First Bottle of Pampero

[tym2relax]

After another fruitless search for El Dorado 15 I picked up my first bottle of Pampero Aniversario. I would like to get this rum off to a good start. I would love to hear your best cigar recommendation with this rum. Lew, are you out there?

[Lew Barrett]

Pampero will work with almost anything as it's incredibly versatile. You'll do fine with anything you enjoy that has some flavor. I've had a 1964 with it as well as one of those G belicosos I picked up and a St. Louis Rey corona especial, which is a smoke I enjoy as an everyday tosser. The 1964 was maybe just a touch more flavorful than the rum, but they're both so good, how could you go wrong? Ideally, I'd hit it with something just a bit more full than the G series. I suspect that box of V Torps will work in a few weeks. Go ahead and pick a bomb. It'll hold up. A Cuban would not be out of line, say a Punch Punch, if they would but let us do them or speak of them without retribution.
Let me know how it goes. I'm the world's biggest Pampero fan, as you know. Sadly, much as I love the stuff though, I think the ED works best with most of my full bodied cigars. I didn't start really liking ED15 until I was able to enjoy a smoke with it. Now, I treat it like...like....My Precious!:D

[tym2relax]

Thanks Lew. I just received some Oliva V's yesterday but unfortunately they got squished a bit during transit. Very sad indeed. Luckily, the wrapper is ok and I can resuscitate.

I look forward to comparing the Pampero to my only favorite Zaya. I am just exploring the world of fine rum now and do date only tried the Zaya and Ron Barcelo Imperial. The Barcelo is going to take some time to appreciate. Much different than the Zaya.

Sooner or later I will get the ED 15 and find out myself what that is all about. In the mean time I will get to know this Pampero.

[Hank Koestner]

Pampero is another good cigar rum, and I find a medium to full bodied cigar that is not too big works well here. I find the Padilla 1932 a good match, and the 1948 and 68, all blends by Don Pepin.

[Lew Barrett]

Just to keep the roll going, I just finished a Tatuaje Habano VI robusto. A terrific cigar, rivals a Serie D IV, I think. I have the remains of a box of those, so will do some comparisons later and report.

[Hank Koestner]

Both of you gentlemen keep hitting on most of my favorite cigars. I have a varity of sizes, 2 or 3 of each of the Tatuaje Havana and also the original brown label. I am a terrible singles buyer, so I always have a few of many cigars. If I find one that I really love, I buy a box, or split one. Of course, if I could buy Habanos, they would always be box or 10 pack purchases.
Lew, let us know what rums you find you like with these.

[tym2relax]

Mother's Day was a busy day with family coming over for brunch. My wife, mom and mother in-law had a great day and when it was over and the house was cleaned up, it was time to relax. So, I turn on the Pens game (luckily I get it here in LA), crack open the Pampero and pour a few ounces into a glass, grab a Gurkha Legend and head out to the patio.

I try the Pampero before lighting up to discover what this rum is about. I smell mild sweetness, toffee and a bit of smoke? and light alcohol. The taste is also slightly sweet, not as much as the Zaya, but just right. I also notice coffee?, leather?, toffee. Hard for a new guy to discern, but know right away that I like this rum. It is very smooth and goes down almost too easily.

I sit back and get the cigar going and enjoy it all. Life is good. I think that the Legend was more to the medium side and was not a perfect match, but still a great experience. I really like this rum. It seems to get everything right. It's not too anything, just right. Like the Pens winning!! (don't care much for our Lakers)

[Lew Barrett]

Pampero gets great reviews from everyone. Our Count's review, The Count on Pampero (http://www.refinedvices.com/Ron-Pampero-Aniversario-Venezuel) catches an aspect that eluded me...the subtle "varnish" undertone which is I think Pampero's only (modest) vice. However, that is not enough to put me off from what is, on a daily basis, probably the most versatile sipping rum in my collection. I reach for it whenever I can't think what else it is I want, and it almost never lets me down.

Hank: Cigarbid is an awful site. I'm sorry you reminded me of it in another post. Very dangerous, but it sure gets one's pricing chops up to speed in a hurry.

[tym2relax]

The 'devil site' can be an awesome place to get deals once you get the hang of it.

Lew, do have some Zaya?

[Lew Barrett]

I do, T2R. I have a relatively full bottle at the moment, and one in reserve. That's probably enough for now, but a second reserve bottle wouldn't be out of line under the circumstances. Unfortunately, it isn't available at retail in Washington, which means taking Draconian action, and I'm 86'd for the moment.

[Lew Barrett]

I do, T2R. I have a relatively full bottle at the moment, and one in reserve. That's probably enough for now, but a second reserve bottle wouldn't be out of line under the circumstances. Unfortunately, it isn't available at retail in Washington, which means taking Draconian action (mail-order), and I'm 86'd for the moment.

[Lew Barrett]

What is the hang of it? Bid early, bid late, or just be disciplined?

[Torpnubber]

I've been purchasing from CBid for over 5 years now and there are many bidding strategies.

If you are an East Coast resident, bid early with a max bid at about 60-65% of competing vendor prices. This has worked well for me over the years. I never snipe. I have more than enough cigars to last a lifetime so if I don't win a bid, I'll have another opportunity.

If you are a West Coast resident, you may get better results sniping the low cost available lots that close too late for East Coast guys.
If you are bidding on a lot with multiple boxes or fivers, never bid on all of them. Someone will always bid over you to get them.

I've been purchasing less and less from Cbid. Cigars International and CBid have really become a clearing house for discontinued and remarketed brands. Sometimes, the verbage on the listings are downright criminal. Prices have really increased over the years, as well. It's become commonplace to get a better deal with trusted vendors on the same items. CBid's packing department sucks. Shoving cigars in a box with a bunch of paper as protection is just poor customer service.

The best purchases are usually made on their one day specials and Cigar Joe specials. I just bought 20 Vegas Cubanas (Pepin produced) for $60.00 shipped on Friday. I passed on a great deal on a 50 count box of Rocky Patel Old World Reserve for $175.00. CBid is still a great place to buy 5 packs, as well

In a way, I'm lucky. I live in Eastern Penna, and have a great selection of vendors (Holts, Famous Smoke Shop, CI, Jim Cronin's Top Shelf, Black Cat)

Just don't get me started on our state's alcohol monopoly :mad:

[tym2relax]

I've been purchasing from CBid for over 5 years now and there are many bidding strategies.

If you are an East Coast resident, bid early with a max bid at about 60-65% of competing vendor prices. This has worked well for me over the years. I never snipe. I have more than enough cigars to last a lifetime so if I don't win a bid, I'll have another opportunity.

If you are a West Coast resident, you may get better results sniping the low cost available lots that close too late for East Coast guys.
If you are bidding on a lot with multiple boxes or fivers, never bid on all of them. Someone will always bid over you to get them.

I've been purchasing less and less from Cbid. Cigars International and CBid have really become a clearing house for discontinued and remarketed brands. Sometimes, the verbage on the listings are downright criminal. Prices have really increased over the years, as well. It's become commonplace to get a better deal with trusted vendors on the same items. CBid's packing department sucks. Shoving cigars in a box with a bunch of paper as protection is just poor customer service.

The best purchases are usually made on their one day specials and Cigar Joe specials. I just bought 20 Vegas Cubanas (Pepin produced) for $60.00 shipped on Friday. I passed on a great deal on a 50 count box of Rocky Patel Old World Reserve for $175.00. CBid is still a great place to buy 5 packs, as well

In a way, I'm lucky. I live in Eastern Penna, and have a great selection of vendors (Holts, Famous Smoke Shop, CI, Jim Cronin's Top Shelf, Black Cat)

Just don't get me started on our state's alcohol monopoly :mad:

What he said, plus I would add CigarMonster to the daily deal. You can add them both to your iGoogle home page so you don't have to travel far to see the deals of the day.

[Lew Barrett]

You know, it's taken me all this time to figure out what Torpnubber meant?:D
Now that I got it, it makes me smile!

Thanks for the advice. I'm sure it will be useful.

[Torpnubber]

I consider myself a neophyte when it comes to rum.

Cigars.....not as much ;)

[tym2relax]

Hey Torp, are you in the U.S. of A.?

[Torpnubber]

Yup.

I live about 30 miles outside of Philadelphia, in Bucks County, Pa

[tym2relax]

Thanks torp, good to know. Sorry about those poor Flyers though ;)

[Hank Koestner]

Yes, the Pampero does go down very easily. One that will be repaced often.

[Lew Barrett]

Cigars since 1968 here. But as a creature of habit, (habits, actually) I had avoided um, domestic smokes, for all but the last few years. In truth, I started out with them, and spent some energy exploring again during the boom. It seems things have improved greatly since that ill wind. I still love the old marques, but the lately (on a relative basis) improved SA crops have finally turned my head. So, now it's off to explore the wonders of a billion brands. Never been much for most Dominicans, though. My tastes are solidly with the NC and Hondos. Though I have to admit, an Ashton VSG I smoked the other day had the greatest aroma of almost any cigar I have ever smoked.

[Torpnubber]

I liken the current state of cigars to the state of wine in the 70's

The French Bordeaux and Burgundy regions dominated collectible fine wines and with good reason. The French AOC set very high standards for production and established the domaine and terroir theory.

It wasn't until the double blind wine tasting in Paris 1976, that California wines were given true credibility by beating their French counterparts.

The Californians were creating exciting wines and they were doing it by experimenting with new techniques and technological advancements. This style of winemaking spread to other countries like Australia, Chile, Spain, and eventually Italy and France. It's very hard to get a bad bottle of wine these days.

The market for cigars is similar. The Cuban leaf has a wonderful taste but the production techniques haven't changed for decades. The marques are rather staid and unexciting.
Counter that with everything going on in Nicaragua and to a lesser extent Hondurans, DR and Ecuador. Jose "Pepin" Garcia is introducing exciting "Cuban inspired" blends, the Fuentes innovation with Dominican sun grown wrappers, specific appellation grown cigars by the likes of Camacho, Perdomo and others are changing the way cigars are produced and marketed.

Once the Cuban government allows outside investment, I think you will see a huge investment in new Cuban leaf. I know the Olivas, Pepin Garcia, and Nick Perdomo would love to produce cigars with Cuban tobacco and would rush to get their operations rolling and create exciting blends.

I think we will see this happen in the next few years (I hope).
This technological change is going on in the market for spirits, as well. Just look at the 10 Cane and Leblon brands and you will see new concentration on distillation and aging.

I think we're in for a good few years of sipping and smoking :)

[tym2relax]

I know the Olivas, Pepin Garcia, and Nick Perdomo would love to produce cigars with Cuban tobacco and would rush to get their operations rolling and create exciting blends.

Great post Torp, I agree with you completely. I recently read an interview with Pepin Garcia and he was asked about the perfect cigar and replied that it would be a 'blend' that included Cuban leaf. That always stuck in my mind because there are folks that get into a Cuban vs NC debate and I think that this will become a non-issue iwhen cigar makers get access to all leaf.

It's a bright future!