Puros Y Vino

Ever since I started smoking back in 2009. The Habanos verification site (verificacion.habanos.com) has been absolute garbage. You either get the site to load, enter you info, do the "I am not a robot" captcha thingy and.......................nada. It just sits there when I use Firefox and then gives you a "verification expired" message. It does even weirder things with different browsers. If by a miracle you are able to get in. I've found I've been limited to 5 queries and then locked out for 24 hours before I can submit more serial#'s. Given how much price gouging Habanos has been engaging in, how can they not throw some money at this system and improve it? As a buyer(less so these past few years) this is a frustrating tool. What do distributors and retailers have at their disposal? Do they have access to a different tool? Or do they have to use this one? Is there no one at Habanos that has a clue about IT? They surely make use of it when they have to render upcoming cigar releases for their regular site. Or generate virtual backgrounds for their live events. What is everyone's experience with that site? Do you have issues getting results? Are you able to get your queries done without issues? Are you limited by how many you can do? What browsers seem to work better? I find some have more success than others and that some browser add-ons or plugins can make it worse. @El Presidente what do you as a retailer have access to? Do the larger distributors have to use this piece of garbage too? IMO. This site should be globally redundant and be able to handle at least 10K simultaneous connections. And more importantly that backend data must be supported at all levels so that it can be secured, trusted and kept up to date. /rant off 😕

The Human Fund. This is the only option. Lead by dedicated humanitarian, George Costanza and generously funded by Vandeleigh Industries.

Very interesting. You can preview most of the book from this link on Google Books

Hmmmm.. Hamlet? Shakespeare? "Beast with two backs" This image...

Yikes. Give you the swab test, grab one of your hairs from your jacket when you're not looking, if hair sample matches DNA swab:case closed the next day!!! 😬

This panned out like I thought it would. The data would be sold. It's very valuable and IMO dangerous. This data will not be used for the betterment of the human race. Only for the betterment of profits for the medical and pharmaceutical establishment. If I want to find out about my history, I'll stick to speaking to my living relatives.

The bit just past the 11 minute mark is often debated. IMO he's not off. I believe he is referencing the Punch Mantua. Basically saying people were raving about it, but it doesn't taste like a Punch. He also mentioned how he was offered an RA but was told it doesn't taste like an RA. I think back to the retro green and white banded EL and RE's. I totally see what he means. There are some great cigars under a marca where the flavour profile just doesn't match. He then mentions that Cubans today, don't taste like the ones from the 90's. Technically he's right. The tobacco strains are different. I find that some RE's do not taste anything like the regular cigars in the lineup. The RA Extra EL from 2011. Very good cigar. Doesn't remind me of an RA. The Punch Mantua. LOVE IT. But not really a Punch. If I smoke a Punch Punch or DC, I taste "Punch". Taste is subjective OFC and there are so many factors at play. He also takes the "New World" moniker to task as well. I think it stands as a good descriptor for NC's. It's ripped from the wine world. "New World" wines are transplants of old world vines. New World cigars are often offshoots of Cuban seed. I think it works as a delineation. Interesting video so far. The AI generated content is somewhat disturbing though. 😬 The bit on why EMS aged cigars is enlightening. Never occurred to me. This is around the 22 minute mark. His overall remarks on aging seem logical as well. You really get an impression of how logistics play into things.

Nice to see the TPB influencing hearts and minds in Shanghai.😁. Welcome.

I have a good variety to pick from, but the following tend to make it my rotation quite often. Regular Production: PSD4, HUHC, Quinteros, Petit Quintero, HU Mag 50, HU Connie A, Siglo II (Before price increases. Now I spread them out) Specials: LESF/DJ, Punch Mantua, RACF, Monsdale custom rolls.

There's something else that fits the "Gets Tougher When You Hit It" bill. 😁

2004 PSD4

So many NC's are blends from different countries. You'd have to add "puros" at the end if single origin. FWC doesn't sound great to me. Falls into jingoistic language. Is Cuba less free than China? New world has more appeal and may be more accurate. And since so much language in the cigar world borrows from the wine world, it makes sense.

Espresso for me. I've tried many cigar / whiskey pairings. I always found that whisky overpowers even the strongest of cigars. So I enjoy the whiskey separately.

Hotel: Excellence Mayan Riviera (AI). Runner up. The Phoenician Scottsdale AZ. Bar: Been to many. Can't say I remembered much about them besides being competent, had a good atmosphere and did not drain my wallet too fast. I'll go with something personal. The little bar in my father's hometown in Italy. It was there before he was born and in 2019 I visited and my uncle and aunt sat in that very bar with me. They reminisced on how my father, would take them to watch the only TV in town while he enjoyed some wine and cigarettes at age that would have raised a few eyebrows. Restaurant: Can't remember the exact name but it was in Rome in the Travestere region. We were on a tour and the outdoor setting by the river was picturesque. The food and ambiance was just like the family get togethers I remember as a kid. Runner Up: Au Pied de Cochon (Montreal). Been there several times. Excellent place for French Canadian cuisine. Pork, duck, foie gras, maple syrup, maple beer and a great wine list.