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I mean that you enter this place all innocent and after 20 min you are ready to remortgage your house for some rarities ahah. Really worth paying a visit

Interested to see Kutter Crawford (what a great name for a pitcher ) kick off the homestand against the 16-9 Cubs this weekend. It's one mean as cat shit ERA duel Vs Imanaga (0.66 v 0.84).

2016 Distinguidos - a little bland to start but opened up after the first inch. Nutty and twangy. Pretty good

Big list today even for a short week! Arrived in Miami last night in preparation for Saturdays launch of Bond Roberts. I can’t tell you how damn good it felt to have the three amigos back together again. Foxy was in fine form and Hammy has been out of control most of the week. The next 10 days are going to be fun. Looking forward to the launch of BR cigars on Saturday night. The rooftop on the tallest building on the left is the venue. 😉 Plenty of pictures to come. Have a cracking weekend! ****24:24 kicks off at the below Brisbane, Australia times. Best to check what time that is to where you reside so you don't miss out. Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday at 10.30am. Friday at 8.30am ****If you order late Friday or over the weekend, Di will come back to you Monday. Tranquillo. ****Please provide your FULL NAME and HANDLE in all e-mails to Diana on this email address [email protected]. DO NOT PM YOUR REQUEST PLEASE ***Emails without your full information and what you want to order will be DELETED If any of your information has changed since your last order VIA EMAIL please let Di know in the email request. If you are a new member please let Di know. * When confirmed, settle up. Don't leave it until "manna" PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL IF YOU CANNOT COMMIT TO ANY PART OF THE REQUEST * Aged stock has been held by ourselves or sourced from PCC. Provenance is unquestioned. Some boxes may have Health Warning Labels. ** ORDERS UNDER $100 USD WILL HAVE A $25 USD Shipping Fee Added ****PLEASE READ AND NOTE TO ALL WHO ORDER ***** ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and DELETED *** Diplomatico Number 2 (25’s) ALL SOLD OUT 52 × 156 mm (6⅛″) Pyramid BRM OCT 23* *Mostly Clearance *ONE BOX PER CLIENT Diplomatico Number 2 possess the cream of the Monte and the sourdough, sweet bell pepper of the Partagas. While medium to just over medium bodied, they are flavour powerhouses. Box $ 560 USD $ 1890 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Cohiba Robusto (25’s) 50 × 124 mm (4⅞″) Robusto SPM JUN 23 *Mostly Clearance Legend of a cigar with complexity and a price to match. Coffee, cream, orange peel, honey, sweet spices, cake Box $ 1590 USD $ 3276 AUD Two Box Deal $ 3081 USD $ 6225 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo De Rio Seco 3 Pack Tubos 56 × 140 mm (5½″) Robusto Extra BRM SEP 23 Mostly* Clearance I love this blend. This is the sort of blend that I would love to replicate with NC tobacco. This is a flavour behemouth! Cream and ginger spice. If you like gingerbread biscuit, jump on in. Cream, Guinness, gingerbread. Medium to medium full. Certainly try one in the short term but put these down. They will become spicysponge cake and cream classics. Box of 15 $ 495 USD $ 1415 AUD Carton Pack of 3 $ 105 USD $ 285 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and Deleted *** Montecristo Number 2 (25’s) 52 × 156 mm (6⅛″) Piramides BRM SEP 23 *Mostly Clearance Palate coating cocoa, coffee, and cream. Medium bodied. Monte to its core and the 21/22/23 have been all class. They are at the top of their game. Box $ 688 USD $ 2086 AUD Half Box (12) $ 372 USD $ 1036 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Por Larranaga Petit Corona (50 cabs) 42 × 129 mm (5⅛″) Petite Corona BRM AGO 23 * Mostly* Clearance The PLPC is a cigar that is almost universally loved. These are top of the tree. One of the great caramel powerhouses when aged 5 years+ Powerful when young. Sweet elegance when aged. You can have them both ways. 50 Cab $ 540 USD $ 2051 AUD Quarter Box (12) $ 146 USD $ 510 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted * El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme (25) ALL SOLD OUT 48 × 127 mm (5″) Hermosos Number 4 OBS JUL 23 *Mostly Clearance*ONE BOX PER CLIENT 2021 are all hints of honey, citrus and cream. My deck crew is referring to them as the poor man’s CORO. Bread and honey, element of nuts and still some tangy citrus fruit. Medium bodied. If you are going to smoke them this year then dry box them after 30-60 days in your humidor. Will age the long term where those honey and nut elements build and build. Box $ 452 USD $ 1478 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Romeo y Julieta Belicoso (25’s) ALL SOLD OUT Pyramid ETA JUL 23 Mostly Clearance Renaissance of the R&J Beli occurred around the same time of the resurgence in the R&J Churchill. No surprise. Full flavoured. Just over medium in body. Cedar, sweeter charred berry notes intermingled with coffee/marzipan. Box $ 546 USD $ 1735 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Partagas Petit Corona Especials (25’S) ALL SOLD OUT 42 × 132 mm (5¼″) Corona OBS JUN 23 Clearance*ONE BOX PER CLIENT It is more than a cheap and cheerful. They fit the bill for everyday smoking when you don’t want to blow your wad on a $$$ cigar. Box $ 150 USD $ 903 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Bolivar Belicoso Finos (SLB) ALL SOLD OUT Campanas RSG JUL 23* Mostly Clearance. You know it. If you are looking for a rich Cuban cigar experience, Boli Beli Fino is your friend. The flavour of great BBF is immense and the layers deep. Creamy stout goodness with a touch of liquorice, leather, coffee, biscuit. The Bolivar Belicoso Finos warms the soul. Box $ 534 USD $ 1718 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** H. Upmann Regalias (25’s) ALL SOLD OUT 42 × 129 mm (5⅛″) Petit Corona EBP MAY 23* Mostly Clearance*ONE BOX PER CLIENT There is some remarkable value in these. Leather, sweet biscuit, coffee. Box $ 217 USD $ 888 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Montecristo Media Corona (25’s) 44 × 90 mm (3½″) Half Corona BAO MAY 23 Mostly Clearance *ONE BOX PER CLIENT Rich in cocoa and cream ….all that is good about Montecristo! Cream cocoa and coffee wonders. If you love an excellent Monte Petiti Edmundo then you should be purchasing one of these. What you have here is a mini Petit Edmundo. All cocoa and coffee that hits the ground running and holds onto your taste buds until the very end. Excellent cigar when you only have 30 minutes or so. Great with a coffee on a Sunday morning. Box $ 259 USD $ 911 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Quai d’Orsay No 50 (25’s) 50 × 110 mm (4⅜″) Petit Robusto OEG AGO 23 Mostly Smoking beautifully! Sponge cake dipped in milk coffee. Honey. Some citrus. Mid to just under mid bodied. Rich flavour. Clearance Box $ 411 USD $ 1365 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Romeo y Julieta Regalis de Londres 25’S 40 X 117 Coronitas EBP JUL23 Clearance *ONE BOX PER CLIENT BOX OF 25 $199 USD $ 705 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** H. Upmann Half Corona (25’s) 44 × 90 mm (3½″) Half Corona EBP JUL 23* *Mostly Clearance This cigar is certainly a forum favourite delivering a beautiful full coffee and doughnut spine. Put them away if you can but if you have to dip in, try not to do it for 90 days. Box $ 196 USD $ 707 AUD Two Box Deal $ 372 USD $ 1343 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure Number 2 (50’s) ALL SOLD OUT 50 × 124 mm (4⅞″) Robusto SER AGO 23 Mostly Clearance Cream and cocoa dominate but there are other sweet spics coming into and out of the festival. Clove, flowers, cinnamon are perhaps the most dominant but certainly not the only ones. Box of 50 $ 998 USD $ 3215 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Montecristo Edmundo 25’s ALL SOLD OUT 52 × 135 mm (5⅜″) Robusto GER JUL 23* Mostly Clearance. These have been on fire. Consistent quality and flavour. Think a cigar version of Milo/Ovaltine. Edmundo is a cocoa, cream and sweet biscuit spectacular. Box $ 614 USD $ 1833 AUD Quarter Box (6) $ 166 AUD $ 456 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure De Luxe (10’s) 52 × 115mm (4½″) Petit Robusto SER MAY 23* Mostly Clearance One for the Chocophiles. If you enjoy brownies with a dash of cream then that is what you are getting. If you are into your earth/leather/savoury spices then run a hundred miles. Box $ 246 USD $ 758 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Partagas Serie D Number 4 (10’s) 50 × 124 mm (4⅞″) Robusto URT MAY 23 * Mostly Clearance Smoking as well as they ever have. Medium bodied, just over-toasted sourdough, Nutella, touch of cream intermingled with a smidge of sweet paprika. Box $ 207 USD $ 654 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted ** Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion Number 4 (25) 48 × 127 mm (5″) Hermosos Number 4 UAR AGO 23 Mostly Clearance *ONE BOX PER CLIENT E4 is old school cool. Most people overlook them and that is more than fine with me. R&J Exhibicion Number 4. Turkish delight in a cigar. Desert in a cigar. Lovely cherry/rosewater note combines with light milk chocolate to make it unique Box $ 449 USD $ 1473 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** H. Upmann Connoisseur B (25’s) 54 × 150mm (5⅞″) Geniales SUL MAY 23 * Mostly Clearance Such a beautifully blended cigar. Cake, nuts, honey, milk coffee. Upmann at its very best. Box $ 1130 USD $ 2831 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 1 (25’s) 46 × 143 mm (5⅝″) Corona Gorda BRT JUL 23 Mostly Clearance I love my Juan Lopez and the JLS1 in the corona gorda video review put in a stellar performance. One of the cigars of the year. Medium full bodied, citrus, coffee, cocoa, toasted tobacco. Big complex flavours without a big price tag. The citrus coffee note is divine. This is simply a complex, flavoursome, consistent cigar….and it comes in the best vitola of all! Box $ 441 USD $ 1500 AUD Quarter box (6) $ 119 USD $ 373 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted ** H. Upmann Magnum 50 (25) ALL SOLD OUT Double Robusto OES MAY 23 Mostly CLEARANCE *ONE BOX PER CLIENT Upmann takes a walk on the slightly sweeter side of life hear playing with the creams, biscuits and stonefruits (nectarine etal). One of those cigars that you need to smoke a little slower to really delve in and connect with its core. Gorgeous. Box $ 679 USD $ 2128 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Rafael Gonzalez Perlas (25’s) 40 × 102 mm (4″) Perlas UEM JUL 23 Mostly Clearance*ONE BOX PER CLIENT Earthy, touch of leather, sweet spice edge (cocoa/cinnamon) and a deep toasted tobacco flavour. Box $ 201 USD $ 735 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No 3 10’s 54 × 125mm (4⅞″) Originales SUL SEP 23 Clearance *ONE BOX PER CLIENT It is the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.3, a petit belicoso that measures 4 7/8 inches (125mm) long with a 54 ring gauge. It is a new size for the Cuban cigar portfolio, and in cigar factories, it is a vitola known as Originales. With light bitter and woody tones that enhance the elegance and complexity of Hoyo de Monterrey’s Habanos. Box $ 315 USD $ 805 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Ramon Allones Superiores LCDH (10’s) 46 × 143mm (5⅝″) Corona Gorda UBL JUL 23 * Mostly Clearance Classic Ramon Allones stewed fruit profile that washes over the palate draw after draw. Will benefit from a few years down but it is not a prerequisite Rich, fruity, viscous on the tongue, long finish on the palate. Box $ 234 USD $ 688 AUD Two Box Deal $ 445 USD $ 1307 AUD **when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted Partagas Mille Fleurs (5's) ALL SOLD OUT 42 × 129 mm (5⅛″) Petit Corona UBL MAY 22 Mostly Clearance Straight Partagas taste in a mid bodied profile. Cuba does this type of cigar very very well. Consistent, inexpensive, delivers. Box of 25 $ 223 USD $899 AUD Carton Pack of 5 $ 48 USD $ 195 AUD ***when placing your order this week, please state your full name, forum handle, country and state. Emails without those details in full will not be acknowledged and deleted *** Desnudo Piramide N2 (25's ) Piramide Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Piramide must be through the Shopping Cart Picture a Ramon Allones profile in a Piramide. That was our vision and that is what I believe that we have achieved. Medium bodied ( progressively builidng from light medium to medium...ending maybe a touch above), dried fruits, citrus peel notes, bakery spine. This is one of the finest cigars that we have brought to market. It will sit alongside your Monte 2, Partagas P2, Dip 2, VR Unicos with absolute aplomb. Of course,as is our mission, it will do so at well under half the price. Balanced, complex with exceptional quality control. These are not cigars that you will need to age long term. Let them acclimatise to your humidor for 30 days but they will seriously improve over the next 18 months. Fresh, ....a 91 point cigar every time with plenty of scope on the upside. It is one of the cigar worlds bargains. Box USD$295 Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Piramide must be through the Shopping Cart. Desnudo Churchill N8 (25’s) 7 x 47 Churchill Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Churchill N8 must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK This is Hamlets baby, Churchill and Double Corona being his favourite format. The Churchill is simply a magnificent cigar. Aroma at cold is all barnyard and toasted tobacco. This cigar builds in intensity third to third. Lusitania meets Sir Winston may be too high a bar. It is close and stands on its own legs. However there is that subtle interplay of sourdough, marshmallows and coffee milk chocolate that satisfies the soul. One of the best cigars we have released this year. Box $309 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Churchill N8 must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK MOFOH Robusto Trinity (25’s) 5 x 50 Robusto Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Robusto Trinity must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK We had 15 blends for the MOFOH Trinity Robusto but it was one of the final blends that was chosen by our FOH tasting panel as well as Hamlet. We made a few tweaks to the final blend to make it richer, sooner in the cigars evolution and that one tweak has paid immense dividends. Imagine an Upmann Connoisseur Number 1 meets an El Rey el Mundo Choix Supreme meets Trinidad Media Luna. You have elegance and poise at the beginning transitioning gradually to a flavour bomb of fresh baked bread, citrus, coffee, honey/raisins. It will start light medium and build throughout to a point just over medium. Never harsh, great mouthfeel and palate weight all carried off with elegance and aplomb at a price point that cannot be matched. Enjoy! Box $ 255 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Robusto Trinity must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Desnudo Queen Corona N5 (25’s ) 6 x 42 Corona Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Queen Corona must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK This cigar is a touch longer than a traditional Corona. Why? Because we can. Few make a Corona any more. and I have no idea why. There is such poetry to a Corona cigar when done right and by God we have done this one right. For those who love Corona and Dalias, don't miss out on these. Flavour profile? Montecristo Number 3 meets Trinidad Coloniales. Medium bodied almost from the outset. Give it half an inch to find its stride. Beautifully elegant. There is cocoa and a touch of orange peel + that fresh bakery experience that you are coming to expect from the Desnudo line. It will finish a touch fuller but there are no elbows or rough edges here. Hamlet refers to it as a masterpiece and I can't disagree. Box $ 230 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Queen Corona must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Desnudo Ninfas N7 (50’s) 7 X 33 Ninfa AUG 2023 *Mostly Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Ninfas must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Mid bodied and rich. There is a purveying raisin/fruity sweetness that melds well with other nuances of tart cooking chocolate, sourdough, peanut and just a touch of spice on the retro hale. The cigar builds progressively but never loses its composure. The aroma is indeed something special and reflects the flavour profile. Box $ 370 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Ninfas must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Desnudo Canonazo Amante VI (25’s) 6 X 52 Canonazo March 2023 *Mostly Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Canonazo must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Honey opening. Under Medium. Aroma of coffee beans, toasted tobacco, molasses. The cigar strolls slowly through the first third and builds intensity. The second third is all bakery/croissant and espresso with a dash of cream. In the last third, a little bit of magic comes into play. Bread and butter pud, almonds and leather all come together. We love this cigar. The tobacco is all 4+ years of age. Please ensure you rest your cigars the 30 days as you will notice a large difference in the smoking experience. Box $ 299 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Canonazo must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Puro Desnudo - Lancero N1 2023 (25’s) 7 ½ x 38 Lancero March 2023 *Mostly Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Lancero N1 must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK I think we have made one of the best Lanceros in the world today. This beautiful Lancero builds throughout bringing into play creamy chocolate, fresh baked bread and cinnamon. Pure medium bodied in the second third. The last third continues to build but there are no harsh edges. Some salty wood elements with floral notes while the now cooking chocolate continues to play with your palate. Touch of Sancho Panza Molinos meets Por Larranaga Montecarlo. It will finish just over medium and you will nub it. Box $ 255 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Lancero N1 must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Puro Desnudo – 2023 N4 Petit Corona (25’s) 5 1/8 X 42 Petit Corona March 2023 *Mostly Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the N4 Petit Corona must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK The opening is just over medium bodied. You will swear it’s a maduro in flavour but it’s not. Coffee, chocolate dominate. It has been described as the “brown edge of cookies”. A picture paints a thousand words. Second third continues along that choc cookie line but introduces some fresh baked bread. This is a petit corona so we wanted it to do a profile well without getting too complicated. There are no harsh spots in this cigar at any point. The last third builds to a chocolate croissant profile. Beautiful medium to medium full finish. This will be a regular in your humidor. Box $ 199 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the N4 Petit Corona must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Puro Desnudo – 2023 Carlota (25’s) Carlota March 2023 *Mostly Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the Carlota must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK The 2023 Carlota is bloody rich. It brings to the table a touch of attitude. Chocolate, earth, leather but with a nose that is all easter egg and espresso. It opens to the top end of the medium spectrum and plays in the medium-to-medium full range. No edges, no elbows. Some smoked paprika nuances but a heart of milk chocolate, honey and burnt toast. Moreish. The last third builds back to the top end of medium and ends medium full. The only way to describe it is fruit and nut chocolate. Box $ 215 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the Petit Corona must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK MOFOH Spada Gorda (25’s) 46 X 150mm (5 7/8) Corona Gorda March 2023 *Mostly Clearance As many as you like. All Purchases for the MOFOH Spada Gorda must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK Opens medium bodied. Fresh baked sourdough and milk chocolate. Some savoury spices play on the edges. The retrohale is creamy and decadent. Second third transitions to baking spices with a salty hazelnut finish. Medium to just over medium at times. Last third is all bakery, driftwood, savoury spices finishing medium full”. Box $ 235 USD Shipped from Florida. US Delivery generally within 7 days. All Purchases for the MOFOH Spada Gorda must be through the Shopping Cart. Here is the LINK

Sadly my school offered no such experience. Neither of them 🤣

Had some of these and they weren't bad.

I’ve had both these versions but I thought time down favored Capn’s version. Also, I’m a Boli fan, so there’s that 😁. Nice reviews gents, all of them.

The main thing is that the first one I had out of the box was cream-textured and 'lusciously' chocolate, just how I like them. We'll see how the box progresses. I should have another soon, just to see! 😉

It is not very often I will smoke a non Cuban. I did enjoy this however. A nice texture to the smoke a white pepper and citrus spice to this Zino.

What's on for your Weekend - Review Weekend Prize: 5-Pack MOFOH Robusto Trinity!! A Freestyle theme - simply any cigar you wish to review (Cuban or Non-Cuban) incorporating some pics and details about whatever you're up to on the weekend... sport, music, movies, drinks, cooking, fishing, walking the dog, out in your boat, a round of golf... just something you're doing... maybe it's nothing... maybe it's just cigar reviews... NOTE: Draw done TUESDAY morning (Bris time) - hint: get your reviews in early - the more engagement on your post, the more chances in the draw. Follow these guidelines to submit your entry: 1. Start a new topic in the Waterhole 2. Pick any cigar and do a detailed review with pics. Score the cigar in your own way. 3. Title your review in this format (so we can track entries): E.g. "Montecristo No.2 ABC MAR 21 (WOFYWApr24)"* 4. If you don't have the box code, give us the year and/or as much info as you can. (3 reviews max per member) Done!! Have fun with it and have a great weekend!! * (WOFYWApr24) = Whats on for your weekend Apr 24)

Everything you say sounds delightful. Too bad I didn't taste anything but burning hot leather.

BBF OPG MAY ‘15 Humid and buggy outside. Might rain, and once again I feel so blessed to have a covered porch. Today I’m reviewing a stick that I have reviewed many times. The beauty of reviewing a cigar, though, is that it can certainly be a different experience each time… especially when it comes to Habanos. Depending on the age of the cigar, of course, but also other factors such as food, drink pairing, stress level, hell… percentage of sinus congestion, you name it. Excited to sit down with an old friend, Mr BBF. This stick is bumpy, per usual, with some significant veins… little tunnels of flavor … and a slightly uneven pack, softer near the middle. Might be a relight in my future. Nice shade of medium brown, and a great barnyard aroma. After a Dickemann cut (ouch!) this has a cold draw of hay and just some fine, sweet tobacco. I dry-boxed this and the draw is nice. Almost too open, but not quite. The light-up brings me, in addition to many memories of BBF’s long ago, some toasted sourdough with almond paste, and a little funky damp earth. It’s always at this moment that I say to myself, often out loud, “There is nothing like a Bolivar.” As the first part gets rolling, almond and stout are prevalent, as if one mixed a milk stout with some almond butter. Delightful. There’s a faint hint of heated raisins, and that remarkable Habanos “twang” that cannot be labeled. Some mineral, too, playing on the wide sides of my tongue. Not harsh, just a nice presence in the mix. The smoke output is mostly good, but starts to get a little wispy before I realize that the burn line is already wonky. Just a quick touch up and we’re back in action, with plumes of smoke. Very creamy mouthfeel, and I’m starting to get the faint sense of apricot brandy. Strength is a touch over medium, body is full. A lot of cigars taste good. Others go beyond that, doing a tango across the different regions of the tongue. I’m experiencing the latter right about now. Second third is a remarkable blend of woodsy aroma and leather, taking over for the mineral quality from before. Stout is still powerful on the front half of the tongue. The apricot brandy has been turned up to 11, and some more toast comes into the mix. Not sourdough, probably more of a rye bread. Dark and nutty, heavy and hearty. Medium espresso poured all over everything. Bread pudding or panettone affogato, with a shot of Disarrono on top… served with a Guinness in a leather-walled room. Yes, please! Near the middle I have to relight… right at the soft patch that I felt earlier. No detriment to the flavor whatsoever. Going into the final act, the coffee and leather become dominant. Faint traces of citrus here and there, as well as some dark but floral honey. Almost seems to be some extremely dark chocolate, nearly 100% cocoa, but very far away. Getting near the end, some heated clove, not enough to be offensive, and the citrus turns into stone fruit. Again, some apricot but without the brandy. As I get to the band, there is no fruit left, and honey morphs into a dark, almost burnt caramel, but not at all unpleasant. A little red pepper, too, but not overpowering. Coffee and leather still dominate, all the way to the nub, which turns just minimally bitter. An hour and twenty minute smoke, and I’m still convinced… There is nothing like a Bolivar. Gets a 94 from me.

Couple of recents: JLS2 from 2018: looked fugly, tasted good. Fairly strong still. The JL citrus was there. Should I buy another box? I don’t want one often, but they are usually very satisfying when I do. MdO4 from 2017: tight draw but workable. Jeez these have such a complex, savoury profile. This was great to the last third but then tightened up too much in cool outdoor conditions. A super, old-school cigar. Monte Esp.2 2019: tight draw, needed a poke. Cuban quality control is a joke. Pretty classic concentrated Monte cocoa here. I love this size, but there are only two left in the catalogue. Nudies Queen Corona. I didn’t love this I’m afraid, it was a bit peppery for me. Lovely appearance and construction though. I’ll just rest the others and try again later.

Today's game is open for registration, folks... who's in?

In the same boat with Bolivar, tried periodically over 20 years, just can’t connect with the blends (RC, BBF, even CG). All taste dirty to me. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well everyone has their own systems. For me “complexity” is: 1. How much the flavour of a cigar develops and changes over the course of the smoke. 2. How many different and distinct flavours there are. For me often PCs are more “two dimensional” but the notes that are there come through more strongly. Monty 3 pure chocolate and coffee. PLPC pure salted caramel. Party Aristocrats consistently start sweetish with a honey nut cornflake note and then some paprika later, etc. etc. I find Robustos more variable from stick to stick and both more subtle on palette and “more going on” in terms of specific tastes. I may be alone in this though, I dunno

I hope to visit some day.

And a Lancero!

There's a couple of marcas I just don't get, Bolivar being one of them. That being said, I saw some value in picking up a box in a trade when they wanted more of my stash and I had taken the cherries I knew I'd like that they had to offer. I was exceptionally pleased to find the hallowed 'dot' sticker implying this may have come from our Host. The 1st puff is great. Toasted tobacco, hint of creme, Guinness foam. It's straight downhill from there. Hot leather predominates, but I can taste traces of gingerbread, sweet coffee, Guniness, cacao. I purposefully set it down between puffs to ensure I'm not just burning too hot. It doesn't help, the leather is powerful and unrelenting. I struggle thru til about the band and am rewarded with savory richness, toasted marshmellows, light roast coffee. I get about an inch of satisfaction before the nub is too hot to physically deal with and bitterness sets in. I'm sure people love this. I do not. I'll give this a 4/10. A great cigar that I just don't care for. @Capn_Jackson

Not sure what you mean.

There is a before and an after your first visit @ HOG, beware. Collection is beyond impressive, subastas, jars, pre-embargo, pre-castro, you name it. Mourade Hendor, their Habanos Master is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. I'd live there, I would have a membership for sure...Enjoy.

I've been a member of FOH for years but am not proficient in discerning various nuances of cigar tobacco. However, I know a couple 3 things about CA. cabernets. The Pahlmeyer cabernet is top tier although a little early for drinking as the 2018 vintage needs time. I'm sure it was decanted for a couple of hours. Pahlmeyer is not a big production wine so the winery's attention to production is top-notch. It must have been quite enjoyable juice.

Another excellent episode. My wife and I both enjoy listening as we relax after a long work day. Keep up the good work boyz.