I just enjoyed a Cuesta-Rey with a Red-bull/vodka

Everytime I go to the cigar shop, I always get a Padron and something new. I know I can always count on the Padron and take a chance on something else.

6/10/2011 9:19:52 PM

So i seasoned my humidor and it's been sitting at a balmy 78% for two whole days. Should i leave it open for a few minutes to dry out some or just let it settle down to 70-72% on its own? Also, I had a few smokes I didn't want to dry out so I went ahead and put them inside. If anything I figured they would help soak up some of the moisture and bring it down a few points. They didn't feel soggy or overly moist when I checked them this morning.

6/14/2011 8:15:43 AM

unless you have a digitally calibrated hygrometer, i wouldnt worry about it. those dials dont really work right, ever. go on feel of the cigar. if its too soft, you can leave it open for a bit to firm them up.

i would highly recommend getting 3 DryMistats and keeping them in the humidor. they do a good job of keeping the cigars nicely humidified.

6/14/2011 11:44:22 AM

i have a digital hygrometer. reads ambient temp as well as humidity.


right now i have a Xikar 2oz crystal jar for humidification.

6/14/2011 11:50:49 AM

you should be fine then. i'd let it mellow out. if you just seasoned the humidor you also have a good amount of moisture in the wood that will dry out over the course of the next few days.

& then fill it w/ Montecristo White

6/14/2011 11:52:25 AM

haha yeah i'm looking for a good "everyday" smoke that i can get a box of to put in there to hand out or have on random nights when the smoke is more casual.

6/14/2011 11:57:11 AM

Perdomo Lot 23s and Cain's have done right by me for a stick in the <$10 range.

6/14/2011 2:45:21 PM

let's have a quick discussion on brands. I've had several discussions with different people who all seem to have different views about cigar brands. some of the ones I always thought were decent they consider cheap, some I always thought were run of the mill they hold in high regard. I know a lot of it is subjective but in terms on respect in the cigar world how do some of these rank up?


Acid
A. Fuente
CAO
Cuesta Rey
Montecristo
Macanudo
H.Upmann
Punch
Romeo Y Julieta
Ghurka


or if there is a smaller name that may be a hidden gem what might that be?

6/14/2011 2:56:33 PM

I'm a huge fan of H.Upmann and Romeo Y Julieta, always thought the quality of them were above par. I also really like Dunhill & Davidoff

Punch I see as cheap. They are not a premium cigar.

I like most Altadis cigars....

Owned by Altadis:
Don Diego
H. Upmann
Montecristo
Romeo y Julieta

Owned by General Cigar:
Cohiba
Excaliber
Hoyo de Monterrey
Macanudo
Partagas
Punch

Aside from Partagas, not a fan of the General Cigar brands.

I'm no fan of Nicaraguan or Honduran cigars so I can't speak to Gurkha or Acid or CAO

[Edited on June 14, 2011 at 3:35 PM. Reason : /]

6/14/2011 3:20:08 PM

just ordered a sampler from cigars international. it was one of there best of the best type deals that came with the following..

1 - Alec Bradley Tempus Quadrum (box-press) (5.5" x 55)
1 - Cohiba Puro Dominicana Robusto (5.5" x 50)
1 - Felipe Pelo de Oro Corona Gorda (5.6" x 46)
1 - Graycliff Turbo (6" x 60)
1 - Gurkha Centurian Double Perfecto (6" x 60)
1 - Man O’ War Ruination Belicoso (5.75" x 56)
1 - Montecristo Media Noche Edmundo (5" x 55)
1 - Padilla Habano Artisano Perfecto (5.75" x 54)
1 - Padilla Signature 1932 Robusto (5" x 50)
1 - Rocky Patel Decade Toro (6.5" x 52)


couldn't settle on an 'everyday' yet, so i went with this to stuff my humidor for a few weeks.

6/15/2011 3:16:10 PM

I like how you managed to capture the majority of the cock length spectrum for Caucasian males with that order.

6/15/2011 3:31:12 PM

i can't handle big 7+ dark ones.


ha

6/15/2011 3:35:56 PM

I am not a huge fan of Punch, but their new "Uppercut" is a pretty good smoke. I am also a huge most Fuente maduro sticks and a big Rocky Patel fan.

Can't go wrong with one of those.

6/15/2011 9:54:54 PM

i just picked up some Liga #9s to send to JCASHFAN

6/15/2011 9:57:31 PM

I was gifted a Rocky Patel 1990 Vintage and picked up a Davidoff 2000 for my honeymoon. Smoked the 1990. I love that cigar, it's one of my favorites.

Looking forward to trying the Davidoff; I've heard/read good things.

6/15/2011 10:59:22 PM

then 1990 is a good smoke. I was gifted a few of them last year for being in a bridal party. I have a RP The Edge I plan to enjoy either tonight or tomorrow. Hockey and rain prevented me last night.

6/16/2011 8:28:43 AM

Rocky Patel is probably my favorite band.

I have yet to find one of his that I do not enjoy.

FYI, JR's in Smithfield is carrying RP now.

6/16/2011 11:10:36 AM

I've only had the Edge and the 1990, but they are both very good.

6/16/2011 5:49:07 PM

Hmmm an Oliva serie G tonight? Mayhaps.

6/19/2011 6:55:12 PM

So from reading some advice on the internet since my box was recently seasoned and to make sure that it doesn't dry out or anything I have been keeping my smokes in their cello wrappers, cutting the ends off so they are more like cello sleeves. The humidor has been holding at a steady 69/71 70/72 which is great. I think at this point I may remove the sleeves and just let them stack together.

I'll post some humidor/smoking gadget pics shortly if anyone has any they'd like to share. Always cool to see everyone's stash.

6/20/2011 3:40:25 PM

just a couple cell camera shots of my humidor. Only have about a dozen in there right now. oh and before someone comments, the 62% RH was from the box being opened for a few minutes. It usually sits at 68-69%

6/22/2011 3:44:49 PM

Before anyone says you should take the cello and/or cedar off of your sticks when you store them...fuck 'um. If you want to store them bare, awesome. If you want to leave them wrapped like they come from the manufacturer that's fantastic too. Pipes and Cigars are all about personal preference, so do what your mind tells you.

Enjoy the smokes. I have 5 Anejo Sharks sitting in my humi that are calling my name. One of them is an original release as well

6/22/2011 4:59:52 PM

yeah, read my post above the pics. I have the ends cut off the wrappers so they're more like sleeves than anything.

still looking for a decent box of "everyday smokes" that are mild-medium that i can pass out or take with me without much care.

thinking about a box of Montesino Diplomaticos to get started. by A.Fuente which i always trust.

6/22/2011 5:03:59 PM

so i stopped into a local shop sunday and there selection was pretty low, empty boxes everywhere. The manager told me he was thinning out his current inventory to prepare for a major restock or something. We'll see. But i picked up a couple Cain Daytonas (corona) and a couple A. Fuente Sun Grown (robusto). I haven't had anything by Cain and this one was recommended to me as a nice intro into the brand so i'm looking forward to trying it after a week or so in the box.

Been debating picking up a pipe after reading through these threads. My girlfriend already calls me an old man because of my early bed time, smoking a pipe may only make it worse

6/27/2011 8:26:49 AM

I, too, am thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to purchasing a pipe.

I smoked my Davidoff 2000 last night on the porch. Very good cigar. I don't know if it was worth the $11 price tag, but definitely a good smoke.

6/27/2011 9:31:38 PM

i think i'm going to get to that Oliva Serie G tonight if the rains come and cool it down some. It's just been too muggy lately.


^let me know if you decide to get one. My brother has a couple old ones that were his grandfather's. If he's not too hung up on them I may see if he'll loan me one of those instead of getting a new one. also, http://www.smokingpipes.com is a pretty good website to look at and find one you like. I spent some time on there yesterday looking at different shapes. I definitely think I'm a bent pipe kind of guy instead of a straight or churchwarden.

6/28/2011 8:43:11 AM

I have a bunch of really nice used pieces that I would be willing to part with. I don't know if you guys have a price range in mind.

6/28/2011 11:07:25 AM

i've been looking at a couple Petersons around the 60-75 range.

6/28/2011 11:15:07 AM

I'm digging this Stanwell, but it's $102.


http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/stanwell/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=77407

6/28/2011 6:34:30 PM

Thunderstorm, Oliva G maduro, glass of makers and watching the cws through the door. I just need some music

6/28/2011 9:32:41 PM

Picked up a Romeo Y Julieta for the beach this weekend

6/29/2011 10:41:46 AM

picked up a Peterson, a pinch of Blend 1Q from the local tobacconist and a can of Blue Note and Honeydew as well. but tonight it's probably going to be a A. Fuente Hemingway Signature while watching fireworks

7/4/2011 4:39:52 PM

I'm going with a Rocky Patel Sun Grown tonight. Might be a little much for me, but I'm gonna give it a shot.

7/4/2011 4:47:17 PM

Just sat in the sun room with all the windows open and watched and the thunderstorm with my Rocky Patel and a 22 of New Holland Farmhouse Hatter. Quality combo... no fireworks needed.

7/4/2011 8:20:07 PM

Nice. We were outside for fireworks and there were t-storms all around so I didn't cut a cigar because I didnt want to ruin one or not finish it. It's ok, another week in the humidor won't hurt any of them. My humidor has gotten pretty full now


Also, I found my new go to Tobacconist in Charlotte. McCranie's Pipe Shop in the Park Rd. Shopping Center is one of the old school shops you dream about. Mainly a pipe store but they have a great walk in humidor and fine smoking accessories. The owner (I believe) talked to us for about 45 minutes from everything to pipes to cigars and even invited us to come back and enjoy either next week in the lounge and sample some pinches. Will definitely be going back.

7/5/2011 8:40:06 AM

Took a long break from smoking (for no real reason) and now I'm getting back into it. Luckily I've kept my humidor rolling so nothing dried out

I was given a Gurkha Legend as a housewarming gift and finally got around to smoking it the other day. Very solid cigar

I also sparked up a Padron 3000 over the weekend. I love Padron's, still my favorite. I'm going to try and find a new cigar shop up near Wake Forest and expand my selection. Right now I've got mostly Padrons and Olivas in the humidor with a random Punch and Macanudo thrown in.

[Edited on July 5, 2011 at 8:57 AM. Reason : asdf]

7/5/2011 8:55:40 AM

my my my, the pipe is much easier on a warm summer evening than a full cigar. I need to get a little better at packing as I am having to relight more than i probably should be.

7/5/2011 8:37:03 PM

What does your pipe look like (no homo?)?

I know NOTHING about pipe smoking, but I am intrigued by it

7/5/2011 10:16:34 PM

The best advice on packing a pipe I ever read was in Playboy. Apparently this is how Hugh fills his bowl and it works for me:

1) Fill the bowl with loose tobacco until it reaches the top.
2) Pack the bowl until the tobacco is springy but not so tight you can't get a good draw.
3) Repeat for the next layer.

Do this until the bowl is full. Once you've gotten a good pack and have lit it, tamp it down with a pipe tool just enough so that it is springy again and the embers work their way down.


It takes practice to get a feel for it but you will eventually.

7/6/2011 12:59:16 PM

my second bowl last night was a lot better. It seems like after the burning of the first layer i have to relight once more and then it smokes well for a solid 20 minutes. Then towards the bottom it begins to go out again. Both times i thought the bowl may have been finished since it had trouble staying lit only to find a good pinch of unburnt tobacco still at the bottom. Perhaps the bottom is getting packed a little too tight?

7/6/2011 1:50:25 PM

Possibly. Keep in mind, that is where all the moisture settles. Without a good cake to absorb that, it'll keep doing that for a while. One of the solutions is to only fill about 3/4 of the way up until that cake begins to build and the pipes don't smoke as wet.

7/6/2011 3:08:24 PM

referring to the carbon cake formed around the bowl?

7/6/2011 3:16:56 PM

have you tried burning it down to oil?

7/6/2011 3:31:14 PM

Quote :

"What does your pipe look like (no homo?)?"

i'll upload a picture tonight of it. It's a Peterson Killarney 408 if you want to Google search it. I thought it may have been too big at first but it's perfect. I may have to find another less expensive one to have in rotation as i'm having about two bowls per night.

JCASH, do you do the 24hour pipe rest that most old smokers talk about? It seems like it's just an excuse for them to collect more pipes.

7/7/2011 9:24:15 AM

I don't have enough time to smoke so much that I need to rotate bowls . . . but I do it anyway. You're taking a piece of wood and stuffing it full of fire and moisture, of course it is going to wear out eventually. If you're smoking two bowls a day though, a second pipe (whenever you can afford it, not worth buying on credit) might not be a bad idea.

7/8/2011 3:12:59 PM

Enjoying this tonight in my Peterson 408

7/13/2011 7:19:20 PM

I had a RP Decade the other night.

7/14/2011 10:13:04 AM

Finally a cool summer night. Enjoying a house blend in my pipe paired with a big stout. Mmm

8/11/2011 7:22:21 PM

Whats a good cigar to start off with for a newb? The only ones I've ever smoked (and I dont want to admit this) is cheap ones from the gas station. I'd like to know a couple good "beginner" cigars to have around for special occasions and such.

9/19/2011 8:04:14 PM

if you're in raleigh just go ask george, he'll get you something.

9/19/2011 10:27:59 PM