Cuban Bolivar Royal Corona

I just received a box of Bolivar Royal Corona from the on line store I usually buy my cigars from and even though I do not try them as soon as I get them in , this time I thought I should give them a try and compare them to the RASS I got from the same place ten days ago.

Well to my surprise the Bolivar smoked great and it was humidified perfect. Usually they are a bit over humidified for the journey.

The cigar had a date March 2008 so I thought that it would have all these characteristics young Cuban's have.

That was not the case here!!!

The cigar was perfect. It was like smoking a much older cigar.

Looks:

The cigar had a nice milk chocolate brown color , with a beautiful oily shine. It felt smooth and elastic and it didn't feel fragile. A real robusto!

Pre light smell:

Bringing the foot of the cigar close to the nose I could smell great tobacco and also a hint of dried flowers !!??

Cold draw:

When I clipped off the cap of my cigar and took a draw before lighting it it felt very nice. The amount of resistance was just right,not loose but not too tight. All the aromas I felt  were there and I had an intense sense of more dried flowers...

Lighting and  smoking:

Lighting the cigar was not a problem. After torching the foot for a few seconds I took the first puff  and it was awesome! The cigar started strong but not overwhelming with a pure flavor of leather and tobacco. After an inch the strength pulled back, don't fool yourself it was in the full body range all the way, and tobacco flavors along with dried flowers kicked in.

The cigar stayed like this all the way to the last inch and a half where strong leather and coffee were the dominating flavors.

Needless to say that I smoked the cigar all the way 'till the end. It burned cool so no problem getting burned.

Over all impression:

That was one hell of a cigar. Great performance  from the start until the last  puff. My guess is that in two or three years it will be a wow cigar.

I don't know about you but I will stock some more boxes in my aging humidor.   

Coronado By La Flor Lancero

For some time now, I think since the El Triunfandor came out, I find my self been attracted by Lancero.
I know it is a strange and difficult size but if you get a good box then it can be a very rewarding smoke.

Few days ago a friend of mine send me a box of Coronado by La Flor Lancero so I thought it would be a good idea to give them a try. So here is my review of it.

Appearance:
This is the first cigar I smoked from this box so upon opening the box I couldn’t help noticing that this is a very dark colored cigar.
The wrapper had a dark milk chocolate color with very good oils. It was shiny and smooth with no veins and a perfect pig tailed head.

Cut and cold draw:
The cup was very easily removed with my Xikar cigar tool.
The cigar was in perfect condition and on the first cold draw I instantly knew I was up for a treat.
The cigar had a perfect draw, not just for a Lancero but even for a larger cigar, not tight but not too loose and there was a very intense earthy and chocolate flavor that were really nice.

Lighting and first half:
It was very easy to light the cigar and since this is a thin smoke I did not use my torch lighter, been afraid that I might heat up the cigar more that I should.
The draw when the cigar was lit continued to be perfect and after an inch or so I started getting very strong earth, leather and worm spice flavors that were very satisfying.
The cigar had a full body, full flavor profile, definitely not for the fainthearted, all the way through the first half. The burn line was razor sharp and I never had to touch it up with the lighter.

Second half:
The second half of the cigar continued much like the first.
The cigar was at the full body, full flavor range all the time and the complexity was something that really amazed me.
The aroma was great, even my non smoking mother in-law liked it, and the taste of the cigar, given the fact that the wrapper / filler ratio is in favor of the wrapper was fantastic.
I have to say that I smoked it to the nub and not even did I had to relight it or the cigar got harsh.

Overall impressions:
This is a fantastic smoke.
I have a box of Coronado since they were rated No 2 cigar of the year and I know they age very well.
The same will happen with these slim beauties, so I have to get me some more boxes!

If you like Lancero sized cigars I guarantee you will love these.

SMOKER'S RIGHTS

Today more than ever before,us, people who enjoy the leaf, live in hard times. 

Smoking is considered to be for many countries Public enemy number 1.

Many of us have seen this in practice and the consequences this opinion has on our every day life and the people around us. People we know or people we wish to.

Civil rights, freedom to express our selves, ideals our ancestors fought for are going down the drain in favor of a "healthier" way of living.

Our local governments know what is good for us and they have to make us accept it. Even if it kill us!

Smoking is bad for our  health. This is something we know. Cigarette smoking can kill you, BUT if you know this and you have accepted the terms of the game then no government can deny you the right to do so.It is your God given right us an adult to live the life you choose!

Anti-smoking nazi's; their mission is to save people from smoking.

Well they have to realize that not all people need or want to be saved. Cigar and pipe smokers for example are some of these people. Anti-smoking freaks should know that addiction  kills NOT pleasure and cigar and pipe smoking is a pleasure.

I agree that people who do not smoke should live in smoke free environments, but also us who do enjoy a premium hand rolled cigar or a pipe, we have to have our own places.

Unfortunately we don't and the sad thing is that legislation does not allow owners of different venues to host people who smoke. Not even when no employee will be exposed to smoke.

SMOKING KILLS!!!!

CHOLESTEROL and HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE  KILLS.

What is going to be next on the list of forbidden pleasures?BBQ? SEX? Lets not forget how many people die every year of HIV. What are they going to do ban sex?

Even if they do aren't we going to continue doing it?

Lets do the same for our right to surrender ourselves to one of life's greatest pleasures. 

Besides a Double Corona will probably  last longer!!!!  

             

CIGARS.VALUE AND PRICE

Cigars for many is one more way to let others know who they are and how they face life and the challenges we all face every day.

For others a cigar is a pleasure they allow themselves to give into,kind of a reward for every day veterans.

The question we all have to answer  to ourselves, when we visit our local smoke shop to get our supplies of our favorite premium cigars is;"is it worth the price?"

Well it depends!

Who can measure value with money?Isn't a great cigar worth that extra money?

NOT ALWAYS 

There are countries where a cigar smoking is considered to be a luxurious  habit(I know,I live in one )and smokers are been treated like oil tycoons and cigar prices are sky high.

Other fellow aficionados are more lucky and just pay reasonable  prices on premium cigars,besides the cigar making process is not cheap,so when you find"great bargains"be very very suspicious.

Unfortunately,since the world we live in is not perfect,not all of us have access to all our favorite  smokes.

Europe has great access to Cuban cigars but not to cigars from other countries like Dom.Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras.

These are countries that produce great cigars. All you have to do is is take a look at Cigar Aficionados best cigars of the year and you will see what my point is!

Cigars with great features,excellent taste AND most of them affordable prices.

In countries where these cigars are not available smokers tend to believe that the only good cigars are the really expensive cubans.

This is part true.

Now with internet giving us so many information and choice we have to take advantage of.

Go out there and do some cigar hunting. It's a really rewarding hobby.

Demand from your local smoke shop to do the same. Ask for more. Let  retailers understand that you know you have more options and you demand a bigger variety and better prices for your favorite cigars.

This weeks cigar of the week is a masterpiece from La Flor.The Coronado double corona is a great cigar full and complex with intense leather and caramel tones that last for a long time on the palette.An  all around great cigar!

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COMPANY OF CIGARS

Premium cigars is a product that demands the company of many to be complete.

From the tobacco plantation and the people there who make sure that they will get the best crop mother nature can provide them with, to the cigar factory and the different steps in the process and different hands needed so we can have our favorite cigar,we come to one  conclusion;it's a team work.

Cigars are a great way to relax,enjoy life and spend time with your thoughts.

Who can denny that cigars taste better when smoked with friends.

Some say that cigars are made to be smoked among friends.It is one of life's greatest pleasures been with friends,smoking great cigars and sharing thoughts and emotions.

 

Cigars bring people together faster and more efficient than diplomacy!(just a thought)

All of us,cigar aficionados out there it is time to get to know our fellowman,neighbor,guy we work with and offer to share a cigar with,maybe then we find our cigars more enjoyable and "full flavored" 

 

This week's cigars is  a nicaraguan beauty from the famous Padron family.A great cigar with complex caramel and earth  flavors coming to a long woody and spicy finish that lasts long on the pallet.Unfortunately hard to find.Happy hunting!

LOOSING A FRIEND

There is no worse thing in life than starting your day with bad news.

When this news concern someone you consider to be a friend then the situation is really devastating.

Bjarne is a well known name in the pipe industry and his artifacts are objects of desire among pipe smokers and collectors around the world.

Bjarne Nielsen,the owner and the founder of bjarne pipes after a MBA degree from the university of Copenhagen and a career in the Danish Foreign Service, Bjarne founded his company in 1973 and now is propably Denmark's largest manufacturer of 100% hand made pipes.The company's products are totaly made by hand and are totally individual.

I consider myself to be lucky having met Bjarne in person 10 years ago when he visited the factory where I work and we supplied him with briar wood.He made a very big impression to me the fact that he was such an easy going person and he always had something nice to say to the people around him.

Since then we met several times in pipe shows around the world and his welcoming smile was like reuniting with a family member.

This great person is no longer with us.

Last week Bjarne passed away,his heart failed him.I know his loss will have a big impact on all of us who knew him.His smile and his ethics will be an example for all.His memory will be alive in our mind's and heart's.

May God bless his family in this time of need and always.

First time for everything

This is the first time posting  my blog so I hope you like it.

What I want to do through this blog is express  my love for the finer  things in life, like pipes cigars and other things adults love to give in every now and then.

Cigar and pipe smoking has nothing to do with cigarettes, the addiction of smoking, and all the problems that come with it.

Cigars and pipes are to be smoked for the pleasure of smoking,relaxation and peace of mind.

This kind of smoking has the same results to the individual like Yoga!!It takes you to that place where everything looks so small and insignificant.

Like drinking a fine wine or a glass of a rare single malt whiskey does not automatically make you an alcoholic, thus pipe and cigar smoking does NOT make you a nicotine junky!

Times are very dificult for all of us who like to kick back,relax and light up a premium hand rolled cigar or a pipe and try to get away from things  for an hour or two.

European an draconian U.S. laws are killing the industry and as a consequence makes cigars and pipe tobacco very hard find  and expensive to buy.

In the future you will be able to be informed  about developments on legislation around the world.

Stay tuned for tasting results of  high end cigars from around the world as well as pipes and pipe tobacco.

This weeks cigar is a little bomb shell from the U.S.

Tatuaje is a brand of very limmited production smokes,made in perfection in Miami's  Little Havana by "Pepin" Garcia.

It has a full flavor with strong tobacco and a very long finish.Great cigar,not cheap but nothing so valuable comes cheap.