Recently bit the bullet and smoked one of the blues themed pecan smoke cured cigars released by a company in Clarksdale Ms.Wanted it to be good,being a native Missisippian and a fan of the blues.Was pricey,about 9.50 for a robusto size.Can tell you it was one of the worst cigars I have ever smoked.burned hot,extremely acrid finish.Needed to rinse my mouth after I put it down at the halfway point.Kept smoking,thinking maybe it will get better.WRONG! I will say the burn was razor sharp it it held the ash extremely well,but that is all I can say.after smoking it my question is what were they thinking?FrankB
avalon cigars
- Thread starter FrankB
- Start date
For those gorillas wanting to learn more about the new "Pecan" flavor profile
, you can go here:http://www.avaloncigars.com/
Thanks for the input FrankB...:ss
I was curious so I visited their website. I left shortly after reading the first paragraph about "Avalon". This stuff must have been written by someone who has never been to Clarksdale, doesn't know anyone who has ever been to Clarksdale, and is partaking is some very, very funny smoking products.
First there is the claim that "the land is so vastly flat that you can't tell if the sun is rising or setting." Uhhhhh. The only two places I know of where you may have that trouble is northern Alaska and Antarctica. I've been to both so I know of what I speak. I've also been to Clarksdale, which is located about 75 miles south of Memphis, Tenn. Needless to say, IT AIN'T FLAT. Pretty much, once you get north of I-10 running across south Mississippi you get into small rolling hills. The further north you go, the more hills you find.
Now admittedly, Clarksdale is in a farming area and it's not that big of a town so the living is slow paced. However I don't think the Clarksdale Chamber of Commerce can be too happy with how Avalon depicts Clarksdale. It makes it sound like an old, dead southern town where nobody works and there's nothing to do except smoke cigars. Makes me wonder where they get the money to buy the Avalon's with.
And don't get me started on Clarksdale being the "Birthplace of the Blues". I sure St. Louis, Chicago and New Orleans may want to argue that point. Hell, any town can claim to be the "birthplace" of something. All they have to do is put up a sign and find a little history to tie to it.
All that being said, I have not tried their cigars. I'm unlikely to because if they aren't going to tell the truth about where they are from how can you trust them to tell the truth about their products.
First there is the claim that "the land is so vastly flat that you can't tell if the sun is rising or setting." Uhhhhh. The only two places I know of where you may have that trouble is northern Alaska and Antarctica. I've been to both so I know of what I speak. I've also been to Clarksdale, which is located about 75 miles south of Memphis, Tenn. Needless to say, IT AIN'T FLAT. Pretty much, once you get north of I-10 running across south Mississippi you get into small rolling hills. The further north you go, the more hills you find.
Now admittedly, Clarksdale is in a farming area and it's not that big of a town so the living is slow paced. However I don't think the Clarksdale Chamber of Commerce can be too happy with how Avalon depicts Clarksdale. It makes it sound like an old, dead southern town where nobody works and there's nothing to do except smoke cigars. Makes me wonder where they get the money to buy the Avalon's with.
And don't get me started on Clarksdale being the "Birthplace of the Blues". I sure St. Louis, Chicago and New Orleans may want to argue that point. Hell, any town can claim to be the "birthplace" of something. All they have to do is put up a sign and find a little history to tie to it.
All that being said, I have not tried their cigars. I'm unlikely to because if they aren't going to tell the truth about where they are from how can you trust them to tell the truth about their products.
The Korean
Gorilla
Is there something you aren't telling us, is there an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend in Clarksdale? Did you lose to a one legged man in a jump rope competition there?
I had a Juke a while back, it was good IMHO. It was a bit mild, but I had it early one morning, so I was ok with that. A bit pricey, if it wasn't for that, I'd have one or more resting, but I don't.
I personally am a big fan of Avalon Cigars. I went to the IPCPR Trade show and met Gary Hilton, one of the owners, and was really impressed with Avalon products. My favorite was the Brazilian Maduro. The company is based out of Clarksdale. They are very passionate about what they do and it's great to see they give back to their community. I have also seen posts to try and help out fallen blues members. Give them a search before you judge. I think they have a great product with great advertising. I suggest giving them another try and if you still don't like it then we just have different tastes
Check this link out...
http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/4063697-1.html
Check this link out...
http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/4063697-1.html
I believe you have Jazz and Blues confused.
Clarksdale MS has a fair claim on the blues through the legend of Robert Johnson trading his soul to the devil for his blues gift at the crossroads. It is believed the "crossroads" is the intersection of US 61 and US 49 outside of Clarksdale MS. Some believe the "crossroads" to be the intersection of highway 8 and highway 1 in Rosedale MS. Both locations have become a pilgrimage for bluesmen. The list of musicians, rock and roll stars and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees that have journeyed to Clarksdale is a virtual who’s who.
St Louis, Chicago and New Orleans have no claim on blues, but have become acclaimed for jazz. Chicago got the blues from the migration of black labor from the poor south to better paying manufacturing jobs in the north. Robert Johnson wrote the famous blues tune Sweet Home Chicago. New Orleans has a rightful claim to jazz’ roots especially Dixieland. St Louis has no fair claim as the birthplace for jazz or blues although Kansas City contributed greatly to jazz in the 20s, 30s and 40s.
Next time you want something to listen to while smoking a cigar, pull up old blues played on an acoustic guitar ala Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, and Blind Lemon Jefferson. (youtube has some) You will be blown away.
When you get some time read about Robert Johnson, the crossroads legend, his very early death and then look at his catalog of songs. In totality, it reads like a ghost story.
These are a few his titles in order of publishing (I believe):
Cross Road Blues
Hellhound On My Trail
Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)
If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day
Stones in My Passway
Me and the Devil Blues
Sorry for the thread hijack, back to your regular scheduled broadcast.
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Chicago has no claim to the blues? St. Louis has no claim to the blues? New Orleans isn't a blues town?
Maybe they can't claim to be the "birthplace" of the blues but there are many blues fans who would argue that all three of those places are know for their blues musicians.
Jonese,
Excellent history lesson but as a man who was born in Tenn and grew up in Chicago I take exception to some of your statement. I'd agree that the delta is the home of the blues. But Chicago, St. Louis, KC and to a lesser degree Detroit were instrumental in its continuation with Chicago producing quite a few legendary bluesmen (and women for that matter). In fact if your ear is practiced enough you can completely tell the difference between Chicago blues and other blues.
Addiction, absolutely right!!!
My comments were made about the birthplace of the blues. The importance of the other cities should not be minimized at all. Memphis and Nashville have a great blues base. Chicago more than any other big city became the center of blues. All those cities have a rich blues and jazz history. The blues are the base for most modern music in America today including rock and country western.
I meant no disrepect, my point was that Clarksdale (or Rosedale) MS can rightfully claim birthplace of the blues.
My ear is very practiced at listening to the blues. It is my fingers that let me down. I can play classical easier than I can play the blues. And my voice, it will never get there. Musicly, the blues are not that difficult, but you can't play it like sheet music. It is true, you have to feel it to play and sing it. Try singing Crossroads or another blues tune sometime, and you will understand the emotion behind it.
I love all music, but blues is special.
My comments were made about the birthplace of the blues. The importance of the other cities should not be minimized at all. Memphis and Nashville have a great blues base. Chicago more than any other big city became the center of blues. All those cities have a rich blues and jazz history. The blues are the base for most modern music in America today including rock and country western.
I meant no disrepect, my point was that Clarksdale (or Rosedale) MS can rightfully claim birthplace of the blues.
My ear is very practiced at listening to the blues. It is my fingers that let me down. I can play classical easier than I can play the blues. And my voice, it will never get there. Musicly, the blues are not that difficult, but you can't play it like sheet music. It is true, you have to feel it to play and sing it. Try singing Crossroads or another blues tune sometime, and you will understand the emotion behind it.
I love all music, but blues is special.
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My impression of the Juke was a far cry from horrible! I don't blame the OP if they wouldn't try another. I may be turned off as well if I had the same experience, but I believe it just may have been a bad example of the line.
That said, I'm not sure if the Juke is still in the line up with Avalon. They are going through some changes.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=84570
That said, I'm not sure if the Juke is still in the line up with Avalon. They are going through some changes.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=84570
Wow, lots of strong opinions in this thread. First off, let me apologize to anyone who ever smoked one of the early Avalon cigars. There were a lot of them released before they ever should have been, he you live and learn. Our new lines consist of the Numbers series, rolled in Miami and the Juke series, rolled in Nicaragua. We are gaining traction and starting to pop up in stores all over the country, give us a try, I think you will like the direction we are taking the cigars. As for all the comments about blues and Clarksdale, I assure you our descriptions are accurate, there is not much to do in Clarksdale other than listen to blues and smoke cigars, it really is kind of like the town time forgot, and we love that. The Chamber of Commerce loves the fact that we have our headquarters in blues alley and loves it when we come to town,(we always bring money). Clarksdale is indeed the site of the "crossroads" and is the undisputed home of the early country blues. Most of the artists that filtered north to Chicago, Memphis and St Louis bought tickets in the train station were we have our space. I love blues, always have, always will, I've been all over the country for the sake of listening to the guys and attending the festivals, trust me, there's just no substitute for being rocked in the cradle were it all started. Come on down and have a cigar on me, love to see you all in Clarksdale. Oh and by the way, there is not a hill in sight, unless you mean the Levee, which is a spectacle all unto itself, this is the delta, and we like it flat.
Pathman, Your descrition of Clarksdale is spot on. I didn't know how to describe it and not insult anyone from there.
And it is very flat there. The other gentlmen is using alaska and antartica as a reference point and starting there, everything is considered hilly with the exception of the great plains and high plains states.
I haven't had your cigars yet, not sold anywhere around me here. I wish you must success
And it is very flat there. The other gentlmen is using alaska and antartica as a reference point and starting there, everything is considered hilly with the exception of the great plains and high plains states.
I haven't had your cigars yet, not sold anywhere around me here. I wish you must success
mastershogun
Chestbeating Pack Leader
i have heard some good things about avalon and who can't say no to a blues themed cigar (blues is my favorite genre of music )
I'll get around to trying these :chk
)I'll get around to trying these :chk
Anyone interested in a really good blues podcast should visit:
http://roadhousepodcast.com/
Are the Avalon's available at any B&M's in the New Orleans area?
http://roadhousepodcast.com/
Are the Avalon's available at any B&M's in the New Orleans area?