 Monday night, in celebration of re-stocking my Maria Mancini selection, I lit up a Magic Mountain that I’ve had in my humidor for quite a few years. It smoked great, tasted great, and was, over all, more than I expect from a $2.00 cigar! There is one more old one left that I may have to smoke back to back with a new one just for kicks. I’ve smoked many, many cigars in this line over the years and the flavor has been remarkably consistent, aged or new. I don’t know if this is good or bad, I just know that I like the cigars!
I’ve been wanting to smoke a Cain F, but I also wanted to smoke something that isn’t receiving a lot of buzz lately and the Cain seems to be talked about quite
I noticed that the Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve deal is still out there at http://www.ryjhabanareserveoffer.com/promo0828.html. Nice cigars for $2 each delivered! I gotta think anytime you can get a cigar that’s smokable for $2-$3 it’s a deal, let alone a name brand premium. The RyJ is a nice cigar, and even if it’s not your cup of tea, it’s nice to have on hand to gift to someone. It’s a new month, so keep an eye out for this month’s contest coming soon. Also, remember you can subscribe to receive e-mails when this page is updated, and you can follow me on Twitter (@cigarcraig). Also, I’m working on a new front page for CigarCraig.com. Stay Tuned! Finally, here’s a short video that my wife and son put together for me a bit ago: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYk3-5Hivfs Until the next cigar, Cigar Craig |
Tag Archives: JR Cigars
Thursday Cigar Ramblings: Maria Mancini, CAO Italia, Montecristo – April 1, 2010
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Saturday’s Cigar Adventure: A Trip to JR’s – March 27, 2010
I had a few hours to kill yesterday afternoon and I was in the vicinity of one of the Meccas of the cigar shop world. I headed over to Whippany, NJ and spent a relaxing afternoon at JR Cigars. The place is packed to the rafters with boxes and bundles of every cigar imaginable. Sensory overload quickly sets in. I probably spent an hour wandering around with my eyes glazed…checking prices here, looking for favorites there…trying to mentally compare online prices and looking for something that fell within my rather strict requirements, I had promised my wife I’d limit myself to only the best deal. At first I thought that the New Jersey store was priced higher than the website due to the tax structure there, but when I got home and compared the prices to what I saw in the store I found that I was mistaken. What I ended up getting was a 
couple five packs each of Maria Mancini Magic Mountain and Robusto Larga. While these were priced the same as on the website, I did save the $11 in shipping it would have cost if I had ordered on line. I love the Maria Mancini line, it’s one cigar that I’ve consistently had in my humidors since about 1999 wh
en I bought my first box of 40 DeGaules from JRs in Burlington. I was happy to get the 5 packs as I have an empty Magic Mountain box to put them in! For an inexpensive cigar, these have a flavor that hits me just right every time.
After shopping for a while, I settled into a chair in the Montecristo Lounge. I ordered lunch and lit up a well aged Ashton VSG Torpedo that I had brought along, which was delicious. The interesting thing about the menu at the lounge is that everything is the same 
price, and everything includes a Montecristo Tubo! You get a napkin, knife, fork, and a Tubo! Perfection! I ordered the fish and chips, which maybe wasn’t my best choice of the day, but it was perfectly edible and served it’s purpose. Many of the other items I saw being served looked better in retrospect. Next time I know. I wiled away the hours there, enjoying my cigar and the ambiance. It’s nice to be in a place where smoking is basically required, but with all the amenities of a restaurant (they do have a top shelf bar there also). Highly recommended if you happen to be in the area.
Congratulations to Tim Scouten for winning the 5 pack of Joya de Nicaragua Antaños courtesy of Drew Estate. By the time this is published he should have those cigars in his hands.
Until the next cigar,
CigarCraig
Sancho Panza, Chateau Reals and Minor League Hockey – Sunday March 21, 2010
It’s finally spring in SE Pennsylvania, so that means CigarCraig gets a wicked head cold. I’ve been trying to keep it at bay, at least by trying to limit my 
cigar intake. I did feel obligated Friday night after hearing about the passing of Frank Llaneza, who probably can take some of the credit for the post-embargo, non-cuban cigars that we enjoy today. When you smoke a Hoyo de Monterrey, Punch, El Rey del Mundo, or more recent releases such as the Siglo or Frank Llaneza 1961, you have this gentleman to thank for it.  I was surprised to find that the only cigar I could find in my humidor who’s pedigree could be traced to Mr. Llaneza was a lone Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Cordoba. I’ve really enjoyed the full body and flavor of these since buying a box several years ago, a delicious cigar that will be missed in my humidor, much like Frank Llanaza will be missed in the cigar industry.
Here’s a write up in Cigar Aficionado about Mr. Llaneza’s passing <click here>. Also , JR Cigars latest catalog includes a nice biography of him <click here>.
Saturday night I had the opportunity to attend a Reading Royals hockey game at the Sovereign Center in Reading PA. Minor league hockey is always a lot of fun to watch. The stars didn’t line up for me to get the cigar store visit in that I had wanted to. However, my old friend Jeff and I enjoyed some Chateau Real Magnum 46 Claros pre-game and some Chateau Real Gran Cru Perfecto Maduros post game. Both cigars fall on the milder side of medium to me, with the claro having that nuttiness usually associated with the Connecticut shade wrapper, and the maduro with the cocoa notes that go along with the beautiful, dark Mexican wrapper. The hockey game ended with a 4-0 win for the home team. After a feisty first period, I thought that the animosity between the teams would build and there would be some exciting altercations, but after the Royals built the 4-0 lead it seemed like the opposing team, the Johnstown Chiefs, kind of lost their fire. It was still an entertaining game, and we enjoyed some wonderful cigars.
After a few days of abusing myself (staying up late, smoking cigars when I really shouldn’t be, you know…) it’s time to focus on getting rid of this darned cold so I can fully enjoy cigars again (and sleep without coughing and getting up to blow my nose more importantly). Lots of water and sun today, but I’m going to abstain from cigars until the funk in my sinuses subsides. Cigars and sinus infections don’t go well together.
Next Saturday, March 27, I am going to make a pilgrimage to JR Cigars in Whippany, NJ to hang out for the afternoon and smoke a few cigars. If anyone is in the area please stop by and introduce yourself! I’ll be the guy smoking a cigar 🙂
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter (@cigarcraig). I have it set to automatically tweet when I update the page. I’m working on e-mail subscriptions for those who like that ( I do, so I figure there may be others too). Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Until the next cigar,
CigarCraig
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