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The stogie thread

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Valentin Hogea:
Just wanted to see if there are any other cigar aficionados among the fellow pirates?

I've been a nicotine junkie since I was 13. My introduction was the most common form of tobacco in Sweden (moist snuff,  used under the lip). However in later years I've started to explore the world that is cigars. Favourite brands are various masterpieces by Litto Gomez [e.g. La Flor Dominicana] and the Olivia family. Not a big fan of cubans as I find them to be the Goldmund of tobacco.

Just had a:



and a couple of sips of espresso...

Time to get back to work.

/V

Anaxilus:
Some of my current stash:



Had a Fuente Hemingway and an Aston at RMAF.  The far right is a vintage RyJ Churchill Habanos.  I only have a few left.

Tbh, the quality of tobacco has been in decline IMO over the past 15 years largely due to diluted supply.  There simply isn't a non-Cuban on the market that match a true Habano for richness and complexity.  Or I've never had it.  Yup, I've had Flor Dominicana, the local tobacconist here was one of the first to import them to the states.  He used to push them like crack cocaine because he got snubbed by the Feunte distributor.  They are good.

Problem is you can't even count on the real Habanos being 'real' these days due to corruption.  Last I heard the official govt. store in Havana sold 'official' counterfeits.  I think the real quality stuff is either getting poached right off the floor or marketed as limited edition reserves.  The demand is just too high to keep consistent QC.

My favorite smokes of all time in order have been: Punch (Hab), Hoyo De Monterrey (Hab), Romeo y Julieta Chruchill (Hab), Montecristo/Trinidad - tied (both Hab), Feunte Feunte Opus X, Diamond Crown, Padron Anniverserio, Avo/Ashton/Feunte Hemingway/Don Carlos- tied, Sancho Panza (Hab).  Honestly I could enjoy the flavor of a cheap ass pack of good ole American natural Backwoods more than most 'premium' cigars out there.

Valentin Hogea:
Mi Amor is a real sweet one. Like it a lot. The Padron you have there, haven't tried it. Heard good about it though. The rest look like non-cuban "Cubans". Which are inexistant in the non-embargo world if I understand it right...

Ashton and Macanudo are two other liked brands...

If I would do a top 10 of stogies it'll be something like (in no specific order, as good cigars depend on mood, drink and the previous meal... trying to grade them is absurdly tricky). And I might say that I like my espresso dark, as my cigars.

La Flor Dominicana Cameroon Cabinet Chisel
La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (ahhh... the darkness)
Oliva Series O Belicoso
Olica Series V Melanio Gran Reserva Limitada Torpedo
Ashton Aged Maduro no 40
Ashton VSG Torpedo
Macanudo Hyde Park Maduro (mmm... chocolate + espresso in a burning [redickted] form)
Flor de las Antillas Toro
Arturo Fuente King Tubo (although not fully worth it's price)
Cohiba Siglo II Tubo (same as above)

I find most cubans to be lacking considering what can be bought for the same cash if going Dominican or Nicaraguan.

I mean... For 6€ I can hardly get a H. Upmann Coronas Junior (which is a joke btw), but I can purchase a LFD Air Bender Robusto and still have 1€ left. That should be even more evident in the US considering how cheap non-cubans are on US soil.

On the other hand, if there is a decline in Cuban quality, I came to late to the tracks. From my point of view Cubans, seem hyped. But maybe the glory days have passed as you noted.

The premium stash below (the non-premiums are hiding in a plastidor waiting for recession):

shipsupt:
I want to grab a quick shot of my stash, but I'm embarrassed that I've been keeping them in a plastic bag!  Shame on me!

Stapsy:
I have never tried Cubans from prior to the "cigar boom", but most of the ones I have tried are surpassed by cheaper non-cubans.  The notable exception being the Bolivar Royal Corona.  At $14 a pop I am not smoking many of them.

I think a lot of the Cuban hype is due to American's not having access to them.  I was in Florida last year and bought 12 cigars for no more than $7 each and they were all superb.  Compare that with $25-$30 for a Cuban Montecristo No. 2 and it is quite comical.  I would be glad to give up having expensive Cubans available for the assortment of My Father, Illusione, Alec Bradley smokes that I picked up at a reasonable price.  Unless you are willing to spend $60 a stick on Cohiba Behike's etc, I don't think Cuban's are anything special.

Anyway, here is my small collection.  I don't smoke cigars much anymore.  I find they are better suited to the warm summer months than the cooler temperatures we have most of the year.  As soon as it starts to get cooler I reach for my pipe.  I have a big bag of cuban cigar leaf cuttings that a friend of mine who imports cigars gave to me that I add into my pipe if I need a little dose of cigar flavor.  This way instead of a pile of ashes that used to be a cigar I am left with a nice collection of pipes to admire!

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