What Cigar are you smoking? (2026)

[Fleabag]

20°C, storms brewing in the south, nice breeze from the NE, perfect time for a cigar. With world events unfolding it was time to pull out one of my fancy cigars. I though a Macanudo Maduro Diplomat suited quite well.

Started off pretty nice, similar to the smaller ones but once I got to the fat bit the flavour became bitter and there wasn't much smoke to be had so I put it aside. Burn wasn't very even and need a few touch ups. A bit disappointing but that is how it goes I guess. Just gives me more confidence in my own crappy sticks that burn on an angle and still taste great.

 

[Sid.Stavros]

'Dayyy from Athens-Greece, we have sun and 58 'F here.

This is the photo for the forum and video



and the intermediate ones where some things are added-repositioned.



Adornado Gordo.

 

[TigerTom]

My local B&M got these in today. Gran Habano Habano #3. Thought I'd give it a try.



Burned okay, had great aroma, but after about 1/4 inch the flavor all but disappeared. Ah, well. Can't win 'em all.

 

[yesrepeatno]

Smoking a 3 year aged Surrogates Cracker Crumbs tonight. First cigar in months. You ever look forward to something only to realise you've lost your taste for it? It's a great cigar, but I've been so pipe-focused that it just isn't landing as I'd hoped.

 

[The Haroo ln]

So i've been quiet for a while but it is ramadhan so its hard to smoke a cigar as i work night shift and can only eat, drink and smoke at work. Its my day off tonight and ive treated myself to a flor de las antillas maduro. The last time i smoked this was when my daughter was born almost 2 years ago. My sister went on a trip to the US and brought one back for me. Here in the UK i could only get the natural wrapper version which is still nice but has a lot less zing than the maduro. Anyway managed to get one from an online retailer i use for my normal every day cigarillos... Oh god i've missed this cigar so much... Its almost like finding a long lost love again!

 

[TigerTom]

Had a couple today. The first was a Gran Habano La Conquista. Not bad. Definitely better than the Habano #3 I had the other night. Not one I'd choose again, but I wouldn't turn it down.



The second was an AJ Fernandez New World Dorado. Took about an inch to get going, but when it did it was nice. Reviewers call it full flavored, but I found it to be more medium.

 

[The Haroo ln]

Smoked an arturo fuente don carlos presidente. 7x50 I believe. Absolutely beautiful smoke. Ive only ever smoked the don carlos no 4 Twice before and the 1st one was rolled way too tight that i had to bin it after 4-5 puffs. This is definitely slap bang medium edging towards medium-full in the last 3rd. The stick i smoked started to have a humongous crack after half way which is why it probably felt mediumish all the way through. The light doesnt really show the crack properly. QQ, what causes the wrapper to crack like this? Is it humidity? Lack of/over fermenting? Or just too much tobacco packed in too tight?

 

[TigerTom]

Smoked an arturo fuente don carlos presidente. 7x50 I believe. Absolutely beautiful smoke. Ive only ever smoked the don carlos no 4 Twice before and the 1st one was rolled way too tight that i had to bin it after 4-5 puffs. This is definitely slap bang medium edging towards medium-full in the last 3rd. The stick i smoked started to have a humongous crack after half way which is why it probably felt mediumish all the way through. The light doesnt really show the crack properly. QQ, what causes the wrapper to crack like this? Is it humidity? Lack of/over fermenting? Or just too much tobacco packed in too tight?

It's tough to say. Cameroon is a delicate wrapper, so it could simply be from mishandling, likely before you got it (someone may have dropped it, or perhaps a potential buyer gave it a "gentle squeeze" to test firmness and then put it back).

 

[deluxestogie]

Combustion of cigar filler produces moisture within the filler, causing its volume to expand. If the wrapper is sufficiently dry (stored too dry, or if ambient humidity is too low), then the wrapper is unable to stretch to accommodate the increased pressure from the filler.

Easy remedy. Before lighting a cigar with a thin wrapper, I moisten the wrapper from its head to within a few mm of the foot. (How do I do this, you ask? After opening the head, I stick the entire cigar into my mouth from both ends, avoiding wetting the foot. Sorry. That sounds crude, but it nearly always prevents a wrapper from splitting when the ambient humidity is too low.) My approach, unfortunately, requires that the cigar bands be removed.

Bob

 

[jclif43]

Combustion of cigar filler produces moisture within the filler, causing its volume to expand. If the wrapper is sufficiently dry (stored too dry, or if ambient humidity is too low), then the wrapper is unable to stretch to accommodate the increased pressure from the filler.

Easy remedy. Before lighting a cigar with a thin wrapper, I moisten the wrapper from its head to within a few mm of the foot. (How do I do this, you ask? After opening the head, I stick the entire cigar into my mouth from both ends, avoiding wetting the foot. Sorry. That sounds crude, but it nearly always prevents a wrapper from splitting when the ambient humidity is too low.) My approach, unfortunately, requires that the cigar bands be removed.

Bob

I’ll often do the same if I think the cigar maybe a little on the dry side.

 

[WillQuantrill]

Unfortunately I did not take a picture but the experience I felt was worth sharing. Yesterday as we strolled around the neighborhood I had a Dunbarton Stillwell Star LE Holiday blend that was put out around Christmas. Steve Saka has mentioned how he also enjoys a pipe so that was the inspiration for his "aromatic cigar" line
It has a shade wrapper and cold draw let me know it was gonna be a good one. Refreshing change of pace and much more enjoyable than "infused" cigars out there. Lots of nutty vanilla and strength never went past medium but flavor and construction were on point. Definitely worth getting a 5 pack to switch up your palette every once in a while.

 

[TigerTom]

LFD L400 Natural while grilling some chicken.

 

[Sid.Stavros]

Good morning from Athens-Greece, we have sun and 62 'F here.

Villa Dominicana Corona.

 

[The Haroo ln]

Enjoyed a nice cuban partagas lusitania tonight. Beautifully constructed, perfected draw and absolutley lovely smoke.

 

[PvtPublic]

Went to a friend's house to make andouille sausage, brought some homemade cigars and helped him drink his doppelbock.

 

[The Haroo ln]

Smoking something completely different today. The inca secret blend. Its a lonsdale/no 1 vitola i believe? 6x40. Made from 100% peruvian tobacco with a peruvian shade wrapper. Quite a nice medium profile. The only down side is, the description said 'vein free' wrapper but the wrapper looks more vascular than a bodybuilder on steroids! Apart from that, a really nice day time smoke.

 

[deluxestogie]

This San Cristobal something-or-other torpedo was a gift from my younger brother. Over half the length of the cigar was covered in their advertising. Despite my attempt to remove the two, extravagant bands as carefully as possible, each one managed to rip away a portion of the fragile, Sumatra wrapper. The lower band made the big hole. That's what happens when bands are glued to the wrapper. Despite the cosmetic damage, the cigar draw did not leak.

This is a relatively mild cigar, with a smooth draw. A nice, post-prandial smoke for this evening.

Bob

 

[Tutu]

There is one made by JC Newman at their Tampa Florida factory called The American. I've never had one nor have i seen one on a shelf anywhere. It's made with 100% US grown tobacco from Florida, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. One day I'll get my hands on one and try it.

Have you seen the videos they did on that cigar, "The American Story" chapter 1, 2 and 3?

 

[The Haroo ln]

Ending the night with an AJ fernandez bella artes. I really like AJ fernandez cigars but I do think that they all taste almost exactly the same. However i do realise that might just be my palate - not developed enough. Anyway really good smoke for the end of the night.

 

[TigerTom]

I forgot to post this the other day. San Cristobal Revelation.



In a similar experience to Bob's, when I removed the two bands, excess glue took part of the wrapper with it. It still smoked fine, with a fairly mild profile and some good flavors.