Since the weather turned nice and I’ve been doing more shooting, I often find myself traveling to the range on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Because of the way my local range is set up, I like to shoot when the likelihood of others being there is slim. It isn’t that I don’t like interacting with other shooters, I just prefer to be able to shoot from my chosen distance without feeling rushed by the arrival of a rifle shooter. Of course, this all changes when I use another range to shoot Sporting Clays. In those cases we are all shooting shotgun from designated locations.

A few weeks ago I got together with a friend, Corey, to enjoy a cigar at a local brick and mortar store. In between puffs we talked a lot about guns and trying to get to a range to shoot together. Up until very recently neither of us were members at a range that permitted guests. When I began shooting Sporting Clays, this all changed. I learned that this particular range allowed guests to be accompanied by a member.

With the option to shoot together now available, Corey and I worked out getting together on a Wednesday evening. For the bulk of our time, we shot our .22 LR pistols (Beretta Neos and Ruger MKIII) from twenty-five yards. After blowing through a couple hundred rounds, we moved closer and got to work with out 9mm pistols (Smith & Wesson M&P and Springfield XD Sub Compact). Before calling it a night, I fired off a couple magazines from my Springfield XD Sub Compact in .40 S&W.

In between shots, we chatted and puffed on a couple of cigars (CAO La Traviata for me and a Partagas Black for Corey). After a couple of hours we packed up our things and headed home. I had an absolute blast and hope to do it again in the near future. I’d also like to thank Corey for allowing me to shoot his Ruger MKIII.

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Post from: Walt in PA

Mid-Week Range Trip

Possibly related posts:

1. A Trip to the Range with my Brother
2. A Morning at the Range
3. My First Range Gun: Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm

Maybe it’s like becoming one with the cigar. You lose yourself in it; everything fades away: your worries, your problems, your thoughts. They fade into the smoke, and the cigar and you are at peace.
A Quote by Raul Julia

I must admit, I am not well versed when it comes to cigar quotes, or any quotes for that matter. Since starting this series of articles, I have read dozens upon dozens of quotes on cigars. Some are clever, some are funny, and some are extraordinarily deep.

Among all of those quoted, there is one that stands out in my mind among all others. That person is quoted above, Raul Julia. This man seems to have completely embraced the hobby before his untimely death in 1994. Not only did he embrace the hobby, he seems to have had a respect for it far beyond that of the occasional or social cigar smoker. He is an individual which I would have loved to meet and speak with regarding his view on life and cigars.

In the quote above, Raul Julia points out the reset that your mind seems to go through after enjoying a fine cigar. The one and only thing I can think to compare this to is riding a motorcycle. In both scenarios you clear your mind and focus completely on the task at hand, be it negotiating a curve in the road or picking out the intricacies in a cigar.

There have been very few things on my mind that could not be shaken free during some alone time a cigar. This isn’t to say that a bound bunch of leaves is the cure for your mental ills, but it is a great way to take a break from the stress and come back to it with a clear mind. Often times I find that revisiting the cause of the stress with a clear head gives me the much needed opportunity to see it from a new vantage point.

Post from: Walt in PA

Cigars – Helping you solve one problem at a time

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I’ve got a great cigar collection – it’s actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn’t going to smoke every last one of ‘em.
Ron White

I have to admit, I am a bit of a cigar collector, at least by Ron White’s definition. Over the years I have purchased cigars that were meant for enjoying during a special occasion or a celebration. I find that some cigars resting in my coolidors have seen special occasions come and go, all the while never getting even close to the flame of my lighter.

It seems strange to have some of these cigars and know that I’ll probably never smoke them, especially since they are for smoking. I suppose I worry that after my prized cigar is turned to ash, I will never be able to replace it. In addition, what if it is the best cigar I have ever smoked and I torture myself by enjoying it only to never see one again. On the flip-side, what if the cigar is down right terrible and it spoils the occasion or celebration?

The simple solution would be to simply fire it up when the opportunity presents itself. If the cigar is fantastic, just drink in the moment and appreciate the cigar for what it is. If it is terrible, just pitch it and move on to something I know will turn out better.

Back in my early days of cigar smoking, I coveted anything that I felt was outside of my price range. Over time I realized the cigars were doing me no good resting in the humidor. Since then I have been finding reasons to smoke those coveted cigars, even if I’m celebrating something foolish like mowing my lawn during a heat wave without getting heat stroke.

Even with my efforts to smoke my higher priced cigars, I still find it difficult to touch flame to a select few of them. Those cigars may just wind up sitting in the cooler forever, but they have a special meaning behind them that is worth more than the enjoyment I would get from smoking them.

One of those coveted cigars is a 2005 Fuente Fuente Opus X Forbidden X. It was a gift given to me by Jerry Cruz with the stipulation that we would smoke those cigars together on the day that we each made a cool million bucks from Stogie Review. It was a running joke for a long time and I doubt we will be smoking those cigars in our lifetime. For the meaning behind that particular cigar, I’m willing to hold on to it indefinitely and simply look at it from time to time.

Post from: Walt in PA

Do You Collect Cigars or Buy to Smoke?

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“The cigar is a great resource. It is necessary to have traveled for a long time on a ship to understand that at least the cigar affords you the pleasure of smoking. It raises your spirits. Are you troubled by something? The cigar dissolves it. Are you subject to aches and pains (or bad temper)? The cigar will change your disposition. Are you harassed by unpleasant thoughts? Smoking a cigar puts one in a frame of mind to dispense with these. Do you ever feel a little faint from hunger? A cigar satisfies the yearning. If you are obsessed by sad thoughts, a cigar will take your mind off of them. Finally, don’t you sometimes have some unpleasant remembrance or consoling thought? A cigar will reinforce this. Sometimes they die out, and happy are those who do not need to relight too quickly. I hardly need to say anything more about the cigar, to which I dedicate this little eulogy for past services rendered.”
The Duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, 1794

As I read through dozens of cigar quotes for these types of articles, there were some that were so much more than a clever quote regarding the enjoyment or relaxation brought on by cigars. Some of those quotes were rather deep and thought provoking, much like the one above by The Duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt in 1794.

As I read the quote over and over again, there is nothing to argue against. Each and every point made in the writing makes perfect sense to me and I would agree with all of them. Rather than try to argue against said quote, I thought perhaps I would dive into it and point out how a few sections relate to me.

”It is necessary to have traveled for a long time on a ship to understand that at least the cigar affords you the pleasure of smoking.”

In todays society, a long trip across the sea by ship is not required to elevate your stress levels. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, stress has become a part of everyday life. In the sense of sheer boredom, I suppose a long flight or car ride can relate in a sense.

Although you won’t be smoking your cigar while flying in a commercial plane anytime soon, smoking in a car is something many of us probably do on a regular basis. While operating a motor vehicle doesn’t lend itself well to focusing on the cigar alone, it does allow you to enjoy it in a passive sense while you keep your mind focused on the road ahead.

If you have ever taken a long drive and had the option to smoke a cigar along the way, you know that even as a passive pleasure, they make a fantastic travel companion. The only problem your smoky companion may cause is the occasional ash on your lap, which I think is much nicer than one which constantly reaches for the radio.

”It raises your spirits. Are you troubled by something? The cigar dissolves it. Are you subject to aches and pains (or bad temper)? The cigar will change your disposition. Are you harassed by unpleasant thoughts? Smoking a cigar puts one in a frame of mind to dispense with these. Do you ever feel a little faint from hunger? A cigar satisfies the yearning. If you are obsessed by sad thoughts, a cigar will take your mind off of them.”

This is the part of the quote that I believe is true in every sense of the word. From time to time I find myself enveloped in stress and frustration. When these times arise, I simply need some quiet time to myself so that I can analyze my thoughts and realize the course of action required to remedy my ills.

Ever since I have started enjoying cigars, I have found that by enjoying one while I analyze my thoughts does wonders for my mood. The relaxation that the cigar provides allows me to drift away from the stresses and I can then see the issue without over-analyzing or over-complicating it.

By the time I am finished, my thoughts are in order and I find myself completely relaxed for the better portion of the time it took me to enjoy my fine, hand made, product. There are occasional times when one cigar isn’t enough, but a second always does the trick, and a nice adult beverage doesn’t hurt either. It is all about slowing down enough to see the problem for what it is, then taking the necessary steps to think it through.

”I hardly need to say anything more about the cigar, to which I dedicate this little eulogy for past services rendered.”

This little piece drives the quote home and reinforces all that has been said. It is as if the originator of this quote speaks about the cigar as a dear friend. He closes out his words by thanking the cigar for all that it has done for him. Like the originator, I too can appreciate all the times when the cigar helped get through difficult times, or even made a celebration all the more special.

Post from: Walt in PA

What has the Cigar done for you lately?

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A couple of months back, I was out running an errand and I must have walked past someone with an acute sense of smell. Having been fresh out of the cigar shop, I must have smelled ripe of cigars and grabbed the attention of a middle aged couple. As I made my way further down the isle, searching for an item, I overheard the two begin talking about cigars.

I tried not to eavesdrop too much, but the conversation basically revolved around a grandfather that used to smoke cigars. The conversation then changed direction and wound up focusing directly on a cigar misconception that every non-cigar smoker tends to latch on to, for one reason or another.

When the conversation took the direction of how only the wealthy could afford to smoke cigars, I was fortunate enough to have found my item and was making my way towards the cash registers. This misconception, along with the one about only old men smoke cigars, are the two I hear most frequently.

In the past, I’ve even had friends comment on how well I must be doing because I smoke cigars and drink expensive beer. In some instances I’ve had people over that seemed very uncomfortable with my offering them a cigar or drink. I would assume this was due to the cost of the items were perceived to be much more than they would typically spend on themselves. It is also equally uncomfortable to be offered money in exchange for the drink or cigar in question.

The truth of the matter is that my wife and I make a decent living but in no way consider ourselves wealthy. With our decent living, we have students loans, a car payment, a mortgage, and the expenses of day to day living to contend with.

Ten years ago, I would have probably shared this same outlook on cigars and expensive adult beverages. However, I like to think I have matured considerably since then. I no longer buy a case of beer with the intention to get drunk and carry on. The same goes for when I enter the liquor store, I’m not buying with the mindset that the bottle will be empty by the end of the weekend.

The last case of beer I purchased was Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout. Due to the way Pennsylvania operates, getting a six-pack is very difficult. Because of my purchase consisting of a case, the cost was right around $55.00. Reaching for a bottle every now and again, the case wound up lasting me just under two-months.

The same goes for Scotch. My favorite thus far has been Macallan 12 year old Single Malt. The cost per 750ml bottle runs about $50.00. While the cost of this single bottle of whisky may give most people a serious case of sticker shock, I don’t mind spending that kind of money knowing that the bottle will last me two to three months, on average.

The common thread between these items and cigars is that they are meant to be appreciated. I don’t light up a cigar with the same mindset as a cigarette smoker, using it for nothing more than a nicotine delivery system. Time is set aside to enjoy what I have, and often times a nice craft brew or Scotch / Bourbon goes hand-in-hand with said cigar.

I’m not going to attempt to bore you with figures, but cigars are not as expensive as you may think. I generally smoke one cigar per day which averages about $5.00. When that cost is compared to smoking a pack or two of cigarettes per day, you can see that the price difference isn’t as far off as one might initially imagine.

What I am getting at here is that you may find things in life more enjoyable if you reverse roles sometime and give quality over quantity a try. By not smoking for nicotine and drinking to become intoxicated, I am able to appreciate the finer things in life without breaking the bank. Granted, the initial cost may seem high, but it all averages out in the end.

Post from: Walt in PA

Cigars and Scotch, You Must Be Doing Rather Well?

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“They had no good cigars there, my lord; and I left the place in disgust.”
Alfred Lord Tennyson, returning from Venice

Each and every time I read the above quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson, I can’t help but laugh a little. I envision a noble man standing in a caste, white cape gleaming, while a man strides up to him to report his journey. As he stands there, breastplate highly polished, wearing a helmet with a stripe of red rising from the peak like a flaming Mohawk, he reports to his commander that “They had no good cigars there, my lord; and I left the place in disgust“.

While I have never left a place in disgust due to lack of cigars, I feel Lord Tennyson’s pain. On more than one occasion I have gone on family trips and outings, finding myself with some unexpected spare time to enjoy a cigar. More than once I have been stopped in my tracks when I discovered that the closest cigar shop to the town I was staying in was miles and miles away.

Because I have had one too many of those types of experiences, I find myself packing cigars even if I do not expect to smoke one. I also pack a spare or two just in case I am joined on my cigar excursion.

In the occurrence that I know I will be in the vicinity of a cigar shop, or plenty of cigars, I still pack some of my own. During my last two trips to the annual IPCPR Convention, I made sure to have several cigars on hand. You may find that kind of crazy being that I was going to a cigar convention, but at times you just want to smoke something you know you will enjoy without the surprises of convention samples.

Post from: Walt in PA

They had no good cigars there, I left the place in disgust

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I even smoke in bed. Imagine smoking a cigar in bed, reading a book. Next to your bed, there’s a cigar table with a special cigar ashtray, and your wife is reading a book on how to save the environment.
Quote from Raul Julia

Ah, to smoke a cigar in the comfort of your bed. A beautiful and understanding woman lying next to you entertaining herself while you slowly puff on your cigar and savor the moment. This is a scenario I think most cigar smokers would kill for, but given the chance would probably avoid like the plague.

You are probably wondering, if it is such a great scenario then why avoid it? The answer is very simple, in my eyes anyway. You see, many cigar smokers avoid smoking within their own home because cigars tend to be rather odoriferous. The smoke smell clings to things around the house such as your fabric drapes and furniture.

Unless you are changing your bedding daily, I would think the smoke would lock on tight and become a nuisance, irritating you as you attempt to drift off to sleep. It may only be a minor irritant after the first time, but think of how your non-smoking spouse would respond to the pleasant smell of cigars bound to their pillow.

Despite the downside of the lingering aroma on your bedding, smoking in bed is awesome! You see, I’ve never had the pleasure of smoking in bed while at home, but I have had the pleasure in hotel rooms that permitted smoking. In a hotel situation, you get all the benefits without the drawbacks. Each morning after you rise from bed and go about your day, the cleaning staff comes in to change the bedding for you.

The first time I had the pleasure of smoking in bed was a few years ago while attending Cigarfest. I was with a group of people who all were fortunate enough to get smoking rooms. After a long day of hanging out and carrying on, we all made our way back to the hotel. Before turning in for the night, I stretched out on the bed, fired up one last cigar, and watched a little television.

Lying there completely relaxed with a cigar hanging out of my mouth as I watched some old television re-run was so much nicer than I would have thought. When I was finished, I hopped into the shower and got cleaned up before turning in. The following evening I returned to my clean room to do it all over again.

The same scenario took place while attending the annual IPCPR convention in both Las Vegas and New Orleans. The one and only issue I ran into was in Las Vegas when I set off the smoke alarm, which was located right above he bed I was lying in.

If you ever find yourself away on business, without your better half, do yourself a favor and get a smoking room just so that you can experience the awe that is smoking a cigar in the comfort of bed. Even if you are only able to do it once in your life, I doubt you will regret the relaxation that it brings on.

Post from: Walt in PA

The Pleasure of Smoking a Cigar in Bed

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Last week I was scanning through my list of RSS Feeds when one of them caught my eye. While I am not an everyday reader of Copyblogger, I do read a couple of articles throughout the week. This time around, I saw an article entitled “One Foolproof Trick to Blast Writer’s Block” written by James Chartrand.

Having had my fair share of trouble coming up with post ideas, I dove right in and began reading. The concept for beating writers block was not only simple, it was genius. It took the simple concept of naturally forming an opinion on things you read and applied it to popular quotes.

I liked the idea so much that I sought out a couple dozen cigar quotes and became eager to get started. Initially I was planning on placing these topics on Stogie Review but wasn’t completely comfortable with the idea. Being that these quotes are going to generate a lot of opinion, I thought it might clash with the more educational and informative style of Stogie Review.

Instead, I thought I would try a few out here on Walt In PA so that I could get a feel for how they went, writing wise, and to test the waters on how they are received. If they go over very well, I may shift them over to Stogie Review to get more eyes and responses on the writing.

In any case, this post is the first in this potentially long series, which has yet to be titled.

A youth with his first cigar makes himself sick; a youth with his first girl makes other people sick.
A Quote from Mary Wilson Little

Ah, to be young again (relatively speaking, after all, I am only twenty-seven) and fawn all over a pretty young girl. To think up ways to impress this individual, and of course inadvertently drive the adults around you crazy.

Having read a few more quotes by Mary Wilson Little after finding the one above, I think the quote was meant to focus more on young love rather than cigars. Being a cigar nut, I obviously begin thinking about the cigar part of the quote and focused less on that of young love.

When we were young, we all found ourselves in a position to do something fun that was frowned upon by our parents. Some took things a little farther than others, but we have all been in the situation where we had a finger waved at us while the person on the other end of that finger was hollering about the results of our actions.

Being young, we feel the urge to rebel against anything deemed as not cool. When it came to being cool, some of us ventured out into the waters of trying cigars. I mean come on, how cool did you feel when you popped that first Swisher Sweet or White Own Grape into your mouth before setting it aflame.

After the cigar was burning and we were about half way in, some of us weren’t feeling so cool anymore. While my first experience with a cigar didn’t leave me tossing my cookies, I wasn’t feeling so great. In fact, I can recall one friend loosing it after showing all of us how cool he was with his cigar.

The first time I had my first real cigar I think I was about eighteen years old. It was some time around New Years Eve and an older friend of mine passed out a few Churchills. I don’t recall what they were or where he picked them up, but the urge to be cool hit me once again.

This time around, I wasn’t feeling ill after smoking most of the cigar but I couldn’t understand what was so appealing about it. By the time I reached the band I tossed it into an ashtray and was happy to be rid of it. My mouth tasted so dirty that all I wanted to do was brush my teeth.

Some years later I embraced the hobby, but I still find it amazing that I have come full circle. From being ill to recommending cigars as a hobby to those interested. With such a poor first impression, I would have never thought to be seeking out and buying cigars years later.

Post from: Walt in PA

Memories of that first cigar

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The more time I spend on Facebook and Twitter, the more I am coming to see that social media is in such an uphill swing, companies will pay someone to play the part just to get in on it. Unfortunately, I think the companies that do this are missing out on what makes other companies so successful.

A prime example of a successful social media account in the cigar business is CAO Cigars. If you were to log into Twitter and start talking to @caocigars, you would be talking to someone important at CAO International. Now, you won’t be talking to Tim Ozgener, President of CAO, but you will be talking to Jon Huber, Director of Lifestyle Marketing.

The same can be said when referencing @PadillaCigars, @TatuajeCigars, @EPCarrillo, among others. In those cases, you are speaking directly with Ernesto Padilla, Pete Johnson, and Ernesto Carrillo Jr. (The son of the person you know from La Gloria Cubana).

What Makes These Companies so Special:

Well, the major difference is that there is a person at the helm that cares enough to do it themselves. Not only that, but when you talk to companies like these, you are talking to someone who makes a difference.

Think of it this way, you have an obscure question about your cigar. In this case, lets just say that cigar is an Illusione Epernay. So you Tweet @Vudu9 (Dion Giolito) your obscure question. Chances are great that you will get a response in a timely manner. If the account was actually operated by a paid employee, what are the odds that they have the answer you are looking for and do not need to pass it along to someone in-the-know?

What Makes These Accounts Successful:

In my eyes, what makes these companies successful is the level of interaction you get from them. It isn’t a matter of “Thank you @waltw, please hold while I pass along your question to someone capable of answering it.”. That delay, even if it is just a few hours, is enough to kill your account. Heaven forbid it if the answer to your question prompts you to ask a follow up question.

The Bottom Line:

The bottom line is simple. We are not on Twitter and Facebook to be brow beaten into smoking your cigars or get updates on your sales events. To be successful in social media, at least in the cigar world, you need to be accessible to your consumers and not simply pay someone to play the part of someone in-the-know.

What you may not understand is that people like myself don’t just find the whole process annoying; it is a blatant insult towards our social media character. We do not follow manufacturer accounts to listen to your employee spew gushing praise all over your product. We follow them for interaction and an inside look at the brand that no one but a figurehead of the company could provide.

The funny thing is, because of all of the interaction with those passionate enough to cover their own accounts, I find myself smoking their product more often. I do so because it can be fun to talk shop directly with the person responsible for producing the cigar. By this shop-talk, you get to learn little tid-bits that you wouldn’t otherwise find out.

Thank You For Connecting With Your Consumers:

@caocigars: John Huber, Director of Lifestyle Marketing – CAO International
@Vudu9: Dion Giolito, Illusione Cigars
@TatuajeCigars, Pete Johnson, Tatuaje Cigars
@PadillaCigars, Ernesto Padilla, Padilla Cigars
@EPCarrillo, Ernesto Carrillo, EPC Cigar Co.
@DylanAustin, Dylan Austin, Camacho Cigars Marketing Director
@JamesonCigars, Brad Mayo, President Jameson Cigar Co.
@OlivaIan, Ian Hummel, Sales Rep for Oliva Cigars
@OlivaJosh, Josh Rushlo, Sales Rep for Oliva Cigars

I’m sure I’ve forgotten several in my hasty write-up, but the people listed above are those that I converse with on a semi-regular basis. There are also several manufacturers on Facebook, but I don’t converse with them nearly as much.

Post from: Walt in PA

Hey, is that really you in there?

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Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Cuban Crafters Medina 1959

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Up on the chopping block for the most recent First Impressions video is a cigar that I acquired at Cigarfest 2009. The day before the big event, Jerry and I managed to get behind the curtain and see the expo center floor while manufacturers were setting up.

As we were standing there talking with Sam Leccia, I noted that Jesus Fuego had a booth setup across from him. I was kind of surprised to see a boutique guy at Cigarfest and was very curious as to what he would be giving away to the masses the following day.

My curiosity was satisfied the following day as Jerry and I spoke with Jesus and were handed a Casa Fuego. Several weeks later, here I am lighting it up for the very first time to see how it compares to his premium lines.

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Casa Fuego by J. Fuego Cigars

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While at this years Cigarfest, I was fortunate enough to get myself a number of cigar samples. One of those samples was the 5 Vegas Relic. This cigar managed to grab my attention the very first time I saw it in the Cigars International catalog. At first glance I was immediately reminded of how much I have enjoyed the 5 Vegas Serie A and simply thought I would get a similar level of enjoyment out of this one.

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: 5 Vegas Relic

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On Friday I went through my my normal routine and headed to my local cigar shop. Not seeing the owner, I asked if he was out for the day. I got word that the Camacho Cigars rep was in town and the both of them were out to lunch.

A short while passed and both guys returned. I got to talking to the Camacho rep for a minute before he had to make his next stop. He was kind enough to leave me with a sample of the newly released Camacho Connecticut. After having heard Jerry’s account of the cigar on both Stogie Review and My Daily Cigar, I was eager to check it out.

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Camacho Connecticut

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A couple weeks back, Jerry and I were fortunate enough to score a couple of press passes to Cigars International’s annual Cigarfest. While making the rounds, I was approached by a fan of Stogie Review. This person introduced themselves as Alex and began speaking to me about Dutch cigars. Alex went on to tell me that he is originally from the Netherlands and makes occasional trips back home. While there, he sometimes picks up some dry cured Dutch cigars.

Alex then asked me if I would be interested in doing a review of the few that he felt stood out among the rest. I accepted and looked forward to smoking my very first Dutch cigar. I knew going in, from my discussion with Alex, that these sticks were made of short filler and were produced by machine. Given that information, I had an idea of what to expect in the construction and consistency departments.

With my expectations set pretty low, I fired up my very first Dutch cigar. The cigar of the day was the Heeren van Ruysdael – Brazilie Editie, which translates to “The Gentlemen of Ruysdael”. This cigar features a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper with a filler blend from Sumatra and Brazil.

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Heeren van Ruysdael – Brazilie Editie

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Today I have a first impressions review of a cigar that many of you are probably very familiar with. That cigar is the Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ. Due to the price of these cigars locally, and even the online price, I haven’t had a whole lot of interest in dropping the cash on one. I have enjoyed both the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label and Don Pepin Garcia Black Label, as well as various other cigars produced by Pepin. As a result, I’ve always been a little curious about it. I was fortunate enough to receive one as a gift in the mail a few months back and finally decided to fire it up this morning.

The Positive

• Interesting flavor profile
• Medium body, not overwhelming as first cigar of the day
• Rich and creamy flavors
• Smooth finish which is easy on the palate

The Negative

• Increased price compared to Blue and Black labels
• Flavors aren’t rich enough to keep me excited, wears off mid-way

What did you think of the
Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ?

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ

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As per the request of Johnny, this week I decided to take a quick detour from my tour of Davidoff of Geneva products and take a look at something less expensive. The cigar this week is the Primera de Honduras and is a product of Benny Gomez Jr. I was introduced to Benny at the Casa Gomez booth at IPCPR in Las Vegas this past July.

While this isn’t exactly what Johnny was looking for, it was one of the first sticks that I a came across from my IPCPR haul and decided to fire it up.

The Positive:

• Very interesting red pepper like heat
• Solid burning characteristics
• Comfortable price point at around $3.00 per single

The Negative:

• Too much of a good thing in regards to a red pepper heat
• Levels of flavor and body seemed a little mismatched
• Unable to capture my attention

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Primera de Honduras

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I found the DVD very interesting and was inspired to check out some other manufacturer movies. The first one that I came across was the Seed to Soul video put out by CAO Cigars. Fortunately, this video was available free of charge on YouTube and I did not need to purchase it in order to partake in the education.

The video clip below shows the first of three movies. Once you finish watching, look in the related videos list for “Part 2″ and continue on from there. The video is very interesting and gives a little insight into all of the work that goes into producing a single cigar.

Post from: Walt in PA

CAO Seed to Soul Video

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For this edition of First Impressions, I take a look at the Davidoff 6000. This cigar was sent to me by Davidoff of Geneva a week, or so, ago without my knowing it was coming. Coincidentally, I conversed with an individual, who prefers to remain unidentified, who never mentioned having worked for Davidoff. This person asked if it would be alright to send me a few cigars, I accepted and eagerly awaited their arrival.

When the box arrived, I was a bit surprised by the return address and wasn’t sure why Davidoff was sending me a package or who I may have met from the company. After pondering the package for a few minutes, I opened it up and it all made sense.

Below is a quick list of pros and cons of the Davidoff 6000 and is accompanied by a video which runs nearly thirty-minutes. In the video I discuss the cigar and how I came to receive it.

The Positive:

• Smooth smoke
• Enjoyable flavor profile
• Body consistent from front to back
• Good burning characteristics
• Good construction

The Negative:

• Not much of a value
• A little too consistent for my taste, in regards to flavor

What did you think of the
Davidoff 6000 Cigar?

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: Davidoff 6000

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The Cigar of the Week, for this week, is the Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 in a Petit Corona format. This cigar is one that I have been smoking off and on for a couple of years now. It has always provided a full bodied, full flavored smoke that packs a punch.

For an in-depth review of this stick, check out the following sites:

• Keepers of the Flame
• Cigar Inspector
• A Cigar Smoker

Post from: Walt in PA

Cigar of the Week: Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970

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During the week, last week, I spoke with a fiend of mine about heading down to Gettysburg for re-enactors appreciation weekend. Being a bit of a history buff, he has headed out for the last three years to check it out. I went along for the ride last year and had a good time, so I was looking forward to this year.

One weekend each year, the city of Gettysburg puts on a benefit for the people that educate tourists on the history of the Civil War. The re-enactors hit the streets in period dress and take advantage of free seminars and specials put on throughout the town just for them.

One of the sponsors of the event is Gettysburg Cigar Company. They work with a local tavern and provide cigars and brandy for a crowd of men while they listen to a speaker. The women enjoy a tea party across town.

The speakers name eludes me, but he was the same person to give the speech last year. He portrays a British Observer and lectures for nearly an hour on all that he would have encountered during the Civil War. The man is a talented speaker and had the crowd roaring and clapping on several occasions.

After spending time at the tavern to listen to the speech, we headed over to Gettysburg Cigar Company to have another cigar during their Oliva Event. Gary, the owner of the business, is a great guy. He remembered me from last year and was extremely friendly. The shop is small and easily missed while driving through town. The selection of cigars is limited, but Gary makes wise choices as to what he puts on the limited shelf space. Brands like Tatuaje, Illusione, Ashton, Oliva, Padilla, and Padron are easily found in a variety of facings.

After a few hours of enjoying the cigars, talks with re-enactors, and the beautiful weather, we headed back for home. Just as to be expected, I had a great time and look forward to doing it once again next year.

Post from: Walt in PA

A Day in Gettysburg

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At this very moment I am preparing to head down to the Spring City area to visit a very good friend of mine. This friend is directly responsible for my cigar hobby and he never lets me forget it. Before I moved to Reading, we used to hang out on a regular basis. Since the move, we hardly get together anymore due to the hour drive separating our houses.

When I make plans to visit I always make sure to load up a bag of cigars to take down to him. With the variety of cigars that I pick up on my travels, I like to put together a small sampling of the cigars that he isn’t going to find at his local tobacconist.

Every time we get together and I drop off a goodie bag of cigars he is always very appreciative. This is one of the bonds of cigar smokers that I’ll never get tired of. Watching someone, good friend or new friend, root through a gift bag of cigars will always bring a smile to my face.

Post from: Walt in PA

Visiting A Friend With Cigars in Tow

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La Flor Dominicana Reserva Especial

CAO LX2

Carlos Torano Virtuoso

Don Ramon Maduro

Bosch Jigsaw – Model JS5

What types of photos would
you like to see more of here on Walt in PA?

Post from: Walt in PA

Quick Photo Update

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You should know that I am a big advocate of not judging a cigar based on a single sample. I feel that three cigars are necessary to formulate an honest opinion. With that in mind, please be aware that these videos will act as a video diary, of sorts, for a series of cigars that will be reviewed in much more detail on Stogie Review.

For the first video in the series, I took a look at the CAO LX2. While this cigar has been available for some time now, my local shop recently received their supply. As a result, I’m a little late in getting to try the production LX2′s.

Positive:

• Excellent price point for level of hype across internet
• Burned well from start to finish
• Clean construction, appears well built
• Evenly packed with tobacco, no soft/hard spots

Negative:

• Secondary band glued to wrapper
• Flavor and Body seem slightly mismatched
• Weak ash, wound up in my lap when less than 3/4″ long
• Draw was borderline too loose

Opinion:

I think that this was a solid cigar in all. There was a high level of body to go along with the flavor, but I would have liked to see the flavor pop a little more. The body and flavor seemed a little mismatched in this particular sample.

What did you think of the CAO LX2

Post from: Walt in PA

First Impressions: CAO LX2

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A couple of years ago Jerry and I were just getting into video reviews over on Stogie Review. Things were very new to us and we were just trying to have fun with it while providing useful information to our readers.

One day, while listening to Dog Watch Cigar Radio, I heard Bob talk about smoking an Oliva cigar on vacation. Bob had good things to say about the cigar and as a result, I wanted to check it out for myself. At the time I was buying singles from a shop in Exton, JM Cigars, which was a forty minute drive from my home. While there one day I happened to come across a box of Oliva cigars on a low shelf.

Inside the box were several Serie G Cameroon Churchills and a pair of Maduro Churchills. I grabbed the two Maduros, and a couple of Cameroons to add to the fistful of cigars I had ready to purchase.

A couple of days later I fired up that first G Maduro and enjoyed it quite a bit. Later on, I got around to smoking the second of the two, for the purpose of a video review. Having been so impressed with the cigar, I ordered a box. In the review I went on and on about how much I enjoyed them and strongly recommended them.

A couple of weeks later I got an email from one of the Oliva sales representatives. The reps name was Sam Leccia and, at the time, covered the western Pennsylvania area. Having liked the review he stumbled onto via YouTube, he asked if I would be interested in trying some more of what Oliva had to offer. Several days later I received a packe containing the Oliva staple products.

Since doing that first Serie G Maduro review, I’ve been smoking the line on a regular basis. I can easily say that the most smoked cigar in my rotation is the G Maduro. I think that the flavors are crisp and the construction is solid. A well built cigar all the way around.

MP3 Version: Right Click > Save As

Post from: Walt in PA

Cigar of the week: Oliva Serie G Maduro

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The other day I was bitten by the photo bug and wanted to create something that said a little something about me. After giving it some thought, I figured what better way to play with my camera and tell about myself than to capture three of my favorite hobbies.

In the photo above, my three favorite hobbies are captured. A book on Photography with a Nikon D40 lens cap, a cigar dossier with an original Oliva Masterblend, and finally, a photo book on firearms with Smith and Wesson M&P.

I was pretty happy with the way the photo turned out and shared it with my twitter followers through the Twitpic service. To my surprise it was one of the most viewed photos that I have shared on this service.

Post from: Walt in PA

Three Hobbies

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More than a year ago I was an active member of an up-and-coming cigar forum. As people got to know one another they began talking about having herfs (local meet ups revolving around cigars). As it turns out, one of these meet ups was being held at my local cigar shop by someone that was coming back to Pennsylvania to visit family.

I decided that I wanted to take part in this get-together and meet some of the people in person that I was conversing with on the forum. This particular herf was small and consisted of about four people in all (apparently, Reading doesn’t have an abundance of forum savvy cigar smokers).

One of the people in attendance was my areas Oliva Cigar representative. We got to talking about a variety of things, cigars being the prime topic of discussion. At some point in the conversation the El Cobre cigar was brought up. The rep went on to tell me that it was produced by Oliva and was only sold in Connecticut at the shop he used to go to when when he lived in the area.

Some time down the line we met up once again, this time he had a couple of El Cobre for me to try. Ever since then I have been hooked on the cigar. It packs alot of punch with lots of flavor, something I have come to enjoy greatly in a night-cap cigar. Any earlier than that and it tends to ruin my palate for other cigars.

The most interesting part of the cigar is its story. I’m told that Jose Oliva was out to dinner with some of the people from this shop in Connecticut. During dinner they got to talking about what makes a cigar enjoyable. Someone mentioned that the more strength it had, the better it was for them. As a bit of a joke, Jose had a bundle of cigars shipped to Connecticut that was fresh off the rolling table and loaded with Ligero.

The guys at the shop got together one night at the shop and unwrapped the oil stained paper from the bundle. Each person lit up a cigar and sunk in their chair from the power. The stick was later nicknamed The Lobotomizer and soon after became the house brand of this shop.

Post from: Walt in PA

Cigar of the Week: El Cobre By Oliva Cigars

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A few years ago I was at a club in Philly called Tiki Bobs. A very good friend of mine used to like hanging out there so I made a point to check it out with him and his brother one night. After a few high priced beers I got to moving around to check out the people and what was going on. Not being much of a club person I was trying to keep myself from getting bored. On my way back to the bar I was approached by this guy with a sort of electronic clipboard.

Right away he went into telling me about this survey they were doing for a free Zippo lighter or passes to some sort of Marlboro sponsored event. I took a quick survey and collected my free Zippo. A couple yards away I saw another person with a fancy clipboard walking around. I thought it would be fun to hit up all the survey people and see how many lighters I could leave the club with at the end of the night.

By the end of the night I was mildly amused and carting around four Zippo lighters in my pockets. They were nothing fancy but I looked at it as a way to recoup my money from the high priced beers. Over time I gave away most of the those lighters but kept one. It was a polished brass case with no frills.

Some years later, my wife being the observer that she is, noticed that I had this lighter tossed in a drawer and asked me how I came about it. After telling her the story she must have mentioned it to her parents, which happened to be going on a motorcycle trip in the area of the Zippo factory here in PA.

For Christmas I got a nice wolf Zippo from my in-laws. They explained that my wife had mentioned I could use a nice Zippo to light my cigars with. Both lighters are not considered ideal to light cigars due to the type of fuel they use, so a Blazer butane torch insert is in order for them.

A few days ago I received a package from Don Ramos Cigars with samples to review for Stogie Review. Among the samples was a Zippo Blu torch lighter. I remember when these were announced and how cool it would be to get a new style Zippo.

While this story has no real point, its just my way of explaining how the Zippo Trio came to be

Post from: Walt in PA

My Zippo Trio

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For the last several years I have been a tea drinker. My mothers side of the family was big on tea while I was growing up, spending alot of time with that part of the family must have brushed off some of that love for tea on me. Tea was, and still is, my drink of choice when I am feeling under the weather.

On the few occasions when I finished my tea and was still in the mood for a hot beverage, I reached for the coffee pot. Each and every time I did this, I was reminded of how awful I thought the stuff was. The only way I found coffee bearable was to drink it black and to make sure it was piping hot. As soon as it began cooling down it would make me gag.

After several failed attempts at enjoying coffee, I swore it off and stuck exclusively to tea. That was until I heard alot of good things about this new, to me, coffee company in West Virginia. The company was called Black Dog and came highly recommended by my friends Bob and Dale of Dog Watch Cigar Radio.

Being the big cigar enthusiasts that they were, I thought I would give this coffee a shot with a couple of cigars and see if my opinion changed at all. Not knowing where to begin, I sent Brian Bircher, owner of Black Dog Coffee, an email asking him what he thought I would enjoy. I explained that I was not a coffee drinker but was interested in pairing it with cigars.

Not being sure if Brian was a cigar enthusiast or not, I explained to him what I enjoyed in a cigar with the hope that it would help him suggest a coffee. Its been some time now and I don’t remember what Brian recommended, but I do remember he was very helpful and a big factor in me placing my first order.

While I waited for my coffee to arrive, I headed to my local Walmart store and purchased a cheap grinder (I bought whole bean from Brian). A few days later my coffee arrived and I was in business. I cut open the bag and was amazed at how rich it smelled. The amazement continued after grinding, the coffee was so dark and oily compared to the brown Folgers Crystals I was accustomed to seeing.

After my first cup was finished, I was hooked and have never looked back. Over the past year I have gone through several pounds of coffee. When it is time to re-up, I put in an order for three separate varieties in half-pound bags. Those bags last me a little more than a month before its time to put in a new order.

If you are a coffee drinker, I would strongly suggest checking out Black Dog Coffee. If you have any questions, get in touch with Brian as I am sure he will be more than happy to guide you through your purchase.

Post from: Walt in PA

Black Dog Coffee

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Post from: Walt in PA

Update on the Nikon D40

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This past weekend was a busy one for me. After a hellish day with a low-flow shower head, I decided to jump in the car and go visit my parents. For the fairly short ride down, I lit up a Flor de Oliva Maduro. This is a pretty inexpensive cigar that I have been smoking fairly regularly as of late. While it isn’t anything terribly complex, it offers solid flavor at an excellent price.

While the Flor de Oliva Maduro was nice, it wasn’t the best cigar of the day. That honor was given to a cigar that I ranked as my #3 cigar of 2008, the Cubao by EO Brands.

The flavors of this cigar really jump out at me and make it very enjoyable. I don’t smoke these terribly often because I am trying to stretch the life of my one and only box. With about nine left at this point, I drop one in my travel humidor from time to time.

Before leaving the house, I decided to try and take a few photos of the stick, just for kicks. I setup the box and an un-cellophaned cigar inside of my makeshift light tent and began playing with my Nikon D40. I really wanted to work the box into the photo, which is incredibly distressed to create an olde world sort of feel.

After about ten shots, the one pictured above is the one that I enjoyed the most. While taking the photos sure was fun, it didn’t compare to lighting the cigar aflame and smoking it.

Post from: Walt in PA

EO Brands Cubao – Cigar of the Week

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As you probably know by now, I have a new Nikon D40 and have been waiting for warmer weather in order to get out and snap some photos. Not wanting to venture out in the frigid temperatures, I’ve been snapping photos here and there inside my house (which has been nothing spectacular).

While getting ready for my weekly cigar review on the Stogie Review, I thought it would be an excellent time to take advantage of my new camera. I’ve been trying to incorporate an artistic shot of the cigar being reviewed into my actual review. The photo above is the end result, and I must say, I’m very happy with it.

With this new found excitement, I’m planning on snapping a bunch more cigar photos just for fun. I’ve got a few ashtrays and other props to use with the cigar, so I hope to find something unique and interesting to set as my newest desktop wallpaper.

Post from: Walt in PA

First product photo with my Nikon D40

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Have you ever tried to pick up a new hobby only to be intimidated by it? Chances are very good that you have experienced this before, just like I have. When I first got into cigars, I found it very difficult to jump right in. I found that there was a tremendous number of things I needed to know; like how to store my cigars, how to cut, how to light, how to actually smoke them, the list goes on and on.

The best way I found to get over this hurdle was to jump right in and ask for help. Because I knew few people personally that smoked cigars, I sought information online. Before long I was learning about cigars in leaps and bounds.

I started the cycle all over again just recently. I’ve never been much of a wine drinker, but I thought I would give it a try. Unlike with the cigars, before hitting the store I asked for help online. My avenue of information this time around was twitter.

In a matter of minutes I had a shopping list of about ten different wines and was off shopping. Armed with a list of things to try, I walked into the store and couldn’t help but be intimidated by the huge selection. I walked up and down the isles for about fifteen minutes before realizing that I was never going to be able to find the wines I had on my list.

Asking for help was not an option. The store was mobbed with people and the cash registers were manned by all of the staff on duty. I folded up my list, put it in my pocket and tried to find a couple of bottles that I “may” have heard of in the past.

When my shopping trip was complete, I jumped back on twitter to tell my story and asked for suggestions on what type of wine to try first. It was suggested that I kick off the night with the Yellowtail Shiraz. My next task was to select a cigar to pair with it. I gave it some thought and decided to go with a Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion.

The experience was a positive one. The spiciness of the cigar played well with the savory flavor of the wine. With one cigar and wine pairing under my belt, I can only hope my other choices will go as smoothly as my first.

Post from: Walt in PA

First time wine shopping

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The local shop in my area has a great group of guys that are alot of fun to talk to. Everyone in the group has a different background, as a result there are are some very interesting points of view on a variety of subjects. Just like their points of view, their ages vary as well.

After a couple of hours in the lounge, we hear a female voice coming up the stairs from the shop into the lounge. Directly behind this attractive woman is a man and our shop owner. He gives us a quick introduction to the pair of people and informs us that they are with Lars Tetans Cigars.

As time had passed, the group had thinned out and people made their way home. At this point there were probably six people still hanging out. Musashi (the only name I remember) seemed very nice and started telling us a little about Lars Tetans Cigars. She told us how their cigars were not flavored, but aromatic, and that the product was far superior to the Acid line by Drew Estates.

We all listened but were not paying much attention as none of us were a fan of aromatic cigars. Samples of cigars and gourmet chocolates were handed out, as well as a flyer for a show in the area. Everyone kindly accepted the free items and thanked her for her time.

Not being a fan of aromatic cigars, I traded my limited edition in for something without the pungent perfume aroma. What I got in return was another Lars Tetans product that looked appealing. Unfortunately, being in the same bag as all of the aromatics gave it a slight aroma that may kill the enjoyment for me.

After alot of awkward silence, Musashi made her way back down to the shop and went on her way. The awkward silence was most likely due to the age of the guys (early-forties to mid-sixties) being handed a flyer to a show that was totally out of their demographic by a woman with multi-colored hair.

While I don’t have high hopes for the cigars, I appreciated the time and samples.

Front of Flyer

Back of Flyer

My score, minus the tasty chocolate

Post from: Walt in PA

An afternoon at the cigar lounge

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