Simon Bolivar's End of Year Round Up

[Simon Bolivar]

They'll have been in my cave for 6/52 by the time I intend to smoke the first one. They were being kept at Cgars for the previous owner so no long resurrection required. Should be able to give my report on my firrst w/end back onboard 22/01+, keep your fingers crossed for me!

[Simon Bolivar]

1. Ok, visit to J.J. Fox Dublin. This was another missed story. I was looking back & ashamed to say I never did get around to posting about my trip to Dublin & meeting Ryan & the wonderful people in J.J. Fox, so to honour that promise, here we go...Wednesday 24th July, I had arranged to meet Ryan at J.J. Fox at 119 Grafton Street. The reason for our meeting was that a couple of yrs before & I had said that when I eventually made my first trip over to the Emerald Isle, I would drop by & let him try a Flor de F.Frach Farachitos, after I had publish pics smoking one at Boisdales.

Well the visit took longer than anticipated & I am sure Ryan had forgotten all about it until I sent him a pm announcing my arrival date.Dublin.2013.07.24.SAM_0697.jpg Luckily he had a little time for us to met during the lunch hr & suggest we meet at Fox's & maybe we could drum up some interest for a mini herf. I ate an early lunch with the ladies so I would be suitably fortified & I walked into the shop & announced that Simon Bolivar was here to meet Ryan, as you do. This didn't initially meet with much response & I wondered if this was because they had never heard of Simon Bolivar, when I remembered Ryan is actually his surname (sorry couldn't possibly reveal his first). So tried again. This did keep tripping me up & I had to remember not to call him Ryan but I guess that's what happens when you use a moniker for long enough. I can't wait until I am in Canada & walk in saying I am looking for buternutsquashpie!

Ryan introduced me to Rob Fox & the member of the staff wearing the tie in the pic,Dublin.2013.07.24.SAM_0707.jpg sorry can't remember his name & the four of us headed to a nearby pub with a very decent smoking area upstairs. It was open but with cover, which we needed when it lightly showered later. I passed the Farachitos overFlor Farrach.2013.07.24.SAM_0705.jpg & Ryan kindly gave me a couple of Custom rolled Cubans he'd seen rolled on his last visit. I started on one of these, which was indeed an excellent smoke, still freshDublin.2013.07.24.SAM_0709.jpg but smoked well with lots of fad; with a pint of the black stuff. Now I guess everyone one who enjoys a drink will try a Guinness in Ireland but I was not looking forward to my first one at all. I had been abused as child by the NHS & force fed Guinness on prescription.



Just thought I'd let you think about that one but it's true! Hard for you youngsters to imagine the NHS would be encouraging a 13yo to drink alcohol but times were different then my lads. I was at Milfield Chest Hospital expecting major chest surgery but I was under weight. My mother said it was due to my condition but I knew it was because she under fed us for yrs. I was only of the only lads to gain weight during basic training, despite all the exercise because you could eat as much as you wanted, even go back for seconds. Still I digress - as usual. The surgeon thought a Guinness a day would help build me up for the op & increase my iron content (you might think that red meat was expensive but my father was a butcher!). Anyway although just a few yrs later I was happily drinking beer, I just couldn't take this black medicine at 13. So I was about to pour it down the sink, when the old boy in the bed next to me (no teenage ward then I was in with 50-70yo's) implored me not to waste it & he would give me liquorice for it. I have always loved liquorices & still eat it nearly every day, so I agreed but it doesn't put any weight on you for sure.

I am glad to say, either the Guinness really is better in Ireland or more than likely I was able to handle it better & I was able to sink a pint or two. In fact it did get easier as the days went on. But although my weight always remains a very steady 68kg, I noticed after the week I was ballooning out, I guess the surgeon knew what he was talking about after all. So here are the pics of that afternoon.Dublin.2013.07.24.SAM_0708.jpg Although Ryan had to leave after this cigar, Rob Fox kindly stayed with me & offered me a H.Uppman Mag 50. Unfortunately it was a very tight draw; he noted me struggling & insisted on giving me another. The second was as fine as you'd expect if you?re familiar with this vitola. To say Rob is an interesting chap is an understatement & he gave me a lovely potted history of his family business, which happily he was glad to join. He pointed out most family business flounder at the third generation but I believe he said Fox's was now under the 8th! I was a lovely mini herf, I have been to too few over the last couple of yr s& as a mostly solitary smoker (as in although I smoke in company, I am usually the only cigar smoker) is great to enjoy Havana?s finest with like minded people. Dublin.2013.07.24.SAM_0712.jpg

So many thanks to Ryan for the smokes & setting it up & the introductions to the Fox team. I'll be sure to return on my next visit to Dublin & will get around to sifting through their aged selection, which unfortunately I ran out of time to do that day.

PS: So Ryan I finally made good my word; you said you'd give a review of the Farrachs so if you have smoked one by now I am sure we'd love to hear it. >>
Dublin.2013.07.24.SAM_0710.jpg

[Sean]

Another epic journey on the hms simon. Could read your storys all day. You should write a biography mate

[bubbajvegas]

Looked a great days herfing and a was a great read aswell...now with all this talk of Guinness should I have one for brekkie...I don't think I've eaten quite enough choccies this Xmas to see me through the winter ;-)

[ValeTudoGuy]

Another epic journey on the hms simon. Could read your storys all day. You should write a biography mate

UK Cigar forum IS Simons biography mate, we are just lucky to be the proof readers!

I have to to say though that at thirteen I already had a couple years of supping the tops off my grandfathers pints under my belt.

Simon the Farachitos look interesting, I have never heard of them before... Are they some ultra rare marque long lost to the annals of time?

And yet again, your openness and willingness to let us into part of your live is wonderful.... The only possible thing better would be hearing it first hand, sat in front of a roaring fire a fine cigar in one hand and an alcoholic beverage clutched in the other.

Keep up the good work!

[Sean]

UK Cigar forum IS Simons biography mate, we are just lucky to be the proof readers! !

Good point mate

[Simon Bolivar]

"And yet again, your openness and willingness to let us into part of your live is wonderful.... The only possible thing better would be hearing it first hand, sat in front of a roaring fire a fine cigar in one hand and an alcoholic beverage clutched in the other."

Maybe one day VTG, if you can supply a roaring fire I am willing to travel

[Ryan]

1. Ok, visit to J.J. Fox Dublin..

Very nice report Simon. It was a pleasure to meet up with you that afternoon, sorry I didn't have more time!
The staff member in the picture is Yiorgos, who joined JJ Fox about a year ago. He was running cigars.ie long before that.
Rob is good guy, fun to have a drink and a smoke. Of course most of you London guys would have met him at some stage at one of the St James's shop events.
I haven't lit up the Farachito yet! I will of course put up review of that when I do.
Regarding Guinness, it is still given here after a blood donation, optional and no more than 1 pint. It's nice to see a nurse in uniform pouring draught Guinness though!
Thanks again!

Andy

[peanutpete]

another fine read Simon,and as you found out our Irish BOTL are great company and most generous hosts

[Simon Bolivar]

ACheers Andy, I'll look fwd to the review. It would be nice as medic to think they give out the black stuff to restore iron & fluid to the generous donor but I always suspected they did that to encourage them through the door on a non-pay week

[senor_robusto]

Ryan introduced me to Rob Fox & the member of the staff wearing the tie in the pic,[ATTACH=CONFIG]14610[/ATTACH] sorry can't remember his name & the four of us headed to a nearby pub with a very decent smoking area upstairs.

hey simon, unless i'm mistaken...... is that not old forum member yiorgos mannesis, he of www.cigars.ie fame?

alex

[senor_robusto]

apologies, i see andy already mentioned that........ lol!!

alex