La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.2 (2008) (RGRW)

[Notsocleaver]

Background: I noticed a box of these from a similar vintage had been a popular item on the auction a couple of weeks back. I get that people hunt hard to find items for all sorts of reasons, but I had always thought that the mdo#4 was best in the lgc line. The MdO #2 is fine, but its like taking a nice scotch and poring it over the rocks. Goes down easier, but you lose the nuance. So I sat down to to review this cigar to set all you unicorn chasers straight.

That isn't what happened

Pre-light: Paring this with a generous screwdriver tonight, we'll see if the OJ makes any difference. This cigars has a slightly toothy milk chocolate colored wrapper with a light sheen and a bit of brindle to it. Cold draw is perfect and has that promising smell of barnyard with a little taste of Jackfruit / Juicy Fruit gum sweetness.

First Third:

This cigar opens with a strong blast of cedar and a little bit of that agave or jackfruit sweetness I often find in the LGC cigars. missing the gram cracker notes I enjoy in the #4. Performance is great and the cigar holds about an inch and a half of ash.

Second Third:

As this cigar progresses, the 10+ year age of it begins to show. Old tobacco has a mustiness to it that plays differently in different blends. In this case it transitions the profile from ceder to forest floor while keeping some of the sweetness. Never really had these notes in a cigar before. Think something close to mushrooms sauteed in sweet rice wine:

Final third:

I had been puffing this cigar rather slowly up until this point. As I pull a fuller draw I find the profile changes in another unexpected way. Rather than get harsher, it gets crisper. Like a mint green tea with a touch of honey. Again, I can't remember the last time I had mint notes on a cigar. Absolutely wild. I'm so enthralled I almost smoke the band. To top it all off, there is just a hint of vanilla at the finish on the end.

I set out to explain to you all why the MdO#2 was over rated. Its not. The first couple I had were just okay, but this one was a unique cigar experience. I have to give some credit to the OJ revelation that really seems to have worked for this review. Like many of my most memorable cigars, its not necessarily something I would smoke everyday, but I have a couple left that I will certainly treasure. The going rate for these on the secondary market is insane and its hard for me to justify hunting down a box when you could get 4-5 boxes of MdO#4 instead. But if this was your unicorn, I can't blame you.

96 points

 

[Astar20]

One of my unicorns for sure! Kill to have some! The 4 is outstanding itself 

[RDB]

Man I have one of these and never had one before... when am I going to smoke it!? Great review, love the pics.

[Notsocleaver]

These 2008s don't need a day more of age, if yours is that old I say smoke it now.

[99call]

They are stonkingly good.      Definitely one where the hype lives up to the experience.  Great review

[cigarzfan]

Excellent review. 

[alloy]

Great review! I smoked my last 2011 MDO2 last week. It was a joyous day and a sad one. It smoked like yours with a little more fruity or juicy fruit gum flavor. My other thought was that some nc Davidoff have that mushroom, forest floor flavor.

[Thirds]

Nice review!  I’m excited to get my hands on the 04.  

What is ideal aging time for LGC?  There are some on the auction now from 2016 and the ones from the auction a couple weeks ago were 2014 (I paid too much but I can’t wait to get my hands on them.). Is it ok to dive right in to the 2014s? 

[Notsocleaver]

Good fresh and good aged. I've been enjoying my '14 and '15 boxes of MdO#4 a lot. Just need to make sure you give them that rest time, those thin cigars suffer if they are over or under humidified.

[Deeg]

Are the #4 even still a thing, or just a copyright placeholder? I haven’t seen any on the 24:24 and they certainly aren’t a regular stock item.

[Notsocleaver]

They show up on 24:24 from time to time and are generally available right now, but it can be spotty. Better now than it was a few years ago really.