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Posted

Do you ever wonder what you are missing? I do at times. I think that marketing staff at H SA depends on it.

I wonder!

My cigar stock is largely comprised of sub 44 ring cigars. Why, because that is what I like? It is no accident; no to the contrary, it is by design. A number of years ago I awoke to the notion that after 25 years of smoking cigars I actually know a little about them. Furthermore I know what I like and what I don’t like; what is good and what is not so good about them. I listen to trusted palates surely but those tastes of another are just that; they are not mine and certainly can’t be used as a surrogate. Who do you trust, why yourself of course?

Is the grass greener on the other side? It is often not and many of us know this already. But man’s innate curiosity brings us full circle with cigars as it does many things. It brings us to once again move against ones own experience and wisdoms and encourages us to venture beyond the comfort of our front yard. That venture for me was once again trying some larger ring cigars.

Yes I realize that I spent a lot of words on a minor concept but I am rather set in my ways. Getting me to do something that I know has not worked in the past is not an easy thing for me. I just don’t go sticking paperclips in light sockets anymore! –LOL

Why then the change of heart? Well, I am glad you asked. I really do think that 07 is a banner year for cigars. And fortunately for me there are still some around. What is bad for me is that due to some recent health issues money is tight. I do however think that I should at least try to pick up some more 07 stock while it is around.

Do you make the safe move or venture out and see what life is like outside the yard? Hmmmm, I wonder! PC’s or Belicosos, regular production or regionals… is it a good year for Lanceros or perhaps those Sir Winstons… I just don’t know? Perhaps the most appropriate question, cigars or prescriptions!!! -LOL

Thanks for reading. -Piggy

Posted

Nice post. Speaking of cigars, if we had everything there was, what would there be to look forward to?

The chase, the greener grass, the unknown, the uncomfortable ... it's the spice of life, no?!

Posted

Ray,

The answer to Rx vs Cigars should always lie on the side of the prescriptions!

Taking your Meds will help 'get you well' ----- so you can continue to enjoy your cigars for a long, long time!!! :buddies:

Posted

I was actually contemplating on the topic of "open mindedness" recently due to my fiancee's reluctance to try certain foods. I can't blame her for not wanting to try something she tried before and not liked, but then again, it could be that her limited previous experiences were flawed in some ways, be it a poor recipe or maybe her palate has evolved.

Back to cigars, I believe in trying cigars that we might have not liked the first few times around. I hated the first and only Juan Lopez #2 that I've had, but recent rave about this cigar on another forum makes me want to give it another shot.

Posted

Hey Firedigger,

I hope that you do try another (Juan Lopez #2), as these are very good. My box is from NOV 06 and they are smooth, cream, toffee, and earth tastes. I had only had the #1's, which I find to be on the stronger side compared to the #2's. But anyhow hopefully you'll get the op to try another. Just my $.02.

Posted

Good read Piggy.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is why do I smoke cigars? The answer, in a nutshell, is that I smoke for flavor / personal

pleasure. I simply want a cigar that tastes great and draws properly.

I've gravitated toward sub fifty ring cigars because I feel, as do others, that they deliver an intensity of flavor that is hard to match with

a fifty plus ring cigar. It can be even more pronounced with sub forty four ring cigar.

But for me the reason is also tactile - I like less and less the feel of a fat cigar. I do understand that there can be reasons why a blender

might choose to go with a larger ring gauge, and that these things are quite subjective.

In the end, I have no problem trying new things, but I feel no need to make a full on commitment to cigars I don't truly enjoy. I'm actually

trying to distill my preferences to a few cigars that I love and know I'll enjoy, while still keeping an open mind toward new things.

I don't feel I'm missing out by not jumping at the latest and greatest, when I know I have stalwarts in the humidor.

Posted

I really enjoyed your post Piggy. Well written.

For me, the choice of what cigar to buy comes down to what I like to smoke... and what I speculate I will like in a few years time. I use all manner of ways to arrive at my purchasing decision, but ultimately I use my own preferences and those of people I know and trust that I believe have similar tastes.

As to how I should best spend my money... it comes down to a balanced choice between my mortgage and my hobbies (namely wine, whisky, cigars and golf) - but my mortgage rarely wins the fight :buddies:

Posted
Ray,

The answer to Rx vs Cigars should always lie on the side of the prescriptions!

Taking your Meds will help 'get you well' ----- so you can continue to enjoy your cigars for a long, long time!!! :buddies:

Yeah Roman... some of my options are limited. As the saying goes, "hit a biker, go to jail." Well mine is, "take the Plavix or go to heaven." The heaven part is not strictly up to me and may be subject to some debate. -LOL

Posted
"take the Plavix or go to heaven." The heaven part is not strictly up to me and may be subject to some debate. -LOL

Ray...we will both be stopping at the "halfway house" on the way to see Peter :D

The cigar world is full of "Generalisations" 99 stay away, 06/07 into the fray, 02/04 piss your money out the door, 01/03...got to find more.

Generalisations are just that "on average". Just a Bell Curve skewed in a particular manner year to year but still great and poor cigars to be found in each. Getting one at either extreme often solicits a response to "Buy 06" or "ditch 07" but it is only when you have smoked large quantities of different marques and different vitola's from different times of the year (and an ability to compare with previous years ) can you start to determine a reasonable opinion.

Then there are the tasting biases of your reviewer (say me). I respect broozers and Vans palate a great deal. Yet, I am quite sure our tastes are polar opposites. I also respect Shrinks palate, Kens, Smithy's and I know that we share similar tastes.

When looking for reviews, try to find likeminded spirits. Fellow members, CA reviewers, guys who post on other boards and if you strike a vein of common experiences within a set of reviews....stay in touch with them and get to know them online/inperson. You are likely to find that their reviews/opinions carry more relevance to you than say those of Ken,Smithy or myself.

Keep an open mind. Trust in what you like.

Posted
Ray...we will both be stopping at the "halfway house" on the way to see Peter :D

Buddy the only way we are getting there is if they get their cigars delivered!!! -LOL

Posted
Buddy the only way we are getting there is if they get their cigars delivered!!! -LOL

I like warm climates anyway :D

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