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Following Tom Major's really interesting travel piece about riding to a beach and having a cigar. I thought maybe a little travel monologue here might be interesting. Where the travel is the thing, rather than the "what price was stick X and airport Y". Those threads are incredibly useful, don't get me wrong. I'm not denigrating them in the slightest, but if any of my fellow BOTL here have read anything of mine, they know I'm partial to a rambling discourse.
So. Theoretically I was going to Amsterdam with a friend, we were going to see some the recently reopened Rijksmuseum and the van Gogh Museum. I also figured it would be a good way to bring back a hundred cigars. Obviously!
As it turns out, I'm on my sweeney now, which allows me freedom to potter about, but will curtail purchasing by 50%. Oh well. On the positive side, it has forced a change of accommodation to a place round the corner from both the aforementioned van Gogh Museum, and the Conservatorium Hotel, which has the LCDH of Amsterdam in it. I fully intend to traipse out to PGC's as well, but if I don't get that far, then its an excuse for a return visit, surely.
I have been spending a lot of time mentally filling my duty-free allotment. Do I get continental only editions, do I stock up on cheaper go-to sticks that are more expensive here (no criticism of our benefactor sponsors, its tax after all). Or do I mix and match, or even look for some new things to try. I got just get myself fifty JLP Cazadores and have reasonable CCs for next year (after their mandatory resting), but that would be a bit boring.
So I am thinking:
Raphael Gonzalez Panatella Extras, which seem to be a non-UK thing, and if they're good like the Perlas, I'm game to get a handful.
Trinidad Reyes - for my sins I've never tried one. Hardly anyone seems to dislike them, so I should give at least one a whirl.
H. Upmann Magnums. I like their half coronas and a few of their smaller vitolas, so maybe time to try a big boy.
Hoyo de Monterrey. I love a short robusto, but the epicures are even nicer, so maybe some of those.
JLP somethings, because some half decent go-to sticks for less than perfect cigar situations would be nice.
Partagas D-somethings. I'm thinking 5s or even 6s as shorter smokes.
Quinteros - never tried one, I've read pretty good things, so maybe a few to try.
Vegueros - I'm a fan of both the Mananitas and the Entretiempos, so maybe a 4-pack of each?
Decisions Decisions.
Of course, my budget isn't infinite, but I did make the mistake of (if you look in the Today's smoke thread) of making a pilgramage to Turmaeus in Shepherd Market, as my train to the continent isn't until tomorrow. And you can't just go in and come out empty handed, it would be just an insult to the senses. So I got myself a Monte Media Corona to "sample" there - thank you to the nice fellow working there this afternoon. It felt brilliant descending the tiny spiral staircase and being able to light up inside.
I also got some "travelling" smokes, not that I'll be able to smoke on the train or anything, but there's the walk to the station, the walk from the station, that kind of thing. I settled on a Arturo Fuente Short Story (as I've always wanted to try one), and a HdM Epicure No.2 because why not. And a box of Toscanellos, because they're really decent odd little things.
The expert fellow there couldn't help me and had no experience of my very strange salty JLP Petit Cetros from a few weeks ago (it was really weird), so I'm chalking that up to "because Cuba".
Picture to follow...
So. Theoretically I was going to Amsterdam with a friend, we were going to see some the recently reopened Rijksmuseum and the van Gogh Museum. I also figured it would be a good way to bring back a hundred cigars. Obviously!
As it turns out, I'm on my sweeney now, which allows me freedom to potter about, but will curtail purchasing by 50%. Oh well. On the positive side, it has forced a change of accommodation to a place round the corner from both the aforementioned van Gogh Museum, and the Conservatorium Hotel, which has the LCDH of Amsterdam in it. I fully intend to traipse out to PGC's as well, but if I don't get that far, then its an excuse for a return visit, surely.
I have been spending a lot of time mentally filling my duty-free allotment. Do I get continental only editions, do I stock up on cheaper go-to sticks that are more expensive here (no criticism of our benefactor sponsors, its tax after all). Or do I mix and match, or even look for some new things to try. I got just get myself fifty JLP Cazadores and have reasonable CCs for next year (after their mandatory resting), but that would be a bit boring.
So I am thinking:
Raphael Gonzalez Panatella Extras, which seem to be a non-UK thing, and if they're good like the Perlas, I'm game to get a handful.
Trinidad Reyes - for my sins I've never tried one. Hardly anyone seems to dislike them, so I should give at least one a whirl.
H. Upmann Magnums. I like their half coronas and a few of their smaller vitolas, so maybe time to try a big boy.
Hoyo de Monterrey. I love a short robusto, but the epicures are even nicer, so maybe some of those.
JLP somethings, because some half decent go-to sticks for less than perfect cigar situations would be nice.
Partagas D-somethings. I'm thinking 5s or even 6s as shorter smokes.
Quinteros - never tried one, I've read pretty good things, so maybe a few to try.
Vegueros - I'm a fan of both the Mananitas and the Entretiempos, so maybe a 4-pack of each?
Decisions Decisions.
Of course, my budget isn't infinite, but I did make the mistake of (if you look in the Today's smoke thread) of making a pilgramage to Turmaeus in Shepherd Market, as my train to the continent isn't until tomorrow. And you can't just go in and come out empty handed, it would be just an insult to the senses. So I got myself a Monte Media Corona to "sample" there - thank you to the nice fellow working there this afternoon. It felt brilliant descending the tiny spiral staircase and being able to light up inside.
I also got some "travelling" smokes, not that I'll be able to smoke on the train or anything, but there's the walk to the station, the walk from the station, that kind of thing. I settled on a Arturo Fuente Short Story (as I've always wanted to try one), and a HdM Epicure No.2 because why not. And a box of Toscanellos, because they're really decent odd little things.
The expert fellow there couldn't help me and had no experience of my very strange salty JLP Petit Cetros from a few weeks ago (it was really weird), so I'm chalking that up to "because Cuba".
Picture to follow...
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