Originally Posted by
webmost
Guys.
I dunno. I don't understand the vitriol and animosity. True, I built the FX web site. I read an article about them, called them up, ordered some sticks, liked them, they had no site, I'm a web geek, so I made them one. I got a shirt and a couple boxes of samples and a factory tour. If it ever gets off the ground I they may give me a buck or two. Who knows what the future holds? I also host a web forum for a guy who wholesales tobacco leaf for roll their own types. He was having trouble with his host, needed a better server. I have a sever for other business purposes, so it costs me nothing. He did insist on sending me some money. I admit it. Some people are like that; they feel they have to pay you. I also made and host a site for a Kentucky tobacco farmer... thetobaccobutcher.com . He gave me a pound of Kentucky fire cured, and a buddy and I camped overnight on his farm, and his wife made us dinner. I hope to roll some fire cured sticks up when it thaws out. I like to hobby around. I am employed by a company which works to reduce the unemployment compensation tax rate which the employer pays. I am not an employee of FX Smiths. Either way, how's that affect the taste of a John Hay? There's another guy I discovered who sells leaf in Lancaster County. I intend to get hold of him this Spring once it thaws enough to ride up there. He needs a web site. Would that affect the quality of his leaf?
Johnny Sotweedseed is a hobby project also. I was planning a motorcycle camping ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway. I packed up a dozen little cookie canisters with cigars. Couple Factory Throwout Sungrown, couple Cusano Preferidos, couple other equally mild sticks suitable for beginners in each, along with a box of matches, a punch, and a humi pack. Down the ridge I went. Each camp fire I sat beside, if I spotted a cigarette smoker or if someone expressed interest in my cigar, I'd hit them with a canister. That's the idea of Johnny Sotweedseed -- sowing the pleasure of cigar smoking. Like Johnny Appleseed but with tobacco. What's wrong with that? It was fun.
At the same time, I have nothing to do with Flatbed or Panacea, other than I met the guy at a street fair, and I do think his wine and cigar trail is a unique idea. At least I have not seen any others. I recommend his Panacea green label. Try that. I likewise have nothing to do with Kentucky Black, Avanti, John Hay, Muniemaker... or Topper. I think I left out Topper before; but I recommended the others. Try any of them. I believe you can find an American cigar you like, if you appreciate the unique broadleaf flavor. I happen to know more about the FX line, of course; but the few Muniemakers I have tried are alright, and the Panaceas are top notch. I warn you, if you buy them at a street fair on a hot summer day, you want to bring them home and let them rest.
I've done a little research. I found that Tatuaje rolls a cigar called La Casita Criolla out of all broadleaf -- wrapper, binder, and filler. An American puro rolled overseas. I have not tried one. I have zero relation to Tatuaje. I am beting it will have that signature American broadleaf flavor If you just have to have a Spanish named cigar rolled by torcedors, try that one. Then if you like the Broadleaf flavor, you can get that flavor in America, though you will have to put up with your despised machines, because Americans gave up tedious hand work in favor of labor saving machinery a hundred some years ago. Not every machine made is a White Owl. That is a fact. Some are all leaf and good smokes. So if you like broadleaf, then by all means do not buy an FX Smith, go and buy a Muniemaker or a Topper or a Marsh. They have loads of flavors to sample. What you save on the band you can keep in your pocket.
Let me end with this analogy: I ride an expensive and advanced BMW R1200CLC motorcycle. I belong to their forum at chromeheads.com . I also built and host the web site r1200clc.com, because there is a need for a place with service manuals. I host the acklnowledged R12C guru at pokiespages.com. Nobody pays me for this stuff. It needed done. Several times a year a beemer rider will come to my house for maintenance projects. I put them up in the guest room if need be. They may give me a box of cigars or nothing. I also ride a cheapo and primitive 2007 Kawasaki KLR650. I belong to several forums. There's a wealth of info on the web already for KLRs, because they are a madly popular model. So I have made zero sites for KLRs. Here is the thing tho: When I go to chromeheads and extol the virtues of the KLR nobody gets their panties in a bunch. When I go to klr650.net and extol the virtues of the beemer cruiser, nobody gets all pissy about that.
But then, neither of those groups are convinced that the only bike worth riding is a hand built $70,000 custom from Orange County Choppers, either.
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