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@JohnS has reminded me that we never had a thread to assemble the community's top 10 cigars of 2017. Let's address that, shall we? Better late than never! To paraphrase @El Presidente from last year, gently updated: Fill us in as to what were your Top 10 of 2017......the 10 cigars (or less if need be) that consistently rocked your world, floated your boat. If you can ...keep it from 2014 to now in terms of production. If you have to slide an older stick in...no problem as this is really about what has been sensational for you this year. Looking forward to reading your thoughts! And I'll gladly summarize the results, natch!

Greetings dear friends! After much coaxing by my dear pal, Jason (@jay8354) over some time, I've decided to give video reviewing a 'crack' over the upcoming Australian summer holiday season. I thought the exemplary 2017 Xmas Sampler would be a good source to share some knowledge of these fine cigars offered by El Presidente for the benefit of our members. I'd like to say that speaking 'on-the-fly' about cigars is certainly a challenge and I will need to acknowledge errors throughout this series (so bare with me). Also, please feel free to share your thoughts on these cigars in this thread, especially as they are the best of 2017. If you have views or opinions contrary to what has been stated, please feel welcome to express your thoughts and say so, after all, my own views here is intended to serve as a guide. The main goal of this series is to look at the question, "Why would you as a cigar enthusiast reach for this particular cigar? Or, what circumstances or situation suits each particular cigar in the 2017 Christmas Sampler series?"

Just got back from Havana. Went with some old friends and made some new ones. A slushy Mojito with a Trinidad Vigia. My first ever Vigia. Loved it. The gang relaxing with a smoke at the Melia Cohiba (I think) Browsing the humidor at 5 y 16 The new Kempinski hotel in it's shining glory. Very shiny, but antiseptic. Like an Apple store. We had a smoke on the second floor lounge in the Kempinski. Prices were good, service was great, the ventilation was excellent but IMO, the decor was not fitting for a cigar lounge. Once again, too polished. I prefer smoking in the Partagas VIP lounge. Enjoying an early 1940's H Upmann Cristales with my espresso. A very good smoke that sadly is past it's prime. It had some interesting flavours throughout but had some bland points now and then. Glad I had the chance to smoke one though. My Havana haul (toaster and Nespresso machine not included) Two boxes of Trinidad Vigia Two boxes of Partagas E2 (5 counts) One box of Bolivar Liberatador Bundle of Monsdales (25 cigars) Four Alex PC and Robusto custom rolls. Two Robaina Lanceros and Four Laguito No 5's Four HdM Petit Robustos we split down there. Hotel Nacional ashtray, medium sized (2nd largest one) Ron Mulatta 7 Years Coffee. One Serrano and two Turquino One Cuba word champs hat.

Hope it's not too early to start talking about the Xmas Sampler offered this weekend What order does everyone plan to smoke them in? What qualities make your Christmas Day pick special? Will it be your first time having it or an old friend? HUGE thanks to @El Presidente & team for this wonderful sampler!

I spoke with Prez this morning and he agrees that it would be a great idea to have a gathering for any FoH members who will be in Havana for the Habanos Festival next month. The Habanos Festival is from Monday Feb 27 - Friday March 3. The event will be in the restaurant VIPHavana in Vedado from 4pm to 7pm on Wednesday March 1st. A fairly new restaurant, it's a really nice space and great tapas. Not stuffy at all, it'll be relaxing, fun, a few drinks and cigars, absolutely in the spirit of FoH. A time to share stories of our week so far.. http://en.viphavana454.com/index.php/about-us Finishing at 7 pm as some members will be going on to the mid-week Festival event, in which case at least you'll have had some food before the "dinner". For those not going to the mid-week event, we'll be in the middle of Vedado so there'll be plenty to do afterwards. I am hoping to get final numbers before February 14th so I can give the restaurant some idea of how many we'll be. For anyone going to the festival, please PM me if you can come. Hope to see you there, it'll be a laugh! VIPHavana

It was a warm summer night last Wednesday when I read @El Presidente's confirmation of the 2017 Deletions by Habanos S.A. Naturally, I felt downcast after reading this news, like so many here on FoH, I do enjoy my standard ring gauge cigars, and I feel a certain resignation to the loss of sub-50 ring gauge cigars, especially in the last 10 years. That evening I settled to watch the 2017 Australian Open Tennis at night when I fell into a dream or vision. In my vision I was under the sea, walking along the sea floor, yet I could not remember why I was there, nor how I was there. In my mind I could hear the melody of "Octopus' Garden" by the Beatles and in front of me I could see a rock garden. From behind the rock garden swam a fish, yet it looked strange, since it had a pig snout for a nose. The fish swam towards me so I enquired, "are you a @PigFish?" "I am indeed mate, my friends call me Ray". I could sense an aura of profundity in the way the fish spoke, yet I did not think it strange that I was having a conversation with a fish. As I peered closer I could see that in its left fin was a Diplomaticos No.1, in its right fin was a Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale and in its tail was a Partagas Seleccion Privada No.1. As I looked around again at my surroundings, the fish now had a fourth cigar, which it was smoking, a Partagas Coronas. I enquired, "do you have a Partagas Seleccion Privada in your tail?" The fish rebuked me sharply, "kindly do not speak such blasphemy in my presence!" Having immediately realised that I had offended the wise fish by referencing the 2014 Limited Edition cigar and not the original Dalia, the No.1, I responded, "Am I in cigar heaven?" and "Are these the end times for such cigars, for who has these Lonsdales and Coronas anymore?" and "Are you like a wise prophet who's going to tell me to take a promiscuous wife and then proceed to name my daughter, 'Not Loved' and my son, 'Not Mine'...because I quite like my wife and my son and daughter's current normal and simple names!" The fish drew on his cigar, yet, paradoxically, it was now smoking a Punch Super Selection No. 1. " I am not that type of visionary," the fish asserted. "What exactly is it you'd like to ask me...what is it that you want to know?" he queried. Although I was somewhat hesitant, I was wondering how the fish could smoke a perfectly humidified Habanos cigar under the sea, however, I took the chance to delve into the fish's insight so I poured out my heart. "Ray, I feel so sad that cigars under 50 ring gauge continue to get deleted by Habanos S.A, when will we see an end to this...like the Kinks and the Rolling Stones in the late 60's/early 70's, will cigars return to a golden age?" "Surely you ask an earnest question!" the fish proceeded, "and I will give it the answer it deserves". "Reflect your mind, to a time prior to the revolution in Cuba. How many marcas and vitolas were there? Were they not numerous? All vying for market share among the nations. Furthermore, have you forgotten that before Cohiba, it was the El Rey del Mundo and later the Romeo y Julieta marcas that were esteemed. Why are you down-hearted? Don't you realise that there will come a time when cigars that are above 50 ring gauge will become homogenous and sub 50 ring gauge cigars will comeback again, for these things are cyclical. So, take heart and enjoy your quality cigars for now. For the time being they will be gone, but others will come and take their place." I was greatly enthused to hear such wisdom, but I couldn't help but moan in reply, "Oh Ray, yet how will I enjoy beautiful Habanos cigars when I can't have the coffee and shortbread-flavoured H.Upmann Petit Corona, or the unique floral-marzipan Bolivar Tubos No.1, nor the smooth and subtle cedar and cream in my beloved Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Prince? And I may not favour the Bolivar Coronas Gigantes because it an earthy cigar, likewise, I don't necessarily reach for the creamy coffee and chocolate Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro, but I fear I never will get the chance!" At the very instance I muttered these words I was transformed to another place, a place without colour, a monochrome-pasteled bathroom. I could hear the fabled strings of Bernard Herrmann's score to the movie, 'Psycho', but it was me in that shower, behind the curtain. Without anyone telling me, I had a dreadful sense that someone was on the other side of the curtain, wearing an old woman's wig and branding a sharp carving knife. Without further adieu, the curtain was drawn, and I froze in shock as each thrust of that glistening weapon pierced my torso, quickly it developed a deep-crimson red wash that I knew was part of my soul, my very blood. I fell to the bath floor and for no reason I could recall, I saw Chris Martin from Coldplay singing in front of me, "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" from Coldplay's 2003 album, 'A Rush of Blood to the Head'. It was on my mind because my sister gave me the album last week and I was discussing it my son during a drive on the weekend. The video for the song was the same monochrome colour of the film Psycho, and in the video the actor, Paddy Considine slowly disappears. By now, I had a smile upon my face, but I could feel that I too was disappearing. As I turned my head to my attacker, I could see a man in a wig dressed as an old lady, but I knew that the old lady was both deranged and represented Habanos S.A. The room was turning black, and my last reflection as I lay there was how grateful I was that of the two people in that room, only one of us was a cold, heartless bastard.

To one and all of the F.O.H brethren around the world and in particular the Aussie members and all of the Perth crew who by the way are absolute Legends I would like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year,it's been a tough year all round for many ,especially if your a celebrity we have lost some good people this year celebs and non celebs so let's hope this year is a good year for all concerned and may all your dreams come true So Happy New Year