Smelvis wrote:
That is a great Post Thank You!
I have to agree I belong to several cigar boards and have become close real life friends over the internet, I then started visiting and herfing with them in person some of in my opinion best people in the world are cigar smokers. I actually think more than normal by comparison I see the giving and caring as a brotherhood, BOTL is a real and great worldwide club.
I have met some pretty great people mongering as well just not as many.
If I can get retired and healthy enough you will certainly see me there smoking with you. I will bring mostly my own but will buy one or two as you can't operate for free.
Thanks you can not talk to much about cigars as far as I am concerned. Scuba hope when I do make it you are there bro!
Dave
Hey Dave

- Hope your back is feeling better, and all is well with you - sounds like you still have some "issues" to deal with and I wish you all the best - I'll be in CR late Jan - quick trip; fishing (really

) w/ the guys followed by 3 days in SJ - I think its Jan 19 we arrive

One of these days, sooner vs later we gotta smoke together!
Re all the back and forth about brands, et al - Bruce at HLH has done an outstanding job as to selection, pricing, etc, so kudos to him.
I smoke the cigar, vs the band, and regardless of cost, if you like the cigar, smoke it - its not a 100% correlation between quality and pricing - I too was under the impression that Cuba did not export leaf tobacco, just finished product, but have been assured by someone I trust (Bruce

) that a certain brand he sells that I think is excellent has Cuban leaf (leaf from Cuba,
not "Cuban Seed", and is well priced, but is rolled in CR - who knows, who cares, its a great cigar.
While I have smoked some great Cubans, and I don't agree w/ him on everything, I do agree w/ Hangman on this:
The Cuban cigar industry survives on the mystique of the forbidden, not the overwhelming quality of product. Oh yeah - I have met him and can attest to the fact Jazzbo exists - he is a smart, nice guy, well read and very up on current events and politics - I liked him a lot - except when he corrects me when I blast someone I consider to be clueless
