Dan-o

Shall we try again? Saturday night would work for me, Stogie's on De Maisonneuve?

Just had an Aging Room 6x60, really well constructed and full flavoured. Couldn't finish it, it was huge. I'm going to try some of their smaller sizes sometime soon, I think they'll be great.

I don't really know much about pipe smoking (I'm learning) but you're right about Blatter & Blatter, I really respect those guys and their uphill struggle to be a relevant business in the wake of Quebec tobacco tax. Their history is fascinating, they've been around for a long time crafting pipes and selling tobacco. Their cigar selection is great, too, and they have (from what I've seen) the best prices in Montreal. I guess what keeps me going back is their service, however. I've mentioned this on another thread. They're always polite, informed and helpful.

https://thedirtyashes.wordpress.com/ Was looking for info on the 2009 Vegas Robaina LE and came across this blog, it's great, personal thoughtful reviews of interesting Cuban sticks. Check it out. Any other Canadian blogs you guys enjoy? I had been following Thefridaycigar.com But that one's dead, it hasn't been updated in a long time.

I have an old v cutter that works quite well, it concentrates the smoke nicely. I imagine a xikar would be even sharper and more precise. But 50$. .... Dunno, that's pricey.

Diplomatico #2....Damn good, leathery, medium, complex. This blended scotch is great, too. Very smokey, reminiscent of Laphroaig if just a bit less deep and salty.

Diplomatico #2 from an 06 box. So good I went back to the B+M to get the rest of the box. Plumey, medium bodied, rich and fantastic!

I'm going to guess 102. This is fun, thanks my man.

K, well we can find another time. If anyone else would like to join please let me know.

Hi fellow Montrealers- would anyone be interested in meeting for a smoke at Whiskey cafe's salon cigare? I'm thinking Friday night. Let me know here or PM me if you're interested in hanging out and talking about cigars and whatever.

Happy Movember everyone. Is anyone else participating in this cause? Maybe we can post end of month photos of our 'staches. Grow them proudly, brothers.

Pretty sure it's a 64 RG. That's why they call it the "INCH", ring gage indicates how many 64ths of an inch the diameter is. For example, a cigar with a ring gage of 50 is 50 / 64th of an inch in diameter. So a 64/64ths of an inch would be an inch ring gage. Nub does some of these, never tired them though.

I've had a CAO la traviata which is a solid smoke, very tasty. Like a box pressed Robusto in size. Mild creamy and peppery. Apart from that, though, I really don't care for CAOs - I've smoked their Cameroon wrapper, MX2, and a couple of others without much success. I think I tried a Don Thomas once, but it doesn't stand out. I'll definitely try it again. Thanks for the suggestions guys. Warlocks! I've heard good things about them, I'll make sure I try it. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

What are your favorite inexpensive non-cubans? I've always liked the Casa Magna range. I've had a few duds and the traditional sizes (Robusto, Torito) seem to be more successful. I had one of their Extraodinarios and it was anything but extraodinario. Also, the tobacconist by my house (Blatter and Blatter) has a house honduran smoke that has been totally great- maybe a bit one dimensional in terms of flavor but hits the spot at a reasonable price ($6-7). When I was living in Vancouver I would go to City Cigars for their Nicaraguan house cigar. It was a box pressed shaggy chuchillesque cigar. I loved them, and they were like $7. I'm pretty sure they had other sizes too. So how 'bout it? What rocks the tastebuds without rocking the wallet?

Thanks for your response, Smokenscotch. I'm sure you're right that second hand smoke is no worse than other types of pollution we encounter on a daily basis. I, however, would still like to reduce that as much as possible, as I would imagine workers would as well. To suggest that second hand smoke isn't dangerous because many people smoke well into their 80s is perhaps a dangerous assumption. I try to avoid those kinds of anecdotal observations because they just aren't that reliable. For example, I wonder how many life long smokers we don't see walking around. And since we don't see them, we don't know about them. Anyways, the studies I've read and heard about are independently conducted and not connected to a Big Brother veil of concern. I mean, in Canada we pay for each others' health care so as citizens we should be concerned about the long term effects of smoking and second hand smoke. At our most cynical, it does affect our pockets. Again I'm basing this on the studies that are (seemingly) independent and unconnected to the government.

I'm sort of moderate on this issue and I wonder if that might make me in the minority around here. I can't help but sympathize with the workers whose health is endangered just by the very act of going to work everyday. Yes, they choose to work there, but the job market is such (specifically in the bar/food service industry) that you take what you can get. These places (Stogies etc) have pretty great ventilation systems, and it's far from what it used to be (thick to the point of opaque with smoke in bars) but I guess there's just so much we know about second hand smoke having long-term health impacts that I understand the heavy hand of changing these rules. That said, hypocrite that I am, I still visit these places on occasion.

I got the Swans matches in Fairhaven Smoke Shop in Bellingham, bought a bunch last time I was there.

Even though I'm no longer in BC I'm still on the City Cigar mailing list. I received an invite to their event. Happening oct 27th: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=abxcnhcab&v=001Jh0o9o-zSlIN92niufncuDGWQdqo-fXFeDbrmagFPO-EW9pT5lc_Bs0Sbtbt9SRVmJGBV5k3Fd_kI8jWWVcTYlGkC-vJfV7ui1s-CoDsk3v0Ex9jxbss5T2IA-PNgLIKCqTaI_f0H9Y%3D

I definitely cut down. Last year I was living in Kelowna BC, where winters aren't as harsh as other parts of the country but I still didn't brave the balcony because I just enjoyed the experience less. I just moved to Montreal, however, and I foresee a lot less smoking outside. However, some of the last legal cigar lounges in Canada still function here (one is pretty close to me), so I'm sure I'll make some visits there in the coldest months.

Happily all went well. Although they don't ship with any humidification, I was expecting some boveda packs or something. They're in good shape though. Thanks for asking.

Just received my Epernay le Taureau shipment from Altantic. Will let you know how they are!

I really think the Quebec prices must be the worst in the country. I just moved here from B.C. And I thought it was bad there...

What were your thanksgiving smokes, Canadian bros? I lit up a Hoyo double corona to much success. Delicious, but a bit large (long) for my tastes. Couldn't quite finish it. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I've been using Swans matches, long ones. They're great, they provide an even low heat that I prefer to the torch. Occasionally need to use my Colbiri torch lighter due to wind, but long matches are my go-to. As for cutters, again I keep it simple and usually pinch off the end. Although many consider this sacrilege I've rarely had problems as a result because I'm careful. It doesn't work on torpedoes though. I also use this antique v-cutter I bought (made in East Germany, how cool is that?) and my Colbiri double blade guillotine.

Lots of laphroiag lovers here, that's awesome. Anyone else a FOL? Personally the 10 yr is my favorite. The 18yr I bought thinking it would be richer and a mellower version of the 10 yr. But I don't think the extra aging benefits laphroaig, the 10 has everything I look for in scotch and the 18 is lighter in body and the smokiness has mellowed a bit too much. I'm not complaining though, they're both great (the quarter cask too) but 10 yr is much better. You know, in my opinion.