Friday 25th June 2011

[Styler]

A super smooth connie 1 for me today.

uploadfromtaptalk1308944302520.jpg



Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Masterdj]

A Partagas SPN2 and a Scotch...

[monkey66]

When buying a box (or even a cab), in terms of 'laying down' (excuse the wine parlance), are there hard-and-fast 'wait until' dates that are published? I'm a keen fine wine collector (mostly en-primeur), so sitting on a case or two of something outstanding is well within my capabilities...
Steve

Lots written on this all over the forum. Do a few searches and you'll get a feel.

As a general guide (given the correct storage conditions) most Cubans will only get better for the first 5 years, frequently continue improving for 10-15 years and can run as long as 40-50 years. As with wine a unique style emerges with really old sticks. Most collectors all age their sticks and don't really smoke new sticks. I try to avoid smoking anything less than 3 years old as I feel they are only just coming around (not everone shares this opinion).

The exception is freshly rolled cigars then need to be smoked within a few weeks of rolling or laid down for a year or two.

Again as with wine there is an unpredictable 'sick period' and you can wait years for a box to 'come up' again. Sample each box once a year or so and by the time they are great you wont have many left

There are also 'good' and 'bad' years and variance in quality box-to-box. One can spend years learning how to buy for ageing and (again like wine) this journey is all part of the pleasure.

[snooky]

Siglo VI to start the weekend.

[HabanoSy]

Siglo VI to start the weekend.

Great smoke Snooks...

Missed you Thursday mate, what happened...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[whisky77]

I needed some cheering up last night, so I opted for the Mag 50 EL 2005 with some Remy Couer de Cognac. Great smoke and great Cognac.

[sbthang]

I try to avoid smoking anything less than 3 years old as I feel they are only just coming around (not everone shares this opinion).

OK. Just a point of clarification required; when I bought a selection of singles from Fox's, can I expect them to have been 'pre-aged' before being offered for sale? In other words, are they 'ready-to-smoke' cigars?
Steve

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Yes you can Steve. Young cigars are not to everyone's liking but think about it, in Havana, one would find it really hard to find any kind of age on a cigar. It's all down to personal taste

[sbthang]

Gents,
Well the best laid plans of mice and men...London's appaling weather last night, combined with a lack of suitable shelter, resulted in a 'no-smoke' of my HDM Epi No 2 - I was truly gutted...perhaps tonight will allow for a smoke?

Anyways, as suggested by pauldrums81, Ronnie Scotts played host to a three-night run of smooth jazz sounds. The multi award winning godfather of film score composition, Dave Grusin, belied his 76 years and jammed effortlessly with headliner Lee Ritenour (with Ritenour switching between his three guitars as the mood changed) and a world class rhythm-section comprised of 7 string funk-bass master Melvin Davies (quite simply the largest hands I have ever seen on a human being) and drum-ace Sonny Emory.
The energy and style overflowed in each tune; from up-beat brazillian jazz-funk 'Harlequin' to Grusin's solo perfromance of 'On Golden Pond'.
A truly fantastic performance by the 'dream-team' of jazz and funk session musicians. Well done to Ronnie Scotts for bringing this event to an appreciative UK audience. (all we need is to persuade RS to provide a Cigar-friendly area...with rain-cover)
Steve

[pauldrums81]

Thanks for the write up, sounds like it was a great night. Sonny emory is an amazing player. Is Ronnie's somewhere you frequent? I would if money was no object but a cigar terrace would definitely sweeten the deal!

[sbthang]

...Is Ronnie's somewhere you frequent?

Once every month or so...it's a mecca to all things smooth and funky, in my book. We've friends that go every week and their week isn't complete without their Ronnies fix...

...but a cigar terrace would definitely sweeten the deal!

That's why I've started going to The Boisdale @ Canary Wharf - a seven-day-a-week herf, in my book. Their 'pairing' nights look like a great way for a noob like me to gain some tutored knowledge...as the saying goes, IT is power...

Steve

[Stevieboy]

A busy weekend starting with an Upmann Conny #1 followed by a Monte Sublimes...