A Proposition

[rokkitsci]

As soon as I can get Monte's postal address, I'm going to send him 6 little known Nicaraguan-made cigars that I favor, 3 each of 2 vitolas: a 5x50 Robusto and a 6x54 Toro. I am going to suggest that after he takes one to sample for himself, that he distributes the remainder to the next 5 blokes who order from him as a "freebie" There are two conditions:

1) You must agree to review the cigar (preferably in this forum).
2) You must tell me how much you would reasonably pay for the cigar (anything from "Zounds! I'd pay 50 quid to smoke the stub of one of these that someone left in the ashtray!" to "Pay? Why, I'd rather smoke a steaming dog turd!").

Just be honest.

I'm trying to get a feel for the comparison between a cigar that I happen to be very familiar with and the Cubans that you lucky blokes get to smoke. Now, I'm not claiming that these cigars are as good as any Cubans. I really have no basis for comparison since other than a box of Montecristo No. 2's that I... ahhhhhhh... errrrrr... FOUND! -- Yes, that's it! (Whilst leading a band of missionaries through the Amazon rainforest of Turkmenistan, seeking a tribe of porkloin worshipping natives who had never received The Word, I happened to hear a mournful cry coming from a limestone cave as we were crossing some particularly nasty ice floes. Following the sound, we happened upon a pathetic box of Monte's -- cold, scared, hungry, wet, and crying for their long, lost mum. Although we searched the surrounding desert for 40 years, we were never able to find the Monte's muvver, so I took it upon myself to bring the wretched creatures back to my home in the USA and treat them as if they were my own. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) -- I have no Cuban experience. Your reviews of this cigar will give me a baseline that I can use to calibrate against.

So, I'm off to PM Monte and I'll have the stogies in the post shortly thereafter.

Looking forward to hearing from whoever gets them...

[Robusto]

I find the US ban on Cuban cigars intriguing.

Are there people looking for boxes of them away from obvious customs areas?

This possibly sounds facetious, but are people fined for having Cuban cigars?

It's quite hard for a limey to understand.

[rokkitsci]

I find the US ban on Cuban cigars intriguing.

Are there people looking for boxes of them away from obvious customs areas?

This possibly sounds facetious, but are people fined for having Cuban cigars?

It's quite hard for a limey to understand.

Hard for a Limey to understand? Worse for a Yank to try to comprehend.

The funny thing is that when Kennedy originally imposed the ban -- ostensibly to to punish Cuba for being naughty -- he first stockpiled several hundred boxes of his favo(u)rites!

And the answer to your first question is a definite YES! Although the non-ISOM cigar manufacturers claim that their stogies are now superior to the Cubans and that folks like Cigar Aficionado, et. al. regularly rate other than Cubans in their top 10, 25, whatever; we UnitedStatesians still yearn for them.

"It is illegal for U.S. persons to buy, sell, trade, give away, or otherwise engage in (or offer to engage in) transactions involving illegally-imported Cuban cigars. The penalties for doing so include, in addition to confiscation of the cigars, civil fines of up to $50,000 per violation and, in appropriate cases, criminal prosecution which may result in imprisonment."

Lunacy!

[Montesmoke]

Very severe! & very unfair, i feel for you guys over the pond

[Robusto]

Rok - It's hard to understand given Kennedy's love of Havanas, as you've said.

I feel for you... but - if I'm honest - if the ban were to be lifted, you guys would get all the good Cubans and we'd be the ones who couldn't find them!

Let's agree to remain good friends!

I may have written this before, but when in New Mexico and Texas, I imagined everyone would be into cigars. Stereotypes, hey! But it wasn't the case.

Likewise New York. I thought I'd be able to walk around enjoying cigars all the time, but there were fewer tobacco outlets than in London.

I'm sitting here with my umbrella and bowler hat on knocking back my faggots and spotted dick with a fag on.

A true Brit.

[Robusto]

(I won't pull that one again, Larry).

[rokkitsci]

Rok - It's hard to understand given Kennedy's love of Havanas, as you've said.

I feel for you... but - if I'm honest - if the ban were to be lifted, you guys would get all the good Cubans and we'd be the ones who couldn't find them!

Let's agree to remain good friends!

I may have written this before, but when in New Mexico and Texas, I imagined everyone would be into cigars. Stereotypes, hey! But it wasn't the case.

Likewise New York. I thought I'd be able to walk around enjoying cigars all the time, but there were fewer tobacco outlets than in London.

I'm sitting here with my umbrella and bowler hat on knocking back my faggots and spotted dick with a fag on.

A true Brit.

Whew!

Thought I was familiar with most Britishisms, but I had to check to make sure I didn't misinterpret knocking back your faggots and spotted dick!

[Montesmoke]

Reviews on the Georges Reserve Cigars (soon)

Reviews on the Georges Reserve Cigars To follow shortly:

From:
1. Monte (Toro Cigar)
2. Smoking Cohibas (Toro Cigar)
3. Cohiba IV (Toro Cigar)
4. Wildwood (Robusto Cigar)
5. Robusto (Robusto Cigar)
6. Smokie Joe (Robusto Cigar)



Monte.

[larrysputnik]

whew!

Thought i was familiar with most britishisms, but i had to check to make sure i didn't misinterpret knocking back your faggots and spotted dick!

HA! That threw me for a loop too rokkitsci!

[Deano]

Bit late to enter, but I'm up for it.

[Montesmoke]

Reviews on the Georges Reserve Cigars To follow shortly:

From:
1. Monte (Toro Cigar)
2. Smoking Cohibas (Toro Cigar)
3. Cohiba IV (Toro Cigar)
4. Wildwood (Robusto Cigar)
5. Robusto (Robusto Cigar)
6. Smokie Joe (Robusto Cigar)



Monte.

Just like to say thanks to Rokkitsci for sending me 6 Georges Reserve cigars for me to try & to pass on to members who recently ordered from me.

I had a mini herf with smoking cohibas today, so it was a good opportunity to sample the georges resrves.
They have been resting in the humidor for over a week.
I tried a Toro, to start nice medium draw, burning well, but an unevenish to start then even burn about an inch in, lots of smoke, not too much flavour or aroma, construction not too great, was getting quite a bland taste, not very complex in flavours.
I would rate this cigar about a 3 out of 10 & price wise probably pay about ?2-?3 per stick about $5-$6 dollars.
Again would like to say thanks to Rokkitsci for sending them, & was interesting in trying them. (thanks mate)
The other members will leave their review in due course, they might have a different view on the georges reserve.
Kind Regards
Monte.

[SmokinCohibas]

Yes guys, I had a Georges Reserve Toro and a couple of beers with Monte today.

Thanks for sending those cigars Rokkitsci.

Anyway the Toro I smoked had a really easy draw,lots of smoke.Nice even burn, hard ash.
Unfortunately it does not deliver.Not much taste to it really.Sort of bland as Monte said before me.
I smoke cubans all the time maybe that's the reason.

I am not very good at describing different flavours but you can't compare that cigar with a cuban.


Hopefully Rokkitsci gets his Cuban raffle cigars alright and when he smoked them he'll understand the reason why.

[rokkitsci]

Rokkitsci's comment

Thought I'd post a phone picture of my modest haul as described above. I'm amused because these pictures are going to become full of great memories like pictures of old girlfriends!

In my Zino humi are one each of some of my favourite Robustos (not in order of the picture)...

Cohiba Robusto
Partagas D4
Bolivar Royal Corona
Roman Allones specially selected (RASS)
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No2
Alec Bradley NC Robustos x2 (bonus from Monte - THANK YOU!)
Georges reserve Robusto (from Rokkitski via Monte - THANK YOU BOTH!)

Ahem.

Couldn't help but notice the Georges Reserve is the largest of the lot.

Enjoy!

[cohibaIV]

Got my Georges Reserve today Rokkitsci, so will let it chill a couple of days (what with all the traveling it's done) and will post comments here...
Cheers mate....;-)

[Montesmoke]

I agree.