I didn’t plan well this week, as I made a last minute decision to go to the Wooden Indian’s annual pig roast yesterday. Not sure why it was a late call, I try to make an appearance every 
year. But first, a couple of new-to-me cigars. A few weeks back when I stopped in the The Cigar Authority of Chester in Cochranville, PA , I picked up a Black Label Trading Co. Limited Edition Morphine 10 Year Anniversary Perfecto. It looked neat and I like sampling BLTC’s stuff, I generally like what they make. This is a 5″ x 50 perfecto, which is much smaller than a robusto because of the severe tapers on either end. This cigar needs to be smoked slowly, lest it overheat and get bitter. The flavors are heavy with black coffee that’s been on the burner for a while. Generally I like this kind of cigar, but the format is tricky. It burned well and was enjoyable, but required concentration. This will be a theme this week! BLTC has stood the test of time, ten years is an overnight success in the cigar industry. I’d love to visit their factory some day.
I got a couple Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon toros in one of those Smoke Inn’s “too good a deal not to buy” samplers a few weeks back. It’s impossible to pass up 5 cigars for $20 delivered when they are good cigars that I either want to try or have enjoyed in the past. If I’ve smoked the RP Cameroon it’s been a long time ago, which is possible because this cigar has been around a long time. I like that Rocky adds a bonus half inch to a lot of his toros, 6½” x 52, with a Cameroon wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. While I don’t tend to smoke a lot of RP cigars, I rarely have one that’s distasteful to me, and I think I can smoke most of the Vintage line and be happy. This is no exception, although, like I alluded to above, this one needed to be smoked slowly to avoid it becoming foul. The Camerooniness came on right off the start. Sweet nuttiness with well aged tobacco. This is a nice cigar and worth at least twice what I paid for it!
While it was distressing to see that Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust’s Golden Megasquatch doll (action figure?) was stolen from their Intertabak booth, at least we can confirm that booth theft isn’t a strictly American thing. Steve is probably relieved that he doesn’t have to ship it home.
Yesterday I went to the Wooden Indian‘s annual charity pig roast, which I’ve attended most years in one way or another. Last year (or the year before, who can keep track, they celebrated their 
60th anniversary, this year it’s the 20th anniversary of Dave Mayer’s ownership. Dave is one of my favorite people in the cigar biz. More on what they have going on for the 20th next week if all goes to plan. The weather could not have been better for this event, in previous years we’ve sweated, froze and been rained on, one year it was postponed because of a hurricane. Drew Estate sponsors the event, and Pedro Gomez and Calvin Zimmerman were on hand. The event was raising money for Operation: Cigars for Warriors, and had auction items donated by the family of Brandon Jones, who was a huge Drew Estate ambassador and passed away tragically last year. I knew Brandon, he was a great dude and loved all things Drew Estate. I smoked a couple of the new Nica Rustica Shade cigars, in the 5″ x 66 Gordo and the toro, and ate and fraternized with the folks at the event. The Nica Rustica Shade is a really good shade cigar for under $10. It was the last Freestyle live cigar. As always, it was a great time and I would have stuck around longer if I didn’t have other stuff to do. If you find yourself in the Philadelphia area, a visit to the Wooden Indian is a must.
When I got home I sat down with a Blackened M81 Lancero, which is a new line extension this year apparently. I saw them in the humidor and picked up a couple to try. I seem to have misplaced one, which is really weird for me, I’m usually really good about keeping track of my cigars! Anyway, I am less concerned about it after having smoked one. This is a 7″ x 40 lancero, a little fatter like the Liga L40. I was intrigued, then I smoked it. I like the M81 line when I want a heavy maduro cigar, which this is. The Lancero format didn’t seem to lend itself to this heavy blend. Yes, once again, this needs to be smoked slowly, but even “sipping” the smoke was a little overwhelming. Too much burnt cocoa, espresso for me. I rarely speak ill of a cigar, but I think this is one that didn’t need to be made. Also uncharacteristic of me to say, but this would probably be OK in the S84 blend. I’m not going to go crazy looking for that missing cigar.
That’s all for today, until the next time,
CigarCraig
