Florida Trip with ISOM and NCs! Heaven!

[Mbraud4]

Ok so this weekend we had to go drop off my fiance's cousin in Pensacola, FL after their grandmothers passing. I figured it would be a nice little trip so I had ordered some aged ISOMs and had a few NCs I took along the way. Here was my stash for the ride:

ISOM:
2000 Bolivar PC
1998 H. Upmann Connesieur
2002 H. Upmann Corona

NC:
H. Upmann #100 Robusto
Montecristo Classic (not sure size, maybe a small sized corona)
Montecristo Platinum 4"


I smoked every single one of these to the nubs!

I figured I would start off with something nice, my first real Habanos...I wanted to save the 98 and the boli for later so I opted for the 02 Upmann Corona which was gifted by SvilleKid. I was so excited, cut the tip, sparked it up...went to pull...PLUGGED! Oh no, I started to panic since I was not near a computer to find out how to unplug or at least make this thing smokeable...I ended up clipping a good bit off the top and using a toothpick as some type of draw poker. It worked slightly but not much. Basically I smoked the whole thing having to suck really hard and whatnot...but I did it anyways...couldn't let it go to waste. Being a newbie its hard to describe the flavors and taste but I would say it was a nice medium bodied smoke with a creamy flavor along with an earthy taste. Even tho it turned out to be a pain to smoke this thing, after it was finished...WOW! The taste in my mouth was wonderful. I did not want to do anything to remove this strong flavor....I was beginning to wonder is this why ISOMs are so highly sought after.

Nubbin it up on the Upmann:


An hour later or so...I decided to spark up my 2nd smoke. I chose the Monte Platinum which was gifted by cameroncouch02. It was a pretty strong cigar in my opinion for a newbie. I couldn't really describe the taste on this one but it was a good smoke to me. Even tho it seemed like a medium/full bodied smoke to me...the taste in my mouth did not compare at all to the previous smoke. I though "Wow well this was a mistake to smoke the habanos first...now all my NCs are just not gonna do it for me..." lol...anyways I did enjoy this and we arrived in FL just as I finished it.

Don't have a pic of the monte but here is the family's home in Pensacola:


Once we got there and settled in, I found out that the gradfather over there smokes cigars. Well, I had taken along some other smokes just in case I needed extra and saw that as a great oppurtunity to do a personal bomb. I gave him the other sticks and we decided to go out and smoke a few. I chose the NC Upmann #100 robusto this time (purchased in Jason Love III's grab bag, GREAT DEAL). Let me tell you one thing about this smoke, this thing did not ash until the wrapper/band. I was so amazed. It was a work of art. First NC upmann I have smoked, seemed like a nice little medium bodied stick with a earthy flavor to it. Although a great stick, this smoke still did not leave that strong flavor in my mouth afterwards either. After we had a smoke, went inside, ate some pizza, and hit the bed for some beauty sleep.

Here is the Upmann:


Woke up early the next day and started to get ready to go out and visit the beach for a while before the journy back home. Went to my smoke stash and decided to go with the 00 Boli PC. I know this was a fav on the forum so I was highly anticipating this one. It had a slightly uneven burn but I think this was do with the gulf breeze out there. Great silky smoke from the start and it really spiced up towards the last 3rd. I now understand what all the hype is about. This one did again leave that strong flavor in my mouth. OMG I loved it, just walked around savoring every last bit of it.

Nubbed this Boli shortly thereafter:


We headed out and took some time to go through the gift shops like always. After that we headed out to the beach for a while to check out the scenery. Water was much prettier than our trip last year. Headed up to the dock/pier and walked down that for a while. Then we headed to grab some eats before heading back.

My beautiful fiance looking over the pier at the gorgeous gulf water:


On the trip home the first smoke I went for was my NC Monte Classic. It was a mild smoke and after all of the other smokes on the trip was lagging a little behind. In the last 3rd it picked up a good bit and left a wonderful flavor in my mouth (although it still did not have the same type of flavor as that of the habanos). I nubbed this one and took a break on the ride.

An hour and a half later I lit up my final stick. The 98 Upmann was a blast! It had a slight uneven burn most of the time, which was probably due to the car window being down. I found this to be a medium bodied stick with slight earthiness to it. I was rather tired so I just sat back and enjoyed every last bit of this smoke. After nubbing it and disponsing of it...we were 10 minutes from home.

After arriving home, I sat down and wrote this. That was my past 36 hours. Enjoy!

BTW: Thanks to SvilleKid, Fredster, and Jason Love III for making this all possible!

P.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: I now find the need to beef up my ISOM collection dramatically...Thx guys for giving a poor fellow a hard push over the edge!!

[Warhorse545]

Reason for the trip sucks dude.


But glad you something cool out of it.




Stacey

[cquon]

Wow, sounds like the trip went well. Smoked some fine cigars there, also.

[mike32312]

Great review and pics Michael. You were only 3 hours away from Tallahassee bud. Gotta make a trip over here soon. I'll let you raid my ISOM stash.

[Sean9689]

Sounds like you had a good time! Nothing beats a nice vaction with some nice smokes.

Originally Posted by Mbraud4

I wanted to save the 98 and the boli for later so I opted for the 02 Upmann Corona which was gifted by SvilleKid. I was so excited, cut the tip, sparked it up...went to pull...PLUGGED!

Man, sorry to hear about the plug!! All I have tried from this box have been a little tight, but not close to plugged! I used to have more tight draw problems from my smaller RG cubans, but started keeping my cuban humi close to 60% RH, and seems to have gotten rid on most of those problems.

A replacement is on the way!! I know it is not necessary, and not asked for, but you did enjoy the flavor, so you deserve another shot!!!

Nice pics and post!!!

[CrazyFool]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

....I used to have more tight draw problems from my smaller RG cubans, but started keeping my cuban humi close to 60% RH, and seems to have gotten rid on most of those problems.

i second that! i had to drop my humi from 68-70 all the way to 60-63 after my stash became 60/40 cubans. at 70 everything had draw problems but once they were in 60% climate, even my Hoyos draw problems went away.

again, im sorry for the reason of your trip but its nice to see it brough ya'll close together and spirits were high

[Mbraud4]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Man, sorry to hear about the plug!! All I have tried from this box have been a little tight, but not close to plugged! I used to have more tight draw problems from my smaller RG cubans, but started keeping my cuban humi close to 60% RH, and seems to have gotten rid on most of those problems.

A replacement is on the way!! I know it is not necessary, and not asked for, but you did enjoy the flavor, so you deserve another shot!!!

Nice pics and post!!!

The kid is out of his mind. But I hope the next one has no draw problems, man the flavor on that thing was amazing...undescribably scrumptious! Thx Kid! I plan a trip back to FL again in the next month or so since we only got to stay one day this time. Next time i will take off 4-7 days for a real good time. I might save the upmann for the ride again. Geez tho that was a great stick in my opinion.

[cameroncouch02]

I'm glad you enjoyed all the smokes on the trip.

[Mbraud4]

The bad thing is that once you jump from a cigar every other day to 3 cigars a day...you dont want to go back to the every other day thing...geeze...how far does this slope go?

[sirxlaughs]

Originally Posted by Mbraud4

The bad thing is that once you jump from a cigar every other day to 3 cigars a day...you dont want to go back to the every other day thing...geeze...how far does this slope go?

Not after smoking cigars like those, anyway. Try smoking 3 cremosas.. I'm sure you'll go back to the every other day thing.

As for how far the slope goes, just look at Robaina.

[TheSmokingHiker]

Originally Posted by Mbraud4

The bad thing is that once you jump from a cigar every other day to 3 cigars a day...you dont want to go back to the every other day thing...geeze...how far does this slope go?

To answer the question, I would consult the Klug...

[ATLHARP]

There ain't nothing like a road trip with H.upmann.............memories!

ATL

[Mbraud4]

Originally Posted by ATLHARP

There ain't nothing like a road trip with H.upmann.............memories!

ATL

I know, I think I enjoyed the ride in the car more than the time in FL! lol!