The Smoking Lounge (mainly cigars, but all tobacco welcome!)

Discussion in 'Food and Drink' started by ChaChaRealSmooth, Nov 8, 2020.

  1. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Do moar research.
     
  2. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    My job's VPN is down, and I'm drinking whiskey while waiting over one hour with my job's help desk. Might as well post another tin tobacco impressions.

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    The Capstan Flake Blue is a famous mild Virginia Flake tin tobacco that been for sale for decades. While there is "Navy Cut" on the tin, this Virginia Flake doesn't have any casting flavoring. It is a pure Virginia Flake tobacco that has some grassy notes and sweetness to the smoke. I love smoking this in the morning with a strong cup of coffee since the tobacco doesn't overwhelm the coffee in the flavor profiles.

    With that being said, this is a very very mild Virginia Flake. A lot of people aren't fans of this tin because it is mild. I love it since it is the perfect mild Virginia Flake to smoke in the morning before you realize that you will be dealing with shit later in the day. They say this is J.R.R. Tolkien's favorite tins. If I remember right, his characters do smoke a lot of pipe tobacco.

    Also while I love the mild flavor of this tin, it is pricey for what it is at around $15-$20 per pop on the online sites for 1.75 oz. That is very pricey, considering Mac Baren's HH Pure Virginia 1.75 oz is around $11 on the online sites and it is a much stronger and flavorful flakes than the Capstan. The funny thing is that Mac Baren also makes the Capstan tins based on the original ingredients like the Flake Blue. So woo......
     
  3. HenryBosley

    HenryBosley New

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    I would like to quit smoking. How can I do that? Can you please help me? Thank you!
     
  4. dllmsch

    dllmsch Friend

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    So I have been a pipe smoker for years, and recently got a job at a cigar shop, have been smoking cigars almost daily since then, cuz cheap staff price.

    Not experienced by all means but some remarks.
    Vegueros tapados: smooth smoke, great aroma, leathery smoke, good price/performance ratio.
    Kafie 1901 San Andreas Largo: super weird, leading me to stick to cubans.
    Hoyo Epicure De Luxe LCDH: Great draw, tones of creamy buttery texture, would smoke again.
    Partagas D4 D6: Basically same thing, a bit too strong for me, didn't get the pepper spice note that everyone's talking about, nth special but tons of followers.
    Bolivar Belicosos Finos: nothing remarkable, some cream butter note but I prefer Hoyo.
    Romeo petite corona from 2004: taste like drinking wine. A bit expensive due to age but interesting experience nonetheless.
    Vegueros Mananitas: much prefer its bigger brother tapados, the roll is not so good.
    Montecristo Open Eagle: great draw, really chocolaty, becoming a fan tbh.
    Got some more to try out. Cohiba is too expensive so maybe later when I am more experienced.
     
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Considering in some places in Europe they will tax you to death on tobacco. Where am I is strange: Pipe Tobacco is heavily taxed by the state but not the cigars (super cheap to get cigars in Florida).

    I haven't tried the ones you smoked. My favorite Montecristo is the Montecristo Espada, but I dunno if you can get those where you are at (not a parody country that is. ;O ).

    In Pipe Smoking news, Mac Baren brought out the classic Royal Twist. Per the tin art below, they are only selling 7500 for the US market. I purchased two for aging (see below image).

    I need to open another tin soon, but I'm still trying to age some other items plus it is too damn hot in the summer to enjoy a pipe.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. dllmsch

    dllmsch Friend

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    In HK the taxes for both cigars and pipe tobacco are more or less the same, $300 for 1kg of tobacco. However ordering online from overseas will have the risk being fined on top of custom duties, so most tobacco products properly taxed will have 2-3times mark up prices in retail, shit is expensive.

    I think some online vendors ship cuban cigars to USA so maybe worth a try, but I have not seen any US version cigars from cuban brands in HK. Probably getting some with pipe tobacco for next purchase from smokingpipes.com

    I do find a cigar smokes better in humid hot environment compare to pipe, especially after dry boxing it in an ACed area. Perhaps should try smoking a cigar through a pipe next for the lolz.
     
  7. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Yep, in hot humid areas the cigars are preferred since you don't have to worry about moisture build up in your pipe. Even with a good corn cob pipe it can only do so much if you are outside that is very humid and dealing with moisture. None of those problems with cigars....

    However, I don't want to smoke something so bold all the time like a cigar. At least with pipes I can smoke whatever bowl size that I want and I'll be happy. I care for the nuisances over anything else.

    f**k....$300 for 1kb. Where I am at in Florida pipe tobacco is taxed at 85% wholesale tax. So if wholesale cost of a tin to a store from a vendor is $10.00, then the store has to pay $8.50 before they would even be able to sell the tin. Since stores needs to make a profit, that $10.00 tin will be closer to $25.00. That's why when they passed that tax over a decade ago tin pipe tobacco was no where to be found. You are much better off buying giant bulk pipe tobacco where it is easier to stomach the wholesale tax and charge a little more by the oz. Still not even bad to what HK is doing....

    I can avoid the wholesale tax by going on smokingpipes.com or pipesandcigars.com. I can get most tins I want for a cheaper cost, no added tax, and free shipping. Smokingpipes.com been hitting the Japanese and Chinese markets hard to the point that they have Japanese and Chinese staff doing these transactions/questions. I think you know this, but Laudisi Enterprises owns smokingpipes.com, + Cornell & Diehl, so ordering from smokingpipes.com is ordering directly from Cornell & Diehl (if you like their tins, the most is from their own website).
     
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    [​IMG]

    I swear every time I go into my tobacco shop and see the latest Cigar magazines that they get for free, I swear that I feel I'm already a middle-age old man pervert. At the same time, this stuff sells. As usual, I laugh my ass off when they have the model in borderline softcore pictures and wiskey ads on the next page. I guess they know their target audience too much...


    Anyhoo, another Pipe Tobacco post:

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    The Peter Stokkebye: PS52 Proper English is a common bulk blend that you find in a lot of tobacco stores that sells pipe tobacco. However, most of them will call it an "in-house" blend since the stores gets them by the bucket loads. At my local shop, this is called the "Prime Minster." Most people buying in their local shops don't even know what the tobacco really is. In the US the majority of "in-house" blends are bulks from Lanes, Peter Stokkebye, Cornell & Diehl (which also make tons of great tins), Sutliff, and more. Most of the bulk blends are aromatics, which are the standard flavors of cherries, honey, cream, alcohol flavors, and more. Most of the bulk blends are standard stuff, and the tins are the higher level stuff. However, you can find a lot of good bulk blends that are great with aging.

    I enjoy the Proper English since it is a good basic English blend that doesn't cost a lot, and it is great in the morning with a cup of coffee. The Latakia, Orientals, and Virginias tobaccos work together to give you a milder English blend flavor with just enough spice from the Orientals, smokiness from the Latakia, and grassiness from the Virginas that it doesn't overwhelm you. Peterson's Nightcap is much more stronger than this blend, but do you want to smoke a Nightcap in the morning? I don't need that strong stuff when I just woke up. Proper English will do the trick and shows that yes there is good bulk blends that isn't tasting like candy (aromatic) and they are cheaper than a tin since they come in bulk. Good stuff.
     
  9. dllmsch

    dllmsch Friend

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    Since I am gonna say goodbye to cigar for months(traveling), I decided go a bit more expensive for my last smoke, and bring out my only cohiba stick to see what the fuss is all about.
    Cohiba is always said to be the Hermes in cigar, there must be something special right?
    Smoke was medio siglo, V-cut, kept in 60%RH drybox.
    Did some test draw and was kinda fine, like 70%draw, boy was I wrong. I immediately regret not using perfect draw pre-lighting. Perfect draw is always your good friend for cubans.
    So with the cigar not drawing perfectly, here are some impressions:
    1st third: due to draw, not so enjoyable. Some butter notes. Aroma is something that I've never got from tobacco before, in a good way.
    2nd third: spice without being spicy, plus some floral notes.
    3rd third: mind=blown! Extremely sweet throughout, and I don't even know where the sweetness comes from. Godly aroma which I suspect is exclusive to cohiba, with lingering aftertaste. There ain't much smoke since the cigar is somewhat plugged, but I'm burning my tongue and still drawing, it is this special. So sweeeeet!
     
  10. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Agreed on the unique taste of Cohibas. And yes, they sell mostly natural wrapper from what I've seen, and that is definitely what they're good at. Top 5 or 10 for me.

    W/ regards to the draw issues you had - in my (somewhat limited) experience with Cuban cigars and cigarillos - they all vary significantly in the quality of construction, draw, burn, and other technical traits / characteristics. In other words, if you like a particular brand of Cubans, you may have to buy 2 or 3 to get the "actual experience" b/c the other/s will be bad.
     
  11. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I don't care how "special" Cubans are, their QC is shit. I'll take a basic no label cigar over a Cuban.
     
  12. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Back on Friday my local shop received a collection of Estate pipes. Talking about them with @dllmsch earlier.

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    The classic Dunhill Shell Briar 4103 is a hell of a deal for $100. Yeah the bit is used and aged, but not everyday you can pick up a classic Dunhill pipe for $100. Depending on condition they can go for $300 and up in the used Estate mark. Very stupid if you ask me....

    How well it smokes? It smokes very solid and bowl doesn't get too hot. Honestly I smoke better bowls in my time, but any people who enjoys a Pipe should have at least one Dunhill in their collection.

    [​IMG]

    This used Radice Twin Bore pipe with the wonderful middle design that goes to the bit was also the same priced used as the Dunhill. However, I prefer the smoking quality of this pipe more than the Dunhill. However, the Dunhills fits slightly better on my end. This is my second Radice Twin Bore pipe, because my first Radice smokes so damn well that I wanted another.

    Time for a mini review:

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    The Tabac De La Semois: La Brumeuse is one of the most unique pipe tobacco out there. The whole process from the seeding of the tobaccos, to processing it, packing it, etc. is almost all done by one guy (who is the guy that is on the packaging, Vincent Manil). Semois tobaccos is a variation of burley tobacco that is only grown in Belgium in an environment that normally tobacco can't really grow at all (cold humid higher elevation). You can only get the tobacco in a block of 3.5 oz "brick" that is 100% dry. Yes, this is pure dry tobacco and you smoke it dry. Do not try to make this tobacco moist or anything like that, smoke it dry since that is the other special thing about it. Since the brick is fully dry, you get so much monies worth from this tobacco than others since "you aren't buying any water with this tobacco."

    Unlike other pipe tobacco, you have to pack more into your pipe than normal. So what does it taste? This is the most cigar like pipe tobacco that I ever tasted. It also helps that the man on the packaging also sells Semois cigars that is also made in Belgium. There's this semi mushroom taste that packs quite a punch with a good size nicotine kick. It isn't earthy, but it doesn't taste like regular burley tobaccos where to me burley has this nutty taste to them.

    This isn't for everyone, but it is one of the most unique pipe tobaccos that I came across. There's other versions of Semois pipe tobacco that Vincent Manil sells, but they are different cuts.

    I think @penguins and @ChaChaRealSmooth smoked the Gatekeeper that I blabed about myself by now.
     
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  13. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Yes, we had the Alec Bradley Gatekeeper.

    To me (and I think @ChaChaRealSmooth as well) it tastes like if you took 3 or 4 very good English pipe blends and rolled it all up into a well balanced medium cigar. Of course, it still smokes like a cigar and not a pipe.

    My own opinion on it is it's good and I would absolutely recommend it to someone if it aligned with their flavor preferences. I can see why it's been sold out around my area. Unfortunately, it doesn't align with my preferences (I do not normally want to smoke English pipe blends).
     
  14. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    This cigar is a weird one. Pretty much a no-name, bought it on a recommendation from the Small Batch Cigar shop owner. No idea where the tobacco is from or who made it, and it's not the cheapest cigar: $15 in CA.

    That being said...my goodness is this a good cigar. Some notes remind me of the real good Padron and Fuente cigars, with the first inch having a bit of sugar cane like sweetness (this quickly disappears after the first inch). Some light toastiness and a touch of earth, with a bit of vanilla or creme brulee like flavor. It needs a little bit of aging before really coming into its own; at leaset a month or two, definitely best after 6+ months (I think the ideal time is between 6 months to 2 years).

    On another note: for those who love Padron cigars; my recommendation is to buy the 1926 series in maduro and the 1964 series in natural. Not a hard and fast rule, but in general seems like those Padron series do better with those wrappers. Not entirely sure why, but that's what my taste buds tell me
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2021
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    @ChaChaRealSmooth and @YMO are what men should be. Smoking good long sticks. :p

    I need to do another pipe tobacco review soon.
     
  16. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I recently picked up a cigar punch. I had been using a guillotine cutter, usually relatively cheap ones and replace them every couple of years, but sometimes I either chop off too much or not enough. So I kill the crown and it starts to unravel a bit, or not enough and the draw is too hard.

    I like a punch. It’s cheap and fits on my keychain. Best thing is the draw is really effortless and you leave the crown intact. Of course if you smoke torpedos a cutter is the only real option.
     
  17. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I'm more of a V-Cut type of guy @crazychile. One since it reminds me of my GF, and two I get better airflow on a V-Cut than a punch. However, on some really small ring gauges I have no choice but to punch it or cut off the other end.

    Time for another pipe tobacco review:

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    The Newminster: No.400 Superior Navy Flake is a very basic Virginia Flake. The taste is very 2D, but it is primed for aging since Virgina's aged the best. It is a simple, solid, hay tasting smoke that won't offend you, and has very little nic kick. People buy them for their cheap Virgina taste, or for aging. I smoke stronger Virgina's but I still like this bulk blend that you can get for $3 an oz. Very solid choice for a non-aromatic Virgina flake bulk on the cheap.
     
  18. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    There are many other cutters that also solve this issue, but big brand as an easy example - if you use a Xikar cutter and put the cutter against a flat surface and then stick the cigar in to cut so that the flat surface acts as the stop, the distance is usually "just enough" for most standard round shaped cigars.

    The other way is to look at the cap - I generally cut about 1/3 to 1/2 way up the cap, depending on how long the cap is or how tight the draw of the individual draw of the cigar is. Also leaves me room to cut more if needed.

    For a punch, I usually punch a figure 8 or a clover shape for "enough draw". V cutters work, but on a lot of cigars it's too much draw for me and the cigars tend to end up burning a bit hot.
     
  19. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I’d never tried anything from Caldwell before so I ordered a sample pack. None of the good ones mentioned seemed to be available from Thompson’s or CI. So it’s the king is dead, long live the king and a few others to try the brand. No savages. I also got in a few AB Gatekeepers. I’ll let them sit in the humidor a couple weeks and then see how I like them.
     
  20. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    There was a cigar event at my local tobacco shop today, so I went inside just to say hi:

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    The VegaFina 1998 was one of the cigars that was part of the event. They said it was strong, but honestly it wasn't. I didn't finish all of it even if the flavor was right up in my alley. I think it is average. The beer was the Schöfferhofer with my own glass.

    But someone at the event was a former vet who did a lot of business in Afghanistan over a decade ago. He brought his picture book of a cigar club that was on US base. US Military, British Military, Canadian Military, Citizens, Contractors, etc. were all smoking together. According to the person, pics are ten years old before the government stop people sending free cigars to the soldiers due to "risk of health."

    The person at the event stated even in hell there are times we can have enjoyment.

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    Last edited: Sep 25, 2021

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