(Long Post) I Cleared Out Some Of The Old Junk...

[tigger]

...or, How A Once In A Lifetime Purchase Translated To A Day Of Smoking I’ll Never Have Again

I realize that I risk appearing a braggart by posting these tasting notes, and almost didn’t, except that it would be a shame not to share my good fortune in some way.

Last year I happened to be in the right place, at the right time and have a little extra dough on hand when I participated in a charity auction that had a very nice selection of cigars as one of the lots. On another day, if I were feeling flush and curious, I might have purchased one or two of the smokes if I were in a shop that had them. I might not have. Who knows. It was for a good cause.

This Saturday past, my wife-to-be was off visiting her sister and the voices in my head told me, “ Make it a day to remember. Smoke that one. And that one. And that one.” Never one to resist hedonistic psychosis (when it comes to Havanas, at least), I told the voices, “Why not?”

What follows is how the rest of the day went. I’ve edited out the mundane in between bits - yardwork, lunch, pasta dinner , extraneous internet surfing and the like.

Disclaimers:I have a new camera that I’m still getting the hang of, so some of the photos are terrible, and my experience with vintage cigars is quite limited - I appreciate aged smokes, but seldom have them with more than 7 or so years on them.

Thanks for reading

First Cigar of The Day

1982 Montecristo No. 2

This arrived unbanded, but from a source whom I and others I know consider to be beyond reproach.

Before the fire:

Foot and wrapper have a sweet, slightly floral scent to them. Wrapper appears as the few old cigars I’ve smoked do - lightish brown, with the texture that wrappers of this age seem to have. There are a few small cracks in the wrapper. Well constructed. There’s what appears a fleck of mica, or something else shiny, near the head.

Prelight draw:

Light tobacco flavor, with slight salt and pepper notes.

After the fire:

Initial Draws:

Light side of medium-bodied. There are traces of light baking spices, with a gentle peppery finish.

First Inch:

A continuation of the above - a complex mix of paper and baking spices, with a bit of tang, and a woody/peppery finish.

I’m starting to ponder – what was going on in 1982?

Ugh – 8th grade was going on then, with subtle hints of my forthcoming teenage rebelliousness (which, to some degree, still hasn’t ended.)

Second Inch:

The ash is quite light in color, flaky, but firm. Flavors as above, a bit stronger, though still quite subtle, with some tang on the finish.

Technology has allowed me to surf the internet from my porch while I smoke, and I find the following:

The Billboard Top 20 for 1982

01. Physical » Olivia Newton-John

02. Eye Of The Tiger » Survivor

03. I Love Rock N' Roll » Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

04. Ebony And Ivory » Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

05. Centerfold » J. Geils Band

06. Don't You Want Me » Human League

07. Jack And Diane » John Cougar

08. Hurts So Good » John Cougar

09. Abracadabra » Steve Miller Band

10. Hard To Say I'm Sorry » Chicago

11. Tainted Love » Soft Cell

12. Chariots Of Fire » Vangelis

13. Harden My Heart » Quarterflash

14. Rosanna » Toto

15. I Can't Go For That » Daryl Hall & John Oates

16. 867-5309 (Jenny) » Tommy Tutone

17. Key Largo » Bertie Higgins

18. You Should Hear How She Talks About You » Melissa Manchester

19. Waiting For A Girl Like You » Foreigner

20. Don't Talk To Strangers » Rick Springfield

Good Lord…

Third Inch:

Earlier flavors remain, and increase in strength. Changes abound, with very interesting fruit, caramel and mushroom notes.

A little poking around the web shows some of the movies from ’82:

E.T.

First Blood (the first Rambo movie, which was really pretty good)

Blade Runner

Gandhi

The Road Warrior

Tron

Tootsie

Porky’s

An Officer and a Gentleman

Quite a mix…

Fourth Inch to the End:

Settling into pleasant aged tobacco flavor with sweet caramel and pepper highlights. No need to purge. Once the smoke gets unpleasantly hot, I let it burn itself out.

It’s surprising how well a 25 year old cigar can stand up to the ravages of time if it’s well cared for. A very pleasant smoke. I don’t think I’d buy one if I found it in a shop at the prices these command, but I’m grateful for the chance to have smoked it.

Girls really made me nervous in 1982.

Second Cigar of The Day

1940’s H. Upmann University Club Corona

The guy who donated these to the auction mentioned that they were originally his dad’s. The assumption is that they were a special order (or the bands at least were) for, well, the University Club. “Sometime in the 1940’s” is my recollection of when he said they were rolled.

Before the fire:

Incredibly yellowed cellophane, which smells cedary, sweet, and earthy. I’ve deliberately chosen the one of the few that I have that’s in the worst condition – small wrapper cracks, etc. The wrapper is an almost olive tan color, with some white discoloration (plume, I think). Wrapper and foot both have a slightly musty, cedary scent to them.

Prelight draw:

Similar to the initial scents. Cedary, musty, and mild.

After the fire:

Initial Draws through First Inch:

It’s suprising to me that there’s any flavor left at all in this cigar. Body is far to the light side of medium (or heavy side of light), but it has some real mouthfeel to it. Flavors are earthy and a little musty, with a fairly tangy finish.

1940’s, eh? My parents might not have been born yet, depending on when this was rolled. My grandparents might have been dating!!! There was probably a horrendous, costly (in blood and treasure) battle of good vs. evil going on – a necessary war. No spaceflight. Partyline phones. Big cars. And austerity – a cigar must have been a luxury and a respite (some things don’t change) back then.

Second Inch:

Very flaky ash. There’s a sweet, delicate nutty flavor to the smoke, with an herbal, mildly bitter finish. Not a bad bitterness.

Back to the net – Big band, Lady Day, Ella, Birdman, Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman. A golden age.

Third Inch through the end:

Relight needed about 2 ½” in. Not much change going on. Still some subtle nut flavors. Finish picks up some pepper. Purged at about 1 ½”, as the bitterness from before has grown unpleasant. After a few puffs, the bitterness returns, so it’s time to stop.

(I told my lady I was going to teach the youngest cat to smoke this weekend, and this is my proof)

I wouldn’t buy one of these in a shop, as it wasn’t objectively that impressive. Not bad, but not something I’d chase.

But the thought that an Air Corps buddy could have gifted one of them to my granddad makes it a truly memorable experience.

Third Cigar of The Day

Mid 1980’s Dunhill Cabinetta

I’ve had one of these before, from the same batch, and it was among the best cigars I’ve ever smoked. We’ll see if the same holds true.

Before the fire:

Beautifully constructed. Reddish tinge to the wrapper, which smells a little of bread, with hints of spice. Foot smells of well-aged tobacco.

Prelight draw:

Draw seems a little loose. Paper and pepper are the dominant themes.

After the fire:

Initial draws:

Complex from the getgo. Sweet spice, yeast and mild chiles. Stronger than I expected - peppery finish, and nicotine is evident.

First Inch:

The initial flavors are compounded with smooth, buttery notes. There’s a slight but excellent Scotchy/Iodiny/Seaweedy hint, followed by a woody, sweet finish.

Mid-80s? High School. It’s a little hazy – the Grateful Dead and all that went with them. My fondness for contraband has gotten less self-destructive and more expensive since then.

Second Inch:

An unpleasant touch of bitterness pops up and disappears. The sweet spice and other flavors from before are still quite evident.

1986 Billboard Top 20

1. "That's What Friends Are For".....Dionne & Friends

2. "Walk Like An Egyptian".....Bangles

3. "On My Own".....Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald

4. "The Way It Is".....Bruce Hornsby & The Range

5. "You Give Love A Bad Name".....Bon Jovi

6. "Greatest Love Of All".....Whitney Houston

7. "There'll Be Sad Songs".....Billy Ocean

8. "How Will I Know".....Whitney Houston

9. "Kyrie".....Mr. Mister

10. "Kiss".....Prince & The Revolution

11. "The Next Time I Fall".....Peter Cetera & Amy Grant

12. "Burning Heart".....Survivor

13. "Stuck With You".....Huey Lewis & The News

14. "When I Think Of You".....Janet Jackson

15. "Rock Me Amadeus".....Falco

16. "West End Girls".....Pet Shop Boys

17. "Sledgehammer".....Peter Gabriel

18. "Human".....Human League

19. "Sara".....Starship

20. "Higher Love".....Steve Winwood

There was a reason that I was listening mostly to the Dead and some of the alternative stuff of the time. Most of the popular music back then was, um, not so good. Some of it was. But not much. IMO.

Third Inch:

Still quite strong. Fruit and nut notes together with sweet spice dominate, with tanginess and pepper intermingling. Woody finish.

Toward the end of the third inch comes the moment I recall from the other Cabinetta I’ve smoked. Bread and sweet roasted chestnuts. It is sublime.

A quick look at the movies:

Top Gun

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Pretty in Pink

Back to the Future

Out of Africa

Platoon

Ruthless People

Suddenly I feel old. But happy. Good smoke.

Fourth Inch to End:

Needs purging a couple of times. I may have rushed this one a little, as the smoke is getting hot. Fruit and heavy pepper flavors, with an herbal/licorice hint here and there. I have smoked it a little too fast, and have to let it go before I’d like - but I got to smoke most of it :-) .

Of the three cigars I’ve smoked today, this is the one that I would buy. Not often, unless I came into a pile of money, but it’s fantastic and “worth” paying for - to me. A shame they don’t roll them anymore.

By 1986 I wasn’t so nervous around girls anymore…

[brian1]

Great post Tigger...ah the 80's..I miss those days..Great memories there...the music, the movies, the big hair.....all good.:-)

[brian1]

» Great post Tigger...ah the 80's..I miss those days..Great memories

» there...the music, the movies, the big hair.....all good.:-)

one of these days I will get my hands on a Cabinetta...

[SmokinLightning]

Excellent post! What a great way to spend the day!

Nice cat!

[Colt45]

Great stuff

I'll take cigar #3, and music #2 - and I dig the kitty.

[El Presidente]

Really enjoyed that Tim

Do that 365 days a year....add wine.....ditch the Cat.....and you have Kens life ;-)

[SmokinLightning]

» Do that 365 days a year....add wine.....ditch the Cat.....and you have

» Kens life ;-)

Are you trying to say Ken doesn't get any pu... never mind, too easy.

:-P

[Roy R. Frush]

Fantastic post, Tim! Enjoyed the recaps of the music/movies of the year as much as I did the reviews.

[kmax]

Well done

Great read

Nice pics

[stever]

Great post!

[BigSlick]

I sit here in envy! What a great day and great reviews that followed!!

[TexaSmoke]

I envy you!!!

Nice Pics.

[marco polo]

Thanks for posting! :-)

[jaylax5]

OUTSTANDING!!!!!

A great day of smokes and memories. Bravo.

[Ginseng]

What a fantastically entertaining read! Wonderful job, Tim.

It was truly a smoking say to remember.

And I remember the 80's too. ;-)

Wilkey

[Wolfe Tone]

great post, about a day well worth sharing. Boy did some horrible songs make the top twenty back then. There was a lot of good music made during the eighties. It just didn't sell.

[jwm8592]

tigger, cheers to your heavenly day I'm sure it was most enjoyed.

[Taino]

Thanks for sharing these!!... just kill the cat;-)

[greenpimp]

Great set of reviews! Great set of smokes...

I will always remember hearing the J Giels band blasting over the skating rink. "My blood runs cold...my memory has just been sold!"

Ay yi yi. Preteen years in the eighties.

[smokum]

» Ay yi yi. Preteen years in the eighties.

You know fellas..I was feeling pretty good until I realised..I am now getting to be one of those guys we used to look at and say "look at that old guy , he thinks he's cool or something" Ah well...still kicking ass and taking names...and smoking. Great reviews...great memories even though I was a parent already in 83 !!...never smoked anything quite that old. If the opportunity presents itself I may just try a few.

[Ken Gargett]

» A little poking around the web shows some of the movies from ’82:

»

» E.T.

» First Blood (the first Rambo movie, which was really pretty good)

» Blade Runner

» Gandhi

» The Road Warrior

» Tron

» Tootsie

» Porky’s

» An Officer and a Gentleman

terrific post. assume road warrior was the american name for mad max.

nothing much changes. i see ET is on this weekend.

and this reminded me of the oscars that year. how ben kingsley beat dustin hoffman for best actor, i'll never know. thought hoffman was brilliant as tootsie and sir ben just stood around trying to look wise for six hours in gandhi. it was the insidious start of political correctness and i am convinced he won only because the spineless voters thought they should vote for him merely because he was playing gandhi. outrageous.

[tigger]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. :-)

» assume road warrior was the american name for mad max.

It was the American name for what I think was called Mad Max 2 in Australia.

» and this reminded me of the oscars that year. how ben kingsley beat dustin hoffman for best actor, i'll never know.

Add to political correctness that actors in comedies seem to get short shrift from the Academy, no matter how brilliant they are.

» ... just kill the cat;-)

I value my life too much. If I harmed a hair on any of their heads, you'd be reading the headline, Man's Body Found Hung, Burnt, Eyes Scratched Out: Cigars Crammed In Every Orifice.

'Sides, as cats go he's a pretty cool little fella. And I'm a dog person...

[Cam]

don't kill the cat nice post mate, really enjoyed the reviews and read.

[hrhf]

Wow. This was a great read.

Envy... rising... :-P