10 Manchester- 16/2/10

[Jimmeh]

Myself, Trevor. A mutual friend and Lascaux visited number 10 this evening- couple of photos. I had a padron 45th maduro a partagas p2 and a la gloria from ACMCC. I will let T and Joe say what they had...

[Jimmeh]

Sorry guys- tapatalk won't let me upload- will do at home...

[Lascaux]

Rocky patel maduro Churchill, 90 or 92? Gifted from panto, thanks fella, first NC i've had that I'd consider buying more of, nice and light, great for price,
Finished with partagas D1, which I'm renaming DYum. Gorgeous, I'm going to marry partagas.


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[big_Bear]

Nice, every body have a good time? Is it getting any busier?


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[Pantomimehorse]

Glad you liked the Rocky Joe, I do think 10 Manchester is getting quite busy now, but if you get there early seats dont seem to be a problem.

[Jimmeh]

It is getting busier now.

Please see pictures below - apologies for the quality....iphone....

[monkey66]

lol... I was there at lunchtime yesterday. How was the 45th Maduro?

[daverave999]

It is getting busier now.

Please see pictures below - apologies for the quality....iphone....
Looks well swish!

[snooky]

:cowboyic9:Nice one Jimmeh , gonna have to get along there very soon, maybe tommorow

[mackem keith]

great photos jimmeh looks like a good time was had by all. i have to say everytime i hear about this place i curse living so far north:eviltongue:. happily though myself and fiancee have just booked a long weekend in london in april and will definately be checking out 10 manchester st:rock:

[Dyfs]

What's the buzz like there now? Evenings/weekends? eg compared to Boisdale? Anyone know the opening times for the cigar terrace?

[Big_T_UK]

Monkey66, BOLLOCKS, should have called you to join us but with the baby on the way, etc I did not want to be a pain, sorry, maybe a misjudgement on my part.

Regarding the cigar, more later.

T.

[Big_T_UK]

I have been hesitant to write this entry but I will now bite the bullet.....

I would like to start by thanking those involved from the forum who assisted in me obtaining three example of the Padron 45th Maduro cigar that Jimmeh and I smoked at 10 Manchester Street on Monday. This is the cigar that Cigar Aficionado awarded the cigar of the year award to for 2009. The main point of the evening had been for Jimmeh, myself and Ajay to smoke this particular cigar. Ajay wanted to see what the venue was like and I was looking for a way to repay my gratitude to Ajay for all the things he had done for me and Jimmeh over the recent past.

Sadly Ajay was taken down with the flu and had to duck out at the last minute so Jimmeh and I rang around some people to see who we could drag out at the last minute. In hindsight there are several people (like Monkey66) who I should have called but I was in a foul mood about the change in plans so spoke to nobody. I did manage to bring myself to text Laxcaux as he is such a odd-ball character, but in a great way and I enjoy him being around to smoke with hugely. We also had a regular smoker friend from Wardour Street join us but whom I find increasingly tiresome.

I had killed the afternoon at JJ Fox and smoked a SLR DC that they currently have on offer as part of the relaunch (the entire SLR range is on offer). This is the same offer they are having for those of you that attend the mini-function next Thursday. I am unable to attend but am pleased to have already had one of the cigars. The SLR DC was enjoyable but will not be supplanting the Hoyo or Partagas in my DC selection plans. As you all know, a DC can take a long time to smoke so it was no surprise that Jimmeh was already at the hotel and had started a thin gauge cigar by the time I arrived. It was a La Gloria Cubana if memory serves, I forget which specifically.

He instantly detected that I was in a particularly foul mood (the lack of anybody speaking English in London and the change in plans put me in a black mood very efficiently) and he tried to placate me with the gift of an RAF aerospace chart of the North Sea area from just after the period of my birth. He knows that sort of stuff interests me and now I can plan my destruction of the Soviet block in the privacy of my own home.

Once he had finished the LGC and I had ranted about the cold war for a short while we elected to smoke the Padron in Ajay's absence. I would like to repeat at this point that I am VERY grateful for those that helped me obtain these sticks and that what follows has NO reflection on those efforts and my gratitude.

Well, WHAT A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS this cigar is. Was it a BAD cigar? No. Was it a GREAT cigar? NO. It was a hint above average for an NC but had I thought it was a Cuban (difficult considering the format and extreme box pressing) I would have raised an eyebrow and sworn never to smoke another. How CA can put this above many fine Cuban's and even some NC's beggars belief. The second place went to the tubed Cohiba Siglo IV. I am no Cohiba fan-boy but I would smoke that instead in a heartbeat. The Rocky Patel Decade that received 8th place is better than the Padron, hands down! I ended up looking longingly at the Rocky Patel Vintage 2nd Lascaux was smoking as I tried not to think about how much this bloody disappointing Padron had cost me! Jimmeh agreed that it was not a horrid smoke, but was certainly nothing special.

In JJ Fox that afternoon a friend who regularly smokes Cohiba Robustos was talked into try one of the NC's that Fox's carry. This was the Oliva Serie V that received the fifth place on the CA awards list. He really enjoyed it. One of the staff had tried his first of these that morning and was also extolling its virtues. If you get to Fox's give one a try, I was unable to afford one that day (they are only about £11).

All in all, what a total load of tosh the CA awards are. Many of us already knew this. Oddities like giving the Montecristo Open series very high marks had caused us to reconsider what weight we give the judgement of CA staff writers. The same goes for the Bolivar RE 2009 Petit Belicoso which they liked a few issues back, horrid bloody stick at the moment. I dug out some of my back issue and now remember that five or so years ago this was on ok publication, now its toilet material. When it used to be published only on alternate months it was a big, thick, heavy and grand looking publication with some interesting articles. Now it is a pamphlet that is more interested in shopping trends and shoes fashions.

I continue to maintain that of the NC's I have smoked only Rocky Patel can put a smile on my face consistently. I have yet to try the "Brick House", "My Father", "601", "Opus X" and other highly rated NC's, but we have tried a lot. We both thought (Jimmeh and I) the Ashton VSG Spellbound to be totally underwhelming.

Anyway. Padron 45th Maduro as cigar of the year? Only if they paying you to say it! Cigar Aficionado is total rubbish, simply do not bother with it. Try to refrain from being a Cuban cigar only snob as it is a bore and foolish. There are good NC's but few GREAT NC's. There are far more GREAT Cubans but you still have to hunt them down, you wont find a great one in most cigar shops.

T.


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[cohibaIV]

Great write up 'T', I also have two of the Padrons and I would like to thank those who went to trouble of getting hold of them...

I have yet to try one..might leave it a few more days..

I love the Padron 1929 #6 & #9 and also the top line Rocky Patels, of which I have a few.

Don't think much of the Opus X...Load of tosh if you ask me....

[Lascaux]

I've been told to stay away from the opus too,
Thanks very much for the Cain ligero ligero james, I might smoke it tonight.
Pleasurable night as always, having considered myself more of a solitary smoker in coming round to the joy of good cigars in good company (and good cocktails too ofc)

I've raved about the padron 80th before, but I'd take virtually any similar priced Cuban over it. The RPs will be great budget smokes but the rest of the NCs can go suck a fat one.
I'm taking the good ship partagahoyobolilopezupmann to Cuba and I ain't comin back.

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[big_Bear]

Nice. What did James get in return? I've been afterv that bad boy Cain for a while and he always made every excuse under the sun not to swap lol. It must have been something special.


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[Big_T_UK]

James gave Lascaux the Cain in order to stop him banging on endlessly about his band, his massive drugs habit at Glastonbury, his alcoholic lead singer, his desire to buy a box of Partagas Pyramids, blah blah. You just cannot stop that man talking. Talk talk talk. And christ, a beret in London in February. You are alternate mate, but not a cheese eating surrender monkey!

T.

[monkey66]

Sounds like fun ...anyone want to buy my 3 45th's :tongue: ...but seriously I will give this stick a fair crack and hope it is a better experience that you guys suffered. If not you NC champions out there who said i would be blown away with this stick will have some explaining to do.

T i love it when you are in a black mood :aetsch:

[Big_T_UK]

And I love it when you are on a train, with LOTS of friends.

T.

[Lee Nub]

Cains are great, i prefer the habanon to the maduro , but i have put these in my regular rotation.

I love Nc's, i have several hundred in my humis and enjoy most of them. I dont have much experience with cigars yet (about 6 months) but i like what i have had so far.

I too have a couple of the Padron 45's, i also have a few of the 1926 on the way, along with Opus X , Pepins Le bijou ( which i have high hopes for) and some very low cost cigars which have been recomended by one of my most trusted new friends ( you know who you are)

I have yet to try one of Rocky Patels R4's, which are very very cheap, i am resting them for a few weeks/months first but look forward to trying them.

Shame you didnt like the padron T, i will let you know what i think of them when i burn mine

[Big_T_UK]

I had no idea you have only been smoking for six months! GOSH!

You already have a few HUNDRED NC's in your humi! How about some up to date pics of your collection for me to get envious over?

I would like to point out the Soprano's that you sent me have yet to be touched so I have passed no judgement on them and do not want to look or sound ungrateful. I have high hopes for them as Jimmeh really liked the CAO CX2 I sourced, I have not smoked mine yet as I only tracked two down, no longer made best I can tell.

Why so mysterious about your new "friend"? LOL

I did try the Padron No.1 a while ago, again that was just ok. I have a 40th and 80th to try also, sourced months ago but now I am reluctant to smoke another expensive disappointment.

You know I am an RP nut so do PLEASE let us know what you think of the R4 if that is the new "cheap" smoke from them. CA magazine has adverts for another "new" RP, the brothers edition, or something, need to research.

T.

T.

[daverave999]

...his band, his massive drugs habit at Glastonbury, his alcoholic lead singer, his desire to buy a box of Partagas Pyramids, blah blah...
My new hero!

[peanutpete]

T i have also got three of the 45s,do you think a few months in the humi will improve them?

[Big_T_UK]

No, that simple.

[Pantomimehorse]

interesting points T, I did think the whole CA awards thing was tosh and advertiser motivated anyway but this just reinforces that view for me

[Big_T_UK]

Sadly yes. Five years ago I would not have thought such a thing but sadly it is another brand that is a pale imitation of its former self, DAMN!

T.

[Lee Nub]

The thought never crossed my mind T, im a fan of your get to the point views lol

The friend i talked about is our own Mikey, he has put me onto some really nice and really inexpensive cigars. There are a couple of other Botls who source things for me too, infact George has just sourced something for me, but i will show you all when it comes in :)

The sopranos are pretty good cigars, very meaty and strong, they are on my list for Orlando later in the year :)

As i said earlier, i have great hopes for the pepin Le bijou petit robusto, this is pretty hard to get and has great reviews everywhere.

I have sent a couple of the R4's to Boss Hogg, he loves the Patels and i wanted his honest opinion alongside mine. If i like them, im planning on gettting quite a few to stock up one of my humis with ,and let them rest a while. If they arent up to much, they didnt cost a great deal , i was willing to try them :smile:

I will keep you informed

[Big_T_UK]

You are a fan of my "get to the point views"? Brave words, you must be the only person left on this forum for me to piss-off! LOL

PLEASE do keep me informed of sources and I am VERY interested to know what you have learnt regarding cheap yet good smokes and sources. Please feel free to bore me silly on this topic if you find yourself with some time and are so inclined.

Thanks!

T.

[Kdot]

Blimey! For once I agree with T!:eek: The 45th is a very average cigar. I didn't love, I didn't hate it but I wouldn't think about purchasing one.

Opus X, another over hyped line IMHO, too strong to enjoy and I like strong cigars.

The VSG mentioned was another disappointment that I tried recently.

None of these cigars were bad but not as good as advertised/rated. From the ratings these cigars have a lot to live up to but fall short.

I'm not totally convinced by RP either yet. I tried some of their orange label for CI and was not blown away. However I lit up a RP 2nd, I forget the name but it was a lovey, dark, big bastard of a stogie, that was kindly gifted by SeanP. What a pleasant surprise...I think I might have a scrummage in the humidor to see what other RP sticks I have sitting...I'm sure there's a couple of decades and more hiding somewhere.

So far the only NCs that deserve a repeat purchase in my books are the Padilla 1948 and Cuban Crafters Miami edition. I'm sure there are many other great NCs out there. My quest continues...

[Dyfs]

I wondered if we could wander back to 10 Manchester Street and give some views on a previous post?


What's the buzz like there now? Evenings/weekends? eg compared to Boisdale? Anyone know the opening times for the cigar terrace?

[cohibaIV]

I wondered if we could wander back to 10 Manchester Street and give some views on a previous post?
Where is this place????

[snooky]

5mins walk from Baker St stn. due south.

[kingcohiba]

I have been hesitant to write this entry but I will now bite the bullet.....

I would like to start by thanking those involved from the forum who assisted in me obtaining three example of the Padron 45th Maduro cigar that Jimmeh and I smoked at 10 Manchester Street on Monday. This is the cigar that Cigar Aficionado awarded the cigar of the year award to for 2009. The main point of the evening had been for Jimmeh, myself and Ajay to smoke this particular cigar. Ajay wanted to see what the venue was like and I was looking for a way to repay my gratitude to Ajay for all the things he had done for me and Jimmeh over the recent past.

Sadly Ajay was taken down with the flu and had to duck out at the last minute so Jimmeh and I rang around some people to see who we could drag out at the last minute. In hindsight there are several people (like Monkey66) who I should have called but I was in a foul mood about the change in plans so spoke to nobody. I did manage to bring myself to text Laxcaux as he is such a odd-ball character, but in a great way and I enjoy him being around to smoke with hugely. We also had a regular smoker friend from Wardour Street join us but whom I find increasingly tiresome.

I had killed the afternoon at JJ Fox and smoked a SLR DC that they currently have on offer as part of the relaunch (the entire SLR range is on offer). This is the same offer they are having for those of you that attend the mini-function next Thursday. I am unable to attend but am pleased to have already had one of the cigars. The SLR DC was enjoyable but will not be supplanting the Hoyo or Partagas in my DC selection plans. As you all know, a DC can take a long time to smoke so it was no surprise that Jimmeh was already at the hotel and had started a thin gauge cigar by the time I arrived. It was a La Gloria Cubana if memory serves, I forget which specifically.

He instantly detected that I was in a particularly foul mood (the lack of anybody speaking English in London and the change in plans put me in a black mood very efficiently) and he tried to placate me with the gift of an RAF aerospace chart of the North Sea area from just after the period of my birth. He knows that sort of stuff interests me and now I can plan my destruction of the Soviet block in the privacy of my own home.

Once he had finished the LGC and I had ranted about the cold war for a short while we elected to smoke the Padron in Ajay's absence. I would like to repeat at this point that I am VERY grateful for those that helped me obtain these sticks and that what follows has NO reflection on those efforts and my gratitude.

Well, WHAT A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS this cigar is. Was it a BAD cigar? No. Was it a GREAT cigar? NO. It was a hint above average for an NC but had I thought it was a Cuban (difficult considering the format and extreme box pressing) I would have raised an eyebrow and sworn never to smoke another. How CA can put this above many fine Cuban's and even some NC's beggars belief. The second place went to the tubed Cohiba Siglo IV. I am no Cohiba fan-boy but I would smoke that instead in a heartbeat. The Rocky Patel Decade that received 8th place is better than the Padron, hands down! I ended up looking longingly at the Rocky Patel Vintage 2nd Lascaux was smoking as I tried not to think about how much this bloody disappointing Padron had cost me! Jimmeh agreed that it was not a horrid smoke, but was certainly nothing special.

In JJ Fox that afternoon a friend who regularly smokes Cohiba Robustos was talked into try one of the NC's that Fox's carry. This was the Oliva Serie V that received the fifth place on the CA awards list. He really enjoyed it. One of the staff had tried his first of these that morning and was also extolling its virtues. If you get to Fox's give one a try, I was unable to afford one that day (they are only about £11).

All in all, what a total load of tosh the CA awards are. Many of us already knew this. Oddities like giving the Montecristo Open series very high marks had caused us to reconsider what weight we give the judgement of CA staff writers. The same goes for the Bolivar RE 2009 Petit Belicoso which they liked a few issues back, horrid bloody stick at the moment. I dug out some of my back issue and now remember that five or so years ago this was on ok publication, now its toilet material. When it used to be published only on alternate months it was a big, thick, heavy and grand looking publication with some interesting articles. Now it is a pamphlet that is more interested in shopping trends and shoes fashions.

I continue to maintain that of the NC's I have smoked only Rocky Patel can put a smile on my face consistently. I have yet to try the "Brick House", "My Father", "601", "Opus X" and other highly rated NC's, but we have tried a lot. We both thought (Jimmeh and I) the Ashton VSG Spellbound to be totally underwhelming.

Anyway. Padron 45th Maduro as cigar of the year? Only if they paying you to say it! Cigar Aficionado is total rubbish, simply do not bother with it. Try to refrain from being a Cuban cigar only snob as it is a bore and foolish. There are good NC's but few GREAT NC's. There are far more GREAT Cubans but you still have to hunt them down, you wont find a great one in most cigar shops.

T.


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man! tough to hear that. i have had several 45ths and they have been out of this world. and when i say that, i mean worth every penny i paid for them. with the exception of two. i had one yesterday and it was as you described it....very average. i hope the others still give them a chance and that they find them very different than you did! but i guess like any other cigar, you will get a bad one sometimes. the one i had yesterday was purchased from the same place yours was. maybe they need more humi time? i dont know! mine was from november of 09, if i remember correctly those were december? sorry to hear, but like i said the one yesterday that i had.....wish i would have handed that one to the guy i shared them with!

[Big_T_UK]

Haha, do not worry. I will give them another try one day maybe.

T.