Te Amo World Selection Series- Dominica 59

Just finished the second in the Te-Amo World Selection Series. This one was the Dominica Blend. It also was a Churchill size. This was not a dark cigar and was very mild. I did have a little problem with it being too tight and hard to draw. It also had some canoe issues. So this one is just rated about average.

My cigar rating system

OK, after discussing cigars and likes and dislikes for while now, I decided I need a numerical way to measure the cigars so I can keep better track. After much internet searching and deciding that I like a number scale over 5 starts etc. I developed the following scale.

This shows that Cigar Flavor, which includes 3 categories, the aroma, taste at beginning and taste at end comprise 50% of a cigar score. How a cigar burns is 30%. And 20% is the feel and appearance of the cigar. I thought about including price, but that does not effect how a cigar smoked which is the main point. Besides, if 2 cigars both rate 90 and one is $10.00 and the other $5.00, then you can make the decision on how much to spend and which ones to buy.

Cigars.about.com had a nice little writeup about taste and aroma that I am including here:

Smell and taste belong to a chemical sensing system that our physiology has called chemosensation. The complicated processes of smelling and tasting begins when molecules released by the cigars, tobacco and smoke stimulate special nerve cells in the nose, mouth, or throat. These cells transmit messages to the brain, where specific smells or tastes are identified.Olfactory cells are small nerves that are stimulated by the aromas around us such as the toasting of the foot, the smoke from the cigar or even just the smell of the tobacco in the cigar prior to smoking. These nerve cells are found in a tiny patch of tissue high up in the nose, and they connect directly to the brain.Gustatory cells are the taste nerves that react when you put the cigar in your mouth or draw on the cigar to bring smoke in your mouth. The cigar tobacco and smoke mixes with saliva and stimulates these nerves which are clustered in the taste buds of the mouth and throat. Many of the small bumps you can be see on your tongue contain taste buds. These surface cells send taste information to nearby nerve fibers, which send messages to the brain.
This system is much more complex than I described but I think you get the idea. Taste and smell cells are the only cells in the nervous system that are replaced when they become old or damaged. Scientists are examining this phenomenon while studying ways to replace other damaged nerve cells. The taste and smell sensors are directly connected so that the sensations are linked, which is why we feel that we can taste things just by smelling them

Te Amo World Selection Series

I finally found a web site that sells this series. Cigar Afficianado always has a big ad but no one carries it. I liked the original Te Amo I tried last year at the Kentucky Derby and wanted to try these. Mainly because I like a maduro darker cigar. This one was the Honduras blend. It was an OK smoke for the money, but not as flavorful as I would have expected. I can't wait to try the other 2 types.

Drew Estate La Vieja Habana

I have not been particularly fond of Drew Estate Cigars, especially flavored cigars. I prefer cigars that are flavored by the fine blending of leaves and regional differences. However, I had this one and decided to go ahead and give it a try. I was pleasantly supprised at how pleasant a smoke it was. I am finding now that I have a good humidor that having cigars at a good humidity level really lets the leaves burn the way they were intended. This one is a keeper. I wish I remembered the price tag.

Mother of all Humidors

OK, I mentioned possibly getting this in a previous blog. I went ahead and ordered it.


The 'Mother of all Humidors'. Here is the pic from ThompsonCigars.com.

It was exactly as pictured and arrived in great shape. I still have not received my LeVeil humidifier yet, but the six rectangle sponge humidifiers are working too well and I had to

take some of them out. I am extremely pleased with this, now I can buy cigars in larger quantities, plus not have to worry about constantly refilling humidifiers in my smaller boxes(which now fit inside of this one). This was $399.00, but hey, since I have a nightime job, teaching on the side, even the wife cannot complain to much.

Blending cigar leaves

Cigar.com had this interesting article on blending cigar leaves. If you have not subscribed to their newsletter, you need to . It is always full of useful info(as well as selling cigars, of course).

While a blender will concoct his creations based on flavors stemming from certain plants grown from specified seeds in specified regions, determining the strength and intensity of the competing aromas in a complex cigar is an art in itself. A typical tobacco plant has roughly 18 usable leaves that are spread among 5 primings. From bottom to top, these primings are referred to as Volado, Seco, Viso, Ligero and Corona. To alter a cigar’s flavor intensity, blenders will mostly utilize the middle three primings. The strength of any particular tobacco is determined by the thickness of each leaf and this thickness is directly proportional to the amount of nutrients it receives from the soil and sun. For this reason, the leaves in the higher primings of the plant tend to have more texture and more flavor as they are exposed to more sunlight. Also, when the leaves are harvested they are picked from the bottom to the top over a two-week period. With the lower primings removed, more of the soil’s nutrients are funneled to the top of the plant where the leaves remain for a longer period of time. How does a blender utilize this process? It depends. If he wants to increase the strength of the entire blend, he may amp up all of the leaves (i.e. change all of the Seco tobacco to Viso, Ligero, etc). However, and most commonly, the blender will change the primings of only some of the tobaccos in an effort to balance the competing aromas. For example, if the sweet notes from a leaf of Cameroon are dominating the palate too much and overshadowing some of the other more subtle notes, a blender might change to a lower priming of the Cameroon (i.e. change from Ligero to Viso) or he might use higher primings from some of the other tobaccos to round out the blend. As you might imagine, blending quality cigars is more than just throwing together random leaves of tobacco. Narrowing the flavor profile of tobacco down to seed, country, region, farm and priming creates endless possibilities. For this reason, some of the world’s greatest potential blends have most likely not been discovered.

Gurkha Genghis Khan

I had the pleasure of smoking one of the Gurkha Genghis Khans. This rare churchill (7.5" x 53) has a very dark brown wrapper. It looks like it would be very strong. It was well wrapped and had just the right touch when squeezed. I lit the end to find it not strong, but very medium bodied. The draw and finish was full of subtle and pleasant flavors. The flavor enhanced, but did not change, as the cigar burned. As it was burning evenly with a 2" ash, I thought how nice of a cigar this was and that if given the opportunity, I will buy more. The above average price of this stick was worth every penny paid.

OPUS X

We finally found some OPUS X cigars from J Paul's store at Oxmoore mall. Hidden in a dark corner, behind some other boxes, he had 3 cigars left. John and I smoked this one in celebration of Mother's day. OK, not the real reason, but any excuse to light one up. This cigar did not have the "leather" taste that we had heard, but still had a medium flavor. We had a contest to see who could get the longest ash. Here is the pic of a good 1 3/4 inches on the cigar. This cigar actually did get better the longer you smoked it. It went really good with the B&B we finished off also.

Funny

A walker noticed an old lady sitting on her front step, so he walked up to her and said, "I couldn't help noticing how happy you look, what is your secret?" "I smoke ten cigars a day," she said. "Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week, and eat only junk food. On week-ends, I pop pills, get laid, and do no other exercise at all." "That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?" "Twenty-four," she replied.

CUSANO at COX's

Went to one of the cigar and bourbon tastings at Cox's Smokers Outlet today. Joe Imbasciano was offering great deals on Cusano 18 year cigars. Picked up some more Maduro's while there to add to my collection. I continue to like the darker maduro flavored cigars. He was not too impressed that I grew 6 tobacco plants in my yard last year however. Oh, well. My son in law ran his tiller in my yard this year so I can plant a lot more. Hopefully will even get enough to stack and ferment for about 3 years. Check the blog in 2011 to see how that went. :-)

Anyway her is a pic I took of my dorky face and Joe. I was too relaxed, had just gotten done with an hour massage and was still not too lucid. Had a bad review in February 2007 of Cusano, but have updated it with the one I smoked today. Glad I stopped by today.

Padilla Signature 1932

This is my favorite cigar. No contest. I've smoked plenty of sticks, yet none have satisfied me like the Padilla 1932. An American cigar made in Little Havana, Miami. Ernesto Padilla teamed up with master roller Pepin Garcia to create this masterpiece. It is an all Nicaraguan cigar full of leathery an earthy notes. Midway through you'll start to pick up some spice and fruitiness. Every time I have one of these cigars I am not let down. Consistency is always there and can be counted on. Even burning with a smooth draw, your mouth will be left with thick smoke followed by a smile. You'll be looking at spending around $15 a stick for one of these. Low enough to be affordable, but just enough to make it a special occasion smoke. Who thought tobacco could be like this??? If you're lucky enough to find a Lancero, grab it. They're the rarest of the styles. Rolled only by the most experienced rollers of the El Rey de los Habanos factory.

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series

This cigar is pure Nicaragua. The filler, binder, and even wrapper is Nicaraguan. I feel the 89 rating that Cigar Aficionado gave this stick is low. Although its not as good as it's brother, the Padron 1926 Series, it's still deserving of 90+. Some reviews call it toasty, mellow, or pleasant. I say these words are not enough to do it justice. It contains a burst of flavor that leaves your mouth wondering in spices and notes of leather. If a full bodied cigar is what you want, look no further. Stop by your local premium cigar dealer and pick one of these up. I highly recommend the torpedo. You'll soon find yourself trying to pick out all of the flavors that this smoke will entice you with.

Cigar Afficionado at Belle of Louisville

Here are the pics we sent to Cigar Afficianado, hopefully they will publish one of them.

Torano Exodus 1959 Gold

Without having to take too many draws off of this well crafted stick you will find out it is delicious. A velvety smooth draw that allows the aftertaste of chocolate and raisins to linger pleasantly on your tongue. My Fiancé, Kristyn, tried this smoke for the first time and said how much she loved the taste of it. From the time the torch hits it until the time you extinguish this beauty, you will come to know some of the best flavors and aromas that tobacco can offer. It is one the top choices in my cabinet and for novice or experienced smokers it is a must to try.

Kentucky Gentleman

I had the Firecap. This has got to be the worst cigar that I have ever had. "Where's the flavor?" I kept asking myself. I even let my fiance (who is a novice smoker) try this cigar and she replied no flavor as well. What a let down. I felt the most enjoyable part of this smoke was watching it float away as I lit an old faithful (Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 gold).

TORANO Exodus

My future son-in-law and I both enjoy this cigar. We were able to get about 4 smokes in watching 'Thunder over Louisville'. A great fireworks show. The Torano is a well made cigar and has a nice down to earth flavor. The churchill size is perfect for this cigar.

CAO ITALIA

Just got done with this one. One of the largest ring sizes I have smoked to date. I loved the dark outer wrapper of this cigar. This one puts my faith back in CAO for a fine smoke.
I am not a fan of mild cigars and this one met my every demand. The smoke had a rich nutty flavor and I wanted to hold the smoke a little longer in my mouth before blowing it out. On my will buy again list.

Torano Silver Edition

Just finished my first mowing of spring. Decided to smoke this one on the front porch while enjoying my newly cut lawn. This cigar was a churchill size and the only problem I had was a bad spot in the cigar that was like leather and refused to burn, so it had a little uneveness to it. The cigar was a good smoke however and pretty enjoyable. Will keep this one on my good list.
Cigar Shape: Gran CoronaCigar
Filler: Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico
Cigar Binder: Costa RicaCigar
Wrapper: Honduras

Black Pearl

Finally got around to smoking this cigar. The Black Pearl Rojo cigar is made in Nicaragua with Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Toro size measures six inches long with a ring gauge of 50. I did not find this cigar anything to brag about. This one had a little bite to it and did not have a very enjoyable flavor. I do not think I will be trying this one again. I did not get more than half way thru it before tossing it.

CAO

Smoked this one last week after the weather started warming up. It is a mild cigar. I just did not find this one too notable. I would not turn it down if someone offered me one, but there are other cigars for the same price that are much better.

CigarLive.com

Just joined a new cigar forum listed above. Has some great search capabilities to look for topics and discussions that may interest you. I found it searching for some advice on cabinet humidors.
I am seriously looking at one from thompsoncigar.com called the 'Mother of all Humidors'. It hold 150 loose and 16 boxes and comes with a LaVeil humidifier. The cost is $399.00 plus $36.00 shipping. The LaVeil is a $79.00 value, so I am thinking this would be a good buy. I can't find anything on EBAY close or other sites. The wife even gave me permission(seeing as how I would be using some of my bonus money from work).

Hupmann Vintage Cameroon

John was smoking this one and we were talking to a neighbor. He said he used to smoke cigars and could tell from the aroma that this was a good one. I think a little pricey, but John swears by these as a good smoke. I will take his word for it. He is planning to take off this fall on his honeymoon(with my youngest daughter). I am saying it here now, I would expect some sort of Cubans to come back from a trip to England, Italy and France.

ACID Drew Estate

John had brought this one by. It is still way too cold to smoke these things outside. I need to find a way to do this indoors soon. As with the other ACID cigars, these have a good flavor on the wrapper, but you just can't enjoy the cigar leaf inside as much. I just am not an infused cigar person I think.

Jungle Jims amazing humidor

Well John called me the other day and found an amazing walk-in humidor, bigger than any around this area, at Jungle Jims(6 acres of food) in Indiana. He was very suprised by the prices and some of the markdowns. We are planning yet another road trip to check this store north of Cincinatti out. Here is some info from the jungle jim website at http://www.junglejims.com/.

Our goal is to provide an ever-growing selection of quality cigars at great prices for the connoisseur and the future afficianado alike. Feel free to browse our ever-changing selection of world-class and traditional cigars, exotic tobaccos, imported cigarettes and vintage smokes. We offer over 75 different brands of world-class cigars and a walk-in humidor. We also have ready-to-go gift boxes for that last minute present. Please speak with a consultant for assitance, recommendations and special orders.
CigarsJungle Jim’s climate controlled walk-in humidor is stocked with premium cigars in various sizes made from tobacco grown all over the world. Check out the humidor outside the walkin along with our display of Donnemans, Cafe Creme, New York Minute, Al Capone and more. Plus, a grand collection of miniature cigars and cigarillos, quality handmade cigar bundles, vintage cigars and herbal cigarettes. Our Cigar experts are on hand Monday - Friday, between 9AM and 4PM to assist you. And don't forget to ask about Jungle Jim's Cigar Cards! Inquire at the Liquor Store register.
Cigar Selections
Havana Honeys
Fuente
Ashton
Don Tomas
Montecristo
Romeo & Juliets
Excalibur
Punch
Baccarat
C.A.O.
Carlos Torano
Cohiba
Diablo
Gurkha
H. Upmann
Island Delights
La Gloria
Leon Jimenes
Macanudo
Macanudo-Robusto
Makers Mark
National Brand
Partagas
And many more

CAO Brazilia

Got one of these with my Cigars International starter kit. It is an OK cigar, but nothing notable about the flavor. I just did not seem go notice that these were supposed to be a much spicier cigar. It seemed to be too mild. I had the anaconda size.

Cigar.com had this to say:

The Brazilia is the fuller-bodied side of CAO. Its dark and spicy wrapper make it very flavorful with a long earthy finish.
CAO is the maker of some of the highest rated brands in the world. Previously best known for making pipes, the Nashville based company broke into the cigar industry with authority. The attention they have attracted has not just been from their first rate tobacco either, their concepts and cigar packaging are trendy, appealing to a new generation of cigar smokers.
For years CAO dreamt of a cigar that uses premium Brazilian tobacco, but finding good Brazilian leaf at the end of the cigar boom was not an easy task. At the time Brazilian tobacco was not at the top of its game. However, CAO stumbled on a beautiful dark wrapper leaf from the coveted Bahia region and the rest is history. After its launch this cigar brought attention back to Brazilian tobacco and essentially was the rebirth of Brazilian cigars in the US cigar market, as other cigar makers flocked to South America in attempt to recreate CAO’s success. The rich Brazilian wrapper gives the CAO Brazilia a full-bodied and full-flavored aroma that carries a long and spicy finish. It is a truly unforgettable cigar, and a powerhouse addition to the humidor.

ARTICLE: Cigar Counterfeiting Must End

WWW.CIGAR.COM
This was a great article on counterfeiting from cigar.com. I am on their mailing list. You can go to link above to go to their site.

Counterfeiting has always been a serious problem in the cigar industry. Manufacturers put in countless hours blending, aging, and marketing their cigars to be purchased by enthusiasts all over the world. With that in mind, it is no wonder why companies like Altadis and General Cigar go to extreme lengths to not only find and reprimand guilty parties, but to also prevent their products from becoming targeted. The cigar industry has been picking up speed; expanding to new lengths and becoming more involved with creating more unique blends based strictly on quality, which has put even more emphasis on preventing counterfeits from appearing. However, counterfeiting unfortunately seems to be a problem that will likely never go away completely.
There are too many brands to name that have been "knocked-off" and sold as originals. Some of the more popular brands include Cohiba, Arturo Fuente, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta. In fact, in recent news, Altadis USA (makers of Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta) have recently gone on the offensive and tracked down individuals selling counterfeits. The most popular case to date would be the arrests of Allen Boyd and James David Joiner. Boyd was a manager at the Carolina Cigar Company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Joiner was the owner of the Smoke Café, also out of Fort Lauderdale. Both individuals were secretly selling counterfeit Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and H. Upmann cigars at their shops. More in depth, the two would disassemble and reassemble the boxes in the back of their shops and get them prepped for sale to the unsuspecting consumer. Representatives of Altadis visited each shop with undercover investigators who made purchases of the counterfeit product. On a side note, the investigators did not have to pay taxes on the cigars since the shop representatives waived the fee due to a cash payment. Each box was valued around $200 to $300 and was taken back to Altadis for a thorough examination. In conclusion, every box purchased was bogus. Both Boyd and Joiner were arrested and their counterfeit products were confiscated by authorities before any further harm could be done.
It is very hard to comprehend the mentality needed to rip off a premium cigar company; a group of individuals dedicated to providing cigar enthusiasts with a special luxury unlike any other. Likewise, cigar rollers work long and hard to meet the demands of their respective factory in regard to quality, construction, consistency, etc. The cigar industry supports hundreds of thousands of people, most of which live outside the United States. It is not a business for most of these individuals; it's a way a life. Given the levels of tradition and pride involved in creating a handmade cigar, counterfeiting can be considered an insult to the makers, as well as the end consumer.
Counterfeiting places a dark cloud over the art of a fine cigar, which has become a highly rewarding way of life for all of us, whether we are making the cigars or enjoying them. A cigar band represents more than a cigar, for it symbolizes proud, cigar making families and generations of passion, loyalty, and a commitment towards a time honored pastime. The counterfeit process hurts the entire industry, from the individual planting the first seed to the enthusiast enjoying their cigar on a warm summer evening. As a consumer, you too can help eliminate counterfeit cigars by supplying information on any cigar shops, stores, companies, or associates who are known for selling counterfeits. With the entire cigar community's assistance, the act of counterfeiting could be reduced to an absolute minimum.

Churchill Rejects

Saw these at Cox's Smoke Shop and John and I picked up a couple. They run about $1.50. What can you lose. Smoke this one after the ACID(see below) on the back 9. I have to tell you, this one is still much better than some of the more expensive Cigars I have tried. I may have to stock up on some of these for the golf course. You really can't go wrong at that price.

ACID BLONDIE

Got this one from my friend Dale Darnell. Do you get the idea that I don't need to buy cigars anymore? Anyway, I smoked this one while playing golf on Saturday. This one is in line with the other ACID's I have tried. They are an infused Cigar of different flavors. The only thing I don't like about these it that the taste of the outer wrapper can hurt the taste of the cigar flavor from the smoke. The infusion flavors can stay on the lips and make it more difficult to enjoy the cigar. Still, it is better than some cigars that are bitter tasting.

Snow and Cigars

J. Shepherd Cigar Boutique Louisville

Jason Shepherd just opened his store at 1429 Bardstown Road. Tim, my son-in-law and I paid him a visit on his grand opening. It is a 1,200 square foot store with a walk-in humidor. He currently stocks all the favorite premium cigars, plus a series of accoutrement's such as lighters, cutters, ashtrays, and gifts. Unique is the artwork he will be showing by local artists(a la' Starbucks) This seemed like an ideal location and has a lot of walk by traffic. Unfortunately, Louisville does not allow indoor smoking, but supposedly there will be a private smoking lounge opening somewhere in town soon. Not soon enough for me(see the smoke alarm incident below).

POWER 15th Edition

Got this one from my friend Jason, the tobacconist at the newly opened J. Shepherd cigar store. He asked me what I have enjoyed so far and he picked this out for me. I had not heard of this brand so was excited to try it. I was very pleased with this. The taste was great to the end. My son-in-law Tim and I were able to enjoy a cigar in the cool evening while walking up and down Bardstown road by the shop enjoying the sights. I am marking this one a must have for my humidor stock.

From the Felip Greorio web site:

Felipe Gregorio is celebrating his 15th anniversary with a premium cigar like nothing the market has ever seen. Introducing the Felipe Power, and Pelo de Oro, featuring an exclusive Costa Rican wrapper, derived from ancestral pre-embargo Cuban seed. The variety is Pelo de oro (Golden Hair), and tobacco from these seeds has not been available anywhere—not even Cuba—since before Castro seized power. It turns the clock back 50 years to Cuba's Golden Age of cigars. The opulent taste and aroma, combined with this new an exciting strain of Havana tobacco, is sure to raise the bar in taste and manufacture alike.!

Cigar cyclopedia had this to say:

If you’re expecting an overpowering smoke that sets your palette on fire, forget it! The Felipe Power is full-bodied and comes in a series of large ring gauges, the smallest of which is 50. But it offers a light, even flavor with a slight lean toward caramel that provides an intriguing contrast with its presence in the mouth.%%pagebreak%% There’s an unusual sweetness to this blend that’s unusual and satisfying, due directly to the unique Pelo de Oro – “Golden Hair” – wrapper of ancestral Cuban seeds grown at the Tabacos de Cordillera in San Jose, Costa Rica. Wynne is the first manufacturer to create new blends with this leaf, but he won’t be the last.The smoothness of the flavor and consistency of the smoking experience are also remarkable. This is a mellow cigar that will be much better enjoyed indoors than outside so that the delicacy of the taste can be appreciated. There are plenty of sizes in the line, ranging from $10 to $15 before local tobacco taxes and packed in boxes of 26.Overall grade: A: Exceptional.

Gurkha Legend Titan

John smoked this one the other day. It was the first cold snap we had here, so we had to try and use my garage and turn the heater on. He was having a little problem with the draw on this one(we really like the Gurkha brand and feel this is unusual). Anyway he was in the process of relighting it and I told him to make sure and get some good puffs in to get it lit well. Heck, who remembered the dang smoke detector that is connected to the whole house was right above him. Anyway, needless to say, the girls did not find it humorous when it went off.

5 Vegas

John, my future son-in-law who continues to ply me with cigars as long as I keep saying 'Yes, I am paying for the wedding!', brought me this one to try. It is an OK cigar. Nothing to write home about, just blog about. It has the same kind of taste that a Fuente reminds me of. A mild cigar by far, but I am not sure I liked the wrapper.

Here is what cigar.com has to say:

An old Cuban tradition, the 5 Vegas Classic is a medium bodied creamy smoke with a great everyday low price.
This cigar captures everything about a high end premium cigar, except for the price. 5 Vegas has answered the age old question “Can’t someone make a cigar that sells for $3.00 but tastes like a $10.00 cigar?” Well folks, clear room in your humidor. 5 Vegas has a creamy medium body that is accentuated by its Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers and finished with a Sumatra wrapper. Each 5 Vegas is meticulously crafted by expert cigar rollers to ensure a top quality product.
You will find subtle complexities about this cigar that make it consistent box to box and deliver quality and value every time. Earthy and toasty with a medium finish, it won’t take long for this cigar to become one you can enjoy everyday.

OLIVA V Series Torpedo

Serie V is a complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Blendedwith specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero, and finished with a highpriming Habano Sun Grown Wrapper.
Blending Notes:This cigar is blended to deliver full body taste while maintaining an unparalleled smoothness. This flavorful blend exhibits complex tobacco with rich coffee and dark chocolate tones. A subtle and well balanced spice is present throughout.
Wrapper: Habano Sun GrownBinder: NicaraguanFiller: Jalapa Valley LigeroVitolas: 7 Natural
Cigar Aficionado 94 Rating December 2007

John smoked this one. He had the torpedo. Paul at Oxmoore told him to try cutting the end off at an angle. This gives it a wider opening to draw through. However, he still had some difficulty and had to really cut it back. Again, this seconds my thoughts on why smoke a torpedo when a Churchill is around.

Exile

Smoked this last week(Thanks John), I like the fake newspaper about the Cuban Embargo it comes wrapped in.

From another blog:

EXILE® is comprised of aged, rich blend of Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos delivering a rich and complex character with a spicy-sweet finish.

It was not a bad smoke, but not memorable. It would have been nicer had it been aged since 1962 :-)

cheap humidors dot com tips

I subscribe to cheaphumidors mail list, they always have good tips and hints. You can subscribe by going to their site with link below.

Here are tips from the latest email.


1. To make sure your cigar cutter stays sharp and clean, keep the wrapper on your cigar before cutting.
2. Placing your guillotine cutter flat on a table and placing the cigar straight up and cutting will ensure a clean, even cut every time.
3. When your cigars tastes too bitter, blow through it. You'll see a bluish smoke come out the lit end. Wait a few seconds, and you should get a nice, clean draw.
4. Lost your cutter and don't feel like biting the end off your $10 stick? If you're on the golf course, use the end of your tee to punch a small hole in your cigar. If you have a steel barrel pen, you can remove the top and use the bottom portion as a quick punch cutter.
5. To make sure your cigar is burning evenly, without canoeing, rotate the cigar after every few puffs. You can also blow slightly on the slow burning side to speed it up, and apply a little saliva with your finger tip to the faster burning side to slow it down.
6. Having a hard time drawing from your cigar? You can take a skewer or straight coat hanger and insert it into the cigar from one end to the other. You can also roll the cigar around in your fingers to loosen up the leaves.
7. Take your time when smoking. If you puff too quickly, your cigar will get too hot, and the taste will be altered. Try one puff every minute as a general rule of thumb.
8. Humidity in a humidor is not a science, despite what you hear.
Don't concentrate so much on the ideal level. Instead, try to keep the level constant. Fluctuation can cause problems with leaves swelling and shrinking. Most people prefer to keep their humidors at the 65 percent range, which is a little drier.
9. Concerned that your humidor doesn't have a good seal? You can try the drop test or the dollar bill test. In the drop test, you drop the lid of your humidor from half open and listen. If it puffs when closing, you have a good seal. If it bangs, you're in trouble. You can also open the lid, insert a dollar bill half way in the humidor, and then close the lid. Tug slightly on the bill. If it gives resistance and is hard to remove, you have a good seal.
10. A cigar also needs to be judged by its wrapping. A perfect cigar is one that has an intact, undamaged wrapper. (If the wrapper is damaged, don't buy it.) The wrapper should also be consistent in color, and it should have a nice scent to it. If the wrapper is heavily "veined," this is another reason to reject a cigar. While feeling it, the cigar should be wrapped nicely--not too tight (very difficult to draw in) or too lose (loss of flavor).
If you have any questions about cigars or the proper way to store them, or anything else, please feel free to give me a call at 1-888-674-8307 or via email at sales@cheaphumidors.com
Regards,
Dave
P.S. Next week, I'll teach you how to light a cigar like a pro.
Go ahead, take a look at our site at http://www.cheaphumidors.com

MAXX

My future son-in-law John brought over 2 of these last night. Really, really long cigars and were $5.00 each. Nicaraguan wrapper. These have a nice smell to them before lighting them up. These were actually and enjoyable smoke. Mild flavor and good ash. You need a good hour to finish these off however. We spent the evening trying to figure out how to blow smoke rings while discussing our golf prowess(or inprowess, new word). I will get these again, but do not know if they will fit any of my travel cases, but they may impress the ladies. :-)

PERDOMO

Usually cigars from Nicaragua tend to have a lot of taste and flavor. I could only smoke half of this cigar. The wrapper left a sour taste from the beginning and never got better. Sorry, this one is off of my list.

ACID TEA

OK, If you want flavored cigars, and for some reason these seem popular, maybe its the advertising, the name, or price, then these are ok. The flavor definitely lasts for the entire smoke and these were very mild. It has to be your cup of tea to enjoy these. OK, yes, pun intended.

TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF THE

TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF THE
REVENUE PROVISIONS OF H.R. 976,
THE "CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007,"
AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
Here is the link to the actual act:
http://www.house.gov/jct/x-91-07.pdf
PRESENT LAW
Cigars weighing not more than three pounds per thousand ("small cigars") are taxed
at the rate of $1.828 per thousand;
• Cigars weighing more than three pounds per thousand ("large cigars") are taxed at the
rate equal to 20.719 percent of the manufacturer’s or importer’s sales price but not
more than $48.75 per thousand;
NEW LAW
Small cigars are taxed at the rate of $50.00 per thousand (the same rate applied to
small cigarettes);
• Large cigars are taxed at the rate equal to 52.988 percent of the manufacturer’s or
importer’s sales price but not more than $3.00 per cigar;

Guide to Cigars

Have read this book by Jane Resnick, "International Connoisseur's Guide to Cigars".

This is the third book on cigars I have read now. I like the size of it to carry as a reference, especially since someone tried to pass off honduran cigars as Cubans. Gives a great summary of size and labels, and includes pictures. I have found that you can get the best prices off of Ebay for books on cigars.

Padilla 1932 Signature

Cigar Afficianado has this to say:

RING GAUGE: 48

Lovely to behold, this dark cigar has a lush draw and even burn. It's delicious, with rich wood notes, earth and leather, all wrapped around a core of spice. A delicious and complex cigar.
LENGTH: 7"
FILLER: Nicaragua
BINDER: Nicaragua
WRAPPER: Nicaragua

Camacho Corojo

WRAPPER:
Authentic Corojo (Jamastran)
BIN DER:
Authentic Corojo (Jamastran)
FILLER:
Authentic Corojo (Jamastran

Gurkha Estate Selection

This cigar smells very strong when you first open it, however is suprisingly more mild than I would have thought. The end has all the filler sticking out and not cut off evenly. This makes it a lot easier to light, plus lets you taste the filler without having the wrapper involved for the first few puffs. Not a bad cigar and the outer wrapper does have a nice twang to it.

Wrapper: Dominican Binder: Dominican Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican

You can go to http://www.gurkhacigars.com/about.htm to read more about how

the wrapper is infused with cognac, but fun smoke. Now I have to try their beauty and then the beast. When I was in England, I had the chance to see some real life Gurkha's. The story is they can never draw their famous knives without drawing blood, even if they have to cut themself.

Bolivar Dominicana

John smoked this last night. He will give his review, but the amazing part is he felt this one got better and more flavorful as he smoked it. Or it was the Bourbon talking.

Absinthe and Cigars

Well, I read an article that Absinthe is coming back to America. After having been banned for a number of years, some distributors found a way to bring legal Absinthe here. I am scheduling an ABC party for Absinthe and Bourbon Cigars as soon as I get my bottle in from New York.

We also are scheduling a field trip to Kentucky Gentleman Cigars and will have a write up as

soon as we do. The Absinthe Web site is at http://www.drinklucid.com/. Enjoy.

Now I have to get some glasses and spoons from Ebay. Jeez, hobbies will kill you.

Your cigars Here

Well, my friends wanted a spot to post notes on various cigars. This is a good place to leave your comments, and then I will make a regular post out of them.

Our First Fake Cubans

Well, John(my future son-in-law) and I went down to the flee market to pick up a boat load of Kentucky Black Gold cigars. We both enjoy them, especially the price. Well, the vendor said his source has dried up and could not find any more. We decided to visit the other cigar store in the market. The "Roll-n-Smoke". This is run by Mike Winfield. He showed us some "genuine" cuban cigars. We picked up a Punch Habana and a Hoyo de Monterey. They were OK cigars, but since we have not smoked any real Cubans yet, how do you tell. We are still planning the Canadian Road Trip one of these days.(Not that we would bring cuban cigars back illegally of course, but would enjoy them across the border, because we are loyal law abiding citizens).

I went online and looked up the labels. Here are real Punch and Hoyo labels:

Here are the labels from our fakes:

You can tell the difference looking at the crowns in the labels. Cigar Afficionado has a great site that shows fake and real labels.

www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Counterfeits/Counterfeit_Gallery/0,3390,,00.html

Enjoying a smoke

Here is a pic of me and my son-in-law and future son-in-law enjoying a good smoke and shots of B&B.