The PH Cigar Thread

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Mastodon2

Original Poster:

13,818 posts

164 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
I bought myself a Peterson Flame Grains 80s pipe yesterday, my first pipe and the first time I've smoked anything other than a cigar.

The photo from the website




For my first smoke, I had the tobacconist go through a load of different loose tobaccos with me on Friday, and yesterday I had a shortlist of potential buys. I ended up with 10g of maple and vanilla. My first bowl was rubbish, I got the pinches and the finger tamping right, but over-burned the top and got some wicked tongue bite. After such a scorching on the first light, I couldn't get the white insulating layer of ash after tamping, so I dumped the bowl and started again. The second, third and forth bowls were much, much better. It was a surprisingly more savory smoke than I had expected, but still pleasant and immensely satisfying in the huge plumes of thick, white and pillowy smoke it produces. I still have not mastered getting the second light to last the whole bowl, but each bowl I had needed less re-lights than the last. Naturally I was giving the stem and moisture reservoir a good clean with a pipe cleaner after each bowl, and cleaning the oils and loose ash from the inside of the bowl. I did once get a bit of the saliva and burnt tobacco oil on my tongue, that was absolutely horrendous.

Definitely not as easy to look like a pro while smoking as a cigar, but an enjoyable and satisfying smoke and there is something very cool about smoking a pipe with the guys, not to mention the room aromas are amazing with all the sweet blends burning up. Before I started going to my cigar club, I'd have honestly thought that pipes were for old men, because I never saw younger blokes smoking them - which when I think about it, is not unusual given the smoking ban as you can barely smoke anywhere these days. Turns out that a lot of younger blokes are into it, because the flavours are excellent (but quite different to cigars) and once you've paid for the pipe and got over the learning curve, it's a very cheap way of smoking for pleasure.

PlayersNo6

1,102 posts

155 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Naturally I was giving the stem and moisture reservoir a good clean with a pipe cleaner after each bowl, and cleaning the oils and loose ash from the inside of the bowl.
Give this cleaning ritual a miss for the first smokes of a new pipe (stem excepted) as it helps to build up the cake inside the bowl. The pipe will taste much better once you have a layer of carbon on the wood.

Good choice with Peterson.

Mastodon2

Original Poster:

13,818 posts

164 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
PlayersNo6 said:
Give this cleaning ritual a miss for the first smokes of a new pipe (stem excepted) as it helps to build up the cake inside the bowl. The pipe will taste much better once you have a layer of carbon on the wood.

Good choice with Peterson.
The carbon layer is already getting there, but I'll try a few smokes without cleaning it. I love the way you get an absolutely perfect draw from a pipe, loads of super-rich, creamy smoke. Very satisfying. MacBaren plum cake tobacco for me next time I think, I'm not smoking again until a week on Friday. Plenty of time to look forward to it!

smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
A cigar thread ... very cool :-)

I don't want to sound ( too ) spammy but if anyone needs any advice feel free to reach out to me.

C.Gars Ltd are the largest specialist cigar merchant in the UK - online 24/7 and with cigar shops across the UK.

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell ( usually on the Aston Martin forum!)

whoami

13,151 posts

239 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Hi Mitchell,

how good are the Cohiba Robusto Supremos LE?

Are they worth the premium over the standard Robusto?

Miguel Alvarez

4,944 posts

169 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
smokeymo said:
A cigar thread ... very cool :-)

I don't want to sound ( too ) spammy but if anyone needs any advice feel free to reach out to me.

C.Gars Ltd are the largest specialist cigar merchant in the UK - online 24/7 and with cigar shops across the UK.

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell ( usually on the Aston Martin forum!)
Welcome aboard. I think most of us buy from you guys so you should be in good company here.


Miguel Alvarez

4,944 posts

169 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
As for the pipe smoking. I've tried and tried and watched video after video on youtube but it really is an art form that must come from years of practisce. That being said since I bought myself a butane lighter I've found the few times I've smoked a pipe that it's been a much more relaxed experience.

As for the stogies. This weekend I had a couple Charatan Robustos, a RyJ Corona and a new to me Ramon Allone Robusto. I was quite impressed with the Ramon very creamy with coffee hints.


Cuchillo

685 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Miguel Alvarez said:
... and a new to me Ramon Allone Robusto. I was quite impressed with the Ramon very creamy with coffee hints.
I too have enjoyed this. Very nice indeed.

I used to keep a spreadsheet of the ones I had tried and how I rated (them also for whisky). No idea where that is now! biggrin

Hmmm ... Anyone have any recommendations for an iOS app(s) to store such information? Preferably including a "help me choose" and formal reviews as well?


Cuchillo

685 posts

264 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
smokeymo said:
... I don't want to sound ( too ) spammy but if anyone needs any advice feel free to reach out to me.
Hi Mitchell, welcome to the more relaxed side of PH biggrin

Now ... How about throwing a herf for us Londonites! wink

smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Okay so these are very very different cigars as the Cohiba Robusto is a standard size ( vitola) from the standard range ( La Linea Clasica) whereas the Cohiba Robusto Supremo is the 2014 Limited Edition. a special size ( with a shopping 58 ring gauge) and a maduro wrapper.

The basic flavour characteristic is similar but the difference in the blend of the larger gauge Supremo makes the overall smoking experience dramatically different.

Supremo is sweet to the lips ( due to the maduro wrapper) and gives volumes of cool sweet flavoured smoke.For such a large format the burn is remarkably even and construction more reliable the Robustos which have recently been problematical ( overfills/too tight)

Are they worth the ( rather hefty) premium ? good question indeed. its personal though. I would prefer to smoke one Supremo than three Robustos as I prefer the blend.

Hope that helps.

Best

Mitchell



whoami said:
Hi Mitchell,

how good are the Cohiba Robusto Supremos LE?

Are they worth the premium over the standard Robusto?

smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Thank you very much :-)

Miguel Alvarez said:
Welcome aboard. I think most of us buy from you guys so you should be in good company here.

smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
The Ramon Allones Specially Selected is a well blended and constructed cigar for sure. you may find that you would also enjoy the same sized Bolivar Royal Corona ( different flavour but the same strength profile)

Best

Mitchell

Miguel Alvarez said:
As for the pipe smoking. I've tried and tried and watched video after video on youtube but it really is an art form that must come from years of practisce. That being said since I bought myself a butane lighter I've found the few times I've smoked a pipe that it's been a much more relaxed experience.

As for the stogies. This weekend I had a couple Charatan Robustos, a RyJ Corona and a new to me Ramon Allone Robusto. I was quite impressed with the Ramon very creamy with coffee hints.

smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Heehee :-) a London herf ? with pleasure ...lets get some numbers together and I'll put the herf together with pleasure :-)

My usual haunts are Ten Manchester Street, The Bulgari and Boisdale Belgravia

best

Mitchell


Cuchillo said:
Hi Mitchell, welcome to the more relaxed side of PH biggrin

Now ... How about throwing a herf for us Londonites! wink

The Black Baron

49 posts

120 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Hi Mitchell.

As above, I think a few of of us may be regular customers (myself only a high-days and holidays partaker, so maybe only twice a year).

We had a big BBQ this bank holiday weekend: a few friends stayed late, got a bit loose on mojitos and emptied my humidor, so expect an order fairly soon. What great weather for a bank holiday!

I'm fairly new to cigars and have enjoyed your sampler packs for some differentiation over the last 5 years, so what would you suggest for the next order to refill the box? I'm not the most monied spender, so think 10 x Monte no. 4s as a base with another 10 recommendations thrown into the mix.

Mods, will this break PH ad rules? If so, please PM me Mitchell.

Big Al.

68,795 posts

257 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Mitchell in order not to fall foul of plugging your wares on the forum, I suggest to PM the OP. smile

Cuchillo

685 posts

264 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Would it be OK as long as prices are not mentioned and Mitchell says something long the lines of "I think that the following would be good because of age, construction, etc. That way we get product knowledge and then it would be down to us to buy it from anywhere we want/can?

Otherwise it may become hard to get advise/recommendations on PH from anyone knowledgeable if all we are allowed to do is publicly ask a question and then wait for a pm for the answer and the thread imploding into a series of "Please PM me too" crys.

Yes I am a previous customer of Mitchell. I have also bought from other suppliers.

smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Okay so hopefully this will not break forum rules as I won't post any website url/email address/ prices but just general advice which may be helpful .

So if you are enjoying Montecristo No. 4 in terms of the size of the cigars I would suggest that you try Por Larranaga Petit Coronas. The blend is excellent and construction very good and currently they have beautiful golden brown wrappers.

Other additions/alternatives to consider that are smoking well at this time include:

Partagas Serie D No.6 - a new and funky size ( short and fat!)

Montecristo petit Edmundo

Hoyo Petit Robusto

H Upmann Majestic ( light but great day time Havana)

or for a change of pace ...consider new world Nicaraguan cigars such as :

Oliva Chubby, Skinny or Shorty

Regius Petit Robustos or robustos

or from Peru :

Inka Secret Blend robustos or Half Coronas

Peaceful puffing

Mitchell



The Black Baron said:
Hi Mitchell.

As above, I think a few of of us may be regular customers (myself only a high-days and holidays partaker, so maybe only twice a year).

We had a big BBQ this bank holiday weekend: a few friends stayed late, got a bit loose on mojitos and emptied my humidor, so expect an order fairly soon. What great weather for a bank holiday!

I'm fairly new to cigars and have enjoyed your sampler packs for some differentiation over the last 5 years, so what would you suggest for the next order to refill the box? I'm not the most monied spender, so think 10 x Monte no. 4s as a base with another 10 recommendations thrown into the mix.

Mods, will this break PH ad rules? If so, please PM me Mitchell.

Miguel Alvarez

4,944 posts

169 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
smokeymo said:
The Ramon Allones Specially Selected is a well blended and constructed cigar for sure. you may find that you would also enjoy the same sized Bolivar Royal Corona ( different flavour but the same strength profile)

Best

Mitchell
Thanks Mitchell,

I've had a couple of these in the past and was impressed. In fact that maybe my order this week. Good shout.

RichUK

1,332 posts

246 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Well last night was a R&J Wide Churchill evening, definitely my go to cigar at the moment.


smokeymo

79 posts

119 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
wait till the Romeo Wide Churchill Gran Reserva comes out later this year. its an incredible smoke due to the additional age.

I smoked them in Havana at the Festival in March and was blown away

Mitchell


RichUK said:
Well last night was a R&J Wide Churchill evening, definitely my go to cigar at the moment.