midmofan wrote:Hey Pudding, have you had any of the really big cool arrows the 8x60s? If so, what are they like? I usually don't go for that size but they are the ones on sale this week and I have a $25 gift certificate burning a hole in my inbox.
Yup, about 10% of the boxes I got are the Chingon(imo) size, the big-assed 8x60 figurados.
So far I've smoked 2 of them. The smells and flavors are similar across all sizes, but the flavors seem to be the least "concentrated" in this 8x60 size (but not much less concentrated, just a slight difference really), and it takes about 2.75 to 3 hours to smoke one properly (read: slowly, like you should with all Chiefs).
These are NOT bad attributes though, sometimes you want a very slightly mellower, less-intense version of those same flavors that lasts a whole lot longer.
Do you want to compress your Chief experience into a strong, spicy 55 minutes, with very noticeable and relatively quick transitions (due to the continuously-variable ring gauge and short total burn time)? Filero(kee), the small one.
Do you want a 1.5-hour experience that's about 90% as strong as the Filero(kee) with fewer transitions (due to the mostly-unchanging ring gauge)? Ranfla(jo), the medium-size one.
Do you want a 2.75 to 3-hour experience at about 80% as strong as the Filero(kee) with very noticeable but slower transitions (continuously-variable ring gauge but with a long total burn time)? Chingon(imo), the huge one.
When you want to smoke a Chief, ask yourself which of the above three options will fit your current situation, available time and mood the best. Simple as that.
All three are great, for the proper scenario.
For most guys, I'd recommend buying mostly Filero(kee) and Ranfla(jo) and a smaller amount of the Chingon(imo), because most guys rarely have 2.75 to 3 hours to sit without distractions (except their thoughts) and really focus on a cigar.
But, the rare times you CAN do that, the giant Chingon(imo) is king. And because they never "go bad" and improve forever with age (just with diminishing returns), you can keep them on-hand for years for when those rare opportunities present themselves! That's what I do.
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