First Sir Winston - Wow

[Deeg]

Thanks to the Xmas Sampler I've had the opportunity to try some cigars I could likely never buy en masse.  The Trini Fundadores and the RA Silver Jubilee have been among the best cigars I've smoked in the last year, and I broke out the Winnie tonight.

I don't think I'm breaking any news by saying - uwow, what a cigar.  I'm not a heavy-duty cigar smoker by any means - it's 1-2 a week for me - and normally a two-hour cigar leaves me pretty fatigued by the end.  Even the Fundie did, to an extent.  But the Sir Winston was something different - I could have easily lit up another one and my palate wasn't trashed at all.

Wrapper was a beautiful straight Colorado, smooth and soft as silk.  Given the smoking time the pairings were twofold.  First, strong coffee with a bit of cream and second, the excellent (and superbly priced) Plantation OFTD rum (69%).  Both were superb pairings in different ways, and I think I took them in the right order.  If the Fundie was like getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari Enzo and heading up the coast, the Winnie was like being being chauffeured from the tennis club to the golf club in a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.  The Trini was a constantly shifting range of flavors, whereas the Winnie was consistent.  If "velvet" was a flavor this would be it.  Started out medium-bodied with mild baking spice, cedar, toasted bread with butter, and pure tobacco notes.  The strength did gradually build to medium-full and the spiciness picked up a bit in the final third, with some almond notes.  Consistent throughout was something along the lines of cornbread with honey (oddly enough).  But these were subtle, gradual changes - the overall character of the cigar was steady wire-to-wire.  Burn was close to perfect, draw was flawless, tons of creamy smoke throughout.

It's easy to see why this is many people's Platonic ideal of a luxury cigar.  Pure class all the way.  I wish I could capture something of it in a cheaper vitola but I'm realistic - that's probably not going to happen.  And the Winnie will always be a special occasion cigar for me.  But the special occasion is whenever you decide to light one up.

[Connoisseur Kim]

Sir Winnie is definitely one of my wishtlist CCs! Do you enjoy long CCs like Churchill? I personally enjoy long CCs too.

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[Deeg]

7 minutes ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Sir Winnie is definitely one of my wishtlist CCs! Do you enjoy long CCs like Churchill? I personally enjoy long CCs too.

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Like I said, two hours is normally longer than I prefer to go, so the cost premium for Churchills isn't a good tradeoff for me.  But this one is certainly special.  If I could afford to smoke great Churchills every week I certainly would.

[Connoisseur Kim]

Like I said, two hours is normally longer than I prefer to go, so the cost premium for Churchills isn't a good tradeoff for me.  But this one is certainly special.  If I could afford to smoke great Churchills every week I certainly would.

Thanks mate! To me, I really enjoy having long hours with CCs, so long CCs are my favorite CCs (also like short, medium CCs, but they can't beat long CCs IMHO).

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[Deeg]

3 minutes ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Thanks mate! To me, I really enjoy having long hours with CCs, so long CCs are my favorite CCs (also like short, medium CCs, but they can't beat long CCs IMHO).

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What are your favorite Churchills?  Some of them are at least mildly less expensive than the Winnies (which are worth every penny, if you have lots of pennies).

[Chibearsv]

1 hour ago, Deeg said:

It's easy to see why this is many people's Platonic ideal of a luxury cigar.  Pure class all the way.  I wish I could capture something of it in a cheaper vitola but I'm realistic - that's probably not going to happen.  And the Winnie will always be a special occasion cigar for me.  But the special occasion is whenever you decide to light one up.

Agree 100% Sir Winston is an absolute favorite.  I put it on my "favorite cigars for the money" list because it is such a standout.  Just a joy from beginning to end and worth every penny.

[JoeyBones777]

I haven't smoked mine from the sampler yet but I will on my birthday in a couple weeks...can't wait. That is the cigar I most look forward to smoking from the sampler.

[Chibearsv]

1 hour ago, Deeg said:

What are your favorite Churchills?  Some of them are at least mildly less expensive than the Winnies (which are worth every penny, if you have lots of pennies).

Deeg,  My opinion even though you didn't ask me ?: In general, the churchill is my favorite cigar.  Sir Winston and Cohiba Esplendidos are superb churchills in every way and both smoke great young.  I've never had an older box of Sir Winston because I smoke them too often.  Due to price, I don't smoke the Esplendidos as often so I have had some older ones and they are wonderful.   RyJ is great, although they can have construction issues from time to time but they aren't too expensive; they also give quite a buzz; nice for an end of the day cigar.  They also age beautifully.  The Partagas Lusitanias are ok.  I've only had them as a young cigar so I've got a box aging right now to see how they smoke as an older cigar.  Enjoy the journey!

[Connoisseur Kim]

What are your favorite Churchills?  Some of them are at least mildly less expensive than the Winnies (which are worth every penny, if you have lots of pennies).

So far, my long cigar experience had been Leyenda, MdO4. Lusi will be the first 2-3hr CC experience to me (how irony that I haven't get Churchills yet while I got DC from last Kenfrssion comp). DC is one of my wishlist CCs to be reviewed, so I can't wait to post the Lusi review!

[Deeg]

Heh, I was just thinking the Lusi might be a slightly less expensive alternative to the Winston.  Based on the reviews I've read it sounds as if there's at least a bit of crossover in the strength and flavor profiles across the gap in marca.

[Connoisseur Kim]

Heh, I was just thinking the Lusi might be a slightly less expensive alternative to the Winston.  Based on the reviews I've read it sounds as if there's at least a bit of crossover in the strength and flavor profiles across the gap in marca.

For 25ct Lusi, it is cheaper than Winnie, but 50ct Lusi is definitely more expensive than Winnie. These are the CCs that I am going to get as soon as I get Coolidor.


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[Deeg]

19 minutes ago, Chibearsv said:

Deeg,  My opinion even though you didn't ask me ?: In general, the churchill is my favorite cigar.  Sir Winston and Cohiba Esplendidos are superb churchills in every way and both smoke great young.  I've never had an older box of Sir Winston because I smoke them too often.  Due to price, I don't smoke the Esplendidos as often so I have had some older ones and they are wonderful.   RyJ is great, although they can have construction issues from time to time but they aren't too expensive; they also give quite a buzz; nice for an end of the day cigar.  They also age beautifully.  The Partagas Lusitanias are ok.  I've only had them as a young cigar so I've got a box aging right now to see how they smoke as an older cigar.  Enjoy the journey!

No, I appreciate it - that was really an open question!  I have an RyJ Churchill from the Xmas Sampler waiting - do you find they smoke decently young as well?

[Chibearsv]

1 minute ago, Deeg said:

No, I appreciate it - that was really an open question!  I have an RyJ Churchill from the Xmas Sampler waiting - do you find they smoke decently young as well?

Yes they do but they get especially creamy over time.  It will be a little more peppery, cedar, and cherry as a younger cigar but definitely smokeable.

[joey rockets]

The topic of cigars as a leisure time activity is more interesting to me than those cigars being discussed.  I may smoke during leisure hours but I do not consider the act itself to be leisurely but rather my normal routine and thus, I'm through with most cigars in an hour or less.  I have a box of Lusi's at rest as well as some other boxes of similar length and girth, but cigars of this nature require one's undivided attention and you can only get that out of me for a few minutes at a time.  A petit corona is close to perfect for one with my attention span.

[T.52]

So funny you posted this!   I just finished my Sir Winnie from the Xmas sampler about an hour ago. EOS JUN 19.  My first time smoking one of these.  Have to be honest and admit I wasn’t impressed.  The flavors didn’t appeal to me and mine had construction issues.  The wrapper was falling apart, had burn issues, and it the draw was pretty tight.  Construction issues aside, I prefer the RyJ Churchill.  Glad you liked yours so much though!  

We do agree that the Trini Fundie and has been one of best smokes of year.  I’ll have to try that Silver Jubilee soon.

[foursite12]

To the OP--If you are looking for a bit of the SW DNA, try a Connie A if you havent yet.  You may find enough of the similarities, at half the price, to support the outlay there.

[Deeg]

2 hours ago, foursite12 said:

To the OP--If you are looking for a bit of the SW DNA, try a Connie A if you havent yet.  You may find enough of the similarities, at half the price, to support the outlay there.

A good tip, thanks.  I tried one and one only, but I don't think it was a prime specimen as I recall it as being pretty bland.

EDIT: Sorry, that was a Connie 1 - never tried the As.  Do they likewise smoke well young?

 

[El Hoze]

2 hours ago, T.52 said:

So funny you posted this!   I just finished my Sir Winnie from the Xmas sampler about an hour ago. EOS JUN 19.  My first time smoking one of these.  Have to be honest and admit I wasn’t impressed.  The flavors didn’t appeal to me and mine had construction issues.  The wrapper was falling apart, had burn issues, and it the draw was pretty tight.  Construction issues aside, I prefer the RyJ Churchill.  Glad you liked yours so much though!  

We do agree that the Trini Fundie and has been one of best smokes of year.  I’ll have to try that Silver Jubilee soon.

I would try another SW (or two) before dismissing it. 

[rcarlson]

Deeg, if you don't mind my asking, what was your box code (if revealed)?  Same as T.52?  Never had 'em and have a dozen (EOS JUL 19) resting from a pre x-mas purchase.  Damn they sure are purty and smell good in my nose.  Hoping I have the same experience.

 

[Deeg]

EOS JUN 19. From the Xmas Sampler.

[Kaptain Karl]

Maybe my current box of Connie A's are a dud but I've had fresh, aged, PSP aged and none of them compare to the SW imo. The '18 SW I had was perhaps the most complex cigar I've ever had. Almost every puff was a different array of flavors. But I imagine there's even dud SW's

[pedro849]

i can't wait to try the one from my xmas sampler!