The PH Cigar Thread
Discussion
Mastodon2 said:
I also had an Alec Bradley Black Market Punk last Friday, I can't say it was up to much, just tasted bitter and had a sort of ash tray flavour on the finish. It was almost a blessing that it seemed to burn quite quickly!
I tried a couple of the Black Markets and was similarly unimpressed; it was a flat and quite dull stick. Looked as though they were trying to make it appear like a Cohiba Maduro 5 but I had a suspicion that the wrapper was dyed (as opposed to dark and fermented) that colour. 
EJH said:
I tried a couple of the Black Markets and was similarly unimpressed; it was a flat and quite dull stick. Looked as though they were trying to make it appear like a Cohiba Maduro 5 but I had a suspicion that the wrapper was dyed (as opposed to dark and fermented) that colour.
The only sticks I've seen that were obviously dyed were the Rocky Patel Edge Maduro, which is oscuro in colour and apparently leaves dye on the lips when smoked. Not exactly desirable! Apparently natural oscuro is obtainable with a the best ligero and proper handling, but it's no doubt a slow and difficult process. I didn't think the Black Market Punks were that dark in wrapper, a dark shade but not dark enough to need to be dyed to get there.The Alec Bradley Black Market is still a conundrum to me, at the same price there are some amazing cigars, I wonder what AB was aiming for with the blend as it's not really a cheap smoker, nor is it really pleasant. I've never met a smoker yet who has ever expressed an affection for bitter, ash-tray flavour smokes.
Here is a nice photo of a great stick that is cheaper than an AB Punk robusto.
Am I missing something I thought the Punk was a sort of half corona. If that's the one I'm thinking of its a very bitter/ash/pepper tasting stick. Nothing like the robusto.
As for this weekend I don't think I'm going to get the chance to smoke anything. I've got a lot of running around to do. I am in Oxford tomorrow though so may try and hit Havanah House and pick a couple sticks up.
As for this weekend I don't think I'm going to get the chance to smoke anything. I've got a lot of running around to do. I am in Oxford tomorrow though so may try and hit Havanah House and pick a couple sticks up.
This is a week late, saying as I smoke these last Friday night...I'll be back at the club next Friday for a couple more, no doubt.
First up was the La Aroma Des Caribe 'Mi Amor'. I believe this one is a Mexican wrapper grown from a Cuban seed with Nicaraguan leaves in the middle. Quite a surprising punch to this one, very full bodied with a lot of nicotine. Very strong white pepper flavour from this one too, I'd recommend a sweet drink to go with it (I prefer Vanilla Coke with cigars). Construction was good with thick, oily smoke. I could guess by looking at the wrapper that it'd be flavoursome and oily. Flavours were pretty simple, just white pepper! Not terribly expensive either, I wouldn't rush back to it but I wouldn't turn down another if nothing took my fancy.
The next one was the Alec Bradley Prensado. Forgive me for not noting the vitola of either of these cigars...I prefer wide gauges but I was drawn in by the beautiful finish of this cigar as it sat in the humidor. My phone camera isn't really of the quality to capture the sheen this one had, but all the Prensados in stock at the club looked to be in great shape. Construction was excellent. Flavours were aromatic spices and wood, and lots of it. Very rich and flavoursome, and it gave off a tremendous amount of smoke for a thinner cigar. The smoke wasn't particularly oily or thick on the blow, but it went like a chimney and if you could curl thick, opaque clouds off your tongue if you desired. I would have this one again, preferably in a thicker size.
First up was the La Aroma Des Caribe 'Mi Amor'. I believe this one is a Mexican wrapper grown from a Cuban seed with Nicaraguan leaves in the middle. Quite a surprising punch to this one, very full bodied with a lot of nicotine. Very strong white pepper flavour from this one too, I'd recommend a sweet drink to go with it (I prefer Vanilla Coke with cigars). Construction was good with thick, oily smoke. I could guess by looking at the wrapper that it'd be flavoursome and oily. Flavours were pretty simple, just white pepper! Not terribly expensive either, I wouldn't rush back to it but I wouldn't turn down another if nothing took my fancy.
The next one was the Alec Bradley Prensado. Forgive me for not noting the vitola of either of these cigars...I prefer wide gauges but I was drawn in by the beautiful finish of this cigar as it sat in the humidor. My phone camera isn't really of the quality to capture the sheen this one had, but all the Prensados in stock at the club looked to be in great shape. Construction was excellent. Flavours were aromatic spices and wood, and lots of it. Very rich and flavoursome, and it gave off a tremendous amount of smoke for a thinner cigar. The smoke wasn't particularly oily or thick on the blow, but it went like a chimney and if you could curl thick, opaque clouds off your tongue if you desired. I would have this one again, preferably in a thicker size.
Mastodon2 said:
Be sure to check back and let us know what you think. Have a good trip!
Well, thanks to a very considerate wife I managed two sessions in the shop whilst she ran rampage round Mayfair with my Amex card.
First up was the new Upmann Mag 56 Limited Edition. Well I was really surprised by this. I'm not sure what I was expecting as I've not really trued the Upmann brand much. It started ff very subtle, quite mild yet bursting full of flavour. As expected it got progressively stronger and developed a much bolder taste. I enjoyed it so much that I peeled both labels off and was disappointed when it was finally finished as I was enjoying it that much.
On the Sunday I popped back in for an hour to have a quick smoke and pick up a few cigars for the humidor.
The Upmann Mag 46 was no where near as good as the 56. Still an enjoyable 50 minute or so smoke, but it just didn't have the flavours and strength that I'm used to. Still glad I tried it though, but it was 56 that I bought a few more of to take home.
It depends how one likes one’s cigars. I also de-tube tubed cigars and store the tubes for future transport needs.
Cigars can, at times, be on the dry side when purchased and recommended rH for a humidor is ~60-65%
I like cigars to be squidgy and so keep my humidor at ~72% rH. I find this tempers the flavours out and gives a stick to my taste. Cigars stored at lower rH (below 60%) will tend to, the drier their storage, be more brittle in construction and acrid in flavour.
Cigars can, at times, be on the dry side when purchased and recommended rH for a humidor is ~60-65%
I like cigars to be squidgy and so keep my humidor at ~72% rH. I find this tempers the flavours out and gives a stick to my taste. Cigars stored at lower rH (below 60%) will tend to, the drier their storage, be more brittle in construction and acrid in flavour.
GravelMachineGun said:
Does it actually make a difference then?
Yes, most tubed cigars slowly lose their moisture as only a very few cigars come in moisture tight tubes - I'm thinking the Ghurkas that come in glass tubes with wax seals. Normal screw or push tops aren't enough. If you don't keep them in a humidor, they'll dry out. If you keep them in the tubes with the lids on and leave them in a humidor you will slow the rate at which you can acclimate to your humidor. If you know your storage is at the right humidity, why take the gamble on the tubed cigar being right? Put them in the humidor for a few weeks and make sure they're spot on, then smoke them.I bought a load of Cubans from a company in Geneva, when I got them they were so moist that they were swollen right up in their tubes and smoked terribly. After a few weeks in the humidor in their tubes with the lids off, they had shrunk down enough for me to be able to remove them from the tubes without risking damaging the wrappers. Now they just sit in a stack in the humidor, with tubes ready to go if I'm taking one out somewhere.
sc0tt said:
Can I buy cigars here in the UK and take them to the Dominican Republic with me? Not from the airport, I mean online with duty paid. Will they be ok in my case in the hold?
Can anyone recommend a mixture pack online maybe of upto £80?
Nothing too heavy.
I'm sure you'd be ok with that, best to check the DR's rules in bringing tobacco in, but for £80 you not going to be taking more than 7-8 cigars tops, which will surely be well under their personal limit for bringing tobacco in for personal use. I'd just bung the cigars in my suitcase and forget about them.Can anyone recommend a mixture pack online maybe of upto £80?
Nothing too heavy.
You'll probably want a travel humidor to transport them, the DR will be hot and wet compared to the UK. You might just get away with a robust ziplock back if you're only going for a week and don't open and shut it too much. If you don't keep them in something to protect them from the high humidity, they'll quickly absorb moisture and will be too wet, they'll smoke badly and taste nasty too.
If you buy your cigars online you might well find they're not in ideal condition for smoking when you receive them, so you'll probably need to rest them for a few weeks in a tupperdore with a humidity pillow to get them right for the smoking. It will be easier just to go to a cigar shop in person - you're in London so you shouldn't struggle for choice.
The easiest thing to do would be to visit a shop right before you go on holiday, pick out a few sticks with the help of the tobacconist, get them straight from their humidor into a strong ziplock bag, take them on holiday and enjoy. Get the tobacconist to cut them in the shop, and get a butane jet lighter while you're there.
Mastodon2 said:
sc0tt said:
Can I buy cigars here in the UK and take them to the Dominican Republic with me? Not from the airport, I mean online with duty paid. Will they be ok in my case in the hold?
Can anyone recommend a mixture pack online maybe of upto £80?
Nothing too heavy.
I'm sure you'd be ok with that, best to check the DR's rules in bringing tobacco in, but for £80 you not going to be taking more than 7-8 cigars tops, which will surely be well under their personal limit for bringing tobacco in for personal use. I'd just bung the cigars in my suitcase and forget about them.Can anyone recommend a mixture pack online maybe of upto £80?
Nothing too heavy.
You'll probably want a travel humidor to transport them, the DR will be hot and wet compared to the UK. You might just get away with a robust ziplock back if you're only going for a week and don't open and shut it too much. If you don't keep them in something to protect them from the high humidity, they'll quickly absorb moisture and will be too wet, they'll smoke badly and taste nasty too.
If you buy your cigars online you might well find they're not in ideal condition for smoking when you receive them, so you'll probably need to rest them for a few weeks in a tupperdore with a humidity pillow to get them right for the smoking. It will be easier just to go to a cigar shop in person - you're in London so you shouldn't struggle for choice.
The easiest thing to do would be to visit a shop right before you go on holiday, pick out a few sticks with the help of the tobacconist, get them straight from their humidor into a strong ziplock bag, take them on holiday and enjoy. Get the tobacconist to cut them in the shop, and get a butane jet lighter while you're there.
Happy not to take too many, I'd prefer quality. I'd have to trust a ziplock bag though as I don't have a humidor.
Can you recommend any shops local to East london?
How much would a jet lighter cost?
sc0tt said:
Thank you for the info.
Happy not to take too many, I'd prefer quality. I'd have to trust a ziplock bag though as I don't have a humidor.
Can you recommend any shops local to East london?
How much would a jet lighter cost?
I'd totally agree, quality is much more important than quantity. I'd rather have 5 or 6 great sticks than 15 rubbish ones. I can't recommend any London shops personally, but my friends who go to London on business use James J. Fox in Harrods. I don't know if cigars are more expensive in London but for £80 you should be able to get 5-6 decent sticks, I'd go for a mix of Cuban and New World, you tend to get more tobacco for your cash with New World, and I find their flavours a bit more complex than Cubans, but it's good to have some Cuban stuff too to get a good mix. If you're not a regular smoker just ask your tobacconist to help you out with choosing a few. Happy not to take too many, I'd prefer quality. I'd have to trust a ziplock bag though as I don't have a humidor.
Can you recommend any shops local to East london?
How much would a jet lighter cost?
You can get a jet lighter the size of a standard Bic pocket lighter for £1 and they don't last long, or ones with a bigger butane reservoir for a few quid, say a fiver, and they're refillable. No need to spend £50 on a fancy metal item, just whatever you do, don't use a normal cigarette lighter as it will make the cigar taste rank. Whatever you get, take a backup.
To light, hold the cigar at 45 degrees to the flame and toast the end, rotating the cigar to get an even burn. Once it's nicely charred (doesn't need to be glowing white hot) put it in your mouth and puff it while holding the flame to it. Once the flame jumps up as you draw, it's ready. Turn it around and blow on the foot, look check it's glowing orange all over, if it's not, give the black spots a quick blast with the lighter, and enjoy.
sc0tt said:
Thank you for the info.
Happy not to take too many, I'd prefer quality. I'd have to trust a ziplock bag though as I don't have a humidor.
Can you recommend any shops local to East london?
How much would a jet lighter cost?
I can recommend either the Cgars store or the Sautter shops in Mayfair, or there are several good cigar shops in St James / Piccadilly.Happy not to take too many, I'd prefer quality. I'd have to trust a ziplock bag though as I don't have a humidor.
Can you recommend any shops local to East london?
How much would a jet lighter cost?
Jet lighters vary from £10 to £100+. For £10-£20 you'll get a decent one that you can refill yourself when you need to.
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