Spaceman Spiff

I remember being so frustrated I didn't get in to cigars sooner back when I was buying a lot of Cuban boxes, but now I feel so fortunate that I bought them while I could. As it stands for now, I plan to resist smoking my Habanos, save for the occasional stick for special occasions. Meanwhile, I've been buying more NCs (and Nudies of course!) and doing the best I can to find Cuban customs anywhere they may be. These are what now make up the majority of what I smoke. More power to those who can still afford Habanos but I can't justify the prices to myself anymore.

Typically I spend most of my free time reading about Web Development stuff so I don't have a lot of personal time to read for fun. However, I booked a cabin for the gf, the dogs and I for the last week of June this year and this is the first of of what will probably be a few books I'll read on that vacation!

Check out Southern Draw. I also enjoy a lot of Oliva and especially Espinosas stuff, and I think Southerb Draw have their own beautiful Nicaraguan uniqueness! I find their tobacco to have a particularly rich depth for the most part. Among my favorites are the Manzanita, Jacobs Ladder Brimstone and the Kudzu-Lustrum. Fantastic blending!

This is a fantastic idea. Actually, I think we need more Lonsdales in general. Specifically though I think the RJ Ex4 blend in a Lonsdale format would be damned near perfect. Matter of fact, while I'm at it? Let's just go ahead and Lonsdale-ify the entire HU regular production.

It might not be the fullest bodied (but I'd say med at start then eventually med-full) but I just had my first Atabey and it was the Lancero and WOW. So much flavor and not a hint of pepper anywhere. Extremely floral start, I think I'll be picking up a box eventually.

I love seeing these old boxes, but on the other hand it leaves me with so many questions.... Just what kind of a cigar was this El Rico Habano? Was it full bodied, medium or light? Did it have coffee/chocolate notes like a Montecristo or was it spicy rosewater like a R&J? I'm sure many of them were probably just really nice smokes, maybe just without the character specific notes of some of the current marcas we love, but I can't help but think that maybe a handful of these brands were truly incredible blends that were just sadly lost to time.... If anyone has a Time Machine handy, let me know! 😎

Congratulations @Wailbait!!

I had a box of RJ Ex#4s I smoked through from....2017 I think it was? Anyway this was the box from HELL. To this date I've never experienced wrappers that were SO averse to burning. Even with *extensive* dry boxing, wrappers would just repeatedly kick my lighter in the balls and laugh. Fortunately, there were at least 2 out of the box that were magical and for that reason, I bought another box before the price increases. (Oh how I wish I had bought more.) But if it wasn't for those 2, I'd had written the Ex#4s off for life...still, the remaining 90+% went right in the garbage. That box taught me a lot about the fleeting yet incredible highs, and too often lows of Habanos cigars.

I decided I would light a JL#1 before work this morning, which is a special treat for me as lately, I've been hoarding my CCs like a deranged person hoards newspapers and cats. I suppose it's up for debate, but I would argue that my CC's smell a lot better. Anyway, when I pulled the JL#1 it was nice and firm in hand (I'll spare you that comparison- but I do have one!) and had a beautiful sheen. Aroma at was faint but I'd say a sweet tobacco note. It's one of those cigars that is surprisingly light for how dense it feels. After clipping the cigar I was unfortunately unable to take a draw but after some proper reaming with my perfecdraw, the cigar drew fantastically. My girlfriend liked to tease me about using the term "ream" when it came to reaming a cigar until I pointed her to the true definition of the word. She had to concede that I was right, but since then I've been reaming only cigars exclusively. More sweet tobacco on the cold draw. Upon lighting, I was impressed at how much kick there was! It has been a while since I've had a JL#1 and I think I forgot how strong they can be. In the first 1/3 I got a spicy peppery note, earthy tobacco and a faint citrus sweetness. I'd like to see Habanos explore the more powerful sides of Cuban leaf but as they say, wish in one hand and make a fist with the other to punch yourself in the face with. Around the 2/3 mark I begin to notice more of a bread note that becomes rather dominant. There is still undoubtedly a sweetness that lingers in the mix but I don't get an identifiable citrus note. Around this point the finish amps up as well and leaves a delicious sweet tobacco note that lingers on the tongue. I'll always wonder why this seems to be almost exclusively a Cuban tobacco trait. I have had nice finishes with some NCs but never any that linger like a good CC does. Cigar goes out around this point and needs a relight. I'm not sure if this is the cigars fault or my storage/resting methods. I store my CCs at 65% and let them dry out to 62% for about a week before smoking. Okay so in the final stretch, the last 3rd seems to intensify the earthy tobacco note. The sweetness is still there but much more faint. Finish increases in duration fortunately, and leaves a savory dark tobacco note on the palate. Intensity increases but smoke production stays about the same. I would like to add that I am fortunate enough to be able to smoke indoors during the winter as I live in a home that my grandfather built. In the basement, where his workshop still stands, he built a simple but effective fan blower/exhaust system that pulls the smoke out of the workshop. He was an avid cigar smoker and I can't help but wonder if that's where my love for cigars originated. When he was alive, I managed to smoke an NC with him for my 18th birthday but this was long before I became serious about this hobby. I wish he was still around because he smoked long before the embargo and I would have loved to hear about the brands he smoked when he was younger. I think he would have really enjoyed this JL#1. That concludes my review for the JL#1, I hope you have enjoyed reading & have a fantastic Thanksgiving everyone!

Whew!! What a relief! Yeah everything else seems to be spot on otherwise and the source is definitely a reliable one, but I definitely wanted to clear that issue up. Thanks NSXCIGAR!!

Hey all, I've decided to go through my stash with a UV light and pretty much everything looks good so far except for that I have some Lanceros from 21 or 20 that aren't showing the code on the bands of the cigars. They *do* show the 4 boxes that light up with the UV light but no code. Does anyone know if this is common with the thinner ring gauges? Perhaps the code gets rolled over? I appreciate any and all feedback, thanks FOH!!

Ninjacristos! 🥷🏼

I am happy to see some Aladino love in this thread!! I have to say, they are doing some fantastic things with within company. Between the Original (Corojo), Maduro, Cameroon and the Vintage Habano blends, I'd probably have to choose all 4 as favorites. I'm smoking a Habano right now but earlier this week I had a Maduro that was simply divine. As complex as I could ever ask for. As far as recommendations that haven't been suggested yet - has anyone ever tried Isabela cigars? They are based out of Miami I believe and sell only extensively pre-aged Nicaraguan tobacco. They also sweeten the tips of their cigars but only faintly and wears off after a few puffs. I believe it's a tip of the hat to the past.

RASS was relatively available and has been pretty rich, no?

Even better than LFD? I only ask because probably one of the greatest NC cigars I've ever had was a very well aged Litto Gomez Small Batch. It tasted funky (funky in the best way imaginable) spiced cherry cream and was just one of those cigars that had me shaking my head I disbelief at how amazing it tasted. Granted, I agree Fuente is overall probably the #1 DR brand but I have to recommend LFD as well because they definitely have some excellent tobacco as well!