Simon Bolivar's 2020 cigars

[Simon Bolivar]

So a little late perhaps but I have finally got my cigar diary up to date & present, for those of you who find it interesting my top cigars of 2020 & my stats.

	Cohiba Reserva Seleccion	Piramide	52	2002	96
	Cohiba Esplendidos	Julieta No2	47	2004	95
	ERDM PL	Panatela Longas	28	70's	95
	R&J Churchill Tubos	Julieta No2	47	2001	95
	ERDM PL	Panatela Largas	32	70's	94
	Trinidad Fundy GoldLabel	Laguito Especial	40	1998	94
	Cohiba Lanceros	Laguito No1	33	2001	93
	Cohiba Sig V	Dalia	43	2012	92
	Cohiba Siglo III	Cervatnes	46	2017	92
	RA 898 ER Alemania	Cervantes	43	2015	92
	VR DA	Prominente	49	2004	92
	Hoyo des Dieux	Corona Gorda	42	2013	91
	Party No2	Piramide	52	2009	91
	Boli Belicosis Finos	Campana	52	2006	90
	Boli CG	Julieta No2	47	2007	90
	Boli Regentes	Regentes	34	1998	90
	Bolivar Regentes	Regentes	34	1998	90
	Cohiba Exquisitos	Seoane	33	2001	90
	Hoyo EL 2003	Piramide	52	2003	90
	Hoyo Epi No2	Robusto	50	2005	90
	Hoyo Epi No2	Robusto	50	2005	90
	Hoyo Epi No2	Robusto	50	2005	90
	LGC No3	Cigarillo	28	2002	90
	Monte 80th Anniversary	Julieta No2	47	2008	90
	Party 898	Cervantes	43	1998	90
	PL PC	Marvela	42	2006	90
	PL PC	Marvela	42	2006	90
	Punch Monarchas	Julieta No2	47	2002	90
	R&J Anejados Churchill	Julieta No2	47	2008	90
	Trini Coloniales	Coloniales	44	2008	90
	RA Allones Superiors LCDH	Coronas Gordis	46	2013	89

I smoked 152 cigars & of those 106 were different vitola's. I know there are many on here that smoke more frequently than me but anybody think they are close in smoking 100+ different cigars? I am sure it can be done but is the main benefit of having a decent collection.

They were all Cuban this year, mainly due to the fact I smoke my gifted NC's during Lent but last year we were cruising during Lent & I wasn't doing penance!

I had 7 vitola's more than twice, as shown below, mostly smaller shorter smokes. This was especially true during lock downs when I couldn't smoke in the cafe & the weather was inclement.

10	ERDM DT	Entreco
5	R&J Panatela	Panatela
4	Cuaba Divinos	Figarado
3	Cohiba Exquisitos	Seoane
3	Hoyo Epi No2	Robusto
3	Party Short	Tres Petit Corona
3	RA SCC	Tres Petit Corona

As you can see it was a fairly modest yr, no really rare or expensive smokes but mostly of good quality & well aged. I also smoked less whilst fishing, this was due to lure fishing most of th etime & not sat behind dead bait rods waiting for a run. When settled in Bournemouth, I'll be doing plenty of both.

[Max A]

Simon, this is incredible!

I'll definitely try a few from the list if I get a chance. Great job

[Rich B]

Fantastic list Simon, well curated. Does make me think I should do the same and keep some form of record rather than just diving in and smoking something.

[JoeyGunz]

Simon, your Cuaba Divino's what year are you smoking, how has the construction been?
One Marca I would love to sample a good couple of after a couple of bad experiences.

[handlebarpipe]

A very interesting list, thanks.
Marc

[Kickback]

You don't like cheap modern stuff do you?

[Simon Bolivar]

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciate your interest.

Max; only 5 of the above weren't regular production Havana's so sure you can find them. Have fun trying the oes you haven't had so far & let us know what you think.

Rich B. I would strongly recommend everyone keep a basic diary of their smoking. The longer you smoke, the harder it is to remember each one but reading a simple line or two can brig most back to life. Don't forgot your memory isn't likely to stay as good as it is today! Comparing oyur notes as your tastes change with age & experience is also interesting interesting.

Joey, 2008 & a couple slight tighter than I'd like but would have been fine if I had dry boxed for a couple of days but I didn't plan those smokes.

Marc, thanks
Kickback: The avge age last year was 14yo, quite easy when you smoke a few 90's Panatelas & others from 98 * 00; through in a couple of 40 & 50yo the avge drops. The only sticks I tend to smoke 3yo or fresher are gifts, whilst smoking with friends.
Once you have a collection & need to rotate your smokes, you can find a box aging several yrs from start to finish. Hopefully i have enough know to last long into my retirement.

[joeray]

Great cigars. interesting that majority are older than 2010

[Vitola]

Class as ever Simon - nice one buddy. I can testify to the quality as well Simon, judging by what we smoked when you visited last year between lockdowns 👍

[Kickback]

Does this mean you've finished your buying of more cigars now Simon and now are just smoking what you've aquired over the years?

[Simon Bolivar]

Cheers Al, always a pleasure to share with a fellow C.A.

KB Yes, I am certainly not buying any this year & not planning any more for some time. Not to say I won't pick up the odd single or a box of vintage smokes at auction but indeed I really have enough to last me through to my late 70's.

From start of 2019 to July 2020, I bought 650 cigars, mostly from members on here! Since July, I have managed to be pretty strict, taking part in the Pre-Release RA smoke in & H&F Christmas testing.

Now I know we are moving back to the UK, this year (rather than in two yrs as originally planned), I am going to pay for every stick I can't get across before hand to HMRC, that's gonna hurt but I am looking fwd to having the 3rd bedroom for my stock & having a smoking cabin so bite the bullet & look fwd to my collection being re-united & enjoy having pals around for a herf.

Anyone in Herfing distance of Bournemouth besides Vitola?

[Kickback]

So if you've already purchased the cigars then why are you taxed again when bringing them to another country as part of a house move? Surely you're not taxed on the clothes, furniture, personal possessions you're also bringing with you?

[Simon Bolivar]

So if you've already purchased the cigars then why are you taxed again when bringing them to another country as part of a house move? Surely you're not taxed on the clothes, furniture, personal possessions you're also bringing with you?

No, I won't pay for household effects. I have been warned I will be charged for all cigars I bring over, even boxes with H&F stickers on! Because I took them out of the country & are now bringing them back in. I won't even be entitled to claim 100 of them duty free (my & my wife's allowance) because if you go over the limit you pay tax on the whole batch!

I don't know if anyone was aware of this? I also assumed if you went half a dozen stix over, you could declare the half dozen & just pay duty on those but not according to the Gov web page.
Duty rate

Cigarettes	£228.29 per 1,000 cigarettes plus 16.5% of retail price	£237.34 per 1,000 cigarettes plus 16.5% of retail price	£244.78 per 1,000 cigarettes plus 16.5% of retail price	Additional 22 pence to a packet of 20 cigarettes
Cigars	£284.76 per kg	£296.04 per kg	£305.32 per kg	Additional 11 pence per 10g of cigars
Hand rolling tobacco	£234.65 per kg	£253.33 per kg	£271.40 per kg	Additional 65 pence to a packet (30g) of hand rolling tobacco
Other smoking tobacco and chewing tobacco	£125.20 per kg	£130.16 per kg	£134.24 per kg	Additional 15 pence to a packet (30g) of pipe tobacco
Tobacco for heating	£234.65 per kg with effect from 1 July 2019	£243.95 per kg	£251.60 per kg	Additional 28 pence to 30g of tobacco for heating

[ha_banos]

How do you even get the weight right? You'll have to weigh and declare yourself?

So do you weigh with the boxes? Wonder how much extra the boxes add?

Just the box of petite monte 2's weight 220g. Official weight of 25 cigars alone is 275g. :-/ So 2 full boxes is almost 1KG.

So you're almost doubling the tariff by including the box weights.

[Simon Bolivar]

Well there's the confusion, if it is to be done y weight, I'll remove from the boxes, weigh & replace, thought of videoing the process in case they need reassurance it was done.
But Mitch told me it was done by size of cigar e.g. E3 for a Robusto more for bigger stix. He said he'd arrange the paperwork for me so we'll see how that works out.