A few weeks ago I featured some cigars from Cigar Ambassador in the Tobacco Queen line. This is a company that has been a major leaf supplier to the Asian market out of the DR. I was waiting for the right time to tackle the Tobacco Queen Super A, a 9¼” x 48 actual A size cigar, and that time presented itself this week. Set aside a hair over two hours for this one. I was surprised that this started out with a lot of flavor, many times A size cigars start mild, this one had some spice and cinnamon to start. For such a long cigar, it burned perfectly, and had a reasonable consistent flavor all the way through. It was a fun smoke, it kept my interest throughout, and I’d smoke it again. As long as it keeps my interest, I like a long smoke.
I had picked up a Ferio Tego Timeless Supreme 660 recently because I hadn’t yet smoked anything Ferio Tego branded yet. I don’t know how this happened, I just know that I need to fix it. The Timeless Supreme is a box-pressed Nicaraguan puro, made by Placencia. The 6″ x 60 box pressed doesn’t feel too large, and it smoked perfectly. This cigar was chocolaty with a hint of spice tingle, and I really liked it. Why haven’t I smoked this before? It could easily be a go-to cigar for me, it’s fits my preferences just right. I will need to further explore the Timeless series.
Friday morning I decided to make a Saturday visit to the Smoke Inn Casa de Montecristo in West Palm Beach, Florida. I know, you’re saying “CigarCraig, you live in Pennsylvania, how can this be?” Well, my wife got me a Frontier Airlines Go-pass that allows unlimited flights at short notice. All I have to pay is the taxes, which in the last three trips to Florida are about $30 round trip. Of course, there are limitations: blackout dates, limited destinations and times, stuff like that. One must also be willing to endure the discomfort of a budget airline, and I’ll put up with a lot to save a buck. Anyway I booked flights to Palm Beach International Airport and picked the closest Smoke Inn location to the airport, not realizing that the Headquarters store wasn’t too much further away. That’s how I ended up hanging out at Smoke Inn West Palm Beach for the day yesterday.
This is a beautiful shop, with a complete bar, well stocked humidor and helpful staff. Considering it’s been winter here, and was sunny and 80 there, I sat out on the lanai, as the Floridians like to call a patio. The patio had three TVs, and the music at a barely audible level so one doesn’t have to yell to converse, which I like a lot. The regulars engaged in the ball busting that seems to happen in every lounge I visit. I picked up a handful of cigars I hadn’t seen before and lit up a Micallef Black Box Pressed Toro, a Smoke Inn exclusive. This is a 6½” x 54 with a San Andrés wrapper, Ecuadorian Habano binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. I’m interested to see what Micallef does with this blend in the firecracker format, this is a much better value! I regret not bringing some back with me. It’s about $9, with some spice and cocoa, just the way I like it. I know that next weekend is the Great Smoke, and the stores there are going to be super busy. Would it have been better to go then? Perhaps, but the dates were blacked out and I was happy to hang out there with an old friend from the alt.smokers.cigars usenet days, Don Payne. It was great catching up with him. I was home in bed before midnight. This is two weekends in a row I’ve taken day trips to Florida, next weekend I’m staying home!
That’s all for today, until the next time,
CigarCraig
