Cool

 

if only I had some buddies near my work to have a smoke with during lunch. i'd love to have some half way decent coffee with one of my smokes during lunch. no star****s or IAG or coffee bean, garbage, burnt, over roasted coffee would pair very nicely with so many of the cigars I tend to go for. perhaps a short story or a work of art during lunch?

how are don pepin's by the way? I've seen/read a fair share of reviews and they seem to vary. I have my Jaime Garcia FDLA sitting in a humi waiting to be smoked, but I do have my reservations about it. Don "pepin" must be substantially better than the MF smokes I assume..

 

On the note of coffees, I love my Keurig station at home... I can set the temp, so the flavor is preserved. I normally brew Newman's Own, or Emeril's Big Easy Bold. Agreed that most Starbucks is over-roasted... We have a local place "Just Love Coffee" that is superb. Puts ol' Fivebucks to shame.

As for the Don Pepin blends, I will lead off with the disclaimer that every person has different "tastes"... That's why I don't read too deeply into cigar reviews unless >50% hate the stick. If 7/10 people love it, and it's the strength I normally smoke (Full, med-full, etc) then I'll give anything a try "once".

With all of that being said, every cigar I've smoked with Don Pepin Garcia (DPG) origins has been 90+ in my book. The funny thing is, I recently learned that some of my favorites all had one thing in common -- DPG either owns the line, or blends it. Tatuaje, Aroma De Cuba, Flor De Las Antillas, My Father Cigars, and of course, the DPG lineup -- all have Don's involvement.

All of them have a complex nature about them. As with any brand, there are the rockstars of the brand and there are the experiments... I prefer the regular brown-label Tatuaje over the Tatuaje Cojuno 2003... and the latter is the more expensive stick. The DPG Cuban Classic is simply scrumptious. And as you've seen, I'm a fan of every Aroma De Cuba stick I've smoked.

I'm not sure how many brands/varieties have DPG influence, but I can safely say I wouldn't hesitate in deeming any of them "box worthy". Obviously the FDLA is an amazing smoke... 96-rated. DPG Cuban Classic is 92 (IIRC) and the Aroma De Cuba is 93~ish... the "Mi Amor" version of that stick is a 95-rated stick. And Cigars International struggles to keep Tatuaje Miami in stock.

When you consider all of those sticks retail for less than $10, it's a no-brainer. No, DPG is no Liga Privada, but they're delicious, potent, and half-price.

 

Yes sir! That is it! I would recommend eating something before having one of those lol

 

Welcome to the humidors at work club I feel bad because I never really dip into it at work. I may just move it home lol

 

LOL I'm actually quite excited about it.

Won't stock anything longer than a robusto, so I can get by with a fairly small humi. Some Oliva Serie G Perfectos would be "perfect" (pun intended)

I'll leave the burning of Churchills to mi casa...

 

Gentlemen...I hope you had a safe and restful weekend. Great weekend for family time in Sarasota, Florida. Not much sleep (amazing how much formula a 3 month old can consume and convert to #1 and #2)...but a great time. I did sneak in a couple of smokes along the way...

@ Ritz Carlton Sarasota...Rafael Gonzalez Petite Corona...an aged island cigar is a blessed thing.



@ Sarasota National GC (Saturday)...

Tabak Especial Cafe Con Leche...what can say that hasn't been said before...coffee + CCL = a great start to a morning round of golf


Cohiba Genious 5 Maduro...my goodness aging these a year has transformed them...good to tremendous.


Liga Privada Dirty Rat...can not go wrong with these Liga's (Dirty Rat, Feral, UF 13)


Another Rafael Gonzalez Petite Corona...thank goodness I have 2 boxes of these...


Opus X xXx Super Belicoso Power Ranger...aged 2 years...EPIC. Another cigar I kept looking at and shaking my head in wonderment.


@ Apollo Beach GC (Sunday)...Padron Family Reserve 46yr...com'n...I couldn't leave the weekend without a Padron...currently my FAVORITE Padron.


Pre car wash cigar on Sunday...Liga Privada UF13...box worthy.


@ Apollo Beach GC...

Ramon Allones Specially Selected...a good island cigar...not great.


2001 Cohiba Siglo V...expected more but still a good cigar...


Forbidden X Double Robusto...a fine example of what aging does to a Opus cigar...elevates it to greatness...so much smoke...draw was perfect. SNEAKY strong...even though the edge has been smoothened by 2yrs of age...it still very ull bodied.

 

Jon, I'm always blown away by the list of celebrity smokes in your arsenal... simply epic. Agreed that ANYTHING from the Unico Serie is golden... I'm giving my Dirty Rat a few weeks to rest in my humi... not sure I can wait a year.

This weekend was a good one for smokes... Tatuaje Miami Cojuno 2003, Nestor Miranda Doppleböck, Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill, and the DPG Cuban Classic.

• The Tatuaje... easily becoming a dependable friend. I must say, I preferred the standard Tatuaje Miami to the Cojuno, but the Cojuno was still very impressively tasty. And STRONG.

• The Doppleböck... meh. Yes, it's a good deal for $2 but so is a sack of Krystals. Hardly delicious, but not offensive. Very grassy... but very light. Mine had a weird burn to it that I could never correct... but I didn't let that ruin my overall impression. I could see this as a breakfast smoke... just not as long as there are Cafe Con Leches around

• Oliva V Melanio Churchil... there are few cigars I love as much as this one. I paired it with some 15-year Glenfiddich on Saturday night... simply stellar. Jon would agree, they are DEFINITELY box worthy.

• This afternoon, wifey was inside watching a marathon of Grey's Anatomy (don't ask) and so I took the hint and disappeared out to the garage with the iPad. Watched the episode where he compared the 458 Italia to James' F430 (hilarious episode). Whilst enjoying that, I smoked another Don Pepin Garcia "Cuban Classic" for the sake of the "Any Smokers" research. This is my third DPG Cuban Classic, and my next will likely have 19 roommates. This was a fat boy -- 6" x 60 -- and the flavor profile was simply... yummy. As with all DPG smokes, it had that "whiff of Cuban" that you can't really put your finger on, but it teases you with every puff. Flaky, snow-white ash and a cool burn. Smoked this thing to the knuckles... and yearned for another inch or two (that's what she said).

Pics below:

 

Some nice smokes there my man You did the right thing by going into the garage and having another. Grey's Anatomy? Good Lord! Top Gear sounds much more exciting to me too!

 

So much love for the Cohiba! How was your time in Sarasota? I love that city Jon! So much going on but not too large and not too small. Cigars look good! Did you play the Ritz Carlton Golf Course?

 

For work just get a box of Padron 3k Maduro's or #9's They are just a perfect size smoke I think.

 

I'm actually thinking about a box of Cafe Con Leches... they smell great (low offense to co-workers), burn reliably, and take ~45 minutes to burn through, which is perfect. And at only $5 a pop, a very reasonable smoke.

LP #9 is a bit "premium" to smoke while under duress... I save fine smokes like that for moments of pure leisure, like watching Top Gear

 

super jealous of your guys' deep wallets. when it comes to cars, cigars, and lifestyle in general seems like AMGfan has the whole game figured out. i can only dream of smoking any of the premium cigars that you guys had previously mentioned. the best i've had so far is a LP#9 and i absolutely loved it. i can only imagine what a opusX with 2 years would be like.....super jelly

anyway, going to have a smoke tonight at my friends house over a pint of some good IIPA. what would you guys recommend from our aresnal of weak smokes?

UC
CAO Italia
T52
Kristoff Maduro
AB Tempus
SP Double Maduro
Ramon Bueso Project Genesis
Morro Castle
Flor de Oliva
DPG FDLA
Diesel Unlimited

 

I must have done a good job of fooling you, as I live very modestly and spend carefully.

I'm living proof that you can take a "national average" income and still have above-average bang-per-buck. A tighter budget simply means you spend more carefully, and as a result, you cherish each smoke that much more.

I only buy a box 2-3 times a year... the rest of my smokes are either bought as samplers, or I bite the bullet and pay retail for rare/new smokes. If I'm blown away by a cigar purchased as a single, I buy it one more time before giving it the "box worthy" stamp. If I'm blown away by the second smoke, then it basically comes down to finding a good deal on a box of said cigars... I cross-shop between Cigars International and Thompson Cigar... both sites have good deals, although CI normally gets my money.

As for AMGfan, you're right -- I can't even wrap my head around wealth such as his. I certainly wouldn't be driving my $16,000 Chrysler . But I have mad respect for him because despite his wealth, he's extremely generous and pays it forward. The world could truly use more folks like him.

Regarding your lineup, I would personally go for the T52, AB Tempus, or the DPG FDLA tonight. Any of those three are SOLID smokes. I've heard good things about the Ramon Bueso, but I haven't smoked one yet. You mentioned an IPA, which is a fairly crisp (bitter) beer. I'd lean towards the FDLA for that reason alone... A T52 paired with an IPA sounds like an hour of "growing chest hair"... haha.

All the best,

--John

 

I had a great time tonight and could not stop laughing...

First the cigars...I met up with a buddy of mine for some cigars after work and I brought over some cigars for both of us...

#1 Opus X xXx Super Belicoso (Power Ranger) with some Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale...



#2 Romeo y Julieta Churchills Reserva with another glass of Maduro and then some black coffee...


BOTH were fantastic...the Power Ranger kicked my *** again.

NOW the ROFL moment of the night...so the owner of the cigar lounge comes up to me and says I've got something special for you to look at...a one-off product from Arturo Fuente...a 2006 Forbidden X in a bottle of Cognac...signed by Mr. Fuente himself.


I'm looking at it and said WTF...its $$$ but very rare. It is f'ing beautiful and probably a great conversation piece...so I threw the CC down. In a couple of seconds I did not realize how much of a conversation piece it would be...

So my buddy is looking at it and wants to take a picture to send to another buddy of ours who loves cognac and Opus cigars...AND



Now keep in mind while this is happening the owner is walking back with my credit card receipt and my head was in my hands half crying and laughing...my buddy was just in shock!

What's even funnier (to me) is a couple years ago we went on a couple night and I just bought a cool new ST Dupont lighter...same buddy wanted to look at it and was showing another buddy how it worked and seconds later broke that damn thing...now this...

So I have a paid broken bottle of cognac and Forbidden X cigar next to me...a buddy with cognac all over his pants...I couldn't contain my laughter. I knew he would make it right so I wasn't worried about shelling out the $$$...because the cigar lounge owner had another one (his) which he gave me and my buddy shelled out the $$$ for the broken bottle...probably the most expensive cigar he will ever buy...priceless.

It's been 2 hours ago and I'm still laughing...you had to be there. I told him I'm not ever going to let him hold my baby daughter...or anything of mine ever...

 

Golf today...3 over on the front...wait for it...10 over on the back...I had to go to Lost and Found at the clubhouse to look for my swing on the back nine.

Padron Family Reserve 46yr Natural...DAMN FINE CIGAR!


Padron 80th Anniversary Maduro...DAMN FINE CIGAR #2!


2006 Opus X Perfexcion No. 2...EPIC!

 

I LOVE those Opus X perfection's! I bought one yesterday along with a Padron and Opus X Love Affair before heading out to the lake with some friends.

 

LOL! That is a great story Jon! Honest to God it makes for one hell of poker game story or golfing story for sure. Hands down the funniest and most expensive cigar bar stories I have ever herd of. You may have to tour the Fuente Factory sometime and tell Mr. Fuente that one.

 

We ended up having some very beautiful and very hot weather in Upstate, NY this weekend so I took full advantage of it. Laying out by the pool along with golf and being on the lake with some buddies for the day too!
San Lotano Maduro San Carlos(Great Stick for the money) Padron 3k Maduro Shark style on the lake Enjoying the Cafe Con Leche on my drive out to the lake Liga Privada T52 Robusto mmmm

While on the lake my 2 buddies smoked the Opus X Perfection and the Opus X Love Affair.

 

Ended up having this Padron 3K Maduro Toro this morning by the pool after breakfast. Reading Cigar Magazine too!

 

Hilarious and tragic at the same time, LOL... don't let him NEAR your GT-R, got it? LOL

 

Solid lineup there!!

 

A few good ones to review...

For starters, the Perdomo-2 Limited Edition 2008... A solid smoke, VERY full-bodied but not offensive. Burn was a bit uneven, required some baby-sitting... but overall, not bad. Roughly what I expected from a Perdomo -- lots of strength, lots of flavor. I wouldn't buy a box, but wouldn't mind picking up a few for the humi.

Second, the Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor. Folks, this is the real deal. I was impressed by the "standard" ADC... but the Mi Amor took it to another level. From the first puff all the way to the knuckles, this cigar was deeeelicious. Semi-sweet chocolate, nutmeg, espresso, and a leather undertone... that's the bouquet I was treated to. Smoke was thick, creamy, and easily produced. Draw was perfect -- not too tight, not "effortless". As a result, the cigar burned nice and cool... I was able to smoke it down to an inch in length. I always say the ash tells the story... and this one produced a white, firm ash that broke off with a nice clean edge. This was my first ADC Mi Amor, but I would not hesitate to buy a box. Not only is it a gorgeous cigar, but it's genuinely delicious. Reminded me a LOT of the DPG Cuban Classic. Coincidence?

Finally, the Obsidian. I have to admit, I had my doubts. This was another "cheap" cigar in the CI sampler I bought that came with the Herfador (technically, I bought the sampler for the Herfador, and 8 cigars came with it. But I digress). I was pleasantly surprised by this one... Upon the first few puffs, I was smacked with a ton of spice. It got my attention for sure. The flavors mellowed out after about a half-inch, and from there it was simply a "full" smoke that didn't have a lot of complexity, but it tasted like good tobacco. I couldn't place my finger on any "notes" of other flavors, but it was (to me) a very balanced profile. Burn was very low-maintenance, and fairly even. The shocker? It's a <$3 stick. It's no DPG or a Padron, but when you consider that you can have THREE Obsidians for the price of one of the finer smokes, it puts things in perspective. Reminded me a lot of the LFD lineup... bold, but an excellent aroma. This could easily be a daily smoke, regardless of budget. Will you be blown away by the flavor? No. But you won't be disappointed, either. And for the price of admission, you'll see it as an over-achiever. Created a silly amount of smoke, too. A good one to stock the humi with for 'daily' smokes. Highly recommended that you guys try one.

 

always excited to read this thread once the weekend passes..you guys have some really good smokes that i could only imagine smoking, especially Jon.

C280: how's the san lotano maduro? i'm thinking about picking up a pair for myself and a buddy of mine. i also have a 5 pack of t-52's sitting in my friends humidor that we're waiting to smoke after its been reconstituted

Kreuz: thank you for discovering the ADC Mi Amor. That sounds like it's right up my alley so I will definitely be picking up a pair.

I've had a chance to smoke the Gurkha Ghost over the weekend, and the flavor profile sounds similar to your ADC Mi Amor description. It was defintely a medium body cigar with a strong full body/flavor presence towards the end. Straight razor burn white ash, and TONS of smoke out of the foot. Effortless draw, but not too freeflowing which allowed for a cool cherry/smoke. I got a bit of chocolate, tobacco, cream, light leather undertones, and earth as well.

 

The Ghost is a great smoke! I love Gurkha cigars in general. Gorgeous labels, killer boxes, the cigars are what I would consider to be in the 90-range... very consistent. Not a big fan of most of the lighter Gurkhas...

Go buy a Mi Amor when you get a chance... even if you pay full retail, it's worth it IMO. 95% certain you'll agree that it's a box-worthy smoke.