Cigars with the girls

[03hemi]

For the cigar smokers
Had cigars with the girls tonight, Tuesdays is cigar night with the boys.
Casa Fuente Double Robusto
Sweet on the draw with a roasted almond overtone, just a touch of white pepper with an undertone of cedar.
Creamy long finish with succulent and copious amounts of smoke.
Cedar really comes through at the end.
Rivals an Opus X.
Cubans are so stupid expensive these days we ventured out to find their rivals and have found a few.
Honorable mention is the Davidoff's Escurio, very complex and sweet as well.


I'm a nubber, good to the last drop. lol

[03hemi]

My buddy's cigar lounge at his house with his walk-in humidor.
State of the art ventilation system, five guys can smoke in this room with zero smoke overhead or smell afterwards, we've solved a lot of world problems in this war room. lol


Sly's smoking an Opus X, Jack's smoking a Cuban Bespoke and Arnie's smoking a Cuban Romeo Wide Churchill we've determined by their stogies.




It's been completely stocked since this picture, it rivals most commercial humidors now.

[snubbyfan]

How is the retrohale?
I've been on a maduro kick lately, I'll keep an eye out for it.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

How is the retrohale?
I've been on a maduro kick lately, I'll keep an eye out for it.

Hey Snubby, retro is the ONLY way to get those flavors, my friend.
As described above.
If you're not retroing, you don't know how to smoke cigars, eh? lol

[Rudi]

Lots of fine stogies there. I quit some years back. Even grew my own tobacky and rolled some. They looked like the ones Clint smokes in the Westerns. They were not bad. Maybe I'll fire one up for New Years.

[Eric300]

That's some fancy-schmancy hoy poloy digs right there.

I like to enjoy a fine La Stinkadora every so often myself.....

[rwsmith]

... I miss cigars the MOST.

That humidor room made my tongue hang out.

[Iggy]

I had 3 uncles/brothers who homesteaded here in Wyoming back before the turn of the last century.
Every 3 months they would hitch up the wagon and make the 40 mile trip to Cheyenne for supplies.it was three day venture, 2 days traveling and one day shopping.

Each one of them would buy nickel cigar..

They would smoke half of the cigar the first month, chew back half the second month and put the remaining part in a window sill to dry. They would then mash the dried remainder and smoke it in a pipe the third month.
That’s getting your money’s worth.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by Eric300

That's some fancy-schmancy hoy poloy digs right there.

I like to enjoy a fine La Stinkadora every so often myself.....

It certainly looks like you're ready to join us? lol
After the crash of the Cubans we had to lose our Cuban "snobbery" and venture out to new pastures we left years ago. Looks like an Old Fashioned?
Amazing smokes out there!

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

... I miss cigars the MOST.

That humidor room made my tongue hang out.

lol, I'll take credit for that. He got the idea from me about turning my den's walk-in closet into a humidor, but he beat me to the punch with his finished out basement, it is grand.
Now I just keep all my cigars at his house and just bring enough home to stock my boxes each week or so.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by Iggy

I had 3 uncles/brothers who homesteaded here in Wyoming back before the turn of the last century.
Every 3 months they would hitch up the wagon and make the 40 mile trip to Cheyenne for supplies.it was three day venture, 2 days traveling and one day shopping.

Each one of them would buy nickel cigar..

They would smoke half of the cigar the first month, chew back half the second month and put the remaining part in a window sill to dry. They then mash the dried remainder and smoke it in a pipe the third month.
That’s getting your money’s worth.��

My Uncle Bill loved it when we'd bring him Cubans to smoke, he'd smoke it down to the nub, nock the ash off then chew the rest.
He was also the one that gave me a plug of Red Man at 7yo because I wouldn't stop bugging him then laughed his butt off when I turned green.
Probably why I never smoked cigarettes?

[chief38]

When I lived up North in our last home I had a 16x20 dedicated cigar room built above my Train Room. I designed and had installed a fantastic smoke removal system that worked so well the next day no one could ever tell I had my Cronies over for cigars. The smoke removal system removed he smoke - it did not just clean and recycle it. Even when I had up to 8 cigar smokers there, 3-4 hours later no one would know.

Now that we have downsized and moved to a much warmer climate, my cigar room is outdoors. Fuentes are terrific cigars and about the only one I ever tried that I thought was a complete rip off was the Opus X. Never really cared for them much and just a stupid expensive cigar. For that money, I'll take a Cuban Partagas Lusitania any time.

[chief38]

Gonna have another one of these bad boy's later!

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by chief38

When I lived up North in our last home I had a 16x20 dedicated cigar room built above my Train Room. I designed and had installed a fantastic smoke removal system that worked so well the next day no one could ever tell I had my Cronies over for cigars. The smoke removal system removed he smoke - it did not just clean and recycle it. Even when I had up to 8 cigar smokers there, 3-4 hours later no one would know.

Now that we have downsized and moved to a much warmer climate, my cigar room is outdoors. Fuentes are terrific cigars and about the only one I ever tried that I thought was a complete rip off was the Opus X. Never really cared for them much and just a stupid expensive cigar. For that money, I'll take a Cuban Partagas Lusitania any time.

Have you priced Partagas' lately, you'll need a mortgage for the Lusi's. lol
Great room btw, you've posted it before, I remember it. Maybe you were smart enough to save some Cubans, even with about 3-400 at one time I've subsequently run out.
I love the Opus myself, very complex, but yes over priced for sure.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by chief38

Gonna have another one of these bad boy's later!

Got a handful of the Oliva's for Christmas too, looking forward to trying one.
Tonight's not only cigar night, but what's called "Speedy Tuesday" for those Omega Speedmaster watch guys we have here also! lol

[AKtinman]

Most of my exposure to cigars was my granddad's Prince Edwards and Roi Tan cigars. I must say I enjoyed the aroma and smoke from his cigars.
Perhaps I have led a sheltered existence...

[Retired W4]

I inherited these. Still have a few left. The tobac is now well over 30 years old and incredibly smooth. Patron Millennium.

I think I'll burn one to usher in 2024.

[Skeet 028]

Personally I quit smoking everything years ago. Don't even miss it. My FiL grew chawing tobaccy and he even rolled some cigars and made snuff, whiskey wine and beer. Musta been an art...but not a lost one....still got some of his+ stuff If someone doesn't mind me asking...how much does one of them El Ropos cost that you got to build a room for them?? I remember selling ceegars in the store 2 fer a nickel.. The 10 cent ones were the good'uns

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by Skeet 028

Personally I quit smoking everything years ago. Don't even miss it. My FiL grew chawing tobaccy and he even rolled some cigars and made snuff, whiskey wine and beer. Musta been an art...but not a lost one....still got some of his+ stuff If someone doesn't mind me asking...how much does one of them El Ropos cost that you got to build a room for them?? I remember selling ceegars in the store 2 fer a nickel.. The 10 cent ones were the good'uns

Same here, I quit drinking about 4 years ago and don't miss it a bit. I drink coffee with my cigars, I don't think I could give up cigars so easily though. Cigars and coffee where made to go together I believe.

[chief38]

Originally Posted by 03hemi

Have you priced Partagas' lately, you'll need a mortgage for the Lusi's. lol
Great room btw, you've posted it before, I remember it. Maybe you were smart enough to save some Cubans, even with about 3-400 at one time I've susequently run out.
I love the Opus myself, very complex, but yes over priced for sure.

My MO is to purchase in bulk. When they were only reasonably reduculous, I struck. I have some left but nurse them only on special occasions. You are correct, they are about $1K/box now. While they are my all time fav's, they are simply not 5 times better than the Dominican's I smoke.

BTW, if you see them for half price online, DON'T buy them - they are FAKE!

I also like Padron Anniversarios Imperial but those are also mega expensive now so I only buy them on the RARE occasion they are on sale - very rare! My everyday smokers are A. Fuente Double Chateau. Churchills, and on occasion, Royal Salute, Oliva Series V, Punch Gran Cru, Romeo Y Julietta Reserva Real, CAO Gold, and a few others.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by chief38

My MO is to purchase in bulk. When they were only reasonably reduculous, I struck. I have some left but nurse them only on special occasions. You are correct, they are about $1K/box now. While they are my all time fav's, they are simply not 5 times better than the Dominican's I smoke.

BTW, if you see them for half price online, DON'T buy them - they are FAKE!

I also like Padron Anniversarios Imperial but those are also mega expensive now so I only buy them on the RARE occasion they are on sale - very rare! My everyday smokers are A. Fuente Double Chateau. Churchills, and on occasion, Royal Salute, Oliva Series V, Punch Gran Cru, Romeo Y Julietta Reserva Real, CAO Gold, and a few others.

Absolutely, the only online sources I trust were Puro Express and iHavanas, both reputable sites. I bring back my "allowable" amount through customs when I travel abroad, like you say, that $1000 dollars is about one box now and they ain't that many times better. It used to be I could get 4-5 boxws plus a few stix for $1000 abroad from either the UK's Churchills stores or the La Casa Del Habano stores. We've been able to find several that are just as complex over the last few years searching.

[DWalt]

I was never much of a cigar smoker, haven't had one in many years. The only Cubans I ever smoked were during the period over 30 years ago when I lived in Laredo. At least then, you could buy Cubans in tobacco shops in Nuevo Laredo, don't think it was legal to bring them back to the US by walking over the bridge, but I did it anyway, never was asked about them. I have no idea what the brands were, not that it made much difference to me.

[Greyman50]

Nice stories. Quit smoking cigars many years ago after many good years of fine smokes. Had a friend that knew a guy that went to Canada, bought Cubans, removed the bands and brought them in the US. They were good, very good. When working in many large engine plants would fire up a good cigar and enjoy it while telling the millwrights and machine repairmen what to do. Those were the days. Would try one except afraid of upper respiratory issues afterwards.

[Marksman]

I stayed at Lake Louise during my honeymoon in Canada 37 yrs. ago, they had boxes of Cuban cigars at the front desk. I enjoyed one every night of my stay, sitting down by the lake taking in the wonderful scenery.

[03hemi]

Canadian cubans have always been stupidly priced because of the queens tax, can only imagine how absurdly priced they are now?
As US citizens, you're allowed up to $1k dollars worth per person to bring in from anywhere, fwiw. (thank you Obama)
That's about one box now, that used to be around 3-4 boxes plus a few stix!

[Skeet 028]

Holy Crapo(name of a town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland)...A 1000 bucks a box?? Can't be more'n 50 of 'em in a box. If I had to pay that much for any smoke I'd quit...course I can't believe 7 dollars for a pack of cigarettes either. I quit cigarettes about when they got to a buck a pack...Course I ain't paying all them high prices for hooch either...Father in law taught me well. BTW if you want to go to Crapo...ya can't get there on a real high tide_

[jeffrefrig]

Until I saw that 2nd picture by 03hemi, I never knew they made roach clips for cigars. I quit smoking tobacco (cigarettes) 25 years ago, and I never got into cigars nor any tobacco, chew or snuff. There was a man, "Freddie," who rented half of my grandfather's garage for his T-Birds. He used to chew cigars. Getting back on subject, what is that thing called? It's about time I get a little cigar culture. Or ANY culture! That mini Guillotine thing for trimming the ends(?) is a cool device, too, but I've seen them before. That smoking den peaked my interest, being EX HVAC Tech. I'll have to look that one up "online." I knew cigars are big busine$$, so I suppose it's no surprise that one would have a special room, with a speakeasy door no less, to entertain friends. Classy.

[dsf]

Originally Posted by jeffrefrig

Until I saw that 2nd picture by 03hemi, I never knew they made roach clips for cigars. I quit smoking tobacco (cigarettes) 25 years ago, and I never got into cigars nor any tobacco, chew or snuff. There was a man, "Freddie," who rented half of my grandfather's garage for his T-Birds. He used to chew cigars. Getting back on subject, what is that thing called? It's about time I get a little cigar culture. Or ANY culture! That mini Guillotine thing for trimming the ends(?) is a cool device, too, but I've seen them before. That smoking den peaked my interest, being EX HVAC Tech. I'll have to look that one up "online." I knew cigars are big busine$$, so I suppose it's no surprise that one would have a special room, with a speakeasy door no less, to entertain friends. Classy.

A cigar cutter. All sorts out there from guillotine (that's actually what they're called) style to scissors. I use a round punch but do a three cloverleaf pattern. Churchill used a wooden match stem to punch a small hole. Clip only the capped end.

That roach clip kind of surprised me too - a worthwhile repurposing for sure.

Not surprising that gun guys are also into cigars. All sorts of minutiae and accessories.

I sent this to one of our company's higher ups and got a response of "three friends you should never be without" -

IMG_0621.jpg

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by Skeet 028

Holy Crapo(name of a town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland)...A 1000 bucks a box?? Can't be more'n 50 of 'em in a box. If I had to pay that much for any smoke I'd quit...course I can't believe 7 dollars for a pack of cigarettes either. I quit cigarettes about when they got to a buck a pack...Course I ain't paying all them high prices for hooch either...Father in law taught me well. BTW if you want to go to Crapo...ya can't get there on a real high tide_

It's worse than you think, try 24 to a box typically.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by jeffrefrig

Until I saw that 2nd picture by 03hemi, I never knew they made roach clips for cigars. I quit smoking tobacco (cigarettes) 25 years ago, and I never got into cigars nor any tobacco, chew or snuff. There was a man, "Freddie," who rented half of my grandfather's garage for his T-Birds. He used to chew cigars. Getting back on subject, what is that thing called? It's about time I get a little cigar culture. Or ANY culture! That mini Guillotine thing for trimming the ends(?) is a cool device, too, but I've seen them before. That smoking den peaked my interest, being EX HVAC Tech. I'll have to look that one up "online." I knew cigars are big busine$$, so I suppose it's no surprise that one would have a special room, with a speakeasy door no less, to entertain friends. Classy.

His is a commercial sized fan ducted to the outside and it'll turn the room volume over something like 30-50 times per hour, also has a fresh air vent feeding the room totally separate from the home hvac to keep odors out of his main system; the room also has an ozonizer and a Rabbit carbon air filter too (black square box on table on the left).
Most people just put a smoke eater in the ceiling exhausting smoke into their attic which still stinks up the house, useless for lingering odors. New a guy that did that and it cleared the room, but his whole house stank like an ashtray all the time. When you hold your stogie in up this room you can see the smoke get sucked up and out. Ozonizer and carbon filter eliminate the lingering odors.
It's a science.

[03hemi]

Until I saw that 2nd picture by 03hemi, I never knew they made roach clips for cigars. I quit smoking tobacco (cigarettes) 25 years ago, and I never got into cigars nor any tobacco, chew or snuff. There was a man, "Freddie," who rented half of my grandfather's garage for his T-Birds. He used to chew cigars. Getting back on subject, what is that thing called? It's about time I get a little cigar culture. Or ANY culture! That mini Guillotine thing for trimming the ends(?) is a cool device, too, but I've seen them before. That smoking den peaked my interest, being EX HVAC Tech. I'll have to look that one up "online." I knew cigars are big busine$$, so I suppose it's no surprise that one would have a special room, with a speakeasy door no less, to entertain friends. Classy.

"What's the password?" lol

[Kinman]

I love a good cigar but have no appreciation for a cheap stinker. I gave up all tobacco products years ago and miss the cigar the most and I did love to chew and dip. I always heard about how great Cuban cigars were and years ago took a trip to Kelowna to pick up a large router for a project, stopped by a cigar store and bought a couple Cubans...Romeo and Julietta and Partagas, both 50ringers and around $10cdn a piece. I liked anything by Fuentes and grabbed a couple Maduro Hemingways which was my favorite non Cuban smoke. I got to my car and performed my ritual on the R&J and was amazed at the total experience, it was a 100 mile trip back to the cabin, I smoked that cigar down to the point I could not hold it any longer, stuck a toothpick in it and smoked it down to the absolute nub, never a bite, never a sour note...perfection all the way. The Partagas was just as good. They can take the seed and grow them elsewhere but there is something about the soil and climate of Cuba that does it right. I've smoked top of the line cigars from elsewhere, Opus X comes to mind....a great cigar but no match for those $10 Cubans.

[03hemi]

Unfortunately, $10 dollar Cubans are a thing of the past.
Your experience with the Cuban was mainly in part due to your appreciation for cigars, you can give a Cuban to a new or beginner smoker and it'll taste dirt to them. The Cuban "nirvana" only comes through when you're already an experienced cigar lover.
Talk about nubbing it with a toothpick (Lord you are a cigar lover), that's where this little tool comes in handy? The other end of the tool is a long, barbed thin needle to unplug a plugged cigar.
Can't tell you how many Cubans I threw away due to being plugged before I discovered this little cigar rescuing tool.

[Bib]

This is going to be difficult. I had triple bypass surgery Nov 6. I really should give up cigars. I guess one every once in a while won't kill me. I'll be retiring so I'll have plenty of time to smoke....but shouldn't

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by AKtinman

Most of my exposure to cigars was my granddad's Prince Edwards and Roi Tan cigars. I must say I enjoyed the aroma and smoke from his cigars.
Perhaps I have led a sheltered existence...

I could enjoy a Dutch Masters or a King Edward. I was into hand rolled cigars at a lousy time. The 'boom' seemed to cause a lot of cigars that should have been richer, toastier, leatheryer, woodier all to taste more 'grassy'. I've had some really rich cigars that about knocked my socks off. A friend passed one to me that was supposed to be somewhat mild, but I think it was a Cohiba.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

I could enjoy a Dutch Masters or a King Edward. I was into hand rolled cigars at a lousy time. The 'boom' seemed to cause a lot of cigars that should have been richer, toastier, leatheryer, woodier all to taste more 'grassy'. I've had some really rich cigars that about knocked my socks off. A friend passed one to me that was supposed to be somewhat mild, but I think it was a Cohiba.

I agree, 26~ years ago the non cubans just weren't there in terms of complexity and flavor, but fast forward to today and they've come full circle I believe. Now they're eaxactly what you yearned for plus much, much more in terms of flavor and complexity imo.

[Karnivore]

Cigars With My Girls,
New Years Eve 2022.
Titusville, Fl

[chief38]

While the Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran Cigar prices have jumped quite a bit over the last few years, Cubans (genuine ones - not the knock offs mostly sold) have almost quadrupled! IMHO. Partagas Lusitania is at least twice as good as just about any, but just not worth 4 times the price.

I am astounded that most of what is actually being sold as Cubans are indeed fakes. I'd venture to say at least 85-90% are not real. I can't tell you how many times I have been handed a "Cuban" and in 10 seconds I can tell it's a fake. Sometimes I simply don't have the heart to tell the person who gave it to me and spent his hard earned money. People who have never had the real deal do not even realize it! It is a HUGE HUGE scam business and they are winning! Because of this, many have never actually smoked a genuine Cuban, although they think they have and therefore don't really know how terrific they are. IMHO Partagas Cubans are way above all the rest. Monty's have fallen from Grace, IMHO. Cohiba's, ehh, R&J still great if you get the right size and shape.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by chief38

While the Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran Cigar prices have jumped quite a bit over the last few years, Cubans (genuine ones - not the knock offs mostly sold) have almost quadrupled! IMHO. Partagas Lusitania is at least twice as good as just about any, but just not worth 4 times the price.

I am astounded that most of what is actually being sold as Cubans are indeed fakes. I'd venture to say at least 85-90% are not real. I can't tell you how many times I have been handed a "Cuban" and in 10 seconds I can tell it's a fake. Sometimes I simply don't have the heart to tell the person who gave it to me and spent his hard earned money. People who have never had the real deal do not even realize it! It is a HUGE HUGE scam business and they are winning! Because of this, many have never actually smoked a genuine Cuban, although they think they have and therefore don't really know how terrific they are. IMHO Partagas Cubans are way above all the rest. Monty's have fallen from Grace, IMHO. Cohiba's, ehh, R&J still great if you get the right size and shape.

You have to be deligently careful where you're obtaining your "Cubans." The easiest place to get a fake, believe it or not is Cuba! If it's not sold in a La Casa Del Habano, government sanctioned store with their State Seal or the cigars factory in Cuba, it's probably fake.
When I travel abroad I look for a La Casa, Churchills or a store with the official Cuban State Seal store (which all these have) to buy mine. NEVER buy the one's on the street.
Last box of Lusi' I checked was $2k for 10, no eff'n way! Cohiba' Siglo VI were $250 a stick and some of their other lines were as much as $500 per stick! Absurd. Partagas was always my favorite too.
iHavanas and Puro Express are well known and proven legitimate sites in Switzerland, but there's no savings there anymore.
I've read until Cuba modernizes their equipment we'll never see a dip in the prices, plus they know now the "uber wealthy" will pay the stupid prices to be exclusive, impress your other uber wealthy friends buy offering them a $500 dollar cigar?
Thank God the non-Cubans have finally come into their own, they're harder to find, but many rival the Cubans. OpusX and Davidoff for example.
I can live with that.
p.s. Yup, first draw will tell if it's real or not.
I'd tell them it's fake, true friends are honest with each other without getting their panties in a wad and if it's just an acquaintance, tell them you don't want them getting snookered again and then educate them on how to tell.

[URIT]

When you venture out to find excellent cigar makers, look at Vegas de Santiago from Santiago de Puriscal, Costa Rica.

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by 03hemi

Unfortunately, $10 dollar Cubans are a thing of the past.
Your experience with the Cuban was mainly in part due to your appreciation for cigars, you can give a Cuban to a new or beginner smoker and it'll taste dirt to them. The Cuban "nirvana" only comes through when you're already an experienced cigar lover.
Talk about nubbing it with a toothpick (Lord you are a cigar lover), that's where this little tool comes in handy? The other end of the tool is a long, barbed thin needle to unplug a plugged cigar.
Can't tell you how many Cubans I threw away due to being plugged before I discovered this little cigar rescuing tool.

The last time I smoked a seegar down that low, it was a Romeo and Julietta and I was an international police officer in Kosovo. Cubans could be bought cheap at the United Nations store in Pristina (2002-2004).

I turned several shades of green and puked . Haven't smoked one since.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

The last time I smoked a seegar down that low, it was a Romeo and Julietta and I was an international police officer in Kosovo. Cubans could be bought cheap at the United Nations store in Pristina (2002-2004).

I turned several shades of green and puked . Haven't smoked one since.

Cubans can be strong, but Cubans aren't anything special unless you're a cigar lover that's been smoking for years.

[JOliver]

Love them myself

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by JOliver

Love them myself

Looks like you got some, among others, a couple of Siglo VI's?
Checked recently and they're up to $100 a piece now! Crazy

[JOliver]

Probably,I understand they're hard to get currently
Even European markets all you can find are the little tubes and they're sky high.

[03hemi]

Originally Posted by JOliver

Probably,I understand they're hard to get currently
Even European markets all you can find are the little tubes and they're sky high.

Easy enough to get, I know where some are. But, not for $100 a stick!
The Cohiba Behike' are $500 per stick! Crazy

[03hemi]

Last Tuesday at cigar night I had a Gurkha Special Reserve 18 yo, great cigar and very complex.
Leather, nutty, woody cedar and a little grapefruity too with a short creamy finish. I highly recommend them.

[03hemi]

Big changes coming boys, big.

[Dave.357]

I thought a former President would be part
Of this thread.

[llowry61]

What is retrohale ?