.

[nottu]

[nottu]

[kamome]

huge full array of Cubans.

What's the going rate for a Cohiba in Tokyo these days? 3000-4000 yen?

[Mulboyne]

...Walk down the main drag from Harajuku - you will see a cigar bar within the first 1/3 mile on the left. Its location is basement - no windows. Great place - this guy is a conneiseur - huge full array of Cubans...

Cafe & Cigar Bar Chardonnay
B1 Harajuku Piazza Bldg
4-26-18 Jingumae
Shibuya-ku

Tel: 03-3401-6608

[nottu]

[nottu]

[nottu]

[Greji]

For serious Kyoto hamaki lovers-

http://www.cigarjapan.com/

but price and availabilty still dictates that I bring mine from the US.

That's my mate's site. He used to be a skier on the Swiss National Downhill B-team until he wore out a tree on a run. If you are unaware, taking on a tall pine head-on is not conducive to furthering a downhill career. During his rehibilitation he met a Tokyo based rice cooker and ended up here married as an FG. All though he doesn't retail directly to consumers, he can fill you in on the good stuff.

"Hamaki" (appropriate name) on this board is also pretty knowledgeable for a pervert....

[Hamaki]

this guy is a conneiseur - huge full array of Cubans.

How do you know he was a connoisseur? Just having a full array of Cubans does not make him a connoisseur.

When I was there, there was only one other person in the whole joint - a gal about 30 years old smoking a big obsucro robusto

What is obsucro? do you mean oscuro? if so, the Cubans do not make oscuros.

If you looking for somewhere to spend your money on food/wine/cigars/women then you should try NY Grill in Shinjuku. All is good but you may need to bring your own women.

Hamaki

[nottu]

[halfnip]

No need to go all out. I usually just head to the LC chains, mostly the one in Six Trees. They've got enough Cohiba's for my taste, and if they're too packed, I usually just pick one up and light it up at Agave or head down to one of the other cigar friendly bars in Nishi Azabu....

[Hamaki]

No need to go all out. I usually just head to the LC chains, mostly the one in Six Trees. They've got enough Cohiba's for my taste, and if they're too packed, I usually just pick one up and light it up at Agave or head down to one of the other cigar friendly bars in Nishi Azabu....

I don't like LC because they have a table charge and the employees there really do not know much about cigars, though they have a few. I just go to any bar and smoke a cigar, usually the same one Gregi goes to.

Hamaki

[Hamaki]

Well, actually I don't don't know if he's a real connoisseur, but by the look of the place he seemed to be a real appreciator of cigars - he didn't seem to be in it for the dough - more of a personal pleasure.
obsucro was a typo - one too many - how is it Cubans don't make oscuros? I didn't know they were location specific.
Seems a lot of places in Japan are Cuban cigar centered so if you're coming from the US, its kind of a suprise.

I have been to Chardonnay and the guy is a poser.

Oscuro is the word used for a cigar with a almost black wrapper. Cuba has not produced anything darker that a maduro.

Here are some of the wrapper colors (stolen from some other site):

CLARO - light tan. Usually this is the color of shade grown tobacco. Connecticut Shade wrappers are said to be some of the finest in the world. Shade grown tobacco is grown under large canopies to protect the tobacco from harsh sunlight. Neutral flavor and smooth smoking.

NATURAL - (also called English Market Select) light brown to brown. These are most often sun grown, meaning they are not protected by canopies like shade grown leaves. Fuller bodied flavor than shade grown leaves, but still very smooth.

COLORADO - reddish dark brown, aromatic. A cigar with this wrapper tastes robust and rich.

MADURO - dark brown to very dark brown. These usually have more texture and veining than the lighter wrappers. They are
often described as oily looking, with stronger taste - sweet to some palates with a unique aroma.

OSCURO - very dark brown or almost black. They are the strongest tasting of all wrappers. These wrappers tend to be from Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico, or Connecticut Broadleaf.

EMS or English Market Selection = Natural (almost all Cuban cigars are EMS)
SMS or Spanish Market Selection = Maduro (this term is no longer used)
AMS or American Market Selection = Claro (this term is no longer used)

Haamki

[nottu]

[Hamaki]

Which Cubans do you recommend?

Partagas 8-9-8 varnished (sometimes has a hard draw and should be keep in a humidor that is not over 65%RH)
Partagas Shorts
Partagas Series D #2
Ramon Allones Small Club Corona
Cohiba Robusto (pricey)
Rafael Gonzalez Corona Extra
Bolivar Belicosos Finos

and many more...

[IkemenTommy]

Good thread topic and I hope we keep it very informative as possible. Even Greji, our favorite thread crasher, hasn't spoiled it yet so let's keep it rolling (no pun intended).

I'm a novice hamaki smoker as well.. cough cough.. with a small wooden (cedar?) humidor. I open it every once in a while just to check up on the humidity and the temperature. During these hot summer days, the readings inside, according to the digital thermometer/hygrometer, says 29~30C/80%RH. I think the temperature is a bit high and the RH won't come down unless I have the AC on all day, which ain't gonna happen considering I am super eco-cheap with the electricity bill.

Should I be concerned about those readings? I leave the humidor in the shoe box closet by the entrance door. Is there a better place to store it if the conditions are too warm?

Thanks!

[kamome]

My humble, hamaki, opinion is that the Cubano is completely overrated.

As a novice, I haven't developed enough of a sense to compare tastes, but do you think the Honduran and Santa Domingan cigars beat out the Cubans that Hamaki (the FG member) mentioned? I ask because these sound like good options to try in the US, where the Cuban hamaki ban still exists.

Hamaki, any other options besides the Honduran/Santa Domingan that you think are good substitutes for the Cubanos?

[nottu]

[Greji]

Even Greji, our favorite thread crasher, hasn't spoiled it yet so let's keep it rolling (no pun intended).

Let's see, I'm just getting old and forgetful. Tommy could you remind me again? I seem to have forgotten just when was the last time I told you to get fucked?

[Hamaki]

the readings inside, according to the digital thermometer/hygrometer, says 29~30C/80%RH.

Should I be concerned about those readings? I leave the humidor in the shoe box closet by the entrance door. Is there a better place to store it if the conditions are too warm?

Thanks!

Yes, the tmep and RH are too high. You should not be adding any water or any other liquid to the humidor this time of year in Japan.

You should find the coolest place in your home that is not in direct sunlight. If you can not get the temp and RH down you may get the dreaded tobacco beetle eating little holes in your cigars. I would be more worried about the RH at this time, you need to get it down under 70%RH.

Hamaki

[Hamaki]

Hamaki, any other options besides the Honduran/Santa Domingan that you think are good substitutes for the Cubanos?

Yes, Honduras, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic all have good cigars. I like a stronger cigars and Honduras has many medium to strong blends.

I like:
Camacho SLR Robusto/Monarca (what ever its called)
Camacho 11/18 (don't put these in a humidor that has a RH above 65%)
Hoyo de Monterrey Robusto from Honduras (the seconds of these are good and cheep, when you can get them)
Oliva O (talk about some dark cigars)
CaO

there are just too many to list.

Hamaki

[kamome]

This thread is great, but it could also use pictures of J-people smoking hamaki and FGs smoking hamaki in Japan. It may be tough to find those, so points to whoever can locate and post them.

[Greji]

Hamaki night tonight at Kikis

[Hamaki]

Why do you need photos, just smoke the dam cigars!!

Hamaki

[Western All Stars]

...30 year old pretty J-female, yellow beaver in total appreciation, 18 year old Glenlivet single malt, ... stop me, I can't take anymore

So what happened? Pray do tell.

[kamome]

Why do you need photos, just smoke the dam cigars!!

Hamaki

Pics always enhance the experience on FG.

[Hamaki]

a gal about 30 years old smoking a big obsucro robusto

So, your into j-gals with big black things in their mouth.

:smoking:

[Greji]

So, your into j-gals with big black things in their mouth.

:smoking:

Naw, but AO thinks they have some merit...

[Hamaki]

Smoke any good cigars lately?

[nottu]