SLR Serie A PAS FEB 01(RASLRRW) a Piggy Video

[PigFish]

My first video review this year... Shame, as I really like doing them.

SLR Serie "A" has always been a great cigar, but this one was a disappointment. 

Video is uploading now. Link will be active once done.

Cheers! -Piggy

 

 

 

[benfica_77]

great video! like the intro clip. Hope you do your next review one sooner than later

[JohnS]

Thank you for taking the time to do this video, Ray!

[99call]

Great honest review as always Ray.  Hats off to you. 

Particularly enjoyed the cameo from your better half. 

 

[Connoisseur Kim]

I never had any SLR before. I actually saw SLR Serie A when I was in Malaysia (as well as SLR DC at closed Malaysian cigar bar) but the storage condition was not that good (too high RH). So, can you please tell me how does SLR Serie A actually taste like (for Corona Gordas, I only had H. Upmann Magnum 46 which is my one of my fav cigars)?

By the way, do you use Zippo with Torch Insert for lighting cigars? I'm using FOH Lighter and XIKAR Executive II to light the cigars up (prefer FOH Lighter since it is stronger than XIKAR Executive II even at lighter setting). For storage project, I decided to go with Coolidor instead of Wineador due to difficulty of sourcing big Wineador, fear of condensation issue (definitely will freeze cigars to prevent beetle outbreak).

[El Presidente]

Lucky for Ken you are not closer 

[PigFish]

8 hours ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

I never had any SLR before. I actually saw SLR Serie A when I was in Malaysia (as well as SLR DC at closed Malaysian cigar bar) but the storage condition was not that good (too high RH). So, can you please tell me how does SLR Serie A actually taste like (for Corona Gordas, I only had H. Upmann Magnum 46 which is my one of my fav cigars)?

Frankly, I don't really believe in flavor profiles. However you can see a video of Rob, Chris and Ken where Ken nails an SLR Coronas with a second shot. For me cigars have many flavors and they are all over the map. They are sublime to crap and it is the actual smoking experience that I am grading. While I will voice similarities, that is not why I smoke. I smoke not to compare, but to enjoy that moments experience.

By the way, do you use Zippo with Torch Insert for lighting cigars? Yep.

I'm using FOH Lighter and XIKAR Executive II to light the cigars up (prefer FOH Lighter since it is stronger than XIKAR Executive II even at lighter setting).

For storage project, I decided to go with Coolidor instead of Wineador due to difficulty of sourcing big Wineador, fear of condensation issue (definitely will freeze cigars to prevent beetle outbreak).

Probably a good choice. I prefer converted wine coolers. However I have raised that bar to near test chamber performance for what I build. We all have to settle with what works for us as storage. There are many reasonable alternatives for skinning that cat.

 

[PigFish]

5 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Lucky for Ken you are not closer 

... man how I would love to be the third stooge!

-R

[SCgarman]

There is a big difference between the west coast "humidity" and east coast "humidity".  I lived in Santa Barbara county for a year and never experienced east coast humidity out there. When you have a dewpoint of 70% in the summer months here in the mid-Atlantic and it is oppressive and tropical in nature, cigars here (at least in my experience) tend to absorb this humidity and make for an unenjoyable smoking experience. Has nothing to do with construction issues. Sorry to see another mediocre cigar experience. I am glad I was not into smoking Cuban cigars in the notorious 00-01 years. Some say cigars during these years were as good as any, but I see no evidence to substantiate that claim. Not only construction issues, but seemed to be quality of leaf issues also. 

[PigFish]

In general you are right about the humidity. We get the years now and again where we are more like the east than the typical west. This has been one of those years. Typically, I should be running my humidifier in my house this time of year. However it is actually 60rH in my home currently. That is extremely unusual for us.

I don't see this as a 'year of construction' issue. This is more (MHO) a "typical" Cuban variance in construction issue. Some in every box will, on average be duds, lackluster cigars.

I gave one of these to @NSXCIGAR I do believe, some time ago when we met up in San Diego. Same box code, but maybe a different box. If he happens to remember it, he can comment about his experience if he wants to (an objective 3rd party opinion). For the most part, these have been fine cigars, but duds do happen; no matter the cigar shape, size, cost or year, duds do happen!

Cheers! -P

[NSXCIGAR]

8 hours ago, PigFish said:

I gave one of these to @NSXCIGAR

That was a RGCE, and it was very good. Didn't get any SLR from you. After that SLR review though I'm happy I didn't get one!

Draw issues aside--which of course you've succeeded in largely minimizing--99-01 is always a crapshoot, even in the same box. 

The LCDH had a box of 00 or 01 SLR Lonsdales that I would occasionally smoke out of in the early-mid 2000s and they were excellent. And I had some great SLR Serie A from the late 90s as well. Not my cup of tea at the time, but if I had them now I'd be in heaven. 

[NSXCIGAR]

9 hours ago, PigFish said:

However it is actually 60rH in my home currently. That is extremely unusual

I know you mentioned the ambient rH in the video...I tend to agree it's much more likely to be pure construction issues causing performance problems than ambient rH. But I believe the OP in that thread was in the southeast somewhere where it can be 80% +. And of course you're strictly at about 60 or 61% true rH. Do you think there's anything at all to even an extremely high ambient rH causing some performance issues, particularly if a cigar is stored at 65%+ which is easy to do if precise equipment isn't being used?

[Connoisseur Kim]

10 hours ago, PigFish said:

I never had any SLR before. I actually saw SLR Serie A when I was in Malaysia (as well as SLR DC at closed Malaysian cigar bar) but the storage condition was not that good (too high RH). So, can you please tell me how does SLR Serie A actually taste like (for Corona Gordas, I only had H. Upmann Magnum 46 which is my one of my fav cigars)?

Frankly, I don't really believe in flavor profiles. However you can see a video of Rob, Chris and Ken where Ken nails an SLR Coronas with a second shot. For me cigars have many flavors and they are all over the map. They are sublime to crap and it is the actual smoking experience that I am grading. While I will voice similarities, that is not why I smoke. I smoke not to compare, but to enjoy that moments experience.

By the way, do you use Zippo with Torch Insert for lighting cigars? Yep.

I'm using FOH Lighter and XIKAR Executive II to light the cigars up (prefer FOH Lighter since it is stronger than XIKAR Executive II even at lighter setting).

For storage project, I decided to go with Coolidor instead of Wineador due to difficulty of sourcing big Wineador, fear of condensation issue (definitely will freeze cigars to prevent beetle outbreak).

Probably a good choice. I prefer converted wine coolers. However I have raised that bar to near test chamber performance for what I build. We all have to settle with what works for us as storage. There are many reasonable alternatives for skinning that cat.

Thanks good ole reliable Pigfish! I didn't expect you to use Zippo with Torch Insert! I agree that cigars can be sublime to meh depending on storage conditions. I prefer CCs from FOH over local B&M as cigars from local B&M are way too humid for my taste (some of B&M put CCs and NCs at the same Walk-in Humidor). Also, CCs from FOH has better wrapper shades which is +1 for me!

For large thermoelectric wine coolers, these were used to be available in my country during early 2000's. However, there are no more large thermoelectric wine coolers whereas compressor wine coolers still have larger option due to lack of popularity of large thermoelectric wine coolers. Of course, I could go with large compressor wine coolers, but they are way too expensive (mostly used as commercial purpose), and don't have much difference from Coolidor if I unplugged them. This the ultimate reason why I decided to go with Coolidor project instead.

[PigFish]

18 hours ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Thanks good ole reliable Pigfish! I didn't expect you to use Zippo with Torch Insert! I agree that cigars can be sublime to meh depending on storage conditions. I prefer CCs from FOH over local B&M as cigars from local B&M are way too humid for my taste (some of B&M put CCs and NCs at the same Walk-in Humidor). Also, CCs from FOH has better wrapper shades which is +1 for me!

For large thermoelectric wine coolers, these were used to be available in my country during early 2000's. However, there are no more large thermoelectric wine coolers whereas compressor wine coolers still have larger option due to lack of popularity of large thermoelectric wine coolers. Of course, I could go with large compressor wine coolers, but they are way too expensive (mostly used as commercial purpose), and don't have much difference from Coolidor if I unplugged them. This the ultimate reason why I decided to go with Coolidor project instead.

i exclusively use compressor coolers. They work. My test box has been gutted many times now. It is over 12 years old now and when I had no better way to deal with short cycles, I just let it hit the thermal breaker. I figured it would have given up the ghost by now, but it has not. I have burned through solid state relays, even a few mechanical ones running it. It keeps cigars well in 100F ambient temps!!! Compressors only for me.

My first experiments with coolers started with TE's. i figured they were simple and easy to deal with. When my exterior cooling fan stopped, the TE stopped processing energy from cool to hot and both sides went hot to expel the energy. It turned my humidor to an 'easy bake' oven! I was an old hen room monitor in those days and caught it within hours. My cigars were well into the high 80's by that time. Bad scene! 

i would use flint and magnesium to light a cigar if I had to. Soft flame is great but the Zippo's with the dual flame are a nice way to get a torch and nice shiny lighter in the same package if I am not using a Dupont.

Cheers! -P

[Connoisseur Kim]

5 hours ago, PigFish said:

i exclusively use compressor coolers. They work. My test box has been gutted many times now. It is over 12 years old now and when I had no better way to deal with short cycles, I just let it hit the thermal breaker. I figured it would have given up the ghost by now, but it has not. I have burned through solid state relays, even a few mechanical ones running it. It keeps cigars well in 100F ambient temps!!! Compressors only for me.

My first experiments with coolers started with TE's. i figured they were simple and easy to deal with. When my exterior cooling fan stopped, the TE stopped processing energy from cool to hot and both sides went hot to expel the energy. It turned my humidor to an 'easy bake' oven! I was an old hen room monitor in those days and caught it within hours. My cigars were well into the high 80's by that time. Bad scene! 

i would use flint and magnesium to light a cigar if I had to. Soft flame is great but the Zippo's with the dual flame are a nice way to get a torch and nice shiny lighter in the same package if I am not using a Dupont.

Cheers! -P

Thanks! Most of Compressor Wineador BOTLs are always leave them unplugged. Do you do the same? Also, I found your Wineador guide vids are helpful and funny! Hope that BOTLs in Korea will watch your vids when they really want to have Wineador.

For soft flame, I really never like soft flame since it is painful (nearly destroyed my thumb finger nail) and too time consuming. However, I really like FOH Torch for its reliability and powerhouse single jet flame as well as travel friendly feature! I also have XIKAR Executive II (only have some scratches other than that it is still functional) but decided to use FOH Torch more since XIKAR's QC and Warranty went downhill after being purchased by Quality Importers like Palio Cutter.

[PigFish]

... leave it unplugged!!! Hell no! That is advice I give to those that can't build a working humidor.

Below is a data log of my Gen 13 humidor. The heat in the shop is running up to almost 100F. My temp fluctuations... about 0.5F. My rH changes... about 2rH. Heat of summer, where the shop cools to the high 80s at night. This is a brutal test for a humidor. No one else in the world that I know of makes a humidor that can do this.

Humidor building is part art, a  dose of science one hellufalota patience and determination.

Cheers! -tP

[Connoisseur Kim]

16 minutes ago, PigFish said:

... leave it unplugged!!! Hell no! That is advice I give to those that can't build a working humidor.

Below is a data log of my Gen 13 humidor. The heat in the shop is running up to almost 100F. My temp fluctuations... about 0.5F. My rH changes... about 2rH. Heat of summer, where the shop cools to the high 80s at night. This is a brutal test for a humidor. No one else in the world that I know of makes a humidor that can do this.

Humidor building is part art, a  dose of science one hellufalota patience and determination.

Cheers! -tP

Thanks! I didn't know that it is okay to leave Compressor Wineador being plugged like TE ones! Great scientific chart for all of us and newcomers!

I wonder how do you convert compressor wine coolers to awesome wineadors. Is the process same as TE ones or quite different?

[PigFish]

1 hour ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Thanks! I didn't know that it is okay to leave Compressor Wineador being plugged like TE ones! Great scientific chart for all of us and newcomers!

I wonder how do you convert compressor wine coolers to awesome wineadors. Is the process same as TE ones or quite different?

All on my Youtube channel mate! Building a successful wine cooler humidor is not for the faint of heart.

[Connoisseur Kim]

1 hour ago, PigFish said:

All on my Youtube channel mate! Building a successful wine cooler humidor is not for the faint of heart.

Thanks! I'll look into it! ?