Heretics Tramp

Floating the idea now for a national Heretics get-together. In Feb or March or even April. Go for a few days tramping somewhere. Greg has generously suggested we base ourselves at his brother Bryan's place that he built especially for smoking (large house incl. spa) in Invercargill and go to Stewart Island or Fiordland or somewhere nearby. Scott has his wedding at very end of Feb (so he could honeymoon with us ;-) - don't know of any other great obstacles.

Let me know your thoughts and I can set something up....

Cigar Hero of the Month: Miguel Angel Jimenez

An epic warmup from the Spanish Maestro, who performs stunning feats of elasticity without ever removing the cigar. This man is a Legend.

Oct-Nov Batch - Close... but Yes to a Cigar

The Wellington boys just got these but our post office early closing time kept delaying my sending of the Auckland cigars. But they're finally in the post and hopefully will be with Sam to celebrate a WC victory. Not too keen to have a "Close... but no Cigar" scenario!! [Later Edit: And we did win, in the end, by one little point]. Enjoy.

• El Rey del Mundo - Demi Tasse: one of my first ever boxes of cigars was a box of these from 1990. Here's a repeat purchase not quite as aged ('09!) but you will recognise the flavour profile of the Choix Supremes with a touch of citrus and light hay. Pleasant and mild and the smallest proper hand-rolled cigar format available. Will match your "Half Cup" of whatever.

• San Cristobal del Habano - El Principe: the old timers will recognise this, a better box than last time though, lovely oily wrappers and well constructed. A medley of classic cuban flavours, relatively mild, in a half-corona vitola that will only last 30-45mn.

• Bolivar Petit Corona: your whisky cigar of the batch - 45mn of one of the spiciest cubans there is. Still less than a year old so not yet dark and brooding, but lots of peppers and a bit of hay and earth.

• Hoyo de Monterrey - Le Hoyo des Dieux: Sam's favourite, light medium rich woodiness personified, a very port cigar, set aside just over an hour for this corona grande.

• San Luis Rey - Serie A: you may have tasted one of these Corona Gordas last year. They are from a stellar Nov. 08 box that is ageing gracefully. Nice medium-bodied and rich woody flavour - another port cigar. Lovely to look at as well.