PADRON

Tried my first PADRON today. Even with its reputation, this was the worst cigar I have smoked to date. I am going to try and find some information on how to rate cigars. I have read the Cigar Afficianado ratings and I think they are pretty much bogus. I want some type of metric that rates flavor, draw, taste, late taste after the cigar has been smoked for while, and overall enjoyment. Then tie these ratings with multiplier factors for importance to rate cigars.

Here are the ratings stated on the web site www.padron.com

As rated by Cigar Aficionado & Cigar Insider
Natural
Cigar Aficionado April 00 87

Cigar Aficionado June 99 87

Cigar Insider June 97 86

The Colonel

I love this gif of Colonel Sanders with cigar.

Counterfeit Cuban Cigars

In doing my research on cigars, I came across this site that talks about how to recognize fakes.

Check it out. http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/counterfeit/

A. Fuente Gran Reserva

Just got done smoking a Gran Reservo Hand Made Fuente. Really liked the smoke of this one. Good Draw also. I was able to use my Cigar Savor for the first time. This really works. Was able to take it on a smoke break with all the cigarette smokers and get some quality cigar time in at work. If I could not snuff it and save it, there would be no way to enjoy a cigar. Now I can't wait until spring when I can put a lawn chair in the back of my truck, use my laptop with wireless and do some work while enjoying a nice cigar with fellow cigar enthusiasts. Here is what the Fuente site says on this cigar.

Only the highest quality vintage tobaccos and hand workmanship go into A-Fuente cigars, making them a blend of art and craftsmanship. Each leaf is personally selected from a private family reserve set aside exclusively for the making of these cigars. Blended with the finest "Fuente Tobaccos" internationally recognized for their superiority, the A-Fuente Gran Reserva is then skillfully rolled with African Cameroon, Connecticut Shade or the most recent addition to the Gran Reserva line, Ecuadorian Sun Grown, these wrapper tobaccos are the most expensive and sought after wrapper tobacco in the world.The honor of making the A-Fuente Gran Reserva is given only to the most gifted cigar makers, those with the rare skills needed o create this uniquely blended cigar. Taking absolutely no short cuts, every critical step is done completely by hand, to ensure a finished cigar without parallel.A Fuente cigars are then aged in Spanish Cedar vaults to a peak of perfection to create a marriage of the blends producing an excellent "individualistic" heavyweight cigar to be counted among the worlds finest.A Fuente Gran Reserva guaranteed one quality only "The Finest"

Trinidad Maduro

Got a Churchill from a friend. Love the taste of this cigar. Plus, being from Louisville, Ky the Churchill is highly appropriate, especially in the city known for Ky. Derby and Churchill Downs. This cigar has a great earthy aroma. I wish I knew how much this one was aged before I got it.

Great draw and taste.

Good FAQ site

I liked the information this site has on cigar smoking. Check it out.
http://www.updowncigar.com/lowdown/