The Smoking Lounge (mainly cigars, but all tobacco welcome!)

Discussion in 'Food and Drink' started by ChaChaRealSmooth, Nov 8, 2020.

  1. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    I'm not much of a Davidoff fan. I tried a few; always felt like they were reasonably well-made but just didn't have that "magic" that kept me hooked that many much cheaper cigars have. The Chefs' Edition is the exception here.

    The creation of this cigar is quite interesting. Davidoff apparently worked with some Michelin star chefs to make the cigar taste a certain way. This Chefs' Edition has very interesting notes; I taste some baking spices, some tea, with only the mildest undercurrent of the expected Davidoff cream taste, but with an uncharacteristic medium-full body. And as to be expected of Davidoff, construction was very good; not quite top-notch, but very close.

    This is the first time I've had a Davidoff and didn't think it was money I would have much rather have spent on something else; however it is worth noting that I would not buy this cigar again because frankly, it doesn't fit my preferences.

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    Now this is more up my alley flavor-wise. This is a Black Label Viaticum robusto. Not the cheapest cigar I bought (costs $15 per here in CA), but considering my regularly smokes cost roughly the same I don't consider this exceptionally expensive.

    This cigar reminds me a lot of the Caldwell Anastasia (it's in-between the OG green band and the remake blue band, but closer to the remake). First 2/3rds of the cigar has this chocolate note with good conplexity and this kind of strange (but not off-putting) savoury note that is not unlike good pork broth. Not a flavor I would expect out of any cigar. Last third was still very good, losing the chocolate note but gaining some spice notes. This cigar was good to the last little bit until I had to put it down to stop burning my fingers.

    Out of the two, the Viaticum is definitely worth a shot if you see it. I'd hesitate to recommend the Davidoff unless you already are a fan of their stuff.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2021
  2. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    @ChaChaRealSmooth thamks for the Davidoff update. I’ve been tempted to check them out but the prices are too steep for me to just gamble on. I think my curiosity has subsided.
     
  3. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I tried one of the Alec Bradley Gatekeepers today. I’m undecided on this one. It wasn’t bad and there was nothing about it that was a radical flavor departure from what I’m used to. But I probably won’t buy them again. I’ve got a couple more left and maybe I’ll feel differently if I give them another try after letting them sit another 6-12 months in the humidor.

    Im probably only smoking 2 cigars a month now. When the weather gets cold I pretty much quit for about 3 months. But the next time I fire one up it will probably be one of the Caldwells.
     
  4. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    @crazychile you need to learn to smoke a pipe and perhaps some some aromatics or some virginias. Get some corn cob pipes and basic stuff and learn to be a ballin Midwestern.

    I would let the Gatekeepers sit a while before smoking them again. @penguins for once said something right: Reminds him more of pipe tobacco.
     
  5. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    Yeah I remember the pipe tobacco reference. I’m not experienced enough with a pipe. I have a tin of one of the Davidoff blends. That tastes and smells like pipe tobacco without being to “flavored”.

    Question about pipe tobacco. I keep mine in the tin, thrown into a ziplock bag with a overalls pouch. Will it keep ok this way or is pipe tobacco intended to be used quickly. At my current rate this tin is gonna last me 2 yrs.
     
  6. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    If tin isn't opened, it will last for a very long time since no air is getting in the tin. If tin is opened, it is recommend to jar the tobacco in a mason jar with a humidity pack (62%). As long as mason jar is sealed tight, it should last for a long time.

    With your method, it should be ok but without being in the recommended humidly, it might dry out quicker than you think.

    It isn't hard to smoke from a pipe, I recommend just get some corn cobs and some pipe cleaners. Set should cost no more than $10-$20.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2021
  7. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Time for another Tobacco talk since the world is full of virgins as of late.

    [​IMG]

    The G.L. Please Westminster is what I called a pleasant surprised English Blend Pipe Tobacco. I was surprised since I thought it was going to be another middle of the road English Blend that is on the weaker side of things (a dime in a dozen). But I came out as being surprised on how balanced everything is with the Latakia. The Orientals and Virginias are the main source but there isn't too much or too little Latakia. Some people do not like heavy Latakia forward blends, and this one isn't. You can enjoy this one all day or night depending on your need. I prefer to smoke this one at night, and if I want to be horny like @ChaChaRealSmooth then I can add even more Latakia into the bowl when taking some of the Westminster blend. Still won't beat the classics from the English world (Samuel Gawith and Petersons/Dunhill), but it is damn good for the price.

    You guys been slacking on tobacco stuff to talk about.
     
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Did a cigar a little while back:

    [​IMG]

    The Davidoff Winston Churchill is not a bad cigar at all. Not something I will get all the time when local price is $25/cigar. Mostly when I was smoking it I get a dried fruit that is tasty. Not a powerful cigar, but not a light one either. Good balance if you had a heaver breakfast or afternoon smoke.
     
  9. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    While I work on my Atrium impressions, here's a cigar I tried today.

    The JC Newman Diamond Crown Maximus is indeed a very good cigar. I believe JC Newman worked with Fuente and Oliva to produce this blend.

    An underlying vanilla-like cream note holds things together, while other notes like bark, leather and pepper are also present. A little bit of cashew nut also is apparent after the first third.

    Very good cigar but pricey. If you can find one, worth buying at least once.
     
  10. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    ^ pretty much matches my impressions of the Maximus from a few years ago too. Glad to see it hasn't changed much.

    Had a Crowned Heads Mil Dias and Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno recently - both based on the recommendations of the shop guys. Found out after the fact that Mil Dias was also highly rated by a few different places for 2021 and Numero Uno for 2020.

    In short, I liked the Numero Uno much more. The Numero Uno had a constant underlying creamy note but it was more of a crema of the espresso or condensed milk without the sweetness kind cream, not a "heavy whipping cream" or "straight milk" kind of creamy. There was also a constant underlying nutty flavor similar to a combination of macadamia and cashews. Everything else was constantly changing and evolving as I smoked the cigar. Some of the flavor combos it changed to were decently complex, others were more straightforward. No super nuanced or 3 dozen very well blended flavors kind of magic though. Regardless, will definitely be getting more.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    The Mil Dias I can see how some people who prefer the flavors of tobacco itself would prefer over the Numero Uno. I also got a well executed constant rich nutty (probably more cashew like) undertone throughout the cigar but it came with a low-moderate amount of very well blended spice (edit: looked it up - this makes more sense now given that tobacco in this is from 4 or 5 different countries) and a constant flavor of "well executed habano (tobacco) wrapper flavor". Also got a tiny bit of leathery and some sort of mild sweetness I couldn't place my finger on. Can easily recommend this cigar for others, but it doesn't align with personal preferences as much (I also think the wrapper is Ecuadorian as it dried my mouth out in a weird way for quite a while afterwards - may not apply to everyone)
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2022
  11. rfernand

    rfernand Almost "Made"

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    Market alert: Davidoff Signature No. 1 is out (in limited quantities). Boxes of 10.

    Why did they ever discontinue them in the first place? Sigh.
     
  12. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Doing the Alec & Bradley (separate from Alec Bradley) Gatekeeper, which is becoming go to cigar.

    [​IMG]

    Also @penguins and @ChaChaRealSmooth are my bitches.
     
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  13. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Looks like you need a dedicated Smoking Jacket dawg.
     
  14. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Brah I have one, it’s on me now!
     
  15. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Also needs a medium sized gold chain with shirtless jacket b/c florida.

    Has the gatekeeper been consistent from when you first started smoking it or has there been (significant) batch variance over time?
     
  16. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Been consistent. I mostly smoke the Toros/Rubustos sizes and not their biggest ones.
     
  17. Cryptowolf

    Cryptowolf Repping Chi Town - Friend

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    I'm an occasional pipe smoker. I've been around long enough that I have a small collection of Peterson and Norwegian pipes and a large canister of long since out of production Dunhill 832 blend. Like audio, I enjoy the ritual and demanded focus of pipe smoking.
     
  18. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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  19. Cryptowolf

    Cryptowolf Repping Chi Town - Friend

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    Dunhill Nightcap, My Mix 21000, Iwan Ries British Rich, and McClelland Frog Morton. Sadly many of these blends have changed or are no longer available. Each bowl now brings me one step closer to no longer being able to enjoy these. I think I have two sealed cans of My Mix 21000 and Frog Morton left.
     
  20. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    f'ing bastard on Frog Morton, give me some of that shit. Nightcap is now under Peterson's brand but it is the same as before (still made in STG before Dunhill unloaded their Pipe Tobacco business).
     

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