mikey,
We will not actually go through the interview process until near the end of the month, but the application will be effective April 1. There were a lot of legal niceties that had to be done by Friday.
A few comments and questions. It seems that neither Perdomo nor CAO smokes were real popular with this bunch. I'd be interested to hear the whys. An awful lot of the comments on the puts said something to the effect of "good cigar, too mild". I wonder how many of today's smokers make the association of bland equalling mild. A mild cigar can be very flavorful (Don Diego, Ashton, Cuban ERDM or SLR) but a bland cigar is just a bland cigar. One person put in what was one of the worst cigars I have ever tried to smoke. Chucked it after an inch and as frugal as I am, that's saying something (YMMV). Last and probably least, we had one person who admitted to taking a Macadoodle and another who admitted to having a Macadoodle. Oh, well. Don't ask, don't tell, I guess. :laugh:
To the business at hand. Can I have a drumroll, please?
Takes #10 - Punch Double Corona. Villazon product - nothing flashy but solid and consistent
Puts #71 - Henry Clay Toro maduro. One butt ugly cigar. Lotsa veins in the wrapper and you never know what shape these will have been pressed into but the flavor is always the same.
Takes #51 - Gran Habano #3 Torp. New one for me. I like the #5s.
Puts #72 - Edge Toro Corojo. No, not as powerful as they say. These have a somewhat "funky" aroma. Both wrappers of this cigar aren't bad, but given their price point, there's other things I'd rather have.
Takes #56 - Don Lino Havana Reserve maduro. Don't recall ever having a Don Lino in maduro so I took 2 of the 4 cigars in the bag.
Puts #73 - Padilla Robusto. This brand got a lot of good comments over on HP. Good construction, good burn. Taste? What taste?
Puts #74 - Bauza Greco. I don't seem to see much said about this brand. They are relatively pricey. I'm not much of a Corona smoker.
Takes #62 - Trinidad Toro maduro. I've tried the nats and haven't been impressed, especially given their price. Maybe the maduro will be better.
Puts #75 - Torano Tribute Robusto maduro. I have not smoked any of these. I hope you like it, mikey.
Takes #63 - Edge Toro maduro.
Puts #76 - Edge Robusto maduro. Just a simple switch sos I can try a different size
Takes #68 - Savinelli Special Selection Toro. When I see things like "special selection" or "vintage" I get reel skeert. This usually means mild and/or bland. Oh, well. Columbus took a chance. Of course, he died in jail.
Puts #77 - Oliva "O" Orion maduro. This is one that meets the original specs for this pass. All the hoopla over the new release by Oliva, the Oliva "O" was hot air. This is a beautiful cigar, but just too light for my tastes. I am loathe to add a cigar to a pass that is already in the box, but, mikey, I think these are right up your alley so I added another size.
Puts #78 - Indian Tabac Toro Candela. The thing I look for most in a boxpass is something new. Don't know ifn' you've ever had a candela. People do seem to either love them or hate them, not a lot of middle ground.
Puts #79 - Top Shelf Signature Select Toro. It's hard to let go of this one. These are made by Pepin Garcia for Top Shelf Cigar in Skippack, PA. Very similar to Havana Souls; not quite as much kick but with a tad more flavor. I love these things and will shill for anybody that wants to listen.
Warning - to be smoked after big meal.
Many thanks, sir, for having me. I'll get this out tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.
