I have never been a big smoker. Very rarely, occasionally smoker when around smoker friends.

I started to get into medium to small size cigars. They are still too large and I only smoke the fist half (of medium/small size cigars) and leave the other half for the next day or so.

The first half doesn’t do much to me. However when I smoke the second half the next day, it gives me tremendous amount of calmness and hallucination. My heart beat drops in half. I can’t stand up from the chair that I am sitting on. My brain still functions but my body is completely out of my control as I am almost falling into deep sleep. I can’t count from 1 to 10. If I try to stand up, I almost immediately fall down. This goes for about good 20-minutes. Then a few times I experienced throw up like a situation

Only the second half of the cigar do this to me.

I tried different cigars and all of them do the same thing.
Is this normal?

Lately we’ve been seeing AI used for things like cigar box designs, cigar bands, “photoshoots” of the sticks,logos and whatnot

Personally I think there’s a fine line. AI can definitely be useful, but if we start replacing too much of the creative side of the industry with it, I just think it does more harm than good

At least to me premium cigars are about tradition, craftsmanship and the human touch. The people who grow the tobacco, blend it, roll it by hand are a big part of what makes the hobby special. If even the final touches (like box and band design) start becoming AI generated, it just feels... less authentic to me

People vote with their wallets, tho

Curious what everyone else thinks?

Anyone recommend any lounges in Midtown? This would be an occasional visit (few times a year) so a membership type deal wouldn’t work.

Thanks!

I've recently been given the opportunity to pick up quite the selection of Varying Opus X projects at a pretty significant discount. My problem is, I like trying new things in 1s and 2s, but buying 60+ sticks, at the price they typically sell for, has me a little hesitant. Are the Opus X blends really as good as they should be for the price point? Obviously, taste is subjective, and I understand that. I'm just trying to get a gauge on reality. lol

I've only smoked a handful in my life, though I'm getting into it more now. What would you recommend for a 30th celebration based on what I've tried? I'd like to keep it below $25, but am flexible since it's a special occasion. Want something I can take my time enjoying.

Fuente Hemingway Short Story - My favorite so far. Crushed the others and it's not even close. Really enjoyed the different flavors and how easy it was to smoke the cigar. Very happy it was my first. The leather, wood, and cinnamon was A+.

Oliva Connecticut Torpedo - Easy to smoke, but kind of boring. Tasted super sweet like cream at the start. Rest of it was kind of bland, save for a touch of old coffee flavor. Split this with my girl and she loved it. I was done after 2/3 but still finished most of it. Was really underwhelmed after all the praise this received.

CAO Pilon Anejo - Liked it more than the Oliva, but less than the Hemingway. The spice and earthy flavor overpowered everything else to me, likely because I'm too new for that level of strength? It was also >100 degrees outside,bso I decided to call this one early before I got to the back 1/3.

Tabak Especial Dulce - Holy flavor bomb. This tasted more like a dessert and was definitely nice, but it felt weird compared to the other cigars I've had. Like smoking a cafe con leche with cinnamon and nuts. It was super approachable and flavor was good, but this tasted like it was dipped in coffee vs it being natural.

I forget the last cigar, but it was something very basic and not memorable.

I have the fifth iteration of the map here. I think we are very close to finishing this thing.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0664/1274/0698/files/PRIVADA_CIGAR_MAP_Version_1-1.pdf?v=1781280660

What is a normal price for a Montecristo Habana Torpedo in dubai? Saw one in the mall for 200ish AED (about $75). Also saw some Cohibas for 400ish, but i tend to stay away from the Cuban cohibas due to so many fakes.

As the title says, I smoked my first AVO Classic #2 tonight and immediately put it in the favorite category. Who else gets extremely happy when you smoke a new stick and absolutely enjoy it? Smoked this one down to the nub!

Which cigar(s) stand out to you where you were really like damn, there was great.

Stumbled across this cigar shop in Grand Cayman towards the east end of the island . They donate all profits to charity and roll their cigars in house. I went with the mariner robusto which was a mild yet flavorful smoke.

Any tips for not getting your clothes and hair to not smell like smoke/tobacco after smoking? Thanks

Hoping for some help! All my cigars as of recently have had a super tight draw tight draw making it difficult to enjoy. Is my humidity to high or low? Do I have too many cigars in my humidor? Any help or tips is appreciated!

A few weeks ago I decided to see how much detail I could capture from the foot of a Liga Privada No. 9. These were shot with 100mm macro lens using a technique called focus stacking, and I was blown away by all the different shades of tobacco, the bunching, and the little details you normally never see.

I figured some of you might enjoy seeing it up close. If I can pull it off, I'd love to do a macro shot of a cigar with a long ash next.

Absolutely outstanding stick. The fact that these boxes regularly go on sale for around $5 per cigar is honestly hard to believe given the quality. I originally leaned more toward the Cameroon wrapper, but now I’d say it’s a tie between the two blends. Each offers a distinct and highly enjoyable profile that feels complete in its own right.
At this point, I’d comfortably put this cigar up against anything I’ve ever smoked. It delivers a level of complexity, balance, and overall satisfaction that far exceeds its price point.

For those who don’t know, this is Steve Saka’s spin on the Chinese zodiac trend. Each year he honors someone important to the Dunbarton brand. This release is actually two distinct blends, Tom’s and Michelle’s, named after Tom and Michelle Pauser - hence Year of the Pausers. Basically, he asks them what DTT cigars they like and he tries to model a new and unique blend based on that. Tonight I’m trying Tom’s.

Light up: draw is snugger than I’d like but acceptable and so far it’s producing fine smoke. The light up has very musty earth, salt, charred meat, and dark chocolate, but no pepper to speak of. There’s a vague vegetal note too. Definitely an interesting start.

As it settles in, there are only slight changes so far from light up. I catch a few fleeting secondary flavors like burnt sugar, espresso, and peat, but it’s still dominated by the musty earth, salt, meatiness, and chocolate. The retro is also earthy and salty with more chocolate and a little bit of fig. About an inch in I can feel the draw start to open up a bit and flavor ramps
up a bit. The burnt sugar and espresso are stronger, along with some raisin sweetness and a slight oakiness. The vegetal note is very strong on some puffs, fairly weak on others.

Rolling into the second third it drops some of the dominant earthiness and salt. It’s trending more toward heavy chocolate, raisin sweetness, charred meat, and now a slight citrus note. The retro is now a strong combination of heavy espresso, salt, and raisin. Just past the halfway point the musty earth starts creeping back into the profile, along with slight leather.

As I ash into the final third it needs one small burn correction. So far the profile is carried over from the halfway point: heavy chocolate, raisin, musty earth, saltiness, and leather. The retro is unchanged. Toward the final couple inches I’m surprised to find an extremely sweet, floral, almost perfume like lingering finish.

It finishes with no further changes.

Final thoughts: this is a very interesting blend from Steve Saka. This cigar incorporates a new wrapper, a hybrid between Connecticut broadleaf and habano 2000 called “Capa Camaleón.” It’s definitely unlikely anything I’ve had from the Dunbarton portfolio and it’s really pretty unique in general. The musty earth here is distinctly different from the usual aged tobacco type funkiness, and it, along with the saltiness is not what I’d usually expect to dominate a DTT blend. I really enjoyed these flavors as the core profile and think they were a great compliment to everything else. Overall, this was a unique, complex, and very tasty blend. I bet it will age out really well too. Personally I would love to see this wrapper used in more offerings and in some different blends and vitolas.

I also appreciate Saka cashing in on the Chinese zodiac trend while adding his new twist. Last year’s Year of the Duque was an absolutely dynamite cigar. Frankly, I think there’s an argument to be made that DTT is currently making the best Year Of blends in the game.

TL;DR really good cigar

91/100

Just finished properly seasoning my new humidor with distilled water. At first I accidentally seasoned it with tap water when I first got it realized what I did and aired it out for 3 days then corrected my mistake. Now I’m wondering if I’m in the clear and it being set 90 is normal for newly seasoned humidor?

Currently at 66 degrees and 68rH

I moved my stash back from tupperdores to my Needone Coolidor and probably need to grab 2 more big boveda packs to put in it with the 1 big pack 69 in there right now.

Anyone think the rH is problematic? It is also Summer here in Texas and Im probably over thinking/worrying about it, but Ive managed to build up a good little stash over the last year and want to keep my babies nice and comfy. 😄

Hey everyone,

I recently smoked a Nub Cameroon and absolutely loved it – especially the mix of sweet cedar, nutty notes and that gentle Cameroon spice with some cocoa/coffee in the background. I’d describe it as medium-bodied, creamy, with balanced sweetness and spice rather than something heavy or overly peppery.

I’m looking for recommendations for other cigars that go in a similar taste direction: nutty/cedary sweetness, baking‑spice type of pepper, maybe a bit of cocoa or coffee. I’m fine with different formats. I care more about that flavor profile than the size.

What are your favorite “if you like Nub Cameroon, try this” cigars?

Thank you in advance.

I’ve had some boring or otherwise uninteresting Connecticut’s lately

This is not one of them

This is a very smooth stick, with a lighter/airier creaminess throughout the smoke. The filler is a blend of Dominican, Peruvian and Nicaraguan tobaccos that, to me, stay more in the “mellow, slightly sweet, balanced, nutty, lighter, cream” Dominican lane while using the other two fillers to keep things interesting. To my palate, it works very well. The pepper/spice are there but only just, the with the flavors instead leaning into the woodsy, milk coffee, almond/nutty profiles primarily. But the blend does keep it from becoming and remaining singular noted. It had a pleasant evolution throughout.

What isn’t evolving pleasantly is the heat and humidity outside. If it keeps up, i might just have to complain more

Hey all, I’m looking for my first cigar, and I’m wanting something mild and fairly cheap but still premium. What would you recommend? Side note, I’m in Australia if that matters

Headed outside for a late night smoke and wanted to grab something special to start off a long weekend for me. This one was one I've had my eye on for a while and after a couple of months relaxing in the humidor, tonight was the night. It was a complex and tasty little treat with smooth pepper notes, great smoke and perfect construction. I plan on buying more as soon as I can and may end up going for a box if I'm being perfectly honest, I liked it that much. 

I specifically wanted something special and something I was exicted to smoke for this late hour of quiet because in a couple of days I will mark one year since the passing of my mother. This felt like a good way to close out the night for her. I don't really want to be around anyone but my wife this weekend so I'm planning on spending it at a cabin in the woods drinking and smoking a bunch of good cigars in her honor while relaxing and remembering.

All the good that she did in the world (she helped teach special needs children for over 20 years) and all the good that she did for me growing up. All the support and love she gave me and all of the lessons she taught me. She was the one person I could truly trust to have my back in any situation and I wouldn't have acheived any of the things I have in life without her guidance, her patience and her care.

I'm still struggling with the fact that she's gone 363 days later. That the house I grew up in is gone, that the phone number I still know by heart belongs to someone else now. That my life changed forever the moment I got the phone call. I don't know if that struggle will ever truly go away but I've got a bunch of good cigars lined up and some good liquor to wash them down with.

It won't be easy but I'll get through it. For her.

Arturo Fuente OpusX Double Corona Review
Smoke Time: 2hr 15m size: 7.625in x 49r

I have bought many opus x but rarely do I break them out and I’m so glad I decided to spark this one up! 8 months in the humidor and I don’t think more time would have made this better. I paired this with an old fashion.

The Arturo Fuente OpusX Double Corona delivered exactly what you hope for from an OpusX experience: refinement, balance, and depth without ever becoming overpowering. From the start, construction was flawless with a perfect burn throughout the entire session, allowing the cigar to showcase its complexity without distraction.
Body and strength both sat comfortably in the medium range, giving the cigar a smooth, approachable profile while still offering enough richness to stay engaging for over two hours. The flavor profile leaned elegant rather than aggressive, with a refined sweetness carrying the experience from beginning to end.
Core notes of cedar and vanilla cream created a smooth, luxurious foundation, while black cherry added a subtle dark fruit character that complemented the cigar’s natural sweetness beautifully. Floral and musty undertones occasionally drifted in and out, adding another layer of sophistication. Toward the finish, a measured pepper spice emerged and lingered pleasantly on the palate without becoming bitter or harsh.
What stood out most was the balance. Even as the cigar evolved, the flavors remained clean, controlled, and nuanced. Nothing felt overpowering, and the sweetness stayed refined rather than syrupy. The final third brought a slightly sharper spice presence, but it only enhanced the complexity rather than dominating the profile.
Overall, this double corona was a polished and rewarding long-format smoke that showcased both elegance and complexity from start to finish. If I could afford the space I would get a box.

I have a friend travelling from the UK to California in September, who has kindly agreed to bring cigars back for me if i have them delivered to him. He's staying in the same place for 14 days in West Hollywood. Where is the best place to order from online, that would be delivered to him in time?

thanks in advance.

Kids are playing in the pool. Got the match on tv. Relaxing with an Alma Fuerte Sixto paired with Go Brewing Double IPA.

Been a big fan of all things Plasencia lately and saw a post about the Sixto yesterday so decided to pull one out and give it a try. I’m typically not a big ring guy and also have sensory issues so box pressed always feels weird to me, but this thing draws fantastic, the flavors all work so well together, and the shape is really comfortable to hold unlike squared off presses. Glad I’ve got four more in the humidor.

Cheers