We grabbed our first dozen of the season from Milburn Orchards over the border in Maryland. Absolutely delish fresh out of the fryer. Oh yeah, got a 38# pumpkin too. :) Wilkey

My pleasure. I'm always pleased to be able to help. Wilkey

"Totalmente a mano TC" means that it is hand made using the "rubber sheet bunching" method for short filler. TC stands for "tripa corta" or short filler as opposed to "tripa larga" or long filler as in "Totalmente a mano" handmade long filler cigars. For the life of me. I can't come up with the...

This viewpoint is the less enlightened cousin to the aphorism "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." How can you reinvent something? You cannot as a matter of definition. You can, however, extend, expand, improve, and in so doing, create new applications and capabilities. If you see no benefit in...

You mean like these purported Upmann, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, Bolivar, and Cohiba? I agree. In fact the only other cigar that has this same level of consistent wrapper appearance and quality is Trinidad. Every single one I've ever seen has been blonde, beautiful, and perfect. Wilkey

Yes, John. That's what I meant. :thumbs: Wilkey

It's hard to tell that from the photo. And besides, JayBay's fakes have prominent embossing. I was looking at the registration (alignment or trapping) of the gold emboss against the other printed elements. Often folks will wonder if a band that has mis-registered elements is indicative of...

What is it exactly about the embossing? Wilkey

I'm sorry. Let me clarify. Specifically with regard to John's guide not the overall circumstances surrounding the procurement of these specimens. Wilkey

Ok, John's guide is pretty good. But even so, it missed one thing that is suggestive of a counterfeit and one detail that is commonly misinterpreted as an indicator of fake-icity. Wilkey

You got it. Who made that guide up? Wilkey

100% fake. Now let's see who can tell why. Wilkey

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Hell, why stop at smoking regular tires. Might as well go hog wild and make rainbow smoke while we're at it. :D Hell, why stop at colored smoke. Might as well give Drew Acid a run for their money with these babies. Mmmmmm, lavender, neroli, and jasmine. Wilkey PS...

Hi Gonnagal, I'm glad the example made some sense. Theoretically, I think this idea is defensible and I've heard it espoused by various cigarists more experienced than I. In the real world, though, "taking the aroma" is an integral part of the cigar experience. It is one way in which we...

Oh god, no. That has got to be one of the worst cigars ever made. You might as well peel a 6 inch strip off of your Michelin and set that on fire. Ugh. I shudder just thinking about these "cigars." Wilkey

Yes. Yes they do. :D Wilkey

For maturing cigars over just a few years, the package they came in is fine. For many years, like a decade or more, I would put them into wooden cabs or boxes. Breathing is bad for long term preservation of cigars. Think about it...every time you open a humidor or cooler and take in a lungful of...

Ahhhh, I see. And here I was thinking I was just being cranky. :p Wilkey

Good gravy! Two fine distractions, there. Wilkey

Dude, Nice cigars, but just one shot, properly exposed, with the right white balance, and in focus would have done the deed. Wilkey