by Mark Twain

My friends for some years now have remarked that I am an inveterate consumer of tobacco. That is true, but my habits with regard to tobacco have changed. I have no doubt that you will say, when I have explained to you what my present purpose is, that my taste has deteriorated, but I do not so regard it.

Whenever I held a smoking-party at my house, I found that my guests hadalways just taken the pledge.

Let me tell you briefly the history of my personal relation to tobacco. It began, I think, when I was a lad, and took the form of a quid, which I became expert in tucking under my tongue. Afterward I learned the delights of the pipe, and I suppose there was no other youngster of my age who could more deftly cut plug tobacco so as to make it available for pipe-smoking.

Well, time ran on, and there came a time when I was able to gratify one of my youthful ambitions--I could buy the choicest Havana cigars without seriously interfering with my income. I smoked a good many, changing off from the Havana cigars to the pipe in the course of a day's smoking.

At last it occurred to n1e that something was lacking in the Havana cigar. It did not quite fulfil my youthful anticipations. I experimented. I bought what was called a seed-leaf cigar with a Connecticut wrapper. After a while I became satiated of these, and I searched for something else, The Pittsburg stogy was recommended to me. It certainly had the merit of cheapness, if that be a merit in tobacco, and I experimented with the stogy.

Then, once more, I changed off, so that I might acquire the subtler flavor of the Wheeling toby. Now that palled, and I looked around New York in the hope of finding cigars which would seem to most people vile,
but which, I am sure, would be ambrosial to me. I couldn't find any. They put into my hands some of those little things that cost ten cents a box, but they are a delusion.

I said to a friend, "I want to know if you can direct me to an honest tobacco merchant who will tell me what is the worst cigar in the New York market, excepting those made for Chinese consumption--I want real tobacco. If you will do this and I find the man is as good as his word, I will guarantee him a regular market for a fair amount of his cigars."

We found a tobacco dealer who would tell the truth--who, if a cigar was bad, would boldly say so. He produced what he called the very worst cigars he had ever had in his shop. He let me experiment with one then and there. The test was satisfactory.

This was, after all, the real thing. I negotiated for a box of them and took them away with me, so that I might be sure of having them handy when I want them.

I discovered that the "worst cigars," so called, are the best for me, after all.

Nice read. Thanks Cavallo!!

That is true though -- One man's Dog rocket may be another man's treasure.

Once, I was very fond of a certain brand, and I had acquired a lot of them. Afterwards, my taste has changed, and I've left them in my cooler for a while. Those cigars have been aged for a little over a year now, and heck, they aren't as bad as what people said. I stil like them, on occasion.

Helix, is another one that I enjoy. I went through 2 boxes of the X550 Nat's last summer. Many people thought I was nuts because to them, those are one of the El Cheapo's. To me, they are good in the morning, especially having it with a cup of coffee, double cream, no sugar. I don't smoke Helix's now, not because I consider them as dog rockets, but I just don't have the time to enjoy it the way I want.

So, it's all up to your taste to call it a dog rocket. No one can tell you which is a dog rocket unless you've smoked one and truly dislike it.

JMHO

THIS IS DEEP AND GETTING DEEPER. SIMPLY PUT "THINGS CHANGE " AND 'variety is the spice of life]\;',/0 bURMA SHAVE

Ahhhhhhh, Wheeling WV. The stomping grounds of my youth.

Sounds like my unexplainable desire to search out a box of Topper Old Fashioned Oscuros.

I have been astounded at some of the "dog rockets" Liz has received! IT super fuerte, Alhambras (yeah some more of what Rick sent out!), VC Vintage Select (don't know what it tastes like yet, but the name and appearance are yummy), IT Limited Reserves, CAO Black, just to name a few! To be honest, I don't care for FFOX's but I have a couple aging to see if they improve. I guess taste is VERY subjective. And be careful what you dis, it may be good trading stock to somebody that has some junk you'ld kill for!