A Fountain Pen

Recently, while writing some stories and manuscripts, I realized that I do most by hand before I transfer to the computer. I find it really forces me to think about what I’m writing, it causes me to have to reread and rewrite before I even edit.

Since this is not a habit I plan to change, I looked for a nicer pen. Then, I remembered some fountain pens I had once and how interesting it was to write with them. Searching began. I no longer had my old fountain pens and decided I would definitely like some.

Fountain pens use a reservoir of one type or another to hold ink at one end of a ‘feeder’, which lets the ink run down into the nib. Gravity and capilary action cause the ink to come out (hopefully) only when you’re writing.  The ink and nib design allows a writer to use less pressure to write which allows the writer to also write more without fatigue. Also there are many inks and nibs and pens and all sorts of ink-holding systems like converters and cartridges and pistons and such. As you can see, this is something that one can make a quick hobby of.

After trying a couple of ‘kit pens’ made from prefab kits that woodturners slide turned blanks of exotic woods onto and glue together, I found I wanted something just a bit better.Though, I did like and still have the PenWorksPlus.com jr. Gentlemen pen with olive wood.

Searches led me to a lot of retailers and hobbyists selling used, vintage and new pens. I found nib-meisters who sell nibs, fix nibs, grind nibs and trade nibs. I uncovered a vast number of ink-makers and inks for all sorts of uses from waterproof to freeze-proof to quick-dry and so on.

I realized, for me, that many of the high-end fountain pens seemed tacky and/or heavy or overly ornate. I wanted something simple but found that even the simple pens were expensive though they were made from plastics and inexpensive materials.

Most recently I found a US penmaker who does custom work. Now custom is something that is worth a little more $$, especially in this bland world of mass-production.

Soon I will post my new pen review with pictures and details.

Winter at BeanLeafGrape

For the short time (six years) I lived in Southern California, I forgot what it was like to be blasted with icy wind and pelted with snow. Seeking to again see the seasons change, I moved to the northeast (from whenst I came). Now, after a couple of years with humid summers and harsh winters I’m ready to give it up for a place with more stable temps.

What’s this have to do with anything? Well, there’s a good chance I won’t post any cigar reviews since it’s too cold to stand outside for 40 minutes. Not to mention that cigars just don’t taste right or burn well in those conditions.

This would be the time of year I would be doing more wine-tastings but that just isn’t in the budget for winter 09-10.

Coffee, on the other hand, is definitely happening and lately I have cupped some offerings from Counter Culture, 1,000 Faces and Gimme Coffee. Soon, however, I may not be cupping the coffee of others since I’ll be venturing into the world of roasting again and blending my own coffees.

Stay tuned.

Camacho Corojo

For this tasting I scored a 5 pack from a bid site. These are toro sized sticks 6×50. The most recent one I lit had a small torn off piece of wrapper near the band. There was also a soft area about halfway down. Despite these common flaws the burn was mostly even and only required two touch-ups.

The cold aroma was of wood, mostly, with a hint of spiciness. Cold draw gave a hint of espresso with the oak and spice. Draw was on the free side.

The light-up brings pepper and spice with dark oaky flavors. Right off the bat this is powerful and full-bodied with thick, heavy smoke. Flavor and smoke are strong and spicy–in my opinion, not overly strong. The Honduran tobacco notes of earthy-goodness are present but can be outshined by the spicy Corojo wrapper at times.

I found the cigar to be quite simple in its power. What I mean is that there isn’t much complexity behind the strength, though that’s not to say the cigar is lacking much. There is definitely a red wine quality to these Camachos.

Midway I found that the warmer earthy notes of oak, mushroom, moss and espresso came through best. Earlier and later in the cigar these notes were buried beneath oak and spice and pepper.

Compared with the Camacho Havana this is drier (in flavor, meaning less sweet) and spicier.

Overall the smoke time was 45 minutes, laying this one down with just under two inches left. I definitely like the flavor and power of Camacho for around 6 bucks per stick, give or take some change depending on vitola. I keep these in the humi, along with the Havana (a lighter criollo wrapper) at all times, now.

Camacho Connecticut

Recently, as part of my foray into Camacho’s offerings, I picked up a few of these White Labels.

The Monarca size is robusto 5×50. The cigars were firm and packed well. There was a hay-like aroma and some nutty smell that reminded me of sesame seeds.

Lighting up I caught a mouthful of pepper and woody flavors. This went on for a good half inch of the cigar before the pepper mellowed to that typical Connecticut white pepper note. Initial flavors were cedar, pepper and paper with a thick and creamy smoke that was heavy in the mouth.

After about an inch the Camacho flavors kicked in. These are the notes that say ‘Honduras’: oaky, mossy, walnut. Very unexpected in a Connecticut. I found it flavorful and very enjoyable.

Somewhere after the halfway mark I lost the great complexity of Camacho’s Jamastran tobacco and was left with a couple inches of mild to medium Connecticut like the early stages of the cigar. With two inches left the smoke began to get more peppery and less creamy.

The burn was uneven for a while but fixed itself about halfway down.

Buy these again? I just might.

Gurkha Evil

A word on Gurkha (my opinions and observations).
The brand seems to be met with either great love or fierce abhorance. Some will say that Gurkha is all marketing and packaging. Some say the cigars are just not good. Others are diehard fans. I will say that I’ve had Gurkhas that I loved and a couple I could have lived without. Some seem overpriced but can be had at discounts all over the web. Gurkha buys up rare tobaccos and blends them into clever cigars that seem to appeal more to folks who’ve been enjoying cigars for a while (rather than newbies). I find the flavors of these sticks are more an acquired taste but definitely not “bad” or easily dismissed as “overpriced”.

This was a robusto size Brazilian-wrapped, Dominican bound Nicaraguan. The cigar was firm and flawless with an oaky odor mixed with cocoa.

The light brought a touch of pepper, spice and some body and strength. The deep dark flavor of earthy woods and bittersweet chocolate reminded me of some Padilla cigars.

As I progressed the body built to medium to full with thick smoke. Flavors were strong. This was not a complex smoke with style and finesse but Gurkhas attempt at a spicy Nicaraguan. (Most Gurkhas are Dominican or Honduran as far as I can tell.)

Flavors didn’t change much throughout. There was a little sweetness and a hidden coffee note among the oaky taste.

I did enjoy the cigar, and the price was right at about 7 bucks per stick. The burn was even and smoke time near an hour.

Pira Dolcetto d’Alba

Red wine from the Piedmont region of norther Italy where we get other wines like Barolo and Barbera and lots of sparkling wines.

Compared to Barbera the Dolcetto is more tannic and rustic though not as much as anything made from the Nebbiolo grapes.

This Dolcetto was fruit-forward with a grapey, blackberry quality that mixes well with the tar notes. There seems to be a touch of leather among the strong tannins and rustic earthiness. Definitely not one of the softer Dolcetto wines. One day after opening the tannins softened and the fruit came alive.

Probably good with marinara sauces and pork and lamb.

Camacho Havana

In my cigar progression I seem to have gone from Dominicans to Nicaraguans to Honduran/Nicaraguan blends. I like complexity and flavor over power and strength. I’m really liking these Honduran sticks.

This was a robusto size 5×50 which Camacho calls Monarca. I must say I only lit one so far.

This is the yellow and gold label Camacho…had to look it up to find out what line it was. Found this in a small local cigar and magazine shop. There was no box so it wasn’t instantly identifiable (especially since I don’t know much about Camacho). Supposedly this has all tobacco grown in Jamastran, Honduras.

The cold aroma was pleasantly oaky with a hint of something sweet. After clipping, the cold draw was similar with a touch of pepper.

Off the light there was a nice burst of pepper and some oak and earthy notes. The earthiness wasn’t mushroomy or overly soil-like or autumn-leafy like some maduro-Nicaraguan. Rather this was like a mossy oak earthy flavor with a sweetness and some pepper.

Flavors remained the same throughout with the addition of a rich tobacco flavor and a very subtle coffee note toward the midpoint.

The cigar had no flaws except a tiny patch of wrapper that came off with the band later on. Firm and well-packed, the Camacho had a draw on the tight side but not overly so. The burn was mostly even. Burn time was about an hour.

Compared to the one Camacho Corojo I tried last spring this was sweeter and less peppery but otherwise similar. I definitely enjoyed this and look forward to trying more Camacho cigars.

Vigneti Del Sole 2008

Pinot Grigio from the Veneti region of Italy.

Used some of this to coat the bottom of a roasting pan that held 4 Cornish Hens. Along with some sage and butter this was a great way to steam some flavor up into the roasting fowl.

On to the wine: great crisp PG with mineral, citrus acidity. There’s lots of citrus and quite a bit of acidity. I detected a touch of grapefruit and a very light note of apple. Not complex in any way but that’s ok for Pinot Grigio. It was definitely dry, which was nice in this age of Riesling-lovers influencing white wine production.

Nub Maduro 460

The 460 is a 4 inch by 60 ring cigar with a Brazilian maduro wrapper and Nicaraguan long-filler. The cigar feels firm and has a free pre-light draw. Aroma is oak and hay.

Since the Nub is designed to hit the sweet spot quick and stay there, there isn’t much change in flavor or evolution with this experience. The light brings some pepper and unsweetened chocolate with a bit if oak and moss.

The body stays medium with a nice dense mouthfeel, but not overly thick. Flavor is in the mid range of strength.

The only change in flavor came toward the end when there was about an inch and a half left and things got bitter.

The burn was mostly even and very slow. Burn time was close to an hour.

The only stick I can compare this to is the Oliva O Maduro (Oliva makes Nub) which has similar earthy notes but more spice.

Pepin Garcia Serie JJ

This most recent Pepin is one of many I’ve enjoyed yet one of only 3 JJ’s I’ve had.

This belicoso is about 5.5×52. Firm between the fingers and a nice Claro/Colorado (tan) wrapper that has a couple of flaws. One was visible right away as a small slit in the middle. The other flaw came up later with a burn issue–slight unraveling.

Cold aroma was somewhat reminiscent of a Connecticut wrapper. White pepper and cedar dominated. No surprises with the light: pepper and cedar with a slightly dry mouthfeel and lots of flavor, I’d say medium strength with mild body.

Throughout the cigar a slight sweetness builds while pepper and cedar stay for the duration. A general tobacco note is noticable after the first third.

I only needed a couple of touch-ups. The burn was mostly even and the cigar lasted about and hour and fifteen (I put it down with two inches left). There isn’t much complexity but it was nice to see Pepin can blend cigars that aren’t all leather and spice.

Overall I found this very different from other Pepin lines, lighter and with more finesse rather than power. Still I found myself wondering if it’s worth $9 per stick. I’d have to say no. If you must have these, check Cigarbid.