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I love this time of the year It's Christmas season and for this part of the world that means it is hot and humid and thoughts turn to the beach, BBQs, Christmas catchups, long lunches, family reunions. Most of Oz will shut down this Friday and some will turn up again the week of the 5th of Jan with many more stringing it out until Australia Day on the 26th. It is our holiday period, our "special time". Aussies feel lucky. We know we are privileged to live in this great brown land surrounded by beautiful beaches/sea. It is why Sundays news of the Bondi beach massacre has shocked this nation to its core. We are a country of immigrants. No one ever came to this country because they had a lot of mates. We have taken immense pride to be a land of opportunity and largely peaceful co-existence. It's not perfect but in the main, you honour your past traditions, you park your issues at the door and you adopt the Australian ethos of tolerance. You "dig in" to make your mark to the best of your ability. What a difference 48 hours makes. Today in Oz, there appears to be one demographic, the Jewish community, who can no longer feel safe in enjoying what the rest of us take for granted. A day at the beach, a celebration, a BBQ, a laugh with friends and family, all held in an environment of safety. What occured Sunday was terrorism on our sacred sands. 16 dead, 40 injured. My heart goes out to all impacted by this tragedy. It has stunned the entire country and should cause all Aussies to contemplate what it means to be an Aussie. I hope that on the other side of that contemplation we all decide to be Ahmed al-Ahmed, that Aussie of Syrian descent who said "no, F*ck that", ran toward the firing terrorist, tackled him, disarmed him and saved countless innocents in the process. Ahmed al-Ahmed took a few bullets and recovers in hospital. Through his actions, Ahmed al-Ahmed has given Australia the greatest Christmas gift of all. He has defined courage, he has defined what being an Aussie should be. Without concern for personal safety, he protected the innocent, the vulnerable. Thank you Ahmed al-Ahmed for the reminder. Thank you for the greatest Christmas gift of all. Merry Christmas mate and a quick recovery.

13' Ramon Allones Specially Selected (50 Cab) Raisin, Stewed fruit, Molasses

12 degrees @ 3:30 P.M. Siglo VI - OGA MAR 12

Carlota on a frigid morning with coffee. Go Bears!

Something different for me, Dalay Gran Beli 2023 Ten years of membership and my 5000th post, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank our great hosts and all members of the forum for this great community! I found my way here even much earlier through the legendary early tasting videos (on the old balcony-deck back then with Smithy). At first, twas hard for me to follow what these folks with that ‘strange’ accent were even talking about 😅. But since I am not a social media guy, couldn’t for long bring myself to join as a member. This forum and its inspiring exchange has since become a steadfast part of my life, during difficult times as well as times of joy and happiness. May the latter prevail for all of us, and may this forum go on forever! 🙏

1 y/o Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro with the morning coffee.

Mag 54. Stop thinking, start drinking. 😅

Trinidad Topes Edición Limitada 2016.

Punch Serie D'Oro No. 2 EL '13

Behike 52 - BTO OCT 13.

PUR JUL 16 CG. My favorite winter/holiday cigar. Cool night in Florida, had to light one up.

Nice Sunday afternoon...

Stock standard Juan Lopez No 2. Just beautiful.

H.Upmann Petit Coronas - MEG Oct 2015...

Right there with ya. ….except the “Bears” part.

A 2018 Partagas Shorts A 2021 orange dot Monte 2 A2025 Punch Punch that would have been an excellent cigar with a couple years of age.

AMO ABR 16 Esplendido. Man oh man.

Siglo II.

JL1 2024

Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No 2. RAS MAY 09.

‘98 HdM Du Prince 50 Cab (5 1/8 X 40) - burnt toast, roasted almonds, heavy baking spice. Final third developed lovely rich brioche French toast notes. Super rich dense sweet & savory flavors. One hour of vintage cabinet aged Havana magic.

Cohiba Esplendido (UAO DUC18).

La Gloria Cubana Medaille D'Or Especial Edición Regional Belux.

Fundy from 2019. Cheers! FOH😙💨

14' La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 Rootbeer float, Honey, Marzipan

Fuente Don Carlos Shark with several years of age on it. Sublime. Slow burning, creamy, aromatic.

Dip#2. Sourdough. Up there with P2 as an: 'I could smoke you everyday'.

N2 Piramide N1 Lancero

Cohiba Siglo III - PUR Nov 2016...

D4 '22

Custom Havana roll after 1-year. Modelled after BHK 54. Major Trinidad notes for me. Spectacular.

Anejo 77 Shark from 2005. This is my first NC in 2025. What a treat! Have a great week ahead FOH.

LGC Inmensos (MUR Jul 2012) thanks to a friend...

'23 ERDM Demi Tasse. Tiny powerhouse of flavor.

Thanks @Gemini_Man

Back to back flavor bombs. Happy Friday FOH!

A N1 in the garage lounge. This could be my new to me cigar of the year. I love how the opening gives you a smack across the choppers and settles into a flavorful medium-bodied journey.

20' Bolivar Royal Coronas Graham Cracker, Cocoa, Gingerbread 1/2

Cohiba Siglo I - ROM Nov 2015...

UAO OCT 18 Siglo VI

'24 Reyes. Mild and creamy.

Monte #2 GOS Oct 18 - divine!

Warped Maestro del Tiempo in Lonsdale. Picked it up due to Lounge Lizards Podcast. The flavor is fantastic. Unfortunately this one is rolled extremely tight and my attempt to unplug it has created a giant tear in the wrapper. I really wished this smoked more effortlessly, given the flavor. I might try to pick up the petit robusto next time, hoping to capture some of the flavor but smoke more easily.

Nudie Piramide. Easy going smoke with plenty going on.