Would you like a Cigar?

[MTA]

Forgot to take a picture but I smoked a Nub Cameroon last night while lighting off fireworks with my daughter

Happy 250th USA!

 

[PARA45]

Our Nation deserves the best

 

[PARA45]

Smoking the good stuff there Amigo!

View attachment 697112
View attachment 697113
Finally got to try some "Leafs by Oscar"...

The 10th Anniversary Criollo gets a thumbs up from me. Chocolate and coffee notes in this one all the way to the end. Wish I had gotten more than one.

The Corojo on the other hand started strong with rich and pleasant flavors in the first third, but became pretty one-dimensional / average cigar after that.

Anything made by an Oscar must be good.

 

[PARA45]

Great deal on CAOs on Cigar Page.

https://www.cigarpage.com/avo-megatron-20-cigar-sampler.html

 

[HookMeUpII]

Prices have been raised worldwide by Habanos. The new prices are global. You will not find it cheaper. Since 2019 when I began smoking cigars the prices of Cuban cigars have been tripled. The demand from new markets is so high (read China) .

It is not worth it in my opinion, lots of quality problems even when buying an 80 euro cigar. Now and then I get one gifted so still smoke then once in a while or when on holiday I try one.

As your question Amsterdam and Western Europe in general prices are very high. Buy a 2 or 3 nice cigars from Nicaragua or if your lucky 1 decent Cuban. The limited editions are usually hundreds of euros for one Cuban cigar...

What I will say is an authentic, well-constructed Cuban is in my opinion, unbeatable. The problem is finding an authentic, well-constructed one. Out of about the dozen Partagas Serie D No 4 I've had, 2-3 were quality from start to finish. Tons of draw issues with them. Same goes for Monte No 2.

When I could get them for a decent priced, they ruined my humidor which is another story. Hence, I only buy them 1-2 a time if I'm traveling.

I am a big AF Fuente guy but do like the Nicaraguan rollers.

 

[PARA45]

The Cuban tabaco worm is another serious issue with Cuban cigars. When I buy or get Cuban cigars, I put them in the freezer for 48 hrs or so, then in the refrigerator for a week or so, and then they go into my humidor. I've seen what the tabaco worm will do.

 

[HookMeUpII]

The Cuban tabaco worm is another serious issue with Cuban cigars. When I buy or get Cuban cigars, I put them in the freezer for 48 hrs or so, then in the refrigerator for a week or so, and then they go into my humidor. I've seen what the tabaco worm will do.

I've had nothing but issues. At one point, my humidor was setup for them. No more than 65% RH and it was climate controlled to stay under 74F. It was one of those fridge units.

I ended up getting one shipment from Europe with beetles. That sucked. Those got chucked without going anywhere near my humi and they did the right thing and sent me a new batch. I finally got it stocked, and they all got mold. Ended up breaking down the humidor, sanitizing, sanding all the shelves and set it up with non-Cubans.

I gave up on them. I was blessed enough to get a perfect Serie D No. 4 on my 40th birthday in Turks and Caicos. It was a $50 smoke but I'll be damned, it was perfect. Like I said though, for that one absolutely perfect and delicious smoke, I probably had another dozen or so that were not good at all.

Back pre-COVID, I was able to get decent ones from a buddy who would send them to him from the islands with the bands in a separate envelope.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Forgot to take a picture but I smoked a Nub Cameroon last night while lighting off fireworks with my daughter

Happy 250th USA!

This is one of my favorite smokes. They are a consistent, tasty, and short to medium smoke.

Cameroon was the first wrapper I ever really enjoyed.

 

[PARA45]

Truthfully, I rather spend the money on a box of Padron Aniversarios and call it a day. Those cigars have never disappointed me, and they are always tasty and consistent.

The Cubans I used to get were from an airline pilot friend, and he would buy a box when he flew into Mexico City, but the issue with the worms was always there. His humidor got infected and ruined everything he had inside. My son and a friend would order them from Europe or Canada through a cigar group buy. They were ok, and they never went into the humidor without a visit to the freezer.

Speaking of Padron cigars. The USPS delivery lady gave me a box this morning, and inside this box was this wonderful surprise from my mom.

 

[DWB]

Jeez you guys are making us jealous this side! A box like that would be a quarter of one's salary

 

[DWB]

An average smoke is about 15 USD minimum.

23USD you start getting into something half decent

 

[HookMeUpII]

Truthfully, I rather spend the money on a box of Padron Aniversarios and call it a day. Those cigars have never disappointed me, and they are always tasty and consistent.

The Cubans I used to get were from an airline pilot friend, and he would buy a box when he flew into Mexico City, but the issue with the worms was always there. His humidor got infected and ruined everything he had inside. My son and a friend would order them from Europe or Canada through a cigar group buy. They were ok, and they never went into the humidor without a visit to the freezer.

Speaking of Padron cigars. The USPS delivery lady gave me a box this morning, and inside this box was this wonderful surprise from my mom.

View attachment 697612

You can't go wrong with Padrons. I've never had a bad one. You pay for them, but you get what you pay for.

I would have to say that I'd put AF Hemingway's up against a lot of Cubans. I've been meaning to try the AF Casa Cuba line. Just haven't run across them.

Also a big fan of Tatuaje.

 

[kdenn]

Perdomo lot 23 tonight on patio with Jeptha Creed Red, White and Blue Bourbon because America!

 

[revturbo9967]

Had a Connecticut wrapper Oscar Broadleaf the other night that was wonderful.

 

[DieJager]

What I will say is an authentic, well-constructed Cuban is in my opinion, unbeatable. The problem is finding an authentic, well-constructed one. Out of about the dozen Partagas Serie D No 4 I've had, 2-3 were quality from start to finish. Tons of draw issues with them. Same goes for Monte No 2.

When I could get them for a decent priced, they ruined my humidor which is another story. Hence, I only buy them 1-2 a time if I'm traveling.

I am a big AF Fuente guy but do like the Nicaraguan rollers.

True, they still make some great cigars. The limited editions on the Davidoff London website and shop is an example. But look at those prices. You can shoot a trophy springbok for those prices

 

[Frederik]

Those were some really good cigars! Glad to have had you and your wife over!

They were sure great cigars glad you enjoyed it. Even better smoking them at 8pm on my birthday in your garden with a heat wave you guys experienced in Brussels. After that we had some more Vampire meat and good whiskey.
Was a great end of a superb day.

 

[HookMeUpII]

True, they still make some great cigars. The limited editions on the Davidoff London website and shop is an example. But look at those prices. You can shoot a trophy springbok for those prices

Yup. Years, upon years ago, my connection could get me single sticks for $25 - $50+ depending on the cigar. I want to say he could get me Monte No 2's for $35 a stick which was really reasonable.

The quality seemed to go down, and the prices went up, leading up to COVID and after.

Now it's become the sort of thing for me where if I am on vacation and feel like splurging $50-$60 for a stick I will.

 

[Aardwolf]

I am a newbie cigar enthusiast. I am heading to Namibia next week on Emirates (via Joburg). Can you please recommend a few cigars that I will be able to find in Dubai's duty free shops? I usually like a smaller cigar (35-45 minute burn time), but I am open to any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mort Hill]

I would stay away from Cubans due to cost and your cigar smoking experience. Not knowing your taste, I’ll throw some brands your way that are good and you decide from what is available. For a 30-45 min smoke, stick with a Robusto or Corona size, even a petite size in either. Look for something by Arturo Fuente, Padron, Oliva, Davidoff. Should be great with any of these brands.

 

[DieJager]

I would stay away from Cubans due to cost and your cigar smoking experience. Not knowing your taste, I’ll throw some brands your way that are good and you decide from what is available. For a 30-45 min smoke, stick with a Robusto or Corona size, even a petite size in either. Look for something by Arturo Fuente, Padron, Oliva, Davidoff. Should be great with any of these brands.

Great suggestions. I would add the Plasencia cigars to that list and the La Flor Dominicana (LFD). Not possible to go wrong on any of those.