Customs

[egoo33]

Definitely!

If you smoke a J-O in its sick period, for one, YOU'LL KNOW. No question about it. For two, when they are in their sick period, they taste wretched. Like putrescent donkey afterbirth wretched. When in doubt, forget about them for a year.

I've got some that are just coming out of their sick period (~15 months from roll date), but they're not exactly good, yet.

I am glad he told me they were in their sick period otherwise I would have written it off. It's buried in the bowels of my humidor not to see the light of day anytime soon

[Lant63]

Any cueto fans, specifiacally 2007 vintage?

[laficion]

Any cueto fans, specifiacally 2007 vintage?

Cueto Is one of the BEST Roller of Customs, I still have a 2004 Solomones ,that he made for me .

[Smallclub]

If you smoke a J-O in its sick period, for one, YOU'LL KNOW. No question about it. For two, when they are in their sick period, they taste wretched.

I'd be curious to know why Johnny O's customs are now the only cigars made in Cuba that go through a severe, long sick period.

I remember a time when the Partagas D4, as soon as it left the state of "freshness", became a mix of battery acid and amonia, for several months… just an example among many.

It's no longer the case, then what's the story with these customs?

[shlomo]

I'd be curious to know why Johnny O's customs are now the only cigars made in Cuba that go through a severe, long sick period.

I remember a time when the Partagas D4, as soon as it left the state of "freshness", became a mix of battery acid and amonia, for several months… just an example among many.

It's no longer the case, then what's the story with these customs?

If I am not mistaken, johnny o are not made in Cuba. He claims they are made uniquely using Cuban tobacco is all. I

[Smallclub]

If I am not mistaken, johnny o are not made in Cuba.

That's not what I've been told, concerning certain of his cigars..

[shlomo]

That's not what I've been told, concerning certain of his cigars..

Really? I've been told otherwise....lol....

So much mystery surrounding mediocre cigars.

Haven't smoked one in at least five years though. Maybe they improved.....

[BonVivant]

Cueto Is one of the BEST Roller of Customs, I still have a 2004 Solomones ,that he made for me .

this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[OchoZacho]

I'm a big Johnny O fan. Some of the customs I've bought from him have tasted better than any factory rolled cigar. It's about personal preference. Customs can be hit or miss. Sample them and enjoy the experience.

I've had some trouble with the last couple of batches of Johnny o's I've been through. Lugged beyond belief. Might as well be trying to smoke a broom handle. I do love them when they're on though!

[OchoZacho]

I am glad he told me they were in their sick period otherwise I would have written it off. It's buried in the bowels of my humidor not to see the light of day anytime soon

How do these smoke after 3 years? I've got some that are coming up on that and they're becoming tempting.

[egoo33]

How do these smoke after 3 years? I've got some that are coming up on that and they're becoming tempting.

Im not sure just got my first one and its in its sick period I'll let you know in 2017 lol

[stogieluver]

Now I have TWO regrets from my trip (most likely once in a lifetime) to Cuba two years ago. My first regret was not venturing in to the LCDH at the Nacional (I went there three evenings to smoke on the veranda) to purchase a hotel ash tray, and now I regret not paying more attention to the fellow rolling customs outside the LCDH at our hotel, the Habana Libre. Might have been one of these fellows you Cuban trip vet's rave about.

Thanks for the new regret.

IF I ever get back to Havana, better not get in my way if you see me at the Nacional and you can bet I'll be tracking down some custom rolls.

[polarbear]

Whats the deal with the amount of customs you can take out of cuba?

I know the rule say only 25 but I've seen people come back with hundreds

Only reason I ask is I may have a friend heading there in the new year and if I'm hoping Ican send him over with a custom shopping list and a wad of cash

Feel free to PM if you'd prefer

Mods, please delete if this question breaks forum rules

[kcmontie]

Have one in the humi.... Hamlet I believe. My only custom so saving it for a special day

[santela]

Also curious about the quota. Last I heard it was 50, but I'm assuming people get away with more all the time right?

[DoubleDD]

I've had some trouble with the last couple of batches of Johnny o's I've been through. Lugged beyond belief. Might as well be trying to smoke a broom handle. I do love them when they're on though!

Sometimes they can be, I've had to dry box a few. The long and skinnies are more prone to plugs in my experience. His more recent factory Sublimes have been fabulous.

[maverickdrinker]

Customs, like all cigars, are only as good as the tobacco used....

[BonVivant]

Tobacco es tobacco - Enrique Mons

A bad dancer always has trouble with his balls - old Russian proverb

[earthson]

I'd be curious to know why Johnny O's customs are now the only cigars made in Cuba that go through a severe, long sick period.

I remember a time when the Partagas D4, as soon as it left the state of "freshness", became a mix of battery acid and amonia, for several months… just an example among many.

It's no longer the case, then what's the story with these customs?

If I had to guess, I'd say the tobacco J-O uses - whatever its provenance - is fresh and from the most recent season. Some of the other customs I have/have had were much better - akin to regular production CC. I'd assume these are rolled using tobacco that has been aged for some time.

Now would be a good time to bring up the debate as to whether Havana started "cooking" their tobacco to make it cure faster and, thus, ready to enjoy sooner.

[Cubanlightrumandcigars]

The CR allows you to customize the smoking experience, as long as the roller can do exactly what you ask him and you're not forced to smoke what is imposed as a rule of a brand. When you talk about cigars produced directly on farms where the raw material is produced, then you can say you're enjoying a unique experience, smoking a cigars made with 100% raw material of a single plantation, and that makes you can accurately assess the quality of the raw material in the planting occurs.
If we talk about big name of MaterRollers who do CR can not forget Cueto, La China, Juanita, Yolanda, Reinaldo and two who are no longer, Hamlet, who now works for Rocky Patel in USA, and the late Enrique Mons, a giant of cigars CR immortalized by his personal version of Lonsdale, which is known as Monsdale.

[Sean3]

On 10/12/2014 at 0:01 PM, Maplepie said:

Imagine chocolate. Marketed with shiny, glossy, bands wrappers. Gimicky with their filling and add ons and what not.

Imagine visiting Belgium's chocolatiers. Imagine pure chocolate - no gimmicks - no wrappers. Imagine eating it fresh off the table of it just solidifying. Imagine how it melts in your mouth from the lukewarm creamy centre from the recently solidified mass of pure buttery fat. Imagine the fact that you have nothing to do but sit there for hours, suckling on the glorious teet of the master chocolatier discussing everything from chocolate to his lifestyle. Imagine the amount of love that goes in and you can see them pour it right into your hand. Imagine if that kind of chocolate costs a fraction of the gimmicky chocolate with their 2-3 shiny wrapper.

Now imagine if the feeling lasted 10x longer and you gained no weight after gorging yourself.

Which one do you prefer?

Now I don't know it I want a custom cigar or some Belgium Chocolate!

[Jimmy_jack]

I thought this was a totally different "customs" lol

[Saxman]

Whats the deal with the amount of customs you can take out of cuba?

I know the rule say only 25 but I've seen people come back with hundreds

Only reason I ask is I may have a friend heading there in the new year and if I'm hoping Ican send him over with a custom shopping list and a wad of cash

Feel free to PM if you'd prefer

Mods, please delete if this question breaks forum rules

I've been researching this since I'm going in December. Cuba immigration allows 20 loose cigars to glut out without a receipt. Otherwise they require sealed boxes and receipts from LCDH.

US customs allows $100 worth so my strategy is to bring back 20 custom rolled and feel US immigration won't hassle me. If someone know different DM me please