2009 Reynaldo Canonazo Custom Roll

[maverickdrinker]

2009 Reynaldo Canonazo

This is the first of my 'Custom Roll' Series. Over the next few reviews, I will be smoking different cigars from various rollers, located in Cuba.

The first one is from Reynaldo, who is the manager of the famous Casa Del Habanos in the Conde De Villaneuva hotel.

This is a great LCDH to visit when you are in Havana. Lots of great stock and many custom rolled cigars to choose from.

My first visit to Havana was in 2009. It was a day trip to Havana as the whole family was vacationing in Varadero. We rented a van and spent the day there. What a magical trip.

My family went on a Havana tour and I headed over the the Conde De Villanueva LCDH to meet Reynaldo for the first time.

When I first got there, he immediately offered my an expresso and asked me what my favorite vitola was. At the time, I was really enjoying the 2008 EL Montecristo Sublimes so I told him a Sublime vitola.

He smiled and went to the famous 'back room' where there are lockers. In each locker, he has a different vitola. He opened up all the lockers to show me all the different sizes that he had. What a site to behold. Amazing!!!!

I asked him what his favorite size was and he told me a canonazo size. The reason he liked it is that there is a time commitment and that the ring gauge allows him to use an old school blend in the vitola. I wonder if this will be one of those ligero bombas!!!

With that, I bought a bundle right then and there. This is one of them from that bundle. Haven't smoked one of these for a long time.

Well, let's get to the review.

This canonazo has been sitting in my humidor for since 2009. The wrapper is medium brown colour. Reminds me of coffee in the morning.

The aromas from the wrapper remind me of a caramilk bar. caramel and chocolate. Marvelous.

The construction is good. A little soft for my liking, mostly near the mid point of the foot and near the top of the triple cap.

The triple cap itself is expertly constructed. A slight press on the triple cap reveals the outline of an indent. Very old school. Like a little crater. It gives me a target and takes very easily to my punch.

Initial cold draw is nice and easy. Caramel, cedar and chocolate coat my palate in the initial pulls.

Time to take this to the flame....

First Third

WOW!!! This takes me by surprise. OOlong tea, pepper and black coffee hit me out of nowhere!!! This starts off wit a bang. pure power!!1

the ash is a dirty greyish white. burns a little funny in the beginning due to underfilling but straightens out over time.

very easy draw. A little loose but ok.

bitter melon, expresso and roasted nuts is what i get on the afterfinish. full on power!!! very pure tobacco at the back end of the finish. This can still age for a looonnggg time!

Second Third

Either the power has settled down or I have gotten used to the strength. Still in the medium full category.

The bitter melon/oolong tea combination is now bolstered by rich earthiness and leather.

The burn line is wonky throughout the second third. You can tell where the cigar has been underfilled when the ash fractures. Starts to tunnel a bit but a quick touch up solves this.

The after finish is a little tannic, like when you drink a young wine and your lips pucker up. There is a bitterness that is offset by the earthy/leather combination as well.

Final third

The cigar starts to tighten up. The burn line straightens out and the draws firms up a bit. It's like the cigar plumped up in the final third.

The strength is still medium full but has really settled in nicely. Cream, cocoa and roasted nuts fill the void that the bitter melon and oolong tea has left. Still plenty of leather and earthiness to the cigar.

Some vanilla bean enters at the last minute. Goes well with the cream, cocoa and roasted nuts combination. Th leather and earthiness become more of an inflection point.

The strength dissipates to the medium category. The onslaught of power personified has slowly evolved to an enjoyable array of flavours to end this journey. Like going through a tornado and arriving at the eye of the storm where everything is peaceful.

Final Impressions

This can still use some time in the humidor. Robust, in your face flavours hit you right from the get go and makes you pay attention. If you can survive the body blows, it turns out to be a very complex and enjoyable smoke. Time to bury the remaining ciagrs deep into the humi for another few years of rest. I now see what Reynaldo meant by 'blending it old school!'