Popular Post PigFish Posted September 19, 2010 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2010 I owed myself a good cigar today. Not that I don't owe myself a good cigar everyday but today I wanted to sit an hour and just "gell" over a good cigar. I was a little pissed today after battling with Lady Piggy over typical husband/wife ****. I went out to the vet to pick up the shots for the horses, and while I was out I decided to pick myself up a new Harley lighter. Not a bad one either for about 25 smackers! I like lighters and since I am not in the financial shape to be buying new Duponts... Zippos will have to do. I don't review as much as I should. As an active member here I think we all owe to the community, to actively review but I must admit that I was driven a bit by Bwana's offer of some of the Tampa customs as a potential reward. Who says that a well priced cigar or a free cigar for that matter is not a motivator??? I chose today a nice Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale in the cool of the late afternoon. With my cigar I drank a little iced coffee, some that I had brewed but not drank that morning and tuned in my favorite rightwing extremist radio talk host. One of my neighbors was working in her yard, she supports the opposition, so I clicked up the radio to just a threshold below pain and went to the task at hand. This was a beautiful cigar, not only to smoke but to look at. The wrapper was all but perfect with one Marilyn Monroe blemish. The wrapper was a light colorado color, the cigar possessed a moderate box press, was firm to touch and to draw. This one just about kills the top row of the box meaning that I will have to move the rest into the loose storage area and will have room for one more box! Unfortunately, these are irreplaceable in my mind. While we are on the subject of draw, there was a recent thread on the board regarding cigar cutting. While I am not anyones' go to guy for lessons on cigar cutting, I do smoke a lot of cigars from those 'lost years.' By lost years I mean the several years that have a rather dubious reputation for poor draws. As a result I have become accustomed to stiff drawing cigars and enjoy them more than those that draw like straws. Also as a result I have become accustomed to cutting cigars with a method that opens the greatest number of airways. Is this the foot or the head? This is what I consider a well cut cigar. The cigar started mild and was a bit overwhelmed by my stout coffee beverage. That perception was retired as the cigar progressed. There is something rewarding about smoking a cigar that you have nurtured by yourself for a number of years. This cigar represented well that reward in stalwart fashion. The cigar's flavor was smooth, even and yet progressive. The unctuous nature of the cigar became apparent as the cigar progresses moving from creaminess to oily on a gradually inclined linear scale. The main flavors, unpronounced and well balanced included honied oats, mint and mixed nuts. There was no dry grassiness, nicotine or capsaicin. I prefer a bit more aromatics but since this cigar had good character and constitution without it, I was happy to do without. This could have been an early morning cigar as well as my late afternoon cigar. The foot took to flame well and that too is good reason for discussion. Why do I enjoy mostly medium and small ring cigars? While the question is broad even burn and consistent smoking are certainly two of those reasons. There has to be a limit as to how much tobacco can be burned with air supplied by the average smoker. Medium and thin cigars are easy to light and keep lit. This cigar burned with exceptional ease and required no relights. The tobacco appeared to burn completely without exceptional heat. Smoking this cigar was really easy. The technique that I used was what I call a dot, dash technique. One brisk puff of about half my natural smoking volume and shortly thereafter a more complete puff, one of near full volume. The dot jumpstarts the smoldering tobacco and moves the initial pulse of smokey flavor towards my palate. The second puff is for consumption, full and rich as a result of complete combustion. This technique engulfed my immediate area, and my palate with rich smoke. By this method the cigar delivered ample flavor without overheating or relighting. My company... Overall this was an excellent and while not one of the 10 best this year it is surely notable and worthwhile. It sure would be nice to know that I could get these in a 2010 vintage, that my supply could be limitless. While the time of life and enjoyment of a good cigar is limited, I suppose that these have run their lifespan in the eyes of someone and it is unfortunate. I can only be glad that this person or these persons are not in charge of my lifeline considering how foolish they appear to be with the lives of my favorite smoking partners. Thanks for reading. -Piggy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daboose Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Mighty fine. I just finished a Party Short and now inspired to give the dot/dash a try…off to the deck! Thanks for the review Piggy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dochowl Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Fantastic review... inspiring, educational and insightful. I'm so inspired I may have to pull one of these out and give it a shot... mine are Oct 01 and have been hit and miss for draw. I'll cross my fingers and give it a go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeafLover Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Ray, great review and pics. Looks like you had some great quality time with your RG. Prios for posting your draw technique as well. I'm sure you've piqued some interest in your dot-dash technique as well. I for one will experiment with it. I'm sure I've done it in the past, but not in a conscious manner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrody Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thanks Piggy. I would love to see a review of an LE next time... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmycaution Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Amazing review, thanks very much. I bet these would be outstanding cigars if available in a current vintage. I haven't smoked many cigars from the "lost years", but I think my favorite kind of draw is when it feels like the cigar is plugged and you end up with a mouthful of smoke. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicky Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 My company... Thanks for reading. -Piggy Is that "Dot" or "Dash" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanceSchmerr Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 This was a hell of a review, Ray - makes us look like rank amateurs! I love the RG Lonsdales - couldn't be happier to have snagged a box of 01's in Spain. Some of them feel a little tight, but so far they are smoking like cocoa/gingerbread, and the woodsy spice I love from RG's.....These are smokes that I will truly miss when they are gone! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88keys Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Great review! My box of RG Lonsdales is OCT 01 and they are excellent. They're also all tight. I go at them with pokers of some kind my wife used to use on a turkey. In fact I look forward to all sorts of preliminaries with these because besides working on the draw I have to sniff the box a little. It has an incredibly distinctive aroma, actually like perfume. Then I have to re-read the antiquated printed message asking you to smoke them right away or let them rest for a year. It's a fun sidelight that the packaging of Habanos never seems to change much. If someone handed me this box and told me it was from 40 years ago I could believe it. The problem is when it comes to the biggest change of all -- deleting a great cigar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micha Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thanks for this great review. I adore the format of this cigar, looks just perfect even with those minor beauty flaws. I also like the pictures pretty much, good camera work and I am drawn to those closeup shots. Those are the ones I tend to like most when taking pictures of my boxes. Seems to me that cigars a just made for those kind of pictures. Reading your description I would very much like to try one of those. Seems to be a pity that they aren't available any more. Interesting to read about your drawing technique. I am actually often drawing on my cigars like that unconsciously. Seems the best way to get just the right amount of smoke into my mouth. Thanks again for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torpo Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thanks for the review, Piggy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealRon Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Another brilliant review, Ray! Many thanks!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckSARTech Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Awesome review, Piggy! I tell ya, if I have to lose to you (when I get a review done myself), then I'm glad it was with this review. Well done - it put me in the cigar-smoking mood, man! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartolomeo Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Excellent review as usual Ray Bart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javonazul Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Excelent review!! I have the possibility of snatching one box of 01s for a mere 275 bucks. Would you jump at it? Or is the risk too high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrink Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Still have about half a box of Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdales NRG DEC05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habana Mike Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Hey Piggy! Haven't seen a review of yours in ages. Miss your style. Wholeheartedly agree with the dot-dash draw approach, pretty much how I go about it as well in most cases. Let's have some encores! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGC Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Nice review Ray. I use the exact same puff technique (except for small panatelas, etc.). I know some guys like to write lengthy reviews, but I find that it distracts from the smoking experience for me. Sometimes I feel motivated; but I'll just write based on mental notes taken. I can't stand having to write or take notes while smoking a good cigar. After getting older (not old) and having experienced medical issues... I tend to concentrate on living in the present (not too much in the past or present). Although, it's human nature to wander outside of the present moment... and necessary in some aspects of life. Unfortunately, I lacked the funds and foresight to load up on some cervantes/lonsdales/dalias. I'm down to just partial cabs of Partagas Lonsdales/898's, SLR Lonsdales, and Hoyo des D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinfullyPatient Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 Blast from the past Ray. Thank you for writing this review. Proof of the value of good reviews. Was just shopping and came across a box of 2002's, did a quick search, came across your review and pulled the trigger. I'll let you know how they are. @PigFish 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigFish Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share Posted October 21, 2017 @SinfullyPatient Nice cigars mate. Enjoy them. Been planning on doing a video review of these. Man, review from 7 years ago. My how time flies!!! -Piggy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 That would be great Ray! I love your video reviews my friend! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treberty Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 Hi Ray... a little off-topic, but I was always told that Zippos and cigars were not a good combination. Either you don’t believe in this theory or you’re a rebel Either way, I’d be interested to know what’s your take on this. thanks - and great review by the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigFish Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 On 11/8/2017 at 5:43 PM, treberty said: Hi Ray... a little off-topic, but I was always told that Zippos and cigars were not a good combination. Either you don’t believe in this theory or you’re a rebel Either way, I’d be interested to know what’s your take on this. thanks - and great review by the way! Zippo has got a jet insert. I can taste 'diesel powered' lighters and won't use one. I love Zippos. I also love the torch type lighter. I combine the two and get everything I want when not using a Dupont. Cheers! -R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treberty Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Will definitely look for the inserts. Learn something new every day... Thanks Ray! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigFish Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 4 hours ago, treberty said: Will definitely look for the inserts. Learn something new every day... Thanks Ray! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXF7KW4/ref=asc_df_B00JXF7KW45258767/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B00JXF7KW4&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167129443640&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8647932987955694353&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031174&hvtargid=pla-306740875905 -PIggy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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