Category Archives: Smoke Thoughts

11/30/2012 · 4:26 PM

Bringing back a neglected humidor..

I am far from an expert on cigar maintenance but I do have some good experience that I can offer to help revive your humidor…humidor

The first thing you need to do is go thru your cigars and see what is worth saving. Then get some Humipacks. I have the brand I prefer located on my Homepage under “products I recommend”. Next, Take your cigars and place put them in a ziplock bag with at least one Humipack..depending on the amount of cigars/size of the bag.

Boveda humipack

The next thing I like to do is really clean the entire humidor from any losse pieces of tabacco. I use a small shark vacuum then wipe the rest down with a damp cloth(only use distilled water). The next step is to get the humidity level back to a consistent number. I prefer between 69-70. If you have a small humidor then you can use a variety of humidification tools. You can actually use the same Humipacks mentioned earlier. They usually last around 30 days, so you’ll have to keep an eye on them to change them out when needed.

My Humidor is pretty large so I use the Cigar Oasis to keep the humidity consistent (Click Here to read more about it). The Cigar Oasis has a built in digital display that shows the humidity level at all times. If you are going to use another humidification device, then make sure you buy a small Hygrometer. These are relatively cheap (Around $10) and available at all local cigar stores.

hygrometer

Small Hygrometer

 

In Conclusion… If you want to keep your cigars fresh then they need constant attention and a consistent environment.  If you have neglected your humidor..dont worry. It can be saved and brought back to life using the simple steps above.

 


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11/25/2012 · 12:29 PM

Cold weather is here.. time for a Fire Pit and a cigar (of course)!

In Florida, anything under 60 degrees is cold enough for me to break out the firewood and get the firepit going!fire pit and cigar

One of the best parts of a firepit is the instant ambiance it creates. Its draws in people of all ages.. and best yet, the strong smoke usually makes it more cigar friendly. Even those non-fans of cigars have a hard time complaining about your cigar smoke.fire pit and cigar

I strongly suggest that you enjoy your favorite stick when lighting up a firepit. This is one of those times cigar enthusiasts constantly look for… a hour plus outside in beautiful weather with nothing to do but sit and realx! If you have a smoke that you’ve been saving then break it out!padron 1964 anniversary cigar

I decided to go to the second shelf of my humidor (click here to see more) and grab a Padron Anniversary 1964. This is one of my favorites (In my Top Ten). It is one of the most consistent smokes I’ve purchased. The blend is a elevated version of the traditional Padrons. It is slightly box pressed and packed full of high quality nicaraguan tobacco. The cigar burns perfectly and super slow. I always enjoy ever second of the Padron Anniversary 1964.

 

In conclusion… JK recommends you combine cigar time with a firepit this fall/winter!


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11/19/2012 · 10:54 PM

New “La Duena” cigar…from the lady of My Father Cigars

I recently wrote about my love for the My Father Company (click here). They are consistently associated with great blends and just released this brand new smoke with Pete Johnson. I put it aside for a night when I could give it my full attention. This weekend was the perfect opportunity .. while watching some college football chaos. la duena cigar

I always like to have a partner when trying a new smoke. My Brother-in-law was happy enough to join me while trying the La Duena Belicoso #2. The appearance was very nice. It has a beautiful dark wrapper with a simple band that connects it to it’s female inspiration (Janny Garcia).la duena cigar

The first few puffs were a little bit of a turn off. I felt that the smoke was a little harsh and I was instantly worried about the rest of the cigar. Thankfully that first bit was not a sign of things to come. As the cigar continued to burn it mellowed and became more of a medium bodied smoke. It also developed some great flavor. I continually checked and received similar feedback from my brother-in-law.

The last part of the smoke was a little stronger, but we both smoked them down to the nub.  We paired this cigar with a pretty decent cocktail..which only enhanced the experience. I highly recommend whenever possible.  We are both fans of whiskey/bourbon, so we made a drink using Wathen’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon Single Barrel. It was Delicious! Check back for a countdown of my favorite bourbon/whiskey. la duena cigar

In conclusion… JK recommends. I wouldn’t say this was the best cigar I’ve had recently, but It is one  that I’d buy again. They are priced reasonably for $8-$9 at most stores and online. Worth a try!

 

 


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11/14/2012 · 10:50 AM

My Father Le Bijou 1922 Cigar… another strong smoke from the Garcia family!

The My Father cigar brand is one of the hottest and well respected on the market today. I was a big fan of the original blend when it came out a few years ago, and smoked tons of them. I recently stopped by the Cigar Lounge in Oviedo and was tempted to try the Le Bijou 19922. It was worth it…my father le bijou 1922 cigar

I believe I tried a smaller version of this smoke in the past, but today I was going to have the highly rated torpedo. The initial look of this cigar is stunning. The Garcia family has one of the best cigar bands in the business. They also use the best nicaraguan tobacco for maximum flavor. This particular cigar has a very dark wrapper that catches your eye right away.My father le bijou 1922 A dark colored cigar doesn’t always result in a full-bodied smoke… but in this case it did! The cigar has a box press shape that is always appealing to me. Several of my favorite Padron cigars (such as the 1964 Anniversary..number 6 on my Top Ten) have this same characteristic. From the first puff you can tell the cigar is going to be worth every dollar. The cigar gets stronger and more of the full bodied tabacco hits you half way down. I like to smoke my cigars down to the numb..which could be dificult for some with this smoke. The stregnth doesn’t let up. my father le bijou 1922 cigar

The cigar burned very even and slow… exactly the way you want.  It is a great cigar to try if you are a full-bodied fan. If not, then at least try the original blend (Listed on my Top Ten page). Don’t let the lighter wrapper fool you on that one. That smoke is also packed with flavor and strength.It is just a step down from the level of the My Father Le Bijou 1922.my father le bijou 1922

In conclusion… JK recommends!  This smoke is not for the mild smoker, but I really enjoyed it.  You can pick these up for around $12 at most retailers.


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11/12/2012 · 10:49 PM

Whether “it’s a boy” or “it’s a girl”… here are some tips on getting the right cigar!

There are very few events that are more associated with cigars then a new baby! It’s almost bad luck to not have smokes on hand for the big day.

men smoking cigars

Picture from www.cigarson6th.com

I put together some recommendations from my recent experience with friends and family. It is always nice to have a cigar that will please several people because this type of event brings out all types of smokers (the novice to the aficionado). To make this happen, you need to stick with a mild-medium smoke… but still a decent brand. Romeo Y Julieta makes a box of smokes that fits the bill.

From famous-smoke.com

The Romeo & Julieta Reserva Real “Its a boy or it’s a girl” cigar comes in boxes of 10 for around $50. The blend is strong enough to please the more experienced smokers, but is still manageable for someone that only partakes in cigars for big events. They do a very good job on the presentation. Each cigar comes in a glass tube and is inscribed on the cedar wrapper (“It’s a boy” or “It’s a girl”). There are several other companies that have their version of the boy/girl cigar… but this one seems to be more readily available in my local stores. Ol’ Times in Casselberry usually has them on hand.romeo y julieta it's a boy it's a girl cigar

If you would like to get more options, then I would go to the internet. I always try and give my business to local retailers but sometimes you can’t get out there in person. If so, then most online shops are pretty reliable and have several other brands of Boy/Girl cigars in stock. Some of these sites include: www.famous-smoke.com, www.coronacigar.com (They also offer several Orlando locations), www.cigarsinternational.com.it's a girl cigar

In conclusion… JK recommends you get your celebration smokes ahead of time. There are several good options available!  Try to talk to your local retailer first. They can usually order you a box if its not in their inventory.


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