Djarum special

(long post time, may have to edit formatting after submission)
hey yall. been battling a broader nicotine addiction for far too long, hoping to come out of it after a month or 2, i fucked up and ended up buying a few packs in the wake of a relapse :(. i've managed to taper to less than daily consumption (aiming for no more than biweekly at this point) after managing to quit for almost 2 weeks sometime last month. it's a fucked up, nasty plant but due to the circumstances i have gained much wisdom regarding its material nature and the curse it can bring. i'm sure some of yall will appreciate this. the cigar version of djarums are considered as well.
consider the information contained below to be far from objective, and inherently rooted in personal experience, we've all got different tastes now. anything that could be construed as anti-smoking is directed toward the human writing this (hello!) and not the one(s) reading this.
here i go
S TIER:

• american spirit black (perique):

the cajun pesticide leaves have their own bite, almost like a spicy barbecue. about a 10-15 minute smoke when relaxed. the smell of the blend is almost skunky, both in the pack and the pouch of loose baccy. a perfect death dart in both taste and burn length. my poison of choice for my adult life, i've had so many that any other words i could describe them with are buried deep within my grody lungs. the best filtered cigarette, unquestionably.

• djarum special:

don't you feel special stinking up the whole place? a bit sweeter than the djarum black, but still a fairly heavy smoke, due to the inclusion of clove. it's a bit hard to describe, both sweet and bold. the post-flavor ban cigar version burns for almost 30 minutes. a tube to help manifest the goth-adjacent lady who does not really care for hair dye or any other cosmetics inside of us.

• american spirit brown (non-filter):

these are just absurd. the strongest manufactured cigarette, possibly on all of earth. if you want to inhale this leaf, nothing more, nothing less, this is the cigarette. it burns for damn near 20 minutes, with a slow, gradual buzz personally delivered to you by whatever mildly depraved extra-dimensional force or deity rooted and nurtured these photosynthesized pesticides. it will kick your ass regardless of whether you smoke one or 20 in a day. when i smoked over a pack of these a day, i would cough up some disgusting stuff. the best unfiltered cigarette.

• camel (non-filter):

with darts like these it's no wonder why they call themselves the "greatest generation". the first note, before a light is that of a sweetener. that is true! frighteningly smooth 7 minute smoke, with just enough of buzz. the buzz is always instant. a treat, priced to match. when i have smoked these i almost forget it's tobacco until the phlegm comes back up hours later. i did not smoke these regularly for that very reason.

• pall mall famous cigarettes (classic non-filter):

less sweet than the camels, and tastes a bit more like tobacco as a result. about as strong as the black american spirits, and a longer smoke than the camels at around 10 minutes. the og hipster cigs.
A TIER

• lucky strike (non-filter):

make no mistake, these are toasted! a quick 5 minute smoke that is all flavor. i've had maybe 2 packs of these lit with a zippo, by golly i do not remember much else. the flavor is just as good as the other unfiltered cigs produced by r.j. reynolds. preferred to not inhale these.

• camel wides (filters/red):

a thick ciggy with all the high fructose corn syrup one comes to a camel expecting. sweet, pleasant, serviceable. good all around, with a decent burn time as well.

• winston red:

i am just now trying these on my way out. winston tastes like a cigarette. has a very neutral cigarettey taste, without any of the even less pleasant undertones which mar some that will follow. it burns incredibly quick, but it is certainly the best in its price range. true to the leaf too, which is always appreciated.

• american spirit blue (full flavor):

just your average cigarette, similar to the winstons but the blend is a bit different. the constricted air flow common to american spirits starts to become a minor nuisance here, but has never really bothered me. i will trade a big open air flow for a 15 minute burn time any day.

• dunhill international red:

another additive free cigarette! always 100s, not as tight as american spirits, burns much slower than winstons. they are the most expensive cigarette i have ever seen, moreso than the r.j.r. unfiltered cigs. most remarkable thing is the price tag, but make no mistake, nothing about dunhills are unremarkable. ordinary taste, extraordinary packaging.

• kamel red:

i swear they just put a filter on the camel non-filter for these.
B TIER

• djarum black:

i might not be goth enough for these. they are a good clove, a bit harder to smoke than the djarum specials. seems a bit heavier on the clove than the specials. have tried the wide variant, which is much the same.

• american spirit yellow (light):

i normally do not care for light cigarettes, but these are the exception. still more nicotine than your standard full flavor cig, that might have something to do with it. i would generally fall back to these when the black american spirits became too much. over 10 minute burn time, as to be expected with spirits.

• newport box (menthol):

down here in yeehaw sprawl this is the closest you can get to breathing in cold air for 345 or so days of the year. also frighteningly smooth.

• camel turkish royal/camel turkish red:

has the distinct added sweeteners as with all other camels, but the turkish tobacco is absolutely the dominant flavor here. smooth. the recent camel turkish reds are similar enough but not exactly the same despite saying turkish royal in print on the stick. placing both here, together.
C TIER

• marlboro red:

this is it? the standard to which all cigarettes are judged against for so many? i can down one of these in like 3 minutes and all i will taste is pepper and formaldehyde. the peppery bite, lingering chemical taste and instantaneous nicotine rush leaves me to believe there is some foul play here. when i was just wanting nicotine and did not want to shell out for spirits i would just be like "canneye getuhhhhhhh marbo red?", and would be disappointed every single time. looking back i should have just got winston reds instead.

• newport red/lucky strike red:

quick and dirty (very dirty). newport reds were my budget smoke for a bit back in 2014, and back then they had a very prominent chemical flavor to them. they did the job. the recent lucky strike reds that were released are supposedly the same, but did not have as much of a chemical taste as the pack of newport reds i had back in 2014. this might just be due to a variance in the floor sweeping paper or something. both are sub-5 minute burns.

• l&m red:

like a marlboro red, but with more chemical flavorings. not bad for the price.

• american spirit maroon/turquoise (100% organic blend):

heavy, heavy. closer to a cigar than a cigarette. inhaling this is uncomfortable for me. great when smoked without inhaling!
D TIER

• parliament full flavor (silver box):

tastes about the same as a marlboro red, but with an unconventional filter and more dollars spent. might burn for slightly longer.

• pall mall red:

tastes like a budget cig (it is), burns like a dunhill. not great.

• marlboro light:

with the reds, i can taste some tobacco amongst the chemicals. with these i taste more paper than i do tobacco, with the same amount of chemicals as the reds. not for me, as with most lights.
F TIER

• pyramid/maverick/basic:

like smoking formaldehyde. only the ghouls may know what truly resides in those tubes, and that's quite a frightening thought.

• american spirit orange (ultra light):

yeah no. just go outside and breath. it will do almost the same exact thing.
that's what i can remember. i don't remember the taste of all i have been given by others or the 2-3 saratogas i smoked when i was way too young. i've got some american spirit non filters and some winston reds and once those are gone i'm out, hopefully for good this time. i don't really care you stay lit or extinguished i just wish for every last one of you to take care of yourselves, please.

I used to be able to get them from primewholesale but now they won't ship to california... Thompson cigars has been ok but prices have raised a lot. Any non bitcoin suggestions?

I just couldn't get used to cigarettes, but I tried Djarums Blacks and I've been hooked on those and the Specials for 3 years.
Also not sure how bad my lungs are compared to cig smokers. I always inhale, and I smoke about 3 a day.

Djarum Coklat: my usual cig. if you've ever eaten bitter fruit, it taste like that. a pack: 1usd.
Gudang Garam Merah: my ex-usual cig. it burns my throat if I don't drink something with it. a pack: 1 usd.
Dji Sam Soe: my hanging out cig (with people who loitering around the street). a cig cost: 0.15 usd.
Wismilak (Wish Me Luck lol): just curious about the taste. nothing really interesting. the tobacco smells like tobacco, the cloves taste like cloves, idk if they use sauce at all. a pack 1usd.
Djarum Coklat Special edition: where the only special about it is its case. pretty standard. same as the normal version but I can keep my cigs from the rain. a pack 1.25usd.
Aroma: not sure how they target their market. but it's so thin like a cig with filter. a pack 1usd.
bought all of them from a shop 10 meters from my place. lol.

Hello, thought you might like to read this.
The first Autechre I ever heard was 2018's NTS Sessions. at the time, I was a somewhat obsessive follower of new music, and the idea of an 8-hour release from a legendary, obtuse group was something too intriguing to back away from.
You could say I liked it a lot. it felt to me like it was made out of the same interstellar material as music from Arca, Oneohtrix Point Never, and Holly Herndon. however, where those artists perhaps made the occasional venture into outer space, autechre were seemingly on a one-way trip into nowhere. the musical equivalent of voyager 1 and 2, hurtling out of our solar system into unfathomable depths.
After giving NTS a year or so to really sink in, I've decided to start from square one and go through every one of Autechre's LPs, with some bonus consideration of their non-album material. Here's what I thought of each one. This is sort of a review, this is sort of a notebook, this is sort of a conversation with you, the person reading this.
Incunabula 1993
Electro-heavy early music, stuff that obviously has inspired contemporary producers like Bicep and Kelly Lee Owens. This is classic, though; I get the feeling it's a fair bit underrated because of its accessible nature and relative lack of experimentalism. I love the killer melody of "Bike" along with its excellent b-section. Some of the synth sounds here are a little primitive, but more often than not they really manage to weave enchanting webs of sound. "Eggshell" has a magical quality to it... the silvery hi-hats... so does "Windwind". "Lowride" feels inappropriate as an Autechre song, but by god, if it doesn't draw me in with its synth melody and dusty piano sample. Not the most impressive album as a whole, but several of these songs are classic electro cuts in my opinion. Out of context, a very valuable electro album, maybe close to a classic of the genre?
Amber 1994
Extraterrestrial explorations - excursions on the surface of a foreign planet not too far away from home. Intoxicating in its twisted familiarity - the humanity feels so close, but already so far away.
I really like the idea of treating Autechre's discography like a space journey, one that has slowly led them further and further away from home. It seems to me like the purpose of the Autechre project is to throw humanity in sharp relief by trying to get as far away from it as possible. Lots of people say Autechre's music is inhuman and emotionless: to this, I say no. Other people say it IS human, and it's emotional. However, I still disagree slightly. To me, this music is exploring the emotions of the inhuman. It's a human fear, sure - but it's one of the murkiest human fears, being so closely tied to the ineliminable belief that we are human. It's the fear of being alone on a deserted planet - the fear of what roamed the earth before us, or what will take up our mantle once our people and our history have faded away. To me, the emotion of the inhuman is the same thing that inspires our aerospace missions - the unknown frightens us and excites us in equal measure.
Please excuse me for that tangent. Back to Amber, which from my distant familiarity with Autechre's discography I can safely assume is the first, closest-to-home of these extraterrestrial expeditions. This really does feel like their debut album to me in many ways. That's not to write off Incunabula, just to suggest that with Amber Autechre sort of made a lateral move into something different. Most of this is still electro, but it feels a LOT more conceptual. It's probably a fair bit out there compared to Incunabula too. "Montreal" is an electro tune like "Bike", but "Montreal" is a lot more harmonically mysterious I'd say. Those skittering hi hats are awesome too. Amazing how early on Autechre was trying crazy shit like that, and how effective it manages to be.
Honestly, I think this is just beautifully melodic more than anything. This record really sums up their melodic side to me, more than Incunabula and more than any of their later work I've heard so far. "Slip" is amazing. "Further" is an unsettling track that casts a tall shadow. "Yulquen" has me feeling chill as fuck watching the alien sunset in my mind. And finally, "Nil" towers above every song here.
Intensely visual, with memorably Real artwork and accessible visions of the unfamiliar vistas of an adjacent planet. I think I'll recommend this album to anyone asking me where to start.
(HUGE tip, check out upsammy if you like Amber. Her debut record from 2019 is similar - icy alien electro at patient tempos. First four songs are great.)
Tri repetae 1995
Three albums in and I'm already gripped by the familiar excitement I have learned to associate with new Autechre experiences. This one is further out than Amber, for sure. I can feel the acceleration starting to set in.
However, I have to admit I'm perhaps the tiniest bit underwhelmed by this one - or, to clarify, the world of this album seems less interesting than the one of Amber.
This one is harsher and sparser for sure, if still habitable - there's still a clear through line back to Incunabula's electro, with no NTS mindfucks in the picture yet. However, I remember Amber being much smoother in a timbral sense; tracks like "Clipper" and "Rotar" make use of gravelly, tinny static that I didn't encounter much in past releases.
I do like "Stud" a lot. It's got a charming bassline that, for sure, is one of the warmer things on the record, but since this is Autechre this tune is still plenty cold and uninviting. The dubby synth echoes go really well with the grainy percussion here. "Eutow" definitely made an impression on me - that divebombing bassline is hard to forget, and to me this feels like one of the most explicit heaters in their discography so far, which is definitely notable as a departure from ambient techno/electro. Most of all, I love "Overand." Has to be maybe my favorite Autechre song of the first few years. You can just imagine Thom Yorke's reaction to hearing this. (With love to Kid A, I'll never hear "Treefingers" the same way again knowing that "Overand" is a search away.) Jokes aside, this is a masterclass in "the emotions of the inhuman." I've never heard such a depiction of inhospitable beauty. This song sounds like it was made in a sub-freezing studio with the lights out. It gives me a feeling that is not quite like, but very similar to, the feeling you get when you step outside after a snowfall and just listen to the noise of nothing in the bitter air.
Overall, it's great, but what ultimately underwhelms me is the front end. Not a huge fan of "Leterel" in particular, it feels simplistic in comparison to "Silverside." The rest is mostly very good, and if it isn't downright-amazing, it's still suitably forward-thinking.
Chiastic Slide 1997
Further beyond, and certain textures are further materializing, while others continue to disintegrate. I'm thrilled listening to the opening suite of "Cipater" and "Tewe". That opener is incredible in every way - early shades of NTS, the way its progression unfolds in a certain computerized manner. The opening melodies are tailor-made to build tension, and the subsequent rhythmic portal you step through leads you to the harsh thicket of "Rettic AC" and the foreign fields of "Tewe". Again -- WHAT a way to open. This world is dense with cardboard, paper, and decaying plastic. It feels more rooted in place and texture than Tri repetae did, while still clearly continuing in a progressive musical direction. I think the most interesting thing about "Cichli" is how it feels redundant to an extent. (That said, it's a standout.) The second half is interesting, maybe less compelling, but overall Chiastic Slide feels like a marginally more successful excursion into dark, unvisited textural territories than Tri repetae. It's a more-or-less proportional increase in quality. The darkness is more well-defined here.
LP5 1998
Another big acceleration. This is probably my favorite so far. Actually, fuck that - definitely. Where each previous album had maybe one or two tracks that heavily pushed boundaries, I'd say about half of this album is that way. The cardboard sounds of Chiastic Slide are gone, traded in for a sleeker, wet-metal sound. Still very treble-heavy, which makes the whole thing sound super silvery and somewhat psychedelic. Not absent in bass, though - "777" thrums with a power that beats out any of their previous songs, including "Eutow".
Twin tracks "Rae" and "Fold4, Wrap5" are both incredible, and they illustrate this album's surprising predilection for harmonies. Both put warm, thin synths at the forefront, which in turn makes listening to the rhythms a much more subconscious experience. There's even a little étude in "Melve", something that with all my background knowledge I would have never expected to be on this album, and I'm glad it is.
But "Fold4, Wrap 5".... what a mindfuck. Easy enough to understand and communicate the rhythmic trick that gives the song its identity, which makes the effect it has all the more frustratingly brilliant. "Rae" is a masterpiece, too - deceptively normal at first, until a few minutes go by and the melancholy, jazz-tinged chords really start to lay their claim on the landscape of the song. Others - "Vose In", "Under BOAC", "Corc" especially - are less life-changing but still transfixing in their innovative takes on electronic music.
A theme really starts to develop for me on this one. By now, it's almost 2000. It's been five years since Warp and IDM started to take off, and it seems to me like time is marching forward. LP5 seems like a specialization, an exploration of a more specific world than ever before. It's comparatively bright, more so than Chiastic Slide or Tri repetae. It's more rhythmically experimental, playing with micro-rhythms and uncommon time signatures on a multitude of tracks. But most of all, I think what I take from this album is its unique relationship with tonality. This is a much sweeter album than maybe even Amber. "Drane2" is downright spiritual. For my money, this record has some of their most openly beautiful music so far. It definitely is something of a dead end, too, as Confield will surely represent the turning of a page.
Bonus EPs
Anti 1994
I listened to this right after Incunabula, and wound up liking it about just as much as the entire LP. "Djarum" really cuts right to the chase with that shrieking metallic sound. Feels more techno-oriented, and in a really boundary-pushing way; that bassline is totally dub-inspired, and gives the whole thing a cruel, hulking vibe. "Flutter" is beautiful, too, duh. Just a gorgeous melody, with more of the weightless percussion Incunabula has a lot. I really like how this EP seems to be a more concise, punchier take on Incunabula's slipstream electro.
Garbage 1995
Very unique, from the dubbed out "Garbagemx" (awesome) to the kosmische "PIOBmx" (interesting) to the ambient techno "Brunchusevenmx" (cool) to the sublime "Vletrmx". Another really good EP; I really like the opener and closer most of all.
Anvil Vapre 1995
I was not very enamored with this one. Don't remember it very well, and there doesn't seem to be much to grasp onto besides the Chris Cunningham art. "Second Peng" is a pretty cool proto-dubstep tune though.
Envane 1997
Similar story to Anvil Vapre really. Interesting tracks, but they suffer a lot without the comfy context of an album. "Draun Quarter" is pretty.
Cichlisuite 1997
A beautiful EP that I see as a precursor to LP5, in that it draws from Chiastic Slide's brightest track "Cichli" and makes a suite of high-tempo, paper-thin tunes. Both opening two tracks have addictively propulsive tempos that I can imagine would be deadly when paired with too much caffeine. "Characi" is playing a lot with the textures seen on LP5 tracks like "Vose In", and the melody is great. "Krib" is either adequately fun or adequately annoying, depending on how you feel about the goofy synth melody. "Tilapia" is one of those tracks - like "Nil" or "Rae" - that immediately makes a case for itself as a beautiful standalone song. A beautiful little tune that mirrors what you could call LP5's lightweight techno-optimism.
EP7 1999
A super interesting grab bag of HEAVY autechre tunes that are clearly a year or so past LP5 - in fact, if it weren't for Confield, I bet this could have been viewed as more of a departure. The sounds on this release are a world away from Tri repetae. I want to stay and look around, but I've got to get going to Confield. Totally a cool place to be for an hour though. If you want, tell me I should go back to this one.
Current ranking

1. LP5
2. Amber
3. Chiastic Slide
4. Tri repetae
5. Incunabula

A friend of mine agreed to bring me some, but she needs to know where to go. If anyone can give a suggestion or two, it would be much appreciated!

I am an every day pot smoker, but enjoy the tobacco buzz from time to time, especially when I am drinking alcohol. I smoke djarum black sometimes, and have bought a few packs of those over the years, they are easy, i guess because of the cloves. But, when my friends offer me a drag of a regular cigarette, I usually try, but typically end up coughing, which is a little bit embarrasing.
Is there a special technique that I am missing? What is the difference between inhaling a cigarette, and inhaling a joint?

Hi everyone!
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Long time lurker, first time poster. (hope no-one takes offense to my username)
Decided to join you fine people thanks to your info on kretek/clove cigarettes.
I have ordered from CigaretKretek last year, just a couple packs. They came through fine, if kind of late.
Lately me and the boys have had a hankering for kretek again though, so we decided to order some.
Been a week or two since i recieved the orders, only getting around to posting this now though.
​
This time i decided to try Ciggiesworld, and after that found out about JTExpress.
After i told one of the boys about JTExpress we went "what the hell" and ordered there too.
I ordered into mainland europe and let me definitively say everything came through!
I have yet to have a problem with any of these services, especially JTExpress is very quick.
​
Through emailing JTExpress i convinced em to let me sample 10 different packs instead of 5 choices of 2 packs (though they didn't seem happy about it, oops)
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Here's the eyecandy everyone :)
(f = filtered, u = unfiltered)
[Ciggiesworld] Left to right: Dji Sam Soe (u), Gudang Garam Special de Luxe (u), Gudang Garam Signature (f), Gudang Garam Merah (u), Djarum Coklat (f), Gudang Garam International in can (f), Gudang Garam Surya Exclusive (f), Wismilak Green (u), Gudang Garam Djaja (u), Chungwa (f), Djarum Coklat (u), Djarum 76 Gold (f), Dji Sam Soe Magnum (f), Apache (f), Dji Sam Soe Super Premium (u), Djarum Super (f), Gudang Garam Klobot (u)
​
[JTExpress] These are all filtered. Left to right: Hi-Chew Candy Sampler (kinda like starburst lol), one carton of Wakaba filter cigarettes (my buddy's order), Gudang Garam Signature Mild, Marlboro Red, Djarum Super, Bohem CigarMojito Double menthol, Mevius Option Purple 8mg, Mevius Option Red 8mg, Gudang Garam Signature Mild Menthol, Gudang Garam Nusantara Mild, Kool Boost Double Menthol/flavored, Gudang Garam Nusantara Menthol mild.
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overview
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(double) dutch angle overview :)
I plan on posting reviews of all of these (except Chungwa, Gudang Garam International & Marlboro Red, as those are gifts/specific orders) in the very near future.
I highly reccomend these sites. Be aware that with a large order at Ciggiesworld they split up the order into multiple packages (i think to ensure it gets through customs) so you do pay shipping for each package.
​
As far as JTExpress, they have a max order amount of 2 cartons at first, with a max of 4 cartons after that.
The understanding is that it's for personal use only. Since this order my buddy who ordered the Wakaba's has ordered two more cartons.
(which have arrived today without any hiccups)
If you have specific questions or want a review on any of these, just post below, i'll be glad to comply.
the wakaba's really are good smoke tho japanese smoke wow very nice

As the title says I have more or less been a daily smoker for the last 50 days. Prior to that I occasionally smoked the filtered cigar version of Djarums. But with those it was maybe one or two a week at most.
I have yet to re-buy any particular pack and am trying to get a decent understanding of whats out there.
Here is what I've had so far (more or less in order):
- Djarum Specials (cigar version)
- Djarum Black Cherry (cigar version)
- Djarum Splash (cigar version)
- Djarum Bhali Hai (cigar version)
- Winston Black 100s
- Marlboro Blend no. 27
- Marlboro Southern Cuts
- Camel Filters (red)
- Kamel Reds
- Natural American Spirits Turquoise
- Black Devil Special Flavor
- Nat Sherman Select (Orange)
- Lucky Strikes (red, filtered)
- Parliament Light Menthol
- Marlboro Smooth
- Nat Sherman Classic (Blue)
I have a few more packs in my possession but have yet to try them yet. Oh and I've bummed the following types of friends to try them: Camel Royal Turkish Red, Marlboro 83s, Marlboro Light Menthol, NAS Light Green.
Thats a lot of smoking
A few of my favorites so far: Filtered Luckies, Southern Cut, Kamel Red.
Would love some recommendations of what else I should be trying.
Im in the US. So keep that in mind unless youre willing to do a trade or something.

Ran across somebody smoking a clove cigarette, and the smell brought back fond memories of club-life in the late-'80s. Wearing black, Smoking Djarum Specials or Kretek clove cigarettes and watching the endless parade of Gothdrama(Tm).
Googling around, I located two e-juice makers, but the reviews seem to be all over the place WRT quality, flavor, etc. :
https://www.tastyvapor.us/nicotine-liquids-custom-vg/kretek-clove-cigarette/ https://www.vaporfi.com/vape-juice/heavenly-clove.html
Anybody in ECR familiar with these, or have their own suggestions that replicate the flavor of Djarum Specials?

So last week I posted about how cheap and how wonderful the selection of cigarettes are here in UAE - with me even finding the much talked about Djarum blacks.
https://m.reddit.com/Cigarettes/comments/4w957i/holiday_finds/
I decided to go to the smoke shop again and pick up some more brands I can't buy at home.
http://imgur.com/bZxpoJZ
The Davidoff were nice, a bit like Bensons - just not Bensons. Of course, the heat here seems to change the flavours so I'll take them back home and see if they're any better in not so sunny London.
The Gauloises were nice, very light with no real flavour. Made a decent filler smoke but nothing too special.
Those Luckies though. Dear god they are f**king godly. Other than the recessed filter being a pleasant surprise (never seen these at home so it was great trying something different), the flavour was absolutely great.
While buying them, the Luckies also had some white with brown writing (similar to this one, but instead of blue it was brown). I was unsure what they were and can't seem to find anything on google about it.

As I was doing the review of my first festival and first camping process, I noted a small list of things I wish I had known about or done better then. Since we're gearing up for this again, I decided to share of few of those things with my fellow Wayhomies:
Crossing the Border: The US-Canadian border is a friendly, mostly time-wasting experience. You can minimize the time wasted crossing by a) Picking a friendly spot depending on where you are. I'm partial to the Peace Bridge at Buffalo because I hate coming through the traffic in the downtowns Niagara Falls, so given that b) Know when your rush hour times are. If you can miss those, then the only part you have to worry about is the crossing itself, which brings me to c) When asked, don't say you're going to a festival. I'm almost certain that will set you up for a check. Don't lie about where you are (say you're going up to Barrie for a show, or Lake Simcoe to do some camping), just don't mention the festival.
Money: The USD-CDN exchange rate is EXTREMELY beneficial for us going, and total dogshit coming back. As of this posting, it's 77.9% (you get 1.28 CDN for every $1), so keep your eye on these rates as we get closer. Also exchange your money at YOUR local bank BEFORE you come up. You can get your money changed up here, but the fees are bullshit. Once it's changed, USE IT ALL IN CANADA! The less you bring back, the better the value, because remember, coming back, you only get $.78 for each loonie.
 
Cellphones: Check with your carrier to see how your data and calls work. If you are AT&T, get the 30 day International plan. It's 120MB of data plus your calls etc for $30. Data roaming will fucking kill you DEAD, so don't forget to make that call to arrange it BEFORE you leave the country. As far as power is concerned, if you are not actively using your data to send or receive data, KEEP YOUR PHONE IN AIRPLANE MODE. This will help to suck ev-ery last milliamp out of your batter. Also, get power packs for your phone. The charging stations will be utter clusterfucks that should be avoided at all costs. If you take Vines, facebook posts etc,  
For the smokers: Let me make this easy for you: BUY YOUR SMOKES IN THE STATES!!!! Cigarettes are easily $8-12 (CONVERTED!) for a standard pack of Camels, and they only go up the more specialized you get. The ONE trade off is that packs of smokes in Canada come in sets of 25, but each smoke is slightly shorter than its American counterpart, so your mileage may vary when it comes to the number equaling the value. If you smoke cloves BUY THEM THERE!!!!! Unless you can get authentic kretek Djarum Blacks (preferably with import stamps intact) at your local smoke shop, pay the money. Yeah, you're going to pay $13 (CONVERTED!), but legit Blacks are like money at festivals. You can totally trade for other things.  
For the tokers: Without getting into too much specifics, what can't be seen or smelled, can't be found, if you're planning on carrying. Otherwise, stop off in Toronto (Montreal for those coming west from New England, and if it's on their path) and make arrangements. I hear there's plenty of ways via craigslist that are legit. I do also know that from experience ;)  
Boozers: This is a tough one. Beer is going to roughly price out this year BY THE CAN (should be about $7-8 either way), so if you're not trying to buy a case, you should be fine. If you're buying a case, get it in the States (and your mileage may vary on price) but if you're like me, you'll want to bring along some hard liquor. You are able to bring legally 1 liter of hard booze or a case of beer with you, so choose wisely!  
Gas: Plan on getting your gas in the States. Between the metric system and the fact that gas is WAY more expensive, you'll want to tank up just before you cross. If possible, do this on an Indian reservation so that you don't pay gas tax (Seneca Hawk res in Silver Creek, NY for the eastbound crowd, there's another in Massena, NY for those coming west, however the bridge in Cornwall is being REBUILT, so detour appropriately. Take no more than a five gallon tank, anything larger will arouse suspicions, and will also be completely unnecessary if you do not have a gas guzzler.

So, I've been asking around the local BM stores in Ottawa, but nobody seems to carry anything resembling a clove or kretek flavour. I've been looking for something similar in flavour to a Djarum Black or Special, but the closest I've been able to get is cinammon or anise (which I find just tastes like licorice.)
Anybody know of a supplier?
EDIT: Of course ten minutes after posting this I find someone who sells it. Tasty Vapor Kretek, found it on Gentlemen Reserve.

Not looking for Djarum Black or Djarum Special: the two most frequently stocked lines. The Djarum Super is stronger than the Special, and is the sentimental favorite smoke of a dear friend who never buys anything nice for himself. If you're in your smoke shop tonight picking up a deck of squares, check behind the counter and see if they stock Djarum Super (or Djarum Coklat if Supers are not available). If so, message me back here or PM me por favor.
If on the other hand you yourself are a tobacconist who stocks these items, or know a tobacconist who most assuredly does, likewise please make contact.
INB4 "you should take him a gift that won't kill him." I pick my friends, not their preferences. If you could see the delight this dopey little token will produce in his eyes you would understand.
Thankee kindly, fellow /Seattle folk.

Broadleaf, Zandblad & Candela
Broadleaf, Zandblad and Candela could not be more different, but all three produce interesting wrappers. We interview the experts about the tobaccos.
Daniel Núñez originates from the Dominican Republic and learned his skills by working his way up from the bottom. Individuals such as Ramón Cifuentes, Alfons Mayer or Edgar Cullman Sr. were his teachers. After many years in top positions in the cigar industry, he is now president of Global Tobacco Services S.A. in the Dominican Republic, and explains: “The name Connecticut for tobacco refers to the valley of the same name, and not to the US federal state.” The Connecticut River flows from New Hampshire via Vermont and Massachusetts to Connecticut, and more than half of the Broadleaf tobacco planted here comes from Massachusetts. Unlike the golden delicate Connecticut Shade that flourishes under huge cloths, the leaves of the Connecticut Broadleaf grow in the open air and are thicker, courser and sticky. Núñez knows the features that are characteristic of Broadleaf: “The leaf is dark brown, full-bodied and oily. Its aroma is very clean. Contrary to common opinion that Broadleaf produces an aggressive and powerful smoke, it is actually medium. It is also grown in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, and in each of these areas the aromas and strengths are naturally different.” Hendrik Kelner, master blender and managing director of Davidoff in the Dominican Republic, sees it like this: “For me, Broadleaf is medium to strong. Attempts have been made to plant this variety outside the United States, but with modest success. The organoleptic characteristics and the thickness of the leaves are based on the quality of the soil and climatic conditions as prevail (in summer) in the north-east of the USA.” He adds: “Broadleaf is planted for wrappers, but with low yields particularly in the lower levels, which are then used as binders and fillers. Characteristically it is sweet and medium strong on the palate, burns well and develops a white ash.” Christian Eiroa at Camacho largely shares Hendrik Kelner’s opinion: “I like the aroma of US Broadleaf. The same tobacco from other countries is not as good as the original from the Connecticut Valley. At Camacho, we actually no longer use Broadleaf, since the yield is small and the tobacco is accordingly quite expensive.” Karlheinz Diekmann, head of raw tobacco purchasing at Villiger Söhne estimates: “Depending on harvest and the skill of the farmer, about 20 to 30% can be used as wrappers for premium cigars and a further 20 to 40% of somewhat lower quality as wrappers for machineproduced cigars. What remains are binders and fillers. The Broadleaf produces an excellent binder for premium cigars. We use the tobacco, for instance, as wrapper for the Swiss brand Habana Feu.”
BACK TO THE FIELD
“The rather stunted bushes would probably not win a beauty competition”, says Daniel Núñez and Karlheinz Diekmann adds: “This sun-grown tobacco is cultivated at a lower plant population per unit of area order to allow the plant to develop large and heavy leaves. It also requires a different fertilizer to shade grown.” The fear is of pests such as blue mold and a fungus called brown spot, which can destroy entire fields within a couple of days. The critical point is in summer: “The saying is that August makes the tobacco.” Hendrik Kelner considers it worth mentioning that the summer days in Connecticut Valley have an average of 16 hours of sunshine. “These conditions for a rich photosynthesis produce fat leaves that are thicker in the upper layers of the plant. They also withstand a long fermentation process at high temperatures. In this way, the leaves become darker in a natural process.” “A broadleaf harvest is different to that for other tobacco varieties“, says Daniel Núñez, who points out one special feature: “It is a stalk cut harvest, the plant is cut 7 to 8 cm above the soil and stored in the drying barn in this form instead of being harvested leaf by leaf.” The harvest takes place three to four weeks after the topping of the plant, in which the tobacco blossom is removed, leaving each plant with 12 to 14 leaves. After wilting in the field for a couple of days, the tobacco bushes are impaled on wooden poles and air cured upside down.
After around six weeks, the leaves are removed from the stern and are ready for fermentation. Karlheinz Diekmann: “They are then sorted into six classes, tied into hands of approximately 20 to 25 leaves and placed in wooden boxes weighing 160 kg each. The boxes are then taken to the sweat room and kept at up to 46° C (115° F) for six weeks. After a cooling period, the tobacco is then placed in cartons to be stored for six to eight months until it matures.” At this point, however, the fermentation process is only three quarters finished. When the cigar manufacturer begins to process the tobacco years later, he starts a second fermentation until the desired degree of maturity has been achieved. It is the art of the fermentation master to bring out the highest qualities and the unique style of the Broadleaf tobacco. Daniel Núñez: “If you want Maduro wrappers, the leaves must go through a much more intensive fermentation at higher temperatures.” Nick Perdomo appreciates Broadleaf for its strong and earthy aroma. “In my opinion, it’s a strong tobacco, excellent for binders. Our Cuban Seed Sun Grown from Nicaragua has both a powerful aroma and a delightful sweetness, and it is mellow on the palate.” Broadleaf is used for inexpensive machine-made cigars such as the Backwoods by Altadis, as well as for masterpieces such as the Macanudo Gold Label, the Oliva Master Blend 3, the Rocky Patel Vintage Signature, the Carlos Toraño Signature, Griffin’s Maduro 500, the Tatuaje Gran Cojonú Reserva or the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Between the Lines.
ZANDBLAD – TEURER ALS SILBER
Zandblad is the Dutch name for the sand leaf, the lowest level of the tobacco plant. It flourishes thickly above high nutrient volcanic soil. The wind dusts the leaves with fine sand that sparkles if the leaves are held against the light. Since the sand leaf is screened by the upper part of the plant, it grows completely in the shade, producing a fine subtle silky structure and a mellow taste. Today, this treasure has almost become a rarity. The finest wrapper for a cigar is beyond doubt the Sumatra sand leaf, a rare tobacco variety that is only cultivated in extremely small quantities and for this reason is also known as “white burning gold”. This name is not the result of chance, since a kilogram of sand leaf is more expensive than a kilogram of silver. One of the best connoisseurs of this delicate spicy and peppery product is Thomas Klaphake, director of the cigar manufacturer De Olifant in Kampen, Holland: “Our cigars and cigarillos using Brazilian, Cuban and Javanese tobaccos with the Java Besuki binder are wrapped in the precious Deli sand leaf from Sumatra.” This Sumatra sand leaf is also found on small cigars by Davidoff, the Gold Seal Cigarillos by Djarum, the Cardenal Mendoza or the cigars and cigarillos by Justus van Maurik.
GREEN CANDELA
On the other side of the world, in Central America, the green Candela tobacco is produced. Although manufacturers of premium cigars do not as a rule appreciate it very much, its original color has its fans, particularly in the USA. Daniel Núñez explains why: “Candela is green because during the drying process the chlorophyll remains fixed in the leaves as long as they are still very green and fresh. Candela wrappers are harvested much earlier than other leaves; they are younger and thinner. Moreover, Candela is dried more quickly.” Nestor Plasencia, who grows Candela in Honduras, provides the details: “With selected thin leaves from the first priming, we fix the chlorophyll, i.e. the green pigment, in the leaf at high temperatures in the drying box. We begin at 30°C (100°F) and stop at 66°C (150°F). This process lasts 48 to 52 hours after harvest. ‘Normal’ cigar tobacco takes 30 days to mature and dry. After drying, the tobacco is so dry that we add humidity again. The leaves then go through the selection process. After this, they can already be used as wrappers.” For Daniel Núñez it is important to note that “with Candela, there is no fermentation whatsoever. It is fresh and there is a high concentration of nitrate and ammonia. The aroma is green, fresh, grassy.
The strength depends on the country of origin – for instance the tobacco from Nicaragua is stronger than that from Ecuador. At present, as far as I know, Candela is produced in Ecuador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. There are slight differences in color and taste.” Nick Perdomo does not like Candela: “Years ago, Candela was very popular in the United States, but today, it is mostly used for machine-made cigars. The aroma is not my taste. It simply has no strength, and so we don’t use it.” However, someone who particularly likes Candela is the feared tobacco beetle Lasioderma serricorne. Nestor Plasencia’s view is that “Candela has a toasted aroma, the taste is neutral, with the result that in the composition of the cigar one can concentrate on the binder and the filler. It is mild to medium and has a clean aftertaste.” Daniel Núñez: “Candela burns more slowly and usually has a pleasant white ash. It is rarely used in the premium sector, and demand has fallen over the last two decades.” The Candelas that come to my mind are one from the Blanco series by Kohlhase & Kopp (Germany), made by Altadis in the Dominican Republic, the Flor de Jalapa or the Arturo Fuente Double Claro. The innovator Dion Giolito is also experimenting with Candela. The nice thing about smoking cigars is that as you watch the smoke slowly drift and disappear, you can let your thoughts wander around the world. “Let the tobacco speak to you”, said Daniel Núñez and “when the tobacco smiles, you can practically see it.”
Disclaimer: This article is from a 2011 copy of CJ, as such, some info(mainly personnel) is dated.
TL;DR: Read it, learn something. You people want content. Here it is mother fuckers.

Okay everyone, this is my first official juice review so bear with me. Sherwin trinityvaporlounge was nice enough to send me a sample bottle of his newest flavor venture, Black Orange Clove! (My sample was zero nic, 50/50) Their website is here for anyone interested. Trinity description of the flavor:
"My venture in tobacco flavor has started and here is the result. Black and Mild is used with the aromatics of clove. I use Orange cream with clove since it is such a classic combination (think of mulled wine!). The flavors are all brought subtly together with the aromatic sweetness of Honeysuckle. This is a vape for clove lovers. However, even if you do not like clove, try it. The flavors are subtle yet complex and balanced. Yet you know this is a tobacco vape. Great vape and I need to give kudos to the wife (past Djarum smoker) for twisting my arm to make this. Came out great."
And now on to my part. The setup I tested it on was a Brass M16 Clone mech, fully Charged MNKE 18650 with a IGO-L Single coil with a 5/64th air hole. The coil is 4 wraps of 28awg coming in at about .8 ohms and a fresh wick with Peaches and Cream cotton.This is my go to device these days so I figured it would be a good tester.
Let me set the mood for you, here’s some background music! Being a teen in the mid to late 90’s I was heavy into the goth/industrial scene so cloves were a big deal. I smoked various types of Djarum’s off and on until about 1 yr and a ½ when ago when I started vaping full time and put down my last analogue. I used cloves as a treat (given their price) in the later years and only picked up a pack every once in a while. I started with Specials and soon moved on to Blacks which were my go to. I’ve also tried Splash and the OG internationals that came in a nice tin and were filter less (oh man, it burns just typing that, haha). I also picked up a few other brands here and there depending on what was available; mainly Xtra’s (can’t remember the brand).
In my early days of vaping I hunted far and wide for a good clove juice, but, alas, everything I tried was nowhere near what a real clove cigarette tastes like, everything was antiseptic in nature and borderline unvapeable. Nothing I tried had any tobacco notes to it or that family sweet and spicy flavor that you would expect, so after about 8-10 tries, I gave up and figured that this was just one of those flavors that didn’t translate to e-liquid. That is, until now…. I really didn’t know what to expect and was geared up for another disappointing clove attempt. Boy was I wrong, this stuff is seriously amazing. I opened the bottle and it smelled promising and filled up my dripper, took a big long pull and got punched in the face with that amazing nostalgic flavor and smell of Djarums and I was instantly transported back to my goth days. This is hands down the most realistic clove flavor I have ever had the pleasure of vaping. It is sweet and spicy with that little tobacco kick in the back ground and finishes off with a nice fruity and slightly floral finish. No one element over powers the other, the clove doesn’t taste like pure clove oil (like most others do) and the tobacco doesn’t over power. The orange cream just adds a tart smoothness to the blend and the honeysuckle gives you that little floral note and just the right amount of sweetness without being sugary. If you were ever a clove smoker, you need this flavor…. I seriously love this stuff. My wife and I went through more than half of the bottle I received in about 2 hrs. I had to put it away because I have a few friends that were curious about it, otherwise I guarantee you it would be gone! Kudos to Trinity on a job well done, amazing liquid, tons of flavor, fabulous vapor and decent throat hit! Hats off to you!
tl;dr – Awesome realistic clove flavor, if you like clove, get it, get it NOW! :-D

The fine folks over at Cigar Advisor have decided to give us an Cigars exclusive discount! They have taken a lot of time to figure out how to structure it and have decided to give us a 15% off any order over $50 (excluding the items in the list below.)
Link- [Cigar Advisor](www.cigaradvisor.com) Code: RCIGARS
They set up an account to help us solve any issues or answer any questions we may have. The username is CigarAdvisor.
There are very few exclusions and what excites me the most that a majority of the brands we love are available!
Exclusion List
BRANDS

• Al Capone Small
• Antonio Y Cleopatra
• Arturo Fuente (All)
• Avanti
• Avo (All)
• Backwoods
• Black & Mild By Middleton
• Blackstone By Swisher
• Bolivar
• Braniff
• Cafe Creme
• Camacho (All)
• CAO (All)
• Captain Black
• Cheyenne (All)
• Cohiba (All)
• Coronado
• Criss Cross Heavy Weights
• Criss Cross Pipe Tobacco
• Cusano 18 (All)
• Dannemann
• Davidoff (All)
• De Nobili
• Djarum Little
• Djarum Wood Tip
• Don Diego
• Don Lino Havana Reserve
• Don Mateo
• Don Sixto
• Don Tomas Clasico
• Don Tomas Sun Grown
• Dunhill Aged Dominican
• Dutch Masters
• El Credito
• El Producto
• El Rico Habano
• Excalibur
• Excalibur Cameroon
• Excalibur Dark Knight
• Excalibur Legend By Hoyo
• Four Kicks
• Fuente Forbidden X
• Gambler Filtered
• Garcia Y Vega (All)
• General Cigar Co Samplers
• General Cigar Freshness
• General Honduran Bundles
• Gispert
• Good Days Factory Rejects
• Good Times Cigarillos
• Good Times Double Maestro
• Griffin's
• Griffins Special Edition
• H Upmann (All)
• Havana Honeys Dominican
• Hav-A-Tampa
• Helix
• Henry Clay
• Hoyo De Monterrey
• Hoyo De Tradicion
• Hoyo Monterrey Reposado
• Jose Seijas Signature
• Judge's Club Samplers
• King Edward
• La Flor Dominicana (All)
• La Gloria Cubana (All)
• La Traviata
• Las Cabrillas
• Lex12
• Litto Gomez
• Macanudo (All)
• Montecristo (All)
• Montesino
• Montesino Sun Grown
• Muniemaker
• Muriels
• Onyx Reserve
• Optimo
• Panter Dominican
• Parodi
• Partagas (All)
• Petri
• Phillies
• Principes By La Aurora
• Punch (All)
• Ramrod
• Romeo Y Julieta (All)
• Room 101 (All)
• Saint Luis Rey (All)
• Sancho Panza (All)
• Santa Fe Filtered
• Stonewood
• Swisher Sweets
• Swisher Sweets Black
• Te Amo
• Te-Amo Revolution
• Tiparillo
• Topper
• Trinidad (All)
• Vega Fina
• Villiger
• Warlock
• White Owl
• Winston Churchill
• Zino Platinum Scepter
• Zino Platinum Z-Class

I'm new to the cigar world and have only been smoking for about a year, but I would like some more recommendations on which kind of mini-cigars or kreteks /cigars enjoys.
I'm an avid Djarum Special smoker which I enjoy more than other full-sized cigars, but I want to expand my spectrum of cigars and/or kreteks.
What does /cigars think of these? Could you recommend any other brands?
Thanks!

Verified? (This bot cannot verify AMAs just yet)
Date: 2012-09-24
Link to submission (Has self-text)
Link to my post

Questions	Answers
Are you for or against legalizing marijuana?	I Am personally for the Legalization of Marijuana. I personally think it needs to be legalized, taxed and regulated like alcohol or tobacco is.
If I was the President and I wanted to insert one of your cigars into an intern, is there a particular type or technique you'd recommend?	Honestly I would give you the cheapest cigar in my humidor it costs about $1.50, cause the level of wetness would make it smoke like hell. As for technique, I'll let you figure that out for yourself.
I love cigars, but I'm not certain I know how to truly enjoy them. I say this because I can't often tell the difference between a $2 cigar and a $20 cigar. Is there a technique akin to wine drinking? Or should I remain ignorant and enjoy the savings?	Have you started to note how the quality of the burn is? Also start to look at the oils in the wrapper, the pre-draw, another thing to consider is, see which one you can pick up complex notes from. Start with these if you still don't taste a difference, then keep smoking the $2 cigars!
Do you ever feel guilty whenever you hear about people suffering from lung cancer?	No, they made their choice to smoke, I feel bad for them, but I don't feel guilty, anymore then if I heard someone got drunk and died of alcohol poisoning, it wasn't my fault they smoked themselves to death. I am sure that sounds cold.
No, it sounds rational.	Glad to hear.
Would lifting the embargo on Cuba affect your business? or is American tobacco considered to be just as good as the Central American product?	As to your question, I will answer it in two parts, the first part, if you lift the embargo with Cuba, all you will do is start to see a mix of cuban cigar leaf and central America cigar leaf, combined. Cuba as a country can't produce enough cigars to meet current demands, that isn't going to change anytime soon, they only have so much room to grow tobacco. Also, America doesn't produce much tobacco anymore, they only produce some outer wrapper leaf.
Thanks, very interesting. And what's your 'favourite' cigar, or which one would you consider an all-round best (regardless of the price)?	If you put a gun to my head and told me I had to smoke one cigar for the rest of my life, I would say the Padron 1964 series, Corona Maduro. It has a lot of flavor it fits in a size that I like. I also enjoy the rich chocolate notes and hints of coffee, with a smooth finish. If you haven't tried one do yourself a favor and try it! the cost is about $11.
Do you smoke a pipe? If so, what is/are your favorite blend(s)?	Yes I do smoke a pipe, My favorite blend would very, depending on my mood. I make a personal blend that I enjoy a lot, but I also enjoy the Frog Morton line from McClelland. As well as, most G.L. Pease blends, particularly the Old London series. Happy smoking!
Thank you for taking time to do this AMA! I'll be sure to consider giving these blends a try. I'm almost out at the moment, so this was particularly well-timed.	You are very welcome, I am trying to put a better image on who and what the cigar and pipe smoking community is. Also make people realize that I am not some sort of evil big tobacco company trying to sell people cancer sticks.
Is your family full of heavy smokers? Anyone get lung cancer? When you tell people your line of work, are you ever ashamed/do you ever have to address the negative stigma surrounding tobacco products?	Most of family isn't ironically enough, most of my uncles, all part of the cigar side, smoke cigars occasionally, but most don't smoke. There is no lung cancer in my family, my aunt might, but she has been a chronic cigarette smoker for years, and doesn't as of right now. I have learned to make a joke out of the stigma, I introduce myself as a cancer merchant and a death dealer. But for the most part, people seem to think I will hand them cigars left and right. I answer question as best as I can when asked. I am proud of my heritage in the tobacco business.
I have had people telling me my whole life not to smoke. So far this is advice I have followed. But whilst I have the chance to ask a pro I may as well ask the question, why should I smoke?	I find that smoking is a way for me to relax, when smoking a cigar, I can feel my stress start to melt away, I love the way the smoke tickles my nose and taste on my tongue. I love the community that cigar smokers create when they are together. I would say, try a cigar and if you don't feel relaxed and you don't enjoy the flavor;then give it up, cause either you like it or you don't. I haven't found a middle ground yet.
Would your family consider switching to or adding marijuana to your crop if it became legal?	We don't actually grow tobacco, just sell it.
Care to give me a short list of your favorite cigars? In addition to that, can you recomend at least one that may not be very well known but in your opinion is a must try?	My top 5 is really hard, I would say right now, they are; The La Aroma De Cuba Edition Especial, The Padron 1964 maduro, The Mercialago from EO cigars, Diamond Crown Maduro, Tatuaje Spooky box Dracula. And for something that is hard to find, but super good, go with either the 262 paradigm or the 4 kicks from Crowned Heads.
Its hard to beat Pepin, do you like the special edition more than Mi Amore? Also an Undercrown can be hard to beat for the price! I am becoming a first time father anyday and have an my father le bijou 1922 on hand for the occasion. I was thinking about picking up a box of cigars that would age well to have one on every birthday of the child then share one when he is 18. What would you recommend that would age well and not break the bank?	I like the EE, better then the Mi Amore, when they first came out I smoked 1 EE a day for 31 straight days. I would say if you wanted to get something nice, to smoke that will continue to hold up well as aged, but also not be super expensive, the Padron 3000 maduro, as it ages it will take on the falvors of the 1964 and the 1926. As it ages the flavor will open up and give you some smoothness and some sweetness. Time does both of these things to any good cigar.
Don't forget about Ashton VSG or that Macanudo maduro with the metal ring. Aurora's Preferidos (forgot how to spell it) in the Ruby tube is good too, but it seems a niche, just like Diamond Crown.	I can agree with those, they just don't fall with in my personal top 5. But don't get me wrong I smoke a lot of cigars, and seems like every day, I find something to add to the best of the best list!
What do you think of Drew Estates Liga Privada?	I think it is a very well made cigar, with a lot of flavor, my pallet tends to fall towards the t-52 more then the number 9. I also really enjoy the Undercrown from them. If you haven't tried that give it a shot.
How does the business treat you? I figure that it should be very profitable. And also, were you forced to stay in the business or did you do so willingly?	It is a good business, but it has its own share of problems. I sell a luxury item, in a soft economy, I am also at the mercy of the internet companies, who have almost no over head and don't need to make as much margin. So they can under cut us and we take the hit. The second part, I have wanted to be in this business, I never felt pressured, in fact I chose to quit another job to go work in the family business. I love cigars, I love the community and the people, if I didn't work in a cigar shop, I would work for a cigar company as either a sales rep, or in their marketing department.
What do you do primarily in the business? Like, what are your responsibilities?	My responsabilites vary, I do inventories, I order cigars, help customers, it just depends on what I need to get done that day.
I currently work for a tobacconist (one that's been around since 1981), and we are always having trouble competing with the prices of online seller (Cigars International and etc). Has this been trouble for your shop as well?	Yes, it is, what I try and help people realize is that, if they get a bad box of cigars from CI (cigars International), that it can take them almost 3 weeks to get the cigars, cause it is almost a week coming, a week going back after you found they are dry or what not, and then another week till they ship replacements. I also show that by ordering online, yeah your getting a cigar at a better price, but if you keep doing that, who is going to help you with your humidor? Or who is going to help make a recommendation? If we teach people, we can win some, but most will be stuck in online way.
This is the same reason it's important to support your local homebrew shop. Sure, you can get better prices on line, but who's going to sample your nasty infected beer and tell you what went wrong?	Exactly! I am also looking into starting to brew more of my own beer.
When your grandfather first opened the shop, did they ever hand-roll the cigars? And what happens to be your highest selling item?	Yes they did have hand made cigars, are you ask what my highest selling item is in today's market? Or back then?
How about both? What was your grandfather's highest selling item then and what is your current highest selling item?	Back then, I am not sure, after double checking with him, he sold more pipes and tobacco more so then cigars, cigars just weren't as big of a deal yet. As for now, our best selling cigar brand, has to be Padron, followed closely by Romeo and Juliet Reserva Real.
What's your company's lobbying position with respect to Marijuana legalization?	It doesn't really effect our business, we are a traditional tobacco shop. The legalization of Marijuana doesn't help, nor hurt our business. I personally am for it, but my father is against it. Again no direct cause on our business techniques.
With regards to cigarettes, any ideas on why they cant just leave the tobacco untreated with dangerous chemicals and thus render them safer, like pipe tobacco or cigars?	It isn't the leaves themselves, it is the chemicals they put in the filters, and the paper. Also again even with a great cigarette, chemical free organic, you are still in hailing the smoke. Which you don't do with a pipe or cigar.
What are the best cigarettes you can buy? I only smoke when I go camping with a certain group of friends, which is maybe a couple of times a year, and when I do I'd like to smoke the good stuff. Is there a fancy pants brand of smokes that are flavorful and more enjoyable?	I enjoy a natural cigarette on occassion, I would say try the Nat Sherman, MCD brown box.
A delicious cigarette indeed. Well chosen.	It used to be one of my favorites.
I never got in to nat shermans. They always tasted off to me. Do you carry Sobranie Black Russians? I haven't seen those since high school.	No sadly, I don't. I wish we did, but they haven't been seen in the US in a long time, but from what I heard they were a great cigarette.
How has your family weathered all of the changes in public perception regarding tobacco over the last few decades? Things have really changed since 1974, so has your marketing changed?	Yes we have been able to with stand the storm of public out cry. It seems funny, back in the early 90's there was the cigar boom, were everybody was clamoring to get a good cigar, we were able to grow and make a name for ourselves then. Then in the mid part of 2008 the State of AZ were our shops are, passed a state wide smoking ban. So we adapted by offering bigger more comfortable places to smoke, we have stuck to our roots, selling great cigars, at the possible price we can offer. Does that make sense?
I occasionally enjoy a big fat, $20 Cohiba, but by far, my favorite cigar is a Backwoods 'Mild n Natural.' Is there something wrong with me? Am I broken?	Nope, not at all! My favorite saying with in the cigar business to any and all people is there is a cigar out there for everyone, what you like and what I like maybe extremely different, but in the end, we are all still smoking a cigar!
How much do you smoke?	I smoke on average about 2 cigars a day, I try to keep it under 5 cigars a day, after that many smokes, my pallet is just gone, everything starts to taste the same.
Good christ. Has your tongue crawled away to die yet?	I was smoking 4 cigars a day for over 3 years. My tongue keeps going and going! Just ask my ex girlfriend.
Isn't that extremely bad for your health?	Actually no! I have had a few head MRI's in my life as well as regular dental x-rays, I am in perfect health.
What about your lungs?	Still work well. I have good capacity.
Do you see a lot of novice smokers go for ACIDs? Do they really market them as differen, flavored smokes? Do you think using flavored smokes (of any quality) to get people into cigars is right or wrong? Does that last question even matter since you'll make money either way?	I do see some novice smokes smoking Acid cigars, but mostly I tend to turn them on to mild cigars like Romeos or Diamond Crowns, or Perdomos. I can say from experience there is no other cigar on the market like Acid. They are a hundred percent unique, as to weather it is right or wrong, I personally feel that as long as you are smoking cigars not cigarettes, I am okay with you. I like to help people find something different, but I see that as a way of bring a cigarette smoker into the cigar world. I can't complain about the fact that I will sell them something either way.
Are ACIDs not a good cigar? i like to have a small one here or there.	They are a well made cigar, I just personally can't stand the oils and the flavor of them. The person who came up with them is brilliant, cause there is nothing like that cigar. I get people who come in and ask if I can recommend something like an Acid and I tell them, Acid cigars. As I said before, there is a cigar out there for everyone. All you have to do is find it.
What do you think about the health risks of smoking?	They are there, but for me, the risks from over eating, over drinking, maybe getting in a car crash. Well I doesn't mean I don't eat food, or drink alcohol, or drive my car. I do what I do cause I love it. I don't overly worry about the risks, I do what I can to keep my likely hood of getting cancer down, but I won't put my life on hold for the health risks.
Is roll your own tobacco like 4 Aces healthier than Marlboro Camel Kool Newport etc? I heard it has less chemicals in it but wasn't sure if it was true or not.	Kind of, are you using a natural paper? Or an organic paper? If so then yes, if not, then some what healthier, not a whole lot, your still inhaling the smoke. I am not a medical professional at all btw.
Some prefiltered papers.	They have the same chemicals, in the paper and filters.
Are you a heavy smoker? Do anti smoking ads offend you? Do you roll your own?	Not really, I don't smoke cigarettes anymore, and I am a fairly regular cigar smoker. Sometime they do, especially if they are using a limited range study, to fit their theory. There have been studies done on both sides for and against smoking. Not all research is used, which does bother me. I bet you all didn't know that the biggest supporter of smoking bans, across the country, is...The Pharmaceutical companies, who make Nicorette gum, and stop smoking patches.
Of course! Its why marinol exists instead of medical marijuana in some areas. But again, smoking anything isn't great. What made you quit cigarettes? And what do you think about swisher sweets and black and milds, cigars like that.	Let me start with the Cigarettes, I hated smoking them, it was compulsion, not enjoyment, I hated the craving and the need to smoke more, so I switched to small cigars which made it much harsher to inhale. So I cut myself off and now exclusively smoke cigar and pipe. I don't count swisher sweets and black and milds as cigars. They both use homogenized cigar paper, as apposed to actual cigar leaf. The difference between the paper and actual leaf is that the paper, is made from pressed bits of tobacco, pressed into paper, such as particle board is to actual sheets of wood. Does that make sense? Also black and Milds are filled with pipe tobacco, not cigar leaf. So i don't count them, I think people like them and that's great, but they aren't really cigars.
Well, TIL then. And good job on quitting! What got you smoking in the first place?	Cigarettes or Cigars?
My bad, cigarettes.	Peer pressure mostly.
What do you think of Electronic Cigarettes and their rise in popularity?	It is a fad, like so many other things, I won't be surprised if they disappear in the near future.
Does your shop sell them? If not, do you think it cuts into your business, or is there not a lot of overlap with traditional tobacco products?	I do carry them because we get requests, but it is a minimal part of our business.
Difference between cigarettes and cigars in terms of contents?	Cigarettes use a completely different type of tobacco then cigars use mostly cuban seed grown in other countries, were as, cigarettes use tobaccos from other countries. Most cigarettes use a Virginia leaf tobacco, which is cut and treated differently then, what goes into a cigar.
What is healthier; cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe?	Cigars and Pipes far and above cigarettes. This is because a cigar or pipe shouldn't be inhaled, just puffed on, yes you can still be at risks for cancers of the tongue or mouth, but it is very slim also, part of what makes cigarettes so much worse, is the chemicals that they treat them with, as well as the fact that you bring those chemicals and the smoke into your lunges. You don't with a pipe or a cigar, unless by accident.
Do some brands of cigarettes have less toxins than others?	Yes, most of the Natural cigarettes, like American Spirits, have much less chemicals, they aren't a fool proof, but they are a natural, very less chemically treated option.
I once met Nick Perdomo. I liked his brand before meeting him and even more after. Have you met any owners/high-ups that have made a lasting impression on you? Any interesting stories about meeting them?	I have had many a chance to sit down with many big wigs in the cigar industry. I think my favorite story is one in which I was hanging out at the Big Smoke in Las Vegas. I was there wondering around saying hi to people like George Padron, The Newman brothers, from J.C. Newman cigar company. Well we walk over towards the Rocky Patel booth, and the line for the booth is half way down the hall. So the person I was showing around, goes, wow that is crazy, we should go get in line. I said hell no, I am not waiting, so I walk over towards the side of the booth and I run into Nish Patel, Rocky's brother. He sees me and says hi, we talk for a few, then he asks if I want to see Rocky, I said, sure, but I am not going to wait in line. He said screw that and invited me behind the booth, so I walk over and chat with Rocky, while people are still filling past. We play catch up and talk, then I said well your busy, I should get out of here. So we are walking away talking, when two guys come up to us and go excuse me, I said yes, they asked who we were after stating that they waited over an hour in line. I said, I know people and walked away laughing, while they look confused, and trying to figure out who I am. So that is my funniest story. I guess.
Are you going to the Big Smoke this November?	Yes, I am.
That is fucking sweet, great story! <3 Rocky Patels.	Yeah, I thought it was funny.
I inherited a pipe from my great grandfather not to long ago, ive done my best to clean it and care for it. I am new to pipe smoking and i was wondering if i should be able to hear the air travelling through the pipe when i draw on it? Also how firmly should i pack the pipe and how do i know the tobacco is done?	Wow that is a few different questions, so first question, I recommend pipe cleaners and vodka, to clean the bowl and stem. Next question no you shouldn't be able to hear the air, that is packed to loosely, and that goes into the next question which is how to pack a pipe. Start by filling the pipe all the way up, then pack it gently, and fill it up again and pack it a little bit harder, do this a third time and pack it harder still, so the bottom part should be loose and the top should be tight. That way as you tamp it down, it doesn't get to firm. Last questions, it should be just ash left int he bowl, no really tobacco leaf to speak of, also shouldn't really have any taste or light up when you try to light it.
Do you care to give specifics? I live in Scottsdale and we don't have any good cigar shops.	I can, what part of Scottsdale, we own 3 cigar shops in the valley, one in North Scottsdale it is called Stag Tobacconist it is at the intersection of Pinnacle Peak and Scottsdale road. you can also find it via facebook! Would love to have you up in one of the shops!
I realize you are probably done answering questions, but do you see the e-cigarette market effecting your business in the near future, since it is generally healthier and there are all sorts of flavors available? or, if they do become more mainstream, do you plan on adding them to your inventory?	I am not gone yet! But yes, we carry them, no they won't be affecting my business, or I should say, hurting my business. People don't want a plastic thing to smoke, with cigar like flavor, they wants cigars. Same thing with pipe tobacco, since both of those things carry very little risk of cancer, but cigarettes, people still like the flavor and feel or cigarettes, also the nicotine isn't the only thing people are addicted to in the cigarettes, it is also the chemicals, they use to treat the paper and put in the filters.
You do a fine job. Thanks for everything! How much do you like the job? Any downsides to it?	I love this business wouldn't trade this for anything. Yes it is difficult working with my dad.
Have you been over to /cigars?	Just found it today, and have since subscribed.
PipeTobacco !	Yeah, I found that one too.
What is the difference between the tobacco in some 'organic' cigarette like American Spirits and Nat Shermans and a pack of Marlboros?	The chemicals used in the handling and treating of the tobacco.
Are honduran cigars good? my mom just opened up a store and we are thinking about carrying them.	Honduran cigars are some of he strongest, most rich flavored cigars out on the market. I love Hondoran cigars, I would say start with the Perdomo cigar brand, they are a integrated cigar company, which means every step of the process is in house. Also look at Rocky Patel cigars, and La Aroma De Cuba brand of cigars made by Peppin for Ashton cigars.
Why can't cigarettes taste/smell as awesome as tobacco pipes? I've never been able to transition off of cigarettes over to cigars or pipes but every time I get a smell of that sweet sweet pipe smell I want to try it again (only to be disappointed). Tl;dr I want a cigarette with pipe tobacco in it.	Part of it is the different kinds of casings, also called dressings, that they use to flavor the pipe tobacco, the other big factor is that it isn't the same type of tobacco. Cigarettes tend to be very much made out of Virginia tobacco, where as most pipe tobacco is Cavendish type of tobacco, and again, treated with a flavoring.
My friend and I enjoy pipe tobacco. What's your favorite kind? He's partial to those vanilla-y types.	I would say if he likes a vanilla sort of flavor, I would say try stanwell's vanilla or try in bulk, Lanes RLP-6, or Stokebeyes Vanilla. I personally stick to the English, or Bulkan style pipes, something with a rich Latakia blend and some nice Oriental tobacco as well. McClelland 2045, is a very nice bulk English style blend.
How extensive are your hookah offerings?	Limited, we don't get a lot of calls about hookahs and or shesha. There are several shops around town that carry a much better selection. I personally smoke and own a hookah, I also have to go to other shops thne my own, in order to find better products, or more diversity.
Have you tried Djarum Super?	I have, I don't enjoy the flavor of cloves, in anything, even ham. So I personally don't smoke them, but I will say popular opinion is that the cigars, just aren't cutting it. They work in a pinch, but most people order direct from Indonesia.
What is the most expensive Cigar you have smoked?	I have smoked a couple of cigars that were retail of over $50, the highest I think would be the Carlos Fuete signature, at Casa Fuente which retails for $125, the most expensive cigar I know of costs about $750 each, they are made by Gurkha.
Be sure to come visit hookah.	I will.
Opinion on vapes?	I am sorry I have done some research, but personally isn't an area of expertise, I work and run a traditional cigar shop.
Smoke or Blue in the Face?	Smoke, was better, blue in the face was just extra footage. That they threw together and made into blue.
Is there any recent new cigar technology that is popular (not necessarily like vaping)	The newest thing, would be the Shuriken cutter! website for the company Link to cigartech.com
Have you had the CAO Vision?	Yes, I thought it was way over packaged. And not nearly worth the money.
Yup. Hopefully they won't take the same path as Gurkha, selling poo in boxes that look like Lamborghini's.	It is interesting you say that, Grukha's of late have been some of the best cigars at one of the best prices. They have several new cigars, all of which are a good price and a very flavorful smoke.
What would make the best classiest blunt wrap?	No idea, phillys are probably the most requested.
Have you considered cross-porsting this to cigars? Great community in there.	Not sure how to...but am open to having it done.
Alright, such as what? I'm willing to give them another chance, although historically, only their higher-end cigars were worth it.	Try the seduction and the cellar reserve.
I don't know exactly how to cross-post, but if you do another post from within the subreddit I'm sure it will be recieved positively. As I said, we're an awesome, welcoming, and really united community.	Okay, I will when I have time.
You and I shared a Prensado @ the Alec Bradley party at the IPCPR in 2011. Among other things we discussed celiac disease. Anyway I just started cellaring virginias and wanted your take on that.	Wine right, it was you and your wife at the table, out back right? I am not sure, I am not a wine expert at all.
Not wine, Virginia based pipe tobaccos. I was wondering if you have cellared any of that.	I have, as it ages, you will start to see a crystallization on the tobacco, it will look shiny and smell sweet, this means the Virginian tobacco has aged to its perfect level, and that sweet candy sort of look means, that it is ready to smoke.
Nice.. I'm starting to steer more of my customers towards doing that. When you get a chance go to tobaccocellar.com its pretty funny. Good talking to you and thanks for doing this.	Always glad to answer questions!
Good to hear another VSG fan. They are second only to the '64 Padron OP mentioned above, for me anyway.	I haven't found a cigar that can pass the 64 Padron, yet.
HeaD over to pipetobacco if you have a chance. People have have actually been asking for tobacconists that are online to ask questions there.	Next stop tomorrow!
I just checked this to see how many Monty Python quotes it contained. Not nearly as many as I expected, alas.	Sorry, I wasn't going for the Monty skit. But it is a classic!
What do you think about the rockey patel 1990.	It is a classic Rockey Patel, medium body, but leaves me wanting more in the complexity department, it is a well made cigar. I want to like it, but sadly the flavor diversity isn't there. It has also seem to gone up in price and not worth, the extra cash. I like the CAO La Triviata Maduro more, and for the money, it seems to be a better value as well as more flavor full smoke.
If you're going to get cancer from cigars, it will likely be esophageal.	The most likely place to get it is your tongue. But esophageal cancer is not un heard of, but is rare in cigar smokers.

Last updated: 2012-09-29 11:29 UTC
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