America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

Last post 4 years ago by izonfire. 35 replies replies.
AB Filthy Hooligan
Jump to Bottom | Previous Topic | Next Topic
GaryR Offline
#1 Posted: Sun, Feb 16 2020, 2:10 PM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 49
Looks like they are back in stock this year. Anyone else a fan? Annual St. Patty's day special release. I picked up a couple on an impulse buy at a shop last summer (they were selling singles from their last box). Really enjoyed them a lot. Going to grab a box this year.
clintCigar Offline
#2 Posted: Sun, Feb 16 2020, 4:43 PM EST
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Yeah I saw those but I'm really hit or miss with AB once I smoked through a couple samplers from them. Aren't those medium bodied?
HopJ Offline
#3 Posted: Sun, Feb 16 2020, 9:14 PM EST
Joined: 01-19-2020
Posts: 5
Nice. I never got to try one of those but have a trusted friend who was a fan.


clintCigar wrote:
Yeah I saw those but I'm really hit or miss with AB


My feeling was that his sticks were getting more consistently good but then when he won cigar of the year, they became more hit and miss for me as well. I figured some upping of production and whatnot was the cause but recently I have had some great "Black Market" cigars. I had the regular Black Market purchased before the Cigar of the Year award and it aged really well. It was outstanding. And the Black Market Esteli is great. I'll take a chance on some Filthy Hooligans for sure if I can get them and at a decent price.

J
KingoftheCove Offline
#4 Posted: Sun, Feb 16 2020, 10:24 PM EST
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,631
Smoke what ya like, like what ya smoke.

I gave up on AB.........to inconsistent across the line.........slowly turning into Rocky.
Mrs. dpnewell Offline
#5 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 12:39 PM EST
Joined: 08-23-2014
Posts: 1,373
I've given up on AB. Too much inconsistency, too many loosely rolled cigars. This Party's Day I'll smoke an Asylum 13 Ogre 50. Candela/maduro barber poll. The tastiest candela I've ever smoked.

David
Whistlebritches Offline
#6 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 12:54 PM EST
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,128
AB=Rocky...……………………..flood the market with crap
GaryR Offline
#7 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 8:32 PM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 49
Mrs. dpnewell wrote:
I've given up on AB. Too much inconsistency, too many loosely rolled cigars. This Party's Day I'll smoke an Asylum 13 Ogre 50. Candela/maduro barber poll. The tastiest candela I've ever smoked.

David



If this box of Hooligans lets me down, I will be right there with you with giving up on AB.
Pudding Mittens Offline
#8 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 9:36 PM EST
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
I'm going to wait for next year and the year after, when I've heard the special releases are going to be titled "Smelly Vagrant" and "Reeking Hobo". Herfing

As for the phenomenon of a maker of good cigars starting to churn out crap in much higher volumes, I believe it boils down to a high percentage of cigar smokers not having a sophisticated palate. We here are probably in the top 10% in terms of taste and smell hardware performance and the brainpower to interpret the raw data. I highly suspect a large majority of cigar buyers/smokers simply can't tell the difference between a great cigar and a yard gar. If this is true, then assuming demand is high, financially it makes the most sense to crank out large quantities of yard gars rather than small quantities of great cigars.

Mrs. dpnewell wrote:
I've given up on AB. Too much inconsistency, too many loosely rolled cigars. This Party's Day I'll smoke an Asylum 13 Ogre 50. Candela/maduro barber poll. The tastiest candela I've ever smoked.

David

Try the Asylum Straight Jacket 6x54. Really nice stick!
.
Cheno Offline
#9 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 9:48 PM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 1,964
Mrs. dpnewell wrote:
I've given up on AB. Too much inconsistency, too many loosely rolled cigars. This Party's Day I'll smoke an Asylum 13 Ogre 50. Candela/maduro barber poll. The tastiest candela I've ever smoked.

David


I tried an asylum 13 ogre and couldn't do it. I made less than 1/2 and had to quit. I will try a cigar at least one more time anther time to see if it maybe was something I ate that day or paired it with. But that one I don't know if I could even try again.
frankj1 Offline
#10 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 11:12 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,215
Cheno wrote:
I tried an asylum 13 ogre and couldn't do it. I made less than 1/2 and had to quit. I will try a cigar at least one more time anther time to see if it maybe was something I ate that day or paired it with. But that one I don't know if I could even try again.

people's taste preferences differ.
I mean, some people don't like haggis!
I know, right? But it's true.
frankj1 Offline
#11 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 11:16 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,215
Mrs. dpnewell wrote:
I've given up on AB. Too much inconsistency, too many loosely rolled cigars. This Party's Day I'll smoke an Asylum 13 Ogre 50. Candela/maduro barber poll. The tastiest candela I've ever smoked.

David

never had one, but you liked more than Illusione candela, 88 or 888?
KingoftheCove Offline
#12 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 11:26 PM EST
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,631
Back in the day, the Illusione Candela was da bestest.............period!
Nowadays? I don’t know, but I’m slowly getting worried about Illusione.
frankj1 Offline
#13 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 11:30 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,215
KingoftheCove wrote:
Back in the day, the Illusione Candela was da bestest.............period!
Nowadays? I don’t know, but I’m slowly getting worried about Illusione.

been a while for me so I couldn't say. really loved them.
been getting curious about the garagiste recently...opinion?
izonfire Offline
#14 Posted: Mon, Feb 17 2020, 11:32 PM EST
Joined: 12-09-2013
Posts: 8,644
Cheno wrote:
I tried an asylum 13 ogre and couldn't do it. I made less than 1/2 and had to quit. I will try a cigar at least one more time anther time to see if it maybe was something I ate that day or paired it with. But that one I don't know if I could even try again.

I’ve got three Ogres packed away. ROTT, the candela flavor was a bit harsh and really didn’t add anything enjoyable to the smoke, but the remainder has been resting for more than a few years now. I’m sure they have mellowed. Just hoping it’s worth the wait
Palama Offline
#15 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 1:23 AM EST
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,627
Cheno wrote:
I tried an asylum 13 ogre and couldn't do it. I made less than 1/2 and had to quit. I will try a cigar at least one more time anther time to see if it maybe was something I ate that day or paired it with. But that one I don't know if I could even try again.


Bought 3 of the Robustos when they first came out in 2014. Smoked one, gave one away, dunno where the last one is / went. My notes said it was okay but wouldn’t buy again.

clintCigar Offline
#16 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 1:35 AM EST
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
frankj1 wrote:
been getting curious about the garagiste recently...opinion?

I got one coming in this week. I let u know when I smoke it. Prob be a few weeks though. I have a backlog lol
Sunoverbeach Offline
#17 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 6:40 AM EST
Joined: 08-11-2017
Posts: 14,650
Backlog? Weeks to get to? I don't even know you anymore

I like the Ogre myself. Seems more complex than the original 13 yet smoother overall. Of course, I'm finding myself to be an Eiroa ho, so YMMV
Mrs. dpnewell Offline
#18 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 9:09 AM EST
Joined: 08-23-2014
Posts: 1,373
Cheno wrote:
I tried an asylum 13 ogre and couldn't do it. I made less than 1/2 and had to quit. I will try a cigar at least one more time anther time to see if it maybe was something I ate that day or paired it with. But that one I don't know if I could even try again.


I wasn't talking about the monster sized jaw breakers. I'm talking about the 5x50 robs.

David
Mrs. dpnewell Offline
#19 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 9:10 AM EST
Joined: 08-23-2014
Posts: 1,373
frankj1 wrote:
never had one, but you liked more than Illusione candela, 88 or 888?


Those Illusiones are great cigars, Frank, but that are usually out of my price range.
GaryR Offline
#20 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 9:28 AM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 49
I had an Asylum 13 smaller stick a while back (not an Ogre) and absolutely loved it. I bought a couple Ogres and other larger Asylum 13s and haven't been able to repeat the great experience. The Ogre was particularly disappointing to me.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#21 Posted: Tue, Feb 18 2020, 9:52 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
The first one or 2 iterations of the hooligan were ok... They were regular candelas, nothing particularly special... Essentially a different sized 858 candela...

Then they switched to a barber pole style and it improved significantly...

Last year they did a 3 leaf barber pole as well as the regular 2 leaf wrapper... Didn't get a chance to try the 3 leaf, but I smoked several of the 2 leaf... It's a good st patty smoke...

The best candela on the market is the Holy Lance by Illusione... Not an opinion, just a fact... The sky is blue, it's 38 degrees outside, and the HL is the best candela around...
GaryR Offline
#22 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:26 PM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 49
Well, I have tried 1 of each.

In true AB fashion, the 2 leaf was mediocre and no where near the amazing smoke I picked up in July. The 3 leaf however, was awesome. Had great flavor, even burn, very enjoyable all around. Going to let my 2 leaf sticks I have left sit a couple months and will probably buy more 3 leaf.

By the way, the store I was in was really gouging on the price of these. Wanted $250 for a box of the 2 leaf (22 sticks). Saw them on Freefall for 165.

Edit/update: Just bought a box of each on FF. Wish me luck!
Pudding Mittens Offline
#23 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:37 PM EST
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
GaryR wrote:
Well, I have tried 1 of each.

In true AB fashion, the 2 leaf was mediocre and no where near the amazing smoke I picked up in July. The 3 leaf however, was awesome. Had great flavor, even burn, very enjoyable all around. Going to let my 2 leaf sticks I have left sit a couple months and will probably buy more 3 leaf.

By the way, the store I was in was really gouging on the price of these. Wanted $250 for a box of the 2 leaf (22 sticks). Saw them on Freefall for 165.

My local B&Ms are full of morons who buy boxes there at 2x-3x or more the price they could get the exact same thing for here, or elsewhere online. Sometimes, albeit rarely, when you're talking a screaming "online sale plus promo code stack" situation, you're looking at the B&M costing 4x-5x as much or more!

But hey, they certainly and majorly help keep the lights on in the place, so I'm thankful to them!

I buy singles to justify my presence when I use their lounges, but I'll never buy boxes there, unless I hit the lottery or something and suddenly have "IDGAF money". Good lord.
.
GaryR Offline
#24 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:40 PM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 49
Pudding Mittens wrote:
My local B&Ms are full of morons who buy boxes there at 2x-3x or more the price they could get the exact same thing for here, or elsewhere online. Sometimes, albeit rarely, when you're talking a screaming "online sale plus promo code stack" situation, you're looking at the B&M costing 4x as much or more!

But hey, they certainly and majorly help keep the lights on in the place, so I'm thankful to them!

I buy singles to justify my presence when I use their lounges, but I'll never buy boxes there, unless I hit the lottery or something and suddenly have "IDGAF money". Good lord.
.


I do the same. I usually buy my higher priced sticks (high to me) from B&Ms since you can't get a deal online for a lot of them any way. Talking Liga 9, Padron Anniv, Eiroa 20yr Anniv., stuff like that.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#25 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:41 PM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
Some people would prefer support a local small business than a giant faceless corporation, even if it means not getting to smoke as many cigars... Not sure that makes them morons...
Pudding Mittens Offline
#26 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:43 PM EST
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
My personal record was getting cigars online for a price where the B&M charged 16.5x as much.

March 2018 CI crazy "BOGO-plus-$20 Bucks-card" sale on MUWAT and MUWAT KFC. One of the MUWAT KFC vitolas offered was the Kyoto, normal CI price was $24 for a 10-pack. Here they were BOGO plus you got a $20 Bucks card. That's $24 - $20 = $4 net price for two 10-packs.... that's $2.00 per 10-pack.

My local B&Ms charged $33 per 10-pack. OVER SIXTEEN TIMES AS MUCH. You want to support local business THAT much, you go right ahead, I won't be joining you!

Did I load up? Oh hell yes I did. I also loaded the hell up on MUWAT non-KFC Nightcrawler, a bigger (4.5x50) version of the same blend as the MUWAT Baitfish. They were $45 BOGO plus $20 Bucks card, meaning $45 - $20 = $25 net price for two 10-packs, which means $12.50 per 10-pack. Wow. I backed up the truck! Still got tons of those aging 2 years later Great cigar, but even better at $1.25 each!

Local B&M price $55 for a 10-pack of MUWAT Nightcrawler, 4.4x as much as I paid.

(Yes I know KFC is love-it-or-hate it, but just like Parodis, I love them!)
.
GaryR Offline
#27 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:44 PM EST
Joined: 06-06-2019
Posts: 49
opelmanta1900 wrote:
Some people would prefer support a local small business than a giant faceless corporation, even if it means not getting to smoke as many cigars... Not sure that makes them morons...


I get that, and as a small business owner appreciate it. But I like to support me first. :D

By the way, the place I was in does just fine. It's located in a very busy shopping area with lots of high end stores. It's a great business model. Husbands spend their time sitting and smoking while the wife bleeds them dry.
clintCigar Offline
#28 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 4:48 PM EST
Joined: 05-14-2019
Posts: 4,682
Pudding Mittens wrote:
I buy singles to justify my presence when I use their lounges, but I'll never buy boxes there, unless I hit the lottery or something and suddenly have "IDGAF money". Good lord.
.

ditto
clickbangdead Offline
#29 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 5:07 PM EST
Joined: 01-31-2009
Posts: 2,230
I admittedly never tried the Hooligan, but based off my past AB experiences, I'll pass. I will second the Illusione HL candela though, those are one of my favorite lanceros period.
frankj1 Offline
#30 Posted: Thu, Feb 27 2020, 11:26 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,215
clickbangdead wrote:
I admittedly never tried the Hooligan, but based off my past AB experiences, I'll pass. I will second the Illusione HL candela though, those are one of my favorite lanceros period.

I like the 88 and 888 too, best candelas around.
might be just me, but I swear I taste chocolate on the cold draw
RMAN4443 Offline
#31 Posted: Fri, Feb 28 2020, 11:27 AM EST
Joined: 09-29-2016
Posts: 7,683
frankj1 wrote:
I like the 88 and 888 too, best candelas around.
might be just me, but I swear I taste chocolate on the cold draw

That's just one of those FLASHBACK thingies they promised you back in the 70s....fog
frankj1 Offline
#32 Posted: Fri, Feb 28 2020, 7:12 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,215
I'm finally peaking
m j toal Offline
#33 Posted: Fri, Feb 28 2020, 8:53 PM EST
Joined: 03-06-2009
Posts: 3,226
Me no likey AB.
Goose7 Offline
#34 Posted: Sat, Mar 14 2020, 5:53 PM EST
Joined: 11-02-2019
Posts: 20
I finally decided to buy a box of the 2020 vintage yesterday when they showed up on a CB FreeFall auction, which I hadn't seen on offer before. Considering I paid $58.00 less for the box than the next cheapest discount box price I could find on the web, I think I did pretty well. You can really clean up with those FreeFall auctions if you know what you are doing.

As far as Alec Bradley goes... I enjoy the Tempus and the Project 40, and neither of these has ever disappointed me. The Project 40 can have burn issues on a few rare occasions, but considering the level of discount you can get them for on CB, I can't complain. I've had a few Opus Xs and 1962s with burn issues too, so its not like it doesn't happen to much more expensive cigars.

If it turns out I don't like the Hooligan, I figured that they would make great giveaways for future birthdays and holiday gifts.
izonfire Offline
#35 Posted: Sat, Mar 14 2020, 6:08 PM EST
Joined: 12-09-2013
Posts: 8,644
frankj1 wrote:
I'm finally peaking

DUCK!!!
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Back to Top