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I smoked an Ambar on the boat from Spain to Morocco this morning. And I am smoking an Esmeralda now. So nice to be able to smoke anywhere outdoors.

First time trying QdO 52. Nice smoke. But, was a bit overshadowed by some perch

On Sunday it was Father’s Day and had a great dinner, wine and cigar. Japaneses Wagu Striploin which was the best steak I’ve ever had. Penfolds BIN 704 2018 and as the first vintage they did in Napa Valley. BME AGO 11 Cohiba 1966 along with an Americano and a great rum brought back from Havana a few years ago.

‘03 Esplendidos.

LUB ABR 15

Siglo V in my happy place. Life is good Have a great one all - thoughts & prayers with everyone in the Middle East 🙏

I have been saving 2 boxes of Esmeraldas from the original release, until I finished my other 26 boxes. Unfortunately, that day has finally come. I just broke into one of the boxes. ARS OCT 19.

Hi everyone, I hope this post finds you well ! I've listened to @LizardGizmo's podcast featuring @El Presidente and Hamlet a few days ago and wanted to share something with y'all, it needs a bit of context so please, indulge me. First things first, I fell in love with CCs around 2000 when a good friend came back from Cuba with some RyJs for us to enjoy together. At the time I begun smoking regularly but I didn't really go down the rabbit hole until 2018. Nobody else smoked around me so I've searched the internet and I found "Pour une Poignée de Cigares" ("A fistful of cigars"), the biggest cigar forum in French language. I've spent countless hours educating myself there, in fact I was told recently by their chief moderator that nobody has spent more time logged in than me since its creation in 2000 😅 I've learned so much and made so many good friends doing so, I'll forever be grateful but unfortunately it would never recover from Cigarmageddon. I still log in daily but one could do it 3, 4 or 5 days in a row without finding a fresh post, c'est la vie ! That's how I ended up here on FOH, I'd been missing the community a lot. I was a long time lurker when I started to participate early 2024. Since then I come here daily and I love this place ! I've learned a lot thanks to you all and not just about cigars ! What a wonderful community, well done Prez 👍 I live in France and, as some of you may know the CC supplies here are appalling, plus we can't purchase any tobacco product online... Naturally I've tried to find my way through New World cigars over the last years but, let's face it, it was never my jam, never will be. Hundreds of references in each brand's portfolio, big shiny bands you can't even see the wrappers, plus they're not cheap here and the names, OMG the names... To be fair I've found very good NCs and some are now in my rotation but there's too much marketing sh*t going on for a simple man like me who happens to enjoy simple things, I'm just not their target and that's ok, no hard feelings. On the other hand, I don't feel much love from HSA either lately so..... What's left for someone like me ?? What's left is Fabrica 5 cigars, plain and simple. When I was feeling let down by cigar makers and accepted that when my CC stash would be over I'd be doomed to only smoke second-choice cigars I discovered Fabrica 5. What a revelation ! I never thought it could be done but you did it @El Presidente and Hamlet, you've blended cigars that can challenge CCs in the hearts of smokers who were born and raised with the best tobacco in the World. And you did all that with a "No box, no bands, no BS" philosophy ? You're legends, there's no other word and I deeply mean it. Sorry guys for the long post but after hearing Hamlet getting emotional about his job on the Lizards' pod I was so moved I had to get it off my chest. I don't know if he ever comes here but if he doesn't please make sure he knows his work is highly appreciated and even more, it is a game changer to me and many more I assume. Long story short, Rob, Hamlet, I love you compadres, you can ask me (almost) anything whenever you come to Paris 🙏

A P2 and a Winnie. Both 2016's.

Trinidad Reyes - APU Dic 2014

Partagas Seleccion Privada No. 1. FPG OESC (Apr 1997).

‘03 Cohiba Siglo VI - from the first year these were available. I only smoke these on special occasions and this was the perfect capper for my final Father’s Day smoke. I love Siglo VI - easily my favorite Siglo. These OR are almost transcendental. Creamed honey & cardamom. Smooth as a baby’s bottom. OY!

My ‘23’s are out! Malt, sweetness and tangy on the Classic Gouda! Subdued macadamia nut and slight salty notes with the Baby Swiss. The Cheshire is beyond belief. Smooth, creamy and walnut!!! 😬

In my upstairs lounge

Caught up with @LaoFan last Friday while he was visiting Shanghai. Also smoked this delicious MAR E2 over the weekend.

June ‘00 Diplomaticos #3 - how about exactly 25 years old haha! Though I do prefer the Monte in this vitola these are damn good smokes. Lit this one up Father’s Day morning with espresso. Some of the myriad flavors included sourdough toast, rum cream, nutmeg, shortbread and even a little marshmallow & toffee. Fantastic example of this particular Diplo. Nursed this bugger for an hour and a half. Perfect start to my day.

Fortifieds Masterclass cigar chosen. Punch Sabroso 2011

Trinidad Fundadores - RAG Dic 2017

Boli Coronas Tubo #1 (ULA MAR-15).

Something special for the first day in Marbella.

Cohiba Lancero (AMO ABR17).

I got a Bond Roberts 109 about two years ago from Pres. I think still early stages in the blending process - no bands / foot bands. Today I smoked it. Great cigar with several transitions. Quality and burn are next level. I’ll be buying a box.

Partagas Salomones... HdM San Juan

Casdagli d’Boiss 52. Heard some positive commenting on that one and thought I’d give it a try (while at 17 Thaler not exactly a budget-smoke). Sounded enticing - a Costa Rican blend with Ecuador wrapper, and purportedly Jeremy Casdagli having had a somehow “Cubanesque” character in mind with blending this line. Well, a beautiful looking cigar, no doubt about that! But a very subdued smoke (as far as I got into it), even muted in a way. Unfortunately, construction was diddly-squat. Gave up on it before entering second third. I got another one resting, will certainly give it a second chance. Switched to an old faithful instead (Coloniales). Ahh, it’s good to be back “home” again! 😂

20yr old PLPC from 2006. Pretty good, but didn't quite blow me away, still awesome to have in the rotation, happy to keep working on this cabinet.

Partagás Lusitania (MUL MAR15).

Catching up on the last two weeks Have a great week ahead, FOH!

ARS 2019 Fundies are killing it. Preferred smoking out of ‘21 boxes for the last couple years, but these have been stellar since I started sampling again over the last few months. Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. Have a great weekend all 🍻

Thursday night cigars 98' Punch Churchill Cherry, Clove, Shortbread Cookies 24' Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2 Chocolate Orange, Baking Spice, Almond Blah Ok Good Tasty Heavenly

2012 M4 and dark negroni.

JL2

Weekend smoking...

My 19 year old son cooked dinner for the 2 of us. He has become quite the chef. Even cut the fries himself from sweet potatoes.

Spent the weekend with my wife in the Hunter Valley Wine Region, north of Sydney, recently to celebrate our 28th Wedding Anniversary.

Something special on a real summer day today(finally). A 1988 Diplomaticos No 7

Quite like the garden looking a bit moody. 2017 BRC.

A Monte No. 1 from 2018 this evening along with some red wine, and a good book. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A great time was had by all.

Bolivar Petit Coronas (TUA November 2021). Sweet fruity cream for the first and second third, then a mild earth and wood for the final third.

2018 Coro