Cigar of the day

Mitch Rapp said:

Ok, Charlotte area peeps...where is the shop with the best selection and prices?
Ive got a couple local shops I go to. They're nothing special, very limited space and inventory, and I need a place with more variety.

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My primary spot is The Cigar Shop on 74 in Indian Trail. Great prices, knowledgeable staff and a nice lounge that welcomes everybody.
In Charlotte, I typically stop in one of the Tinder Box locations. There is a B&M in Matthews called 105 Cigar Co. that has a great selection, and they just opened up a new location in Sun Valley recently. Much smaller storefront but a decent selection.
I’ve yet to go to The Vintage only b/c the vibes I get from their social media makes it feel like a snooty uptown Charlotte crowd. Not my kind of spot.
I’ll have to give the place Catfish recommended a try soon. I’m always looking to find new places, especially if they have different brands that my go-to places don’t carry.
I stopped by JRs in Burlington earlier this year on a trip to visit family back east. They had the largest humidor I’ve ever been to and plenty of brands I’ve not found locally. Definitely recommend them if you ever find yourself on the I-85 corridor.

bashman said:

My primary spot is The Cigar Shop on 74 in Indian Trail. Great prices, knowledgeable staff and a nice lounge that welcomes everybody.
In Charlotte, I typically stop in one of the Tinder Box locations. There is a B&M in Matthews called 105 Cigar Co. that has a great selection, and they just opened up a new location in Sun Valley recently. Much smaller storefront but a decent selection.
I’ve yet to go to The Vintage only b/c the vibes I get from their social media makes it feel like a snooty uptown Charlotte crowd. Not my kind of spot.
I’ll have to give the place Catfish recommended a try soon. I’m always looking to find new places, especially if they have different brands that my go-to places don’t carry.
I stopped by JRs in Burlington earlier this year on a trip to visit family back east. They had the largest humidor I’ve ever been to and plenty of brands I’ve not found locally. Definitely recommend them if you ever find yourself on the I-85 corridor.

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We have stopped at the JR location in Selma. Good selection, good prices.

My wife and I sat on the porch during the rain and smoked a couple.

First up is a Micallef. It smoked really well, great draw, plenty of smoke. I didn't get much flavor from it but my wife loved it. I got some white pepper about a third of the way through. She got some nutty notes but i didn't. The wrapper had a good flavor. I did have to touch it up a couple of times early on. It smoked good to the bitter end until I couldn't hold it anymore. I may want to give this one a second try. When I bought it, the shop worker commented that it was a really good stick.




Next up was a Henry Clay. That was a good smoke. Woody notes but not sure it was cedar. I want a full sized Toro of that one to try. Mild at the start and the flavor started to increase about half way through.

RyJ Mille Fleur- Very tasty smoke with notes of cherry. So good I nubbed it out.

Plasencia Alma Campo

Fonseca

Allegiance

Picked up a few new ones I have been wanting to try along with some of my favorites



First had a Oliva V Melanio. Might be in my top 5 now.

Crankbait said:

Picked up a few new ones I have been wanting to try along with some of my favorites

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First had a Oliva V Melanio. Might be in my top 5 now.

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I like the V. The perdomo campaign is good but mild. I like the 1875.i want to try the camacho
The 10th anniversary is supposed to be a good one. Lot 23 is one of my favs but I typically get a Maduro wrapper,yours looks like a Connecticut.

Sp00ks said:

I like the V. The perdomo campaign is good but mild. I like the 1875.i want to try the camacho
The 10th anniversary is supposed to be a good one. Lot 23 is one of my favs but I typically get a Maduro wrapper,yours looks like a Connecticut.

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The 10th Anniversary Champagne is my all time favorite so far. Curious how the Maduro will be.

First time trying a R y J. The reserva real was pretty decent.

Crankbait said:

Picked up a few new ones I have been wanting to try along with some of my favorites

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First had a Oliva V Melanio. Might be in my top 5 now.

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Which Perdomos are those?
I tried a Perdomo yesterday that was pretty good. Wouldnt mind trying some of these, too

Edit: i see the champagne, but Im specifically interested in the Perdomo thats far left. I typically dont like maduro wrappers

I’ve only tried the Champagne but looking forward to the others.

From left to right

Lot 23 Connecticut
Habano Sun grown
Habano Connecticut
Champagne 10th Anniversary
Maduro 10th Anniversary

Ok, Lot 23. I couldnt read it for the glare on the plastic.
Im prolly gonna give that one a try real soon

Stocking up on a favorite...

Nudie N1 Lancero 2021. An obscure boutique smoke but a real treat. Perfect burn with a medium body and subtle flavors of caramelized sugar and fresh baked bread.

Catfish said:

I like McCranies in Park Road Shopping Ctr. It's small but they stock good choices

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I stopped in McCranies today while I was out. Nice little shop. I picked up some West Tampa Black, Micallef Black, and another that I don’t recall at the moment. I’ve had the WT before and they’re solid. The sales guy highly recommended the Micallef Black. I always buy at least 2 of any new sticks I try to make sure I don’t get a dud. I’ll put their shop in my rotation of stores.

Getting ready for GA football with a Oliva Seri V and a Jamaican Mule. Hoping it cools off enough for a fire.

bashman said:

I stopped in McCranies today while I was out. Nice little shop. I picked up some West Tampa Black, Micallef Black, and another that I don’t recall at the moment. I’ve had the WT before and they’re solid. The sales guy highly recommended the Micallef Black. I always buy at least 2 of any new sticks I try to make sure I don’t get a dud. I’ll put their shop in my rotation of stores.

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I stopped by Tinder Box today after the lunch meet at your recc. It was a nice shop, good selection and I picked up a couple of sticks.
It doeent carry a couple of brands that I like, so I left there and went by McCranies. Picked up a few more from there and headed home.

La Galera Cepo Connecticut (quickly becoming a favorite), Perdomo Fresco (surprisingly good for a very inexpensive stick), and a couple Perdomo Lot 23 and Champagne because of @Crankbait lol

RyJ Reserva Real and some light reading.

Good smoke and a double pour of Speyside Single Malt Scotch tonite. Got a couple of friends headed over tomorrow am to fire up the pot and cast some bullets, shoot a little bit but mostly hang out and talk guns and reloading. Prolly burn a couple of sticks too. Great start to the Labor Day weekend.

Mitch Rapp said:

I stopped by Tinder Box today after the lunch meet at your recc. It was a nice shop, good selection and I picked up a couple of sticks.
It doeent carry a couple of brands that I like, so I left there and went by McCranies. Picked up a few more from there and headed home.

La Galera Cepo Connecticut (quickly becoming a favorite), Perdomo Fresco (surprisingly good for a very inexpensive stick), and a couple Perdomo Lot 23 and Champagne because of @Crankbait lol


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I tried the Lot 23 Connecticut today. Not my favorite. It burned nice but the flavor was off. I may give the Sun grown like you got a try. Let me know if you like it.

I hope you like the Champagne

Thompson Cigar has their 19.99 per 5 pack fever going on. Have to buy 4 5 packs for that price

Had a HOOTEN AND YOUNG stick last night
Medium Body-Tight Draw-Slow Burn/
and of course a BLANTONS OLD FASHION

SDIVER2006 said:

Had a HOOTEN AND YOUNG stick last night
Medium Body-Tight Draw-Slow Burn/
and of course a BLANTONS OLD FASHION

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This is the OPERATION GOTHIC SERPENT

Crankbait said:

I tried the Lot 23 Connecticut today. Not my favorite. It burned nice but the flavor was off. I may give the Sun grown like you got a try. Let me know if you like it.

I hope you like the Champagne

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Giving the Lot 23 Sungrown a try today.
Im about halfway through it, and its not bad, but theres also nothing particularly wow about it, either. Good even burn, medium stiff draw, decent flavor.
Its not bad. I wont put in the nope category for me, however, it is good enough to put in the if they dont have one of my favorites, pick this one up category

Purchased my first box today at JR's, H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon, they come in cedar sleeves.
25% off, 3 5-packs, and a large Ashtray for the price of a box.
I have cigars in 3 different humidors.... I hope I like them..... I'll smoke one this evening and let you know.

It was good. I loved the camaroon wrapper, very little pepper. Construction was top notch, no touch ups required.

I feel like I got a great deal on them. I have had better but I have had worse. I would rate them as a really good smoke but not sure I would seek them out for another box, but I wouldn't turn one down either.

4.5 out of 5 ??

RP Super Ligero that's been in one of my humidors since 2018. Thought it would've mellowed a bit but still a feisty cigar. Strong leather with a heavy dense smoke and nice pepper on the retrohale.

Mitch Rapp said:

Giving the Lot 23 Sungrown a try today.
Im about halfway through it, and its not bad, but theres also nothing particularly wow about it, either. Good even burn, medium stiff draw, decent flavor.
Its not bad. I wont put in the nope category for me, however, it is good enough to put in the if they dont have one of my favorites, pick this one up category


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I always but two, and i tried the second Lot 23 sungrown today.
This one the flavor was a little better, smoke was richer and creamier, still no hard peppery flavors. On the mild side of medium bodied.
This one was definitely different from the first.
Maybe the store put the last few from an old box on the top layer of a new box? Mayne theynwere both a bit old and my humidor jad more time to rehydrate the second one?
I think I will grab a couple more to verify

Mitch Rapp said:

I always but two, and i tried the second Lot 23 sungrown today.
This one the flavor was a little better, smoke was richer and creamier, still no hard peppery flavors. On the mild side of medium bodied.
This one was definitely different from the first.
Maybe the store put the last few from an old box on the top layer of a new box? Mayne theynwere both a bit old and my humidor jad more time to rehydrate the second one?
I think I will grab a couple more to verify

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Since it's an all natural product and handmade. I think sometimes it's just that two cigars sitting side by side in a box are different- hopefully just slightly different- but depending on brand and vitola there can be big variations. Part of the fun of smoking cigars is that you never know just exactly what you're going to get when you put flame to them.

Guy at work took out a cigar and was cutting it with what looked like a bullet shell. I said let me see that, yep a .223 with a key ring through it. He said he bought it from the cigar shop for $8🤯. I smell a business opportunity

Good smoke. I'm only about half way through but good smoke, just a little pepper so far. My first box wrap. Very enjoyable. The mild side of medium.

EDIT: My wife really liked it. Said it could be her favorite so far. She is a pretty tough chic. So other wives may not feel the same way and think it's a little strong.

Sp00ks said:

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Good smoke. I'm only about half way through but good smoke, just a little pepper so far. My first box wrap. Very enjoyable. The mild side of medium.

EDIT: My wife really liked it. Said it could be her favorite so far. She is a pretty tough chic. So other wives may not feel the same way and think it's a little strong.

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Big fan of Aging Room cigars. I have had some excellent smokes from them through the years. Sort of forgot about them lately. Now I'm on the hunt.

PDR Capa Madura from deep in the humi. This one's got to be 5 or so years old. Really tasty smoke.

Perdomo Habano Sun grown gordo. Mild to medium. A little on the rich and creamy side. Also a little on the fast burner side. Still good though.

Perdomo Artesanal Sumatra. Not a bad little cigar.

I have no idea about this stick. But the Old Fashion is good.

I bought a cheapo from smoker friendly today for about $4 Iconic Leaf Cigar Co Maduro. For a $4 stick it wasn't bad.

Mr. Bggs said:

Guy at work took out a cigar and was cutting it with what looked like a bullet shell. I said let me see that, yep a .223 with a key ring through it. He said he bought it from the cigar shop for $8🤯. I smell a business opportunity
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I personally use a .270 shell for my punch

SDIVER2006 said:

I personally use a .270 shell for my punch

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I bought a 44 Mag punch