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It better not be! I think it's a utility-depth player move, but it still doesn't make a lot of sense as we have several similar players already, earning basically league minium...IKF is getting $6m!! It's not a horrible move in the utility-depth respect, it only becomes one if they fail to add another 2B/3B with some thump. The other way they're possibly thinking, which I hate, is playing Rafaela at 2nd a lot and adding another decent bat via the outfield. Whatever it is, Craig, get it done already!!

SLR Regios Choix Suprême Upmann Connoisseur No.1 La Escepcion Don José

Agree; Carnegie Club is part speakeasy, part Rat Pack, dim lights, leather chairs and deep couches, oldies and jazz drifting through, and a vibe that’s both classy and relaxed. Thursday’s crowded, Friday/Saturday brings live music, but I’ll take that over most lounges any night. Hudson Bar & Books is tiny but vibey, runs James Bond films on a loop, and features curated drinks and a heated outdoor section that’s perfect for people-watching. Cozy, lively, and an eclectic crowd, but definitely a West Village hideaway. Macanudo? Stiff chairs, packed like sardines, more chaos than charm. Best food offerings of the lot, terrible for a long sit. I also have to agree with @BG318 about De la Concha on 6th Avenue; there was something truly civilized about grabbing your favorite smoke, an espresso, and sitting at one of their hightops, in front of floor-to-ceiling windows facing 6th, and just watching the city go by. Perfect spot to soak in NYC at your own pace. Now it's a Davidoff. De la Concha used to be a jazz trio in a smoky lounge; Davidoff turned it into elevator music in a corporate lobby.

I could use some help with best 48 ring gauge Hermosos n4 CC.

Chibearsv doin the heavy liftin here Cuba should surely do a sampler. God bless that will never happen.

Haven’t been to Himalayas yet, but I’ve ice climbed (not very well) in a lot of places. Skied everywhere. Best epic I’ve had was getting caught doing boot spur traverse on mount Washington in 50 below F in 93mph gusts. Only time in life I thought I might die so far. Had to slide on my ass on ice/rocks for 3/4 mile to tree line bc wind was too strong to use an ice axe. My ass bone was wrecked for six weeks. I think Cuba and a dinner with Pres would be a good finisher for me. And probably a few more countries to visit.

It’s a death spiral at this point - resorts being shuttered just accelerates the pain. Russia may be “welcoming” some new citizens soon. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-06/cuba-beach-resorts-closing-as-trump-moves-to-block-fuel-shipments?embedded-checkout=true

Each have their own appeal. I have been with groups where we rented out the top floor at Carnegie club. feels classier. I have been to private parties at club Macanudo. Feels most like a cigar club. I hosted a party at merchants east but I think they changed their venue around. Fun times. Montecristo/Smoke Inn allows byob with a minimal purchase. More laid back. Can get really smokey though. Rob, and even lisa, have hosted parties at Havana Dreams before. It is in Queens. The most down to earth spot, imho. SOHO bar I think I have been to maybe once. Good place to hang out. Hudson Bar and Books I may have been to maybe 20 years ago.

Smoking a BR big gun right now. Striking how it mimics the Lusitania. Maybe even a bit better. I’m from Boston so hoping Patriots can pull a horse shoe out their ass. Have a great weekend all!

This is probably where you’ll want to keep a close moderator’s eye on me. I’ve been exemplary so far.

What an absolute tragedy for the people of Cuba. Cigars aside. This is not a good situation. And that they're being squeezed even more is immoral.

What’s your recommendations with the RyJ Tubos #1 vs #2, current production. I have heard mention the Tubos are performing well recently. Similar profiles and consistent construction? Or does one jump out as the clear winner? Thanks in Advance. 💨

No Fuel - No Electricity - No Cigars The above was succinctly put to me yesterday in a discussion with industry heads. Cigar production is prioritised but there are other demands higher on the list of importance. The seriousness of the current situation is hitting home for all within the Cuban cigar industry.

Drinking tea with cigars is not as popular as other beverage parings, that's for sure, but nevertheless, there's a niche following this out there... Aromas To Bring Tea Bar And Cigar Experiences To Castleberry Hill Sheila Hubbard crafts unique tea blends for Aromas. Published Date: February 5, 2026, 11:46 AM EST by Emily McGinn, Senior Regional Reporter Aromas To Bring Tea Bar And Cigar Experiences To Castleberry Hill - Photo: Official Sheila Hubbard has been cultivating her passion for unique tea blends for years. Previously a flight attendant, she loved trying different tea shops as she traveled and posting about them online. Hubbard found a new niche in her passion when she began to explore cigar pairings and incorporated that into her tea blogging in 2023. Her interest in tea and cigar pairings led to some unique opportunities, including a new connection with the Sisters of the Leaf Global Movement — a group on a mission to introduce women to the world of cigars — as well as a session at Chicago Cigar Week, during which Hubbard shared her knowledge of cigar and tea pairings. She also hosted a pop-up cigar-and-tea event for a friend’s nonprofit, paving the way for a future concept. From these experiences, Hubbard hatched a dream to concoct her own tea blends, and Aromas Premium Teas was born. On New Year’s Day, a meeting at Koncept House led Hubbard to her ideal brick-and-mortar location. Now, she is preparing to open her own tea bar in the space at 141 Mangum St. SW formerly home to The Sober Social. The 30-seat space will feature a six-seat bar as well as tables and chairs where people can sit and enjoy a unique lineup of tea-infused beverages. Hubbard plans to set Aromas apart not only with tea blends crafted solely for the tea bar, but also by featuring one blend each month. That special blend will be infused in the beverage offerings on the menu — about five or six cold mocktails alongside five or six hot mocktails. The following month, a new blend will rotate in as the featured tea. The sustainably-sourced, organic tea blends will also offer unique insight into Hubbard’s own history. There will be three to five blends in each series of teas, and the first series will be known as the Black Series. The first featured blend — a smoky black tea — will be called The Extortionist, a reference to her great-grandfather, Ike Rogers. “He was a Cherokee Freedman, a U.S. Deputy Marshal and a Civil War veteran,” Hubbard told What Now Atlanta. “We took about five different accounts from his life that are recorded history, and we matched the blends with the story attached to that history. The Extortionist blend, which is the first blend we’re going to be featuring, tells the story about how he was charged with extortion by the U.S. government over $30.” While there will be no food menu, Hubbard is looking into partnerships with other local brands for small bites or snacks. Hubbard is also looking to do ticketed cigar and tea pairing events, potentially with some amuse bouche pairing as well. While Aromas will not sell its own cigars, they plan to collaborate with a cigar vendor. Hubbard hopes that Aromas will become a spot where people can be exposed to a wide variety of tea ingredients, as they are sourcing items from 14 countries. She also hopes to introduce more people to the experience of pairing cigar with teas and exploring how flavors interact. “We’re hoping we bring more people that either smoke cigars or are interested in smoking cigars and want to experience the flavors of the teas that we offer without sugar, without sweetener, and just to pay attention to their palate,” Hubbard said. “We want to help people start drinking their tea without adding anything to it. It’s very important to me and my family that how we brew the tea tastes the same every time.” Hubbard is aiming to open Aromas in late March. She and her four children are working together to bring the space to life so that it can provide unique experiences and tea offerings to customers when it opens. “We are hoping that once we open, we really start becoming a place where people just want to go, even if it’s to grab a cup of tea that they can’t get in the store and can’t find anywhere but us,” Hubbard said. Source: https://whatnow.com/atlanta/restaurants/aromas-to-bring-tea-bar-and-cigar-experiences-to-castleberry-hill/

Buddy…this can’t be it. Can it?😳😵‍💫🤣

We are having a brilliant spell of summer weather. Blue sky, hot without being scorching. Off for a gym session now followed by lunch with mum, dad, my kids and their partners. Ben has arranged today's lunch to show his grandparents his new house. Should be a great lunch. If I play my cards right, I can swing today's lunch as my birthday lunch as well, and hence dodge a midweek parent catchup Sunday we will likely take Di's mum out to lunch at the Rocklea Hotel. I like this pub. It has had a rough reputation over the years due to it's colourful locals (bikies/drug dealers/truckies)...but I feel right at home. They do a great pub meal with my favourite being the tomahawk on a hot rock...that you cook at the table. I can't wait for Catherina (Di's mum) to lecture me that the concept of going out to lunch is for the restaurant to cook. I have taken her to Korean BBQ before...so I know what is coming. Outside of that I have some blends to taste and preparation for SuperBowl Monday. What's up for the weekend?

A new Cigar Lounge has opened at the Noyo Harbor Inn - the only one of its kind on the Mendocino Coast. (Contributed) Noyo Harbor Inn adds cigar lounge to visitor experiences By Carole Brodsky - Fort Bragg Advocate-News PUBLISHED: February 5, 2026 at 6:00 AM PST | UPDATED: February 6, 2026 at 9:46 AM PST Noyo Harbor Inn General Manager CEO Scott Schneider enjoying the warm ambiance and view from the Cigar Lounge. (Carole Brodsky — Fort Bragg Advocate-News) “Smoking cigars is like falling in love; first you are attracted by its shape, you stay for its flavour, and you must always remember never to let it completely burn out.” — Winston Churchill There is something timeless about the clear, crisp scent of a glass of fine whiskey. And the folks at the Noyo Harbor Inn have made it part of their business to educate and serve customers the finest whiskeys from all over the world- featuring what is arguably the most comprehensive whiskey and spirit menu in Mendocino County. Now, says General Manager Scott Schneider, a new component, long associated with whiskey is being offered at the Inn: an outdoor cigar lounge, where newbies and aficionados can add a choice of cigars to an overnight stay or a crafted cocktail by celebrated mixologist Laura Spradlin. The cigar lounge is located in an outdoor gazebo, that sports a warming fire, plenty of seating and a spectacular view of the harbor. Like many indulgences, the choice to smoke a cigar, or not- is clearly an individual decision. For those who choose to make an alliance with the gods of tobacco, having a beautiful, friendly atmosphere to enjoy a cigar is the best possible way to enjoy the ride. For Schneider, the cigar lounge was a natural extension of the ambiance of the Inn and the array of services they offer to the public. He was fortunate to have a relative who is steeped in the world of cigars, and is receiving quite an education on how to select the best cigars for his customers. “We also encourage customers to bring their own cigars and enjoy them in the gazebo,” he explains. For countless generations, indigenous peoples grew and smoked tobacco- placing cured leaves in a rolled “wrapper” leaf that eventually became synonymous with today’s cigars. Cigar tobacco was considered a medicinal herb. Discovered by explorers coming to the New World, conquistadors and common sailors picked up the habit and returned to Europe with tobacco in hand. It is thought that the word “cigar” comes originally from the Mayan “sikar.” Production of cigars began in Spain and France, and historians gather that the first imported Cuban cigars made it to North America in the 1760’s. It took another 100 years for an intrepid entrepreneur to bring both cigars and a copious amount of tobacco seeds to the United States- and the rest is truly history. Cigars predated the much-cheaper cigarette, and continue to be a national status symbol associated with wealth, luxury and celebration- a unique ritual that has long associations with social connection and community bonding. Cigars are not like a cigarette or even a cannabis joint- both of which are constructed using a smokeable cylinder filled with ground-up product. Cigars are constructed from 3 separate types of tobacco leaves: wrappers, binders and filler- each of which are cultivated and harvested in specific ways to produce the optimum product. The tobacco is first grown, cured and fermented, sometimes for months to produce the optimum flavor profile, much like the whiskey that pairs so well with cigars. Unlike cigarettes and cannabis, the internal “filler” leaves are the least valuable portion of a cigar. The filler is held together with a binder leaf, but the outer, wrapper leaf that one sees when purchasing or smoking a cigar is actually the most-costly portion of the product. The best binder leaves are carefully cultivated in shaded conditions so that the leaves can mature to their fullest potential. Cigar tobacco leaves are air-dried for up to 50 days, then piled together to help eliminate both ammonia and nicotine. From there, tobacco is aged- sometimes for up to two years, to enhance flavor development. Once packed and wrapped, the finest cigars are then rested in cedar rooms for months before being deemed ready for sale. At the Noyo Inn’s Harborside Cigar Lounge, four premium cigars are currently available for purchase. “Staff are happy to help recommend fine whiskey recommendations for pairing with the cigars,” Schneider continues. Everything one requires for an enjoyable smoking experience is available- from cigar cutters to special pieces of wood used to light the cigar and enhance flavor. The “Romeo y Julieta” cigar is considered a medium-mellow cigar, and the brand is considered to be a staple for every enthusiast’s humidor. The company was founded in 1875 and is still producing one of the best-selling handmade premium cigars worldwide. Those ever-present stogies held by Sir Winston Churchill were the Romeo y Julieta brand. The wrapper is produced from seeds that were cultivated in Connecticut and imported to Ecuador, where the cloud-forest climate provides the perfect environment for high-quality wrappers. The binder tobacco is from Nicaragua, and the filler is Dominican-aged tobacco. They are crafted in the well-known Tabacalera de Garcia factory in the Dominican Republic. Similar to craft cannabis, the cigars are packaged using two-way humidity Boveda packs, so that they remain in optimum smoking condition. Like wine and spirits, there is a broad lexicon used to describe the taste of cigars. The Romeo y Julietas are said to have a “slightly sweet, woodsy flavor and a tender aroma.” A selection of the worlds’ finest cigars are available for purchase, or visitors may bring their own cigars to enjoy at the lounge. (Carole Brodsky — Fort Bragg Advocate-News) The Ashton Virgin Sun Grown cigar is considered by aficionados worldwide to be one of the finest cigars available. It is described as “earth, cedar, leather, espresso beans, and rich spices.” Handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, the wrapper is an Ecuador/Sumatra hybrid grown in Ecuador on a private estate. The heralded Fuente family is responsible for the fermentation of the wrapper, and the cigar is considered unparallelled in its dark, lustrous appearance. The Ashton Virgin Sun Grown has been awarded multiple 90-plus ratings by Cigar Aficionado. The Arturo Fuente Hemingway series focuses on medium-bodied, Perfecto cigars- one of the most challenging shapes to produce and only attempted by the most experienced cigar craftspeople. The shape was created in the early 20th century, and maker Arturo Fuenta uses molds similar to the ones used at the turn of the century to create the original “figurado” cigars, which take twice the time to produce compared to more standard cigar shapes. Estate-grown Dominican filler and binder tobaccos are used, along with a Natural and Certified Cameroon wrapper. Its taste is described as “dark chocolate, earth, and freshly ground coffee balanced against buttery spices leading to a medium-bodied luscious finish.” The Montecristo Classic Robusto is described as “the perfect balance of smooth, coffee, and nut balanced against warm spice flavors that are mellow in strength.” The binder and filler hail from the Dominican Republic, with the wrapper cultivated here in the United States under the shade in the Connecticut River Valley, which results in thin leaves with even thinner veins- a prized trait in luxury cigars. The seeds were originally from Sumatra, and farmers use fabric to filter out the harshest rays of the sun- making a wrapper that cigar lovers describe as “creamy and approachable.” These are considered a cigar that is a good starting point for the beginning connoisseur, and receive an 85-plus rating by Cigar Aficionado. A cigar is smoked in a unique fashion. There is no inhaling involved, and the user is instructed first to cut the end of the cigar to remove the cap, then to “toast” and light the “foot” of the cigar. The smoke is to be drawn into one’s mouth and no further, so that the consumer can experience the full flavor, fermentation and taste of the multiple types of tobacco that created the cigar. It’s a slow, deliberate process, with most cigar enthusiasts recommending taking only about one puff per minute. A standard-sized cigar should take between 45 and 90 minutes to consume. Smoking a cigar may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some. Popular culture is filled with images of fathers celebrating the birth of a child with the handing out of cigars to friends and family. But the slow, deliberate and opulent ritual of smelling and tasting a handcrafted, high-end cigar, especially following the delights of an excellent meal and the social lubrication of fine wines and spirits is thought by many to be an excellent way to socialize. Schneider notes that the Harborside Cigar Lounge is the only such venue available on the entire Mendocino Coast. “It took some time to get the permitting to sell cigars and offer a smoking area on the property,” he notes. The cigars also available for sale in the Noyo Harbor Inn Gift Shop.The gazebo is tastefully located so that those not interested in the cigar experience will not be impacted by the lounge. In time, says Schneider, the lounge will feature music options and an online system to order food and beverages from the Harborview Bistro and Bar. “We are delighted with the response we have received from community members and guests,” he notes. Users of the lounge are thrilled to have a beautiful and welcoming place to recreate the sensory experience provided by a plant that has traveled the road with humans for thousands of years. For more information on the cigar lounge visit https://www.noyoharborinn.com. Source: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/02/05/noyo-harbor-inn-adds-cigar-lounge-to-visitor-experiences/

Robert, when you get to # 5 give me a shout. I have made twenty two of those trips. Three above the Arctic Circle (no Pike or Walleye on those but huge Lakers, Arctic Char & Arctic Grayling).

Les Fines Lames Ships DYAD Limited Edition Concrete Ashtrays February 6, 2026 - Brooks Whittington Les Fines Lames has shipped a new version of its DYAD concrete ashtrays. The DYAD Limited Edition is a two-cigar concrete ashtray measuring 5.75 inches x 5.75 x 1.3, featuring space for two cigars on opposite sides. The company says the newest version of the ashtrays is similar to the original concrete versions released in 2020, but the new ashtrays have a “smoother, shinier, naturally finished surface.” There are three DYAD Limited Edition color options—Coyote Tan, Midnight and OD Green—priced at $120. Each colorway is limited to 50 pieces, and they are made in France. Les Fines Lames says the new additions utilize the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi—a viewpoint centered around finding beauty in imperfections—and that each piece will include “marks from the production process, enhancing its character. The company also sells a single-cigar version named MONAD, which measures 6 inches x 6 x 1.2. The three new DYAD Limited Edition ashtrays have shipped to retailers. Source: https://halfwheel.com/les-fines-lames-ships-dyad-limited-edition-concrete-ashtrays/461885/

Maryland Premium Cigar Lounge License Bill Reintroduced With Changes February 5, 2026 - Charlie Minato Proposed legislation reintroduced in Maryland would create a new license for cigar lounges operating in the state, which could clear up inconsistent laws relating to whether customers can consume alcohol in a cigar lounge. However, there are some potential complications to the bills if they were to become law. In 2024, the Maryland Department of Health was directed to establish a workgroup to study issuing alcoholic beverage licenses to tobacconists. That spurned proposed legislation in the 2025 session that would have addressed the issue head-on, though it did not pass. Now, the legislation is back for the 2026 session, albeit with some changes. Currently, the state’ Clean Indoor Air Act says that a business whose “primary activity is the retail sale of tobacco products and accessories; and the sale of other products is incidental” is not subject to the state’s ban on indoor smoking. H.B. 766 and S.B. 623 would remove “is incidental” and replace it with a limit that the business could not generate more than 30 percent of its gross revenue from the sale of “other products.” While this does not redefine the requirements for a “licensed tobacconist”, a definition that currently does not have a specific sales quota, it does create a line of demarcation for which shops would be able to allow indoor smoking. However, the bill’s main goal is the creation of a new Class C-Premium Cigar Lounge license. That license will allow customers to bring and consume their own liquor from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. in the lounge. In addition to the $100 annual license, retailers would need to have at least one employee certified in an alcohol awareness program, have building plans that show “sufficient air filtration and exhaust,” generate at least 70 percent of its revenue from “premium cigars, pipe tobacco, and related accessories,” and have all of its employees acknowledge that they will be subject to secondhand smoke. Many retailers in Maryland already advertise their shops as BYOB, this bill would aim to clear up any potential licensing liabilities. There are some restrictions on which retailers would be able to get a license. First, any retailer located “adjacent to a licensed health care facility or licensed child care facility” would not be eligible. Second, county clerks would be limited to issuing one license per 150,000 residents. If there are fewer than 150,000 residents, one license can be issued. Maryland has 23 counties; 13 have a population under 150,000 people, meaning there could be just one license issued for those counties. Montgomery County is the state’s most populous county; based on its 2024 population, it could have eight available licenses. A similar version of this legislation was introduced in 2025, but there were some notable differences: The 2025 version would have grandfathered existing cigar lounges. It appears this language was added after the bill was introduced. The 2025 version didn’t create the 70 percent threshold to be exempted from the Clean Indoor Air Act The license would have been $2,000 instead of $100 Glynn Loope, director of state advocacy for the Premium Cigar Association, submitted a letter supporting the legislation, saying that it would clear up inconsistent enforcement of the state’s liquor laws. “Although current law permits Maryland tobacconists to apply for alcohol licenses, county regulation of existing lounges has been inconsistent,” wrote Loope. “A statewide license would provide regulatory clarity and uniformity for a limited number of new lounges. ” The Maryland Department of Health, anti-smoking groups and the Restaurant Association of Maryland all opposed the legislation, which garnered six co-sponsors between the two legislative bodies and did not make it out of committee. Both the 2025 and 2026 versions of the proposed legislation were introduced by Del. Andre Johnson, Jr., D-Hartford County, and Sen. Ron Watson, D-Prince George’s County. Combined, the two 2026 bills have three co-sponsors. Source: https://halfwheel.com/maryland-premium-cigar-lounge-license-bill-reintroduced-with-changes/461930/

I'm a dummy and inverted my scores on the poll. Connie As are peak journey in a cigar for me. Rich and nuanced. 5 years+ on them really elevates the experience.

South Dakota Bill Would Allow for New Cigar Bars February 6, 2026 - Charlie Minato A South Dakota bill that would allow for new cigar bars in the state has cleared its first hurdle. The South Dakota House State Affairs Committee approved H.B. 1215 by a vote of 11-1, meaning the bill moves to consideration in the full House of Representatives. H.B. 1215 would allow for counties and municipalities to issue licenses for new cigar bars, so long as the businesses meet certain requirements, such as generating at least 10 percent of sales from the sale of cigars as well as having a humidor and proper ventilation. The state’s 2008 smoking ban is said to have grandfathered just three existing cigar bars. Municipalities would be restricted to issuing one permit plus an additional permit for every 25,000 residents. The bill was proposed by Rep. Will Mortenson, R-24, and has bipartisan support from 19 other legislators. Source: https://halfwheel.com/south-dakota-bill-would-allow-for-new-cigar-bars/461966/

1. Helicopter fly in trip to fish wild fresh silver salmon in tidewater in Alaska. 2. Guided trip down the Babine River in British Columbia for huge fall run steelhead. 3. Tierra Del Fuego for sea run browns. 4. South America for Golden Dorado. 5. A fly in trip for huge Northern Pike, Lake Trout and Walleye, somewhere in Northern Canada.