The PH Cigar Thread
Discussion
Miguel Alvarez said:
Nice one Mitchell.
What are we all smoking this weekend. I'm planning on having a BBQ so will want something peppery to have whilst I burn meat stuff. Any suggestions for a good BBQ cigar?
Sorry for the late reply, you've probably already had the BBQ. If I was looking for a stick to smoke while cooking, I'd probably go for a Gurkha Royal Challenge, mild and light, unlikely to colour the palette too heavily prior to eating. If you're looking for pepper though, the Oliva Serie O to be peppery throughout with a mild spice on the tongue and lips.What are we all smoking this weekend. I'm planning on having a BBQ so will want something peppery to have whilst I burn meat stuff. Any suggestions for a good BBQ cigar?
This weekend I've been smoking the Alec Bradley Tempus and the Arturo Fuente Epicure, both great smokes. I'm also starting a tupperdor, as I've got 25 Punch Coronations and 3 Cohiba Siglo IIs on their way to me now, they'll make good summer evening smokes.
Mastodon2 said:
Miguel Alvarez said:
Nice one Mitchell.
What are we all smoking this weekend. I'm planning on having a BBQ so will want something peppery to have whilst I burn meat stuff. Any suggestions for a good BBQ cigar?
Sorry for the late reply, you've probably already had the BBQ. If I was looking for a stick to smoke while cooking, I'd probably go for a Gurkha Royal Challenge, mild and light, unlikely to colour the palette too heavily prior to eating. If you're looking for pepper though, the Oliva Serie O to be peppery throughout with a mild spice on the tongue and lips.What are we all smoking this weekend. I'm planning on having a BBQ so will want something peppery to have whilst I burn meat stuff. Any suggestions for a good BBQ cigar?
This weekend I've been smoking the Alec Bradley Tempus and the Arturo Fuente Epicure, both great smokes. I'm also starting a tupperdor, as I've got 25 Punch Coronations and 3 Cohiba Siglo IIs on their way to me now, they'll make good summer evening smokes.
The first three were new to me and in order of preference the Oliva G was brilliant. The La Invicat was ok if a bit one dimensional and lastly the Don Ramos. It was ok. Not bad not great. I'd have all of them again. The Cuban's have been saved for later.
Good stuff. I've picked up the box that will become my tupperdor, but the cigars are still 6-9 days away. I'll have to pick up a few sticks on Friday, along with some humidification pillows, a hygrometer and some cedar sheets.
I don't know what I'll be smoking on Friday, but you guys can probably help. I've already asked my tobacconist via Facebook (handy having him as a mate!), but I'll throw it open to the room; I want to smoke a cigar with the quintessential "cured tobacco" taste. The humidor is stocked with a wide range of Cubans and new world cigars, so if you recommend something I can probably get it, or get close. I've had cigars where there is not a dominant flavour profile like coffee, cocoa, leather etc, but I'd like to have one that really typifies a full, rich cured tobacco flavour. What could I smoke that will give me this experience? Price is not really an object but I'd rather save the Cohibas for special occasions.
I don't know what I'll be smoking on Friday, but you guys can probably help. I've already asked my tobacconist via Facebook (handy having him as a mate!), but I'll throw it open to the room; I want to smoke a cigar with the quintessential "cured tobacco" taste. The humidor is stocked with a wide range of Cubans and new world cigars, so if you recommend something I can probably get it, or get close. I've had cigars where there is not a dominant flavour profile like coffee, cocoa, leather etc, but I'd like to have one that really typifies a full, rich cured tobacco flavour. What could I smoke that will give me this experience? Price is not really an object but I'd rather save the Cohibas for special occasions.
red_slr said:
Update... after a few days it got to 63% with the Drymistat.
Threw in a few of those pouches (69s) yesterday and its up to 64% today.
Will check again in a couple of days
65% now, happier with that. Still not perfect but I will let it settle for another few days and hope it gets into the high 60s. I want to stock a few singles for the summer so just in time Threw in a few of those pouches (69s) yesterday and its up to 64% today.
Will check again in a couple of days
Mastodon2 said:
I don't know what I'll be smoking on Friday, but you guys can probably help. I've already asked my tobacconist via Facebook (handy having him as a mate!), but I'll throw it open to the room; I want to smoke a cigar with the quintessential "cured tobacco" taste.
If it's a classic cured tobacco flavour, try an Upmann Corona. They're pricey at getting on about £18 a stick, but they have a classical Cuban tobacco flavour. Simple, rich and flavoursome - the only real deviation in the flavour profile comes in the last 3rd when a lovely, honeyed sweetness comes through which is just reward for smoking down to it. I know Cuban cigars are often knocked for being somewhat unadventurous, but they have that 'old world' flavour profile that gives their fans what they expect. I recall others I've smoked in the past, like a Monterrey and a R&J giving a similar smoke but I'd recommend the Upmann. My recent smokes:
Both lunchtime smokes, so Iw as glad not to receive the knockout blow of strong nicotine in either. First up was the Ghurka Royal Challenge. Great construction, beautiful wrapper (Connecticut shade, I believe, and rapidly becoming a favourite of mine). As recommended by Mastodon, it's a great smoke. Light, easy draw with good flavours. Not overly complex or going through many transitions, but a strong, savoury woody tone with some nutty highlights. Excellent. Burned beautifully and gave off a thick, oily smoke.
This is an Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Nova. Another fine smoke, although not quite as remarkably strong on all fronts as the Royal Challenge. Construction looks a little uneven in the picture, but the conditioning was spot on and the wrapper had the most beautiful, jewel-like flecks of oil amidst a rich, chocolatey sheen. Lovely to behold. Smoking was a little tight on the draw, and an even burn for the first few draws soon corrected to a very even, steady burn with a strong ash. Flavours were earthy, not particularly sweet or creamy, but the smoke was thick and billowed forth on the exhale with impressive density. Not a stick I would rush back to, but a smoke that adds further credibility to Alec Bradley's increasingly impressive range.
Well I've got a Punch corona for the drive home tonight. Just something quick from the local Waitrose and then not sure. Down to my last couple of Trinidads so I might have one of those tonight. Tomorrow I'll pick something up I'm sure. I've been meaning to try a BHK and Father's day is probably as good an excuse as any to push the boat out a bit.
I'm starting to really enjoy my cigars in later life. Tend not to smoke too often in day to day life but love them when on holiday and the occasional one at home. With the smoking ban it's difficult to smoke large cigars unless you know your outside for a decent amount of time, BBQ etc.
My parents recently came back from their holidays and bought me some Vega Palmera's which I've really enjoyed. Never heard of them and to be honest my knowledge is lacking heavily in this department so enjoying reading about what you guys are smoking and I can look out for them.
Off to Marbella next week so will be enjoying a few while I'm out there. Will have to see what the duty free has to offer.
My parents recently came back from their holidays and bought me some Vega Palmera's which I've really enjoyed. Never heard of them and to be honest my knowledge is lacking heavily in this department so enjoying reading about what you guys are smoking and I can look out for them.
Off to Marbella next week so will be enjoying a few while I'm out there. Will have to see what the duty free has to offer.
Forgive my ignorance on these matters , but do you chaps ever inhale the cigar smoke as you would a ciggerette or just roll it in the mouth and exhale?
I've got to say reading this thread has put me in the mood to try a good cigar with a nice large strong coffee, but as an ex ciggerette smoker I have concerns with regards to ending up back on the ciggerettes as a result.
I've got to say reading this thread has put me in the mood to try a good cigar with a nice large strong coffee, but as an ex ciggerette smoker I have concerns with regards to ending up back on the ciggerettes as a result.
pete a said:
Forgive my ignorance on these matters , but do you chaps ever inhale the cigar smoke as you would a ciggerette or just roll it in the mouth and exhale?
I've got to say reading this thread has put me in the mood to try a good cigar with a nice large strong coffee, but as an ex ciggerette smoker I have concerns with regards to ending up back on the ciggerettes as a result.
Do not ever inhale a cigar. Inhaling into the throat / lungs is something you only do once and never again! I wouldn't worry about getting hooked on cigs again, it's not the same nicotine rush as you'd get from a cigarette (apparently, I've never smoked one). There are some strong cigars, but generally the nicotine levels are low and you're smoking slowly for probably 60-120 minutes per stick depending on how fast you smoke, so the dose is slowly absorbed. Theoretically you could get a nicotine addiction - particularly if you live in the states where warm climate and cheap tobacco tax could make smoking often an easy thing to do, but in practice I don't know anyone who craves cigars for a "fix" like you'd get from a cigarette. It's all about the flavour.I've got to say reading this thread has put me in the mood to try a good cigar with a nice large strong coffee, but as an ex ciggerette smoker I have concerns with regards to ending up back on the ciggerettes as a result.
I've just back from an evening smoke, I had a Partagas P2 to start, which was fantastic. My brief was to get the "ultimate cured tobacco flavour" and this delivered perfectly. Definitely not a beginners cigar, it was smooth, never harsh, but very, very full bodied, dark and rich. My second cigar of the night was an Ashton VSG (known as San Cristobal outside of Europe), which was a disappointment. It had a core of very tightly wound tobacco running all the way through it, about the thickness of a biro and slightly off axis to the centre of the stick. This meant the outside burned much quicker than the centre, and it was a total pain in the arse. At about 7", the misery just went on and on. Eventually I burned through it and with about 3" left I had a perfect draw and burn, but I was already worn out from triple-puffing and knocking the core off to really enjoy it. Bah. I did meet fellow PHer Stevedore, he's a good lad. I've seen him in there before, he was enjoying an Alec Bradley Texas Lancero this evening.
At least this lot turned up in the post:
25 Punch Coronations, 3 Cohiba Siglo IIs and a free Ramon Allones Specially Selected 1 which I received as a free gift for naming the gent who referred me to the vendor. The tupperdor is underway, I'll be working through these over the summer and will probably hand out a few Punch sticks at drinks out, as gifts etc.
Edited by Mastodon2 on Friday 19th June 23:16
As a beginner, I'd go for something mild-medium. Something like a Por Larrañaga Petit Corona or Picadores. These are pretty light, not particularly complex and they're not too big, so you're unlikely to be overwhelmed by strong flavour, and they won't last too long, but you'll still get an hour from one. Alternatively, the Gurkha Royal Challenge would make a good first cigar. Your best bet though, is to ask your tobacconist what they'd recommend for beginners, if they're any good they'll point you to a good stick. Avoid the temptation to jump in with the strongest or richest cigar you can - I'm sure this won't be an issue as you seem sensible enough to ask for recommendations, I'm sure more than a few would-be cigar smokers have had bad experiences trying to look like the big man smoking the biggest, richest stick they could get their hands on. Avoid the Dunhill Aged though, this is probably the mildest stick going and while I've not had one, I have seen them being smoked and never heard much praise, they're mild to the point of flavourless, it seems. If you like that, try more cigars and increase in body (depth of flavour) and try ones with more complex flavours. Try different vitolas (sizes), experimenting with different gauges (thickness) and lengths, as they do smoke differently. Most of all, relax, enjoy yourself and appreciate that what you're smoking, a rolled stick of cured tobacco that is a genuine marvel to behold.
For some general advice for getting smoking, forget the hype about Cubans, they're good but they're placed on a plinth by reputation, people - generally those who smoke for the image, not the enjoyment, choose Cuban because they think they're the ultimate cigars. They're good, but the new world offerings are as good, often cheaper and in my experience, have a wider variety of flavours. Go in with an open mind and rate anything you smoke on merit. Price is not everything either, there are some expensive sticks I don't rate, and some cheap ones that are very good. Forget the country of origin or price as being as indicator of quality, though accept that there is generally a minimum price for proper premium cigars, those that are hand-rolled with long filler tobacco. Use a butane lighter, smoke slowly and enjoy the flavour. If the smoke is getting hot or bitter and you're not near the end of the end of the cigar, you're taking too many draws per minute, two or 3 a minute is about right.
For some general advice for getting smoking, forget the hype about Cubans, they're good but they're placed on a plinth by reputation, people - generally those who smoke for the image, not the enjoyment, choose Cuban because they think they're the ultimate cigars. They're good, but the new world offerings are as good, often cheaper and in my experience, have a wider variety of flavours. Go in with an open mind and rate anything you smoke on merit. Price is not everything either, there are some expensive sticks I don't rate, and some cheap ones that are very good. Forget the country of origin or price as being as indicator of quality, though accept that there is generally a minimum price for proper premium cigars, those that are hand-rolled with long filler tobacco. Use a butane lighter, smoke slowly and enjoy the flavour. If the smoke is getting hot or bitter and you're not near the end of the end of the cigar, you're taking too many draws per minute, two or 3 a minute is about right.
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