Playing Catch-Up Again

Can't sleep again...so I figured I'll update the blog, with some new favorites

Here is the Quesada Qd'etat Molotov,  not many shops carried this one and whenever I find one I pick it up.  I recently learned this is was a limited release from Quesada.

 

 

I usually try and stay under $10 per stick for my cigar. It can get kind of expensive, expecially since I buy only single sticks and I smoke 2-3 cigars a day.   It is for this reason I shyed away from Graycliff.  Then I learned that Graycliff has cigars for all budgets. Showcased at the IPCPR, the B-cuz Triple Robusto (it looked like a Toro to me) retails for $7.50

 

 

I am really enjoying the cigars that Viaje has recently released. Here is the Honey and Hand Grenades Rapier.  The HHG is a perfecto, that looks like a reversed torpedo. On the fuller side this is definitly not your first cigar of the day cigar!

 

I'm a big fan of the La Aroma de Cuba line from Ashton Cigar and blended  the Garcia Family .  This is the much awaited Mi Amor Reserva. a thoroughly enjoyable full bodied smoke.



 

 

Value Cigars, are big these days,  Bob Bennett the West Coast Reap for Altadis USA tells me that Vega Fina is the #1 selling non-cuban cigar is spain.  This the recently released Vega Fina Fortaleza 2 which, when compared to the original Vega Fina, features a much fuller flavor profile.

 

Matt Booth from Room 101 will be at Ambassador Fine Cigars West this Friday and I am looking forward to spending some time with him.  Several months ago I was given a pre-release of the Daruma and have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the actual cigar in the shops here in Phoenix.  Earlier this month I picked up a Room 101 by Camacho 305 at Cigar King. Per Matt this is Salon Cigar and Not a Boutique Cigar.

 

I picked this next one up because I was curious about the Bolivar line.  Several of my friends from the Great White North love their Cuban Cigars aka the Forbidden Fruit.  This  is  the Non-Cuban version Toro  made by General Cigar. This one had some age on it and at $7.60 and you betcha I bought more.

 

 

 

I was recently gifted a Viaje 5th Anniversary.  Wow, it certainly lived up to the hype.  and I am glad to read that this blend will not be a one and done.  Yup the label is white on white!

 

 

As I has mentioned in previous post, I think the way the way the Perdomo family interacts with their consumers is remarkable. This is the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro.  Yes this was also well worth the wait.

 

 

 

 

Later til the next time #KeepATightAsh

Follow Me on Twitter @JRWeigand

 



A Rare Midweek Post

Decided to update my blog midweek, I guess I am trying to not be such a procrastinator.  As I mentioned in my previous posts I am working my way through the new arrivals from the 2012 IPCPR Show.

 

One of the most anticipated arrivals had to be Tatuaje Cigars 2012 TAA,  This was so anticipated some jackass high jacked the prototype.  I believe this is only available at four retailers in the PHX, I picked this one up at Ye Old Pipe and Tobacco in Central Phoenix. The cigar is in the $11 range and is the same blend as the 2011. The consensus from me and my cigar smoking friends is that we liked the 2011 better.

 

Brandon Puckett, aka Stogie Bear aka Oso Fabuloso, has a weekly You Tube show called the Bear in the Cross Hairs. His reviews are spot on and he doesn't  mince words. He also knows my palette and is able to make a recommendation that 9 times out of 10 I will enjoy.  The Origen from J Fuego was something I picked up purely after Brandon's review and it didn't disappoint.

 

 

The L' Atleier from Pete Johnson is another one I have been patiently awaiting its arrival.  This  is the L'Atleier LAT 52, a wonderful cigar. 

 

 

The Pinar Del Rio Liga Especial Reserva Superior,  Pinar Del Rio has gotten some mixed reviews in the past year.  However based on several recommendations I gave on a try.  $8 is a fair price, however this is definitely not a first cigar of the morning, in fact I recommend eating s Porterhouse with baked potato before smoking but man is it a good cigar.

 

 

The Surrogates Crystal Baller from Tatuaje and L'Atelier is box pressed vitolo, that retails for about $8  I didn't like this as much as the LAT 52 and some of the other new bundled cigars that Pete has added to his lines, which I will talk about later.

 

This post is largely about the "Value Cigar."  I really enjoyed the C & C Corojo that I picked up at Cigar King.   This is the newer C & C Connecticut,  at $3.95 it is a great morning, first stick of the day, cigar.  I look forward to more arriving from C & C soon.

Sunday is for Football, at Fine Ash Cigar and  Sam and Rosie Lopez are great hosts!  After a shift at the Home Show, I high tailed it home and made my way to Fine Ash for the Cardinals Game.  I wanted a lancero and something I hadn't tried before.  So I picked up the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label Original.  Excellent- and at just under $9 still a great value smoke.

 

 

Now its onto two of the new bundle cigars from Tatuaje and L'Atleier

The El Suelo at $3.95 

A great smoke from the get go, I mean seriously look at the foot that is first toast and it stayed that way right thru to the end with not touch ups

 

 

And the Trocadero  at $3.50 and good mild-medium cigar, this one has some construction issues, but it didn't create any problems

 

 

 

I had been eyeing this one for several weeks.  The Asylum Premium Torpedo. Since his non compete with Davidoff expired, Christian Eiroa has been busy fella! The CLE, the Wynwood and now the Asylum.   At $4.95 a great value cigar, that is medium-full bodied with full flavors. 

 

 

 

So far the Highlight of the week was enjoying My Father's Le Bijou 1922 with Eric Parkinson, from Smoke Boutique Cigars, and Jose Ortega VP of Sales for My Father's Cigars at Fair Oaks Cigars in Peoria, AZ.  Loved the Habano Oscuro wrapper, it was complexed and rich and not bad considering it was my third cigar of the day!

 

 

Wonder what the rest of the week will hold...

 

 

Holy Sh*t I Smoke a lot of Cigars

There are so many cigars, and so little time.  Each day I try and smoke something the is new to the shop.  The nice thing is what was ordered at the IPCPR are starting to arrive.

The Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Hermoso

Enjoyed at Cigar King

The Wynwood Mini Diademo from Christian Eiroa

Enjoyed at Ambassador Fine Cigars (Say Hello to Vartan, the Ambassador )

 

 

The Ultra from Illusione, Dion did a helluva job with the cigar. 

 

 

Vartan Saferian, owner of Ambassador Fine at the IPCPR was honored by Davidoff as one of the inaugural Davidoff Golden Band Awards, Davidoff retailers who best embody the Davidoff standard of excellence.   This Cigar is the Davidoff Golden Band Award. 

 



I am becoming a huge fan of Viaje Cigars! This love affair began with the WLP double claro which was released for St Patrick's Day,  The Viaje Oro Collector Edition. 

 

I had been hearing a lot abot the Olivia Series V Melanio Gran Reserva Limitada, not sure what it was but this cigar was huge disappointment.  I'll give it another try in a few weeks...I might have gotten a bad stick.

 



This cigar, the Gran Habano Connecticut "Lunch Break" surprised the crap out of me!  Especially since the cigar was only $4.50  the perfect midday lunch cigar

 

 

 

The Four Kicks Selection #5 from the Crowned Heads is fast becoming one of my go to sticks,  Medium-Full Bodied it is a thorouhly enjoyable cigar.

 

 

 

Let me throw this out there, someone explain to me what is the deal with the big ring guages.  This is the Inch from EP Carrillo,  a 64 Ring Gauge, which amount to 1".  Its huge, well thats what she said. LOL

 

 

As I said earlier I am a huge fan of the cigars from Viaje, This is the Viaje Summerfest 2012 a medium- to full-bodied smoke that is extremely balanced.

 

 

 







The Gurkha Ghost is one I have been wanting since I read about it in a press release,  the best way I can describe this cigar is smooth and complex.  Thanks to Andrew Hopkins and Juan Miguel Villarino for providing me with this cigar.  Much Appreciated!

 

 

WE INTERRUPT THIS POST FOR CIGAR PORN

 

 

 

The much awaited, and anticipated L'Antelier from Pete Johnson,  Next week you are mine ALL mine.

 

 

Brandon Puckett, aka #OsoFabuloso himself, told me to smoke this.  Not to anger the Stogie Bear I picked up the Aging Room F55 Quattro.  This Cigar is #OsoFabuloso.  Thank B! Great recommendation.

 

 

 The Arsen Pink for Men,

Because of the pink label I thought I was smoking an It's A Girl cigar but not the case it's  

 a nice full bodied cigar...

 

 

 

The Gurkha Wicked Indie,  this had been sitting in my humidor, which has finally stabilized!  it was also the first cigar out on the newly reconfigured Hillbilly Hilton.  Evenings are in the high seventies AND Football Season is upon us...

 

 

And for 2012, this is the view from my chair on the newly configured Hillbilly Hilton...Good Times are Awaiting.  The Hillbilly Hilton Where the Beer is Cold and The Grill is Hot...

 

 

 

 

Another #OsoFabuloso recommendation, the Aging Room Havao Connecticut.  Great morning Cigar...

 

Until Next Time...Peace Out

 

 

 

I was doing so well

keeping up with my blog, but things happen and it happens to be called life.

Anyway I digress, so the goods are beginning to arrive from the IPCPRA show that was held this past July in Orlando and it is a good time to be a cigar smoker in the PHX.  These delectable delights are just starting to arrive in the many retail shops and everyday is like Christmas!

We start with the Culebra from the 2012 edition of the Old Man and the C. Ron Alred, was kind enough to split the Culebra with me.  The blend is that of the Black Label Petite Lancero, and one of my favorites, well done Pete well done.







 While, not new this year, I have had several of these in the past and they have all been a disaster.  Chris Davidson, a fellow Brother of the Leaf, described this a a cigar with great flavors, but lousy construction.

The Berger and Argenti Entubar is a full-flavored, limited edition made using the age-old Cuban entubar cigar rolling technique in which each filler leaf is carefully rolled into itself.

This one has sat in the humidor for about a month, and burned perfectly.  I was pleasantly surprised.

BREAKING NEWS: We interrupt this Blog Post for news of a Bank Robbery across the parking lot from Ambassador Fine Cigars in Scottsdale

 

I have been reading a lot about this next cigar, the La Duena Belicoso #2.  Pete Johnson and Janny Garcia really hit it out of the park with this Cigar, not overly complex  but extremely well balanced. I've also enjoyed the La Duena Petite Lancero.

Moving on the newest Cojonu 2012, this beautiful Ecuadorian Habano wrapped box pressed cigar is full of flavor and at $12 and is well worth the price!

Alec Bradley is one of the best values on the market and I don't think there was one I haven't enjoy. Plus their Road Warriors are pretty cool.  At right is the American Classic Blend Torpedo. 

I have been waiting for this cigar ever since Jose Blanco joined Joya De Nicaragua.  I have been waiting and waiting and waiting.  The Cuenca Y Blanco  was well worth the wait, and Jose was right the Lonsdale is the best of the lot.  it is a fairly complex smoked with a great finish, a great finish!

The C & C Corojo, is made well, drawing and burning evenly throughout. And at $4.75 a prices, they're a great value, too!














Finally,another one that I have heard good thing about The 262 Cigar Paradigm Robusto, 4 x 52 that maybe short on length but is big in flavors.

That's all for this week!

#KeepTightAsh

When I Finish this Cigar

I really enjoyed the time spent with Stephen when he was home on leave.  We shared a "Step" Father/Son moment.  Stephen remarked that he had never had a "real cigar", other than a (cough cough weeze, weeze) Black & Mild.  So I went into my humidor cut and toasted a Perdomo Exhibicion for him while I had a Gurkha Ninja Knife. 

What Immediately ensued was the complaining, by his pregnant wife, about the smell of cigar smoke.  

So I promised that, before his leave was over, I would take him to a lounge where we could enjoy a cigar in peace.  We headed up to Fine Ash Cigars, I cut and lit a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne for Stephen and I enjoyed a Tatuaje Capa Especial. 

Upon leaving Fine Ash, Stephen asked a question; "Are Acid's any Good?"  he is damn lucky I didn't post that to the facebook page "Serious Silly Sh*t Said in the Cigar Lounge!"  or Did I

Bonding with your (step) Son over a Cigar $14.93;  recieving text's from your respective wives say "It's time to come home, Now!"  $adness;  Being doused by Fabreeze when you walk in the door.  $Priceless

Earlier this week, I decided to return some emails and phone call over a cigar at Cigar King in Scottsdale.  Brandon pointed me in the direction the Cigar King Gold Series Lancero.

Mitchell Hirsch, the proprietor of Cigar King, works with several manufacturers to produce some very exciting brands that are exclusive to Cigar King.  Brandon explained to me that Willie Herrera (now with Drew Estate)  created this blend, for Cigar King, 5 years ago.

This was an enjoyable medium to full bodied cigar., that is not overpowering. The best part is the price point $5.95 per stick!

In recent weeks, when short on time and not wanting to spend a whole lot of money on cigar, I've picked up the Padron 2000.  In my humble opinion this cigar is an excellent value cigar.  The retail price on this cigar was $4.95 per stick

Last night we had, hopefully our last indoor meeting, of the West Valley Cigar Club.  Due to triple digit temperatures, we have had our events at Fine Ash Cigars in Avondale, Ambassador Fine Cigars-West in Peoria, and last night Fair Oaks Cigar in Peoria was our host.

This Ashton Cabinet paired very well my Yuengling Lager!
Thank's Again Chet, it is much appreciated!

#KEEP TIGHT ASH