Tag Archives: Take A Cigar For A Walk

by CigarCraig | June 22, 2011 · 7:14 pm

Take A Cigar For A Walk with Tommy Berry, Jr.: Acid Kuba Kuba, Montecristo, Diesel

Here’s a couple of “Take A Cigar For A Walk” installments from Tommy:

Well hello fellow cigar smokers! This past weekend, I took the opportunity to enjoy a recently purchased Acid Kuba Kuba. I was sitting on my front porch, enjoying the warm weather and this great smoke, when it dawned on me…what am I doing…sitting! So, I got up…at the point where you see my cigar in the photo and began to walk. I loved every minute of it. It was mid-afternoon…hot and loads of humidity. But, that is one sure way to lose some weight! So, I ended up walking for about 60 minutes while enjoying the Kuba Kuba. Now, I don’t care for many flavored cigars, but I really like the infused collection of Acid. The Kuba Kuba starts off very sweet. The flavors are then switched around between several noticeable spices and sweet tones. You’d really have to try one as I can never explain the actual “infused flavors” as Acid takes these to a whole new level. This cigar burned evenly throughout and I only had to relight one time. I think that was due to me not puffing on it often enough as I walked briskly. Overall, the Kuba Kuba was a new one to me but I enjoyed every minute of it…I would highly recommend you try this one.

Boot camp is going well, I have lost a total of 21lbs to date but I am feeling a lot of difference in my energy, my strength, and a lot of this has to do with my modified diet as well. I have a goal to get from where I started at 326 to 185. That is a big goal, so I am taking it one day at a time. I have had some slip ups on my eating, but my trainer and fellow recruits have really helped push me to stay on course. The TACFAW really helps give me the extra cardio that I need to sustain weight loss and keep moving forward. Signing up for this has definitely been one of the best things I could have done…in a long time!

It looks like we may get to close on our new home sometime next week…my fingers are staying crossed and hopefully I will have more to give on this come the next entry.

Most importantly, make sure that you are staying at it if you too are taking a cigar for a walk. Craig is doing awesome, and now I want to hear your stories too! Be sure to comment often on your success and even failures as myself and others may can help you stay on track to a better, fitter you…all the while enjoying your passion of a great cigar!

Long ashes to ya!

Tommy Berry, Jr.”

And:

I enjoyed a Montecristo Peruvian Buena Fortuna Maduro on a walk last night, thanks to waterboy…a friend of mine over at General Cigar’s website. I took my little dog with me so he too could enjoy the breeze (and we both needed the exercise!). This particular cigar came out of an 8 pack of two different cigars that “JR Cigars” offers in a small hard case “shopping bag”. This was my first time to smoke such a cigar and I have to say that I loved every minute of it. It was a great smoke, full of flavor, stayed lit the entire walk and burned perfectly. I tend to lean towards these sizes (5×47) and I was able to smoke it for about 45 minutes, a little short on the smoke time but still well worth it. The hints of coffee and “woods” that came from this also peppery smoke was a pleasant surprise indeed.

The walk was great and it ended my Father’s Day on a great note. I bought me some new shoes last week for boot camp, some Sketchers Shape Ups…which drove me to another walk last night, where I normally, on a Sunday would have just stayed home. I have to say that I love these shoes!

Anyway, I hope you are able to get out the door and on the sidewalk to enjoy a great cigar with a little exercise. Let us know…

Coming soon, I plan on doing a contest for other fellow TACFAW “players”…more details later!

Long ashes to ya!

Tommy Berry, Jr.

The last Kuba Kuba I smoked was a maduro in Nicaragua and it was the last cigar of the day (about the 8th). It was not a bad cigar! Once the saccharine sweetness on the wrapper disappeared, that is. The Kuba Kuba is probably one of Drew Estate‘s best selling cigars, and I recall Marvin Samel telling a story of hearing that Johnny Depp was seen buying some Kuba Kuba’s and passing them out on a movie set and Marvin sent him a box. There was a similar story about Steven Tyler. Also, there was a news article about the Cuban government suing Drew Estate over the use of Kuba in the name. How many of us ever thought the Acid Kuba Kuba might be a Havana cigar? Pretty laughable….

I took a Diesel Unholy Cocktail for about a 2 mile walk last night that Tommy very kindly sent me a few weeks ago. It was a fine cigar, I really like the flavor of the Pennsylvania broadleaf wrapper. This one could have produced more smoke, but it was enjoyable none the less, and I deeply appreciate the gift! Thanks to Tommy for the cigar and for your contributions! As nice as it is to lounge around with a nice cigar, it doesn’t hurt to do some walking along with it. I keep thinking about my visit to the Vulcan Masaya volcano in Nicaragua and how I probably would have struggled with the 177 steps to the observation area had I not been a fairly avid walker.

Don’t forget we have a contest going where someone can win a box of Oja Meztizo Artefactos courtesy of Luis of Oja Cigars! Submit a patriotic picture link in the comments of the last post (http://www.cigarcraig.com/?p=1892) for a chance to win! Also, pay a visit to Stogieboys.com and check out their selection.

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

1 Comment

Filed under Contest, Guest Review, Take a Cigar For a Walk

Tagged as Acid, cigar, cigars, Contest, drew estate, general, JR Cigars, Kuba Kuba, Montecristo, Take A Cigar For A Walk

by CigarCraig | June 15, 2011 · 8:05 pm

Cigars So Far This Week: Rocky Patel, Oja,Hoya de Monterrey, 601 La Bomba

Off to a good start this week, I mailed my application for an Internet Media Membership for the IPCPR, in hopes of attending the trade show next month in Las Vegas. As I previously reported, I made my reservations over the weekend, so that part is already taken care of. I look forward to attending with the appropriate credentials, as well as seeing a lot of old friends and meeting a bunch of friends I haven’t yet met!

So, I started the week with a gifted Rocky Patel torpedo, a dark cigar with a secondary band identifying it as a Fusion MM. Information was hard to come by on this cigar, but I surmise that it is a Maduro Maduro, judging by both the flavor and the MM on the band. I received this cigar in a package from Tommy Berry, who I told that it was MY job to send cigars, not his! Kids these days, they never listen! Thanks for a tasty treat in this cigar! I don’t smoke a lot of RP cigars, not for any reason really, they just never seem to appear in my humidors. This dark cigar took a few clips to get past a pretty tight bunch at the foot, but it burned and drew nicely after I found the right spot. Chocolaty and smooth, it was all I look for in a maduro cigar. It was good for a walk to the store, and another 45 minutes or so on the front porch upon my return.

The next cigar so far this week was another sample from Oja Cigars, from Nicaragua. I mentioned before meeting Luis, the manufacturer of these cigars, at Cigar Safari and he was kind enough to send me some samples. This example was a powerhouse, strong, dark flavors in the 6″ x 50 toro with what I believe to be a Brazilian wrapper. I’ll get into more details after I’ve had a chance to enjoy more of these, and keep an eye on this name, and watch for a chance to win some of these here in the not too distant future.

In the “New Inmates in the Humidor” department, I used my Groupon for Stogieboys.com last week to purchase a box of Hoyo de Monterrey Sabrosos in Maduro. The transaction went well, and I received the box in two days. The Hoyos are an old-school petit corona, and I fired on up after a week’s rest. It was a nice smoke that will smooth out with some age. It had the sort of mouth coating feel that licorice gives, and was a nice little smoke. I had to wait until I made some room in the coolerdor before placing the order, but the little box of maduro beauties fit in very nicely. These will be a very nice smoke for the winter “Take A Cigar For A Walk” times, as 5″ x 40 is a very manageable quick smoke.

Tonight, as I’m writing this, I’m smoking a 601 La Bomba which I received a few weeks ago in a little box along with a 601 and a Murcialago, both of which I’ve enjoyed thoroughly in the past. This cigar, measuring a nearly perfect 5½” x 46, has a long tail on the cap, reminiscent of a firecracker. A harbinger of things to come? I think so. This cigar was a chore to light, it very stubbornly took the flame, but when it was lit, it assailed the taste buds with a ton of spicy cigar goodness. It grabs you by the collar and demands your attention. If I were to guess, I’d say that this is loaded with ligero, as it slapped me around the block, and went out easily if ignored for too long. Every re-light was almost a pleasure though, as that strong, spicyness stayed with this cigar to the end. I’m working on nubbing this one, as I beads of sweat begin to form on my brow. As cool as this cigar is visually with the long tail, that is soon gone, and the real fun begins. Perfect burn and draw, and tons of smoke. A clear winner in the taste and power department.

Well, it’s time to test the theory that sugar cures a case of the nic-sweats and grab a glass of sweetened iced tea before mowing the lawn, don’t expect straight lines in the grass after the last cigar! It’s a good thing I have a small yard and it’s not too hot out! Many thanks to Tommy, Luis and Eddie for thesse cigars, and I hope to see at least two of you in Vegas in a few weeks. I also hope to finally meet Jose Blanco, whom I just learned (story here) is retiring from La Aurora. I’m sure he’ll be sorely missed there, but I doubt he’ll disappear from the cigar world for long!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Filed under Editorial, Review

Tagged as cigar, Cigar Safari, cigars, general, hoyo de monterrey, La Aurora, maduro, Oja, rocky patel, Take A Cigar For A Walk

by CigarCraig | June 10, 2011 · 9:14 pm

Take A Cigar For A Walk: Tommy Berry and the La Gloria Cubana Serie N

Here’s another installment of Tommy Berry Jr’s exercise in exercise, otherwise known as “Take A Cigar For A Walk”!

Today was a great day, I received a package in the mail from General Cigar that contained my winnings from a recent ‘La Gloria Cubana Serie N’ photo contest. I usually let my smokes rest for awhile after traveling across the country, but today…I grabbed one of the LGC Serie N – JSB’s and hit the pavement for a walk during my lunch break. I work downtown, and there is no excuse for me to not chose to take a walk any day. I sit in an office all day and today I decided to get up and do some walking!

The LGC ‘N cigar is a rather strong, full body smoke and they have not let me down yet. I lit this sucker and immediately smelled the (fancy word here…) “greatness” this cigar has to offer. The flavor profile was busy, but I will let your own senses detect what you get from yours…but nonetheless, this one has many great aromas and flavors while smoking. I walked around the downtown Tyler area and with the nice weather, I really enjoyed smoking this cigar. I can say that it had no bad aftertaste, stayed lit well, drew pretty hard but overall it is one of the best LGC cigars I have had since they changed them many years ago. Now the ‘N has only been around about eight months or so, but I still choose this cigar as my favorite all around LGC.

The walk was great too…I enjoyed the scenery and the weather. I got my exercise in for the day while walking the 75+ minutes. I have boot camp on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays…so I try to get a walk in on the other days to help with my weight loss. If you have been reading my posts for some time, you’d know that I started taking a cigar for a walk to help me get off my rear and start to lose the 150+ pounds of excess weight that I have put on my body over the years. With this “walk plan”, boot camp (my Marine Sgt. Is whipping my rear-end) and by eating right…as of this past Monday (6-6), I have lost a total of 20lbs! Thats got me pretty excited…and more reason to get my cigar walks in every other day or so.

So, if you have been trying to walk with a cigar, and are struggling…know that it does make a difference in many areas of your life. I mean, come on! Who wouldn’t enjoy a fine smoke…let alone knock out a good smoke and some exercise all in one? I ask you to get up out of that computer chair…and take that cigar thats in your mouth…for a walk! You can do it!

Long ashes to ya!

Tommy Berry, Jr.

Great to hear that Tommy’s lost 20 pounds! I’m sure the boot camp is doing wonders, but the activity along with the reward of a fine cigar is helping with the motivation! Keep up the great work! I love the LGC Serie N, it’s a wonderful cigar, and I had the great pleasure of taking part in their Webcast for Serie N Day a few months back. The presentation is excellent, but the cigar is even better! That dark, oily wrapper is a thing of beauty and the lighter colored “N” applied to the wrapper exhibits an attention to detail that carries through to the rest of the cigar. A serious winner! Take a look on the Team La Gloria site to see Tommy’s winning photo which he referenced above, I tried to link to it here, but couldn’t figure out a way! Silly Flash!

That’s it for now! Until the next time,

CigarCraig

Watch for a new discount code from StogieBoys.com coming soon.

3 Comments

Filed under Guest Review, Take a Cigar For a Walk

Tagged as cigar, cigars, general, general cigars, La Gloria Cubana, Take A Cigar For A Walk

by CigarCraig | June 8, 2011 · 7:21 pm

Guest Take A Cigar For A Walk Review: Tommy Berry and a Pirates Gold!

Here’s another update from our intrepid TACFAW (Take A Cigar For A Walk) reporter, Tommy Berry:

Hello folks! I hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend…I know I did and got to do some fishing with the kids…as well as smoke several great cigars. One in particular that I want to review is the “Pirate’s Gold Rothschild” that I smoked this weekend during a walk. I received this cigar from a friend of mine over at Cigarworld.com. I had never heard of these before, so I knew nothing about them. After a little research, I found that they are priced between $1-$1.50 each, what a value. I like value sticks sometimes, but the key word there is “sometimes”. Most companies think they need to cut back on body and flavor to hit the “cheap cigar” mark. I can tell you that the folks that made this one did no such thing…it was great. With its Robusto size, Ecuador wrapper and Nicaraguan and Brazilian filler…it was a great little smoke!

I began my walk just after lighting it. It smelled awesome, as this one had some age on it per the sender. It stayed lit without any problems, lasted me a good 90 minutes to the nub…and yes, I smoked this sucker down to the nub. Overall, I really enjoyed and would recommend this smoke. I see that you can find these at a few places sometimes for a 20 pack, less than $20! I’d try another!

I started boot camp last week and it is killing me…but I am loving it! This Marine (and she’s a tough lady) is exactly what I have needed! She is also really helping me out with my diet…and I am still eating good, just added some things and took away a few others that I can live without. I can already tell the difference. I will give you more information on it once I get through a few weeks…if I survive.

We had some delays on our home purchase, however it is still moving forward and we hope to be in the new home by the end of June. I will be sure to keep you posted!

Craig, thank you for allowing me this time…you do great work and I appreciate it!

Long ashes to ya!

Tommy

Thanks Tommy, and I’m glad to hear that the Boot Camp is working for you! Look forward to hearing more about your progress! As far as the home buying goes, if it is meant to be it will happen. Usually the way it works is that the deal may fall through, and the next week you’ll see on the news it blew up in some strange methane explosion or something. What will be, will be! You’ll be thrilled when it happens!

I grabbed a Puro Indios Viejo toro for my walk, thinking that this cigar is a cousin of sorts to the Pirates Gold. I’ve enjoyed these in the past, and they are usually dirt cheap. This one smoked like it was dirt cheap, but the flavor was good. I always liked the Puros Indios flavors, but back in the ’90s they were known for being plagued with construction issues. “Dowel Rod” and “Tent Peg” were frequent comparisons. This one had a loose enough draw, bu the smoke production was just off, as if it was over-humidified, which would be strange since I smoke out of the same humidor all the time. Anyway, after my walk, about half way through it straightened itself our and was an acceptable smoke. If you can find these for $20 -$25 a bundle go for it, especially in the corona size, they are a bona fide value.

Contest Winners!

I’m sorry to say that of the 8 entries in this weeks contest, only 5 are eligible per the rules. The lucky recipients of the C-Gars Ltd. Ring Gauge Guides as chosen by the random number generator on Random.org are Chris McCann and none other than Tommy Berry (whom I couldn’t think of a good reason to disqualify!). I should have both of your addresses around here someplace, so I’ll drop these in the mail tomorrow (unless you want to help me out with an e-mail and save me some digging)! Thanks to all who entered. I am planning to have another nice cigar contest in the next couple weeks, so stay tuned!

That’s it for now. Thank again to Tommy Berry Jr. for his contribution, and, as always, I wish him the best of luck in his various endeavors! Keep it up, man!

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

Watch for a new discount code from StogieBoys.com coming soon.

1 Comment

Filed under Guest Review, Take a Cigar For a Walk

Tagged as cigar, cigars, Pirates Gold, Puros Indios, Stogie Boys, Take A Cigar For A Walk

by CigarCraig | June 5, 2011 · 11:22 am

Cigar Adventures: NYC, an Alec Bradley New York, a Partagas, a Fuente and a Contest!

Last Tuesday was a day we had been looking forward to for some time. We, once again, had the honor and privilege of being on the guest list for a New York City Dinner Cruise hosted by our friend Mitchell Orchant of C-Gars Ltd. Mitchell is an old friend. We first “met” through an e-mail and continued through the alt.smokers.cigars usenet group back in the ’90s. We met face to face at a little herf in Vegas in 1999 known amongst those in the usenet world as “Boondoggle III“, which was held at the MGM Grand over a 3 day span. This event comprised about 300 people who only knew one another through the wild west of the internet, an oddity at the time! Anyway, we’ve been to Mitchell and his wife’s wedding in London, we’ve taken them sight-seeing in NYC, and been friends for a long time. Mitchell has taken to hosting this dinner cruise every year, which I reported on last year, which spends a couple hours cruising around Manhattan, with beautiful views of the skyline, the bridges, and the Statue of Liberty. I thought it would be appropriate to enjoy an Alec Bradley New York Robusto, which I had picked up at De La Concha on my last visit to the city. This is a very nice cigar! This was created for the ridiculously highly taxed New York State shops, designed to give the local tobacconists a little more margins in hopes that they can stay open!! Anyway, it’s a good cigar, pick some up if you see them in New York and support the oppressed businesses in the state.

Back to the event. In attendance were Marc Aub and Mike DaVersa of Brothers of the Leaf, LLC, makers of Palio cutters and Esencia cigars, whom I had met last year and seen at the IPCPR show last July. Always a pleasure to chat with Marc, who’s as passionate as they come about his products. Mitchell is the UK distributor for Palio Cutters, and just became the UK distributor for Arturo Fuente cigars, so, in addition to the fine Bolivar Belicoso Finos in the goody bag, there was a Fuente Hemingway Signature as well. These happen to be 2 of my all time favorite cigars that I rarely get to enjoy.We also got to catch up with some other old friends, Karen from Albany, George from South Jersey and even Barry from California. I finished the night off with a Partagas Petit Coronas Expeciale from a box I had been waiting to arrive at cruise time last year. I’ve really been digging these cigars and hope that the exchange rate comes down a little in the future so that I can get another box one day! I was even able to gift Mitchell a cigar, something that’s pretty rare as he always declines. I had an extra Partagas Serie P No.2 that I got at his wedding coming up on 5 years ago. The Hunters and Frankau rep was handing these out at the reception, and Mitchell’s dad insisted I get an extra to take home. I figured this would be a fitting “thank you” for the nice things he does for us. At the end of the night Mitchell opened a box of Opus X Perfecxion X and passed it around, to cap off the evening.

Contest!

One of the neat items in the goody bags, was a ring gauge guide. I managed to score a couple spares and will send one to a random reader who leaves a comment. Heck, these will be cheap to mail, make that two! So leave a comment to enter and see the rules on the winners and rules page, and I’ll make this one a short one and announce a winner on Wednesday if all goes to plan. Give Mitchell’s site a visit when you get a chance and see all the neat stuff he’s got. Also look for a mention of his book in the latest Smoke Magazine!

LAst night I selected a Fuente Anejo 50 that had been kicking around the box for a while now, maybe 4 years. It was the first of this line that I’ve smoked and boy was it tasty. It started a little slow, but it built into just the kind of cigar I like. It had the nice, dark flavors I like and just the right level of nicotine. Goes with out saying that it was well made, as it’s a Fuente. I know these are pricey and availability is spotty, but if you have the chance, smoke one, I don’t think you’ll have any regrets. I selected this in honor of Mitchell’s a fore mentioned acquisition of the Fuente distributorship in the UK.

That’s it for now! We have an update from Tommy Berry coming up next time, so until then,

CigarCraig