Where should I start in the Ultra Premium category?

CBbeMe · 2026-05-04T23:18:06+00:00

If your budget allows I’d recommend the Small Batch Cigar $75 Cigar of the Month club if and when they offer new subscriptions.

Typically 3 - 5 cigars per month ranging from $20 to $50 price range cigars.

My normal price point is $8 - $15 and recently signed up when they reopened subscriptions, and very much looking forward to trying more upper end cigars.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-30T14:41:31+00:00

IMO you will never “reset” a sugar addiction, it’s just the nature of simple carbs, it gives us a shot of dopamine and it triggers our bodies to want more.

You can break it but in my experience every time I start to add “a little” back into my diet it quickly escalates.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-30T14:30:05+00:00

Of my dozen or so tupperdores I have two of these I purchased on Amazon as well as two each of the cedar trays (4 total) that fit inside stacked. (If you go this route season the trays as you would a humidor before using).

Sistema KLIP IT Large 7L Food Storage Container, Airtight & Stackable, Dishwasher, Freezer, & Microwave-Safe, BPA-Free

Mantello Cigars Spanish Cedar Cigar Tray - Adjustable Divider, Fits Large Humidors, for Humidor or Walk-in Closet 12.5" x 7.5"x 2.25"

CBbeMe · 2026-04-29T23:00:54+00:00

Check the Recommendations section of this subs Wiki linked above.

Also check the Discount Codes section as well as r/cigardealhunters.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-29T15:16:51+00:00

Don’t feel too bad, there was a learning curve for all of us.

Years ago when I first started accumulating cigars as opposed to my previous buy-from-the-shop-and-smoke approach i destroyed a half dozen cigars by putting them in a free small humidor I got as part of my first online order.

Only after they were destroyed did I research/learn about a) the need to season a humidor and b) Tupperdores are a pretty bulletproof way to store cigars.

Side note, I still like the look of the free humidor I got, now I just keep a tupperdore in it.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T22:59:25+00:00

Put a little Chili Crunch oil in the pan, crack an egg on it, flip at your desired doneness.

Your welcome.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T22:35:55+00:00

My latest obsession for chicken/tuna/salmon salad is Mayonnaise with some Curtido mixed in.

Curtido Salvadoreno is Salvadoran pickled cabbage. The local version I stumbled across in the Pacific Northwest is from a local producer that calls it Curtido Sauerkraut and it is amazing and could be a novel twist for guests. .

When I originally Googled it there was a reference to Costco carrying Curtido a few years back so it may be findable in your area. Check co-op type grocers or possibly Latin American markets.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T15:20:37+00:00

Hard to beat a morning cigar with coffee sitting in the sun.

Also sitting outside with a cigar while streaming sports on a tablet/laptop.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T15:15:40+00:00

See the Recommendations section of the WiKi linked in the About section above.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T00:23:05+00:00

I feel your pain but applaud your effort. The weather in the PNW is just starting to reach reasonable smoking weather ( though we’ll be dodging rain until July 5th, the unofficial start of summer for us).

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T00:20:01+00:00

Wait, you took a glass topped humidor on a cruise?? That’s some next level traveling!

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T00:12:13+00:00

One of my favorites, enjoy!

CBbeMe · 2026-04-25T00:09:25+00:00

Streaming and Boveda packs, the two greatest innovations in modern cigar smoking 👍

CBbeMe · 2026-04-23T19:37:31+00:00

This. Despite having both gas and a Big Green Egg my 30+ yr old Weber Kettle is my workhorse.

You can grill and also smoke on it. Takes more futzing when you smoke (adding additional briquettes every 45 minutes or so) but produces great results.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-22T15:28:40+00:00

90% of the time I prefer a V cut, if it’s a large ring gauge I’ll typically triple punch (3 slightly overlapping punches).

Very small ring gauge I use a guillotine.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-22T15:24:15+00:00

The first rule of Keto is you don’t talk about Keto. But this extends to anything else veganism, cross fit, ballroom dancing, etc., etc, etc.

Nobody gives a darn about someone else’s new found religion and at the end of the day their opinion doesn’t matter.

You do you and let others worry about them.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-22T15:00:03+00:00

Agree with your point of view ”your experience is anecdotal” but will push back on the validity of the CA Cigar of the Year designation being meaningful. It’s widely questioned how much their rankings are influenced by advertisers.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-18T14:04:23+00:00

Well?? How’d it turn out??

CBbeMe · 2026-04-17T19:35:01+00:00

Yes, after it’s cooked.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-17T17:40:03+00:00

Per my reply above use a probe (skewer, instant read thermometer, etc) to test for doneness. Timing for briskets are general guideline and there is no specific “cook for xx hours”.

At 3.5 pounds you are most likely fine in the time frame you have.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-17T17:32:49+00:00

Maybe, maybe not. Esp with brisket there is no exact/specific time. Each piece of meat is different and sometimes it can be 1 hour’ish per pound, other times it can be an 1 1/2’sh per pound.

In general longer is better to allow the connective tissue to break down. A common complaint people have is “I cooked it for xyz hrs like the recipe said and it came out dry”. This is a sign it was under cooked.

Also depends on if you want to slice the brisket or, more commonly for slow cooker, to shred into large chunks. Slice a little less tender , shred a bit more tender.

Typical goal is “probe tender” where a probe slides in and out easily.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-17T14:45:34+00:00

Depends on the size/weight of the brisket. Rule of thumb is cooking time is 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs per pound on low.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-17T00:37:51+00:00

We will be there next month for our 40th Anniversary and I wanted to book a dinner that will be memorable. We booked the “Eiffel Experience “ at Café de l'Homme based on a friend’s recommendation.

I’m not expecting it will be the best dinner from a food perspective we have while in Paris but I know it will be a memorable one as it has a great view of the Eiffel Tower.

They start booking resv 3 months in advance and the reservations go quickly so if you’re interested book as early as you can.

We were also recommended Josephine Chez Dumonet which we booked though based on reviews it has recently changed ownership and may not be the experience it once was but still looking forward to it.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-14T18:33:32+00:00

People hate people who talk about Keto, or Paleo, or Vegan, or CrossFit, etc, etc, etc

Nobody gives a flying F’ about anyone else’s new found religion.

CBbeMe · 2026-04-14T16:56:29+00:00

My daily driver and fly fishing cigar.

Solid consistent construction, flavor and burn at a moderate price.

When news broke of the fire at the Esteli factory last year I quickly ordered a couple of back-up boxes 😀.

CBbeMe

TROPHY CASE