I’m guessing most local shops around me sell that stick for $15, while my preferred is probably $13. So considering it’s a $3-5 mark up near the Yacht Club, I’d say it wasn’t too bad. Safe to say everything here in CA is probably 40-50% more than your are.

And I definitely don’t think Liga is A+, just popped in my mind when thinking about spending a little more than average on a stick. If they were cheaper I think I would return to them more often. They almost seem like the Casamigos of cigars. I liked them before the hype and now the feel quality is gone.

As always, some great chinwagging and recommendations here. Gonna snag a Sin Compromiso now.

That’s the best Sumatra cigar. Actually, it’s the only Sumatra that doesn’t leave me with that dirty taste in my mouth.

Sin Compromiso is as close to a Padron as anything. Mexican wrapper. It’s full bodied, but not as intense a ride as Padron if that makes sense? Start with a larger ring gauge for your first…they just launched a Robusto and it’s a kick in the nuts from the minute you light it.

The Judge was the first MF line I had and got me into their lineup. Many taste similar but not as good as this. This is a skinnier ring gauge than I prefer I think I got this as a freebie from an order. So I’m trying to puff slower as to not overcook it.

This is the best of the Padron line. Hands down!

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For me, Cuban lanceros tend to be the most reliable rolling quality and figurados the least. Cuaba Is the Cuban brand that only makes figurados and I have never had one that isn’t plugged.

For Padron, I think they do more draw testing than others, as they are just so reliable.

Good to know in re the Lanceros-especially considering its well know it’s your favorite and probably most smoked vitola

Jealous of the Jaws

Not mine but I got to play with it (and unbox it) at least!

I’ve only played a clunky first run one for promotional stuff. Hoping the new runs are clean and smooth. Definitely my next pin, but not sure I’ll go NIB again.

Shopping for belts for the first time in forever.

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Buy one that’ll last your lifetime… This guy hand makes them in his shop. I have a thing for vintage buckles, so I order hand tooled belts to go with them, but for $30 you can get a handmade bridle leather belt that’ll last forever.

https://www.beggarspouchleather.com/product-category/belts/beggars-pouch-exlusive-belts/styles/

Today I’m wearing a 50’s tourist buckle with a hand tooled belt. The buckle is 70yrs old and the belt is 15yrs, but if I oiled them they’d look like new:

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I had a feeling someone would chime in with a better option than Amazon. Things don't last as well as they used to as I'm finding with my work boots especially. Evening with ordering the same part number. Might as well grab a wallet too!

I’ve got a Padron cut and ready to light, but the sirens are blowing and it’s getting kinda hairy around here. Luckily, I put ear muffs on the kids before they went to bed, so they’re going to sleep through all this.

OK, I’ve got a favorite for that, too. Best wallet ever, I am never going back to a leather wallet: https://www.flowfold.com/

It’s made of scrap material from racing yacht sails, so it’s super tough but weighs almost nothing (like the weight of two credit cards).

Stay safe!

I’m visiting Seattle and learned I shouldn’t have bothered to pack any sticks. Smoking is banned in public and any place of employment, so you can’t even smoke on the patio of a hotel or even in their driveway.

Fuck a bunch of that shit

I’m at the local amusement park with my kids. It’s owned by Six Flags. Here’s how stupid shit in some of these states and cities is:

You can smoke a cigar at this corporate owned amusement park still…because there’s still designated areas in which you can sit and smoke a cigarette.

Here’s an idea-rather than tell people whether or not they can smoke or not, let’s step in and regulate the shit that’s in our foods and forced down the throats of our youth. I guaranteed there’s more additives and carcinogens in the dog shit meals served at the public school cafeteria straight off the US Foods or Sysco truck than what’s in that camel I smoked after giving a mustache ride to the flavor of the week.

Just a taste tonight

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If everyone sparking up joints is gonna pretend those signs don’t exist, then so will I.

Time for the first rain storm of the year. Just put the propane heater into storage too!

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Back from Seattle and their smoking bans…. Nudie #6 tonight.

They recently changed up their branding and moved these to a new name, but it’s still Rob from FOH and Hamlet. Tough cigar to beat in the $10 price range. https://www.fabrica005.com/products/puro-desnudo-canonazo-vi-bundle-25

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I forgot to compliment you on how that tray turned out. Did you epoxy the top?

Thanks! It was my first time trying an epoxy pour and it was way easier than I expected. The product I used was Clear Cast and all I did was mix it, pour it, and wait a couple days for it to harden. I sanded the top a bit first to bring out the wood grain and then just used painters tape on the edge. So far it has held up to daily use on the kitchen table without any scratches.

Came out better than expected and a pretty dramatic before/after:

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Awesome. Glad your experience was a positive one. I have some food safe stuff off Amazon I use to fill cutting board holes. I've done some more rustic ones with a ton of knots and figured out the epoxy still polishes super shiny, even though its not the more resilient type. So I get this shiny knot in the middle of a natural cutting board. Not my first choice. Lots of experimentation can be had with that stuff, but its very forgiving I find so its well worth the effort. My dad is close to selling his PCB manufacturing business after 30 years, so I want to make him a 4'x6' wall piece filled with old assemblies and our logo. I'll mess around with that Clear Cast and see if its a good candidate. Cheers!

great octopus table piece

Put down the Espinoza stuff and pickup the HVC’s in the background. They’re phenomenal!

You already know what I’m going to say about that one…it’s the perfect cigar!

Can’t remember if any of you guys sent me this or it came with an order. Either way it’s starting out well I wasn’t expecting much out of it so that helps.

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I smoked a few of them…they burn well and have a good draw and flavor, but I found myself smoking it way too fast to enjoy it because I just couldn’t get enough nicotine

Yeah it was a pretty even burn. I wasn’t finding a lot of notes that I liked BUT it wasn’t harsh. I’d put it in the “garden cigar” category. Budget cigars like HVC better value. Actually calling HVC a budget cigar is more shame than they deserve.

Try the HVC 500th. All y’all mofos on this thread read what I’ve said. Try one. If you don’t like it, I’ll send you a Padron for wasting your time and money.

You lose…I said try one. Sorry bout yer luck

Time to taunt PlanetExpress again

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lol… that backglass is just as you described, overdue for the dumpster.

Yesterday

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And tonight. Yummy

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I need to order some sticks for an upcoming camping trip. What’s a good online site to order from?

I should add, normally I would support the local brick and mortar, but the budgets tight with the new pin purchase.

Thanks! I’ll check out fox. Cigar Page I order from all the time, but it’s hit or miss. Sometimes great deals, and sometimes, like recently, absolute stinkers.