Don Candido

Great photo PorkChop! These are really beautiful cigars. I don't think I can stop smoking Nudies. I am not advocating jumping the gun on lighting them up if you like to rest your smokes and I know they have a ways to improve from rest, but these arrived a week ago and are already becoming a favorite. They are *so* easy to smoke. Yesterday, my second Rosado Carlotas was much more ready to smoke than the first I had. I think Nudies will be a regular smoke for me. (I can see why it is for Rob - he isn't selling when he says he has them everyday - these truly are a perfect everyday smoke) So.... I bought more Rosado yesterday... I smoked a Maduro Carlotas this morning and had the same reaction. I bought more Maduro today... I don't know their inventory, but it looks like the Rosados are sold out. A few minuites ago, there were Maduro Carlotas available still. Good luck! 😉

My introduction to Nudies, I received them 4 days ago ( a bundle of each). I am no good at letting cigars rest. I am always too anxious to try new ones. Most cigars change and get better with rest, no doubt. If you smoke them on arrival and keep in touch with them, it becomes interesting to see the vast differences in tobacco as it rests and further ages. I don't really review cigars - I've been a lurker for a decade, but Rob asked me to say something after I wrote to him. The day after I received them, I lit up a Rosado Lanceros. It absolutely knocked my socks off! The subject of my email to Rob was "Are you kidding me?" I went on to sing the praises of the smoke, which showed as good as any cigar on arrival has. But this was a reference Laguito No.1, not simply a cigar which showed well - construction, feel, aroma cold and lit, quality of the burn and the smoke, the focused, enticing flavor. It smoked so easily. I almost burned my fingers as I naturally smoked it to the smallest nub, which only happens with smokes I really enjoy. I find no rhyme or reason to which cigars smoke and show well on receipt (obviously a good reason why many people won't light up smokes before they rest). Each day since receipt, I have had one more Nudie, finishing up with the fourth this morning, a Maduro Carlotas. The Maduro Lanceros I had two days ago, while built just as beautifully as the first, was closed up and not showing well. Same with the Rosado Carlotas I had yesterday. I was resigned to the idea the first Lanceros showing well was a fluke, but today, as I am finishing it, I am really enjoying this maduro Carlotas. It is not as glorious as the first Lanceros was yet, but very good. These will all be better soon. I'd guess it is probably safe to wait a month, if you like to let them rest before smoking. I simply can't do that... I won't talk about the berries and spices I taste - I am not good at that, but bottom line. I smoke very little notn-Cuban and am no expert on what is out there. I will say I had a few recent production Cohiba Lanceros and the Colorado Rosado Nudies N1 Lanceros, while not the same animal, showed better in most every way. One reason I contacted Rob was to check if these were really sold out. To me, they are so good, now that each is open, my bundles will get smoked without a chance to age. I want to put some away and try them again in a few years. I was glad to hear another run is around the corner. These deserve space in the humidor! They don't need my endorsement, but in case it wasn't clear, I wouldn't miss a chance to try them. Hats off to Rob and Hamlet! 'nuff said.

Lisa, Di, Lucy and Rena, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

I have been away for a while, but I just moved. When I did so, I saw all my stored smokes and decided I needed to get back in gear. So hear I am. I hope all are well. Missed you guys...

Hoyo de Monterey Pyramid, I think. It is Hoyo and pyramid shaped. Just awesome!

Por Larranaga - Robustos de Larranaga - Exclusivo Asia Pacifico EMA JUN2007

Here in California, unfortunately, NC's are very common. It is worth noting the good ones (which generally pale in comparison to CC's) are still more expensive to purchase here, than it is to "import" CC's.

BTW, I do love the Xikar Havana series lighter.

Start with a Blazer PB-207 and branch out from there, if need be.

I was just at a Restaurant/Bar called La Bodeguita del Medio in Palo Alto. It is not in San Francisco. It is near Stanford U., about 30mins South of SF. They have a room in the back (and a patio) for cigar smoking. To avoid issues with the CA laws, they do not offer service in the cigar smoking areas. You basically need to head to the bar yourself. A nice, unique setting. Worth checking out if you come down that way.

In general, avoid airport smokes too.

The safety lever is VERY easy to remove. Just snap off or cut off the tab. It is not hard to do. I think the body styling on the older models was less rounded/more square on the gas button. There are minor differences besides the safety tab.

Dressing me up like that is only something I could picture in a horror film...

You know, now that I think about it, all the lighters I use eventually die. I have not seen a single one which does not. I am just currently impressed with the Xikar havana lighters. They actually have never died on me yet. I have a few. I am sure soon after this post, the one I have been using will give out... Still, they seem to be impressive was my main point. The Blazer PB-207 is still a great, practical choice (for something which fits in your pocket!) Cheers, DC

I do not recommend this ever. The result is not something that can be predicted in many cases. It may work well for some smokes. I am guessing it will work poorly for far more. The general guidelines for humidification changes with cigars over time is 1%/day. If you can control your secondary humidor well, you can take cigars from a resting place of 65-67% and increase their humidity over three to four days to 70%. I like to age at 65% and smoke at 70%, but I rarely bring smokes up to the 70%. It is easier to simply pull from my aging stock when I want to smoke. I am guessing there are plenty of views in the links Colt listed above.