SLR Marquez RE Cuba SGA OCT16 (HBFCRW)

[Habana Mike]

The Saint Luis Rey Marquez Regional Edition for Cuba

Picked these up in Havana during the 2016 Encuentros Amigos de Partagas, Alex had a few stashed away.

Ajay bought a meter high stack while we were there.

Intoxicating cold draw, cashew, leather, cedar, fenugreek.

Perfect SCFM draw for me, not too tight and not too loose

Firmly built, lovely brick Colorado rosado wrapper, silky and oily

About 3 years on now, 2y 8m box code, delightful to the look and touch

Time to fire this puppy up!

Starts out a bit fiery, peppery. Nice spice, cayenne on the lips but not overpowering. Just the right touch. Still easy on the retro. Huge volume of smoke. It is a bit of a fatty.

I’m getting some dank compost, stable, very full bodied. Barrel softens a bit from the heat, draw remains spot on. Spicier than most Habanos for sure.

Ash a solid dirty grey, burn a touch off though burn line is razor edged

 

Quite a bit of strength to this, one reason I picked tonight after a hearty prime ribeye and a deep Rutherford Cab.

Paired with some Johnny Drum I had at hand, a nice mix.

There’s black tea and tacos now. Cumin essence with a touch of roasted meat. Jalapeño. Not hot, just there.

Kelly takes a couple of draws, likes it a lot! She tastes “cinnamon, smoked meat. Cardamom - some kind of spices going on. A little tweakiness (twang?) she says. Also gets the fenugreek without prompting - we’re fans of Indian.

This is a fantastic cigar so far. Ash holding forever.

I’m sure these are no longer easy to find. Only two more remain in this box. Believe I have a couple more boxes on hand. Holding those for sure.

No discernible sweetness on these. Core tobacco notes, toasty.

 Toastier and moister (if that is a thing - it’s like a bit of juiciness to the smoke, oily and rich). 

Flavors deepen and darken at the mid-point.  Wrapper exuding oils, thick body to the smoke. 

While the spices are backing away a bit there’s still that touch of cayenne. Earthiness increases. Bit of a nicotine buzz methinks.

This is a phenomenal cigar, one in a hundred. I want to step away for a moment and revisit with a fresher palate. 

Back to the last half now. Getting a touch of tarriness. Not bitter, just a lingering thing. There’s some fruitiness, blackberries perhaps. I think these were blended with a ton of ligero. Very strong when young, still a very stout smoke for a Habanos, let alone an NC.

Final third and getting almost too strong for even an inveterate smoker! Still quite tasty so not giving up too soon. This is by far one of the most intense Cubans I’ve smoked that I can recall since some mid’90s Bolivar, RA and JL at the turn of the century.

Dark, rich, earthy. Pepper is back in force coming past the band. It is a blockbuster for sure. Think I need to go drop a load!

This was a killer smoke! More blown away than anything I’ve smoked in memory. Wow!

 Smoked to the nub, ready to go pass out and it ain’t the whisky.

If I rated cigars this would be a 97-98. Hopefully a bit more finesse 10+ years on.

[NSXCIGAR]

Wow, the 3 I've smoked were never more than medium at any point. You must have had one with a stray ligero leaf.

[JohnS]

Certainly sounds like it has that kaleidoscope of flavours you can get out of Saint Luis Rey cigars. I should fire one up myself soon!

[madandana]

Wow, sounds great. Thanks Mike.

I’m excited. I think I own the other half of that box?

[mbflash80]

Nice review...maybe sal palontonio can ask you the immortal question:

 

 

[Chucko8]

Thanks for the great review and pictures Mike. Sounds like a tasty stick indeed 

[99call]

On 7/27/2019 at 11:38 PM, Habana Mike said:

fenugreek

This is an inspired pick.   I've never been able to put a finger on it before.  Whenever I've had a strong cigar with a roasted green pepper, ligero aroma too it,   i've always been searching for something more accurate...but Fenugreek/mustard leaves hits it out of the park. 

Thanks for unlocking a great descriptor.  Hats off to you