I had a chance to try the Astral “Foregt Me Nots” I’d gotten last year again. I’d say they’ve smoothed a tad perhaps, but overall I’d make the same comments. Smokable, but nothing special.
I seem to find myself with quite a few not very enjoyable cigars. The 5 Vegas are just not for me, and the Astrals are just not worth the trouble. No worries, I expect to be in possession of some new and very enjoyable replacements soon!
A long while ago I wrote about the 5 Vegas I’d bought, and how I’d though they were nasty. I thought I’d try them again, after a year in the humidor. They’ve mellowed just a tad, but they’re still pretty nasty. I won’t say they were unsmokable, they just didn’t have any character. It was like smoking sawdust. Bad sawdust. Dry sawdust.
Now it’s possible that since they were still in their original box, and each cigar was wearing it’s original cellophane nighty that they were just a bit dry. I normally strip anything that goes into my humidor, because I firmly believe that humidity needs to have as few barriers as possible. Maybe it’s because they are Panetelas. I don’t know. But I’ve stripped the rest of them, and I hope they’ll improve a good bit more.
Ok, maybe not everyone will think so. Maybe they just need a bit of aging - aging cigars apparently makes them better, like wines - but right now it was like smoking a burning tire. Yep, plenty of smoke, but it was extremely dense and strong, with a rather unpleasant flavor.
My friend Matt had two suggestions: Keep them in the humidor for 6 months and see if they improve, and give them to moochers who are always asking for cigars. I have yet to accumulate any moochers, so we’ll see them again in 6 months!
Woo Hoo! My package arrived today! Everything came in fine condition, and I started seasoning the new humidor right away. It won’t hold everything by far, but it will serve to keep a few cigars upstairs while the rest are in a cooler in the basement - I’ve learned that coolers make perfectly good humidors.
I’ve tried one of the Consuegras, and it’s not bad. I have to draw so hard I feel like a cartoonist, but otherwise they’re small (so they don’t take so long to smoke) and just about the right amount of body for me.
I haven’t tried the others yet…soon!
Today I placed my first order for cigars. It doesn’t take much to figure out it’s far cheaper to do it this way, and it avoids dealing with tobacco shop owners who aren’t very helpful.
I’ve spent about $160, which seems like a heck of a lot, but then again I think I’m getting a lot:
A box of 5 Vegas Classic Panatelas with a free humidor - the humidor was the clincher, even if it’s a crappy one - I need one!
A box of Astral Favoritos - I’m a sucker for what might be a good deal (it was a weekly special).
A bundle of Consuegra 5×42, with maduro wrappers. These were talked up a bit on CigarPass.com as good everyday cigar at about a buck a stick.
A 5-pack of Montecristo #3, a recommendation by a friend.
A 5-pack of Leon Jimenes, another recommendation.
I figure it will take about a week for the stuff to get here because I was too cheap to pay for the faster shipping. I’ll probably regret that decision!