tdlfoto Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 (edited) So I'm in Windsor, Ontario (across the river from Detroit) for the weekend, on assignment to photograph the rapid construction of a highway structure. The job requires that I shoot a timelapse video beginning tonight at 23:00 going straight through to Sunday 01:00. Once the gear is set up and running, I'll be basically camping in my car on an embankment of the closed highway, running out periodically to check battery status, change memory cards, and find somewhere to take a leak. I was required to take some safety & environmental sensitivity training before gaining access to the job site....where I learned that this area of the province is home to a few varieties of poisonous snakes. Excellent. Ok, so, I packed my travel humidor to the max and made my way to Windsor this afternoon, a 3.5 hour drive from home. I'm going to use this thread to post a series of reviews of cigars as I smoke them. If you dont hear from me once every few hours tomorrow, perhaps I've met a snake PARTAGAS 898V 6.7" x 43 Lit this as I was leaving Hamilton to enjoy along with my hit-the-road road coffee. Threw some Black Sabbath on the Phone/Blutooth setup and hammered it down the 403 westbound toward London and Windsor. Aroma at cold is rich woody tobacco. Nice looking wrapper, and feels consistent through its length. This is only my second 898, I'm excited. Opens with more strength than most...mostly of a wood and pepper variety. I'm enjoying, though a little concerned that if it builds throughout I may have a hard time with the final third. It's got my attention. Moving into the 2/3, the burn is perfect though I'm having to pull on the draw more than I might have liked. I'm a big fan of getting a mouthful of thick smoke and it's not happening here. Pepper and cedar are dominating the flavour profile. Final third is pushing my confort zone in terms of strength. Some dark/bitter cocoa flavour thrown in the mix that I enjoy. Draw loosens up and I'm getting more smoke. Burn remains perfect through to the end. Though I do love Party Shorts, P2's, E2's, I find this cigar has power than I can handle comfortably. If I was scoring, I'd say high 80's - might have cracked 90 if not for the draw issue across the first two thirds. I've had 20 ounces of coffee so it's time to hit a service center. London Ontario will do. Grab some Gatorade and cashews and it's back in the car. Change up the tunes...The Verve's epic 'Urban Hymns' album. Sun is shining, traffic is flying. Before pulling back onto the highway, I cut the cap off a... VEGAS ROBAINA FAMOSOS 5" x 48 Picked up half a box from a LFTH several months back and wasn't overly impressed with the first one I smoked. Bottom of the coolidor they went until this morning. Aroma at cold yields some cocoa and grass. A very noticeable vein runs the length, but otherwise feels fine to the finger roll. Opens quite nicely with cocoa and some sweetness. By the 2/3 I'm having to touch up the burn a little but it's not out of control entirely. Flavour build slowly and starts showing some spice, but in gentle waves. I'm really happy with how these have developed. Final third is medium bodied with plenty of toasted tobacco, cocoa and spice. Nice viscosity to the smoke in my mouth. I'm thinking how much I'll enjoy these through the summer. Excellent. 90 Arrived in Windsor at 5:30, checked into my hotel and went out for Thai. Sweet & sour soup, Thai spicy noodle, and a 7up. Just up the street from my hotel I notice a a cigar retailer, so after dinner I head over to check it out - even though the travel humi was packed, who can resist....might find something unusual/special, right?! Nope, pretty standard and limited stock. I did pick up a Trinidad Reyes since I've never smoked one, and something I had never seen before... H UPMANN MAJESTIC 5.5" x 40 The gentleman at the shop did warn me this wasn't a very exciting cigar but curiosity got the best of me and it was fairly inexpensive so I picked one up. Headed over to Starbucks to grab a coffee and then sat in the paking lot of the hotel where I cut the cap, took a cold draw which seemed about right, and lit er up. Well, as advertised, this was a sleeper. Earthy and olive oil throughout with basically no change or even build up. Mild flavour profile, little variation. Can't say it was bad, but I can't say it was good. Just...meh. 85 I'm about to head out and get working. May or may not take on a petite corona later tonight (Have Boli PC, SC El Principe, Trini Reyes on board). For tomorrow I have Punch Churchill, Hamlet Custom Robusto Extra, HDM Short Piramide, Bolivar CE, JL#2. My next update from inside my car. ---------Saturday 12:15---------- I've been camping in my car all night, taking one hour naps between visits to my gear. Have been approached by police twice. Good times. All is going well though, and earlier this morning I had my first ever... TRINIDAD REYES 4 3/8" x 40 Perfect dark toned wrapper, wonderful barnyard on the nose, I am stoked to be smoking this along with morning coffee!! Cut the pigtail and tested draw....aces. If the pre-light factors hadn't convinced me this would be a treat, the first pull certainly did - WOW! Voluminous mouthful of herbs and coffee that I did not want to exhale. Burn is perfect, ash stable. I'm getting anxious already because I know it's a short smoke. Nearing the half way point and theres grass and hay, maybe some tea. Incredibly complex for such a small cigar. Very smooth throughout, tight to the end. I'm burning my fingers trying to enjoy some nutty flavours that have appeared. What a way to start the day!! Clearly Havana excels at shorter cigars (SC Principe, Party Short, Boli PC, ...and the Reyes!). I need a box of these. 93/94 -----------Saturday 15:10------------ After a quick lunch at a burger joint and a drive-thru Starbucks run, I was back at my perch on the side of highway, beside my camera, which has now taken approximately 800 frames of this structure construction. It has sprinkled lightly and continues to be overcast. I'm tethering my MacBook to watch youtube vids and thought I'd light up a smoked that Canadianbeaver (Lisa) recently traded to me, the... PUNCH CHURCHILL 7" X 47 Nice sheen on the wrapper, feels uniformly filled, and hints at an organicy-tea aroma at cold. Draw seems about right. Throughout the entire length, and there was plenty at 7", this cigar rests on a core of deadpan toasted tobacco - very nice. Early on I got some overlayering of light tea, building to medium bodied through 2/3 and 3/3 which got to include some cocoa and subtly spice. Not a ton of variation (like the REYES this morning), but I can appreciate the strong showing of toasted tobacco all the way. Not a cigar you need to sit back on ponder on - it's pretty upfront. Burn wasn't razor sharp, neither did it require correction or re-lighting. I've got another one of these that Lisa traded me, and I'll enjoy it later this summer. Probably won't look to acquire a box. 88/89 -------------Sunday 09:00------------ Wrapped up shooting earlier than anticipated last night....some 1000+ frames later. Dashed over to the B&M near my hotel to look for something different to smoke that evening. Back to the hotel for a shower, dinner (full rack of ribs + 4 pints Guinness) and head out to the parking lot to enjoy a.... BOLIVAR ROYAL CORONA 4 7/8" x 50 Nice sample that has a gorgeous sheen on the wrapper and aromas of fruit and cocoa. Noticeable box press. Not sure if it was the Guinness or working in the dark, but when I cut the cap the wrapper started to unravel. Patched that up with some saliva. Sexy, I know. What follows was an hour smoke that was sensational. Cocoa and coffee cream, some cake and cookie dough, cue the overlaying of some subtle spice as it builds to medium/full for the final third. Worth noting that for the duration of this cigar the ash fell away in just two parts. By this point it was 23:00 and I was knackered. A great way to the end the day. 92 -----------Sunday 21:40----------- It's great to be home after a somewhat longish drive. Rollover on the 401 near London had traffic halted for a while. Nevertheless, I enjoyed two cigars on the way back... HOYO SHORT PIRAMIDES 2011 EL 5.3" x 46 Lovely dark wrapper, very well constructed caps, tight overall package. Starts out with plenty cream and nutty flavours. The draw is a bit tight and I'm wishing I could get more smoke without doing the fish-face. Even in the car with windows down and barreling down the highway I notice that the aroma is really intense. Second half sees more coffee-cream and nuts but now a really delicious dark chocolate-espresso flavour is present, been imparted on the lips. As it winds down I'm left wishing there was another inch. 90 JUAN LOPEZ NO. 2 4.9" x 50 Well constructed, tan leather colour wrapper, great draw, and plenty of cream and hay at cold. Medium bodied, this robusto rests on a solid core of really rich toasted tobacco, with coffee and whipped cream in the first two thirds, and bit of mild spice and dark coffee for the final third interwoven in the mix. The finish is long on the palette and I always find myself wanting to eat the cigar in the final third. I'm now into my fourth box of these and I honestly can't recall pitching a dud - remarkable consistency. I'd take a box of the JL2 over CoRo's any day. These are always 90-92 cigars IMHO, and this particular specimen is a solid 91. In summary I'd like to note that while stoning HSA seems to be de rigueur lately, having smoked this selection of wonderful cigars I can't help but believe that they are producing some really incredible product these days. From PC's to Robustos to Piramides to Churchills....it's all there and smoking very well!! I'll add the timepalse that I shot once I get everything processed and assembled in a couple days. I hope you've enjoyed reading, even half as much as I've enjoyed smoking and sharing. Cheers Edited April 30, 2012 by tdlfoto
maverickdrinker Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 great reviews tony. a 3 cigar day. very nice. i see that you are a big fan of getting a mouthful........ of smoke.
Ginseng Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Sounds like a different kind of assignment. You're off to a decent cigar start. Wilkey
bolivr Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Great work, thank you , the 898 is a firm favourite of mine. Must try a Famoso. The Upmann Majestic is what I call a party cigar - one that idles away while you drink and chat and does not demand (or deserve) a great amount of attention. Good in that role though for the money. BTW , my dream job would involve anything that allowed the enjoyment of a fine cigar during the day!
mazolaman Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Good post TD. I suppose you'll be cramming in smokes as you can't smoke at home with the little un'! The majestic is really just an every day cigar, but not bad for all that. Keep em coming, and I wanna see the bridge!
winelover Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Really entertaining read. Hope those snakes stay away and happy smoking.
tdlfoto Posted April 28, 2012 Author Posted April 28, 2012 couple more reviews added. another post-dinner provided the rain holds off.
canadianbeaver Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Gotta ask, were you typing, smoking and driving in that first third of your post?? Keep warm my friend! Lisa
tdlfoto Posted April 29, 2012 Author Posted April 29, 2012 No no Lisa, those first reviews I wrote upon checking into my room. And thanks, I'll try!
CanuckSARTech Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 Awwwww crap, Tony!!! I wish I had known about this. I was back home in Chatham for the day yesterday evening until tonight. I woulda run you some nice fresh hot home-cooked food from my wife, and maybe shared a stogie with you. I'm back up in the GTA now though. Shucks. Good luck with the shoot, though. Can't wait to see how it turns out for you. Cheers, and good luck with those snakes (too cold for them anyways. LOL.)
tdlfoto Posted April 29, 2012 Author Posted April 29, 2012 dang kieth!! I could have used some company...was a pretty boring weekend, cigars aside. if i'm ever working out the way again (possibly august i found out), i'll certainly give you the heads up. I'm about to shower up and hit the road. more reviews later today!
Puros Y Vino Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 Great series Tony. You must be completely marinated in smoke.
tdlfoto Posted April 30, 2012 Author Posted April 30, 2012 Great series Tony. You must be completely marinated in smoke. oddly enough, I could go for more...it's like I'm in Cuba! lol
investandprosper Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 Great reviews Tony! Making me want to grab some JL2s and Boli RCs!
Rushman Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 Very cool. --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.631844,-87.070627
maduro Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 dang kieth!! I could have used some company...was a pretty boring weekend, cigars aside. if i'm ever working out the way again (possibly august i found out), i'll certainly give you the heads up. I'm about to shower up and hit the road. more reviews later today! Tony, We don't know each other but If I had known you were coming down for the weekend I would have joined you for a drink and a cigar. I live in Windsor. If you come back down again in August let give a few days notice and we will get together. Eugene
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