Popular Post JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Popular Post Posted January 20, 2019 Greetings dear friends! Our dear friend @Luca, aka 'The Fez' joins me to review El Pres' exemplary 2018 Xmas Sampler this year. These reviews have been fun to do so far, and some topics come up across a few of them, but in general they are meant to supplement your enjoyment of the 2018 Xmas Sampler cigars with a bit of context and background knowledge. We hope you enjoy them! Yet again, I'd like to say that speaking 'on-the-fly' about cigars is a challenge and I will need to acknowledge errors throughout this series, as I've done in the past. Also, please feel free to share your thoughts on these cigars in this thread, especially as they are the best of 2018. If you have views or opinions contrary to what has been stated, please feel welcome to express your thoughts and say so, after all, our own views here is intended to serve as a guide. Similarly to the 2017 Xmas Sampler Series, the main goal of this series is to look at the question, "Why would you as a cigar enthusiast reach for this particular cigar? Or, what circumstances or situation suits each particular cigar in the 2018 Christmas Sampler series?" N.B. We'll review the remaining 6 cigars in the next month. At that time this thread will be moved to the Video Review Section for archiving. 9 1
Popular Post JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Author Popular Post Posted January 20, 2019 1. H.Upmann Connossieur A We started off the series this year with arguably one of the most popular cigars on our forum! 4 1
JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Author Posted January 20, 2019 2. Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2 How popular has this Robusto been this past year? Incidentally, if you can retrohale one I tip my hat off to you! 3 1
Popular Post JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Author Popular Post Posted January 20, 2019 3. Ramon Allones Specially Selected Coffee, Raisins, Toast...repeat. Aah yes, the Ramon Allones Specially Selected. But surely there's more to this cigar than a strong, sweet smoke? 5 2
Popular Post JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Author Popular Post Posted January 20, 2019 4. Punch Punch If William Shakespeare were alive today, what would he say about the Punch Punch, or just plainly the decimation of Punch as a marca in the last 15 to 20 years? Is the Punch Punch really the quintessential representation of 'Cuban twang'? 5 1
JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Author Posted January 20, 2019 5. Partagas Serie E No.2 The Partagas Serie E No.2 is another cigar that has enjoyed more attention in 2018 on our forum, much like the Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2. In this review, Luca and I both admit our naivety in smoking this cigar, however, we enjoyed comparing it to other Partagas vitolas we're more familiar with. 3 1
Popular Post JohnS Posted January 20, 2019 Author Popular Post Posted January 20, 2019 6. H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 You may, or you may not, be familiar with the H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1. How does it compare to other H.Upmann cigars? 3 2
99call Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 looking forward to youre thoughts on the Partagas Presidente. Keep up the good work fellas, really enjoying these 1 2
Luca Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 4 hours ago, 99call said: looking forward to youre thoughts on the Partagas Presidente. Keep up the good work fellas, really enjoying these Thank you for the kind words @99callI'm glad you're enjoying the reviews! I'm hoping we can do that next. @JohnS can we pleaaassseeee smoke the Party Pres next!? 1 1
99call Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, Luca said: Thank you for the kind words @99callI'm glad you're enjoying the reviews! I'm hoping we can do that next. @JohnS can we pleaaassseeee smoke the Party Pres next!? Will be interested to see if you get any aspects of Fonseca No 1 marshmallow out of the GOS Presidente, Its a curveball I've been enjoying of late. 1 1
JohnS Posted January 22, 2019 Author Posted January 22, 2019 7 hours ago, Luca said: Thank you for the kind words @99callI'm glad you're enjoying the reviews! I'm hoping we can do that next. @JohnS can we pleaaassseeee smoke the Party Pres next!? 7 hours ago, 99call said: Will be interested to see if you get any aspects of Fonseca No 1 marshmallow out of the GOS Presidente, Its a curveball I've been enjoying of late. Coincidentally, I think we were talking about it after the H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1. If it has a Fonseca No.1 'marshmallow' to it, then I will genuinely be surprised as these are thought of as usually indicative of 'old school' flavours. Sure thing, I look forward to it.
99call Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, JohnS said: Then I will genuinely be surprised as these are thought of as usually indicative of 'old school' flavours Yep, I was definitely head scratching, but think someone else also picked up Fonseca 1 aspects In the 12DCRC. Mine definitely has some of that porchini funk to it and forest floor. I think I described it as a marshmallow dipped into a mushroomy peppercorn sauce. Always find these sweet savoury smokes to be the most intriguing. Hope you guys enjoy it. Either way I hope you guys love them 1
JohnS Posted February 3, 2019 Author Posted February 3, 2019 7. Partagas Presidentes Aah yes, the Partagas Presidentes. This is one of those cigars known for its 'old school' flavours in the past. Is it still as potent? 2 1
JohnS Posted February 3, 2019 Author Posted February 3, 2019 8. Trinidad Fundadores This is another cigar that has enjoyed a loyal following in 2018 on our forum. If you've had some ARS/RAG late '17/early '18 box codes of this cigar, surely you'd know how delightful and consistent the coffee and doughnut flavours in these have been! 1
JohnS Posted February 3, 2019 Author Posted February 3, 2019 9. Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona When was the last time you had a Double Corona? It's possibly the last time you were able to devote 2 to 2-and-a-half hours to smoke one! How does this Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona compare to other Hoyo de Monterrey regular production cigars and other Double Coronas? 1
JohnS Posted February 3, 2019 Author Posted February 3, 2019 10. San Cristobal de La Habana La Fuerza La Fuerza in Spanish means power (or force or strength). Is this cigar a powerful cigar in the San Cristobal range and how does it compare to the very popular forum favourite, the El Principe? 1
99call Posted February 3, 2019 Posted February 3, 2019 48 minutes ago, JohnS said: 8. Trinidad Fundadores 50 and 75 count fundy humidors. Great reviews fellas 2 2 1
aphexafx Posted February 3, 2019 Posted February 3, 2019 3 hours ago, JohnS said: 7. Partagas Presidentes Aah yes, the Partagas Presidentes. This is one of those cigars known for its 'old school' flavours in the past. Is it still as potent? Gah! Really well done, deep review fellas. Thanks for your thoughts. Perfect timing for me. 2
Luca Posted February 3, 2019 Posted February 3, 2019 Thanks @aphexafx!!! Much appreciated. It was a good learning experience for me. I learnt alot! also - you might find review no. 10 (SCDLH LF) funny. @JohnS son George decided to prank us when we were in the middle of our review. 2
Wertman Posted February 4, 2019 Posted February 4, 2019 Great videos man. I love them. What cigar is your favorite to smoke now? And which is your favorite to age in the long term? 1 1
JohnS Posted February 4, 2019 Author Posted February 4, 2019 8 hours ago, Wertman said: Great videos man. I love them. What cigar is your favorite to smoke now? And which is your favorite to age in the long term? Perhaps @Luca can provide his opinion too, but this weekend we finished the review series (I will upload the last two later this week) but my favourite of these 12 cigars to smoke now... For recent overall consistency for construction and quality - H.Upmann Connossieur A For recent reliability in flavour and enjoyment - Trinidad Fundadores For the best smoking experience overall in this Review Series - Punch Punch For aging long-term - Cohiba Robustos, but I would personally rank just behind and value the Punch Punch, H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 and Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona aged too. 2
Luca Posted February 4, 2019 Posted February 4, 2019 8 hours ago, Wertman said: Great videos man. I love them. What cigar is your favorite to smoke now? And which is your favorite to age in the long term? I agree with what @JohnS has said. To add.... at the moment I am smoking alot of Partagas Mille Fleurs and PLMCs. They are good fresh. I have also been enjoying JLN2 which have about 2 years on them. For aging I am resting some QdO Coronas (ETP OCT 15 and 16) which are getting better and better as each year passes. They are in their sick period fresh so if you do get a box - hold off for a minimum of 2 years. @DirtyHarry has smoked a 2007 QdO Coronas gifted to him from @Fuzz and he said it was an amazing cigar and he nubbed it! So for long term aging this also looks promising. I am also planning on aging (long term - 5 years) some UEB MAY 18 Mc4s which have smoked great fresh but will pay dividends later on down the track. Thank you for watching the reviews. I'm glad you are enjoying them! Luca 2
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