Changed....
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
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Mercer Cigars Custom Rolled?
- Thread starter txaggie9307
- Start date
Read his review carefully and you'll find out all you need to know about shipping. I just don't want to say too much on here.
What he said!
Have any of you guys looked at Brook's review on these cigars? I wonder if these things are really Cuban Tobbacco? The ash color is almost stark white (I guess not typical of cubans)...
BrooksW
BoM June '09
From me smoking them, I will say that IMO, they are definitely cuban tobacco...All the indicators point to it (scent of cigar, dominant flavors etc)...
While I am obviously just going from what I was told by Drew, this is a major coup (to be able to offer true VR Farm cigars), so I don't think he would be able to market them as that unless they actually were...
Just my $.02!
~brooks
So, why the white ash (as txaggie9307 had asked)?
It is my understanding that a dominantly white colored ash is a result of soil additives NOT utilized in Cuban farms, hence most Cubans have ash that is generally light to dark grey, and rarely (if ever) white.
Curious, Brooks....Why do these have a stark white ash?
Mind you, I am not doubting anyone or anything here...Just wondering why this is so.
It is my understanding that a dominantly white colored ash is a result of soil additives NOT utilized in Cuban farms, hence most Cubans have ash that is generally light to dark grey, and rarely (if ever) white.
Curious, Brooks....Why do these have a stark white ash?
Mind you, I am not doubting anyone or anything here...Just wondering why this is so.
If I had it and enjoyed it, I wouldn't care if it were from Kentucky Amish farms, much less Pinar del Rio.
Brooks I think implied that it was definitely a worthy purchase price-wise, and that factors into any question of origin for me.
Brooks I think implied that it was definitely a worthy purchase price-wise, and that factors into any question of origin for me.
the ash color isn't a set in stone indicator of a tobaccos origin. Like bassman said i have also had cuban cigars with ash that is quite light in color. I will say that the heavy majority of cubans produce dark ash though, but still going on ash alone you can't determine whether a cigar is cuban or not.
Also, brooks isn't the person to ask here concerning the ash color. We just review the cigars. I am pretty confident that brooks doesn't know exactly why the ash is white and is a little baffled by it himself but all in all it doesn't take away from the fact that the cigar was excellent and worth buying.
Also, brooks isn't the person to ask here concerning the ash color. We just review the cigars. I am pretty confident that brooks doesn't know exactly why the ash is white and is a little baffled by it himself but all in all it doesn't take away from the fact that the cigar was excellent and worth buying.
BrooksW
BoM June '09
Guys, I think that assuming that this is not a cuban cigar based on ash color alone is a bit nonsensical...I have been smoking for many years, and one thing I have found is there are NO absolutes when it comes to a hand made product like cigars.
I can assure you that not every cuban cigar on the face of the earth has (only) grayish ash.
Having said that, as Steve mentioned, our job is only to review the cigar, and note what we see and taste...I could not care less if the ash was green (although I would mention it, of course).
~brooks
I can assure you that not every cuban cigar on the face of the earth has (only) grayish ash.
Having said that, as Steve mentioned, our job is only to review the cigar, and note what we see and taste...I could not care less if the ash was green (although I would mention it, of course).
~brooks
I think ash color is determined by how well the combustion of the tobacco occurs and is heavily influenced by the nutrients in the soil it is grown in. As the same crop is continually planted in the same soil these nutrients get used up. One way to get the nutrients back into the soil is through chemical fertilizers. There are other organic methods that generally work slower and don't hit the high nutrient levels that chemical fertilizers will. I'm not familiar with cuban growing practices, but I would be surprised if they didn't practice some form of sustainable agriculture, especially at Robaina's farm. Also, there are minerals in the soil that are not useable by the plants, but slowly break down over time into a useable form. It could have just been a spike in this break down due to climactic conditions before the growing season. I wonder if these custom rolled sticks get better tobacco or if they are planting new fields and use the tobaccos here first.
Wow.....Amazing how the snowball effect always occurs in these threads!!
Like I said originally, I am not doubting anyone or anything here...Just wondering why this is so.
I agree that if a great cigar is from Cuba, Kansas, New Guinea, or Downtown Los Angeles; if it's a great cigar, then it's a great cigar. Period.
I have been smoking mostly Cubans for the past 21 years, and can count on one hand the number of times I have seen anything but a light to dark grey ash. I am no expert, but I am just wondering what may be causing what seems to be an anomaly.
Maybe Hiroshi is growing leaves in this blend with different methods? Maybe he is using some experimental fermentation process? I have no idea, but it's intriguing to me to find out why the ash on these are so different, that's all.
Like I said originally, I am not doubting anyone or anything here...Just wondering why this is so.
I agree that if a great cigar is from Cuba, Kansas, New Guinea, or Downtown Los Angeles; if it's a great cigar, then it's a great cigar. Period.
I have been smoking mostly Cubans for the past 21 years, and can count on one hand the number of times I have seen anything but a light to dark grey ash. I am no expert, but I am just wondering what may be causing what seems to be an anomaly.
Maybe Hiroshi is growing leaves in this blend with different methods? Maybe he is using some experimental fermentation process? I have no idea, but it's intriguing to me to find out why the ash on these are so different, that's all.
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- Joined
- Aug 5, 2009
- Messages
- 83
The ash question is intriguing and I will investigate when I re-visit next month.
I have seen more than a few solid white ashes from Cuban cigars, the recent Punch Punch, come to mind. In our eyes, it is not all that unusual.
Cheers
Drew P
I have seen more than a few solid white ashes from Cuban cigars, the recent Punch Punch, come to mind. In our eyes, it is not all that unusual.
Cheers
Drew P
Thanks for the input, Drew.
I admit that I haven't been buying as many Cubans over the past year or so...Too many quality cigars coming from Nicaragua these days that I want to tuck away and age.
So maybe this is a trend that I have not noticed.
I just know that it HAS been common knowledge that white ash and Cuban cigars were never mentioned in the same sentence....Perhaps things have changed, as you gave pointed out with the recent Punch Punch.
Maybe the demand and/or soil conditions have been met with different, and new farming techniques in Cuba.
All very cool...I love realizing that there is so much to learn in the world of cigars.
Figured I would bump this thread as the DG thread was getting posts that should go here
When I referenced the vr farmies I have I should have stated they are from a different source then drew. Took a photo and measurements of the stick. While wrapper is similar color and looks oily the sticks I have are just over 6 inches in length and more of a 50 then 52 rg.
Brooks can you verify the measurements specified on yours to see if they match whats listed on the site? I suppose anyone thats grabbes some could do this also.
Image removed for now.
When I referenced the vr farmies I have I should have stated they are from a different source then drew. Took a photo and measurements of the stick. While wrapper is similar color and looks oily the sticks I have are just over 6 inches in length and more of a 50 then 52 rg.
Brooks can you verify the measurements specified on yours to see if they match whats listed on the site? I suppose anyone thats grabbes some could do this also.
Image removed for now.
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
I have no basis for saying this, but since it was noted that Hiroshi Robaina was supposedly involved in creating these Mercer cigars, is it possible they are using some of the tobacco from Ecuador fields? It was reported last year by Cigar Aficionado that Hiroshi was traveling to Ecuador to start operations there...
Again, no basis for saying that but just throwing it out there as food for thought. I know a lot of cigar makers are welcoming the opportunity to blend cuban tobacco with other tobacco and maybe this is Robaina's first try?
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=37766&highlight=honduras
Again, no basis for saying that but just throwing it out there as food for thought. I know a lot of cigar makers are welcoming the opportunity to blend cuban tobacco with other tobacco and maybe this is Robaina's first try?
http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=37766&highlight=honduras
This would make perfect sense, AND explain the white ash that has been perplexing everyone.
The only problem is that these cigars are being advertised (by Mercer) as Cuban, and not a blend of tobacco from other countries.