I fear for my bank account!

[Polarskates]

so, what cigars have you had in the last 5 days? the PSD4 is a firm fav of mine, as is the party P2!!! i was never attracted to nor blown away by the esplendido, what did you think of it? alex

My last 5 days smokes:

1 x H. Upmann Magnum 46 - My favourite so far, nice even burn, good draw, good aroma, creamy and oily.

1 x Diplomaticos No. 1 - Again good draw, good amount of smoke but a little bland?

1 x Montecristo Open Regata - Awful! Very tight, little smoke, very harsh and horrible burn, ending up chucking it halfway thru.

2 x Montecristo Juniors - Not much better than the Regatta, still very tight and harsh but finished both. Wouldn't bother with them again.

1 x PSD4 - My 2nd favourite. Lovely draw and burn. Very creamy with rich flavours and lots of smoke. (my possible daily smoker)

1 x Esplendido - 2nd time i've had one of these, the first was my very first cigar and i loved it but since smoking a few others now i dont think its worth the extra ?15-?20. May have to wait until my knowledge improves and i can appreciate it properly maybe?

[senor_robusto]

hey polarskates,
that's an impressive list!!!! i think most would agree here that cohibas and montecristos are a bit 'hit and miss'!!! when you get good ones, boy are they good!!! but when you get duff ones...... you curse the fact you bought them!!! the only cohibas i bother with are the robustos, siglo 6's and maduro secretos!!! as for the montes, i do like the no.5's and 3's & petite edmundos, but as a brand, i'm not overlly enamored with the montecristo blend and flavour!!

on the whole, my 'go to' brands are partagas, trinidad, bolivar, vegas robaina, cuaba and now h upmann (i've now 'acquired' the taste)!!!

my suggestion to you now is, since you liked the h upmann magnum 46, try the magnum 50!!! approx ?18 a stick!!! you'll not be disappointed!!! i've went through 3 boxes of 10 since dec 09 ( i think)! also, try the partagas p2 (approx ?18)!!! if you liked the PSD4, you'll LOVE these!!! another great stick, IMO, is the hoyo de monterray epicure especial (again, approx ?18 a stick)!!!! for smaller sticks, try the cohiba maduro secretos (approx ?10), montecristo no. 5 (?8), trinidad reyes (?9), cuaba traditionales (?7) and finally, the partagas shorts (?6)!!! just my humble suggestions........

hope this helps!!!

all the best,

alex

[Polarskates]

Cheers Alex
It's all good info...my local "Little Havana" in Edinburgh has the PSD4 for ?9 at the moment so i think i'm going to get 5 this week and try to make them last til the end of the month. Maybe get a box of 10 of the Magnums after pay day.
Thanks
Barry.

[senor_robusto]

cheers barry,
perhaps you should get acquainted with the scottish 'chapter' of the UKCF BOTL!!! they may be able to help point you in the right direction of some good deals, and good places to smoke them!!! maybe you'll be able to HERF with them sometime in scotland?

all the best mate,

alex

[senor_robusto]

btw, here's some info i found for you:

http://www.uk-cigars.co.uk/places/s/scotland.htm

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/viewindex.asp?article_id=shop_edincigar&

http://www.whisky-cigars.co.uk/

http://www.whiskymag.com/directory/regional/scotland/where_to_buy/cigar_retailers/

http://www.edinburghonline.co.uk/local/Shopping/Tobacco_and_Tobacconists/

hope this helps.......

alex

[Polarskates]

Cheers Alex, I hadn't seen the first link before, might have a look this weekend. The WhiskyMag Directory i have saved on my phone, luckily I travel about Scotland with work so hope to get visit most of those during the course of the year.

Working from home today and i'm very tempted to pop down to Little Havana at Leith to get a few more sticks

[rokkitsci]

I'm hoping this is just my enthusiasm for my new recreation and also until I find the perfect cigar for me? Or is the search for the 'one' endless?

Welcome to the club, mate.

A very educated cigar smoking friend explained the mystique to me.

You know that the next cigar you try will be the perfect one.

Unfortunately, it's always the next cigar...

[Polarskates]

Welcome to the club, mate.

A very educated cigar smoking friend explained the mystique to me.

You know that the next cigar you try will be the perfect one.

Unfortunately, it's always the next cigar...

I'm starting to realise this.....what suprises me tho is what seems a lack of quality control for such a premium product. Understandably these are hand made products so perfection can never be guaranteed but they do seem to vary wildly from what I see (with my limited knowledge).

Also experienced what I think was bloom or mold today. Purchased a 3 pack of Upmann Magnum 46 (2006 date label), when I opened them all 3 were covered in white fuzzy spots from cap to foot all the way around, I pretty much recoiled in horror when I saw it, I also noticed 1 foot had a split and 1 looked a bit crushed so I took them back. The retailer was a bit miffed when asked if I could replace them with something else, saying there's nothing wrong with them? After checking up with some other posts on here, I'm pretty sure it was mold.

I'm learning fast!

[tippexx]

[QUOTE=Polarskates;97386] The retailer was a bit miffed when asked if I could replace them with something else, saying there's nothing wrong with them?

What? Name and Shame. He ought to have been ashamed and horrified!

[r0lan6]

[Polarskates]

[QUOTE=tippexx;97388]

The retailer was a bit miffed when asked if I could replace them with something else, saying there's nothing wrong with them?

What? Name and Shame. He ought to have been ashamed and horrified!

Thought that was against the rules? I'm a bit reluctant to do that as it is my local and up until today the service and sticks have been good. Saying that I have always dealt with one of the assistants who has been very helpful and today it was actually the owner.

[daverave999]

Mould or not, if you're not happy with them I don't see why he shouldn't replace them. From what I understand, mould is patchy but bloom should be reasonably consistent all over.

[Polarskates]

Mould or not, if you're not happy with them I don't see why he shouldn't replace them. From what I understand, mould is patchy but bloom should be reasonably consistent all over.

Don't get me wrong he did replace them. But was miffed that i had questioned the quality of them (as well as the bloom/mold there was a split foot and a crushed foot) and the "there's nothing wrong with them" comment was all bluster on his part.

Anyhow I came away with 6 PSD4, smoked one earlier and it was top notch!

Won't write the shop off totally but will probably go elsewhere first now.

[Soulmanure]

Mould or not, if you're not happy with them I don't see why he shouldn't replace them. From what I understand, mould is patchy but bloom should be reasonably consistent all over.

Seconded, and I believe mold should have a fuzzy consistency while bloom is crystalline. Had to send a box back because of mold. Not a happy day.

[G-man]

In search of the "Holy Grail of Cigars" are we !
I've been at this 13 + years now and have yet to find it.
Today I found it while tomorrow its gone ! Dam Taste Buds !
6000 cigars later I've got it Watson !
Good Luck and my the cutters guide U