Cigar Smoking Set #45 Posted ~ Fuente Fuente OpusX Oro Oscuro Reserva d'Chateau

 

 Enjoying a Fuente Fuente OpusX Oro Oscuro Reserva d'Chateau at Waterwheel Cigar in Fernandina Beach, FL. It's an awesome cigar and an awesome shop! I recommend checking out both, if you can.

Cigar Mini Photo Set #41 and Set #42 Posted

 The mini set is from my cruise in 2015. It's only two pics, because I didn't really get a chance to get more pics or smoke more than one cigar on that cruise. It was my first cruise and there was a lot I didn't know about getting the most from a Cruise. Once I did the second one in 2019, I had a solid plan for being able to do most of the stuff I wanted to do and manage time better. That means there are a few more pics in that set. 

The Staircase one is a short set from my 2 week camping trip up at Staircase, in the Olympic National Forest almost immediately after the cruise. I used to go up there every year at the end of August/beginning of September. I've missed the last few years, but definitely plan on getting back to it, cause I really miss it!

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

What is a "Breakfast Cigar"?

 I've made mention of "breakfast cigars" on multiple occasions over the years, and sometimes people ask me what this means, or think it means a cigar I have with my meal. 

This is not actually the case. In fact, I very rarely have cigars with food, other than a bit of chocolate to enhance the experience. The only exceptions have usually been at cigar events, and the food has been things like wings, nachos, or steaks. 

A cigar with more typical breakfast food, or really anything "lighter" than the aforementioned fare just sounds gross to me. 

When I speak of a breakfast cigar, what I really mean is a morning cigar, smoked with morning coffee, either before or after (or frequently in lieu of, if I'm honest) breakfast. These are usually milder smokes that don't require, and/or would be overpowered by any sort of heavy meal, rather than my usual preferred smokes, many of which will knock you on your bum if you haven't had something substantial to eat beforehand. 

So, next time you read or hear me talking about breakfast cigars, you'll know what I mean! 

Til next time, 

Smokey Kisses,

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

~ Khaos

 

Story ~ Jose's Training ~ Teaser Post

Hello there my smokey friends and fans! Do you remember Jose  - that cocky and entitled cigar slut wannabe who was introduced so many years ago in my story, "Jose's Introduction"? Well, if you do, they you may be interested to know that I've been writing again, working on the follow-up to that story. 

It is called. "Jose's Training", and picks up immediately where the previous story left off. 

Below is a little teaser.. The opening passage from the new story.

Enjoy, 

Smokey Kisses,

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

~ Khaos

 

This month's Smokey Kisses Cigar Social Cancelled

 Unfortunately, due to lack of RSVPs (only ONE person who said they wanted to go actually bothered to fill out the very simple form), The social for this month is cancelled. We will try again next month. I will post the updated event listing sometime in the next few days.

Cigar Photo Set #40 Posted ~ A smoke at Norwescon 37

This set finds me enjoying an undoubtedly delicious smoke at Norwescon 37, back in 2014. Yep! That's how far behind I am in updating photo sets on the website.

It's been a pretty ... eventful few years, for sure, but things are back on track to be settling into something a little more reasonably paced soon, and I've got all sorts of plans. 

Oh! And some news that isn't on the site, for those of you who read my blogger posts...

I just bought a brand new Harley!! Yep! You read that right. I am now a Harley owner! She's still getting mods done, so it will be a couple months before I'll actually be riding, but know that there will DEFINITELY be some photos (or entire sets) featuring me smoking on/with my beautiful bike! 

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

New La Herencia Cubana CORE Smoking Photo Set Posted

 

 

Stills from a Zoom session yesterday, smoking a La Herencia Cubana CORE. They aren't anything fancy, but I will be able to start doing real photo shoots again in a couple months. In fact, I'm really excited about it, because I will have more space, more different rooms (including my new playroom!) and settings, both indoors and outdoors, and a small, but very private back yard as well, so I will be able to do a good variety of sets. I've got lots of ideas and plans, so do stay tuned. 

And, of course, don't forget to join me tomorrow for the first ever Smokey Kisses Virtual Cigar Social!

 

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

Review ~ La Herencia Cubana CORE (5/10)

 

 I didn't plan it this way, but it turned out to be an A.J. Fernandez day.

According to the write-up:

"The La Herencia Cubana line started as an experiment by AJ Fernandez to capture a new audience in the boutique market by showcasing an affordable premium cigar. In Spanish, La Herencia Cubana translates to “Cuban Heritage,” which pays homage to AJ’s focus on creating premium handmades that are similar in complexity and flavor to those from Cuba’s glory days."

I had one or two of these out of the 5 that were in a sampler ages ago, and wasn't super fond of them, so I figured I'd let them age a while, and then promptly forgot about them for a couple years. 

Ageing did improve them, but they're still not really my cup of tea, hence my rating.

That said, it is not a bad cigar at all - just not one I particularly like, so if you like this sort of flavour profile and experience, you may well love them.

Appearance: Sleek, dark, lightly veined wrapper with a nice, satiny sheen. A very nice looking stick.

Construction: well built, solid, with just the right amount of "give" with a gentle squeeze. No imperfections noted.

Pre-light: Smell was rich and earthy, in a dry, crisp sort of way, taste was less crisp and gave a hint of the supple leather notes, with definite pepper evident on the lips.

Light & Cut: As usual, I did a light and cut. It lit quite easily and evenly, and immediately started producing quite a bit of white, creamy looking smoke, which, with the promises of  smoke that is "creamy on the palate" seemed to bode well. I did a V cut, and there was no unravelling or tobacco getting in my mouth, so another plus there for construction.

First Third: The main flavour was very earthy, with the slightest trace of grass, with warm notes of well oiled leather coming into play about halfway through. Toward the end of the first third, the pepper started becoming more apparent, though it was more a sensation than actual flavour, giving it a bit of heat and that spice on the lips and tongue tingle.

Second Third: Lots more pepper, coalescing into more obvious black pepper flavour, rather than the earlier "generic pepper/spicy" feeling. The ligero piquancy really started coming through here as well, amping up to meet the full bodied rating in the description. The retrohale proved even stronger - almost harsh, rather than the "smooth through the nose" in the advertising, and with very slight hints of toast only showing up in the exhale.

 Last Third: Even stronger than the previous, and finally, some of the claimed creamy notes crept in. My "creamy" experience was nothing like I expected, based on the advertised description, and didn't have any of the chewy traits I usually expect with the more full bodied smokes either. Unfortunately, it started tasting more burnt than strong just over halfway through the last third, so I didn't even get to enjoy the best bit for long. 

All in all, rather a disappointment to me based on expectation and hype, but it was still worth finishing, which is why it gets a 5/10 from me, rather than something lower. 

I'll probably trade or give away the remaining ones, cause I think someone with a different flavour profile preference will appreciate them more, which I suspect they actually DO deserve. As stated right up front. I don't care for it, but I think it is a good cigar within that profile.

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

Smokey Kisses (Virtual) Cigar Social, this Saturday, 13 August, 2022

Come smoke (or just hang out) with me on Zoom this Saturday, 13 August, 2022, from 3-6pm, Pacific Time at the very first (hopefully of many!).

The Zoom link will be sent to all confirmed attendees the day of the event, so be sure to check out the FetLife Event Page, or just go directly to the website event page to get all the details and RSVP (required!).

This will be the first of several Smokey Kisses and PNW Cigar Enthusiasts events, so be sure to keep an eye out for more!

This is a virtual cigar social for lovers of the leaf and their admirers to gather and enjoy fine cigars and pairings, share tips, tricks, recommendations, and general conversation.

Whether you enjoy smoking cigars, watching others smoke them, serving as a human ashtray or other cigar service, want to learn about cigars as a pastime, fetish, form of service, or just what pairs well or where to find great deals on sticks and accessories, this is a great opportunity to meet some new friends and have a good time.

And while you're at it, check out my newly revived Smokey Kisses Website!
I've been giving it a major overhaul. I've already implemented a brand new and improved smoking gallery, with all the previously existing sets already uploaded, PLUS lots of never seen before sets (over 1,700 cigar photos so far, with more on the way!), all in better organised, easy to navigate, fully searchable categories and albums with voting and comments enabled and a built in Members Only feature with extra special content just for my most loyal fans! Check it out and read up on all the new and upcoming changes. I'm going to be adding new sets to the gallery at least once a week for the foreseeable future, and more!

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے

 

New Gallery with new sets and updated member section

As mentioned a while back, I've been working on reviving the Smokey Kisses Website, and, of course, the biggest thing with that, besides the new posts here and on the Facebook page, is the photo sets!

So, I've been working on a new gallery that, after the initial time in getting it all set up, will make adding entire new sets, no matter how big or small, a breeze! 

That means there will be far fewer batches of photos just sitting and waiting to be added until I have time to create the gallery itself, and the separate page for each and EVERY photo! Nope! Now, once any needed edits are done (crops, reducing file size, lighting/balance fixes, etc), I just have to click a button to add an album, name it, describe it, and then upload the whole lot of pics in one go, and that's it! 

The new album software doesn't yet handle videos, so those will still be available separately for the time being, but I'm working on finding something better for that too. 

What it DOES have though, in addition to lots of other features, like comments, rating, favourites, and the like, is the ability to register and, if you are a Smokey Kisses Supporter, you'll have access to the Members Only albums and features!

All my regular and member only sets are up on the new gallery page, along with a new, not yet seen set from 2012. 

Over the next few weeks, I'll be adding new albums for photo sets over the last few years that have just been sitting there, waiting to be added, so keep an eye out for new, old sets, as well as some upcoming new, new sets!

(̅_̅{K}_̅_̅_̅_̅()ڪے