So, with many members owning the coveted Crossfire humidor, it has me thinking -- I know of several cigar smokers on this forum. Some members, I've even had the pleasure of sharing a smoke with.

This thread is dedicated to sharing reviews, new cigar products, and even random "cigar of the day" postings if you wish. Share your faves, your least faves, and ones to simply avoid at all costs.

I'll start off with a cigar I had recently... Gurkha Royal Challenge. Smooth draw, nice flavor that is bold but not harsh. A great full-bodied smoke, notes of leather. $9 a stick (retail)... pairs well with a good German wheat beer (Weihenstephaner)

 

I smoke Cohiba Red Dot Lonsdales at home. I buy them by the box from a smoke shop out of Florida. No taxes on either end puts them under $8.50 each. Makes it real hard to go to a local shop as the Cook County taxes almost doubles the cost of a smoke. Cohiba Red Dots are smooth and mellow. They are always perfectly made and never give any drama during the smoke. I get the Cohiba Blacks when I'm looking for fuller flavored cigar.

 

As a firm believer that variety is the spice of life, I rarely smoke the same stick twice. I've had a few good smokes lately, but sadly the bad one sticks in my memory. It's a Victor Sinclair Connecticut Yankee. It's a mixed blend filler, with a Connecticut wrapper that tasted like dirt (not to be confused with earthy tones). Wouldn't draw worth a crap and didn't burn evenly. Couldn't tell you much as far as price is concerned, but I recommend you stay away.

And John, I know how you enjoy a Colibri lighter, but why taint the smoke with butane when you can get wood matches for next to nothing? I never understand the guys at the cigar bar trying to help me light my cigar with a torch. I'll do it the old-fashioned way.

 

I killed a box of Cohiba Red Dots last year... LOVED em.

I've only met one VS cigar that I barely liked, it was a VS 55 (blue label). Whooped my ****, and it was a "medium" smoke. Aside from that, my experience with VS has been similar to yours.

As for the Colibri, I only use the highest grade fuels. Also, the novice guys plant the foot of the cigar right into the flame... trick is, holding the flame *just* close enough to toast the foot. My Colibri is pretty powerful, I can hold it a good 3-4" away and manage to light it.

Nothing against matches, but I smoke a 50+ gauge... can take several matches to get it started right, especially if the matches are the short "wallet" style that most shops have on hand.

 

Today I had a Sosa Vintage. Medium-bodied, mellow smoke. Started off like a pain, not pulling very smoothly, but worked out of it and turned into a pleasurable smoke. Something about it made me want to be around a group of older gentlemen playing dominoes. Could be the imported Cuban seed filler. Would recommend.

 

We can buy Cuban cigars up here and US tourists like to buy them, I guess some are taken south. I have been to a couple of cigar factories in Cuba and it is amazing to see them made, it takes a lot of skill. How they get them all the same size I do not know. Everyone in the place is smoking away at their work.

A friend shipped boxes of Cuban cigars he purchased in Cuba to his daughter in the US to order for some doctors. One package was returned to them from the border which scared them for a second until they realized it was returned for insufficient postage, they thought for a second that their daughter would be in trouble. The cigars were well wrapped in plastic and surrounded by pot potpourri.

 

I wish we could get Cuban cigars... but they're still a no-no. Apparently, it has something to do with Cuba being a Communist nation. So, I smoke Nicaraguan sticks and knock off the ashes in an ashtray made in China... Makes sense right?

 

You mean to tell me you don't have a Colibri ashtray? Shame on you! I went with the stainless model with black ribs and matching table lighter after reading one of your posts. Also picked up an antique Kreisler by Colibri lighter in your honor. Maybe someday we'll light a stick or two with it. Until then.......

 

LOL I was being facetious... I have a crystal ash tray at home, and 50% of my cigars are smoked at the local joint (no pun intended) and all of their ashtrays are ceramic, with "Oliva" branding. You'll start seeing them in the background of several photos...

And if you're going to be at the Dragon, we'll light a stick there!!

 

Here's one I enjoyed a few weeks ago... Amazing smoke, probably my favorite one I've had this year.

Alec Bradley Tempus Imperator (torpedo)

Cedar notes, almost a toasted nut flavor, with a peppery finish. Firm (but not tight) draw. Habano wrapper and Cuban-seed filler.

9.8/10

 

And the worst smoke I've had in months... Carlos Torano Exodus 1959...

I had high hopes for this one. Pretty labels get me every time, LOL.

Arapiraca wrapper, Nicaraguan fillers. Notes of sweetness and cocoa, bit of earthiness at the mid-point and a harsh pencil-lead finish. A good chance I simply got it too hot, I had the wife along and I puffed while she talked. No doubt the fast-puffing hurt the flavor. Will have to give this one another chance soon. High reviews online... so, someone out there likes it.

 

I smoke this one every few weeks... by far my favorite "bang per buck" cigar.

Oliva Serie V Torpedo...

Full-bodied, full-flavored. The best smoke you can get for under $8, period. Notes of wood, nuts, coffee, and a semi-sweet chocolate note near the finish. A spicy smoke, goes GREAT with a bold coffee or a glass of Sauvignon. Not a good beer smoke, IMO.

Two pics, the requisite smoking pic and an artsy one from over a year ago... in my old car

 

Great Thread !!!! I could not agree more. Had one last week at Coronas in Lake Mary. It was an abomination and I like other Carlos Torano"s but the one above was one of trhe worst cigars I have had in a while. Had an Alec Bradley Black Label yesterday. Would recomend!!

 

Coronas in Lake Mary is a very nice place, i use to live there. I now go to Burn in Naples.

 

I've never had an AB cigar that I didn't like, and that's saying a lot because every brand has its "duds"

 

I'm jealous of the Florida residents, you guys have so many boutique cigar shops...

 

THis is true!! However one of my favorites is a little downstairs "hole in the wall" so to speak in Waynsville N.C. There is also a nice one in Chatanoga TN. Leather sofas and old barber chairs. Don't remember the name but very nice.

 

Tried a new Gurkha last night, the Gurkha Cellar Reserve Kraken (6"x60)

While not an economical smoke ($12), it's a gem. Excellent construction -- burns slow, even, and cool. Each time I ashed, it broke neatly and cleanly without a hint of crumble.

Now for the good part -- the flavor.

A grassy start, which quickly leads to notes of oaky-vanilla. After about five minutes, it develops a roasted nut flavor. Flavors stabilize to the constant oaky-vanilla taste on the palette, and the aftertaste is a bit spicy. As you smoke it, the flavors seem to deepen but that's it -- no surprises. I smoked this one down to 1.5" before giving up on it, and the flavor was fantastic the whole time. The draw is effortless, and the amount of smoke you get from this thing is almost humorous.

I'd give this one a 9.5 out of 10... The flavor wasn't the most dynamic, but it never went wrong and the construction/draw made it a pleasurable smoke for the entire 90 minutes.

 

So does this get me in the "cigar of the month club" group?

Or maybe just says "your one tough mother to choke that down.." LOL

 

How would you rate the flavor?