Vin, thanks for the pictures - glad someone put up some pictures.
Here is my feeble attempt to summarize some of the night's festivities.
Good to see a few pictures up here. I didn't talk about all the cigars I was given.
Ryan and I followed each other to Tim's place, he was waiting out on the front porch for us. As we're doing some introductions, Vin pulls up and introductions are made there. Then Tim gives us the grand tour - pointing different directions to the different rooms in the house (done from in front of the humidor). I think I was in 3 rooms (kitchen, bathroom, living room) and a hallway. We brought in the food and beverage and then headed out to the backyard.
(Ryan gave me a couple cigars, already mentioned, an Escensia Lancero and a Francesco lanceretto.)
As we get settled around the picnic table, setting out the food, we all fire up cigars (or already have them burning) and start snacking. That's when Vin walks up and slaps a 5er on me, literally. He walks up and unceremoniously drops it in my lap and says, “This is for you.” A 5er baggie - full - an ‘08 Bolivar PC, an ‘08 Montecristo #4, a 5/09 El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme, a Tatuaje Zona del Este, and a Saint Luis Rey EL Asia Pacifico. I just sit there, stunned, and mumble, “Um, ah, um, Thanks!”
Tim (TheStatsGuy) lays a hit on me, giving me no choice, “this is for you,” and gives me a Diamond Crown Maximus Robutsto #5
4 of us are lounging in the backyard, snarfing shrimp and Doritos, when Tim & Tim pull up and wander into the backyard. More food and drink is laid out.
Tim (T Ricker) gets little impatient waiting for Moe and decides to start some of the main course and throws some steaks on the grill. You’ll have to ask him what the seasoning were, but they were tasty, very enjoyable.
It is about this time when Moe shows up (with his handsome son - names kept out of this public forum) bearing sausages and cannolis. Everybody greets one another when he comes over to me opens up a case and tells me, “Take one.” Staring at me are a few Ccs and I demur, try passing, but he insists, “Is there something in there you haven’t had?” Seeing that he isn’t going to let me off the hook, or move that case from out in front of my nose if I don’t grab a stick, I take a Vegas Robaina Unicos, and thank him for his kindness.
We continue to snack and smoke, when Tim (SpitNChew) lays a massive 6X60 Connecticut shade beauty on me, “You gotta try this. I haven’t had one yet, so I can’t tell you what their like.” I know he told me, like about 20 times what it was, but being an unfamiliar name, I have again forgotten it. (Please refresh my memory.) I try to give it back to him, but that ain’t happening. So, I put it in my travel case till a little later.
After we’ve finished “the main course’, cigars start getting lit again. That’s when I pull a surprise out of my case, a gift to me from Shilala, a Garcia Y Vega Senator Bonded Havana from 1940. Tricker starts it off and we pass it around - pretty soon it is jsut myself and SptiNChew puffing on it. It has some interesting flavors which none of can put our finger on. It isn’t bad, but there are only two of us puffing on it, giving you an idea of how interesting and special it isn’t. It wasn’t dry and grasslike as some others we’ve had that are this age, but it wasn’t a “wow”er either.
We have a great evening, food, drink, cigars and the highlight - conversation of friends.
Vin has a long drive, so he leaves first. Then Moe and his boy head out. Then Tim’s 3 & 4 head off. Ryan and I head into the house with Tim to grab the last of our stuff. That’s when Tim says we’re supposed to grab a stick out of his humidor - and he’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer. So, I grab a Por Larranaga PC, figuring I’d be good with just that. Ooops, faulty figuring on my part. He reaches in and from a couple drawers draws out two more and gives them to me - a Cohiba Siglo #2, and a DPG Vegas Cubanas Toro (?).
Thus ends a fantastic evening.
I want to especially thank Kristen for allowing us to invade her home, and Tim for his generosity and hospitality. It was a great evening - Thanks! God’s blessing upon you both as you raise that wonderful young man that you have brought into your home and made a part of your family.
Peace of the Lord be with you.
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