What to smoke for graduation? [Archive] - Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum

Kwilkinson

05-06-2009, 02:57 PM

In November, I will be graduating culinary school with my degree in culinary arts. It's been a long, strange trip through the last 22 years, and I am happy that I've found something that not only am I successful with, but that truly makes me happy every day.
That said, what cigar should I smoke for celebration on the day of graduation? I posted this in the NC forum b/c I don't have much experience with CCs, but have nothing against them if there is a good recommendation.
Since November is a pretty good while away, I was hoping to get this cigar before too long and make sure it has plenty of time to rest before smoking it. Also, I don't mind dropping a little bit of coin for this special occasion, but no $80 stick recommendations please. So any good recommendations??
Thanks in advance.

boonedoggle

05-06-2009, 03:06 PM

I almost always recommend a Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro. These are the best, IMHO! Congrats!:tu

hotreds

05-06-2009, 03:25 PM

Congratulations, chef!

What do you like? That is the key. I'm not a big Padron or Fuente fan. My :2
would be the Ashton Estate Sungrown. Or any cc Cohiba.

eber

05-06-2009, 03:25 PM

my last special occasion smoke was a Padron 1926 80th maduro, it was pretty awesome

DougBushBC

05-06-2009, 03:26 PM

I definately consider the God of Fire line to be "Celebratory Smokes" Maybe a nice Carlito? Try and grab one with some age? They are fantastic smokes that are mildly overpriced.

The other one that I just bought for a celebration that is coming soon (a ring involved :)) is the La Aurora Vintage Puro Sol Salomone... Try it!

Lensjockie

05-06-2009, 04:16 PM

Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro, or Gurkha Black Dragon 7 inch

gnukfu

05-06-2009, 04:30 PM

my last special occasion smoke was a Padron 1926 80th maduro, it was pretty awesome

:tpd:

Darrell

05-06-2009, 04:37 PM

H. Upmann Sir Winston. :D

gnukfu

05-06-2009, 04:41 PM

H. Upmann Sir Winston. :D

Well for crying out loud Darrell....this is the non-cuban section! I would vote for a Mag 50 just because that is the latest cuban I'm in love with.

troutbreath

05-07-2009, 05:08 AM

First, congratulations! Good luck in your future endeavors.

Second, I would go with one of my personal favs (in this case, your personal favs), and carefully pair it with the mood and menu of the evening. There are lots of good cigars people can recommend, but they could overpower the celebration or be of a vitola that is not appropriate for the time available or mood of the room. Choosing one of your favorites will also assure that you like the selection.

Have a great time!

ahc4353

05-07-2009, 06:53 AM

I agree with going with something you know you like or at least a Marca you like. Maybe with a few years on it. My idea of a great cigar might not be yours.

With that said, what are a couple of your favorite Marca's both CC and NC?

big a

05-07-2009, 07:03 AM

I just picked up some celevration sticks, I ended up getting a AF shark, Davidoff series R, Davidoff Millenium, And a Padron 1926. All of those came highly recommended to me from BOTL.

KidRock

05-07-2009, 07:05 AM

my last special occasion smoke was a Padron 1926 80th maduro, it was pretty awesome

+3 This cigar is the best one that I have ever smoked.

Hardcz

05-07-2009, 07:10 AM

About time!

If you meet up with me AND show me how to sharpen my knives correctly, I have something that might tickle your fancy.

rrplasencia

05-07-2009, 07:16 AM

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:16 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys
I agree with going with something you know you like or at least a Marca you like. Maybe with a few years on it. My idea of a great cigar might not be yours.

With that said, what are a couple of your favorite Marca's both CC and NC?
Hmmm.... Well I love the entire Padron line. I've had the Anniversary's and I wish I were rich enough to make them an everyday smoke. I've also enjoyed most Perdomo I've come across.
CC, I've only ever smoked a handful. I got bombed a few by Jbo and the Hillbilly Herf last year. I have little such little experience with them I'm not sure I could tell you what I like best.

About time!

If you meet up with me AND show me how to sharpen my knives correctly, I have something that might tickle your fancy.
:r:r You drive a hard bargain, Dan!

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:18 AM

GOF or Davidoff Winston Churchill

Congrats on making through culinary school. You should prepare yourself to miss holidays, birthdays, anny's, nights, and weekends, and family, and friends. Find yourself the biggest toughest S.O.B. chef you can find because it will pay off in the end. And don't be that guy that shows up the first day after graduating and has chef written on his jacket. We destroyed that kid when he walked in :r. It's a long, tough, thankless road but if you can weather it will truly be a rewarding career. Good luck.

books to get Michel Bras, Thomas Keller, & *Culinary Artistry*(for flavor profiles)

Thanks! I staged for a couple months in a restaurant here. The Chef really kicked my ass, and I enjoyed it to be honest. I felt like it made me tougher, but it also made me feel like part of the team instead of an outsider stage. The one thing I learned is that when you're new in a kitchen, you best keep your head down, your mouth shut, and your ears open.
Thanks for the book recs! I've got TFL and Culinary Artistry (those profile pages are seriously awesome) but I'll have to pick up Bras.

Hardcz

05-07-2009, 07:27 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys

Hmmm.... Well I love the entire Padron line. I've had the Anniversary's and I wish I were rich enough to make them an everyday smoke. I've also enjoyed most Perdomo I've come across.
CC, I've only ever smoked a handful. I got bombed a few by Jbo and the Hillbilly Herf last year. I have little such little experience with them I'm not sure I could tell you what I like best.

:r:r You drive a hard bargain, Dan!

I'm picking out a few for you already. What year were you born?

D_A

05-07-2009, 07:33 AM

Congrats on making through culinary school. You should prepare yourself to miss holidays, birthdays, anny's, nights, and weekends, and family, and friends ...
Yup, that's one of the reasons I eventually left the business.

The one thing I learned is that when you're new in a kitchen, you best keep your head down, your mouth shut, and your ears open.
Hey, you passed FNG 101 already. :tu

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:34 AM

I'm picking out a few for you already.
Now now, let's keep things peaceful. You don't want to start a war.
What year were you born?
Best year ever baby, 1987. The year Reagan got prostate surgery. The year U2 released The Joshua Tree. The first appearance ever of the Simpsons cartoon. Some other crap happened in there too.
Yes a good year indeed.

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:36 AM

Hey, you passed FNG 101 already. :tu

Had to google FNG, but :r

Hardcz

05-07-2009, 07:36 AM

The year some d00sh was born named Kevin Wilkinson....

No war, just a congrats cigar and thanks for learning me to sharpen things.

Any plans on where you might work?

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:39 AM

The year some d00sh was born named Kevin Wilkinson....

No war, just a congrats cigar and thanks for learning me to sharpen things.

Any plans on where you might work?

Dunno man. I've applied to a lot of places for my externship. Hopefully I get a great externship and can stay on board afterward. If I can only get a decent externship, then I'll prob try to stay in that job for at least 6+ months to get some more experience. I'd like to stay in Chicago/Minneapolis/DC/NYC/SanFran (or yountsvillle or healdsburg :D:D ). But honestly, this is my career, it's the rest of my life. I'm ready to get started and follow the path that life takes me on.

BTW stop calling me Kevin, Dane.:r

ahc4353

05-07-2009, 07:46 AM

Anyone needing an address for Kyle I have one that is valid through August.

PM me if interested.

:D

I do know that he is a single malt drinker. Just sayin.

87? Christ! Now I do feel old! Thanks buddy. :sad:

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:50 AM

Anyone needing an address for Kyle I have one that is valid through August.

PM me if interested.

I do know that he is a single malt drinker. Just sayin.

87? Christ! Now I do feel old! Thanks buddy.

DUDE

:mad::mad:

Note to newbs: if you think you have friends on this site, you are bound to get backstabbed!

You can't be any older than my dad, who is an ancient 57. But man, you have a kid in college now. Gettin up there buddy :r

BTW, I'd give out your address but I'm pretty sure everyone knows it! I think it comes in the first PM new members get :r:r

rrplasencia

05-07-2009, 08:27 AM

The one thing I learned is that when you're new in a kitchen, you best keep your head down, your mouth shut, and your ears open.

With that statement alone you're more set-up to succeed then all the crap kids i get coming out of CIA, PICA, J&W, and Le Cordon Blew. (i spelled it that way on purpose)

RevSmoke

05-07-2009, 08:45 AM

Well for crying out loud Darrell....this is the non-cuban section! I would vote for a Mag 50 just because that is the latest cuban I'm in love with.

I'd have to agree with George, I have had a couple and they are exquisite - and they are only from 2008. I cannot imagine what these ould be like with some age.

Of course, as we are looking at NCs, I'd have to concur with the Padron '64 Maduros are about the tops, and the Exclusivo is (IMO) the best of them.

However, I am going to through out another that is simply exquisite, with some of the most incredible flavors (but less full-bodied). That is the Moore & Bode Flamboyan blend. If you can get some of these, you will not be disappointed - the Salvadore is great, and the Brass or Full Brass are simply incredible.

Darrell

05-07-2009, 08:53 AM

Well for crying out loud Darrell....this is the non-cuban section! I would vote for a Mag 50 just because that is the latest cuban I'm in love with.

Technically, it's ALL Cigar Discussion.

DocLogic77

05-07-2009, 08:55 AM

NC= Opus X power ranger...or Davidoff Grand Cru #2

CC=Partagas P2, Partagas 898v, Cohiba Lancero

Hardcz

05-07-2009, 08:59 AM

ok Kev.....

......

chop me up some tiny square onions please.

Kwilkinson

05-07-2009, 07:48 PM

Thanks for all the recs guys, I really appreciate them.
With that statement alone you're more set-up to succeed then all the crap kids i get coming out of CIA, PICA, J&W, and Le Cordon Blew. (i spelled it that way on purpose)
I'm actually an LCB student. To be entirely honest, my school is nothing more than a diploma factory, riding the reputation it built up before LCB bought it out. When I see the people that keep passing classes and see the food they produce and realize it's only b/c they pay their tuition bill monthly, I know it's pretty F'd up. But, like most things I try to realize that I'll only get out of it exactly what I put into it. I definitely don't think I'm going to go into a kitchen and be an exec. chef in 3 years, which is what a lot of my fellow students seem to think.
ok Kev.....

......

chop me up some tiny square onions please.
:r:r I can do that.

ucla695

05-07-2009, 07:49 PM

Conrgrats!!! Any of the Padron Annys will treat you well. :tu

JJG

05-07-2009, 08:21 PM

My vote goes to PAMs as well. Excellent flavor, reasonably priced and widely available.

or see if you can track down an Opus X in the WTB forum. They're over-priced and even more over-hyped but still excellent smokes in my opinion.

but most importantly get something BIG like double corona and give yourself plenty of time to sit back and reflect on your accomplishment. :tu

Jimbo14

05-08-2009, 12:26 AM

Something from the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos line

Kwilkinson

05-09-2009, 06:00 PM

I don't really know where to post this or if I should, but I'm excited. I just got my externship at Cyrus in Healdsburg, CA. It's one of the nicest places in the country. I am SO f-ing excited. :dance::dance::wo