The PH Cigar Thread

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
quotequote all
paulguitar said:
whoami said:
DoubleTime said:
For anyone in the UK (or any other country with a high tobacco tax) who isn't aware, there are various websites that have a premises in places such as Oz, Hong Kong, Switzerland who sell and ship CC's and NC's to your door for much cheaper prices (read 50% cheaper) than you pay in a tobacco shop.

Do a google on the ins and outs.

Has worked like a charm for me 9 times out of 10 or thereabouts.
I've considered using these a couple of times but never actually done it.

What happened on the other time?
I order a lot from a site that ships from HK. As above, 90% of the time, the cigars arrive as any other package. The other times, they are stopped at customs and arrive with a large bill for tax and duty. And I mean, a bill for more than what the cigars cost........
Pretty much ^^^ this, except I'm in Thailand and the tax bill is usually about 10 GBP on a shipment of say 10 sticks. Makes it a no brainer since CC have a 200% tax applied here. Yes, you read that right.

The one that operates in Oz has a hand picked USP called 24:24 - this gives peace of mind in terms of quality due to the fact that there is a grading system being applied and the shocking lack of quality control being applied in Cuba.

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
quotequote all
DoubleTime said:
paulguitar said:
whoami said:
DoubleTime said:
For anyone in the UK (or any other country with a high tobacco tax) who isn't aware, there are various websites that have a premises in places such as Oz, Hong Kong, Switzerland who sell and ship CC's and NC's to your door for much cheaper prices (read 50% cheaper) than you pay in a tobacco shop.

Do a google on the ins and outs.

Has worked like a charm for me 9 times out of 10 or thereabouts.
I've considered using these a couple of times but never actually done it.

What happened on the other time?
I order a lot from a site that ships from HK. As above, 90% of the time, the cigars arrive as any other package. The other times, they are stopped at customs and arrive with a large bill for tax and duty. And I mean, a bill for more than what the cigars cost........
Pretty much ^^^ this, except I'm in Thailand and the tax bill is usually about 10 GBP on a shipment of say 10 sticks. Makes it a no brainer since CC have a 200% tax applied here. Yes, you read that right.

The one that operates in Oz has a hand picked USP called 24:24 - this gives peace of mind in terms of quality due to the fact that there is a grading system being applied and the shocking lack of quality control being applied in Cuba.
What is the '24:24' about?

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
quotequote all
It's a daily thread posted on the forum wherein the MD of the company has personally hand picked boxes/half boxes/quarter boxes from his warehouse of X, Y, Z sticks and rates the quality of them in 3 levels of grade. Decent, very decent, excellent. Not in those words though.

I won't buy blind any more. I only buy from 24:24, unless I'm passing through Dubai duty free or in somewhere like Barcelona.

BTW its called that because the thread is posted daily or 24:72 at the weekend.

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
quotequote all
DoubleTime said:
It's a daily thread posted on the forum wherein the MD of the company has personally hand picked boxes/half boxes/quarter boxes from his warehouse of X, Y, Z sticks and rates the quality of them in 3 levels of grade. Decent, very decent, excellent. Not in those words though.

I won't buy blind any more. I only buy from 24:24, unless I'm passing through Dubai duty free or in somewhere like Barcelona.

BTW its called that because the thread is posted daily or 24:72 at the weekend.
Ah, okay, thanks. I have only done small orders from that site, but find their video reviews amusing. I will take a look at the 24:24 thread.

Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Sunday 11th June 2017
quotequote all
Another Sunday afternoon/evening at the whiskey club, for a cigar tasting.
The featured cigar was a 2012 Montecristo Especial No. 1. Gauge 39, Length 192mm / 7.5 in.


I quite like Montecristo cigars, and this was no exception.
Imagine a Monti No. 4 that lasts from 90 minute to 2 hours. Yes, even the human chimney (me) took 2 hours to finish his.

The aficionados claim that the 5 years humidor ageing has improved it and no doubt it has, but that wouldn't stop me from buying them 'fresh'.
£19 online UK price seems pretty reasonable; for when you have the time.


The pairing this week was non-alcoholic. eek
The first was a taster of Jamaica Blue Mountain – Gold Cup, Grade 1 coffee.
The second was Wild Kopi Luwak – Grand Reserve coffee.

The second is often referred to by crude people such as myself as 'weasel puke coffee'.
All I can say is, "well done you weasels. thumbup



Armitage.Shanks

2,249 posts

84 months

Sunday 11th June 2017
quotequote all
Goaty Bill 2 said:
The second is often referred to by crude people such as myself as 'weasel puke coffee'.
All I can say is, "well done you weasels. thumbup
I think it comes out the other end chum after nature has taken its course so best not to think about the passage of the beans yuck just enjoy the coffee.

Great cigar

Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Sunday 11th June 2017
quotequote all
Armitage.Shanks said:
Goaty Bill 2 said:
The second is often referred to by crude people such as myself as 'weasel puke coffee'.
All I can say is, "well done you weasels. thumbup
I think it comes out the other end chum after nature has taken its course so best not to think about the passage of the beans yuck just enjoy the coffee.

Great cigar
My fault for putting my faith in the internet I suspect.
I had originally understood it to pass through the digestive tract, then read several articles (some time back) that claimed the weasels regurgitated the beans (which makes no logical sense really).

Frankly I couldn't have cared if they used the damned beans as condoms for snake shagging orgies, the coffee is great smile


Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
Goaty Bill 2 said:
Armitage.Shanks said:
Goaty Bill 2 said:
The second is often referred to by crude people such as myself as 'weasel puke coffee'.
All I can say is, "well done you weasels. thumbup
I think it comes out the other end chum after nature has taken its course so best not to think about the passage of the beans yuck just enjoy the coffee.

Great cigar
My fault for putting my faith in the internet I suspect.
I had originally understood it to pass through the digestive tract, then read several articles (some time back) that claimed the weasels regurgitated the beans (which makes no logical sense really).

Frankly I couldn't have cared if they used the damned beans as condoms for snake shagging orgies, the coffee is great smile
As much as I love coffee when it comes to cigars I wouldn't give a rat's arse about the coffee, as long as the cigar is good smile

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
I am starting work on a cruise ship this Sunday, and for the next four months will be in Grand Cayman once per week. Great place for Cuban cigars, if anyone is ever there, the Casa Del Habanos is top notch. The manager, Wallace, is a top bloke and there are lots of photos on the wall of the owner with Fidel Castro, which is kind of cool!

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
From Cuba. Bought on honeymoon last year. V late in sharing, apologies.



The loose cigars were bought direct from the plantation farmers in Vinales.

Also bought a nice box for not very much. smile



Edited by g3org3y on Thursday 15th June 15:41


Edited by g3org3y on Thursday 15th June 15:41

Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Thursday 15th June 2017
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
From Cuba. Bought on honeymoon last year. V late in sharing, apologies.

The loose cigars were bought direct from the plantation farmers in Vinales.

Also bought a nice box for not very much. smile

Amazing. You have a shiny wooden box that is not full of arcane shoe maintenance tools and exotic leather ointments. eek



Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Saturday 17th June 20:03

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
Evening everyone...I was in Grand Cayman yesterday. I had been vaguely planing on buying a box of 10 cigars, or just a single, I went to the Habanos store and was totally unable to resist this:





It is the Partagas Serie E no 2 in a 10 count travel humidor, leather coated and hand-stitched. The tube you see above is individually humidified, it is all beyond cool. Amazingly, I was able to negotiate a price for this of $180, (I get a discount as a cruise ship crew member) which is less than just buying a normal 10 box! On UK sites it is around £420. I will be smoking one tonight and will report back.

Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
Lucky dog smile

Nice find. I imagine they will be very nice...


whoami

13,151 posts

239 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
paulguitar said:
Evening everyone...I was in Grand Cayman yesterday. I had been vaguely planing on buying a box of 10 cigars, or just a single, I went to the Habanos store and was totally unable to resist this:





It is the Partagas Serie E no 2 in a 10 count travel humidor, leather coated and hand-stitched. The tube you see above is individually humidified, it is all beyond cool. Amazingly, I was able to negotiate a price for this of $180, (I get a discount as a cruise ship crew member) which is less than just buying a normal 10 box! On UK sites it is around £420. I will be smoking one tonight and will report back.
Wow - great buy.

The cigars alone are c£25 each in the UK.



RichUK

1,332 posts

246 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
That's a great find Paul. You'll enjoy those.

I happened upon an old display humidor being auctioned the other week. Had to act quickly as the auction was same day, but was able to register and place my maximum bid. Looking at how the preceding lots went for way over guide price I had resigned myself to missing out. However it seemed I was the only bidder and it went for my first bid and way below my maximum.

I collected it a couple of days later, got it home, cleaned it up, resealed the doors, added to Boveda packs and then moved my collection over. The only issue is that I now have more space to fill.


EJH

932 posts

208 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
RichUK said:
That's a great find Paul. You'll enjoy those.

I happened upon an old display humidor being auctioned the other week. Had to act quickly as the auction was same day, but was able to register and place my maximum bid. Looking at how the preceding lots went for way over guide price I had resigned myself to missing out. However it seemed I was the only bidder and it went for my first bid and way below my maximum.

I collected it a couple of days later, got it home, cleaned it up, resealed the doors, added to Boveda packs and then moved my collection over. The only issue is that I now have more space to fill.

It is with great sadness (and the odd pang of jealousy) I have to say that I think this thread has now been won (but you could do with some SCs to go with the WCs).


Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
EJH said:
RichUK said:
That's a great find Paul. You'll enjoy those.

I happened upon an old display humidor being auctioned the other week. Had to act quickly as the auction was same day, but was able to register and place my maximum bid. Looking at how the preceding lots went for way over guide price I had resigned myself to missing out. However it seemed I was the only bidder and it went for my first bid and way below my maximum.

I collected it a couple of days later, got it home, cleaned it up, resealed the doors, added to Boveda packs and then moved my collection over. The only issue is that I now have more space to fill.

It is with great sadness (and the odd pang of jealousy) I have to say that I think this thread has now been won (but you could do with some SCs to go with the WCs).
I am sure RichUK is sending out invitations to all thread contributors to attend his humidor 'warming' and sampling party, even as we write our green eyed replies.

A lovely and utilitarian piece of furniture you have there Rich smile


whoami

13,151 posts

239 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
RichUK said:
That's a great find Paul. You'll enjoy those.

I happened upon an old display humidor being auctioned the other week. Had to act quickly as the auction was same day, but was able to register and place my maximum bid. Looking at how the preceding lots went for way over guide price I had resigned myself to missing out. However it seemed I was the only bidder and it went for my first bid and way below my maximum.

I collected it a couple of days later, got it home, cleaned it up, resealed the doors, added to Boveda packs and then moved my collection over. The only issue is that I now have more space to fill.

That looks ace.

Do you mind telling us roughly what you paid for it?

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Monday 26th June 2017
quotequote all
Wow, that’s fantastic. Looks like you have a great stock in there as well, although as you point out there is now scope to keep a lot more.


I had the first of my Partagas Serie E no 2 a couple of nights ago. It was rather over-hydrated, so I have shifted the remaining nine sticks to my travel humidor which I have with me and which is reading a steady 67%. All being well they should settle down before I have another sometime later this week.


Rich, we all eagerly await invitations to your humidor warming. I might come back from the Caribbean for that!

Goaty Bill 2

3,393 posts

118 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
quotequote all
paulguitar said:
Wow, that’s fantastic. Looks like you have a great stock in there as well, although as you point out there is now scope to keep a lot more.


I had the first of my Partagas Serie E no 2 a couple of nights ago. It was rather over-hydrated, so I have shifted the remaining nine sticks to my travel humidor which I have with me and which is reading a steady 67%. All being well they should settle down before I have another sometime later this week.


Rich, we all eagerly await invitations to your humidor warming. I might come back from the Caribbean for that!
Has anyone else noticed that Rich has gone strangely quiet? biggrin