Smoking in Southern California

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:43 am

Bob, did you say $15 for a CARTON (i.e., a box of 10 packs of cigarettes) in Virginia?!?!

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:16 am

whoa..no taxes?

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:06 am

I used to smoke cigars probably 4 -5 nights per week with my neighborhood buddies. I brought back some "Cuban" Cohibas from Cancun. I smoked one and promptly turned green. It was probably donkey s**t. I was cured. I only smoke a couple of times per year now.

davclr · Post by **davclr** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:46 am

QUOTE:
" ...It was probably donkey s**t. I was cured. ..."
END QUOTE

If ya smoked one in Mexico it probably was donkey s..t or possibly even something even worse! ...

There are a lot of counterfeit Cubans cigars floating around, so you need to be extra careful and diligent about your source and vendors.

There are several cross checks necessary to eliminate this "fake Havana" problem, but a general rule of thumb is if the price offered seems "too cheap" they're probably fake.

But, also keep in mind that genuine Cuban cigars are jam packed with luscious flavor and offer a pretty intense smoke.

They definitely will give you a buzz enjoyable though it be!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:07 am

I'm not a cigar smoker...but real Cuban cigarettes sure have a kick!

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:44 am

John, Yes that's correct. Last time I was down there Basic's where $15 a carton (10 packs). Marlboro's where around $18 to $20.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:50 am

Unbelieveable. $75 to $80 a carton here in NYC.

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:57 am

Wow, those prices would encourage me to quit sooner. My goal is by 50, a little over a year from now.

davclr · Post by **davclr** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:01 pm

Before the smoke Nazis had their way and basically even shut down the bar portions of fine restaurants in Southern California that were previously known to be "cigar friendly" I can remember one amusing Thursday "cigar evening" that I used to share with some of my fellow business suited affinity group acquaintenances.

Snugged into a large red leather booth and all of enjoying some rare single malt Scotches we were delighted beyond words when one of our colleagues
came in, (five minutes late!), but toting in a wooden box of Cohiba Esplendidos.

Graciously, he freely passed them around and eagerly we torched them up.

Ten minutes latter a most intense buzz fogged us all in and the room seemed to magically surrealistcally tilt at an odd off angle.

We became but drooling speechless Brooks Brothers
suited clowns. ...
Damned! was the only occasional word heard muttered at our mahogany table.

Even the young sexy buxom blonde who waited on us was unable to get much more then deadpanned lifeless reaction from us.

Finally we all gradually "came to"

And all at once we impromptu harmonized and chuckled aloud:
"God thank you, Fidel!"

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:18 am

Wow, David, you got that way off Cohibas? Good on you...I gotta smoke something a bit stronger to reach that level...

I can see how the Brooks Brothers suit might turn me into a drooling speechless clown, though...

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:08 pm

Well, I just sampled a Padron Anniversay 1964, and it was the best cigar I have smoked! They have a 1926 one that I may try, but they are hard to get..

PS, my cigar store sells Cubans, but they say the quality control is awful and they say why pay the extra dollars when 4 or more out of 10 are unacceptable in terms of quality.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:34 pm

Charly - try a CAO Anniversary or Criollo. Both about $6 each singly.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:24 pm

Dutch Masters?

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:46 pm

You can smoke them, Jared. I don't need the hiccups!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:08 am

I tried a Nicaraguan Monte Cristo, and it was horrible! I took about 6 puffs, put it out, and threw it away. Today I will try a Romeo Y Julietta!