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Blended my first cigar with AJ

rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604
AJ is coming to my house Sunday afternoon. Please let me know if you have any question you would like me to ask him. It just happened randomly through a local friend. AJ invited me to visit his factory thorugh my friend and I also extended my invitation to him for a cigar to my place. He accepted it right away. What a nice guy.
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Comments

  • roland_7707roland_7707 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,647
    Remind me to slap you later. Thats really cool man.
    What is his favorite pastime other than cigars?
  • beatnicbeatnic Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,133
    Pics with you and him are required. Totally cool Rip.
  • rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604
    Lol...just like last time. I posted Pepin's pictures. I will post pictures of AJ and my house not with me...professional restriction sorry.
    beatnic:
    Pics with you and him are required. Totally cool Rip.
  • danielzreyesdanielzreyes Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 6,739
    Stay thirsty Rip ....... stay thirsty
  • bbass2bbass2 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,056
    I bet he drools over your collection just like the rest of us!

    One thing that really sets him apart to me is the use of PA Broadleaf. I'm interested in what got him started using that versus the more popular CT Broadleaf and why noone else has followed in his footsteps now he has had good success with it.
  • beatnicbeatnic Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,133
    rzaman:
    Lol...just like last time. I posted Pepin's pictures. I will post pictures of AJ and my house not with me...professional restriction sorry.
    beatnic:
    Pics with you and him are required. Totally cool Rip.
    Rip, the super secret, undercover spy, black Ops specialist with a penchant for cigars. Gotta love it.
  • rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604
    None of them Rich. I am same as you - a true cigar lover my friend.
    beatnic:
    rzaman:
    Lol...just like last time. I posted Pepin's pictures. I will post pictures of AJ and my house not with me...professional restriction sorry.
    beatnic:
    Pics with you and him are required. Totally cool Rip.
    Rip, the super secret, undercover spy, black Ops specialist with a penchant for cigars. Gotta love it.
  • beatnicbeatnic Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,133
    rzaman:
    None of them Rich. I am same as you - a true cigar lover my friend.
    beatnic:
    rzaman:
    Lol...just like last time. I posted Pepin's pictures. I will post pictures of AJ and my house not with me...professional restriction sorry.
    beatnic:
    Pics with you and him are required. Totally cool Rip.
    Rip, the super secret, undercover spy, black Ops specialist with a penchant for cigars. Gotta love it.
    Just kidding. But you do have a cool job in a cool place and meet lots of cool people. LOL
  • BigT06BigT06 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,899
    I would love to know what his favorite cigar, not blended by him, is. And obviously I would love to know what youguys chose to smoke. Very cool oopportunity, Rip. Enjoy!
  • rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604
    Agree...I love my job! It's gives me the opportunity to meet all kinds of interesting people around the world. The best part is to serve my country and promote our global interests.
    beatnic:
    rzaman:
    None of them Rich. I am same as you - a true cigar lover my friend.
    beatnic:
    rzaman:
    Lol...just like last time. I posted Pepin's pictures. I will post pictures of AJ and my house not with me...professional restriction sorry.
    beatnic:
    Pics with you and him are required. Totally cool Rip.
    Rip, the super secret, undercover spy, black Ops specialist with a penchant for cigars. Gotta love it.
    Just kidding. But you do have a cool job in a cool place and meet lots of cool people. LOL
  • rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604
    Thanks Todd. I will offer him anything from my collection except his blends. I am as curious as you to see what he chose. I will also ask him his favourite cigar outside his own blend. Don Pepin's answer was the Arturo Fuente outside his blends.
    BigT06:
    I would love to know what his favorite cigar, not blended by him, is. And obviously I would love to know what youguys chose to smoke. Very cool oopportunity, Rip. Enjoy!
  • BigT06BigT06 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,899
    rzaman:
    Thanks Todd. I will offer him anything from my collection except his blends. I am as curious as you to see what he chose. I will also ask him his favourite cigar outside his own blend. Don Pepin's answer was the Arturo Fuente outside his blends.
    BigT06:
    I would love to know what his favorite cigar, not blended by him, is. And obviously I would love to know what youguys chose to smoke. Very cool oopportunity, Rip. Enjoy!
    Very cool. That's interesting about Pepin. Fuente cigars are so different from his... But I guess we all like several different types of cigars.
  • BigshizzaBigshizza Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 10,949
    Why don't you guys have a few cold ones and get to work on tweaking the forum blend..j/k... please find out how he approaches choosing a blend. Does he describe what he wants to someone or looks at available tobacco or asks for input from others..
  • catfishbluezzcatfishbluezz Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 6,993
    Ask him if he likes Por Llanga and small rg Partagas. I am specifically interested in which CC he likes to see where his blending lineage came from really.
  • ShotgunJohnShotgunJohn Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,539
    This is awesome!!!
  • big chunksbig chunks Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,607
    I would like to know about his growing up in Cuba and working with Cuban tobacco, if he ever makes personal blends with both Cuban and non cuban tobacco?
  • bearbbearb Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,044
    Raz Although we have not met before i know you will have a wonderful time with AJ. Inspite of his limited english, whenever we have met and 'talk', it has been mainly through his translator. AJ is very friendly and a genuinely nice guy.....easy to tell, as very few ppl can fake sincerity. He is also very good at remembering people, and you will forever have a connection. Enjoy your time together.
  • zeebrazeebra Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,166
    let me know when you need an assistant or retiring...i'll have my application ready!

    Enjoy Rip and as always, good stuff!!!
  • KingoftheCoveKingoftheCove Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 908
    rzaman:
    AJ is coming to my house Sunday afternoon. Please let me know if you have any question you would like me to ask him. It just happened randomly through a local friend. AJ invited me to visit his factory thorugh my friend and I also extended my invitation to him for a cigar to my place. He accepted it right away. What a nice guy.
    I'd like to know if he ever takes a "break" from cigars?
    If so, how often and for how long?
    Sounds like a great time - have fun!

  • danielruasdanielruas Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 778
    This is really cool can't wait to hear how it goes.
  • rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604
    Hi Barry, I find Cubans from mainland are very sincere and genuin. This the reason why I went back to visit Cuba twice. My Spanish is not that great but I also asked my office assistant to join us so I can reduce the language gap. So many things can lost in translation so I wanted have a native speaker with me. I have so many questions to ask. The way AJ accpeted the invitation so quickly it gives me a sense about his sincere personality. So far I heard only good things about him. I am very excited to meet him. I am sure he also has some questions so I will be careful not to overwhelmed him with my questions only. Usually non-Americans are always curious to know about our foreign policy which is a delicate issue and need to be answered very diplomatically. As far as I know, AJ has a great interest on this subject. In real life, people to people connection is very different than political agenda. However, sometime we need to put our political differences aside to enjoy our common passion. It is always a fine act of balance in life. Unfortunetly majority people failed to do it. This is where things get screwed up in real life.
    bearb:
    Raz Although we have not met before i know you will have a wonderful time with AJ. Inspite of his limited english, whenever we have met and 'talk', it has been mainly through his translator. AJ is very friendly and a genuinely nice guy.....easy to tell, as very few ppl can fake sincerity. He is also very good at remembering people, and you will forever have a connection. Enjoy your time together.
  • bearbbearb Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,044
    Very true on all accounts. Obviously cigars are a common language, but too many questions directed at him can make it an unbalanced question period and not a conversation in which true connections can b made. I am sure that your personality, travel experiences and certainly your hospitality will easily overcome any of this though. In fact, i am sure he so willingly accepted your invitation because of just that. With such a varied collection of cigars and stories that you have, i am sure he will be 'conversating' back and forth and you will have a great time, over some quality cigars. Not sure when he is coming over, but enjoy the time. Life is short, enjoy life!
  • roland_7707roland_7707 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,647
    Today is the day. Getting nervous man?
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    AJ was pretty awesome when i met him on the tour of his factory. you could see how easily distracted by good tobacco he got. he was very nice to my wife and myself ad i would love to meet him again.
  • reggie713reggie713 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,018
    This is very cool!!
  • rzamanrzaman Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,604

    The meeting went above my expectation. I have met many cigar personalities but AJ is by far the best. He is super straight forward and I never learned so much in one session like yesterday’s afternoon and evening. In fact, we became friends. He was so surprised with my cigar interest that he offered to make a special cigar box for me with a special blend. He extended his invitation to his blending room and asked me to blend a cigar with his professional assistance. We talked about a new blend and he refined my idea here and there. This is going to be fun. We talked about all types of tobaccos and blending. AJ shared so many facts about cigar industry but with condition of trust and friendship. I always take trust very seriously. AJ also extended the invitation to introduce me with Nestor Placensia after hearing my interest about Organic tobacco. Our conversation ran beyond cigars- family, my travel experience in Cuba, politics and world affairs. He is a very smart, sincere and a family man. I am glad to have a friend like him. He also gifted me a box of his latest MAYIBLE. This blend is very close to his heart. I smoked one and liked it very much. It doesn’t have the as usual over spice and power. He also gave me three special cigars blended for the European market and two Maduro Vegas AAA cigars. I gave him a Behike 56, Partagas series D LE 2010 and Don Carlos Anniversary 2006. He smoked a Partagas series E no. 2 and a Man of War Ruination.

    I heard good thing about AJ and finally it was so much fun to meet him in person. Here is a picture of AJ in my Man Cave. He was searching for some information about a wrapper. His iphone is full of information and he showed me a lot of cool cigar related pictures. This is why I love cigar- it bring people together and build wonderful friendship.
    photo image_zps5e087eda.jpg
  • roland_7707roland_7707 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,647
    Thats epic man. Really cool.
  • beatnicbeatnic Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,133
  • ddubridgeddubridge Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,949
    Very cool Rip. Glad you had a great time.
  • Poker SlobPoker Slob Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 996
    Rip, thank you very much for sharing with us. You truely are blessed with great friendships thoughout the industry as well as the world. Thanks again.
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