It was the spring of 2012. I was a few years into a 1-3 cigar a week habit. We travelled to Mexico with friends and were staying in a resort near Cancun. A vendor would come in each evening and sell fresh rolled cigars and Cubans on a table in the rear courtyard. I purchased 3 PSD4's for 3 for $60(U.S.) hoping that they were real. (I talked him down from $25 each thinking that I was getting a great deal) I gave one to each of 2 buddies, we lit them up and the journey began.
While skeptical, I knew that this was the best cigar that I had ever smoked. I returned the next 2 nights and purchased 2 each night to enjoy before my trip ended. The last night there, I asked the guy what he would sell me a box of them for and he said that he didn't have a full box. Ironically, he had 18 left in the box which meant I had already purchased the 7 that were missing. He agreed to include a few Epi2's, H.Upmans and Rass (if I recall correctly) and sold me the box for something like $300-$350.
As I sit here while I write this enjoying another incredible stick from that 2009 box, my only regret is that I am down to only 4 more left. Since I have found FOH and my hero the "mighty Rob" and his team, I have no worries on finding quality smokes, but I owe it all to that vendor in his efforts to make a few bucks on a clueless tourist. I am gonna miss these when they are gone.