San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe EML FEB 15. Review: Skin Comp

[JohnS]

I bought this box on a 24:24 sale in June and I thoroughly and openly confess to you all...I have a problem. No, not that I post too much on FoH, or I smoke cigars too quickly in fine company, I just can't seem to stop having these. This is despite telling myself everytime I have one that this is the last one and I should rest them awhile. I've gone through 10 of these in 60 days and honestly I may need to enter some sort of Cigar REHAB to stop myself going through the last 15 before HAVANATHON! (Now that's an idea...Cigar REHAB, where you are offered Monte Opens to stop yourself going through a box of cigars too quickly!)

The cold draw on this was dominated by a combination of cocoa/tobacco. In fact, it's a little hard to describe as I find the San Cristobal de La Habana and Sancho Panza are a uniquely similar Cuban Cigar...complex with shared flavours, but with one been sweet (SCdLH), the other salty (SP).

The first third was pleasant enough. It started off with cocoa/nuts and slight vanilla (perhaps?).

The second third produced a twist. At this point the cigar completely changed on me, unlike the previous ones from the box, it had notes of molasses which I expect to be slightly sour, but wasn't. The flavour was very hard to describe, other than it was new to me and it left a lovely aftertaste.

The final third was a little harsher and had more leather/ toasted tobacco notes in it. This was fine, I still enjoyed the complexity of it and I nubbed the cigar. For a 45 minute smoke, I drew this out to around 65 minutes, making two espresso coffees to enjoy with it.

The aftertaste was truly magnificent, it lasted hours and it helped to deal with the way the Wallabies played Rugby in New Zealand that night, as did a few glasses of Glenfiddich 12!

This cigar has rested in my humidor for some 60 days, but I can't help but feel that a little more rest will settle to beautifully oily and sheeny wrapper to produce a cigar that will benefit more from been a touch milder. Now I'm off to find a lock on my humidor. I hope you've enjoyed my review!

[airtrade]

I have done this too.

I'm tying to take a new attitude.

If you like them you like them. Smoke what you like.

Wouldn't it be worse to come back to these after a year or more and find you don't enjoy them as much?

[billh1]

I have done this too.

I'm tying to take a new attitude.

If you like them you like them. Smoke what you like.

Wouldn't it be worse to come back to these after a year or more and find you don't enjoy them as much?

I agree wholeheartedly! If it taste good now, smoke it. When it's gone buy more. Although I am still guilty of taking the first five from every box and stashing for later...helps me build inventory since I smoke them almost as fast as they arrive!

[Optic101]

What a enjoyable read, thanks John !

[jclark33]

Yeah I got a box of the same, they're tasty as hell. Hope more come soon.

[2013GTI]

Nice review John. I just had one from the same box code last night First 3rd burned a little wonky, but what a tasty treat it was.

[glassbase]

Great review John! As you and I have discussed these little gems are smoking beautifully.

[Dimmers]

Nice review John. These are great sticks.

[JohnS]

I have done this too.

I'm tying to take a new attitude.

If you like them you like them. Smoke what you like.

Wouldn't it be worse to come back to these after a year or more and find you don't enjoy them as much?

I agree wholeheartedly! If it taste good now, smoke it. When it's gone buy more. Although I am still guilty of taking the first five from every box and stashing for later...helps me build inventory since I smoke them almost as fast as they arrive!

They are a great 'go to' cigar, the concern I have is that, unlike Partagas Shorts or H.Upmann Half Coronas, these only come up on 24:24 sales every few months. I think it's been twice this year, from memory.

I think the solution is to go to another 'go to' cigar in my humidor, like the ever-reliable Montecristo No.4, and come back to them later down the track.