[Mandingo9]

Figured I would start a new chat thread so we don't bog down what could be useful other threads. Cigars, Meat, Whisky or Tequila would be good starter topics. I got a lesson today about lesser known cuts of delicious meat from our sales rep. He's been in the meat industry for 40 years and boy does he have a lot of knowledge.

[NGT2]

Great idea!

Booze: Retired

House Cigars: AF Cuban Corona Natural
Other notables in humidor: AF Opus X, Cohiba Connecticut

Meat: NY Strip. I feel like I'm supposed to say ribeye. I love ribeyes. I love all red meat. But I really love a big ass NY strip.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Great idea!

Booze: Retired

House Cigars: AF Cuban Corona Natural
Other notables in humidor: AF Opus X, Cohiba Connecticut

Meat: NY Strip. I feel like I'm supposed to say ribeye. I love ribeyes. I love all red meat. But I really love a big ass NY strip.

Let's see some cigars! I get some Cubans by way of Switzerland. Friggin imposible to source now. COVID really messed up the production in Cuba.

[NGT2]

Handmade humidor and current selection.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Handmade humidor and current selection.

Oh yea! I tried a bunch of different origin cigars and kept coming back to Cubans (maybe cause I'm Cuban). How you like those opus? I tried to get some but got flustered with the variety.

[LogicalApex]

I'm a major fan of NY Strip steak as well!

I don't drink, never have, and I don't smoke so no dice on those topics.

But if you're into tech!

I have over 100TB of storage available in my basement homelab

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

I'm a major fan of NY Strip steak as well!

I don't drink, never have, and I don't smoke so no dice on those topics.

But if you're into tech!

I have over 100TB of storage available in my basement homelab

Sounds like you should be on a fbi watch list!
Ribeye for me is the go to. If I'm feeling frisky I'll get a strip.

[2022M550i]

Love Fuente cigars. Hemingway short stories for a quickie. I think current Opus X cigars are not close to what they used to be when they first came out back in the mid 90's. They used to be power houses....loved the old ones.

Booze:

Sipping Vodka - ZYR

Irish Whiskey - Jameson blenders dog, Green Spot and Red Breast

Scotch - I used to get Johnnie Walker Blue for free since I worked for Diageo, so I liked it for a blended scotch. I wouldn't buy it if I had to pay for it though...plenty other great stuff out there for a fraction of the price. I was allocated $1200 per quarter to buy their booze. I retired over 8 years ago, I still have so much sitting around.

Speaking of Diageo, we had a bar on the top floor of our building...It was modeled after the Guinness bar in Dublin, also owned by Diageo. Free drinking anytime. You can drink during business hours. It was bizarre to say the least. That said, you could not work there if you ever had a DWI or DUI. You would be let go if you ever had a drinking related incident.

Their scotch whiskey lineup was quite extensive - Johnnie Walker, Buchanan's, Cardhu, Justerini & Brooks, Bell's, Black & White, White Horse, Logan, Caol Ila, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Clynelish, The Singleton (Glen Ord, Dufftown, Glendullan), Dimple, Royal Lochnagar, Glen Elgin, Knockando, Windsor, Grand Old Parr, Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Dailuaine, Glenlossie, Glen Spey, Inchgower, Linkwood, Mannochmore, Mortlach, Strathmill, Teaninich.

Steaks - Filet Mignon & Delmonico

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Figured I would start a new chat thread so we don't bog down what could be useful other threads. Cigars, Meat, Whisky or Tequila would be good starter topics. I got a lesson today about lesser known cuts of delicious meat from our sales rep. He's been in the meat industry for 40 years and boy does he have a lot of knowledge.

Carlos and I had a nice convo about different "Cow Cuts" last night. About a year ago, my local butcher started putting out a "Brazilian" favorite cut of meat, such as our NY Strip and Ribeye. Here is how Carlos explained it. And it's 100% spot on. If you grill this cut with the fat cap on top, it will literally melt in your mouth like a Fillet. The flavor is unreal. Give it a try if you can find it.

"picanha is aka "culotte" and is the cap of the sirloin top butt. Aka, it's the top of the cows ass cheek on either side of the spine. Like you say I bet it's some pretty good eating. Good flavor from that area. Next major muscle group going forward (towards the head) is where the tenderloins, strip steaks and porterhouses are pulled from."

As far as booze is concerned, my #1 would be a bottle of Casta Weber Azul Tequila from 1993. It's in a handblown glass bottle, with a handblown agave crystal in the bottom. The cork is Agave root and its wrapped in Agave leaves and also has a limited edition tag. I have some nice dessert wines from the mid 1990's direct from Italy (Military service), but I think the Tequila is worth more $.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Carlos and I had a nice convo about different "Cow Cuts" last night. About a year ago, my local butcher started putting out a "Brazilian" favorite cut of meat, such as our NY Strip and Ribeye. Here is how Carlos explained it. And it's 100% spot on. If you grill this cut with the fat cap on top, it will literally melt in your mouth like a Fillet. The flavor is unreal. Give it a try if you can find it.

"picanha is aka "culotte" and is the cap of the sirloin top butt. Aka, it's the top of the cows ass cheek on either side of the spine. Like you say I bet it's some pretty good eating. Good flavor from that area. Next major muscle group going forward (towards the head) is where the tenderloins, strip steaks and porterhouses are pulled from."

As far as booze is concerned, my #1 would be a bottle of Casta Weber Azul Tequila from 1993. It's in a handblown glass bottle, with a handblown agave crystal in the bottom. The cork is Agave root and its wrapped in Agave leaves and also has a limited edition tag. I have some nice dessert wines from the mid 1990's direct from Italy (Military service), but I think the Tequila is worth more $.

Nice looking bottle, I like the bottle and cork, great touches.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Nice looking bottle, I like the bottle and cork, great touches.

It's sick brother. You can clearly see the Handblown breakoff on the bottom of the bottle. Totally class act and artwork if you ask me. The quality is very nice too from what I've researched. It just STANDS OUT versus other brands.

I know you're dabbling into the Tequila world. Might be something you look into as promoting yourself as ABOVE the rest.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Love Fuente cigars. Hemingway short stories for a quickie. I think current Opus X cigars are not close to what they used to be when they first came out back in the mid 90's. They used to be power houses....loved the old ones.

Booze:

Sipping Vodka - ZYR

Irish Whiskey - Jameson blenders dog, Green Spot and Red Breast

Scotch - I used to get Johnnie Walker Blue for free since I worked for Diageo, so I liked it for a blended scotch. I wouldn't buy it if I had to pay for it though...plenty other great stuff out there for a fraction of the price. I was allocated $1200 per quarter to buy their booze. I retired over 8 years ago, I still have so much sitting around.

Speaking of Diageo, we had a bar on the top floor of our building...It was modeled after the Guinness bar in Dublin, also owned by Diageo. Free drinking anytime. You can drink during business hours. It was bizarre to say the least. That said, you could not work there if you ever had a DWI or DUI. You would be let go if you ever had a drinking related incident.

Their scotch whiskey lineup was quite extensive - Johnnie Walker, Buchanan's, Cardhu, Justerini & Brooks, Bell's, Black & White, White Horse, Logan, Caol Ila, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Clynelish, The Singleton (Glen Ord, Dufftown, Glendullan), Dimple, Royal Lochnagar, Glen Elgin, Knockando, Windsor, Grand Old Parr, Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Dailuaine, Glenlossie, Glen Spey, Inchgower, Linkwood, Mannochmore, Mortlach, Strathmill, Teaninich.

Steaks - Filet Mignon & Delmonico

I have no frame of reference on the Opus X. I bought 3 or 4 because my shop had them in and I knew they wouldn't last long. I've smoked one and I did enjoy it. I've been letting them season in there but haven't found an occasion. I thought I'd smoke one when Ole Miss won the College World Series, but I had a summer cold and didn't want to screw my head up more. That's my one weak spot when it comes to cigars. My sinuses get screwed up easy, so I have to spread out smoking occasions. I don't know how I smoked a pack of Marlboros a day for damn near a decade. I quit the cigarettes years ago but it just morphed into a daily Copenhagen habit.

I know some don't like the lighter cigars but I like the Cohiba Connecticut a lot. But they're so damn pricey. But as rarely as I smoke them, I don't mind burning the money. Especially since I'm not spending it on good (or bad) liquor anymore!

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I have no frame of reference on the Opus X. I bought 3 or 4 because my shop had them in and I knew they wouldn't last long. I've smoked one and I did enjoy it. I've been letting them season in there but haven't found an occasion. I thought I'd smoke one when Ole Miss won the College World Series, but I had a summer cold and didn't want to screw my head up more. That's my one weak spot when it comes to cigars. My sinuses get screwed up easy, so I have to spread out smoking occasions. I don't know how I smoked a pack of Marlboros a day for damn near a decade. I quit the cigarettes years ago but it just morphed into a daily Copenhagen habit.

I know some don't like the lighter cigars but I like the Cohiba Connecticut a lot. But they're so damn pricey. But as rarely as I smoke them, I don't mind burning the money. Especially since I'm not spending it on good (or bad) liquor anymore!

That's probably a good idea to let the Opus's baste for a while in the humidor. Back in the day, I did a lot of reading about the manufacturing of cigars. The big deal about the Opus X's when they were launched was that the tobacco plants were planted on virgin ground, rich in all types of minerals. They talked about the minerals being depleted in the land after many years of farming and that will impact the flavors. Weather conditions also can impact the crop...so who knows, maybe I had a bum year. In the 90's every size was absolutely outstanding. I had my name on a waiting list. They were rare and impossible to get.

The variation that I experienced with the Opus happens to all cigars...year/weather, the humidity in your humidor...etc. That's what makes it exciting...like a box of cracker jacks, you never really know what you're going to get when you buy a cigar.

If the cigar burns too hot, that will definitely make them taste raunchy. It'll taste like carbon. I have to give it a while between slow drags for them to cool down. Drag slowly till you see smoke coming from the tip, then let it go. You'll get the best that cigar can offer....at least that's the method I found to be the best...never overheats. And don't force the ash. I see people all the time flicking the shit out of their cigars. The longer the ash, the better that cigar was put together.

Like yourself, I will smoke both natural and maduros cigars. CT shade is supposed to be the best natural wrapper on the planet.

[2022M550i]

Nice quick write up on Opus..

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/arti...e-fuente-opusx

Ha ha...look at the first comment at the bottom of page.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I have no frame of reference on the Opus X. I bought 3 or 4 because my shop had them in and I knew they wouldn't last long. I've smoked one and I did enjoy it. I've been letting them season in there but haven't found an occasion. I thought I'd smoke one when Ole Miss won the College World Series, but I had a summer cold and didn't want to screw my head up more. That's my one weak spot when it comes to cigars. My sinuses get screwed up easy, so I have to spread out smoking occasions. I don't know how I smoked a pack of Marlboros a day for damn near a decade. I quit the cigarettes years ago but it just morphed into a daily Copenhagen habit.

I know some don't like the lighter cigars but I like the Cohiba Connecticut a lot. But they're so damn pricey. But as rarely as I smoke them, I don't mind burning the money. Especially since I'm not spending it on good (or bad) liquor anymore!

I tried dip once in high school. I got super dizzy and almost threw up. Maybe it was the arbys I had just eaten before hand : That pretty much ended any chance of getting hooked on that.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

That's probably a good idea to let the Opus's baste for a while in the humidor. Back in the day, I did a lot of reading about the manufacturing of cigars. The big deal about the Opus X's when they were launched was that the tobacco plants were planted on virgin ground, rich in all types of minerals. They talked about the minerals being depleted in the land after many years of farming and that will impact the flavors. Weather conditions also can impact the crop...so who knows, maybe I had a bum year. In the 90's every size was absolutely outstanding. I had my name on a waiting list. They were rare and impossible to get.

The variation that I experienced with the Opus happens to all cigars...year/weather, the humidity in your humidor...etc. That's what makes it exciting...like a box of cracker jacks, you never really know what you're going to get when you buy a cigar.

If the cigar burns too hot, that will definitely make them taste raunchy. It'll taste like carbon. I have to give it a while between slow drags for them to cool down. Drag slowly till you see smoke coming from the tip, then let it go. You'll get the best that cigar can offer....at least that's the method I found to be the best...never overheats. And don't force the ash. I see people all the time flicking the shit out of their cigars. The longer the ash, the better that cigar was put together.

Like yourself, I will smoke both natural and maduros cigars. CT shade is supposed to be the best natural wrapper on the planet.

Oliva makes a pretty good CT at a decent price, I think. The Cohiba CT is the best one I've had yet. I think I'll keep one or two on deck but I try not to burn them if I can't really relax. Apparently, they use a Mexican wrapper.

Edit - sorry! It uses a Mexican binder.

[Mandingo9]

Got my afternoon sorted

[I3LaZeN]

How many of you guys are on instagram?

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by I3LaZeN

How many of you guys are on instagram?

Id venture and say zero since everyone here is geriatric or acts like it, including myself

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by I3LaZeN

How many of you guys are on instagram?

I dont do any of that "social media" bullshit. I tried Facebook about 10 years ago and could care less what people are eating, how far you ran, etc.

From what I hear, now everyone just fights with each other on several of these platforms. Not for me.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

I dont do any of that "social media" bullshit. I tried Facebook about 10 years ago and could care less what people are eating, how far you ran, etc.

From what I hear, now everyone just fights with each other on several of these platforms. Not for me.

I had facebook since college when it first came out. It was a good way to keep in touch with people over the years. I started posting a bunch of libertarian stuff. They flagged my account saying I was a bot and they wanted me to send in pictures of my face to prove I was human or they'd delete my account. That was the end of that. I'm sure had i posted more stuff supporting oatmeal brain I'd have access. Good riddens.

[NGT2]

I have a few social media accounts but I don't use them much and don't use them for car stuff at all.