The Beast Has Been Tamed

[telescopes]

When I first purchased C&Ds The Beast, I was to put it mildly, not impressed. I gave a way a few tins and after smoking one, put the rest away.

Today, after a few years of age, I opened a tin up.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. Mild, pleasant, the flavors now all working together rather than all wrestling for the foreground.

And above all, what one word could I use to describe it?

Zen.

Balance in form, art, and beauty.

Happy Smokes.

 

[craig61a]

Would this be the 2016 “The Beast” or the 2023 “Return of the Beast”…?

I didn’t purchase either.

I was buying or had bought Carolina Red Flake with Perique at the time (2023), had some of that stashed away, so I figured I’d pass on ROTB.

I will say that there are many blends that I have purchased over the years that didn’t really impress me fresh out of the tin, but where very enjoyable with a few years of age in them.

Maybe 10-15 years ago I purchased a few boxes of Man O’ War Ruination 6.5x60 cigars. Giant stick, 8-10 to a box, the box was about 13-14” wide.

I took one out after letting them sit for about a month. About halfway through I started to get dizzy and broke into a cold sweat. That had never happened before. These were strong ass cigars… I didn’t pick up another until about a year later, and then they had mellowed out and tasted fantastic. I wished I had bought 10 more boxes.

 

[renfield]

Good to hear. I have some 2016 Beast I've yet to try.

 

[Sig]

I usually give a blend 3-5 years before giving it away. Most of the time it improves, sometimes not.
Over the last year I've been giving a LOT of C&D Bayou Morning away. I believe it is from 2017-2019, I'd have to check.
It's one of the few blends in 30 years that didn't do it for me fresh, and didn't do it after 5+ years.
I thought it was the amount of Perique, but I'm not sure now.
I like Perique, but in small amounts.
But, I love several blends which contain more Perique than BM.
The BM is just musty and acrid to me.

 

[DeaconPiper]

I saw the title to this thread and thought it was about one of my ex-girlfriends. Knew it couldn't be true.

 

[Zamora]

That seems to a be a common experience with C&D blends, I've seen so many people say they didn't care for one fresh but that after a year or two it was really good.

 

[BenMN]

When I first purchased C&Ds The Beast, I was to put it mildly, not impressed. I gave a way a few tins and after smoking one, put the rest away.

Today, after a few years of age, I opened a tin up.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. Mild, pleasant, the flavors now all working together rather than all wrestling for the foreground.

And above all, what one word could I use to describe it?

Zen.

Balance in form, art, and beauty.

Happy Smokes.

Thanks for the update! Funny, I just took a tin out yesterday and put it in my "soon" section.

I'll be eager to see how it's doing. Mine is the '23 vintage. I smoked a tin that fall, and I liked its chaotic assertiveness

 

[craig61a]

Well, since the next release is upcoming, I might have to buy a few…

Or not…

 

[telescopes]

Thanks for the update! Funny, I just took a tin out yesterday and put it in my "soon" section.

I'll be eager to see how it's doing. Mine is the '23 vintage. I smoked a tin that fall, and I liked its chaotic assertiveness

View attachment 378606

The Perique note is still very evident when packing the pipe. The actual smoke is much much less chaotic. That is an apt term for how it smoked when first purchased. Now it drives like a Cadillac.

 

[LouisPiper]

Thanks for the update! Funny, I just took a tin out yesterday and put it in my "soon" section.

I'll be eager to see how it's doing. Mine is the '23 vintage. I smoked a tin that fall, and I liked its chaotic assertiveness mm
Ko9 to
The

View attachment 378606o

p

 

[BenMN]

The Perique note is still very evident when packing the pipe. The actual smoke is much much less chaotic. That is an apt term for how it smoked when first purchased. Now it drives like a Cadillac.

Agreed, still plenty spicy-strong, but settles in nicely to a smooth smooth ride.

*just cracked a tin from the '23 release. Everything as it should be. No tin swelling, kinda surprised at that. Initial nose was... less than pleasant

Leaning towards grabbing a few more from today's release

 

[The Benedictine]

Agreed, still plenty spicy-strong, but settles in nicely to a smooth smooth ride.

*just cracked a tin from the '23 release. Everything as it should be. No tin swelling, kinda surprised at that. Initial nose was... less than pleasant

Leaning towards grabbing a few more from today's release

View attachment 383008

I would grab some of today's but I cannot justify the price.

 

[telescopes]

I bought a tin last week believe it or not from a well known site.

 

[BriaronBoerum]

For those who bought the Beast, are you opening and tasting it right away, or letting it stew in the can a while?

 

[Auxsender]

For those who bought the Beast, are you opening and tasting it right away, or letting it stew in the can a while?

View attachment 383787

Stew.
I’m gonna forget about it for a year or two.

 

[Sig]

Well, the dummy I am, I ordered 3 tins, they will be here on the 8th.
I'll open one and let the other 2 sit for way too long, then be bothered by opening them 10 years from now.

 

[BenMN]

For those who bought the Beast, are you opening and tasting it right away, or letting it stew in the can a while?

View attachment 383787

I bought 5 back in March '23.

I opened one that fall, so approximately 6 months later.

2nd tin just got opened

Probably will smoke a tin per year, roughly.

Did you buy some? I'd give it a try within the first year, definitely

 

[wiijj]

For those who bought the Beast, are you opening and tasting it right away, or letting it stew in the can a while?

View attachment 383787

i'm was going to open a tin today and try it, the others i'll let sit for a few years.

 

[telescopes]

i'm was going to open a tin today and try it, the others i'll let sit for a few years.

I am smoking some aged The Beast. Personally, This is the Way. I purchased a new tin to replace the older one - I foolishly gave away some - @JOHN72 i hope you are enjoying it - it’s ready. Some folks don’t like the legacy info that C&D used to create it. Well, reread what Paul said about eating meat offered to idles. It’s tobacco - not magic. It’s a one trick pony - but yeh, it is an interesting change up from regular blends.

 

[woodsroad]

. Some folks don’t like the legacy info that C&D used to create it. Well, reread what Paul said about eating meat offered to idles. It’s tobacco - not magic. It’s a one trick pony - but yeh, it is an interesting change up from regular blends.

Ok, I’m stumped.
‘splain me?
Legacy info? Meat?