Cigar /Pipe Smoking thread

#2,853
#2,853
My victory smoke is another Raymond Pages sample cigar, 5x60. It’s a reimagining of a former Cuban brand. Medium body, aged Nicaraguan long leaf filler in a shiny smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Pepper and spice from the first light yields slowly to creamy bread and honey with a floral quality.
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Pirates Gold 1924
 
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#2,854
#2,854
This morning’s Raymond Pages 5x60 sample is the Buena Vista Edición Limitada. Nicaraguan filler in habano wrapper. Somewhat surprisingly, the pepper on lighting is subdued compared to my previous samples - white pepper vs black or red. The spice I’m coming to expect is present, cedar, and a slight sweetness. Medium-full body.
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#2,855
#2,855
Tin Man said:
This morning’s Raymond Pages 5x60 sample is the Buena Vista Edición Limitada. Nicaraguan filler in habano wrapper. Somewhat surprisingly, the pepper on lighting is subdued compared to my previous samples - white pepper vs black or red. The spice I’m coming to expect is present, cedar, and a slight sweetness. Medium-full body.
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Appreciate the review of these. The flavors you are describing don’t sound medium full to me? Flavor or strength?
 
#2,858
#2,858
This morning’s Raymond Pages 5x60 sample is the Hellas. Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan filler. Spice, leather, and walnut present from the first light. Smooths out with the addition of coffee and a little sweetness deeper into the first third. As with the others, excellent construction, good draw, clouds of smoke, and a firm ash that will hold an inch and a half or more if you let it. Medium to medium-full body. For me, body is the relative strength of the cigar. If I am remiss in this characterization, let me know what the aficionados consider body.
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#2,860
#2,860
Straight out the wrapper, this little thing smells like a fudge brownie. Definitely sweet on the lips. No burn at all on the retrohale. As the write up says, it would pair well with coffee. Goes fine with Moosehead Lager too.

Edit: Blueberry. I’m getting a blueberry taste.
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#2,861
#2,861
My mind is churning. I’m not going to bed for an hour or more, so I decided to try one of the Caldwell Lost & Found Holy Braille robustos that arrived earlier today. Hopefully, the chance I took on this limited edition blend of leftovers will be rewarded.
The draw is a little tight, might be some piñon in the filler. A little spice, a little sweetness, some barnyard, some mineral, a little wood - complex flavor, medium body. At 4 bucks a stick, I didn’t hit a jackpot, but I wasn’t cheated. Burning well with firm ash. 5x50 robusto.

Edit: Some serious glue holding the band tight on this cigar. A delicate operation to remove it without damaging the habano wrapper.
 
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#2,864
#2,864
Having waited the minimum 3 days after oral surgery, I’m indulging in a cigar this fine, mild Fall morning, here on the Southern Piedmont. Today’s choice is the Raymond Pages sample (5x60) BDL Liga 7 Connecticut. BDL is Raymond Pages budget brand. If it’s a Cuban sandwich blend, it’s not smoking like one. Good draw, clouds of smoke, even burn, firm ash. No tobacco bits at the lips. The signature spice is evident from the lighting though somewhat muted - white pepper, cardamom, turmeric. A little sweetness, like chewing on a young wheat shoot. Earthier than other Connies that I’ve had. Smooth mild/medium body. I have a big glass of water to keep my mouth moist, so my beverage isn’t influencing the flavor.
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#2,865
#2,865
So far, I’ve been positively impressed by these Raymond Pages cigars. I wish they offered the 5x60 size in their regular offerings. Loving these fat 5-inchers.
 
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#2,866
#2,866
This morning’s Raymond Page sample is the Record Bond. Reportedly a full flavored cigar, I find it smooth with somewhat muted spice, a nicotine punch, leather, earth, dark roast coffee, barely a hint of sweetness. Despite its flavor profile, I’d say it’s a medium bodied smoke.
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#2,867
#2,867
This morning’s Raymond Pages sample (5x60) is the BDL liga 5 maduro. Beautiful dark wrapper smells of cocoa before lighting. Black pepper, coffee, toasted dark bread, with an earthy umami. This full flavor is as smooth as room temperature butter. Excellent draw, clouds of smoke, firm ash. A nicotine hit in the first third. So smooth for a full bodied smoke - out of the park for a purported budget brand.
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#2,868
#2,868
The meteorologists say that we’re in for another week that feels like late September rather than late October. As long as these mild mornings continue, I’ll enjoy a post breakfast cigar. The Raymond Pages sample (5x60) is the Hoofty, a nod to a character beloved to the Tabacalera Pages folk. The band is monstrous, depicting a guitar playing hog. One has to remove it before lighting, something I was able to do without damaging the habano wrapper. Spiciness is pepper and cumin. How can the flavors of dark chocolate and toasted bread also be creamy? I don’t know, but this is the impression of the first third. Pages manages to make full flavored smokes that are smooth. Another easy draw, clouds of smoke, even burn, and firm ash. Medium-full body with a little nicotine kick.
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#2,870
#2,870
For approximately 35 more hours from the time of this post, Cigar Page is offering a Raymond Pages Megatron Sampler for $49.99 (~$2.50 + tax/stick). It is not the same as the Raymond Pages Fat Bastard Sampler through which I am smoking my way and posting my takes. Still, if any of you are inclined to smoke your way through a Raymond Pages 20-cigar sampler, it's an attractive price for a few more hours.
 
#2,872
#2,872
Tin Man said:
@Gandalf, the Oliva Master Blends 3 and Serie V Melanio Maduro are two 👍👍 to which you've introduced me. Their Black Swan appears interesting. Have you tired one?
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Sadly, I have not yet gotten a black swan but am wanting to try one at the next opportunity.

MB3 are the best "value sticks" on the market if you buy them right at around $3 a pop.
 
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#2,873
#2,873
I pulled the trigger on the Raymond Pages Fat Bastard sampler when it was on sale for $49.99. With tax, that works out to ~$2.65/stick. So far, a very good deal, a very good deal.

In contrast, the Caldwell Lost & Found Holy Braille Robustos ($4.18/stick) have been inconsistent in quality (construction, draw, burn). I'll smoke what I've got, but I'll be hesitant to order any Caldwell Lost & Founds after these.

Arturo Fuente, Oliva, Perdomo, and now Tabacalera Pages have provided consistent quality in a price range affordable to me. Some A. J. Fernandez and E. P. Carillo offerings have been consistent, too. My list isn't exclusive, but AF, O, P, and TP (;)) have yet to let me down.
 
#2,875
#2,875
Oliva Free Will I couldn’t help myself. I ordered cigars. This super habano is a passion project for Oliva, a small batch effort made of Esteli sourced center cut Condega leaves harvested at the end of the season. Yeah, I just posted my disappointment with the quality of my most recent small batch purchase, but this is Oliva.
 
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