Today's Smoke 2025

hydro-terp said:
How long did you dry box it? FWIW all my burn issues went magically away when my storage went from 70 to 65. Me thinks it needed some more time.

I had a Caldwell that was a problem child in a recent purchase and the others from that bunch will spend some extra time acclimating.

HT
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Not long, actually. The rest period in the basement. Was a month or so at 67% (tupperdore with 65% Boveda) so it was not that high to start with. However you raise a good point. I’m going to stop my AVO samples for 5 days at 62% then restart.
 
‘01 RGPE 5 X 37 - these were machine made back then and probably my favorite MM. They’re even better now hand rolled. A real bargain too considering today’s prices. Woody, floral - not picking out more specific flavors but love the sweetness on the draw. Mild yet full flavored. Second third a bit of hazel nut and buttered popcorn. Think Sancho Panza’s mellow cousin. Every time I smoke these makes me miss the RG Slenderellas which were even thinner and 2" longer. Final third the buttered popcorn intensifies taking me right back to Saturday matinees at the local theater back when they used real butter. Retro is divine, so concentrated in flavor. My favorite current production morning cigar. So consistent over the years. I think some of these smaller run boutique brands have better quality control. Almost 45 mins but still too short.

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Monster Smash '24 Drac

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ETA: linear but good flavor, spice, wood, cocoa, pepper (mainly on retro). Burn went completely lopsided and hot with 1.25-1.5 inches left so I put it down at that point.
 
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My Father The Judge Grand Robusto 5 X 60 - someone sent me some of these I think it was last year sometime. Apparently they were Cigar Aficionado cigar of the year. This is the largest ring cigar I’ve ever smoked. Love my thin sippers with my wheelhouse being in the 26-38rg. So I was surprised this massive jawbreaker didn’t bother me much. The rectangular shape helps. Also I’ve been smoking a lot of the newer large ring Cubans that have been coming out. Anyhow, nice looking stick. Beautiful construction - burned like a champ and held its ash forever. Removing the secondary band tore the wrapper. Got wonky after that. Heavy dark chocolate with retro bringing super dense bittersweet cocoa. Very full bodied strong smoke. One note cigar. Zero complexity. How this was so highly rated (I know, I know!) is beyond me. Perfectly fine smoke but I lust for complex flavors, smooth retro, nuance & twang if you will. This one just punched me in the face with chocolate thunder. Pass…

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