Cigars Cigars Cigars

[Throttle]

Yah, as long as your cigars are in the right condition, you can handle them with ease. They dont damage that easily.

 

Remember that they are hand made and many Cubans have handled them before it arrives to you in a box.

[Throttle]

Originally posted by ckunjie@February 09, 2007 12:37 pm

Because i scare to damage the cigar and the box isn't too big as well. How i wish i can go cuba! Bro throttle how much it roughly cost to go cuba? How you manage to arrange a trip there?

Many ways but the two main ones are:-

1. Singapore to Florida to Cuba

2. Singapore to Europe to Cuba

 

I took the shortest which is singapore to Spain and Spain to cuba.

Return Airfare from singapore to spain was about $1400 I took JAL.

Return Airfare from Spain to Cuba was about $1300, I took Iberia

Visa required, EUR45. Get from Cuban Embassy Jkt

Ambassador Manuel Ramirez tel: 62-21-5304293

 

So airfare just to get there is about $2800 per person.

 

How I arrange?

Just arrange loh....get visa, book flights, book hotel

But nowadays I heard that there are package tips to the carribean including cuba.

maybe you can try those on a free and easy package.

[ckunjie]

Wah sound very interesting. Need to save $$$ for the trip. I wanna go partagas factory! Real expensive for me but i am very sure it will make the trip worthwhile. Thanks a lot bro throttle.

[Throttle]

not at all, why dont you start your adventure by joining us in our cigar sessions?

[Naz]

Just went down to Taka Oaks for my Don Sebastians today.

 

Surprised to see the cranky lookin Indian dude not there.

 

Saw a Chinese dude there now instead. I'd say Orchard Parade 'younger' staffs (that chick is yummy btw) to be more pleasant and attentive.

 

I would think that Taka Indian dude has a bad day all the time but his cut on my cigar was splendid. The new guy did it a little too deep, almost reaching the ring of fire before the wrapper unravelled with me going all pale looking at the cigar I've lovingly selected (it's the cap according to Throt) whilst the lady in Orchard Parade was doing it a lil too light till my testicles shrank a little when I drew.

 

Bought a couple of Macanudos (just realised the one I just bought at Taka was cracked!!****kk) , Bolivar, Upmann and RYJ these couple of weeks for mental theraphy after being whacked by Japanese customers the past 3 weeks (no, I don't do boxes. Financially not that strong yet)

 

I took a liking to the Macanudo immediately. Firm bodied, floral sweet fragrance and almost consistent heat dissipation throughout the length with my usual draws. Nice burning and also consistent ring ash buildup as well. Wrapper ain't as shiny as the Bolivar though.

 

The Bolivar however didnt go down well with me. I get confused with the aroma and taste I got from the stick. Didnt enjoy it at all and dispose it halfway through. Like a date gone wrong and u just cant put a finger to it although the ambience was perfect, the date was shiny and beautiful but you just cant click.

 

Quickly lighted up a Don Sebastian to coax the senses. Its like meeting back an old fling who knows what you want in bed.

 

Thing is, I realised I love to do a lot of entry levels rather than going straight to the cream of the crop, if you don't have much of the simpler one, you will not be able to appreciate the beauty of the more exquisite classier ones. Whatever rocks your boat, main thing is, I am a more relaxed person when I've slide through one of these babies and I hope you guys too.

 

I've learnt lately that a good sip of ice water in between the smokes makes the cigar taste sweet.

 

 

Throt, if the wrapper has traces of green on em, any issues?

 

Have a good schmock guys.

[Throttle]

traces of green usually represents uneven fermentation of the leaf. It does happen especially becos fermentation includes wetting the leaves with mist spray and laying it to dryand repeating the process. and unless the patch of green is really big, it's not going to affect combustion. no worries.

 

======================================

Bolivars belong to the stronger more full bodied category of cigars.

As a new smoker, you will certainly adapt well to lighter cigars (ie DR cigars)

 

Also, you didnt mention which Bolivar you got, or which RyJ, Upmann you got. Doesnt mean that Cubans are all good. There are better ones and mediocre ones.

 

Do try to take the cutting in your own hands next time someone offers to cut your cigar. It's personal and a skill you need to acquire on your road to becoming an aficionado.

 

 

p.s. I too, did my fair share of Macanudos, Arturos, Griffins, DAvidoffs, Zinos, Ashtons, etc when i first started....perhaps it will take you some time to wean off the taste of non cuban cigars just like i did as well.

 

Cheers!

[Naz]

Thanks Throt.

 

I cant remember the series that I'd done really.

 

You're right before and still spot on now. I am still in love with taste from DR's harvests.

 

Been looking at Ebay for lighters that comes with the cutters. The lighter that you used the other night, is that a Colibri? Are they build to last?

[ckunjie]

I did macanudo maduro hype park before. Quite consistent and mild but i prefer back to cuban. The unique(Unique since 1492!) taste and variety of habanos really win my heart. I am also a newbie but was totally hook on habanos. Just barely started from 3 sticks in my lock n lock "humidor" till now with 66 in my 2 humidor sleeping and 45 gone up in ash haha. I don't earn a lot like some guys here but i am proud to say that i quit my cigarette smoking and put the money on better and enjoyable smoking cigar. I should thanks all the aficionado here like bro throttle, entity and nightstalker for guiding me along the way. Cheers!

[Naz]

Woah you managed to quit smoking ciggies and moved to cigars?

 

Amazing. How long did have u been puffing ciggies, frequency and how did u let the babies go? Bit by bit? One shot cold turkey?

 

I prolly can never do it. The beauty of 'tarek' is just too good to let go.

 

But I am toying with the idea of switching to cigars altogether.. of course to the delight of my lady who seem to adapt very well to cigar smoke than ciggie... She said it was calming and put her to sleep...

 

Now that reminds me of what Throttle said last time...

 

THERE'S A SPIRIT IN EVERY CIGAR.

[Throttle]

Originally posted by Naz@February 11, 2007 01:03 am

Thanks Throt.

 

I cant remember the series that I'd done really.

 

You're right before and still spot on now. I am still in love with taste from DR's harvests.

 

Been looking at Ebay for lighters that comes with the cutters. The lighter that you used the other night, is that a Colibri? Are they build to last?

The lighter i used that nite was a brandless one i bot from a shop in Tokyo.

I prefer soft flame lighters rather than jets as i find soft flames more elegant.

 

However for outdoor usage, jet flame is recommended.

 

Colibri's are ok.

Promethus also ok.

Prince also ok

I recommend Z-insert with Zippo Shell (Nitestalker also using)

 

If want to spend a bit can try Dupont Extend Jet flame lighter.

Slick and easy to use.

Not totally that expensive, can get under $200.

 

importantly, you must use the heat of the flame to light the cigar not the flame itself or you may char the cigar causing bad opening taste and ugly looks.

Take you tim on the lighting, it's quite crucial.

[ckunjie]

I smoking ciggie for 8 years and after smoking cigar, i find that inhaling the smoke is so damn toxic for me. In the beginning, i try bit by bit and find out that it's taking forever for me to quit. So i decided to do the one shot cold turkey. Actually no cold turkey at all, only your mind, you need to control your mind. Cheers!

[ckunjie]

Hahaha my precious just arrive! Gotta let them sleep and aged for some time. Hope to smoke one every year on my birthday and last for ten years! haha

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/386371032_5db4bb5c42.jpg?v=0

[Throttle]

oo00ooohhh....Cohiba Piramides EL2006 Box of 10

 

I recall my Cohiba Piramides 2001 was very different from all other Cohibas i smoked. Wonder if the 2006 EL is the exact same blend?

[ckunjie]

I discover from internet that this piramide is not made in EL Laguito factory but partagas factory. My box code is POS NOV 06 wonder where it is from?

[Throttle]

Cohiba is made is many many different factories not only El Laguito but in PArtagas and La Corona and even in small cigar factories in the outskirt regions.

 

So i'm not surprised at all that the piramides EL2006 could be made in a few factories.

 

El Laguito was coded EUN and CLE in the past but i dont follow box codes anymore so not sure what it is now. I do think that POS code is Partagas Factory in Habana since 2005 but really cannot confirm.

 

These buggers change the box code every few years so it's too tedious to follow them....

[ckunjie]

After getting the Cohiba Piramide EL06, i am thinking of getting the Partagas Series D No.3 LE 06. Wah $$$ fly fly

[Throttle]

If the D3 EL 2006 is like the EL 2003, then it is quite a good smoke.

I have also found early P2s to be replicative of the D series EL range.

 

I still have about 10 sticks each of D1s and D2s. wait for good occasion to smoke.

[Nightstalker]

the zippo wif the zplus insert is the best. nice lookin, not too pricey too. can be found easily on ebay. pretty gd fuel consumption too. doenst run out of gas too quickly...

 

im also interested in the D3s. tot of tryin one next time we're in conn d. i think they're sellin it for abt 30++ per stick if im not wrong

[forum_user]

nice vid...

 

 

enjoy.

[ckunjie]

Interesting video! Didn't really know i have to wet the end before cutting.

[Nightstalker]

the intro was kinnda long... wats the logic behind wetting the cap before u bite it anyway? this is the first time i've seen anyone do it

 

after watchin tat clip, im so tempted to light one up man...damn. must tahan till this fri

[Throttle]

Interesting enough to watch.

It's his own style but too slipshoddy for me.

 

Wetting the cap is to prevent cracks which can happen either becos the cigar is too dry or the cutter is not sharp enough. I do it very very occasionally and only when i fully anticipate that the cut may crack the edge of the wrapper.

[Naz]

 

I feel like telling these 3 guys to shut the ****kkkkkkkkkk uppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

 

si beh eng lehhhh.. sit around doing nothing talk and talk and talk...

 

Ok we're excluded. We work in the morning.

[Throttle]

highly stressful week for me so far. Mood is not too good despite sealing more than USD5mil worth of deals. I really need a cigar to replenish my spirit drained by pressures of working in a big time corporate ..........

[forum_user]

juz got my RYJ EX No4 from oaks great world city today...getting prepared for a NEW YEAR SMOKE!!! yesssssss!