51. Author: DrMaddVibe | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 7:56PM EST | |
KingoftheCove wrote:^^ Very good list here! Aaaaand ……Perdomo needs to be included
Also, as mentioned above…..My Father! How da fuq did I forget Don Pepin. I might be the biggest MF ho here! You've said too much. HUSH! |
52. Author: Cheno | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 7:57PM EST | |
As someone who smokes exclusively gurkha's. Please stop buying them, it makes it harder for me to get for cheaper.... |
53. Author: DrMaddVibe | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:03PM EST | |
Cheno wrote:As someone who smokes exclusively gurkha's. Please stop buying them, it makes it harder for me to get for cheaper.... really? I mean.... REALLY? |
54. Author: maxd518 | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:08PM EST | |
Tiver wrote:From a nOOb. You could get some more targeted recommendations if you made some comments about what you are looking for in a cigar.
Something thick and chewy or peppery or woody. Something that will put you on your azz, Something light with a little spice. Something 45 min or maybe an hour and a half. Something $5 or $10 or $20 Or whatever you think you are looking for Thanks Tiver, good info I'll be sure to follow |
55. Author: corey sellers | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:11PM EST | |
Someone call 911 Cheno is in bad need of a herf . Dammit I gotta get a box together to help this brother out if that is all he has to smoke . No one should go through that punishment. Not even our dumbazz president. Never mind he who not know the difference between that and the smell of a child’s hair. DAM FREAK |
56. Author: MaduroJorge | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:24PM EST | |
Abrignac wrote:Boutiques can be hit or miss. Most have little to no control over the tobacco. Some brands purchase their tobacco at auction where it’s luck of the draw. While others actually have delivery contracts but they are still beholden to the grower. Either way consistency can be hard to maintain.
On the other hand older established brands like Fuente and Padron as well as a few others are vertically integrated and are able to deliver consistently year after year. Buill's Eye Abrignac!!! on the Boutique cigars myth. BS. Stick with the guys that grown and cure their own leaf. It's all about QC. Great advice |
57. Author: KingoftheCove | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:27PM EST | |
I neard a rumor that Hansotia bought some fields.and a factory. Maybe Gurkhaaaas will be good some day….
|
58. Author: jeebling | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:51PM EST | |
Palama wrote:Good question but I have no clue about those retailers.
Or, could be those retailers are buying from a distributor that is authorized to sell within a certain area. Back-in-the-day when I was at Sony, in some parts of the country we had distributors that handled our products in a defined geographical area. Those areas didn’t have a regional Sony office so it was more cost effective to let someone else manage those territories.
Right on. Thanks. I went to their website and tried to send them a question on the “contact us” function but on the boiler plate they require a phone number…so I didn’t |
59. Author: jeebling | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 8:53PM EST | |
delta1 wrote:adding to King of the Cove's list of quality cigar brands, here are a few more that won't break the bank, for most of their offerings...I liked these a lot during my earlier cigar smoking years, and the old remainders buried in my stash are still good smokes...I'll occasionally get some fivers to see if the latest iterations are as good as my memory of them.
Camacho Diesel Espinosa Joya de Nicaragua Man O' War Puro Authentico Oliva San Lotano
higher priced brands that were very good;
Illusione My Father San Cristobal Thanks Delta, good homework for me. |
60. Author: Abrignac | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 9:16PM EST | |
maxd518 wrote:I've tried a few Padron's and a few Fuente's, loved all of them especially the Padron's I've tried. That said, I'm pretty sure Abrignac is still angry I started this conversation! hahaha Relax. I was never angry. Here’s a piece of advice. Go over to halfwheel.com. For the most part you can trust what you read there. Here’s something else to consider. Forget about what you might see in CA magazine. You can almost guess which cigars are going to get the highest ratings by counting the ads. For example, many years back they rated the Alec Bradley Prensado as the #1 cigar. Problem is Alec Bradley’s are infamous for their poor rolling. You’ll be hard pressed to smoke any of their cigars without it burning uneven. In fact most I’ve smoked usually tunneled within the first third. The Prensado was no exception. Yet, flip thru a copy of CA you’ll notice page after full page of Alec Bradly ads. In fact, ignore ratings altogether. Many craptastic cigars have only one good year where they are highly rated. Yet, you’ll see them touting that rating from now until the reckoning. Oftentimes the only thing the cigar that achieved that rating has in common with one sold the next year is the band. Especially if it’s a conglomerate owned brand as they may change the blend as well as the rollers year to year or even within a production cycle. |
61. Author: danmdevries | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 9:41PM EST | |
Abrignac is right.
Ratings are trash. Use the review as a guideline, information about the blend, tasting notes. CA is ad driven scores. Unfortunately they're the one everyone knows and the one from which retailers advertise the ratings.
Halfwheel, blindmans puff, katman, cbid forum whatchu smoking thread, other forums daily smoke threads, those are the places I like to read but don't always agree with their assessment. Take note of when the review was written too. Like Anthony said what was good 10 years ago can often be a completely different cigar, made in a different factory, even owned by different parent companies. For example I bought a box of buenavista cigars. Back in 2012-14ish I had a 5 pack and enjoyed them. So I saw it, same branding logos etc and bought a box. But the original company is no more. Now it's owned by a cigar retailer and a super cheap flavorless junk cigar. Or other things still owned by the original company like the CH Calaveras. They got some really good leaf to roll the original release and when it was gone, it's gone. But the name remains, and it's an entirely different cigar. At least with those they do notate the year.
Gurkha is a packaging and advertising company that makes cigars. Or rather has cigars made. Maybe just buys leftovers like caldwell does with their lost n found. Another big offender doing that is Ezra Zion. Don't fall for advertising and pretty labels. And "super limited 500pc runs" no factory is taking a contract for a 500pc run. |
62. Author: maxd518 | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 10:58PM EST | |
Abrignac, I appreciate all the good info. Also appreciate the info from everyone else. Looks like I have enough to go buy a few different things and see what I like. I've bought and tried enough garbage, been getting a little frustrated with smoking tasteless junk... as danmdevries said. All good, look forward to coming back to a thread and jumping in after trying some from the info above! Thanks |
63. Author: jeebling | Date: Fri, 3/1/2024, 11:59PM EST | |
I guess that settles it…nothing but Graycliff from now on |
64. Author: Abrignac | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 12:10AM EST | |
Max some of the best advice I can give is to educate yourself about cigar construction. Once you know more about the process you’ll find it much easier to find cigars that fit your wheelhouse. Because at the end of the day we all have different tastes.
Learn about the difference between viatolas. For example the corona is typically 5.5” long by 40-44 ring gauge. A toro on the other hand is traditionally 5 5/8” by 46 ring gauge. The reason this is significant is a corona will generally have proportionally more wrapper tobacco in the cigars than will a toro. As such the corona will generally have a stronger taste of the wrapper leaf all thing being equal. But, the toro being thicker will burn slightly cooler leading to less tar buildup.
Also learn about the difference between the taste of a first priming vs a second priming on an individual plant. Tobacco harvested from the top of a plant tastes different than that harvested in the middle and from below.
There are also taste differences from different microclimates within a single country.
You’ll also want to learn about the different strains of tobacco like, criollo, corojo, broadleaf etc.
Anyway that’s enough to get you started. |
65. Author: ZRX1200 | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 2:09AM EST | |
Halfwheel is great for info.
Reviews? Way more mixed than they used to be. Not CA type reviews mind you. But I take them with a grain of salt. |
66. Author: JGKAMIN | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 7:29AM EST | |
KingoftheCove wrote:I neard a rumor that Hansotia bought some fields.and a factory. Maybe Gurkhaaaas will be good some day….
Didn’t he get run out of his own company a few years ago? Since I no longer buy their products I haven’t paid attention, is he still running things there? |
67. Author: KingoftheCove | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 8:42AM EST | |
JGKAMIN wrote:Didn’t he get run out of his own company a few years ago? Since I no longer buy their products I haven’t paid attention, is he still running things there? No fuggin idea… I just remember, reading somewhere, that Hansotia bought a “factory” and some acreage. I really can’t pin point how long ago that was, mainly because my life has become a time warp ever since the grandkids were born. Probably a couple years ago? Sometimes time flies, other times it stands still………….fuggin weird. Perfect example…. Granddaughter who has lived with wife and I since she was born, is gonna be 6 in April. Babysitting her these last 6 years can make time stand still sometimes. Other times, I’m wondering where da fuq did the time go??? Anyways…… It appears as though Hansotia is still the man at Gurkha…. https://halfwheel.com/davidoff-asks-court-to-dismiss-gurkhas-dragon-lawsuit/434775/ |
68. Author: danmdevries | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 8:51AM EST | |
The days get longer and the years get shorter. |
69. Author: Tiver | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 9:23AM EST | |
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown Waiting for someone or something to show you the way Tired of lying in the sunshine Staying home to watch the rain And you are young and life is long And there is time to kill today And then one day you find Ten years have got behind you No one told you when to run You missed the starting gun And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun But it's sinking Racing around to come up behind you again The sun is the same in a relative way But you're older Shorter of breath, and one day closer to death Every year is getting shorter Never seem to find the time Plans that either come to naught Or half a page of scribbled lines Hanging on in quiet desperation Is the English way The time is gone, the song is over Thought I'd something more to say Home, home again I like to be here when I can When I come home cold and tired It's good to warm my bones beside the fire Far away, across the field The tolling of the iron bell Calls the faithful to their knees To hear the softly spoken magic spells
PF |
70. Author: MaduroJorge | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 11:57AM EST | |
Tiver: Thoughtful rhyme on Father Time!!!! Loved it. Keep them coming. |
71. Author: Tiver | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 12:15PM EST | |
MaduroJorge wrote:Tiver: Thoughtful rhyme on Father Time!!!! Loved it. Keep them coming. No credit to me Pink Floyd ( PF ) |
72. Author: MidnightToker( • )( • ) | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 1:02PM EST | |
JGKAMIN wrote:Didn’t he get run out of his own company a few years ago? Since I no longer buy their products I haven’t paid attention, is he still running things there? I remember hearing he stepped down after getting caught making racist comments |
73. Author: JGKAMIN | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 1:29PM EST | |
MidnightToker( • )( • ) wrote:I remember hearing he stepped down after getting caught making racist comments I was going to ask which “racist comments” but I found this: “In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Hansotia went to Facebook and posted “why do black lives only matter when killed by whites. Shouldn’t their lives matter when killed by other black people too.” https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/gurkha-cigars-founder-resigns-in-wake-of-social-media-controversy |
74. Author: ZRX1200 | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 1:37PM EST | |
Racist bassturd!!!
My problem with him has always been, he doesn’t like cigars.
No problem with him owning the business, but I prefer the owners that have passion for it. |
75. Author: delta1 | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 10:03PM EST | |
corey sellers wrote:Someone call 911 Cheno is in bad need of a herf . Dammit I gotta get a box together to help this brother out if that is all he has to smoke . No one should go through that punishment. Not even our dumbazz president. Never mind he who not know the difference between that and the smell of a child’s hair. DAM FREAK Don't worry none about Cheno. If he's smoking Gurkhas, he's hoarding them for himself... Personally, going by the quality of his recent gift, I am positive he was just joshing us...yanking our yo-yos with that Gurkha post. |
76. Author: COHoyoMan68 | Date: Sat, 3/2/2024, 11:14PM EST | |
My contribution to the world of quotes is this: you never get the right answer if you don't ask the right question.
So the question is: What characteristics make a great cigar? For me it varies: somedays I am intrigued by ratings, but more often by wrappers and ring gauge. My rotation always has a Connecticut Shade, a Connecticut Broadleaf, a Cameroon, a Corojo and occasionally a Cuban. I prefer ring gauges 44-49, they accentuate the wrapper. I prefer old cigars over new ones and manufacturers that make great cigars every year over one hit wonders. Focus on the characteristics, not the label. But in the end, you decide: what makes a great cigar that I will buy and enjoy over and over until they are extinct? Happy collecting! |
77. Author: Mraia | Date: Mon, 3/4/2024, 8:55PM EST | |
Room 101 Miami Snow or Farce Mi Quirida Papa Saka Any Padron Perdomo makes wonderful cigars Freud Agape is a personal favorite but $30 a pop
Smoke what you like not what you think you should like. Buy a Gurkha sampler and decide for yourself. |
78. Author: danmdevries | Date: Mon, 3/4/2024, 9:21PM EST | |
Mraia wrote:Room 101 Miami Snow or Farce Mi Quirida Papa Saka Any Padron Perdomo makes wonderful cigars Freud Agape is a personal favorite but $30 a pop
Smoke what you like not what you think you should like. Buy a Gurkha sampler and decide for yourself. Hey mraia, you ever get your tag sent out? https://www.cigarbid.com...15/TAG-Redux#post4744415 |
79. Author: delta1 | Date: Mon, 3/4/2024, 10:34PM EST | |
A great cigar is all about the flavor of the smoke...size, shape, construction, age, price don't really matter if the smoke tastes great... |
80. Author: Jakethesnake86 | Date: Mon, 3/4/2024, 10:36PM EST | |
I like figurado / perfecto if they burn straight |
81. Author: Mraia | Date: Tue, 3/5/2024, 8:19AM EST | |
Nope, life intruded and I haven’t been around much, but I need to get to it for sure |
82. Author: Palama | Date: Tue, 3/5/2024, 7:55PM EST | |
Mraia wrote:Nope, life intruded and I haven’t been around much, but I need to get to it for sure Yah, life throws curveballs sometimes but would have been good if you could have posted something in the thread that your TAG! was gonna be delayed. Oh well…. |
83. Author: skillett | Date: Tue, 3/5/2024, 10:08PM EST | |
maxd518 wrote:ok everyone, I'm hoping I could get some input from some of you cigar aficionados her in the forum. I've been hearing a few people talk about Gurkha's and I've been looking at some here on the website. I want to try some but I'm always hesitant to try something new without suggestions. I'm a big fan of Rocky Patel and buy a lot of RP Flor de San Andres, The Edge Habano Toro. I also buy a lot of Cohiba Connecticut Robusto, and My Father The Judge. Any suggestions would be appreciated! SEVERAL YEARS BACK, I BOUGHT A 20 PACK. THE BROWN PAPER SACK TASTED BETTER THAN THE GURKA. THEIR STILL IN THE BOTTOM OF MY COOLIDOR ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HELPING CONTROL MOISTURE. YOU TAKE CARE. JIMMY |
84. Author: delta1 | Date: Wed, 3/6/2024, 6:45PM EST | |
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85. Author: Mraia | Date: Sat, 3/9/2024, 12:21PM EST | |
FYI tag has been sent out today. Apologies for the delay but hopefully no harm done. |
86. Author: Jakethesnake86 | Date: Sat, 3/9/2024, 5:44PM EST | |
No harm no foul. |
87. Author: tonygraz | Date: Sun, 3/10/2024, 8:10AM EST | |
I thought it was no blood no foul. |
88. Author: Mraia | Date: Sun, 3/10/2024, 11:34AM EST | |
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89. Author: Jakethesnake86 | Date: Sun, 3/10/2024, 11:38AM EST | |
Tony you might be right on that one. Us Delaware folks can’t keep up with everything 😂 |
90. Author: tonygraz | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 8:52AM EST | |
Todays CBID email: Gurkha Classic Havana Toro (6.0”x54) Packs of 10 start at just $34.50.
I have a favorable comment about this one in the robusto size that I bought and smoked 5 of about ten years ago. The next cigar on the list is Gurkha Havana Selection where I called it the worst of Gurkha. I expect that there are many new candidates for the worst..., such as the 125th Anniversary rated dog rocket or some of the resurrected names like Park Avenue, Crest, Beauty, Beast. Centurian, Legend, etc.. The Legend had the distinction of being the worst as well as one (and only 1) of the best (with plume) I ever smoked. I think I'm down to about 25 Gurkhas left - most of them being Special Ops or Black Dragon Nublizers and a lonely old Ancient Warrior along with a few Ghosts and Dragon Lords from the more recent offerrings. |
91. Author: jeebling | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 12:17PM EST | |
I saw the same email re: Gurkha and I ain’t taking the bait. I smoked a Gurkha last year and I can’t remember which one but I remember not liking it. I had an order coming up so I decided to bid on several single sticks and that is one that I won. Currently I’m trying to burn the last few out of a box of 24 so I can free up storage space so desperately needed. To be fair, my RH in storage has been fluctuating as I’m trying to reduce it by removing humidification. That very well may have adversely affected these Gurkhas. Having said that, I’ve smoked 3 (I think) that have been nutty, toasty, slightly sweet on finish and I enjoyed them. The rest have been unsatisfactory for one reason or another. I’m talking about the Park Ave Churchill vitola. Keeping in mind what I’ve read about real experiences from the guys in this thread, I’ve decided that I’m done with Gurkha. There are too many other inexpensive cigars that I enjoy and I don’t want to risk throwing away money on a brand with a poor reputation that I’ve personally had bad experience with. I’ve smoked a few Alec Bradley and Rocky Patel cigars that I like but I’ve learned that they put their name on some dog rockets. I have enjoyed my experience lately of getting to know these brands by experience and reading what others have to say. tonygraz, I appreciate your thoughts on this topic!
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92. Author: KingoftheCove | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 6:02PM EST | |
Gurkha Centurians??? Oh gawd!!! Those were friggin terrible 10-15 years ago. Basically wet grass rolled in a hobo’s New York Times that he wet the bed on…. |
93. Author: LeeBot | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 6:34PM EST | |
They have a msrp of $333.33 for a 10pack. Obviously, that msrp reflects the quality of the tobacco and workmanship that goes into each one them. The write up used to describe how they were blended for the Sultan of Brunei, for criminies sake. https://www.cigarbid.com...ouble-perfecto/4915926/ I rest my case. |
94. Author: jeebling | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 7:11PM EST | |
^^😂 |
95. Author: JGKAMIN | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 7:12PM EST | |
LeeBot wrote:They have a msrp of $333.33 for a 10pack. Obviously, that msrp reflects the quality of the tobacco and workmanship that goes into each one them. The write up used to describe how they were blended for the Sultan of Brunei, for criminies sake. https://www.cigarbid.com...ouble-perfecto/4915926/ I rest my case. Got nothing on the Gurkha Royal Courtesan. How do they come up with this shiznit with a straight face? Quote: The Gurkha Royal Courtesan has a price tag of $1.36 million per cigar, selling around 12 million sticks every year. Cigar rollers work blindfolded to avoid any distraction, and only a handful of them are allowed to lever the cigars. This fine cigar, handmade in the Dominican Republic and Honduras, they are filled with rare Himalayan tobacco that’s been sprinkled with Fiji water. Moreover, the final touches on the most expensive cigar in the world are made by wrapping the cigar with gold leaves, a diamond-studded band worth five carats, and infused with Remy Martin’s Black Pearl Louis XIII ($224,000 a bottle). |
96. Author: LeeBot | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 8:52PM EST | |
Man, that is some chit right there. That beats virgin thighs by a mile. Blindfolded! Fiji Water! I swear I thought you were making that up till I looked it up.
Think I'll buy a box and let them age. |
97. Author: Jakethesnake86 | Date: Mon, 3/11/2024, 11:40PM EST | |
Part of me wonders how that one tastes. Like. Ya know. |
98. Author: MidnightToker( • )( • ) | Date: Tue, 3/12/2024, 1:43AM EST | |
12 million worth every year? Can't be 12 million of those sold. I heard they haven't sold a single one. |
99. Author: tonygraz | Date: Tue, 3/12/2024, 7:56AM EST | |
16.32 billion $ a year ! Nobody has even tried to make counterfeits ? What happened to the Maharaja at only 6k a cigar ? So many questions so many cigars. |
100. Author: maxd518 | Date: Tue, 3/12/2024, 8:29AM EST | |
So based on the information everyone has given, I just picked up a few Joya de Nicaragua "red" and Caldwell "The King is Dead" from the auction to start trying a few of what's been suggested. The good news is, I never ended up buying any Gurkha's! hahaha
Also, shout out to Mraia for the Tag, never heard of that before but I'm new in this discussion board so I'll be sure to keep it going when I see an opportunity. Looking forward to see what shows up! |