What did you smoke today?

[Chris A]

Bob did say that. I printed it out.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

They are good cigars IMHO but they are not a value by any measure. That little stick is a 4.3" by 40 ring and it was 9 dollars. Good to have every once in a while but an everyday smoke for sure. The budget used to allow for a larger cigar "chunk" than it currently does so I have a fair number of 10-18 dollar cigars in the Humi that I purchased a couple years back. They are going to be replaced with home rolled after I have smoked them. My tastes have been shifting to the South American cigars anyway specifically Dominican tobacco.

Pete

I've found for Cubans regular lines, that I much prefer the bolivars. The cohiba I was referring to its the Behike which ran me $60, believe it or not. It was a treat, and very different from cohibas regular line.

 

[DIY Pete]

I've found for Cubans regular lines, that I much prefer the bolivars. The cohiba I was referring to its the Behike which ran me $60, believe it or not. It was a treat, and very different from cohibas regular line.

I really prefer Monte for a regular line cigar. I've had a BHK 52 and it was very good but like you say very pricey, I think I paid around $30. My favorite CC is the Fonseca #1, it is now discontinued. I know of one place that I can still get them for around $150 for a 25 count dress box. I have been debating grabbing 2 or 3 boxes to stash away.

Pete

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

While we're talking Cuban cigars, I thought I would mention that there's a native Indian operation in Ontario called cigarchief dot com that I hear, mails worldwide. Their prices are decent.

 

[Raodwarior]

Just give me my Partagas Shorts, for a tre petite I still haven't found better.

 

[deluxestogie]

Bob did say that. I printed it out.

I've never smoked a Cohiba in my life.

To create a knockoff of the original Montecristo Dominican:

• 6 parts seco
• 1 part ligero

I know that seems stingy on the ligero, but it does the trick. It really does taste like one of those fine, flavorful, mild sticks.

Bob

 

[charlie G.]

Ok to bring this thread back on track here's my morning smoke.
2-Nic Seco
1-Piloto Viso
1/4- Dark air
1-Crillio 98 Seco
OS binder
Almen Capa Banda wrapper

I guess I got lucky for it being Friday the 13th cause it was a nice cigar.
It had a creaminess to it but not sure where it came from. I was gifted the Dark Air by a member and this was the first cigar I tried it in.
I might roll a few more and put them away to mellow and check them out in a few months.

 

[DIY Pete]

Just give me my Partagas Shorts, for a tre petite I still haven't found better.

Never had one of the Shorts, but I have one Humi so sometime this spring I will burn it down.

Pete

 

[Raodwarior]

Tried a new binder on my connie blend and went with a Sumatran, very different spice note I like but was quite a surprise as I am use to the Sumatran being rather mild.

2 Dom Ligero
1 Piloto Viso
1 Piloto Seco
Sumatran Binder
Connie wrapper

 

[LewZephyr]

Left a company yesterday after 16 years. Started my new job today.
Had a nice glass of scotch before a delicious roast dinner. Smoking a 10E with a burbon and 7up. Great day. Better evening. Life is good.

 

[Chris A]

Sorry Bob. I stand corrected.

 

[ArizonaDave]

I've never smoked a Cohiba in my life.


Bob

Well, I guess I stand corrected as well. But hey, a Montecristo is a great blend to copy too!

 

[jolly]

Left a company yesterday after 16 years. Started my new job today.
Had a nice glass of scotch before a delicious roast dinner. Smoking a 10E with a burbon and 7up. Great day. Better evening. Life is good.

Congrats on your he new job.

 

[deluxestogie]

Like a steamy, beef pot pie on a chilly winter evening.

Wrapper: Florida Sumatra Maduro (2014)
Binder: double Bezuki (from Whole Leaf Tobacco), for a dense roll
Filler: Jalapa seco (2013) with a small strip of Vuelta Abajo ligero (2014)

Oily smooth wrapper, with a suggestion of sweet. Aroma has soft, woody notes, with a bit of earth. Burn is excellent (as excellent as can be expected in today's 40 mph breezes). Nicotine is medium.

The wrapper leaf was small, so the color of the cut strip is lighter at the head.

Five years ago, you would not have been able to convince me that it would be possible to grow and produce a cigar of this quality. Home grown cigar leaf is sometimes hit or miss. This was one of those hits that leaves a deep satisfaction.

By the way, this dark maduro wrapper was kilned (like all the rest) at 125ºF for 4 weeks. No special approach is needed. The "maduro" is in the variety and stalk position.

Bob

 

[charlie G.]

Bob that cigar does look Beefy. The maduro wrapper looks real nice for a home grow leaf. Then again I haven't seen much home grown cigar leaf. Let alone taste any.
I also see your wearing gloves. I think up here in south east PA we have turned the corner and spring is here.
I started my morning with a Striper Blend cigar that I listed the recipe before. And this evening a #2 cigar after some home made corned beef hash made from yesterdays left over corned beef.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

The second home roll of mine I have smoked so far. Seeing the improvement a little more time has made has been fun. This was 8 days after rolling. Still a bit wet, but I really enjoyed this one. Sweet tobacco, cream, and a good amount of spice. Very similar profile to the Caldwell Cigars Eastern Standard I smoked beforehand. Sorry, the pic loads sideways from my phone, but if you cock your head it will look right, haha.

 

[deluxestogie]

This was 8 days after rolling. Still a bit wet...

Your cigar looks good. You may want to work on adjusting the case of the leaf that you roll:

• wrapper: high case (damp and stretchy)
• binder: medium case (dry, but flexible as vinyl)
• filler: low case (may crack, but not crumble)

Filler feels easier to roll when it's in too high a case, but that often results in packing that's too tight, and a wet cigar, even after days of Arizona air.

Bob

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Your cigar looks good. You may want to work on adjusting the case of the leaf that you roll:

• wrapper: high case (damp and stretchy)
• binder: medium case (dry, but flexible as vinyl)
• filler: low case (may crack, but not crumble)

Filler feels easier to roll when it's in too high a case, but that often results in packing that's too tight, and a wet cigar, even after days of Arizona air.

Bob

Thank you for the feedback and kind words! I have been following those guidelines for casing my leaves but may have brought up to case more than intended. Instead of resting the sticks in the open for fear of them turning to dust I have been keeping them in a cooler converted to a humidor that is sitting at 65%rh. I did a small experiment placing a few sticks in a ziplock bag with a hygrometer on day 7 and they were reading 69%rh so if I am not going to be patient to let them dry out in the coolerdor I plan to try dryboxing.

 

[ArizonaDave]

Thank you for the feedback and kind words! I have been following those guidelines for casing my leaves but may have brought up to case more than intended. Instead of resting the sticks in the open for fear of them turning to dust I have been keeping them in a cooler converted to a humidor that is sitting at 65%rh. I did a small experiment placing a few sticks in a ziplock bag with a hygrometer on day 7 and they were reading 69%rh so if I am not going to be patient to let them dry out in the coolerdor I plan to try dryboxing.

It's about 40%rh in the house here, I just sit them on my desk for 3 days on a paper towel first. Bob is right on target with his advise as usual.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

It's about 40%rh in the house here, I just sit them on my desk for 3 days on a paper towel first. Bob is right on target with his advise as usual.

This is why I love this forum! Great information to have and I will definitely start leaving them out of the coolerdor a few days after rolling. I'm very happy with how good they have tasted so far, but I think most of the credit for that goes to Don at WLT for having a quality product. Cheers!