Thursday 8th May 2014

[RobustoClubHavana]

I like that cutter, I was going to bid on a sterling silver one with that blade shape on eBay but didn't as I thought the blade would be blunt! Can you sharpen those? The one I had my eye on was pretty nice but 80years old!

Not sure you can sharpen these type of cutters without taken them apart


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[cohibaIV]

[ATTACH]17014[/ATTACH]

Very very nice...

[Simon Bolivar]

Bet I know where you go that Monks, from across the pond? How did it smoke?

[ValeTudoGuy]

[ATTACH]17014[/ATTACH]

What age is that?

[butternutsquashpie]

What age is that?

Harvested in 08. Released to markets 5 years later; as per all reservas.

How was it Paul? I'm very interested in what you're thinking.

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[ValeTudoGuy]

Harvested in 08. Released to markets 5 years later; as per all reservas.

How was it Paul? I'm very interested in what you're thinking.

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They only ever had one release?

[butternutsquashpie]

They only ever had one release?

Aye. Like all RRs and GRS, that's remaining the case. Only 5000 boxes (20 ct for RR, 15ct for GR) are ever released. Plus the two stick laqured boxes handed out at the festival (where my Cohiba and Montecristo GRs came from

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[sheppsea]

They only ever had one release?

They're released in a limited run like LEs and REs are (only they are even more expensive!)

I've never tried them, but what are everyone's thoughts? Are they worth the extra money or are you effectively just paying for aged stock?

[butternutsquashpie]

I've never tried them, but what are everyone's thoughts? Are they worth the extra money or are you effectively just paying for aged stock?

they're.... different. that's all i can say.
the Monte GR was a pretty good stick all in all. but let me just say that the Cohiba GR was absolutely not worth the money. Mitch has em for 160 quid right now and that MAY be acceptable for some blokes... but i wouldn't pay 50 quid for these, let alone 160.

i've still the reminiscent of a fiver sitting around here that i use as trading/bargaining trump cards if ever need be. probably will smoke one soon though... why the hell not.

Also, a not on the RRs: the Montecristo No.4 RR is one of the ABSOLUTE best cigars i've ever smoked. nothing like a Montecristo 4 at all. That RR was bleeding fantastic and they've got a little claro in their filler... as TJ's coros put it: like a swirl of marble cake.

[monkey66]

It was at the H and F tasting at Dunhill's last night. Matched with a cigar infused Old fashoned.

My understanding is that the tobacco is aged for at least 3 years for the Reserva series, and at least 5 years for the Grand Reserva series.

I smoked these last year when they came out and my opinion is exactly the same after last night.

positive: high quality beautiful stick. Top end, great construction/draw. sweetish, smooth, creamy. Still some ammonia and will take 5-10 years to really shine.
negitive: tastes nothing like a R and J, no sign of the profile at all.

For me the Reserva and Grand Reserva releases are a big bust. The tobacco is aged in bundles and this is not the same as ageing in sticks. They do pick excellent tobacco for these ranges but for me the process is unpredictable.

For instance the Sig VI GR was rolled with 2003 tobacco and released in 2008. It has now become a very good stick, however a good 2008 Sig VI is also a very good stick. Now a 2003 OR Sig VI is the best of the lot.

In other words the real ageing magic we look for happens (to a significant extent) once the cigars a rolled as the chemical interaction/fermentation is quite different. The R and J's had ammonia on the nose, If they had been rolled in 2010 (instead of the tobacco aged in bundles from 2010) this would not have been the case.

The flip side is that these are very high quality sticks whose value will almost certainly go up (apart from the Monte 4 which appears stagnant at ?400-600 per box even now).

Now the Party Lusi GR is stunning. One of the best Lusi's I have smoked, true to the blend and magnificent. This is the one for the real smokers.

[PeeJay]

Real smokers?

images-2.jpeg

[JoeyGunz]

2 crap sticks last night which I think was due to my palette being off from being under the weather all week, HUHC and a HDM Epi 2.

[ValeTudoGuy]

2 crap sticks last night which I think was due to my palette being off from being under the weather all week, HUHC and a HDM Epi 2.

Im still trying to kick a cold, can't taste much so not wasting good tobacco.

[JoeyGunz]

Aye I should have done the same but the stress got to me.