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Permalink Reply by Sandi on May 18, 2008 at 6:34pm

Hey Di....I responded to the question on the other site....RP's Olde World Reserve was 1 of the cigars I thought was horrible. I bought 3 cigars at a RP event, and the OWR I had the next day. The cigar was horrible. I let the other OWR sit in the humi for the next 11 months and decided to smoke it this evening. WOW!!! what a difference 11 months makes. The cigar tasted a lot better this time around, and I was drinking (last year I was outside smoking the cigar). RP's cigars tend to be hit or miss with me. I still don't care for the Edge, but it seems as if everyone is crazy about them.

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Permalink Reply by NYAC- notyeraveragechick on May 18, 2008 at 9:58pm

I had a similar experience with the OWR, only we didn't buy another one. Someone had gifted us each one much later and we found that we really liked them. Just to be sure it wasn't a fluke, a week or so later we went to our local and bought 2 more sticks. AWESOME.

Point is, sometimes it is the cigar-fresh off the truck or out of a fresh box at the b&m, they'll most always improve with some humi time. But alot of times it could simply be that your cigar experiences over time will educate your palate to recognize flavors in a different way.

It has been an exciting journey for me. I love trying cigars now that I started out on....I get a new appreciation for how far I've come!

We like pretty much everything Rocky has out. The Edge Lite is one of our "go to" smokes. But, believe it or not, the Edge is still on the list of sticks to try. I shied away from the "warning" label. Since that I've smoked and enjoyed cigars that had similar warnings or reviews. I believe the time is about right for the Edge...payday is around the corner!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Damseln D'Stress on May 19, 2008 at 6:32pm

While we're on the topic of worst case scenarios for our smoke, and speaking of RP... I think the consensus being the Edge hasn't lived up to its rep seems pretty common. I've had the Edge a couple times, the second smoke I hoped I would get the "can't keep them on the shelves" experience, but not so... and the Baccarat - didn't care for that one either. The draw was packed tight, and it smoked like burning wood...

I agree, Di, with your rule of thumb...try a stick a couple times before u give it the boot! My first experience with a 5 Vegas - this stick actually fell apart on me!!! Which, needless to say, made the stick impossible to smoke. I had a 5 Vegas the other day, and perfect, a great tasting, milder smoke, and construction was flawless. So before throwing the bath water out with the baby, give a smoke a second chance - ya just never know.

Burning question - should the same rule of thumb apply to the hubby?

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Permalink Reply by NYAC- notyeraveragechick on May 19, 2008 at 8:18pm

My general rule of thumb on either is: 3 strikes - YOU'RE OUTTA HERE! lol

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Permalink Reply by Bumski on May 20, 2008 at 5:14pm

A very "smart" cigar guru once told me the only difference between a $5 stick and a $15 stick is ten bucks. If you find something in the the low range you enjoy, great! My taste is my taste and a 90+ rating therefore means little to me. Some of my best times with a stick was spent with a $3.50 Saint Luis Rey that reminded me of dark chocolate. I had a horrendous experience with a $20 Gurkha that I think my dogs made in the backyard!

For years, at least 6, I would only smoke Macanudo. I haven't had one in 4 years now???? Wow, ... time flies when your having fun.

I find as I progress my taste in cigars has become bold and heavy. Maduros and Cameroons fit me well today. Consistently low on my scale you will find Baccarat, Henry Clay, some Astrals, and that scourge the "Helix." Who really wants a cigar that thinks it's a flower?

Have fun,
Bumski

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Permalink Reply by NYAC- notyeraveragechick on May 20, 2008 at 6:01pm

Another factor I discovered last night that affects your cigar is the atmosphere you're in. We were both smoking Gran Habano Siglos 3 last night. He wasn't enjoying his as much as I was. But the more we sat in our living room puffing away, the more difficult it was to discern any flavor attributes. It was my turn for "dog duty" and I didn't want to put my smoke down and risk it going out, so I took it with me. Wow once we hit fresh air, the flavor profile changed significantly! So there ya have it.....the air in the room your in may have an affect also.

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Permalink Reply by Dreemwater on May 21, 2008 at 8:37am

For me, since I'm kinda new to cigar smoking right now, I'm consuming some like candy...I tend to over indulge in everything like food...so needless to say, the only horrible ones I've experienced was the CAO Mx2, just wasn't impressed, very harsh to me and blah..but I only tried one..so I'll give it some time and go back to it. I agree with someone who said where you smoke makes a difference too. If I'm on my patio in the evening and a little wind is blowing, i can really taste the essence of a smoke and it can be truly telling. If i'm smoking several in my home..which I'm trying to refrain from, somethings can get lost in translation it seems. Also, I'm learning price really isn't a tell tell sign, I've recently smoked a Matacan, very cheap mexican cigar with a tight draw that I simply love. tight draws on cigars can menace a smoker, but for me, it allowed me to really taste the toasty notes of coffee bean....[Matacan 8x52 Presidente] but as I got down to the last 3inches, it became harsh and cheap tasting, but i still love it. go figure.
I plan to also get a travel humidor soon as I agree its best to place cigars in a humidor before trying them. Some of my favs have suffered peeling and cracking at times. right now my cigars are in a ziplock bag with water pillows....next month though, they'll be moving on up to a humidor in the sky..lol

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Permalink Reply by TammyB on May 24, 2008 at 3:45pm

I've seen an awful lot of people on other forums who toss a particular cigar into the "dog" pile without (what I would consider) a very good reason.
If it doesn't suit their taste, it's a pooch-projectile. Hmm. I don't particularly care for strong blasts of cedar or pepper in a cigar, but I wouldn't call it a dog if it had that characteristic. It doesn't suit me, but it is what it is.
I've seen others trash a certain stick because of it's price. Falling back on the mantra "Life is too short for cheap cigars," they insist that If it doesn't cost much, it's automatically a rocket. Some of my favorites are cheapies. If they're built well, burn well and taste good, buying them for 2 dollars a stick is a great bonus!
By my personal definition, a puppy-launcher would have to have consistently poor construction, consistently bad burn, and an utterly vile flavor. That being said.........


I nominate Liga IV.

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Permalink Reply by NYAC- notyeraveragechick on May 24, 2008 at 5:02pm

You're exactly right! That was my point! Waha! You win the prize at the bottom of the crackerjack box! Thats why I didn't single anyone out just yet....the Baccarat will even get its second chance!
Its not about price, its not about the name, it IS what your taste is! One person's favorite might be someone else's roadkill. But something you liked when you first started may ALSO become roadkill as your palate develops over time. With cigars, it is: ALL ABOUT YOU!!!

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Permalink Reply by TammyB on May 24, 2008 at 5:15pm

WOO HOO!!!
Did I get the tattoo, or the little magic picture?

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Permalink Reply by NYAC- notyeraveragechick on May 25, 2008 at 4:26pm

lol! The compass - that always points you to your humi - so you never get lost!!!

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Permalink Reply by NYAC- notyeraveragechick on May 26, 2008 at 6:36pm

Well, folks, I broke out the Baccarat today. I was curious if a couple of months in the humi would help it. Well, I have to say honestly, yes, it helped. Did it make the Baccarat a premium cigar? No. LOL
It was not as terrible as the first one...and by the last third, it actually began tasting like....a cigar. Well, sorta.
Would I buy them? Hell no! Would I give them to a fellow cigar afficianada? Again, Hell no! I would give on to maybe someone who new nothing about cigars and I wasn't out to impress. I might consider smoking one again if A. I had absolutely NOTHING left in my humi or my wallet. or B. I was drinking heavily and would smoke just about anything shaped cylindrical!

Now let follow up with the fact that later today I smoked the opposite end of the spectrum. I was gifted a Fuente Anejo Shark that was in bloom. Today, for Memorial Day was a good day to enjoy it out on the front porch in the beautiful warm breezes. I had one once before a long time ago with my hubby and at that time I looked at him and said 'I just don't get what all the hype is on these'. Well let me tell ya, my palate has changed! I lit that little baby up today and by the time I hit one inch, I had a good heady feeling and was sitting there just admiring it between each wonderful puff! That may be the smallest nub I ever created. I may well have blisters on my lips. I kept purging the smoke hoping that I could cool it just enough to get just one more good taste......

Did my more educated palate assist with the Baccarat? I doubt it....there were no "heady" effects or otherwise; there were no discernible flavors to be discovered. It was a....hmmmmm......a tolerable smoke.
I would say that the Baccarat was probably the least interesting cigar I've ever encountered. Dog rocket? I guess the taste is in the palate of the beholder.......;)

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