Best Cigar Review of the Week - Winner Is.....

[asmith]

For weeks, wait lets make that months, in fact almost a year Rob has been threatening to do a cigar review with Ken of the Monte A. Like a little puppy dog Ken has been hanging around waiting for this review yet Rob has failed to deliver.

Lets face it fellow FoH brothers and Ken, this review is never going to happen!

So it is up you guys to do a review for the forum. Doesn't have to be a Monte A, it can be any cigar in your collection, perhaps something that we have never reviewed. If you want to do it on video great, but words are just as fine, if you add a photo or two even better.

The best review will receive a H Upmann Travel Humidor like below. Fantastic gift and one that you will use again and again.

The prize will be drawn next Tuesday so get posting and lets see some great reviews.

This has got me thinking I might do the Monte A review with Ken this week.....

[Edwhatever]

So will the best review be picked to receive the prize, or will all reviews be drawn?

[asmith]

I will close my eyes and throw a dart at my computer screen and where ever it lands will win!

[Jeremy Festa]

I am going to review the prize! I only have 2 left out of the 6 from travel humidor I grabbed from you, and they are a blinding robusto!

[godpheonix]

yes Smithy ! Do the review of the Monti A since Rob will never do it !

[riazp]

do we post the reviews on the water hole or in the review sub forum?

[Edwhatever]

I will close my eyes and throw a dart at my computer screen and where ever it lands will win!

Try throwing the dart between your toes. And dont forget to have it on video

[asmith]

do we post the reviews on the water hole or in the review sub forum?

Post your reviews up here.

Remember they are just a review of how you see the cigar, don't think you have to have the creative flair of Ken with your adjectives.

[Skyfall]

creative flare = guilty I guess.......

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=114308

[Lotusguy]

I wouldn't want any flares near my cigars

Flair, however, is a different story <wiseass mode OFF>

[asmith]

I wouldn't want any flares near my cigars

Flair, however, is a different story <wiseass mode OFF>

English isn't my strength

[Dara]

English isn't my strength

Well it's not your native language is it!!!

[Lotusguy]

Well it's not your native language is it!!!

It's not mine either - "flair", however, is a French word.

Guys, I am just yanking your chain.

[riazp]

Post your reviews up here.

Remember they are just a review of how you see the cigar, don't think you have to have the creative flair of Ken with your adjectives.

So basically...one word reviews...good...bad...great...

[dangolf18]

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=114323&hl=

[asmith]

Don't forget your reviews guys. Have a cigar this weekend and type up the review for a chance to win the H Upmann Robusto Travel Humidor

[LordAnubis]

Cigar: Partagas Short ( I’m pretty sure)

So my brother had another boy a few days ago, well my brother isn’t a post op lady boy so he didn’t push a kid out of his lady parts but his wife did, and they have named their healthy young boy Rashaad which in Arabic means “good judgement”. That little boy will not live to honour his name at all with me as his uncle I’ll make sure of it!

In celebration I sacrifice a Partagas Short. Well at least i’m pretty sure it is, it’s a single I got and have no memory of what it is. This is the last of my stock that i bought from a local B&M and im fairly certain I sold a part of my liver to pay the bill. All my stock now I bought off a website where these blokes take photos of cigars and sell them, and of course there’s a beautiful young lady behind the scenes to take the money too! Unfortunately I can’t divulge this source… thems the rules people !!

So I light this cigar at work while looking out onto the sunset of this fine afternoon in rural WA. Close to Leonora I am at the moment, sitting outside my donger, after volunteering to stay back a few days at work to help out the company. “What a team player I am” my boss said to me as he gave me my bonus which this year has been halved due to “market conditions”. The first puffs are quite nice with nuts and cream flavours coming through.

A bull walks past the front of my room, I sit still. Bulls can’t see you if you don’t move right? I’m no zoologist but I’m pretty sure my logic is sound. This is the same bull that has been terrorizing a few of the people at camp and the station owner has said he will come and shoot it. Yes folks ,that’s right, we here on a mine site are going to shoot a bull for chasing a few people. The flavours of this cigar have remained the same, which is surprising as my mate the bull has gone about emptying his bowels a mere 2 metres away from me. Luckily it wasn’t in similar fashion to that hippopotamus that was posted (I think on these forums?) a month or so ago.

As I reach the half way point of the cigar I get into the real work, solving the worlds problems. My latest thought is plain packaging fast food. I commented a few days ago on another forum about how I’ve heard plenty about some kind of obesity epidemic, but am yet to hear of a lung and throat cancer epidemic that warranted this stupid rule. Me being muslim I can’t eat any fast food as it’s not halal, so I think plain packaging it all would add value to society and won’t effect me at all. Win win! With the great ideas like this I should run for Prime Minister against Tony Abbott after he wins these next elections by default.

I near the end of this perfect cigar and I’m wondering if I should take some to South Africa with me in a few weeks. I’m going there for my cousins wedding and while I’m in the area will visit the Victoria Falls (and find a 1 trillion dollar note in Zimbabwe) and go shark diving. Although, after watching a recent video of a shark attacking a cage, I’m filling out my will before I go (who wants all my smokes?). I’ve decide I’ll buy a few sticks in Dubai on my way to Cape Town to smoke on my journey, and will buy a few boxes on the way back if there’s anything I fancy.

I have a nub left in my hands and the most relaxed feeling in the world. I’m pretty sure “Cigar” in Cuban means “a bloody awesome relaxing time”. I get up and go put my washing in the dryer, I’m almost penetrated by the plague of insicts on my way there. Seriosuly, I’m pretty sure one of them was inside me. I eagerly await my journey back to the laundry to pick up my clothes when they are done.

Was the cigar good? Yes, better than an average cigar, and i personally enjoyed the flavours. But who really cares? The only question one should ask while enojying a hobby such as ours is did I enjoy myself? My answer? Absolutely . And that my friends is all that matters.

So if you've read this far, thanks for putting up with me !!

Enjoy your weekend one and all.

Khalil

[Cohiba007]

Delicious.

[Rye]

Very well said LordAnubis!

A great read!

[ATGroom]

I don't usually go in for these cigar review contests, but seeing as I was writing it anyway, and seeing as it's fairly close to a Monte A, please enjoy this exclusive preview of my blog entry for next week.

It’s a glorious day in Melbourne, the last hurrah of an Indian summer, and my errands concluded I can’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon than on a bench by the river, watching the passers-by, enjoying the sun, drinking a milky coffee and smoking the Montecristo B from the Compay Centennial Humidor.

I’ve never quite been able to figure out where the B fits in the Montecristo line-up. I understand the numbered cigars, those are for everyone (they deliver the Montecristo flavour in a range of reasonable sizes), and I also understand the Especiales (for the connoisseurs), the Opens (teenage punks), and even the Edmundos (Americans whose mouths have become distended from chewing too much gum, a condition that leaves them tragically unable to smoke anything thinner than a 52 ring). Even the A has a place (people with too much time on their hands), but the B, who is that for? It’s 6mm longer than the Monte 4; 7mm shorter than the Monte 3: is this a niche that needs to be filled?

The cigar has a very rounded head, verging on a bullet tip, with a good thick cap. Construction is perfect, the draw nicely firm. The first puffs are tangy and herbal over strong tobacco, very heavy and rich, and obviously of the highest quality. I like the bands on this cigar, which are much less flashy that those on the 95 – just the standard Cuban personalised band below the regular Montecristo one. The effect is that of an affectionate birthday gift rather than a slick exercise in integrated marketing.

As I was taking the pre-light photograph a courting couple took up residence on the seat downwind of me, and as I light the cigar and the first billows of smoke drift in their direction the female of the species begins to cough and glare at me (her boyfriend is on his phone, oblivious). Doesn’t she realize what a special thing it is to inhale the smoke of a cigar like this? Only 7500 of this edition were produced, and even the regular B is a very rare beast. How would poor Compay feel to think that his birthday present would bother someone so? It’s a shame they couldn’t get him to roll the cigars for one of these humidors (well, it’s a shame he died five years before this one was released, but perhaps they could have tried it for the 95). Imagine what a collector’s item those would be.

She has reached the end of her boost juice, and slurps the bottom of it furiously in between hacking coughs and sidelong glaring. I admit it, I am at a stage where I am deliberately exhaling larger clouds in her direction than is strictly speaking necessary. They taste of strong coffee, with notes of hot roasted vanilla bean.

I am resting the cigar on my sunglasses between puffs, and they’re surprisingly well suited to life as an ashtray, at least at this ring gauge. The nose pads grip the cigar exactly tight enough, and the arm folds down just right as a retaining guard. It allows me to rest the cigar in the lee of my body, sheltered from the very slight wind that gusts occasionally, and protects the cigar from whatever filth is on this public bench. I think would protect it from all but the most violent of accidental jostling.

It’s really a very nice cigar, this Montecristo B. Perfect burn, with woody notes over full tobacco. A hint of barnyard and some kind of sour fruit… grapefruit maybe, or bitter orange, that sour herbal aftertaste of Chinotto and Campari. A family of Scandinavians has replaced the couple on the bench downwind, and for a moment I feel slightly guilty exhaling my bilious clouds toward their clutch of fresh faced Aryan children, but they don’t seem to be bothered. There’s certainly no glaring going on. The smallest boy is coughing, but I think he has a cold.

In the bottom third of the cigar I begin to find myself swimming a little from the nicotine, its pressure on my temples. I’ve read that the B is a mild cigar, but for this example at least that is definitely not the case: this example is much stronger than a Monte 4, and stronger inch for inch than any other Monte I can recall. It really is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon though, out here by the water, fresh air and a nicotine buzz. The cigar ends in a very classy way, dark chocolate mixed in with the tar, the quality of the tobacco obvious to the last. This will not be a cigar that leaves a bad taste in my mouth tomorrow morning. I eschew the provided smoker’s bin, and instead lob the nub into a garden bed; a noble cigar like this deserves a better resting place that a cylinder of discarded cigarette filters.

All up, a fantastic little cigar, that is better than both the Salomones II and the No. 4 from the Compay 95 humidor. A Harem of Dusky Beauties – your home for practical consumer advice.

[finecigar]

Today is the first day it's been over 60 degrees this year so I thought of nothing better to do than have a review of a quite special and scarce cigar. This cigar is a Particulares de Segundo Lopez Belvederes from 1932. A brand that I have found almost no evidence or history on, except for a few boxes and cabinets here and there. The box indicated that it was made from premium Vuelta abajo tobacco and imported through NY customs. Not much additional information.

I've found that with Pre-embargos they are either a hit or miss, and this little guy was a hit from the beginning. From a box of 25, these are handmade I believe, wrapped in cello, and retain a strong tobacco smell which sometimes is rare for boxes that have 80+ years of age on them. Pre-light indications such as the evident havana scent, ploom on cigars, well-made wrappers, and yellow coloration on the cello gave me an idea that it would be a decent smoke.

Original price of the cigar was 36 cents per single, which back in the 1930s was quite the expensive smoke. Especially for its rather small size. According to an adjusted inflation calculator I used, one single would be $5.98 in today's market, which imo is not too bad compared to Habanos S.A. pricing for smaller smokes such as belvederes/ mille fluers. However, that was not what I paid for it unfortunately

Onto the smoke...

-Beginning the cigar it had a loose draw with pre-light flavors of cold espresso and a bit of harvesty-type flavor. Old school havana flavors appeared as soon as I lit it up. The first third had a few flaws that tend to be common with many vintage smokes. There were hints of bitterness that started with citrus taste on my tongue followed by a sour notes. Dominant flavors aside from the bitterness were the predicted espresso and grain. The cigar started out with a medium strength profile. Ash held itself well for an inch or two until the wind kicked in outside. Aromas of the smoke were pleasant.

-Into the second third it maintained the espresso flavors but abandoned the grain/harvest flavors. What was unique around the midway point was the increase of intensity. The previous medium strength transformed to a full-strength profile. I found that I enjoyed more the 2nd half much more than the first. The bitter side of this cigar left, so I was a happy camper. Ash, draw, and smoke density all remained consistent- which is typically true for cigars with decades of rest which I've experienced.

-The final third truly packed a punch. New hints of spice started to come through, in addition to the already present espresso. The ash changed with a more grainy look and a diverse hue. The last third of this smoke reminded me characteristics of many RyJ cazadores I have smoked from mid-2000s. Strong yet balanced and flavorful. For its age, was a pleasant surprise to experience its abnormal strength. Most pre-embargo cigars I have smoked are more on the mild side with subdued flavors that only provide inklings of what they could have been.

To conclude, I would say that this 45 minute belvederes has changed my perception of elderly havanas and that it's possible for cigars to hold on to their pride and strength during the aging process. I'm curious how it would have tasted 30 or 40 years age. I enjoyed the experience and look forward to smoking the rest from the box on special occasions. For a rating, I would easily give it a 89/100, it could have reached a higher rating if the beginning wasn't as bitter.

Pictures:

My birthday is on Tuesday so winning that travel pack would be incredible LoL

Thanks for reading!

[Ginseng]

...even the Edmundos (Americans whose mouths have become distended from chewing too much gum, a condition that leaves them tragically unable to smoke anything thinner than a 52 ring).

As I was taking the pre-light photograph a courting couple took up residence on the seat downwind of me...

Ouch, mate. For the record, the Americans with distended mouths got that way from jamming down 32 oz. steaks and pounding widemouth cans of Coors Light. Not gum.

I occasionally walk with my kids to the local playground. Usually cigar in hand. I try to maintain some separation whenever possible, out of courtesy. But if I've sat down first, I'll happily finish my cigar before moving on. Have never had an unpleasant encounter...or any encounter or overt signals thus far.

Wilkey

[investandprosper]

Wow, so much hate towards Americans. Feeling the love. =)

[LGC]

So only Americans are buying fat cigars?

[Ken Gargett]

For weeks, wait lets make that months, in fact almost a year Rob has been threatening to do a cigar review with Ken of the Monte A. Like a little puppy dog Ken has been hanging around waiting for this review yet Rob has failed to deliver.

Lets face it fellow FoH brothers and Ken, this review is never going to happen!

dear idiot. i was the one who put rob off on several occasions. not his fault. no wonder he won't do the good cigars with you.

and as for the rest of the stuff re americans, they are most certainly not the only people smoking large ring sizes.