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

Trinidad Reyes - APU Dic 2014

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 🙏

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

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

Weekend smoking...

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.

A P2 and a Winnie. Both 2016's.

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 🍻

Plain old D4

A great time was had by all.

Por Larrañaga Petit Corona (TOS MAY17).

Cohiba Lancero (AMO ABR17).

Wednesday night cigars 19' MSU H.Upmann Mag 46 Shortbread Cookie, Burnt Brown Sugar, Cocoa 23' RASS (50 Cab) Baking Spice, Raisin, Cinnamon Blah Ok Good Tasty Heavenly

Unsure of box code, but crazy story here...

RASS MUR 13...finally ready to go! This came from a 50 cab. 39 left and my last cab. I never thought these would come around.

Cohiba Siglo I - ROM Nov 2015

I might have to bust out the espies to beat this one for cigar of the year. 2019 Funadores - damn, just damn!

Fruit Bomb for the first third on this RASS (EPM May 2019).

Regalias

2021 Qd50 tonight

Saturday night cigars 19' Montecristo Supremos Edición Limitada Chocolate, Marzipan, Figs 20' Bolivar Royal Coronas Malt, Cocoa, Gingerbread 1/2 Blah Ok Good Tasty Heavenly

TGIF

How do these compare to the Majestics? My morning started with an SLR Regios but it wasn't like the first one I had, so I'll be adjusting the rH on these just a little bit.

Monte Especial

Another PLPC from the '06 cab -- These are such an easy smoke in the mornings.

A few from this week. A wonderful few days at the beach with no phone service, so I didn't get any pictures, yay! Some beach cigars were 2018 Sir Winston, Esplindidos, Sig4, Hoyo DC (meh) ,SOP SEP 2019 ( last one of those was a champion) and an Esmerelda.

Original release Carlota rosado with black coffee. Delicious!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

'23 Wide Churchill. It needs more time down for sure. More salinity than I'm used to, which I enjoy.

Classic pairing with the boys last night. Hakushu Japanese Forest Bittersweet Edition HdM Monterreyes No. 4 EL &.... Snake. Not horrible... chewy af though.

A couple of beauties tonight. 2014 LGC No.2 2011 RASS from a 50 cab

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure de Luxe LCDH (BRM AGO22).

HdM Destinos @ YOMA in GZ If you haven't been to a 24/7 spa in the PRD... put it on your bucket list.

RA EL 2015

'20 BBF...great construction, but rather linear in flavor.

Partagas Piramides 2000 EL. ECA DIC00.

Bolivar New Gold Medal @ Panyu

They are starting to be on point. Gonna hide the cookie jar. Have a great day y’all.