Tar and cigars...CigarLive's downfall...All time favorite author...

Last night I ventured out into the 32 degree weather with a Man 'O War corona and decided I would use a punch cut on this little cigar. Well, that worked great, I got a really nice draw and a was really enjoying this cigar. Well, by the last 2 inches, I all of a sudden got this horrible taste in my mouth, harsh, strong and really just flat out gross. When I looked at the punched end of my cigar, I noticed a ton of tar had formed in the little punch opening. It was really gross, and caused me to toss the smoke.

I tend to find that this happens when I punch a smaller ring cigar, and I wonder why? Any ideas? Feel free to leave a comment.

As some of you readers might know, I started on the ride of cigar forums at CigarLive, about a year and a half ago. I really did not know what to expect when I joined because I had never been a member of any Internet forum, and really did not know what to expect. I really was just sort of your typical cigar smoker who really just enjoyed cigars, never really thinking to much about what goes into them, and the wide range of cigars that are out there. I had my favorites and I stuck to them.

Well, then I joined Cigar Live. I really enjoyed learning about the differet blends and what people nliked and did not like. I really enjoyed talking about cigars and learning things about lighters, cutters, and what makes cigars different. I also branched out from my comfort zone and really enjoyed some cigars I would never have tried. But the best thing that happened was meeting the people who live in my area and enjoy cigars. I can say that I consider them to be my friends.

So why in the title of this post do I mention CigarLive's downfall? Well, because the place is gone, replaced by a shell of what it once was. Changes were happening over the last 6 to 8 months and I saw many members leave, but I stuck around because it was still my first home, and I still liked it. Then, a man names Jon Caputo purchased the site, and things changed overnight. I don't think it was what Jon did that changed the site, it was how the membership (including myself) reacted and retreated from CL that did it in. The posts slowed to almost a trickle, the talk was gone, my friends were gone, CigarLive was gone and replaced with Puff.com the stupidest name for a cigar web site I have ever heard.

CigarLive is just a shell of it's former self, and that is sad. It was a fun ride while it lasted, but it's over now, and it will never return to what it was. So CigarLive is not CigarDead in my mind and if you are looking for a forum, I would suggest giving me your e-mail address, or going to Stogiereview.com and joining there forum. It's a better atmosphere with betting information.

I joined an outcast from CL site and am seeing all of the friends I enjoyed talking to on CigarLive. The passion is back and that is what I really enjoy seeing. Hopefully things won't change at outcast!

So as I was reading last night, I was thinking about my favorite books, and authors of all time. I would have to say I have three favorites...Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, and Archer Mayor. The first two you might know, but Mayor writes great little police procedural novels set in Brattelboro VT. They are fantastic little mysteries set in a great out of the way location. Pick up a book by him if you want a great read.

Also, I thought I would fill you all in that I don't buy my novels at a book store, I support my local Library, and every book that I reference in this blog will be taken out of the Palatine Public Library!

Te-Amo International Series and David Baldacci

As part of an Altadis VIP program, I receive samples of some of there cigars each month to try, and this month was the Te-Amo International Selection with a Nicaraguan and Honduran blend sampler. I have never really been a fan of the Te-Amo cigars, and to be honest with you would normally shy away from them, but seeing as the nice folks at Altadis sent these to me, I figured I would give them a shot.

So I started with the one with the Nicaraguan tobacco in it, and found it to be a nice medium body cigar with flavors of spice and a little pepper thrown in for good measure. The stick burned great (Toro size 6 X 54 I think) and really had some wonderful flavors. The ash held well and really it was a well constructed cigar. This is a cigar that I will go out and buy as it was enjoyable.

The Honduran Selection was the next down, and was really Earthy and heavy like most Honduran tobacco. As I like a spicy cigar this was present, but not at the forefront. The main thing with this cigar was its earthy flavors leather and earth. The blend was pleasant and maybe could do with some aging to make this a cigar that is up there with the others. The burn was pretty good, and the ash was strong and dark, like a lot of Honduran smokes.

All in all I was very surprised with these two cigars. The main think is I think that the price point is really good, so pick some up especially the Nicaraguan blend.

Book

I began reading David Baldacci's Divine Justice a follow up to his acclaimed "Stone Cold" where the Camel Club takes on some more of the dangers facing the USA. This book starts off right where the last left off, and I cannot wait to see where it leads. Baldacci is one of my favorite authors and a review of this book will be up in the next few days.

I just finished a non-fiction book about the office of the Michigan Medical Examiners office. I find these books to be fascinating. True crime is always better than fiction as you always find yourself thinking "I cannot believe that someone actually did this" rather than thinking it is just fiction. If you are interested in this type of thing, check out, Skeletons in the closet : stories from the county morgue by Tobin T. Buhk and Stephen D. Cohle.

Until next time my friends! Happy Smoking.

What do I look for in a cigar???

So, what do I look for in a cigar you ask? (Well, you didn't ask, I did, but maybe you would like to know.) Well, first think I look for in any cigar that I enjoy is a flavorful experience. Many people who do not smoke cigars might not understand that cigars are not just the same old thing over and over. There are cigars that are peppery and spicy, then there are cigars that are creamy and smooth. Cigars that have an abundance of flavors are what I really go for. There is no use smoking a cigar that has little or no flavor right?

To me it is not really the particular flavor that is important just how it is presented during the cigar experience. I enjoy creamy cigars that really fill your mouth and pallet with the flavors of the tobacco, and I enjoy a "pepper bomb" that explodes into your mouth and does not let go. What I cannot stand is a cigar that dances around the flavors, gives you a hint at the start, then fades away. If you have something good then keep to it!

I also look at how the cigar is constructed and the quality of the wrapper leaf that is used. There is no better sign that a cigar is going to disappoint than seeing a poorly wrapped smoke. If the company who made the cigar cannot get the wrapping right, what is the confidence that I have that the rest of the cigar will be ok? I also tend to go for the darker wrappers as I have found that these wrappers tend to go with the stronger cigars in terms of flavors (not strength of the cigar). Is this a hard and fast rule, no, but it is something that I tend to do.

Next during the smoke, I tend to like a cigar that pumps out the smoke, not one that has a trickle that comes out of the cigar. I also like a cigar that has a nice ash, not one that flakes, but one that stays in its shape. This might just be something that I care about but it really bugs me when an ash flowers.

After all that, I look at the price, that is the last thing I worry about. I tend to find that sometimes cheaper cigars are better cigars. Don't let price dictate the experience.

So what are some of my favorites that fit the above? Well the El Cobre is a great example of a cigar that is so full of flavor. It is a strong cigar in terms of strength, but it is really well made and really flavorful. I also like most of the Don Pepin cigars that are on the market today. He really seems to make a cigar that is flavorful but not overpowering.

But again don't forget some old favorites like the H. Upmann Maduro Reserve, or some new cigars that are out there like the Te-Amo World Collection. I smoked the Nic blend last night and it was flavorful and well made, the ash did flower but overall the smoke was very good. These value cigars can be a great everyday alternative to the more expensive premiums out there today.

Happy smoking!

What was I thinking

So, what the heck was I thinking starting a blog? Who really cares what the heck I have to say. Well maybe not that many people, but I will say it anyway.

How should I start? I guess I will just tell you about my plans for this space and what I have in store for all of you!

I plan to use this space to tell you what I have been up to reading and smoking cigars. These are my two hobbies. I usually read about two books a week, novels in the mystery thriller area with some nonfiction thrown in from time to time, and smoke about a cigar a day. This is how I unwind after a day of working, and it is just me time to think about the day and sort of let it all go. Some of my favorite authors are currently: Robert B. Parker, Stewart Woods, Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston, and James Rollins. Some of my favorite cigars are: Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic, Don Pepin Garcia Blue, 601's and many many more.

Well check in from time to time to see reviews of books and cigars, and find out a little bit about me and my life.