Herfing with Simon Bolivar

[Simon Bolivar]

So for reasons that remain mysterious to me, I am unable to post pic's anywhere except on the rig where I can compress them. I am hoping me new phone will manage to send via tapatalk but as that's not working at the moment I thought of starting a new thread to capture my herfing moments, as by the time I get onboard, it seems too late to add to 'What are you smoking today thread.'
To start off, a couple from my most generous host, who not only provides shelter from the storm but a decent hot meal as well! After my humble offering last Wed, of the Belinda Panatela; McDee's post dinner choice was a pair of Punch Black Prince's 1998? I have had a few BP's from this era but I was delightfully surprised by the power left in this one, a real rich Punch profile still lurking within the beast, a right royal smoke in fact.

The following day I checked in for my fixed wing flight to the Shetlands, where I was due to get a chopper to the rig. Delayed all morning due to the Storm & then when it was time to give us lunch, they decided to cancel our flight for the day, due to increasing sea state at the rig & we were released. Whilst other lads jumped in a ?20+taxi, I took a short walk & hopped on the bus into town for ?3.45. Ah the sacrifices we make to afford to visit CASC!
In CASC I met an old friend from my early Maersk days & he was with a manager from Bluewater. By then I was smoking a Cuaba Divinos 2003, turned out the Manager had never had a real cigar before so I gave him a Belinda Pan 2000 & he was very impressed when I told him it was nearly 20yrs old. After a good chat it appears when my rig is decommissioned & Shell with only have 3 others left in the North Sea, Blue Water's will still be going strong. Something to file away for later.
That evening back at McDee's, it was pizza night. I brought the wine & McDee produced this pair of RG PanX. Now I really enjoy these but usually outside & often when fishing. I wouldn't normally choice to have it after a meal but by giving it a little more attention, as Mr Palin crossed the Korean border; I rediscovered a nuance or two I hadn't noted for a while. An excellent end to my stay in Aberdeen & the weather having clamed down, I managed to get offshore before smoking my very last cigar. Now I have one for next Sunday, my half way point & a pair to Punch.BP.2018.09.19.DSC_0085.1.jpgPunch.BP.2018.09.19.DSC_0086.1.jpgPunch.BP.2018.09.19.DSC_0089.1.jpgCuaba.Divi.2018.09.20.DSC_0096.1.jpgCuaba.Divi.2018.09.20.DSC_0094.1.jpgCuaba.Divi.2018.09.20.DSC_0102.1.jpgRG.PanX.2018.09.20.DSC_0103.1.jpgRG.PanX.2018.09.20.DSC_0107.1.jpgRG.PanX.2018.09.20.DSC_0106.1.jpgshare with McDee, if I get back at a reasonable time. Fingers crossed!

[Simon Bolivar]

1970's ERDM PL's! DSC_1627.1.jpgDSC_1628.1.jpgDSC_1630.1.jpgDSC_1632.1.jpgDSC_1637.1.jpgDSC_1639.1.jpgDSC_1640.1.jpgDSC_1641.1.jpgDSC_1642.1.jpgDSC_1644.1.jpgDSC_1647.1.jpgDSC_1656.1.jpgDSC_1658.a.1.jpgDSC_1660.1.jpgDSC_1661.1.jpgDSC_1668.1.jpgSeeing Hookmakers Punch PL's today, reminded me I haven't posted the pic's of finally breaking into my 1970's ERDM PL's so now on the rig & can add photo's here goes:
New Year's Eve:

Today cracked a box of 1970's ERDM PL's, with Zowie Kokx. It’s always a gamble when you take a punt on a 40yo box of cigars but I have
smoked a box of these from 1970's before, just not this wooden slide lid box presentation. What a better day to open then but on New Year's Eve, in the
company of a fine BOTL? The flav came through from the first draw & grew in strength over the first 1/3.The flav is obviously similar to the ERDM DT, with
the first half having slightly more refined delivery. Perfectly constructed & stored at 62oC, enabled the perfect draw, without resorting to a Perfect
Draw! Overall a sublime, almost ethereal experience.

Followed with a 2000 Belinda Super Finos, will be a very decent fishing smoke. All the Belinda models have the same flav, just slightly different deliveries
from the individual vitolas. NB The only surviving Belinda on the market comes in aplastic tube & tell you all you really need to know about how this
reliable old fashioned Cuban smoke has gone down the pan! >

And finally the BELUX SP ER 2017 Gran Quixote, a distinguished looking fine vitola of 54x 6 3/8” This proved to be much better constructed the Hoyo Romeo, drew well, ash fell easily but otherwise the only disappointment was that we did not find any notable flav. Thus, although attracted to the dble figarado shape, I will not be paying E16.90 for any more. >

[K444HEP]

As always, an enjoyable and informative read. It's a shame about the SPs, perhaps they will improve with age? I will probably smoke the first of mine from the split over the summer.

[Simon Bolivar]

Cheers! Of course this is just our opinion, I know some C.A.'s rave about the Sanchos, to me it was the most boring smoke I have had so horses for courses. But a general truth is that it can't gain flav it can only meld & mellow what it starts with. In the summer it'll be 18months old & you should be able to make a reasoned judgement if you'd like to buy more. There were 10K boxes made & the BELUX is a small place so may still be some around by then if you're lucky.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Those ERDM are a special one. What a great box to own.

[ha_banos]

RE the SP's is it reasonable to gauge a limited edition from just one sample? Given the variations of cigars another box could be quite different! Which could account for the differences of opinions too.

Be interesting if Simon as a control decided to try one from a different box! [emoji16]

I don't have any lol

[7kingsguy]

RE the SP's is it reasonable to gauge a limited edition from just one sample? Given the variations of cigars another box could be quite different! Which could account for the differences of opinions too.

Be interesting if Simon as a control decided to try one from a different box! [emoji16]

I don't have any lol

I have 3 Simon brought over but waiting for better weather to do them justice.

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[Simon Bolivar]

I have 3 Simon brought over but waiting for better weather to do them justice.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Good idea, patience is certainly a virtue when it comes to cigars, a warm summers day & another 6 months can only help.

[Simon Bolivar]

R&J.Pan.2019.01.06.DSC_1686.1.jpgR&J.Pan.2019.01.06.DSC_1687.1.jpgR&J.No2.2019.01.13.DSC_1691.1.jpgR&J.No2.2019.01.13.DSC_1692.1.jpgR&J.No2.2019.01.13.DSC_1694.1.jpgHoyo.duRoi.2019.01.20.DSC_1695.1.jpgHoyo.duRoi.2019.01.20.DSC_1696.1.jpgHoyo.duRoi.2019.01.20.DSC_1698.1.jpgHoyo.duRoi.2019.01.20.DSC_1699.1.jpgFor the first time on an offshore trip I have smoked a weekly coigar on Sunday's. Seem to be able to manage a smaller stick now with just coffee, & some flav's are more noticable than when smoked with a beer or whiskey. R&J Pan on the 6th, my first SS 2018 smoke, an R&J No2 2017, many thanks to my benefactor! Obviously still very young (tubos slow maturation) but very pleasant hour indeed. And last Sunday, Hoyo duRoi, gifted for my birthday from a Belgian BOTL, Cliff, the chap I go around WWI memorials with. Rather lovely & nicely aged, which is what you'd expect from his full shop sized walk in humi.
Should have been off today but stuck on due to no flying yesterday - triggered lightening. So might have a wee one this afternoon, if I get the time.

[Simon Bolivar]

CigarCollection.2019.03.DSC_0001.1.jpgCigarCollection.2019.03.08.DSC_0004.1.jpgCigarCollection.2019.03.08.DSC_0002.1.jpgRA.Belv.2019.03.12.DSC_0012.1.jpgRA.Belv.2019.03.12.DSC_0014.1.jpgPicked a few parcels on arriving in ABZ, last Fri. Thanks to the kind members who sent them to me. Haven't smoked in a month, due to having the 'flu but after a patient for 4 days & staying up last night with them, thought a wee celebration was due, after successfully managing to get them medevac'd today (last night we were looking at getting the Coastguard if things got worse). weather marginal today (60mph) but got lucky & they are away. So lit up the RA Belvederes. I was warned these were tight & it took a little bit to get going but once it opened up it was a very decent flavoursome smoke & now I am back, cracking the paperwork.
PS the 2nd pic are my own smokes that I brought out.

[PeeJay]

Eek! An NC!

[Simon Bolivar]

It's Lent PJ, a time of deprivation & penitence; that's when I smoke my gifted NC's & Havana's under E5.

[Simon Bolivar]

Had a decent smoke the other day, I bought half a dozen Monte 'A''s couple of yrs ago from Christophe in Brugge & never found time to somke one until this leave. Being the close season & finally having an suitable afternoon I took one down to the Caf?. The first pic Had a decent smoke the other day, I bought half a dozen 2001 Monte 'A''s couple of yrs ago from Christophe in Brugge & never found time to somke one until this leave. Being the close season & finally having an suitable afternoon I took one down to the Caf?. The first pic shows the scale compare with a Marvela & Julieta No2shows the scale compare with a Marvela & Julieta No2Monte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0100.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0106.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0107.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0110.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0113.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0115.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0118.1.jpgMonte.A.2019.04.03.DSC_0119.1.jpg Started with a coffee, which was a good match to start off this 9 3/8" smoke. After switched to 3 small Triple Karmalite beers. Shame I couldn't smoke it outside but that day the weather was pretty crap & I didn't want to have to come in half way through. the flav was good from the start but took a couple of inches to fully kick in. middle third being delightful. Just turning a little bitter just above the band so I put it down. Anyone else smoked one of these lately?

[handlebarpipe]

Never tried a Monte A but the pictures certainly look like it was a wonderful cigar to enjoy.
Marc

[Hookmaker]

I have 3 boxes and one incoming (of 5) and an aged one from 2004. I gifted [MENTION=13450212]gojira[/MENTION] the box, so it?s just lying there waiting for the right time. How long should I expect the smoking time to be?


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