My Little Book

**MarkD60** · 01-26-2009, 02:38 PM

I have a blank book a cigar store owner friend gave me. When I smoke a new cigar, I paste the label in the book and write down what I thought. It has really helped me to learn about cigars and what I liked and didn't.

When I buy new cigars, I usually buy two and smoke one now and save one for later. I smoke the second one without looking at what I wrote before. It is sometimes interesting to see what I thought then compared to what I think now.

After I know I like a certain type, I buy them by the box.

I don't save the label and write about every cigar I smoke, just the new or special ones.

Sometimes I find myself buying cigars just for the label!

It keeps me trying new types.

I really like it and think you would too!

**ashauler** · 01-26-2009, 03:39 PM

I do something very similar, except I use 3 x 5 cards.

**MasterCylinder** · 01-26-2009, 03:42 PM

I do the same thing - my girlfriend thinks I'm the biggest nerd on the planet.

**MarkD60** · 01-27-2009, 10:31 AM

Master Cylinder, I like your book better. Man! Those are some huge labels, you must smoke some big 'uns!

**MasterCylinder** · 01-27-2009, 02:49 PM

Thanks Mark. Yea, that page happened to have some big ones on it - just chose it because it had less incriminating evidence against me... I normally get about 4 labels on a page.

**craig** · 01-27-2009, 03:35 PM

Nice journals, folks

. I do much the same thing, but I keep short notes on singles in a spreadsheet. (Boxes go into StogieRate.)

**cinda** · 01-27-2009, 06:07 PM

That's a really nice idea. I do not smoke but when I learn about a cigar it's hard to remember everything I did learn just by picking them out of my humidor, I always have to go back and research. I do gifting and such and I like to be knowable about what I am handing out especially the cigars I gift in person. I think I am going to have to cut and paste a pic of the cigar to a file on the PC and write a blurb about who I gave it too and what they said and a little bit about the cigar's stats. There must be some kind of reference on the PC about cigars that are objective like a dictionary or encyclopedia. Some place that is not selling you the product just giving the facts. I will be looking for that first before I reinvent the wheel.

**FactoredReality** · 01-27-2009, 06:12 PM

A little off topic, but I used to have a blog/website called Bottom of the Bottle. I would find rare and different microbrews, take a photo and write a short review/journal entry of what I was doing at that time.

It was fun, but seemed more work having to process the photo/website (this was a bit before blogging software became widespread).

I have been shopping the local book stores for a good smoke journal. Any ideas on good spots? I keep running across the pink journals with a heart shaped lock... not exactly what I'm looking for.

**craig** · 01-27-2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by cinda

That's a really nice idea. I do not smoke but when I learn about a cigar it's hard to remember everything I did learn just by picking them out of my humidor, I always have to go back and research. I do gifting and such and I like to be knowable about what I am handing out especially the cigars I gift in person. I think I am going to have to cut and paste a pic of the cigar to a file on the PC and write a blurb about who I gave it too and what they said and a little bit about the cigar's stats. There must be some kind of reference on the PC about cigars that are objective like a dictionary or encyclopedia. Some place that is not selling you the product just giving the facts. I will be looking for that first before I reinvent the wheel.

There was top25cigar but it has been puffinated. Iherzolite indexed over 3000 reviews posted on CP at http://home.comcast.net/~puu-oo/cp_reviews.htm

For Cubans, www.cigars-review.org is very useful.

Originally Posted by FactoredReality

<snip>I have been shopping the local book stores for a good smoke journal. Any ideas on good spots? I keep running across the pink journals with a heart shaped lock... not exactly what I'm looking for.

The only cigar journal that I know of is long out-of-print: "A Cigar Journal," by Michael Wolfensohn. The "look inside" on Amazon is still active, so you can see what the page layout was. Seems like it would be simple enough to make your own page layout and get it printed and spiral-bound at the local Kinko's or whatever. Not as nice as a hardcover, but no doubt there is somewhere on the Internet that'll do that for you as well

.

**MasterCylinder** · 01-27-2009, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by FactoredReality

I have been shopping the local book stores for a good smoke journal. Any ideas on good spots? I keep running across the pink journals with a heart shaped lock... not exactly what I'm looking for.

I wouldn't know about an actual smoke journal, but the one I use is just a blank Moleskine notebook - they're classy, small hardbacks. And aside from those Nubs, they seem to be the perfect width for cigar bands.

**ashauler** · 01-27-2009, 07:48 PM

There is a Cigar Lovers Diary or something like that at my local. I don't remember the price, but it was a nice hard-bound book all sectioned off for the label and your remarks, date, etc......Check at your local b/m or search it on-line. I'm a cheap bastard so I'll stick with the 3 x 5 cards.

**Corvin** · 01-27-2009, 08:03 PM

For those that do keep a journal what information do you keep in it?

I'm curious, do you go as far as listing the filler, wrapper and binder countries, etc or just the country of origin?

I have an idea or two but I could use more details.

**FactoredReality** · 01-27-2009, 08:52 PM

This got me looking and I found a site that makes custom journals. Would anyone else be interested in getting some journals made up? What would you look for in the book?

Things to consider:
Size, number of pages, color of pages (white or cream), straight or jagged edges, color of binding, text on cover.

I'm thinking:
Size: 6"x4"
Pages: 50 sheets (100 pages) cream colored
Cover / Binding: Black on Black
Edges: I like "deckled" edges, but not a necessity. Deckled is the torn edge look on the page.
Text: "Cigar Journal" in gold ink. Could also do "Cigar Smokers Journal".

Also need to determine page content. (1 or 2 smokes per page?)

I'm interested in opinions. They will do individual books, but obviously better deal in bulk.

**Silencei2** · 01-27-2009, 09:02 PM

That sounds like a pretty good idea. Is there a price range or quote on it? I'd probably say as far as page content you would want to include: Name, Vitola/Size, Flavor (Mild, Medium, Strong), Smoke (plenty/not enough), Price, Year (of production/aging) and comments. Those would be the ones I would want. I would also probably say 2 cigars per page and of course a nice spot for the band to be pasted.

Originally Posted by FactoredReality

This got me looking and I found a site that makes custom journals. Would anyone else be interested in getting some journals made up? What would you look for in the book?

Things to consider:
Size, number of pages, color of pages (white or cream), straight or jagged edges, color of binding, text on cover.

I'm thinking:
Size: 6"x4"
Pages: 50 sheets (100 pages) cream colored
Cover / Binding: Black on Black
Edges: I like "deckled" edges, but not a necessity. Deckled is the torn edge look on the page.
Text: "Cigar Journal" in gold ink. Could also do "Cigar Smokers Journal".

Also need to determine page content. (1 or 2 smokes per page?)

I'm interested in opinions. They will do individual books, but obviously better deal in bulk.

**craig** · 01-27-2009, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Corvin

For those that do keep a journal what information do you keep in it?

I'm curious, do you go as far as listing the filler, wrapper and binder countries, etc or just the country of origin?

I have an idea or two but I could use more details.

Besides brand/name and tasting notes/ranking/ratings:
-Cuban/non-Cuban
-Maduro/natural
-Which person or vendor the stick came from
-What I was drinking (other than water).

For a box I'll add:
-Length/ring
-Factory vitolla
-Box date
-Purchase date
-Last smoke date/smoke date/next smoke date
-Cost of box/price per stick

I am, however, more into this than most. Analysis is a good part of my day job, after all

**badwhale** · 01-27-2009, 09:35 PM

Could just set a template up in excel, and print them out / put them in a three ring binder. Just a thought. I'm a cheap bastard too.

Will

Originally Posted by ashauler

There is a Cigar Lovers Diary or something like that at my local. I don't remember the price, but it was a nice hard-bound book all sectioned off for the label and your remarks, date, etc......Check at your local b/m or search it on-line. I'm a cheap bastard so I'll stick with the 3 x 5 cards.

**kevin7** · 01-27-2009, 09:49 PM

Cool journals fellers

**ashauler** · 01-27-2009, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Corvin

For those that do keep a journal what information do you keep in it?

I'm curious, do you go as far as listing the filler, wrapper and binder countries, etc or just the country of origin?

I have an idea or two but I could use more details.

I keep:
Name
Vitola
wrapper / binder / filler
date & time smoked
beverage
Tasting notes: strength / flavors
Construction and burn

I generally only make one card per cigar type the first time I smoke it. Then I refer back to it when I smoke the remainder of my sampling usually a 5er over a period of 5-6 months. This is the way I evaluate smokes for future box purchases.