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Finally a La Trova that lived up to the expectations... Burned through a few with lackluster results. This one came out rocking hard and carried through to the end!

Some nice nutty/pecan notes on the predraw...

H Upmann Magnum 46 UEB Oct 18

First time Partagas Maduro try: not bad so far, I do love the grassy, buttery, game-meaty taste of Cuban maduros

Finally got around to cracking open one of my boxes. While smoking this I’m reminded of how disappointed I am that this vitola isn’t represented better in regular production. It just feel so good in my hand.

Cohiba Media Coronas 2003 - Reserva Selección (circa 2003) The Cohiba Media Coronas came from a 30-cigar humidor 2003 Reserva Seleccion release. This was the first release in the Reserva Seleccion series and thus far the only one to include a multitude of vitolas rather than just the usual one. The original Habanos S.A press release below... This humidified box contains a selection of 30 cigars: 6 Coronas Especiales 4 Espléndidos 6 Robustos 8 Pirámides 6 Medias Coronas “Cohiba Selección Reserva” has been elaborated with tobacco coming from the best vegas of San Luis and San Juan y Martínez, in the Vuelta Abajo producing region. The tobacco filler leaves have been aged for over 3 years time before rolling the cigars. This specially aged tobacco liberates even more progressively the unique Cohiba’s flavour and aroma. This production incorporates the Reserva band, accompanying the main Cohiba band, which in this occasion incorporates the name of the brand in golden letters. All of it so as to brighten the presentation of the Selección Reserva. It’s also the first time that the Media Corona Vitola is produced in the Cohiba brand, and it will only be available in this special production. Due to the exclusivity of this Cohiba Selección Reserva, which contains the Habanos’ most outstanding brand, and also because of the meticulous selection of the best Cuban tobacco leaves from Vuelta Abajo finest vegas, specially aged for this occasion, Cohiba Selección Reserva is bound to be a noteworthy event in the world of cigars. As mentioned in the press release above, the Media Coronas was a 38 ring gauge x 142 mm or 5⅝ inches vitola which was the first cigar to officially include medio tiempo leaves. According to Habanos S.A, medio tiempo is a rare leaf used very occasionally to bring extra intensity to the taste. It has a strength rating of four, in contrast volado has a strength rating of one, seco is two and ligero leaf is three. Medio tiempo is best suited for larger cigars because of the fullness of flavour it brings to the blend of a cigar. This is the reason why the smallest ring gauge in the Cohiba Behike Linea series is 52 and it is also why the Media Coronas, at 38 ring gauge, was not re-introduced as a regular production vitola afterwards (unlike the Cohiba Piramides Extra, for example). I've been fortunate enough to have sampled the Pirámides and Espléndidos from this Reserva Seleccion release and they were both exemplary. This Media Coronas was similar, yet different. I would attest the reason for the difference would be the medio tiempo leaf included in the blend of the Media Coronas. Like the Pirámides and Espléndidos, this Media Coronas had quality cedar, honey sweetness, quality grass/hay, vanilla bean underlying core flavour which made it really resonate with me. The addition of the medio tiempo leaf to this cigar gave it an intensity far more than the previous Pirámides and Espléndidos I smoked from this series and it imparted a stronger mocha coffee and spice flavour upon the cigar. I still enjoyed the Media Coronas, mind you, but I have to admit that it wasn't in the same class as the aforementioned ones without medio tiempo leaf added. It makes sense in my mind, after smoking this Media Coronas today, why medio tiempo leaf is only added to the larger Cohiba Behike Linea series because of the effect it has on the intensity of the blend. Then again I enjoyed this skinnier cigar enough to nub it. I'd like to thank @Trevor2118 for having the opportunity to smoke it and compare it to other cigars within the initial and highly reputable 2003 Cohiba Reserva Seleccion humidor.

TRU MAR 18 Rass. Very enjoyable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

El Rey del Mundo Choix Suprême MLU Abr 2018 Unlike the previous El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme I had about a week ago, the wrapper on this was not 'fireproof' but it was similarly a darker shade and a tad 'rustic'. Nevertheless, it definitely burnt better! I got a nice combination of floral notes, almond nut and lemon citrus upon smoking it; however, there was a little more strength here than I would prefer for a ERdM Choix Supreme and this imparted a toasted tobacco flavour upon the cigar from the middle third onwards. Overall, I'm grateful to @Luca for gifting me this cigar as I still smoked it down and enjoyed it nonetheless. I'm now keen to smoke my last light-wrappered MLU Nov 2018 El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme from my humidor to compare it to this one. I hope to do this soon. H. Upmann Connoisseur No.1 BRE Nov 2018 I had a H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 a few days ago and it was so good to smoke that I was literally salivating to try another from this box today. After a smoking this today, all I can say is..."Boy, what a difference a few days can make!" Today's H.Upmann Connie 1 just wasn't as balanced in flavours as the superlative example I enjoyed this week. There was less cream texture and shortbread and more cedar and espresso coffee today. However, I did get some nut and sweetness at times akin to something like licorice and that redeemed the cigar for me until the end. Perhaps the bunched leaves at the end of the first third, requiring a corrected burn, affected the cigar although otherwise construction was impeccable. Overall, it was still a 'serviceable' smoke and I wouldn't hesitate to smoke another in a week or two.

R y J Churchill PLA JUL 15

Monte 2 PTR DIC 16

Quai D'Orsay ETP Nov 15. Mild and pleasant, just like this Sunday afternoon

These are pretty nice...surprisingly mild but tasty

Decent week 16 Boli PC always good thanks @Thirds amazing 16 P2 thanks @inter4alia great 14 JL1 has legs for years thanks @MigsG starting really nice

My 17 year old daughter has been taking golf lessons every summer since she was 11, but never really played more than 1 or 2 actual rounds per season. This season, something changed, and she wants to play all the time. We have been playing 2 rounds a week together for the last couple of months. For me, golf went from meaning additional time away from my family, to spending quality time with my daughter. Now if I could only get my 14 year old son to join us more often than once in a while.

I smoked one today as well from a 24:24 3-pack and it was damn impressive. It was my first Vigia, now I'm looking for more lol.

2019 siglo III. The first third was solid but lacking in flavor intensity. The second third exploded in intensity and is pretty spectacular. Citrus/lemon grass and mocha.

One time for the LVR! And.....ONE MORE TIME FOR THE 2020 NBA CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

A fantasic smoke on a warm fall sunday

Incredible construction from this Vigia. Hell of a mid-day smoke. From a tubo 3-pack on a 24:24 a few months back

Took a mini vacay to Miami.....?

I know it seems sacrilegious, but here's my first ever Party Short. Idk why it took so long for me to try these. Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

C&C time. PLMC (2016) - 24:24 Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

ARS MAR 18 fundis ... it's gonna be a long 60 days (until I smoke one).

Played in a charity golf outing yesterday. VR Famoso - ARS July 18 Monte #4 - ASR May 19 The Famoso had great flavors that keep improving each time I try one but the Monte #4 was amazing. Best one I’ve had so far with classics Monte flavors all the way to the nub.

A beautiful early evening in Florida! Always better with a good cigar! (FUTRRW)

As I was building my CC collection and reading about all the great cigars here on FOH, I kept coming across the RGPC's and RGP's listed as great little smokes. Frankly, had never heard about Rafael Gonzalas as a marca - don't think I've ever seen one highlighted in a Cigar Aficionado - and certainly had never had one. Finally, my son-in-law @Devo found some 2011 Perlas and some 2017 RGPC's. After smoking them with him in Indiana - I had to add some to my collection. In doing some searching on FOH - I found @Buck14 who said "he had more RGPC's than any other cigar in his collection" so, I PM'd him and asked about some box codes I should try. It was pretty humbling when he told me that he was currently smoking his 2007 RGPC allotment and hadn't yet gotten to anything more recent. Kinda (no - definitely) makes me jealous !!! Eventually, I found two boxes of SOM MAY-17 with this one just hitting 60 days in the humi -- I can't wait any longer. This is the first one from the box. This is a gorgeous little PC with a light brown Colorado wrapper, very firm feel and slightly box pressed from sitting in the box. Since it weighed 8.2 gms. and I was worried about it being tight or having too much moisture, I decided to V-cut it. Straight walnuts on the cold draw with the draw being perfect - light it and and we're off. Immediately I get more walnuts and the cigar produces tons of light grey smoke. After about three puffs I get a distinct aftertaste of mint! The construction on this is great and the burn is razor sharp. After the first third the mint is gone and I'm still getting walnuts and oatmeal. This is really good! My worries about moisture were unfounded and this is burning great with no touch-ups required. Luckily, there is very little wind today so I let the ash go to about the half way point before breaking it off. The flavor stays consistent and the cigar is mild to medium and very smooth. In the last third I'm doing small puffs just like a PLMC so it doesn't get hot. Towards the end it's still walnuts and toasted tobacco. I really like this RGPC! Glad I splurged and now have 4 boxes sitting in the humi - this will definitely be a star in my rotation. Smoking time was 58 minutes when my wife called me in to grill some shrimp for dinner. This was a solid 90 points all day long and really was my best cigar of the week! It also didn't hurt that I was being entertained by the thunder and rain out over the ocean, a beautiful rainbow and there were some Tarpon rolling at the end of the dock (it's the mullet run here in Florida). All in all a great smoke and a great evening!

New member of the family- she is 9 weeks. Guess I will need to stock up on petit Coronas if she will let me or I can stay awake LOL.

2019 RASS, little rough around the edges, needs more time but still a great morning smoke. Draw was a little tight but the perfect draw worked great. Great way to spend Sunday morning

Had a phenomenal ‘17 PLPC this morning. Following my girlfriends dad’s wedding I’m smoking this REG sept 18 especiales no 2 which unfortunately is pretty weak. I knew I needed to give these some more time but I bought another box so excitement got the best of me. My lady was dazzling as best woMan at her dads wedding and gave an amazing speech that had my poor mom sobbing.

Parti Short (ASR May-18)

‘17 Siglo 1 this morning, ‘19 RyJ Churchill on the golf course and an ‘08 Secretos this evening while dwelling on the putt I missed on 18 for a 79 ??

Lancero UAO Oct 18

Nudie No.1. Will revisit after 6 months.

Shiprock monadnock.

As per my daughters request I did a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving. I am normally a Prime Rib Roast guy but I was shocked how good this turkey was vs what I have and in the past. My wife did all kinds of sides; it was a great dinner and day. I’ll definitely be doing turkey again this way in the future. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Something I haven’t tried before. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Put them away and don't look at them until December. we will have a dedicated christmas thread on them then

Connie B, coffee, spiced muffin, and a sunny NorCal fall day. This worked on all levels.

My first esmerelda, this particular one didn’t live up to the hype but I can see the potential

2012 mini conde 109 custom roll; inspired by the 2015 RE UK Ramon Allones H&F 225th Anniversario... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After 20+ years of trying every complicated approach under the sun, I just keep it simple, now. Large tupperdor for the majority of my stock. Couple of small otterbox/pelican-style traveldors for convenience. Everything is kept with 62% bovedas, at room temperature. That's it. No bells and whistles. No complication. Just airtight containers at room temp with 62% bovedas. Done. Everything smokes fine. I never have to do any fine tuning.

This was the last cigar from a half a fifty cabinet I had. It had a knot in the foot and after I cut it and checked the draw I gave it a short ream with my draw poker and lit up. DCs can be tricksters because they are long and fat. Yes, 50 RG is a fat cigar in my book. It take times for the cigar to warm up and really get going and once this one hit it's stride it was pretty damn good. Smooth as silk like one would expect from a ten year old cigar it hd that lovely Partagas spice. It may have been a bit muted because I had it in my desk top for years intending to smoke it but never finding the opportunity. I retrohaled this one right to the nub. The burn was straight for the first half and needed a few touch ups at the end. I put it down after about two hours and 15 minutes and though that for such a smooth cigar I had a pretty good cigar buzz going. This cigar would have benefited from better storage. Being in the desk top humidor exposed to fresh air three or four times a week for years probably diminished the overall smoking experience. I store my cigars in the boxes they come in and often put the last few in tubes or other boxes when I get down to the last few. I find that most Cuban cigars suit me at about the five year mark on and wether they benefit from more age is a toss up. This one was in decline. I'll give it 3 stars.233B6DF3-60C6-42C9-85CD-003992C26818.heic

I might go drier on the tupperdor Bovedas. Take it down to 62-65 rh and I think you'll be doing better. 69% is too wet IMO.

My reviews: Trinidad Media Luna TLU ABR 20 Saint Luis Rey Regios GOB ABR 20 Partagas Super Partagas REG MAR 19

Hmmm...Mag 54 A rare two cigar night, but two wonderful Upmann smokes [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Started off the fishing weekend with some Fuente, looking forward to a few Habanos tomorrow.

ASR May 19 This is my first and what a nice start. I can see these being sublime in due time. Not your typical punch DNA however. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saturday smoke