The price of Cigars has gone up

As of August 1, the price of cigars in Tokyo (Japan) has gone up about 10%. Now my beloved Cohiba Robustos cost 3300 JPY! I actually find myself bargain hunting for cigars. While it is only 10%, If I buy my customeary 3 for a night that is an extra 900 ~round up to 1,000 yen- 2 beers at Heartland!

I find myself smoking more Monte Cristo #2 (2200 JPY) now. A fine smoke and I always liked them, but a step below the Robustos.

On a totally unrelated note: picked up a MIB Meka Buton. Pretty good score for 100,000 JPY. Also picked up the Astro-in-box MIB (which I always wanted another of) and the deluxe Liabe (all plastic, bigger than the puradera one), which was something I was always meaning to get. Also got a Mac Roadie (minor Ultraman Leo vehicle) and some Tryder G7 shuttle bot which was missing from my collection. Buying toys does not get me as high as it once did- how sad.

Recently built my 1/24 Gundam. Took a week, but looks pretty sweet. Next up is the 1/350 Yamato. I have two just in case I screw this one up bad....

Cohiba Pyramides 2006

Recently I had the fortune of trying the 2006 Limitada Cohiba Pyramides. A beautiful cigar. Nice aftertaste. Strong and flavorful. It was at my local cigar shop in Aoyama but it costs a bit 4500 yen per. I bought ten just to keep in the humidor. I think by letting it age a few years the cigars will be even better.

The color is nice. It has all the qualities you expect from a Cohiba. It is strong but tends to be a bit milder than the regular robusto or Esplendidos. The bite you expect from a Cohiba is not as sharp as you would expect. It seems to be a bit subdued by the smoke itself.

I have always liked the torpedo format and whenever Cohiba releases this style, I pick as much up as possible.

It is as close to a perfect cigar as you can get in Tokyo right now.

My rating: 9/10

Monte Cristo #2

Another perennial favorite of mine, the torpedo. Best cost performance cigar without question. I love these. It's rather mild and doesn't have the spice that is associated with, say a Cohiba, but it is always a solid smoke and the drag is usually smooth.

Always good with a single malt or brandy, it is mild enough that it does not overpower the drink, so you could even go with something smoother, like a sherry or a port.

It is in some circles considered a beginner's cigar as it is not overbearing and is very enjoyable. The cost (2000 yen) is not bad and just like the Partagas SerieD #4 is a great cigar for the money. The torpedo style gives the flavor more volume and I like it better to the comparably priced Monte #1.

I tend to buy it by the box, as they tend to dry very easily and I usually don't have a good one when they are sold separately, out of the box.

Like the 16yr Lagavulin, always a solid cigar that one finds going back to very easily. Cigars come and go (like the splendid 2000 Cohiba Pyramides) but the #2 is a steadfast winner each year.

Cohiba Pyramides 2000

Up to now I have been primarily reviewing toys or restaurants, and sometimes wines. I haven't really been writing diary type entries either, only when it pertains to a restaurant I write about or some toy I just acquired (but for anyone who reads this (ANYONE..ANYONE...) they know that my entries are clearly not chronological). However, work is quiet right now, as my machine is doing some complex calculations, and all have to do is wait.

So over the weekend there was a barbeque at a friend's place. He lives in Hiroo and has one of those fat ex-pat pads (I guess similar to my place). I live in a slightly better area, he lives in a slightly worse area but has a slightly bigger place.

Anyway he needed some gents to come over and fill out the party. As I am always happy to oblige my friends, I cabbed over for a bit. What went on is a tale for another day (and probably why I don't write a diary type blog-- would be too controversial).

However, as part of the afternoon's activities, I decided I would bring one of my favorite cigars and unfortuantely one of my last (finally opened the last box)- the 2000 limited edition Cohiba Pyramides. This is an awesome cigar by any standard. The 2000 is the first year Cohiba decided to make a pyramide (torpedo style cigar) and the label is the millenium ring that was prevalent back then. The boxes are actually porcelain jars.

The smoke is rather spicy as expected from Cohiba, but is still smooth and velvety. It has aged well in the past 6 years and is fragrant. It smells the way only a Cohiba can smell and I really have no other words for it than awesome. I've always loved the Cohiba and the Pyramide does not disappoint. If you happen to come across this fine cigar, definitely get it.