Singapore

[monkey66]

I am on a flying visit for a few days.

First problem was some tempting stuff at Duty Free at Heathrow T3. I got a box of Monte No1's that were on offer and an 05 date code for £160. Had to walk away from box of 10 Monte D LE 2005 at £120 before I went mad with spending.

Now there are a couple of great Cigar venues here and I have no idea weather I will get to them (evening meetings etc) but I did just enjoy a Reyes on my balcony (view pictured) with a cup of mint tea and some dark choc. It is very hot and humid here and my body clock doesn't know which way is up.

Hopefully I will get to some of the other places before flying back to blighty on Friday night. Will report as I go.

[Deano]

I would've taken those Monte D's I reckon.

[monkey66]

yeah... I am having some regrets but a decision had to be made and I went for 25 over 10.

I will find out if it was a good one when I light up one of the No1's.

[pedro_han]

yeah... I am having some regrets but a decision had to be made and I went for 25 over 10.

I will find out if it was a good one when I light up one of the No1's.

Singapore? Nino mentioned Jimmy many times on his journals

[ACMCC]

Been to Singapore many time's....love the place, been staying at the Grande Hyatt lately, nice place, which hotel did you take those pics from? :smoke:

[kingcohiba]

whatever you do monkey66, don't spray paint any cars over there! i heard they do not like that kinda stuff in singapore!

[monkey66]

Im staying at the Stamford. Jimmy's is on the list.

Just had DimSum for breakfast!

[monkey66]

OK. After 2 days of non-stop meetings and evening beers I managed to escape tonight (I am still in shock from last night when I found myself having to drink with potential clients in an 'English' pub getting indigestion on pizza, fish and chips and tortillias ...i am in Singapore for gods sake).

Anyway tonight I called off tired and went for an adventure. I contacted Jimmy's http://lacasacubana.com/ but got a fairly snooty response about members only and closing at 8.30pm (it was 7.30 already). So i then moved onto plan b - The Old Cuban http://www.oldecuban.com/ and was so glad i did. First of all they are located in the middle of Chinatown which was alight with a night market and second of all what a great place.

Chilled and non-snobby with a great humidor and selection of drinks, very attentive staff and great smoking area (overlooking the night market). After some time (and advice from a young Japanese girl who worked there - the owner/guru was out of the country) I setteled on a Cohiba Esplendido Reserva selection 2003 as they were 20% off due to overstock (see the pictures for their stack of boxes).

I was directed into one of the smoking areas with big leather seats, warm terracotta walls, low lights and images of Che on the wall. My young lady came in with my cigar, a blow torch, cutter, punch and fresh ash tray. She gave me the cigar to inspect/approve and then proceded to punch (at my request) and return for me to 'check the draw'. She then lit it with a big blowtorch (which she left on the table) and returned it to me.

I was sat with my back to 3 brit/american ex-pats and after about 5 mins I introduced myself and we spent the next 90 mins or so shooting the breeze. They are apparently in there most Thursday evenings ...so if anyone is passing. i ordered a coffee and an Ammereto to compliment the Esplindido.

A few words on this cigar. I think these have peaked from an ageing point of view. The smoke was faultless, clean, smooth and creamy with an excellent burn to the end. Really enjoyed this big stick but it was a little too smooth and one dimensional. Dont get me wrong it was a very good smoke, just not a great one. I suspect it was probably better a few years younger and If you have any (and it was like these smoke them now). It appeared to have been perfectly stored and was technically faultless. Perhaps the piramadies/robusto from the same box have more bite (anyone else experienced these Reservas 2003?).

I left Olde Cuban in a state of euphoria from a truly memorable smoking experience and headed out in search of some food. Settled for a local (rough) Chinese cafe where I was the only non-Chinese person there. Had sweet and sour fish (so fresh) with roast chilli and a big Tiger beer ....bliss.

I might get tomorrow afternoon free before I fly back in which case I am returning to Chinatown to explore properly and perhaps another smoke :).

[jdawg]

sounds like a great experience, mate...thanks for sharing.

[Nuno Sa]

Nice experience, i wish i had a place like that here.

I had spme Tiger beer in Nepal and liked it very much, i think they only available in big bottles.

[peanutpete]

sound like a very nice night

[El Catador]

(I am still in shock from last night when I found myself having to drink with potential clients in an 'English' pub getting indigestion on pizza, fish and chips and tortillias ...i am in Singapore for gods sake).

Hi Monkey
T'wasn't 'Ye olde Penny Black' on Boat Quay by any chance?
The pub that's only yards from some some seriously hot Singapore chilli crab vendors!

Highly envious of your visit to the 'Old Cuban', never realised there was anything of such a high calibre out there. Thanks for posting the pictures, keep 'em coming.

[ACMCC]

Good find Monkey... will visit that place next time I'm their...:biggrin1:
looks like they had some good smokes in stock, by the photos... get some local food, it's good!

What's the humidity like! bet the humidors have de-humidifiers in them...lol last few time's I've been - 97/98% :tongue:

[Luis]

Cool thread and pictures ! Spent many years in SEA (mostly Thailand) and Singapore would be my top choice in the area !

Thanks for the Old Cuban report, definetely on the todo list when I get a chance to visit again.

[mb55317]

Sounds like you had a memorable evening. Those sticks looked real nice, how do they compare price wise?

[monkey66]

Not Ye old Penny black but somewhere on Clarke Quay. I may find some Chilli crab for lunch (anyone want to sit next to me on the 14hr flight back tonight?)

Humidity is about 95% ....like walking into a sauna so they are dehumidifying. Great weather for a suit and tie that I have been wearing each day.

Prices for the smokes are a little bit less than UK retail but they tax tobacco by the weight here so bigger sticks have a disproportional cost. My bill was about £45 for the big Cohiba Reserva 2003 and 2 drinks. The discount price on one of those boxes of Cohiba Reserva 2003 was about £900 (they are $571 on Cuban Lou's) so I wont be bringing home any sticks from here.

[roughrider]

Sounds like a fun time.

[monkey66]

So I had my final meeting this morning (Singapore time) and it was actually on time. This meant I could get out and explore for the rest of the day. A real relief to get out of a suit/shirt/tie (35degC and 95% humidity here). First I had a great sushi lunch, at the risk of sounding predictable the seafood here is great. Did my packing and headed out in the afternoon heat (mad dogs and all) for a long walk around Chinatown district (so I would end up at the Olde Cuban again).

Saw some amazing sites including the Peoples Palace mall which is completely Chinese, loads of hawkers, street food, more used Rolexes that I have ever seen in one place (genuine not counterfeit), a scary array of 'medical' services including foot spas with live fish that nibble your dead skin away, a booth offering treatment for piles with graphic pictures in the window, lots of money changers and various massage services. The number of people in there (over 4 floors) must have been in the thousand and I did not see another non-Chinese face (or hear English apart from when people were talking to me aka Mr Tourist). Even though I had already eaten I felt I owed it to myself to check out some of the great food stalls... mmmm meat on sticks, Chinese pastries, Indian Paratas, Japanese mirowasi ...I had to stop myself.

I then toured all of the regular street markets, an experience but I have never seen so many places selling the same toot in one area. I ended up at the Buddhist central temple and went inside as it was beautiful and seemed like the appropriate place to clear my mind. Within a couple of mins the afternoon prayers/chanting was beginning so I decided to stay and experience the process. Well this was a great experience. NB - any Buddhist please excuse my poor terminology and lack of knowledge, As i was front and central I went along with the devotees with the standing and sitting but couldn't help much with the chanting. An hour later if mind boggling, disciplined, rhythmic and melodic chanting I was pretty spaced. For those of you with a musical bent you have to hear the complexity of the rhythms and melodies from this kind of ceremony.

So I left there and thought time for a smoke. I headed back to the Olde Cuban and saw the same girl from the night before. We discussed sticks again and this time she said why don't I try an aged (2000) Party Luci. Well I thought Lascaux would never forgive me if I didn't although I had some reservations for all CC's from 00/01.

The ceremony was as before, I was seated the Cigar presented for my approval, then cut for me and presented again to test the draw. Unfortunately it didn't draw and after informing my girl she rushed out looking concerned. She returned with a poker up it's jaksy, looked at me for a couple of seconds and said 'ill get another one'. I was beginning to get a bit concerned and stepped back to the humi where she was going through the box but was not looking happy. At this point I said lets choose a different stick and picked a Trini Funderdores.

This was a great idea, what a fantastic smoke, long smooth, complex, clean, changed as the smoke went through and i nursed it for nearly two hours. This is one of the best stick I have smoked.

Headed back toward the hotel across the banking district that makes Manhattan look old fashioned, tremendous skyscrapers and upmarket bars, what a contrast to half a mile away.

Sat down on one of the waterside Chinese restaurants and ordered two massive prawns, one with pepper sauce and one with garlic and ginger. enjoyed these as day turned to night over the water. Slightly surreal to hear the sound of bagpipes to be followed by a dozen or so Scots guys in kilts looking very merry singing 'Barry is a bender'. I would imagine local expats on a Stag as it is a long way to come from Glasgow!

I now find myself sat in the airport so i'm gonna sign off. Will post some pics tomorrow if I am still alive.

[ACMCC]

Great info Monkey... Very interesting area, there are a few shopping centre's around their, some designer type ones etc. I find that one the most interesting with all the watch and camera shops and the Chinese goodies, one of the odd things I found was the strange mix of shops and how easy it was to look around even though it was packed, being taller you can see over everyone's head :biggrin1:

One of the best place's to go for watch nuts, way cheaper than Europe,
didn't look into the cigar stores last time though, will certainly try the Olde Cuban on me next visit..... :smoke:

[monkey66]

OK some pics ; Peoples palace mall, Central temple, banking district and view during dinner.

Finally there are two pics of the poor, overpriced duty free and Changi airport (thank god or I may have spent more).