The PH Cigar Thread
Discussion
It's about time this place had a proper cigar thread. With all the director types about, there must be plenty of cigar smokers here.
I'm a pretty new smoker, never had an interest in cigarettes and never smoked one, but I'd always wanted to try a cigar. I now visit my local cigar lounge - not many of those left in the UK, and smoke my way through their humidor. I've tried all sorts, from Cubans, Cameroons, Nicaraguans etc, in all sorts of vitolas from the miniscule Trinidad Reyes, to the comcially large 7x70 Alec Bradley Texas Lancero.
I like medium to full body cigars, and I prefer 56-60 ring gauges, purely for the way they feel in the mouth and hand (oo-er). I like cigars that give plentiful, velvety smoke with creamy flavour notes. My favourite smoke at the moment is the C.A.O Brazilia in gordo, or as they call it, "Amazon" at 6x60. A lovely dark, Brazilian wrapper with a lovely slow burn, creamy textured smoke and rich coffee and dark chocolate flavours, and very well priced!
I had a Trinidad Reyes last weekend which was pretty spectacular, in particular the volume and creaminess of the smoke from such a small cigar, the quality and construction were just absolutely perfect.
What are you guys smoking? What do you recommend? Talk about cigars, they're good for the soul.
I'm a pretty new smoker, never had an interest in cigarettes and never smoked one, but I'd always wanted to try a cigar. I now visit my local cigar lounge - not many of those left in the UK, and smoke my way through their humidor. I've tried all sorts, from Cubans, Cameroons, Nicaraguans etc, in all sorts of vitolas from the miniscule Trinidad Reyes, to the comcially large 7x70 Alec Bradley Texas Lancero.
I like medium to full body cigars, and I prefer 56-60 ring gauges, purely for the way they feel in the mouth and hand (oo-er). I like cigars that give plentiful, velvety smoke with creamy flavour notes. My favourite smoke at the moment is the C.A.O Brazilia in gordo, or as they call it, "Amazon" at 6x60. A lovely dark, Brazilian wrapper with a lovely slow burn, creamy textured smoke and rich coffee and dark chocolate flavours, and very well priced!
I had a Trinidad Reyes last weekend which was pretty spectacular, in particular the volume and creaminess of the smoke from such a small cigar, the quality and construction were just absolutely perfect.
What are you guys smoking? What do you recommend? Talk about cigars, they're good for the soul.
red_slr said:
There is (was?!) a PH cigar meet in the big smoke IIRC.
And a long running thread which I am sure someone will post a link to.
Yes, I did find that one when I googled it, but it was old and long-dead, and was more a meeting thread for a few posters and fairly light on actual cigar content.And a long running thread which I am sure someone will post a link to.
Here is a picture of some cigars to get this one moving in the right direction:
The Trinidad Reyes is my favourite cigar. Also (unusually) they are consistently good; I haven't, yet, had a bad one. Can't say that about many brands.
If you liked that, try the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Dauphin if you can still find a shop that has them, and the Diplomaticos No. 5.
It's also worth giving Padron a try: they are (in my view and others') the only non-Cuban brand that can compete with Cubans. They're also amazingly consistent.
If you liked that, try the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Dauphin if you can still find a shop that has them, and the Diplomaticos No. 5.
It's also worth giving Padron a try: they are (in my view and others') the only non-Cuban brand that can compete with Cubans. They're also amazingly consistent.
TVR Sagaris said:
The Trinidad Reyes is my favourite cigar. Also (unusually) they are consistently good; I haven't, yet, had a bad one. Can't say that about many brands.
If you liked that, try the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Dauphin if you can still find a shop that has them, and the Diplomaticos No. 5.
It's also worth giving Padron a try: they are (in my view and others') the only non-Cuban brand that can compete with Cubans. They're also amazingly consistent.
Padron are definitely on my list, they have had some very good reviews. I haven't had a Hoyo yet, but they are on my list. I had a R&J No2 Tubos on my last day at my old job as a leaving gift, and it was absolutely sublime with an almost mint/clove finish at times, but it didn't have that ultra thick smoke of the Trinidad.If you liked that, try the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Dauphin if you can still find a shop that has them, and the Diplomaticos No. 5.
It's also worth giving Padron a try: they are (in my view and others') the only non-Cuban brand that can compete with Cubans. They're also amazingly consistent.
SirSquidalot said:
I really wanna get into cigars, smoked my first last year and smoked a little too much too quickly and ended up rough.
Looking for a nice dark coffee/chocolate flavour, suggestions where to get the CAO from in the uk?
I'm not sure about getting them off the net, this place sells them as singles but I cannot vouch for this company so who knows how they've been looked after.Looking for a nice dark coffee/chocolate flavour, suggestions where to get the CAO from in the uk?
Edited by SirSquidalot on Monday 13th April 20:10
https://mysmokingshop.co.uk/index2.php?mod=mancats...
Best thing you can do really is to get along to your local tobacconist, most big cities will have at least one, though actual smoking lounges are rare these days (thanks, legislators!). If you can find a lounge, you'll probably enjoy the experience a lot more, with their low-lighting, leather chairs and classy decor. If I ordered some cigars off the net, I'd have to smoke them in the garden and with a decent stick burning for an hour minimum, that's only really viable on the warmest of UK summer nights.
If you got sick last time, I'd probably not go for a CAO Brazilia off the bat, they're not loaded with nicotine but they are pretty flavourful. I'd go for a small ring gauge, fairly mild cigar, and just have the one and be done with it. My first cigar was a Por Larrañaga petit corona, a pretty small cigar, it took me an hour to smoke and I'd had my fill by the end. Go in gently and get used to smoking so you don't feel any ill effects, then go for stronger flavours and larger sizes.
Edited by Mastodon2 on Monday 13th April 20:44
Just came back from Havana...
I have a fairly good stock. Picked up a box of Cohiba Esplendido, box of Siglo 6, and a box of Behike 56. When I was there I tried some Vegas Robaina which were really good...
Brought some to Shanghai where they still have proper cigar bars a few weeks ago....this was an Esplendido
I have a fairly good stock. Picked up a box of Cohiba Esplendido, box of Siglo 6, and a box of Behike 56. When I was there I tried some Vegas Robaina which were really good...
Brought some to Shanghai where they still have proper cigar bars a few weeks ago....this was an Esplendido
SirSquidalot said:
I really wanna get into cigars, smoked my first last year and smoked a little too much too quickly and ended up rough.
Looking for a nice dark coffee/chocolate flavour, suggestions where to get the CAO from in the uk?
I order from these chaps once a month to keep my humidor topped up. Superb service, fast delivery and quality cigars. I am very fussy about where I get my cigars from as I don't want any nastys contaminating any of my stock and these guys never fail to deliver.Looking for a nice dark coffee/chocolate flavour, suggestions where to get the CAO from in the uk?
Edited by SirSquidalot on Monday 13th April 20:10
I smoked a few cigars a few years ago, back when a friend of mine was here on a scholarship from the Malaysian government. His excess of cash kept us in good cigars for a couple of years. My favourite back then tended to be Punch or a Monte Cristo. This was before there was a proper cigar shop in town, so we'd go to Fenwick's and choose from their small humidor.
The Punch was actually recommended to me from Talkbass, where there were a lot of experienced smokers. They were good, consistent cigars. I did have an Acid at one point, which was interesting. It was flavoured, and had a sweet taste. The only thing I smoked and hated at the time was a Toscano Extra Vecchio. I got a pack from Italy when I was on holiday, they were f
king horrible so they went in the bin soon after.
I did recently have an Alex Bradley Texas Lancero though. Good smoke, but it's a lot of tobacco and left me feeling quite lightheaded! But then I'm not a regular smoker. The cigar I really want to try is a Helix Blue, but they're not stocked at my local cigar shop.
The Punch was actually recommended to me from Talkbass, where there were a lot of experienced smokers. They were good, consistent cigars. I did have an Acid at one point, which was interesting. It was flavoured, and had a sweet taste. The only thing I smoked and hated at the time was a Toscano Extra Vecchio. I got a pack from Italy when I was on holiday, they were f
king horrible so they went in the bin soon after.I did recently have an Alex Bradley Texas Lancero though. Good smoke, but it's a lot of tobacco and left me feeling quite lightheaded! But then I'm not a regular smoker. The cigar I really want to try is a Helix Blue, but they're not stocked at my local cigar shop.
I've been smoking the past the couple years. Was never interested in cigarettes and despite my listening to a lot of rap over the years was never interested in weed. I did however always think cigars were cool and a couple of years ago I decided to take the plunge.
Current favourite is the Charatan Robusto. A Nicaraguan cigar. I've found everyone I've had to have a similar draw and burn effortlessly. I've found myself smoking a lot of these recently and the price point is good too.
Other's I've enjoyed along the way are
Alec Bradley - Black Market - Robusto
Rocky Patel - Old World Reserve
Trinidad - El Reyes - Corona
Partagas - D4 - Robusto
Bolivar - Robusto
Monte Cristo - No 4 - Corona
Chinchalero - Maduro Novilla
I'll try and post some pics up later.
Current favourite is the Charatan Robusto. A Nicaraguan cigar. I've found everyone I've had to have a similar draw and burn effortlessly. I've found myself smoking a lot of these recently and the price point is good too.
Other's I've enjoyed along the way are
Alec Bradley - Black Market - Robusto
Rocky Patel - Old World Reserve
Trinidad - El Reyes - Corona
Partagas - D4 - Robusto
Bolivar - Robusto
Monte Cristo - No 4 - Corona
Chinchalero - Maduro Novilla
I'll try and post some pics up later.
I smoked one of these last weekend, an Alec Bradley Nica Puro Diamond, with that curious diamond cross section. It is fairly mildly pressed at the foot, but the head is quite heavily pressed, making it a good ergonomic fit for the mouth. They're definitely flavour heavyweights though, it made the CAO Brazilia that preceded it seem positively mild.
I had a minor burn issue in the final third, when a small fissure appeared on one of the pressed edges and began to leak a little smoke, but as I burned down the stick the problem went away - literally up in smoke, and no more problems were had, which I was quite impressed with. In particular, the draw very nice, not too tight or too loose, which was impressive given the heavily-pressed head. Overall a good cigar, a little too heavy duty for my tastes, but it would be a good smoke for a single stick session, if I just wanted an hour to an an hour and a half with a single cigar. Definitely not for people who don't like rich cigars though.
I had a minor burn issue in the final third, when a small fissure appeared on one of the pressed edges and began to leak a little smoke, but as I burned down the stick the problem went away - literally up in smoke, and no more problems were had, which I was quite impressed with. In particular, the draw very nice, not too tight or too loose, which was impressive given the heavily-pressed head. Overall a good cigar, a little too heavy duty for my tastes, but it would be a good smoke for a single stick session, if I just wanted an hour to an an hour and a half with a single cigar. Definitely not for people who don't like rich cigars though.
Relative newbie here in the world of cigars.
A relative visited Cuba in October last year and after I requested 'a few cigars' she came back with 36. This prompted me to buy my first humidor.
I have a 50-75 stocked with some Romeo y Julieta (corona, 42) and I have 6 H. Upmann Royal Robustos (52) left, apparently these are relatively rare if the net is to be believed.
I tend to buy a few when i'm on my travels but i'm running out of space.
A mate left for Barbados today and he is doing a cigar tour so will be bringing me some more back.
Can't beat a single malt and cigar. Beautiful.
A relative visited Cuba in October last year and after I requested 'a few cigars' she came back with 36. This prompted me to buy my first humidor.
I have a 50-75 stocked with some Romeo y Julieta (corona, 42) and I have 6 H. Upmann Royal Robustos (52) left, apparently these are relatively rare if the net is to be believed.
I tend to buy a few when i'm on my travels but i'm running out of space.
A mate left for Barbados today and he is doing a cigar tour so will be bringing me some more back.
Can't beat a single malt and cigar. Beautiful.
Mastodon2 said:
I smoked one of these last weekend, an Alec Bradley Nica Puro Diamond, with that curious diamond cross section. It is fairly mildly pressed at the foot, but the head is quite heavily pressed, making it a good ergonomic fit for the mouth. They're definitely flavour heavyweights though, it made the CAO Brazilia that preceded it seem positively mild.
I had a minor burn issue in the final third, when a small fissure appeared on one of the pressed edges and began to leak a little smoke, but as I burned down the stick the problem went away - literally up in smoke, and no more problems were had, which I was quite impressed with. In particular, the draw very nice, not too tight or too loose, which was impressive given the heavily-pressed head. Overall a good cigar, a little too heavy duty for my tastes, but it would be a good smoke for a single stick session, if I just wanted an hour to an an hour and a half with a single cigar. Definitely not for people who don't like rich cigars though.
I had a few of these over Christmas. I found them a bit harsh and I was constantly having to relight. It didn't help with the missus asking me to come and do chores every 10 minutes. I had a minor burn issue in the final third, when a small fissure appeared on one of the pressed edges and began to leak a little smoke, but as I burned down the stick the problem went away - literally up in smoke, and no more problems were had, which I was quite impressed with. In particular, the draw very nice, not too tight or too loose, which was impressive given the heavily-pressed head. Overall a good cigar, a little too heavy duty for my tastes, but it would be a good smoke for a single stick session, if I just wanted an hour to an an hour and a half with a single cigar. Definitely not for people who don't like rich cigars though.
My favourite AB's are the Black Market. The Fine and Rare are quite nice if not a long smoke.
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