Thank you for all your posts and input here this week. I am of the opinion that David should pester you to post here on a regular basis.

I hope that you have found the banter here of value. As you can see there are many knowledgeable posters here hungry for more interaction. Can we count on regular visits?

Say what you will, but I agree with The Monk -- it was a lively week that's ending on a positive note with some great exchanges about actual cigars, not Top 25 BS.

i agree. I would like to hear some more. Maybe to jump in on day-to-day conversation. And also on the "today's smoke" thread.

I will be more active...call it my New Year's resolution for 2007. I'll chalk up my previous years of only intermittent involvement to being an old fart, ink-stained wretch who learned his trade with a typewriter and a teletype, and sometimes in a pinch, just the latter.

As long as you all remain marginally civil, I don't have a problem debating and defending, and explaining in full where I can and it makes sense. There are some, however, that no matter what we say, or try to explain, they revert to a level of paranoia and suspicion that gets tiresome, and I know the urge to flame back is sometimes irresitible. But that's the price paid for an open forum...I guess one thing I would argue is if you really think we are being deceitful, and have been doing that for 15 years, why engage us in debate?

As I've said, keep the questions coming.

It seems like there is a lot of potential here to exchange a wealth of cigar information. I look forward to some great posts in the new year.

What we really want to know are the top 5 cigars from Gordon, James and David.

Well, I know what my response is going to be. But let me tell you a story.

Once, in the early days of the web site, I was asked to name my favorite cigar. I revealed it, along the lines of saying, 'if I had to choose one cigar to smoke every day for the rest of my life, it would be a _____. There are people in the cigar industry who to this day won't let me forget it. So, I resolved then to keep that kind of information to myself. You might ascribe all kinds of motives to my secrecy, but the simple truth is that it's just self-protective.

Besides, these days it would be hard to limit it to just five...don't you think there are more good cigars on the market today than ever before?

I've always found my top five cigars to be my top five "of the moment." My tastes seem to change at least every few months.

Sure Gordon, I understand. I have a thing for redheads but I don't want that getting around to all the blondes.

I also understand your point of view on flaming but once you hang around people will see you for who you are and start to respect that or not. Right now we don't really know you. Give it a shot.

Have you smoked a RyJ Short Churchill yet?
What are your thoughts on this cigar?

I smoked it for the top 25, and liked it...but I need to have it again in a relaxed setting, where I can concentrate on it.

And, you won't be finding me flaming anyone, at least not so that they know it when it happens.

quote:

I smoked it for the top 25, and liked it...but I need to have it again in a relaxed setting, where I can concentrate on it.

Hmmmmmmmm.

I know that when I decide to smoke a cigar for purposes of composing a review, I always smoke it in a relaxed setting, alone, with a pen and notebook in hand. You imply that your smoking enviroment when you are doing the blind tasting is other than relaxed. Why is this?

Also, on another thread, I asked you to name a few of the recently released Cuban cigar that you think are below par. Does your personal "privacy rule" dictate that you shouldn't do that?

I've smoked the RyJ Short Churchill a few times, both in blind tastings as well as with the band on. What a great smoke. It's very flavorful, but with some finesse to it. I think it's one of the best Cubans you can buy.

I still don't think it's quite as good as the new production Bolivar Royal Coronas, but it's pretty close.

This sort of illuminates the issue about the top 25. Here, a taster likes the Boli RC, and prefers certain characteristics of a particular cigar for its finesse and flavor; Suckling liked the petit edmundo for its strength and body, and the PLPC for everyday smoking. To each one's own. Personally, while I always liked the Boli CG and the CE, I never warmed up to the Boli RC, but because of this recommendation about newer Boli RC, I'm sort of anxious to try one. That makes me a cabron for believing what I read! But the power of suggestion by an experienced smoker and panelist of tasters holds weight.

quote:

Originally posted by David Savona:
I've smoked the RyJ Short Churchill a few times, both in blind tastings as well as with the band on. What a great smoke. It's very flavorful, but with some finesse to it. I think it's one of the best Cubans you can buy.

I still don't think it's quite as good as the new production Bolivar Royal Coronas, but it's pretty close.

NO ONE ASKED YOU!

LMRFAO...just playin.

What do you all think about (and yes David to) the talk about so much age tobacco being used in current production cuban cigars?

quote:

Originally posted by ryj7x47:
Personally, while I always liked the Boli CG and the CE, I never warmed up to the Boli RC, but because of this recommendation about newer Boli RC, I'm sort of anxious to try one. That makes me a cabron for believing what I read! But the power of suggestion by an experienced smoker and panelist of tasters holds weight.

New Bolivar RCs are, by far, the best I have ever smoked. In the old days the size never truly excited me. I would have much rather smoked a Corona Gigante or Corona Extra. These new ones are phenomenal.

quote:

Originally posted by ryj7x47:
This sort of illuminates the issue about the top 25. Here, a taster likes the Boli RC, and prefers certain characteristics of a particular cigar for its finesse and flavor; Suckling liked the petit edmundo for its strength and body, and the PLPC for everyday smoking. To each one's own. Personally, while I always liked the Boli CG and the CE, I never warmed up to the Boli RC, but because of this recommendation about newer Boli RC, I'm sort of anxious to try one. That makes me a cabron for believing what I read! But the power of suggestion by an experienced smoker and panelist of tasters holds weight.

Shoot me an email with your address Bob and I will send you a couple Boli RC's from JUN06.

The Bolivar Royal Corona is my favorite cigar of all time. I've smoked them from every year from 1995 to 2004 and was thoroughly disapointed with the 2004's and quit buying recent production, perhaps I'll try a current production soon. I still think BRC's from summer 2001 are some of the best ever.

quote:

Originally posted by Plume:
The Bolivar Royal Corona is my favorite cigar of all time. I've smoked them from every year from 1995 to 2004 and was thoroughly disapointed with the 2004's and quit buying recent production, perhaps I'll try a current production soon. I still think BRC's from summer 2001 are some of the best ever.

Send me an email with you address Plume and I will send you a couple from JUN06....lol

but your the last guy...lol

Nick, that was not a mooch attempt on my part...LOL....."Gee, I've never had one of those"

......but I will take you up on your offer.