Finally! The first NC I've had this year that I want to rave about...

[Detroit_Waves]

Thank God,

I had almost given up hope entirely on the world of NC. Not a bad thing some might say. However, living in the States half the year, I'm restricted to trying to find some small pleasure in the NC world. This year however, I couldnt have been more disappointed. Especially the last couple of months, everything I have smoked I will most likely be avoiding for the rest of ever!

But there is hope!

A couple of days ago, I was in Vegas, and in the Monte Carlo, there is a small Cigar and Cognac Lounge. So I paid a visit before dinner one night. I thought id slide in some pictures of the lounge for your pleasure.

8227822882298230

The humidor is fairly small, but with a nice little selection of NCs. After a bit of a talk with the manager, Tanya (A girl who really knows her cigars and whiskey) I settled for a Romeo y Julieta Aniversario Robusto. I didnt get the year unfortunately, so I'm not sure how old it was. I settled down with a Talkiser 10 yr, and away I went. And all I can say is wow. This is by far, the most delicious NC I have ever tasted. It was crammed full of complex flavours that I have never experience with any NC before. The flavours constantly changed and got better almost every 5th of the cigar. There were deep dark chocolates, beautiful leather, perfect amounts of spice, and and hint of berry hidden in there. I haven't ever even smoked a Cuban this far down before, but I could let this one go, until I was burning my figures. I even had to change my dinner reservations so I could squeeze another 20 minutes out of this little gem. I was stunned to say the least. This cigar has risen to the very top of my NC list, and it will take some beating. I'm even tempted to take it off the NC list, and slide it into my CC list.

When I got the bill I noted the star of the night ha set me back $24, which I was content with, as its Vegas, and it was mind blowing!

When I got back to the hotel I looked into buying a few. I found out the going price for a box of 28 is about $140. Wow! Safe to say a ordered a box instantly. Less than 100 squid for a box of 28 of these is nothing short of a bargain!

I completely and utterly recommend everyone try one of these if they can. I can't see anyway of you being disappointed.

[Zigatoh]

Ok, so if anything is going to persuade me to give more NCs a go it's a post like that! (could the setting, drink, girl... etc have had anything to do with the experience?? ;) )

[Bigboned]

Bet she did the ole ' light it for you with a cedar spill then bend down and blow on the end' trick, damn them

[El Catador]

Bet she did the ole ' light it for you with a cedar spill then bend down and blow on the end' trick, damn them

So.. does that explain the 'bigboned' tag then?

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyxMX2juDqP_JvcnRaUWsqelOY15lp8 fEL_W1movJ-UGiWV_msfccxA6U

[whisky77]

Glad to hear you had a pleasant evening. I am sure the 10yo Talisker added to the overall enjoyment of the evening. Superb malt.:rock:

[TJCoro]

I settled for a Romeo y Julieta Aniversario Robusto. I didnt get the year unfortunately, so I'm not sure how old it was.

Muchachohttp://www.myemoticons.com/images/sports/motor/nascar-3.gif Wheels, N/Cs boxes rarely (if ever) include a date. I think I've only seen a date once on a box of N/Cs many, many moons ago. http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/scifi-fantasy-smileys/alien_052.gif

I'm always on the look-out for a good N/C, as I too often find myself in the :usa2: great land to the north. Thanks for pointing out this one.


:catsmoker: Perro, el Perro


:lol: Haha! Hey dawg face! Exactly how many moons was that? http://www.myemoticons.com/images/emotions/annoying/buck-tooth.gif

:juggle: And exactly how long is a moon?


:catsmoker: (Ahem!) moon (n.)
O.E. mona, from P.Gmc. *mænon- (cf. O.S., O.H.G. mano, O.Fris. mona, O.N. mani, Du. maan, Ger. Mond, Goth. mena "moon"), from PIE *me(n)ses- "moon, month" (cf. Skt. masah "moon, month;" Avestan ma, Pers. mah, Arm. mis "month;" Gk. mene "moon," men "month;" L. mensis "month;" O.C.S. meseci, Lith. menesis "moon, month;" O.Ir. mi, Welsh mis, Bret. miz "month"), probably from base *me- "to measure," in ref. to the moon's phases as the measure of time. In Gk., Italic, Celtic, Armenian the cognate words now mean only "month." Gk. selene (Lesbian selanna) is from selas "light, brightness (of heavenly bodies)."


:lol: OMG! You truly are a BOOB, you stupid looking dawg smiley :damnmate:

[James811]

Good find, have you tried the Habana Reserve Robusto yet? If so what did you think?

[Detroit_Waves]

Ok, so if anything is going to persuade me to give more NCs a go it's a post like that! (could the setting, drink, girl... etc have had anything to do with the experience?? ;) )

I seriously couldnt recommend it more! I forgot to mention in the original post...During dinner I couldnt stop thinking about it, so decided to go back for another after dinner, fully aware then that I would have been paying 5 times the actual value of the cigar! However, when I got back they had just closed which was a shame!

I think the experience was definitely improved slightly but a few of those factors. Having a setting that was intimate (we had the whole place to ourselves) and was quiet and away from the typical Vegas hussle helped a little. Having the girl there is always nice company...however, she wasnt feeling great so she went back to the room about half way through, so I had my own company half the time which is always nice too. The drink was the perfect choice, and made the whole experience more enjoyable. I think however, the stand out star from all of this was still the cigar. From start to finish, everything about it was stunning. I've been readins oem reviews online that have been less than flattering, and some raving, some im hoping I get lucky, and get a great box, without too many problems, and can enjoy these in just the same way!

[Detroit_Waves]

And thanks for the tip TJ, I didnt know that NCs rarely come with a date on them. Good to know for future reference. I normally try and ask how long they have had the box sitting in the humidor, as normally smaller places like this seem to remember, which always gives a nice indication....However this time, I was being distracted by all the great looking bottles of cognac!

[bfg84]

Sounds great DW I do enjoy a good NC and will have to keep an eye out for these!

[Zigatoh]

Tell you what DW, bring some back and I'll swap you one for a Boli GM, you seem well up for them but dunno if you've ever actually had one?? :41:

[Bigboned]

Ooo now there's an offer!!

[The Prince, Moseley]

I tried the NC R&J Habana Robusto and the R&J Real Robusto last week. They were actually recommendations for my son who doesn't smoke cigars (yet!) to help me ween him off the cigarettes. We smoked them together and both were very good cigars.

[James811]

Ok thanks, I can't wait to get mine :) may get 10 not 5...

[TJCoro]

And thanks for the tip TJ, I didnt know that NCs rarely come with a date on them...

This may be the biggest difference between N/C vendors in the U.S. and many Habano vendors - rarely will you purchase an N/C in the U.S still in the so called "sick period" (9-12 months after rolling). I never have.:nerd:

But recently I purchased two boxes of puros (BRC and RASS) and begged the vendor to tell me the box dates of what he had available. :pray:

"Not our policy," he told me.:41:

But like a fool, I bought two boxes anyway, only to received puros that were 4 months old. :puke:
Apparently, some puro vendors don't apply the same ethical standards as their NC counterparts. .http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/new-emoticons/italianflick.gif


http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1358174365710&id=60f65084ced886f17ed6881d5015e512&url=http%3a%2f%2fnews.bbc.co.uk%2fmedia%2fimages%2 f46078000%2fjpg%2f_46078888_cronkite1973_ap.jpg And that's the way it is!


:catsmoker: Perro, el Perro

[Zigatoh]

But is it definitely the vendor at fault, or do manufacturers of NC cigars tend to hold on to them a bit longer to release quality product, whereas Cuba seems to get away with the 'not great now but give them time' caveat?

edit - Apart from which I have also had some mighty fine 4 month old puros (and less...) not enough experience to really know about the potential fo a 9-12 month sick period tho...

[TJCoro]

:nerd: I should clarify a bit...the sick period - marked by the smell of ammonia - lasts up to twelve months, beginning about a month after rolling. This is caused by the continuing fermentation of the leaves once they are rolled into cigars (due to the moisture added during the rolling process).

Some puros may "ventilate" faster than others, but as a general rule, most puros need 12 or more months to shed the ammonia taste.http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/crazy-smileys/smilie_sonst_008.gif

As far as fault goes - who knows. But I would think that a reputable vendor would not sell puros that are not ready to be consumed.

But what the hell do I know! http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/thinking-smileys/think_smiley_32.gif

:catsmoker: Perro, el Perro

[L_DOG]

:nerd: I should clarify a bit...the sick period - marked by the smell of ammonia - lasts up to twelve months, beginning about a month after rolling. This is caused by the continuing fermentation of the leaves once they are rolled into cigars (due to the moisture added during the rolling process).

Some puros may "ventilate" faster than others, but as a general rule, most puros need 12 or more months to shed the ammonia taste.

As far as fault goes - who knows. But I would think that a reputable vendor would not sell puros that are not ready to be consumed.

But what the hell do I know!

:catsmoker: Perro, el Perro

I have 5 Oliva Serie V Belicosos with that exact smell. Cheers for the info TJ. Will have to let them rest for a couple of years now. Must resist!