Thursday, May 3, 2007

Carlos Toraño Virtuoso Maestro


7" X 50, Dark Natural

Appearance: This was another in my recent string of beautiful looking cigars. It was firmly packed and dense stick. Also it was a very smooth wrappered cigar, with no visible veins and an awesome roasted coffee hue. It definitely sparked my interest.

Pre-Light:
Clipped easily. As a side note I have to say I have been nothing but impressed with my new Palio Cutter. It really is quite sharp and even dense cigars have not provided any resistance to it, meaning a nice clean cut every time. Pre-Light draw was of roasted coffee, and leather, and some underlying earthiness.

Burn/Draw: The burn was straight, ans self correcting, and I never really thought much about it while smoking this cigar. Which means it was good. The draw was a little tight during the first inch. I think this might have been because I got this cigar at the local stogie shop and may have been a tad more damp than I would have had it. After the first inch, though, it opened up nicely and was quite forgiving, producing plenty of smoke.

Flavors: This was a great rich, sumptuous cigar, full of rich flavors. It started out with a burst of spice and some rich earthiness, but that faded after the first inch (the dampness issue possibly). After the first inch it opened up into a nice rich cigar. There were sweet notes of cinnamon and ginger, and rich cocoa, with a nice deep roasted coffee underneath. These flavors all interplayed with each other throughout the length of the cigar, providing a quite enjoyable experience.

TomC

Rachael Leigh Cook











Rachael Leigh Cook
(born October 4, 1979) is an American actress. She came to fame after her role in the 1999 teen romantic comedy, She's All That, and has since appeared mostly in lower-profile films.

At the age of fourteen, Cook began auditioning for acting work. Her modeling agency sent her to read for a short film, 26 Summer Street (1996). She first gained national attention when she was featured in a memorable This is Your Brain on Drugs public-service television advertisement. Consequently, Cook began her feature film career, debuting in The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) as shy 13 year old baby-sitter Mary Anne Spier. The movie was based on Ann M. Martin's book series of the same name.

Cook's two highest-profile lead roles to date have been in the films She's All That (1999) and Josie and the Pussycats (2001). Cook has also appeared in a number of independent films and in the 2005 television miniseries Into the West.

In 2000, she was the cover girl for the premier issue of FHM US (March/April issue). Cook also provided the voice for Chelsea Cunningham on the Kids' WB animated series Batman Beyond in the episode Last Resort and in the animated film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker,.

In 2002, she was ranked #26 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World".

Cook has provided the voice of Tifa Lockhart in the video games Kingdom Hearts II and Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-, as well as the CG movie, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. She also starred in the video for New Found Glory's 2002 single, "Dressed to Kill".

Cook's latest voice-over role is for the video game, Yakuza, where she voices the role of Reina, a beautiful barkeep.

She has appeared in Daniel Powter's Love You Lately.

Cook owns her own production company, called Ben's Sister Productions (in reference to her younger brother, an aspiring filmmaker).

Cook eventually stepped away from the spotlight to focus on spending time with friends and family. She later returned to mainstream films when she signed on to a new casting agency. Cook was later cast in a minor role in the big screen adaptation of Nancy Drew, the female lead in the independent sports drama The Final Season, and playing a small supporting lead in Blonde Ambition.



Random, I Know,

TomC

Beckett Wins Sixth Straight, Sox Split Series

(Beckett Is Rolling!)
(Super Coco!)
(Ortiz SLides Into Home.)
(Timlin Gets The Save.)


Josh Beckett has another strong start (running his record to 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA so far this season), and appears to be the dominant pitcher the Sox hoped he would be, and the Red Sox split a quick two game series with the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park by winning Wednesday Night, 6-4. Alex Cora continued his productive streak, adding 2 RBI. Also the A's did not help themselves, adding 3 Errors.

Tonight, the Sox play a make up game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway, with Daisuke Matsuzaka facing off against Horatio Ramirez.

GO SOX!

TomC

Another Lester Update

Lester's second Triple-A rehab start -- on Wednesday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox in an International League game against the Indianapolis Indians -- was short-circuited because of a cramp in his left forearm. The 23-year-old was scheduled to throw approximately 90 pitches but wound up throwing only 63 (39 for strikes).

"The forearm tightened up a little bit in the third," Lester said. "Hopefully, it doesn't set me back. Hopefully, in five days I'll make another start and everything's fine. I don't know if [the cramp] was because of dehydration or what. But it was a little cramp in the forearm. I threw a pitch and it kind of tightened up. It was one of those freak things that happened.

"[Johnson] wanted to take me out. [He] didn't want to take any risks. Obviously, it's frustrating, but this is one of those things."

"The doctor checked it out and said it was fine ... that it was just a cramp," Lester said. "I didn't have any tests, and I don't see any reason for them. It's in the forearm. There's nothing to be worried about in the elbow.

"Before that, I felt good. But like I said, in five days I'll make another start."

The Red Sox will make a decision whether his rehab stint will end, or whether he will stay in Pawtucket for further work, on May 5.



TomC

CIGAR CUTTERS!

Anyone who enjoys the pass time of Hand Rolled premium cigars will tell you that your accessories are almost as important as your cigars (ALMOST). Many a discussion among Brothers of the Leaf will revolve around what Humidors, Humidification Devices and Hygrometers they use. Guys will preen as they show off special ashtrays or lighters. Another blend of form and function, utility an beauty almost all stogie smokers have an opinion about is their cigar cutters. Today I thought I would mention 4, two I have, one that is in the mail on the way to me, and one that I will get as soon as it is back in stock. In this hobby, the collecting is clearly not only limited to the cigars. Here are the four cutters in question (and their manufacturer's pitch):
Xikar Xi2 CUTTERS

These cutters, made in Solingen, Germany have blades hardened to a Rockwell C rating of 57, the result is the hardest, sharpest blade you can buy. The body retains the classic XIKAR shape and features a lightweight nylon fiberglass composite in metallic colors including blue, green, gray, burgundy (flat) and now, black.

Xi cutter blades are made of high quality 440 stainless steel with an HRC of 57.

All Xi cutters are the same ring gauge: they will cut a 54 ring gauge cigar in half. Depending on how much cap you cut, they will cut up to a 58 ring gauge cigar.

Palio

Stylishly crafted, the Palio is the ideal complement to your finest hand-rolled cigars. Crafted for the sophisticated connoisseur, the use of today's most refined cutter is a must for serious smokers.

With Palio, you'll be assured that the finest cigars in your collection will be prepared accordingly. When in the company of colleagues, associates, or comrades, let Palio give you the cutting edge!

* Ergonomic - finger rest and contour shape
* Handsome - people will ask about it
* Precision Cut - blades aren't sloppy and don't fall out with age
* Controlled Cut - be sure how much of the cigar's cap you remove
* Contoured Cigar Holder - no need for a communal germ pit (ash tray)
* Detent Position - won't arbitrarily open
* Large Cutter Opening – Handles up to 60 ring cigars
Credo Synchro Cigar Cutter

The Synchro Cigar Cutter from Credo offers the best of both a guillotine and scissor cutter in one high quality and modern instrument that ensures a perfectly cut cigar every time. The Synchro features double-axis, gear synchronized, self-sharpening blades that are designed to eliminate the problem of crushed cigar heads, often encountered by guillotine-style cutters. The blades close uniformly at the center of the opening and complete the cut by locking together automatically. The Credo Synchro measures 3-1/2" x 2-1/4" and can accommodate cigars up to 54 ring gauge. Manufactured of all stainless steel with Japanese tempered steel blades.

Cuban Crafters Revolucion 3-Blade Cigar Scissor

Innovative and precise describes the REVOLUCION scissor cigar cutter. This revolutionary cutter uses 3 self-sharpening blades to perfectly prepare your cigar for smoking. The blades rotate into a circle, embracing your cigar and applying even pressure around the circumference. This revolutionary cutter slices the cigar's head evenly and effortlessly. It then gently tugs the center of the long filler to assure a smooth smoking cigar. No stress to any side of the cigar ensures a clean cut. These original scissor cutters are great for cigars with ring gauges up to 60. It was designed and created by Cuban Crafters using the latest technology and with surgical grade stainless steel. The all stainless steel body and blades will provide years of maintenance free service. It is so advanced that Cuban Crafters has a United States patent pending on the way it works and on the design.

The Xikar was the first "premium" cigar cutter I owned. Before that I had a cheap double guillotine cutter that I got from my local stogie shop for like, two dollars, and did not think anything of it. Boy was I in for a change. Honestly, a good cutter can do miracles to the quality of your smoking experience, because a clean cut can make you cigar draw a breeze. While those cheapo cutters do take the end of a cigar, the cut is rarely smooth, and this can cause burn issues, among others.

The Xikar is a pretty good quality cutter. I have never had a problem with it, and because of its spring loaded action, it makes a good conversation piece. This can be a blessing and a curse, because non cigar smokers always want to play with the damn thing. It is very portable and makes for a good everyday use cutter. Also if it gets dull, you just send it back to them and they will sharpen it.

I just got the Palio Cutter about a week ago, and so I do not have a ton of experience with it as of yet. Aesthetically speaking, this bad boy is not much to look at. If I didn't know better I would say its kind of cheap looking. They have other finishes for it, but I was not going to pay like $12 extra for them, so I got plain matted black. Looks aside though, so far this has a superior cut. Clean and smooth and easy, obviously this sucker is SHARP. It also is designed so that if you place a cigar on it, it will not roll around. This is convenient for me, as I do not have a cigar ashtray yet. I think this will make a good everyday around the house cutter for me, useful when I am on my own, but not flashy enough to show off in public. Haha.

This is what I hope the Credo Synchro will be. With its unique hybrid design (half like a Xikar, with half cigar scissors), I think it will be the perfect combination of form and function, and it seems they are not very common in the US, so it has the "OOOOOO" factor. Hopefully people I see at herfs or whatever will be appropriately jealous. Since I do not have it yet I cannot comment much. More on it when it arrives.

I intend to use the Cuban Crafters Scissors almost completely as a show piece. I think it will look good on the Antietam Cabinet Humidor I am saving for, along with these great clay replica cigars that someone made for me, and eventually a nice ashtray. I hear they actually do work quite well, but the website they will be out of stock for 3 more weeks, so any comments on this one are still a ways off.

Well I hope that helped initiate you into the compulsion that is my hobby.

Good Night,

TomC