What cigar (or pipe) did you smoke today?

[Slim Portly]

This morning a Gurkha G3 Toro (6x50). Made only in a one-time run of 500 boxes, these are for fans of full-bodied maduros. Dark, almost black Nicaraguan wrapper, Cameroon binder, and Nicaraguan ligero filler. I paid too much at $10.50 for a single stick, but it made for a very nice early morning smoke.

 

[indycop]

This morning a Gurkha G3 Toro (6x50). Made only in a one-time run of 500 boxes, these are for fans of full-bodied maduros. Dark, almost black Nicaraguan wrapper, Cameroon binder, and Nicaraguan ligero filler. I paid too much at $10.50 for a single stick, but it made for a very nice early morning smoke.

Sounds good!

 

[indycop]

Tonight relaxing in the hammock on my first night back home I broke out my last Don Pepin, Good grief they are GOOD! Now I am going to be hitting those Por Larranagas!

 

[feltfan]

Hopefully Sosa won't be going anywhere, and isn't Don Pepin in Miami?

I am just back from my "fact finding" tour of a couple of Miami spots.
Yeah, it doesn't look like Sosa's going anywhere. They moved down
Calle Ocho to around 36th, but they seem to have settled there.
Very close to the famous Cuban restaurant Versailles, presumably a good location.
Quite the cigar shop. Good selection of brands, lots of Fuente (they
make some cigars in the Fuente factory) and a big table of unmarked
sticks in large wooden crates that look nice (and the first
one I smoked, with a maduro wrapper, was very tasty, if an
uneven burner). There's plenty of room for smoking and a local
crowd debating politics. No big bargains. A small rack of guyabera shirts,
all made in China. Nice Sosa t-shirt, with the name made to look like the
logo from the Godfather movies.

I also visited Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co., aka Casa Bello & Bello. They
have a rolling room you can visit, but cannot photograph. Since the
rollers get the summer off, there wasn't much to see. The cigars
are pricey retail, but are 75% off if you buy a bundle of 25 or more.
They claim not to be able to undercut their retailers by the stick,
but can sell low in bulk. So far I like what I smoked and may get
a bundle. The older Bello was there, along with his wife. His son
now runs the operation. He told me how his father spent 20 years
in one of Castro's prisons.

My time was limited- maybe next time I can check out La Gloria Cubana
or one of the other cigar makers.

BTW, I did not get the impression that these guys felt they
were in competition. Pedro Bello Jr. showed me a picture of his dad
along with Sosa down at the Fuente factory- they're all buddies and
are glad to tell you how to find the other guy's store. Business appears
to be good.

 

[indycop]

I am just back from my "fact finding" tour of a couple of Miami spots.
Yeah, it doesn't look like Sosa's going anywhere. They moved down
Calle Ocho to around 36th, but they seem to have settled there.
Very close to the famous Cuban restaurant Versailles, presumably a good location.
Quite the cigar shop. Good selection of brands, lots of Fuente (they
make some cigars in the Fuente factory) and a big table of unmarked
sticks in large wooden crates that look nice (and the first
one I smoked, with a maduro wrapper, was very tasty, if an
uneven burner). There's plenty of room for smoking and a local
crowd debating politics. No big bargains. A small rack of guyabera shirts,
all made in China. Nice Sosa t-shirt, with the name made to look like the
logo from the Godfather movies.

I also visited Cuba Tobacco Cigar Co., aka Casa Bello & Bello. They
have a rolling room you can visit, but cannot photograph. Since the
rollers get the summer off, there wasn't much to see. The cigars
are pricey retail, but are 75% off if you buy a bundle of 25 or more.
They claim not to be able to undercut their retailers by the stick,
but can sell low in bulk. So far I like what I smoked and may get
a bundle. The older Bello was there, along with his wife. His son
now runs the operation. He told me how his father spent 20 years
in one of Castro's prisons.

My time was limited- maybe next time I can check out La Gloria Cubana
or one of the other cigar makers.

BTW, I did not get the impression that these guys felt they
were in competition. Pedro Bello Jr. showed me a picture of his dad
along with Sosa down at the Fuente factory- they're all buddies and
are glad to tell you how to find the other guy's store. Business appears
to be good.

At the Sosa in Orlando the unmarked ones are the one that were rolled right there in the past few hours. Sounds like it was a good time down there, did you have some cuban coffeee too?

 

[RedPop4]

Great stories, thank you!!!

 

[jamespowers]

Not tonight just had ribs at Rendezvous at the Memphis meet.

Darn. I guess it was just me then.

 

[jamespowers]

I've gone through about six bundles so far and have yet to get one that was plugged. Can't say that about the Punch cigars I was buying before; there would always be two r three per box that I couldn't smoke and the JRs smoke every bit as good as the Punch, if not better.

In my opinion, better than the Punch.
I hate getting a plugged cigar. It is like throwing money away. I try to nail it with the draw poker or an ice pick but sometimes it just doesn't work long enough to finish the cigar without doing it several times as you go. :eusa_doh:

 

[jamespowers]

Tonight relaxing in the hammock on my first night back home I broke out my last Don Pepin, Good grief they are GOOD! Now I am going to be hitting those Por Larranagas!

Oh no! The Larranagas are going the way of the Dodo.

 

[geckoheart]

Had an Oliva Series V this morning. Has become one of my favorites. Seem to be smoking at least a couple each week.
Received a cigarbid package today with a Perdomo sampler and 3 small humidors (Perdomo, CAO Black and Burl wood). I used to smoke quite a few Perdomo's but havent smoked any for years. Haven't smoked any in the sampler and figured it was time to give them a try.

 

[geckoheart]

La Flor Dominicana Cheroots

Stopped by one of the local shops on Fiday evening, they were having an LFD event. They were featuring an all ligero Cheroot. The shop owner recently bought the shop and apparantly has been a customer of LFD for a long time with LFD making these for the him for years. According to the LFD rep, they make and sell him 25+ boxes a year for his consumption.

I bit and picked up 2 @ $7 each. Smoked the first one on the drive home. At first glance appeared to be a poorly made cigar that could compete with Backwoods Smokes. Six inches with about a 40 ring gauge. No need to cut...there is no cap. Lit easily and immediately... the Ligero is apparent. This thing is strong...not harsh, but strong. The appearance will make a fool of you. This cigar smoked for 45 minutes. Perfect burn. Ash was pretty flakey. One dimensional. Got to hot to hold with about 1.5inches left.

Overall a good smoke as long as you are ready for the power. Not sure I would pay $7 for another one, but would do well at $3-4.

 

[indycop]

Had a Por Larranaga tonight!

 

[feltfan]

At the Sosa in Orlando the unmarked ones are the one that were rolled right there in the past few hours. Sounds like it was a good time down there, did you have some cuban coffeee too?

You bet I did, every chance I got.
One place served a killer cuban coffee for 50 cents.
With a cup that powerful for a price that low, it's a wonder
they have an illegal drug problem in Miami.

I was staying in Coconut Grove. It was like living in an exotic
botanical garden. The trees on the sidewalk were amazing, and
draped with orchids, staghorn ferns, and lazy cats. Made for a
stunning stroll with a cigar every night (when the heat and humidity
were low enough so I could stroll!).

 

[indycop]

You bet I did, every chance I got.
One place served a killer cuban coffee for 50 cents.
With a cup that powerful for a price that low, it's a wonder
they have an illegal drug problem in Miami.

I was staying in Coconut Grove. It was like living in an exotic
botanical garden. The trees on the sidewalk were amazing, and
draped with orchids, staghorn ferns, and lazy cats. Made for a
stunning stroll with a cigar every night (when the heat and humidity
were low enough so I could stroll!).

Dang! Sounds like you had a blast!!:eusa_clap

 

[dickson hill]

Today I had two Ashton senorita's, one Olivia Serie G torpedo and a Padron 3000

 

[jamespowers]

Had a Por Larranaga tonight!

And up in smoke they go.
I had my last Partagas Serie D No.4 last night. I have to get more of these now but at $200 a box, they will have to wait. [huh]

 

[indycop]

Today I had two Ashton senorita's, one Olivia Serie G torpedo and a Padron 3000

I like both the Oliva G and the Padron, good choice!

 

[indycop]

And up in smoke they go.
I had my last Partagas Serie D No.4 last night. I have to get more of these now but at $200 a box, they will have to wait. [huh]

I gotta a bday coming next month, gonna have to tell the wife I need some more Don Pepin or Por Larras!

What will you smoke now?

 

[jamespowers]

I gotta a bday coming next month, gonna have to tell the wife I need some more Don Pepin or Por Larras!

What will you smoke now?

My cheap Supervisor Selections and Maxx The Egos of course.

 

[indycop]

My cheap Supervisor Selections and Maxx The Egos of course.

I've cut my work smoking down to make mine last longer. I know of at least the next 4 boxes I want...:eusa_doh: