TobaccoRoad

"...with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high water mark — that place where the wave finally broke, and rolled back.” Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Cool deal - looking forward to them. I'm an Upmann fan but agree on the HC. Not my favorite vitola. I'm more of a fan of the smaller RGs in the shorter smokes.

I've got a box of those resting for this coming winter smoking season. Looking forward to trying them.

No change at all for me. I've got one Cohiba in my humidor from a trade and there it will stay for now. They were already too expensive for me to justify purchasing, now it's even further beyond consideration. I'll smoke the one I've got sometime and enjoy it for a one-off.

I pulled out a San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe this morning intending to review it for the Most Valuable Vitola contest but half-way through decided against it. Instead I let my mind wander in the midst of that mildly euphoric state of relaxation only obtained through the inhalation of nicotine. It was a beautiful spring morning here in the Southern US. 72 degrees, a light breeze blowing, sun light filtering through the Willow Oak trees. I was watching the Eastern Blue birds fight over the prime nesting spot hollowed in the side of an old fence post that has been home to generations of blue birds in my yard. The robins digging worms to take back to their chicks. The squirrels hopping around trying to remember just where they buried those pecans last fall. Laughed at a Mockingbird who scolded me every time I got near her nest in an Azalea bush. Enjoyed the intoxicating citrus and jasmine aroma of our Mock Orange bush in full bloom. I was experiencing all of these miracles of life and existence too intensely to find the concentration to review a cigar. There have been many long threads concerning the future of Cuban cigars and our ability to continue to obtain them. Who knows what the future brings? Right now I am just going to focus on being grateful for the ones that I do have. I intend to enjoy every single one I smoke and enjoy every single day to the fullest. Nicotine is a wonderful drug...

At the end of the day, if I can afford it. I will continue to smoke habanos. If I cannot then I will smoke NC's. I'm envious of the members here who've been doing this long enough or had the resources to stock up for a long dry spell. I started purchasing CC's about 2 1/2 years ago with a monthly budget that I've stuck to (well mostly). I'm pretty much a daily smoker and at current consumption I've got about 2 1/2 years worth of stock. With recent pricing increases I'm already anticipating adding in some quality NC weekday smokes and stretching my habanos stock by making them weekend or special occasion smokes. IMO- The only way this new pricing policy works is if they get a handle on QC. A luxury brand cannot be established with occasionally plugged, inconsistently rolled, flavor/wrapper varies from box to box cigars.

Spent the last hour watching Norman Gunston interviews. I had never heard of him before. Some classic comedy there.

I see the BOTL acronym used a lot. It's warm and fuzzy to think that everyone on this forum is honorable, upright and participating in this hobby with purely altruistic motives. It's also extremely naive. In any community, especially anonymous online forums, there lurks the best and the worst of human nature. There are some fine people here at FOH. I've been lucky enough to trade with a few. I'm sure there are less upright and reputable folks here too. I haven't had the misfortune to trade or transact any business with them. If I do in the future then the old adage applies: Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Move on with lesson learned.

There is a small family restaurant in Denton N.C. call "The Classic". It's all you can eat home cooking comfort food. Every time I visit I eat enough pulled pork and fried side meat to keep my arteries clogged for months. So freaking good.

It depends on the cigars and your preferences. The bad news is there is no easy answer to your questions. The good news is that there are no wrong answers. The best news is that you will learn from your experiences. I'm a couple of years into this hobby and enjoying the ride.

I have heard that it is pretty much the same dish. Livermush is just a more descriptive name. I have to admit that scrapple sounds much more appetizing.

I purchased some Tapados and Mananitas a couple of years back. The construction was good -pretty consistent. The flavor profile was very woody and bland, it did not remind me of any other habano. It didn't seem to be the type of cigar that would benefit from age. Not a bad smoke by any means, just not my cup of tea. Honestly if it was between these two Vegueros and similarly priced non-cuban smokes it would be a coin flip type of decision for me.

Livermush is pork liver, other asst'd pork scraps with corn meal and spices. Sousemeat is a head cheese made from pig heads. Both are fully cooked, formed into blocks and you slice and eat. Sort of like Spam made from pork offal. Livermush is a little more mainstream. It's pretty common restaurant menu item fried up and served with eggs. I love it sliced cold on a two pcs. of white bread with mustard. Sousemeat is not as common. I tried sousemeat sandwiches with my Dad when I was little, but never really cared for it. It's not the flavor but the appearance and the texture of it. That said, many consider it a delicacy.

Interesting post. You should treat them to a delicacy from the US South next time- Fried Livermush. It's name turns many people off and honestly it looks sort of plain when you put it on a plate. But it is truly delicious. At least in my opinion. Stock photo:

On the front of the humidor? at the local Harris-Teeter (grocery store).

My wife smokes with me several nights a week. But she will only smoke infused cigars. She's tried many of the CC's recommended in this thread but likes the infused better. I actually feel pretty lucky. As long as I keep her humidor stocked with what she likes. I have companionship while smoking and she never complains about what I spend.

The PL Picadores are one of the reasons I smoke CC's today. A few years back I purchased a blind assortment of cigars from a veteran smoker on another cigar board. It was the only habano included in a very strong lineup of high end NC's. I realized it was a CC but didn't think much of it. I'd had CC's before and liked them but had never really considered buying them. Something clicked when I smoked this particular cigar. About half way through and I had decided to track down and buy a box. So it was my first box purchase and was my gateway into purchasing CC's. I've since found many habanos that I like better but I'll always have a soft spot for Picadores. In fact I have a box on the way now from a recent 24:24 purchase. I still have 2 squirreled away from that first box. I'll get around to smoking them one day.

I left a job as the working manager of a machine shop in 2016 and took a job in Inside Sales for a Power Transmission supply company. My now 57 yo body appreciates the fact I'm not on my feet all day, my hands never get dirty and I make a lot more money with better benefits. Plus it's 8 to 5 m-f with no late nights or weekends. I certainly don't feel like I am as productive as before, but if you can't beat'em, join'em.

One of my nephews is a Winston-Salem Firefighter. He was on duty and one of the first crews to roll-up on the fire. Haven't gotten any updates beyond what is being reported on the news. Hoping to get his version of events in the future.

Haven't had one in recent years but have had them many years back and really liked them. At that point I was comparing them to the NC's I was smoking then. Right now I've got one in my singles humi from a trade. Sort of anxious about smoking it. I'll probably love it. Champagne Taste with a Beer Budget. Story of my life...

That's North Carolina for you.

I'm going to call that a troll. At least that way I don't have to confront the possibility that there are folks visiting this site that are ignorant enough to send that email.

I got a Cam Newton and Sam Darnold duet for Christmas... The Panthers are a dumpster fire right now.

I didn't intend to imply that purchasing a mystery box was mandatory, or even a good idea. Just that it tickled my personal fancy. Keeping in mind that everyone's cigar journey is unique and on different timelines. I was honestly cool with whatever CC was sent as I am in the exploratory part of my journey. I had never tried the PLPC and probably will never get to purchase them again in that price range. So it worked to my advantage. Whereas an experienced collector like yourself has a more targeted approach to purchasing. I definitely see your point. Looking at it realistically, I don't know why a vendor would take the risk of unsatisfied customers and complaints. Why not just advertise the cigars at a good deal and sell them to the folks that like them. For a 100% certainty any of the boxes mentioned would have sold out on the merit of the discounted price without the gimmick of the mystery box.

I stumbled across one of the mystery box deals and bought it last year for the novelty. $205 was not a big spend and I was very pleased with the cab of PLPC's. Sort of like buying yourself a Christmas present knowing that it is something you are going to like, even if you've already got some. And still being surprised when you get it. I would definitely consider doing it again. When you think about it. Buying boxes of CC's, even hand selected boxes, is a mystery box purchase. No matter what they look like, smell like or what the box code or date is, until you rest them a little bit and fire one up. You don't really know what you've got. Chasing the good boxes and the spectacular smoke is all part of the mystique. Take all of the mystery out of it and it would not be so enjoyable.