Gave a buddy of mine who is pretty new to cigars one of those super ligero LFD firecrackers. I wanted him to taste a "strong" cigar compared to all the Cubans, and the firecrackers aren't big enough to kill him. He liked it more than I thought he would but did say it would be something to have...

How's this for a rare smoke? A late 90's Punch Ninfa with a good draw! Not sure they're worth only having 1 in 5 smokeable, but the flavors are huge in these things when they aren't dowel rods.

Some EL piramides extra and robustos I'm splitting with a couple buddies.

I rarely see a price on these I can live with, so a 4th of July sale from a site sponsor was nice to see. December '17, this stick still takes the lead for my personal "most aging potential" newer cigar.

I would not pay the $40 my friend paid in Mexico City, but this was a damn good smoke. Like a Monte had an illegitimate Bolivar baby.

9th sobriety bday, so I broke out one of the best cigars I own. Sobresalientes are no joke.

They did an H-Town lancero for Stogies Houston a couple years back. Awesome smokes that sold out quick. Due to the size these robustos remind me more of the Casa de Montecristo shop exclusive, but if you keep an eye out for a 20% Smallbatch sale you could snag a whole box of the Prives for...

The Illusione Cigares Prive Corojo was one of the handful of Dion's smokes I hadn't tried, and after reading somewhere the cigar was "based on the H-Town lancero" I ordered a fiver. While it was fresher and much larger (the 5x52 robusto is the smallest) than the lancero, it's a great smoke. For...

Going to miss these when the last few Dip5's are gone.

Since @Pugman1943 asked about my bday smokes, I think most of you will appreciate the highs and very, very low. Started with the amazing RyJ from my review before family stuff (annual trip to Red Lobster), and then a Mag54 in the evening with friends. I wanted to check in on them before buying...

Thanks all! It was fantastic! I need to keep my ego in check though, every year people fill the skies with amazing fireworks on the day I was born.

Got a fiver of these when @CigSid offered them up and hadn't tried one until my birthday today, along with some of my Ethiopian blend home roast. I'm not someone to make something sound better than it was even though it's a once in a lifetime smoke for me. That said, this was a phenomenal cigar...

Early 70's RyJ corona from the @CigSid buy....review to follow. Trying to enjoy vs. overthink...they're keepers.

If I had a serious philosophical problem smoking Cuban cigars, I like to think I'd never smoke them vs. choosing one day to abstain. That said, my bday is on the 4th and I always have a hard time deciding what to smoke. I've still got a crusty old Opus Phantom from Carlito but might save that...

OBM ABR16 Lusi from a box of 10 I bought recently. Excellent now and will get even better. A classic for a good reason.

And sliced cucumbers! That was a new one to me until a couple years ago. I don't know if it's just coincidence, but the places that serve cucumbers along with radishes also have the most hellishly hot salsas available.

Saw a sale a few weeks ago that put these new Petite Royales down in the Partagas Short range vs. the Cohiba 1966 range Habanos charges for all new release mini smokes now. August '17 box...looking forward to firing one up after some rest. (Party Short for scale)

Love these little 2's...

Agreed- that "bale of pre-embargo Cuban tobacco" someone found next to Jimmy Hoffa's grave 25 years ago or so HAS to be running low by now! There are some NC blending geniuses. Dream collabs- Skip Martin with Partagas, Dion with RyJ, and Kyle Gellis with Upmann.

I just reall dig Dion's stuff. Illusione, Warped, and the LP Goldies are close to the only NC's I keep more than a couple boxes of. No clue how the OneOffs will be, but he has a solid track record. For me it's like food, sometimes I want a Warped or Illusione as much as any Cuban. With the low...