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Delicious one🐝🍯🍮

HU day. MEG DIC 15 Noellas RAT DIC 19 Propios. both very good.

Monte 2 Esmeralda

MC courtesy of @eg133 as well as the stand! Smoked great! I'm getting that salt!

Good evening with RJ EX4 ABO JUN 18

Hard to go past a ARG Jun 2015 Cohiba Siglo VI or ABR Oct 2011 Sancho Panza Molinos. In fact, I couldn't split them!

Was able to try a couple of these last week. They were an enjoyable Cohiba, nothing more. 93-94 pointers. Similar to a Robustos blend I would say. I had some Siglo VI last week that were exceptional although young that I'd reach for before these. If you buy these books do it as an investment or to collect. They will not give you $500 of smoking pleasure. You're better off buying Siglo VI or Esplendidos to smoke.

C&C time. SCDH La Fuerza (2017) from our gracious host.

JL2 today

A 56x175 Custom. Very tasty.

Karloff

This one wasn't even close for me, this QDO 52 was simply spot on. Smoked while playing a round with my brother in law and cracked the wrapper using a shitty old cutter that I found in my golf bag 😑. Despite the cracked head, it had classic QD flavors and absolutely no rough edges (despite its obvious youth). The size is an awesome addition imo. I'll certainly be looking forward to these making some appearances on upcoming 2424s.

Punch Double Coronas Cubatabaco early 80’s pre NIVELACUSO.

For sure the 2016 Fundie last Saturday

Fabulous contributions to the playlist, folks... 🎶 The random draw winner is @El Presidente!!... wait, wait, wait... internal checks... processing... redraw!! Redraw!! The MOFOH prize goes to @rckymtn22!! Congrats!! Please PM your details (name, address, and email) to me, and we'll arrange dispatch of your prize. Thanks to all participants!

RA Superiores TUA 2021

2018 Monte 1

VR Famoso BSM JUN 20.

Absolutely fantastic smoke

Siglo VI

A great PD4, courtesy of @Stogieninja, watching the Rangers-Rays WC game 2.

ERDM Grand Marshall - this cigar is very elegant, toasted sweet bread, hazelnut, creamy, latte flavors. Nothing in this cigar was out of balance.. everything was in perfect harmony.. it was singing.

‘23 N1, a pint of cream and a couple snacks 👌

D4. It was sublime! Date unknown but it had some age.

Punch Punch!

Reyes SPM MAR ‘22 Always hits the spot when time is a factor.

Canonazo. Smooth choco croissant goodness right from the get go.

Cohiba 1966 on my birthday. Don't know how to top that.

I smoked one of these a few months ago, but I don't know if I would describe it as a CoRo blend. I would describe the Ambar as a CoRo blend. It is basically a Cohibo Robusto Extra, and very much "in your face", in a good way. But I found the Ideales to be much more subtle, nuanced, and complex, while still retaining the classic Cohiba flavors. I wouldn't disagree with the 93-94 rating, and absolutely not worth $500 to me. If money was not in the equation, I would probably choose this over the Siglo VI or Esplendido, but perhaps not a Behike 54.

When I bought my 814ce about 30 years ago, it was definitely considered one of the first really big purchases of my life. And I didn’t even play very well, so it was as much about the hype of being a Taylor...and it really did have amazing tone. I’ve still only managed to reach a high level of farting around on a guitar, but man what a great companion my Taylor’s been over the years. In the early years, I was basically afraid to take it out of its case, haha. These days? Well, the bottom photo is from about a week ago, and it’s one of my favorite pairings with a cigar and some bourbon most nights. Just don’t expect to hear much other than the 12 bar blues in E

My first 2023 Carlota. Such a tasty cigar. Perfect body and richness, amazing aroma that complements the smoke, and I love that coating of flavor it leaves behind. I remember the first one well, and they hit those same notes ever time now— like 6-8 so far. Well done.

So I double dip here. I’ve got an infrared two person sauna in my basement. Took a lot of convincing but the wife finally said yes. I enjoy it a ton and so does my younger son. The wife occasionally gets in but my daughter wants nothing to do with sweating. So heard enough podcasts from Huberman, and before him Wim Hof, about contrast therapy. I was sold. So I talked the lady into it again. Rogan and others have these baller cold plunge/ice baths. They retail for like 6-12K USD. I’d be cutting into my cigar budget so I went the DIY route. Watched enough YouTube videos to become an expert at this. Bought a chiller on Amazon that’s the same unit that’s equipped in all of those $6K units. Got a 1/2 hp pump and filter. I bought a 150 gallon tub. I got yelled at with questions like where do you plan on putting that thing? The irony… she got in it first. In the summer months the tub sweats a bit but I can get the water into the mid to high 40’s Fahrenheit. In the Winter I can get the water as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s like razor blades on first contact but you feel like you drank 8 cups of coffee when you get out. I started doing 90 seconds early on but I’ve done as much as 6 minutes. Believe it or not it doesn’t feel as cold when you’re trying to cool down after a 45 min sauna session. Out of bed and into 40 degree water feels way colder than the other way around. From dopamine dumps to lowering inflammation and increased resiliency… it’s even supposed to upregulate your metabolism. I’ll take it. Placebo or not I like the feeling I get when I plunge. There are enough studies to show this stuff works. The Nordic countries have used cold water exposure for a long time. There’s science behind heat exposure and heat shock proteins. I like to go into the sauna before long walks to consume all of the liberated fats. Men who sauna 3 to 4 times a week have lower incidence of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. I have a lot of cigars I need to smoke when I’m old. Brrrr I mean Cheers!

Hammy is many things......but he is an excellent judge of character

For me, Guinness is top of the tree, followed by coffee and then sparkling water. But it needs to be the right Guinness. Like the type you only get in a select number of pubs in Ireland, the profile with more cream and sweetness than bitterness and earth, etc. This type of Guinness goes so so so well with a wide range of cigars. But it is other worldly with a really good HdM. Cream on top of cream, on top of cream. My favourite dessert. Also pretty sure this combo is the reason I own so much HdM.

San Cristóbal de la Habana Punta (BRM AGO22).

RAS

Hello Friends, Wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I started smoking cuban cigars around a year and a half ago. I was a sommelier for 15 years working in 3 michelin star restaurants and there are many parallels between cigars and wine. I’m excited to be here and learn about this always evolving hobby. -the kid

Caldwell The King Is Dead Diamond Girl 'The King is Dead' cigars by Robert Caldwell were among the first line to be produced by Robert Caldwell Cigars, following the factory’s launch in 2014. Each 'The King is Dead' cigar combines aged Dominican Corojo and Habano long filler tobaccos with a Dominican Corojo binder, all wrapped in rare Dominican Negrito leaves. Amongst Dominican puros, Caldwell cigars have a solid reputation in regards to their rolling. The Caldwell 'The King is Dead' line comes in a number of vitolas (including the 4 inch Manzanita, 5 inch Broken Sword, 6 inch Last Pay Day Negrito torpedo and 6 inch Toro Negrito). The Diamond Girl is the same vitola as the Cervantes-sized Montecristo No.1, a 42 ring gauge x 165 millimetres or 6½ inches length cigar. I would like to thank @Perla for providing this cigar for this review. In comparison to the Caldwell Long Live The King 4-inch-in-length Manzanita I had recently, the Lonsdale Diamond Girl is nowhere near as full-flavoured but it shares an obvious similarity in being obviously not 'Cubanesque' in its flavour delivery. In regards to those flavours, I would say that they were slightly muted overall. The main underlying flavour was a dry wood. Along the way this was joined by various degrees of spice, Earth, coffee and dark chocolate. Construction-wise, this cigar was about perfect and the ash was a distinctive white. Upon finishing the cigar, it reminded me of the cigar version of a dark, spiced rum aged in oak barrels. It's either going to connect with you or it won't. Again, I was glad for having sampled it!

Tatuaje VI Victorias The Tatuaje VI was created in 2006. It was Tatuaje’s first cigar produced in Nicaragua at the My Father Cigar Factory. Vitolas within this line have a Nicaraguan binder and filler and a Habana Ecuador wrapper. The Tatuaje VI Victorias is a Laguito No.2 size, that is...38 ring gauge x 152 millimetres or 6 inches in length. The cigar even comes with a triple cap and pig-tail, much like the Montecristo Especiales No.2 and Cohiba Coronas Especiales. I must thank @Perla for providing this cigar for me to review. Tatuaje VI cigars are also known as the 'Red Label' line, for obvious reasons on account of the band. These Tatuaje cigars are also reputed for being quite 'Cubanesque' in nature. The reason for that may have to do with no ligero leaf been used in the blend. I unravelled the pig-tail with my thumb, lit up and was immediately impressed with a cream, hay and pepper/spice hit that was quite distinctive for being indicative of a Habanos cigar. As I smoked the cigar down it had more of a cedar characteristic in its middle third. In the last third it had diminished in its creamy texture and built up in leather, Earth and pepper or spice. The cigar was easy to smoke as the draw was spot-on. It was medium in strength and medium-full in body, especially in its last third (which I considered closer to full-bodied). Upon finishing the cigar I reflected on why this line of Tatuaje cigars is so popular with cigar enthusiasts. Quite simply, it has qualities that resemble a Habanos cigar but it is rather obviously Non-Cuban in its essential characteristics. Perhaps it's this inter-twining of both these types of cigars that appeals to its proponents. Maybe you can have the 'best of both worlds', as they say!

La Gloria Cubana Platinum Edition 2016 - Edición Regional Países Bajos (circa 2017) The La Gloria Cubana Medaille Platinum Edition is a 2016 Paises Bajos Regional Edition (that's the Netherlands in English) that was released in September, 2017. It is a Duke-sized cigar with a 54 ring gauge x 140 millimetres or 5½ inches length. There are a number of Regional Editions that have had this vitola over the years (eight in fact...and two Limited Editions!), but only one regular production cigar has these dimensions; the Partagas Serie E No.2. The LGC Platinum Edition was distributed in eight thousand 10-count semi boite nature boxes. I was actually fortunate to be gifted this cigar in December 2018 by @bugman78629 (thank you, dear friend!). At the time I noted while the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 was known for being fruity, spicy, herbal, woody and yet it can be sweet and creamy too, especially if aged. The LGC Platinum Edition was indeed fruity, spicy and had some cream to it, as well as wood, but it was much more refined and subtle. In other words, I would expect to lay down any La Gloria Cubana sticks I have for some time to reach the level of subtlety of that LGC Platinum Edition. Thanks to @Perla, I am lucky enough to add a second review of the LGC Platinum Edition; this time, at six years of age, at least. After this amount of time, naturally the flavours have melded but I could still make out a wonderful combination of cream, wood, fruit and spice. Perhaps, that fruitiness and spice was much more muted in comparison to the creaminess and wood. It was an enjoyable cigar, nonetheless over 100 minutes. Construction-wise, I had no qualms either as the cigar smoked ideally from beginning to end. What more could one ask for? Not much, in my opinion if you have the chance to smoke an aged La Gloria Cubana cigar and it is as mild and cream-textured as this. It was evidently within 'my wheelhouse' of preference but then again, La Gloria Cubana is a marca where one can find an assortment of flavours and other combinations of its core flavours, which appeal to me too. I guess it all depends on the specific vitola and circumstances.

Diplomáticos El Diputado 2018 - Edición Regional Belux (circa 2018) The Diplomaticos El Diputado is a 2018 Belux Regional Edition that was released in ten thousand 10-count boxes. It is a Montesco cigar with a 55 ring gauge and 130 millimetres or 5⅛ inches length. The original release in this large vitola was the regular production Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills in 2010. Since that time, the size has become quite popular with thirteen Regional Editions and two Limited Editions released in this size. As for the cigar itself, it was received with a positive acclamation; noted as a complex, yet subtle cigar. I would like to thank @Perla for making this review possible. When I lit the cigar, I could see for myself within the first few puffs that it did indeed contain a pleasing complexity in its flavours. I could make out sweet flavours of strawberries and cream, yet on the other hand I also sensed savoury flavours of wood and pepper. These flavours counter-balanced each other well, but unfortunately I experienced issues with maintaining an even burn after the midway point of the first third. Unfortunately, this proved pivotal to the smoking experience for the rest of the cigar as I struggled with re-lights, flaky ashes, canoeing and significant under-filling. Frankly, I had no hope to redeem the cigar comparative to what I enjoyed upon first lighting it so I extinguished the cigar early in the last third. What a shame I say, This Diplomaticos El Diputado had the potential to be an interesting cigar but sadly, it was not to be.

As you can see, that’s the size of the Queen Corona (HdM DD or Siglo III)

Awesome! Thanks a lot for another fantastic contest!

Everyone here is giving you good advice in my opinion. You don't get to choose your speaking or singing voice, but you do get to choose your guitar - and they all sound different. I've got a couple of Martin acoustics (one is a D-28HDV and a 000 with a cutaway). I've got a no name fhole guitar form the 1930's- nobody knows what it is, but it sounds GREAT= cost $175. I love em all for different how they sound and play differently- for different types of music. D18's and D28's are made out of different kinds of wood- mahogony and rosewood respectively, and that makes a big difference. The guitar player in my band bought a Martin D-28, the most basic model of that guitar off the shelf in a local music store. She asked a few people to come and look at it. Which is a great idea. That particular one is one of the best new guitars I heard at any price. If you like the sound, and it's made out of solid wood (I would avoid a laminate:plywood), plays in tune, has a straight neck, and feels comfortable (Martin D 28s are large!), then you are in good shape. To hear how different guitars sound in comparison, check YOUTUBE. I've never heard anybody complain that they spent too much, anybody with a guitar they love.

Wow is that an apprentice of Wayne’s? Dude is a legend. Getting one of his guitars is next to impossible unless you find one used. I know a guy who has been on his list for over a decade and still no guitar. You basically need to have something he wants in trade like a vintage shotgun. There are a few FS at dreamguitars.com, all over 50k US. Wayne probably sold them to the original owners for 4k or less. One other brand to seriously consider is Pre-War guitar company. I have a Brazilian/Adirondack 000-28 that kills and it’s only 8 months old, just beginning to open up. Their mahogany guitars are less than 6k, a true bargain for what you get if you are into the vintage tone. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Jesus. Go Birko If you dont drink, god bless you. If you do, the alcohol world is your oyster! D4 and a PX sherry....brilliance. SLR DC and Pol or Tattinger....divine. Guinness and a Party connie 1/2/3.....send me to heaven now! The combinations don't stop. It is a personal choice however but once you have dipped your beak in the tasting/pairing well..and it "hits:...it is one of the great joys of life.

Glorious CCE over the weekend Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

2002 LGC MDO No 3..