The Summertime Smoke Festival - Buckinghamshire

[Cigar_Addict]

Not sure if this has been posted about on here, but looks like the Summertime Smoke Festival is set for 1st August 2026 at E J Churchill in Buckinghamshire

[liles]

Tickets price isn't trivial but the idea is interesting 🤔

[ha_banos]

This lists what was included last year for £200. No i didnt go.

https://thecigarfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Steve, ldncigarsmoker, has a rundown here https://londoncigarsmoker.com/2025/0...igar-festival/ including gift packs and the day out.

[Cigar_Addict]

This lists what was included last year for £200. No i didnt go.

https://thecigarfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Steve, ldncigarsmoker, has a rundown here https://londoncigarsmoker.com/2025/0...igar-festival/ including gift packs and the day out.

Phew, you can arrive by helicopter. For a second I thought I might have to use public transport 😂

[Simon Bolivar]

This lists what was included last year for £200. No i didnt go.

https://thecigarfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Steve, ldncigarsmoker, has a rundown here https://londoncigarsmoker.com/2025/0...igar-festival/ including gift packs and the day out.

Great write up by Cigarsmoker but a day of NC's isn't for me.

[Cigar_Addict]

Great write up by Cigarsmoker but a day of NC's isn't for me.

Curious to know what your last NC was. Have you had unfavourable experiences with them or just don't like the flavours etc?

[Simon Bolivar]

Curious to know what your last NC was. Have you had unfavourable experiences with them or just don't like the flavours etc?

I smoked a Manacudo 1960's Jamacian last week & usually smoke a few during Lent. However, apart from the Manacudo, I don't buy them, just have a few gifted to me. I never smoked an NC I'd want to go & buy another of, I am sure there are good ones out there & the wrappers & construction are often superior to Cubans but I haven't the time or the inclination to wade through loads of so so smokes, when they are similar in price to Cubans these days & I have so many vintage Cuban's in the Boli' Cave, that I am unlikely to finish!
Two major points, easier to easy draw, isn't good after 30yrs of a firm draw to very firm draw & they don't develop like a Cuban but stays very similar throughout - for me anyway.

[Cigar_Addict]

I smoked a Manacudo 1960's Jamacian last week & usually smoke a few during Lent. However, apart from the Manacudo, I don't buy them, just have a few gifted to me. I never smoked an NC I'd want to go & buy another of, I am sure there are good ones out there & the wrappers & construction are often superior to Cubans but I haven't the time or the inclination to wade through loads of so so smokes, when they are similar in price to Cubans these days & I have so many vintage Cuban's in the Boli' Cave, that I am unlikely to finish!
Two major points, easier to easy draw, isn't good after 30yrs of a firm draw to very firm draw & they don't develop like a Cuban but stays very similar throughout - for me anyway.

Completely understandable, I had concluded similar thoughts after posting this. You are fortunate (probably not the right word) to have built up the stock you have over the years. It is for sure a time involved process of keeping & maturing Cubans till they become what we all hope they will be. Without the extensive experience you have, it still feels like a bit of a gamble for the likes of me.

Even though I have had some nice Cubans & NC's, I'm still yet to have that light bulb moment that I remember from 15/20 years ago