I expected. tOSU looks like this after the game

RyJ Cedros and skating with the kids. Great cigar and a good time.

Starting late as well. I am usually headed to bed by 9:30PM and just lit my first cigar, but got told I needed to stay awake. Random grab. Never been a big fan of this cigar, not a big EL guy. The aroma and construction on this sucker are pretty sweet.

happy new year('s eve).

2009 Lusitania to start off 2017

Cohiba Esplendido Vacation is over and almost back to reality

This was the best cigar I smoked all year. I assume the tobacco was all from DR. I smoke mostly all Cubans but am super struck by what DR can come up with.

An old Camacho Criollo with a few years age [emoji16]

Because I am boring on New Year's and the postman was nice enough to bring some holiday cheer, I give you more of the Christmas haul. Today's installment includes some nice PSP Monte 2, OSR SEP 11 PLPC, and the Bushido - all from our host at FOH (thanks guys, you make being an addict fruitful)!

First cigar of the new year was an absolutely outstanding MES SEP 11 Behike 52. Only the second one from this box and both have been memorable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HdM Du Prince from a TOS JUL16 PSP box. Definitely needs more time down. Oily AF. Just a beautiful cigar. A stud box for sure...just needs a little more time down. Love the mottling. Happy New Year!!! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Went with a Montecristo #1 last night (BUM ABR 15), and it was magically delicious. Truly surprised me how rich and flavorful it was. Nubbed it good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy New Year Cigar.

Sentimental pic(k): one of Don Carlos Fuente's personal reserve given to me by Carlito! Happy new year!

Breaking out the blinged out rum too!

Very nice enjoy. Happy New Year. Can you believe that game? I have some friends that are die hard Ohio fans/alum...they will be drunk for 9 weeks.

RASS amazingly good cigar,,

LRE OCT 09 Bolivar Gold Metal. Seemed appropriate for New Years Eve day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That paella looks amazing! I'm up at my cabin in the Catskills with the family. We have a few fireworks and I've got some short cigars to smoke (because it's very cold). I'll light up one of my favorites, a 2014 MdO4 around 11:30 and I'll probably be snoring by 1. There's supposed to be a comet visible near the moon at midnight too if the clouds abate. Looks like a Bob Ross painting, doesn't it...? Happy New Year to you all!!!

07 Bolivar CG. Little more mellow out of the gate than the others from this box. Started with a 2001 Cohiba Lancero that had more power even I feel like. Lots of thinking about my NYE cigar lineup!

I had to go all the way back to 2001 to find a Sir Winston to smoke.....

I had a fantastic time in Cuba. Highly recommend it. Brought back 80 custom rolls no problem. Of these so far my favorites in order 1. Cueto ( Morro Castle) 2. Alex ( El Comodoro hotel) 3. La China (Partagas factory) Here's a video of some of the sights Here a two part audio blog of my impressions and thoughts about my homeland http://victorcajiao.tumblr.com/post/155245977212/i-was-born-in-cuba-and-have-not-been-back-since Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Saxman

this was a week or so ago, an annual lunch organised by an old school mate. it is not to be missed but not certain that we'll ever top this one. Bollinger RD 2002 Pol Sir Winston 1996 – Magnum Ruinart Dom Ruinart 1996 – magnum Salon 1996 – not a magnum but a couple of bottles Dom Pérignon 2004 (I missed a Pommery Louise Rose but these were five truly stellar champers and my intention of a very quiet lunch went out the window with them). McWilliam's ‘Mount Pleasant’ Pinot Noir 1982 – magnum, but a relic, which tasted like a relic. Henri Richard ‘Clos d’Engise’ 2014 Faiveley Clos Vougeot 2014 Henschke Hill of Grace 1987 Wynn’s John Riddoch 1993 Penfold's Grange 1996 – (or possibly the 76, I may have to check) but it was exquisite. A glorious Grange. Penfold's Bin 389 1998 – magnum Houghton Jack Mann 2000 – magnum (fair) Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2004 Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2011 – magnum (delicious) I’ll confess a few more top Aussie reds that I simply did not get to. Some moderation required. And some more fizz to conclude before a heap of great rums and a couple of great cigars. Veuve Clicquot 2002 Ulysse Collin Les Perrieres Selosse Exquisite (disgorged 06 – the identical disgorgement a friend brought to lunch the week before). Not a bad lunch.

Electrical is done. Just need to add a receptacle inside once the cab is upright and I can actually see...

Buttery! That's it. I've seen it mentioned before (a lot) but it never really clicked until now. That's the difference. The Siglo 4 doesn't seem to have the "buttery" thing. It's not exactly Hoyo cream, but it's similar. To me at least. @JohnS that's a great observation.

I thought Hateful 8 was awesome. Different strokes for different folks. I love Tarantino's dialogue. It was no Pulp Fiction, but I enjoyed it personally.

Some Boxes for Friends. Ramon Allones XXL.

Those other things are all easier. Why set yourself up with certain failure? Just sayin'....

Enjoying a CoRo the first day of 2017, thinking of what are my New Year's resolutions. Hmmmm, lose weight? save more money? actually go see my doctor for my annual checkup? socialize more with my neighbors? less gambling? go to church more? donate more to charity? naw.....I'll go with something hard: purchasing only 2 boxes of cigar a month, preferrably aged stock or cohiba's. Happy New Years everyone....

My 1st cigar of 2017 - Hoyo des Dieux from 2003

The last purchase of 2016 made on the eve of New Year's Day - a selection of vintage Aussie reds that are made in the big and rich style. A bottle each of the: - 2006 Greenock Creek Alices Shiraz - 2006 Trevor Jones Dry Grown Barossa Shiraz - 1999 Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock

I recently bought the Christmas sampler from Rob. They all look and smell exceptional. By ordering singles you are limited to what is in the inventory. So you may not get PSP/HQ types, but I'm sure you will receive good quality as FOH doesn't sell poor examples in my experience. My advice is you can't go wrong ordering all your Cubans from Rob.

Some of you decided to play the man and not the ball. Grow up or move on to other forums where you can get your jollies.

I happen to understand automation and understand its benefits and detractors. I do believe that somewhere out there, there is an optimum, the exact right conditions that provide the best results. Do I know it? No. Do the Cubans know it? I don't know, but I have to assume that they know better than I do here. So to me the real question is, should it be looked for and strived for? The answer, yes it should. Would I then rather choose between one barn of tobacco that may get closer to the mark, by accident, one in a thousand times, or more consistent closeness to the mark almost every time? I would choose the deliberate, controlled approach and understand that it is development in progress, always! This argument made a rift in the 'seasoned smoker' world a little over a decade ago (as I recall). I filed it away then, as I do now as one of the rote anecdotes about walking uphill, both directions, in the snow, barefoot ... Meaning, some folks will have no change, even if it is really for the better. As I recall, the same guys complaining about raw tobacco in cigars and QC one year, were then complaining that 'these new cigars won't age,' the next. My 2 pennies! -the Pig

Partagas D4 with a sacher torte espresso, which works very well - chocolate and almond all over the place. Thunder & Lightening '76-'15

Happy new years to friends down under. We'll be at home cooking, drinking, smoking, and being merry and in bed well before midnight! Same as most nights I suppose! This was the sunset from our back deck in Miami yesterday. No alterations to the photo, just an iphone pic.

Finished the beach Seafood Paella. Let the night begin

2016 finale...

For my last cigar of 2016, I figured I would make it a big one. A 1997 Trinidad Fundadores from the original 50 cab that I bought back in the day. A suburb cigar and a classic Cuban smoke. Complex while not overpowering. Hints of nutmeg and honey. I have two left after this one.

2002 Montecristo Especiales No. 2 to go with the Rum

Double trouble today post Santa..........a CoRo HQ JUN 16 will be resting for a few and an HdM E2 from the blow out sale...

Some Christmas gifts ..very happy

You know a lunch was not too bad when you don't recall the year of a Grange...

Starting with a Matilde Renacer robusto:

Siglo VI USE JUL 08. You know your other half pays close attention when she says "another box of Siglo VIs"? She doesn't understand that the reason so many boxes keep showing up is because there's a shortage. Makes total sense to me.

Some of my recent purchases Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Best photography backpack ever made (for most people). I have a 20L and find it to be incredible with fit, finish and flexibility second to none.. https://www.peakdesign.com/everyday-backpack

Terrific job with the thread Mika!