Nude N3 ROB HAM 19 (R90)

[Meklown]

I hope everyone is staying in and staying safe. I cannot express enough my gratitude to all medical professionals that are out there saving lives. 

For us in HK, we had our first peak near the start of the global spread (mid-Feb), and a second peak a couple of weeks ago with many returning students/residents from the rest of the world. Things seemed to have calmed down over the past few days, with single digit number of cases reported each day. Fingers crossed!

For this review, I had a few cigars recently that I thought were 90 pointers - the Punch 898 deserves a mention here. But I cannot keep my hands off two cigars (both the N1 and N3). I had it once ROTT (review here). That was when my partner was discharged from hospital for a throat-related infection. How scary it would have been to have that in today's world! I don't do a formal review most of the time because I think that it takes effort to slowly taste and focus on the cigar. That kind of goes against my point of having a cigar, which is to relax and detach from my thoughts. 

Having had this cigar a few times between then and now, let's properly evaluate what has changed -
Immediately noticeable is that the tinge of astringency in the first third is gone (apologies to the 90 day rule). This cigar is very velvety now. The earthiness has toned down slightly from before, but still present. Dark chocolate flavours are pretty much the same as I remember it. There is a fantastic balance going on here. 
In the second third there was the leather and cream again, same as before. Very nice. The chocolate is still blowing his own trumpet, and boy, that is some trumpet. Now the weird fishy smell that I got previously is toned down to almost zero. If I search for it I may find some, but it's not noticeable otherwise. It has instead been replaced by a nuttiness now. Also, I am hit with the realisation that the ash on this cigar does not really hold any more than half an inch. What's the reason behind this? Is it because of the thin ring gauge? Or is it because it's not overfilled? Or simply the nature of the tobacco? The picture of topless Hamlet comes to mind - that's actually a really long ash he got there. 
Not much strength increase in the final third this time round. No discernible citrus flavour this time. The nutty flavour is instead coming out more, salted roasted pistachios probably.

I always have to be careful not to smoke this too quickly otherwise it will overheat. Would this also be because of the thin ring gauge? Or is it because it is such a good cigar that I just want to puff on it nonstop? Having said that, I do enjoy the N3 carlota more than the N1 lancero. Something about the blend is tastier to me. 

A very good cigar again. Perfect wrappers, no construction issues in those that I have smoked so far. Impeccable QC going on here. I really like the flavours and the balance of the cigar, and the velvety smoke makes it an absolute pleasure to smoke.

Score a perfect, and a little bit beyond - 91/100

[barry12321]

Nice review.  Only got a 1/4 of each and haven't tried either yet... now I wish I got a box each haha.  What other 90+ cigars have you tried lately?

 

[El Presidente]

Thank you for the review!

Our 2019 N1 and N3 were a good baseline for Hamlet and myself. We are pretty proud of them and smoke them regularly ourselves. In the end, we made cigars that we would enjoy 

The 2020 editions are a "step up" again. Final approval of blends/tweaks to blending in March 2020 was fun. In the N3 you will see the introduction of a beautiful cocoa note. Th N1 has that extra dash of creaminess. 

I have enjoyed the process immensely 

[GavLew79]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

Thank you for the review!

Our 2019 N1 and N3 were a good baseline for Hamlet and myself. We are pretty proud of them and smoke them regularly ourselves. In the end, we made cigars that we would enjoy 

The 2020 editions are a "step up" again. Final approval of blends/tweaks to blending in March 2020 was fun. In the N3 you will see the introduction of a beautiful cocoa note. Th N1 has that extra dash of creaminess. 

I have enjoyed the process immensely 

Whoa. Looking forward to these Rob. Only picked up N1 last time, but sounds like I need both versions in 2020. 

Any other vitolas on the 2020 horizon, or are they a little bit beyond?

[El Presidente]

48 minutes ago, GavLew79 said:

Whoa. Looking forward to these Rob. Only picked up N1 last time, but sounds like I need both versions in 2020. 

Any other vitolas on the 2020 horizon, or are they a little bit beyond?

N2= Bala/flying pig. 

I receive the final samples shortly and they could be our best yet. 

[Meklown]

11 hours ago, barry12321 said:

Nice review.  Only got a 1/4 of each and haven't tried either yet... now I wish I got a box each haha.  What other 90+ cigars have you tried lately?

 

Thanks! Make sure you get two boxes each this year 

Just quickly off the top of my head, the best ones I've had during quarantine season would be the Trinidad Topes (both the EL16 and the regular production were great) and the abovementioned Punch 898. Also got a Bolivar PC and it reminded me of why I was convinced to get a box after the mystery cigar competition last year. 

11 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Thank you for the review!

Our 2019 N1 and N3 were a good baseline for Hamlet and myself. We are pretty proud of them and smoke them regularly ourselves. In the end, we made cigars that we would enjoy 

The 2020 editions are a "step up" again. Final approval of blends/tweaks to blending in March 2020 was fun. In the N3 you will see the introduction of a beautiful cocoa note. Th N1 has that extra dash of creaminess. 

I have enjoyed the process immensely 

Thank you sir. It was enlightening to expose myself to a NC that is this good. I'm definitely looking forward to the 2020 versions! Hope that the production won't be too affected by the recent issues ?

[Trevor2118]

Hi Rob,

Tried my first N3 yesterday (after 3 months resting). Perfect construction, absolutely perfect draw, and the first retro-hale was classic Partagas pepper, smoothing out towards the end.  A beautiful cigar.  Congratulations.

Trevor.

PS I'll make sure I get in early this time for the 2020's.

[Sorrowful]

21 hours ago, El Presidente said:

N2= Bala/flying pig. 

I receive the final samples shortly and they could be our best yet. 

Sounds like I'll have to pick up a couple of boxes of each.  Will you be creating a sampler pack that has the different vintages to try over the coming years?

[El Presidente]

52 minutes ago, Sorrowful said:

Sounds like I'll have to pick up a couple of boxes of each.  Will you be creating a sampler pack that has the different vintages to try over the coming years?

that is our plan 

[gk404]

On 4/20/2020 at 3:16 AM, El Presidente said:

N2= Bala/flying pig. 

I receive the final samples shortly and they could be our best yet. 

Interesting! looking forward to trying some when they become available.

[SigSauer516]

On 4/20/2020 at 12:03 AM, El Presidente said:

Thank you for the review!

Our 2019 N1 and N3 were a good baseline for Hamlet and myself. We are pretty proud of them and smoke them regularly ourselves. In the end, we made cigars that we would enjoy 

The 2020 editions are a "step up" again. Final approval of blends/tweaks to blending in March 2020 was fun. In the N3 you will see the introduction of a beautiful cocoa note. Th N1 has that extra dash of creaminess. 

I have enjoyed the process immensely 

will the 2020 versions be available to Up Down in Chicago?

[El Presidente]

6 minutes ago, SigSauer516 said:

will the 2020 versions be available to Up Down in Chicago?

more than likely ?

[SigSauer516]

1 minute ago, El Presidente said:

more than likely ?

?