Awhile ago, Palama sent me a variety of cigars. He's been doing that for the past few years, since we met and had dinner together while he was in the L.A. area. I finally got around to the Jaime Garcia Lancero, which was great...better than the robustos and toros I've had over the years, which are pretty good.
Coincidentally, around the same time, someone posted a thread about the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial line, and I posted that the Lancero Palama sent me was very good, and that I was looking to get some more.
Within a day or two, Palama/Conan sent me an email, letting me know he could help me get my hands on some JG Lanceros. He's such a great guy who has been so generous over the years, I didn't want to trouble him, so I told him I was looking around for some and would get back to him if I needed help. Little did I know that the Lanceros are a Hawaii exclusive...all the usual mainland places didn't even mention that vitola...so I emailed Conan to pick up a box for me.
Those of you who have traded with Palama knows how this story will end...
<--------me
The bomb included the box of JG Lanceros, Hawaii Exclusive, 2016; a JG Lancero OR/2013 so I could do an accurate comparison to see how the blend has held up after a few years; a Tatauje Pork Chop; a Tatuaje Pork Tenderloin (Palama said Pete Johnson has a soft spot for Hawaii); an AJ Fernandez Last Call Pequenas Habano; and AJ Fernandez Last Call Pequenas maduro.
As packing material to keep the cigars safe on a bumpy flight from the island, with a detour to MA and NH, Conan swathed them in two pot holders and a tablecloth, as house-warming gifts. I'm not sure how he knew, but the pattern used for those items is the Hawaiian Monstera plant, which has a heart shaped fingery leaf, which my daughter used as an adornment for her wedding on the Big Island a couple of years ago.
There were a few bags of healthy snacks, including the trademark One Ton chips. The little telescopic back-scratcher was a huge surprise...I thought they were no longer available...
I can't thank you enough, Bruddah...let me know when business or pleasure brings you back to the mainland...