JohnS' Smoking Diary 2022

[JohnS]

Cohiba Robustos Supremos 2014 - Edición Limitada ARG Dic 2014

The Cohiba Robustos Supremos 2014 Edicion Limitada was the sixth Limited Edition, coming three years after the release of the excellent Cohiba 1966 Edicion Limitada. It was noted as the biggest ring gauge release in the Habanos catalogue for the time, at 58 ring gauge. I have always used my Credo 3-in-1 punch cutter on cigars like this, I find the largest punch on the cutter, for above 48 ring gauge, is ideal for smoking larger ring gauge cigars and 'sipping' them from the back, so-to-speak.

The cold draw on this cigar contained notes of cocoa and refined grass/hay.

The first third had typical Limited Edition flavours: namely cocoa, refined grass/hay and spice. It also had a touch of coffee and honey sweetness. It was full on flavour and rich on the palate, giving off larger plumes of smoke than a normal cigar. It reminded me of a Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos on 'steroids'.

The middle third saw the cigar surprisingly intensify, those consistent cocoa, refined grass/hay, spice, slight coffee and honey sweetness remained but the cigar became more heavy in wood, like something akin to oak. The retrohale was quite heavy, very strong through the nose and spicy.

The final third had similar flavours to the middle third, which saw it remain every bit as intense in flavour and strength.

So, despite not being a complex cigar, the flavours of this Cohiba Robustos Supremos continue to remain vibrant well past the seven-year mark. Right now, in 2022, it seems scarcely believable what this vitola retails for on the secondary market. Rest assure though, I don't believe that it has peaked for quite some time yet.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo ESO Sep 2014

The Montecristo Petit Edmundo was released in 2006. It is a Petit Robusto (52 rg x 110 mm or 4⅜ inches in length), and together with the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robustos released in 2004, it pioneered the way for larger ring-gauged and shorter length cigars. Now we have a plethora of such cigars in the Habanos S.A. regular production catalogue.

I only opened this ESO Sep 2014 box of Montecristo Petit Edmundos late in 2021. Overall, they've been consistently mild, smooth and to my liking. Today's Montecristo Petit Edmundo continued that trend.

In general, after seven years, the fullness of flavours (especially when it comes to the Montecristo cocoa and coffee) has greatly diminished and now these have been mainly been nutty, leathery and there's been more room for any citrus twang to 'shine'.

Much like my last Montecristo Petit Edmundo last month, the addition of a creamy texture to the cocoa, nut and light coffee blend of this cigar made this cigar very appealing. If you desire stronger coffee and/or cocoa in your Montecristo cigars, then you are best to have them before the 3 to 5 year window, depending on the specific vitola of course.

At this stage of its development, I could foresee this nuttiness and leather profile remaining consistent until the 10 to 15 year window hits, at which point Montecristo cigars tend to get more floral notes and leather. I don't aim to age this box that long though!

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo III TUE Jun 2020

The Siglo III is and remains my favourite of the linea 1492 series. The reason is simple, the vitola is 42 ring gauge by 155 mm (or 6.1 inches) in length and that, I feel, is the ideal cigar size for me. This was the second cigar I've had of a quarter-pack acquisition from mid-2021.

The Linea 1492 series was announced in November 1992 as the new line of Cohiba intended to replace the premium Davidoff Chateau series which concluded in 1991. When these cigars did hit the market (in 1994), the Cohiba Siglo III, a coronas grandes cigar with a 42 ring gauge x 155 mm (or 6⅛ inches) length was the replacement cigar for the Davidoff Château Mouton Rothschild cigar in the Chateau series.

Today, the Cohiba Siglo III is only one of two regular production coronas grandes cigars in existence (the other is the Montecristo Tubos). The last one deleted from Habanos S.A's catalogue, the highly-regarded cigar enthusiast favourite, the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux was discontinued in 2014 but most coronas grandes-sized cigars were discontinued in the early-2000s soon after Habanos S.A. was 50% acquired by Altidis in 2000.

This Siglo III again continued the trend of recent 2019/20 Habanos stock smoking well with minimum time rest. It's long been said on our forum that Cohiba is a marca that benefits from long-term aging (think five years and over) but, of late, I've noted that Cohiba has smoked well a lot younger (and I'm talking about Cohiba manufactured post-2019). Also, the Cohiba brand has been noted for its herbal qualities since its inception to the consumer market in the 1980s, yet I feel that recent Cohiba hasn't had as much herbal element in their cigars in comparison to Cohiba pre-2015. When I mention herbal flavours, I am referring of course to the quintessential Cohiba grass/hay. Grass indicates that the herbal flavour is sharper and more distinct in the blend, hay indicates that the herbal flavour is rounder and more melded.

With this mid-2020 Cohiba Siglo III, the Cohiba grass was minimal. There was a bit of honey and citrus, however; the main flavours were definitely the butter, mocha coffee and creaminess. It was simply superb and simply wonderful for a cigar so young!

I smoked this as far as I could take it, much like the first cigar I had from this quarter-pack acquisition in mid 2021. For its age, this Cohiba Siglo III truly was an exquisite and exemplary example of how great Cohiba can be when it is 'on song', like it was today.

[JohnS]

Saint Luis Rey Double Coronas AEP Mar 2007

This is another cigar which I have told myself that I'd never get the opportunity to smoke since its sad deletion in 2014, but thanks to the warm generosity of @Trevor2118, I can now add this vitola to my list of Saint Luis Rey marca cigars I've smoked over the years. I think of the Saint Luis Rey vitolas deleted since 2000, I'm yet to smoke the Petit Coronas and Coronas (funnily enough).

Before I discuss in further detail the minutiae of this cigar-smoking experience, a quick background of the Saint Luis Rey marca is needed. At the moment the only vitola left in this marca is the Regios, a Hermosos No.4 cigar (48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches in length). It is very different to the Double Coronas and Serie A, which were discontinued in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Saint Luis Rey is known as a marca which exudes complexity when it's 'on song'. Perhaps the Regios does less so, but aged Saint Luis Rey is quite a thing to behold. I've found them to go bland if left too long after their peak, but in their peak period I feel that they are potentially like no other Habanos cigar when it comes to the variety of flavours they produce and the changes they can exhibit through the thirds. I also have surmised that this 'complexity' has been both a strength and a weakness; a strength in the fact that unless they age too long they aren't one-dimensional and a weakness in that the multitude of flavours makes it a marca which is rarely a 'go-to' rotational choice for cigar enthusiasts and hence the niche market over the years. Perhaps the greatest market for Saint Luis Rey since its inception in the 1940s has been the United Kingdom.

Onto this Double Coronas! It's vitola dimensions at 49 ring gauge x 194 mm in length (or 7⅝ inches). In regular production, there are four of these in current regular production. These are (in alphabetical order); the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas, Partagas Lusitanias, Punch Double Coronas and Ramon Allones Gigantes. Apart from the Ramon Allones Gigantes, these are also available in 50 cabs, apart from the Punch Double Coronas which no longer is packaged in 50 cabs since 2017. Interestingly, the two Double Coronas discontinued of recent times; the Saint Luis Rey Double Coronas and Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro, were both released post-Revolution (that is, after 1962). The four remaining Double Coronas are pre-Revolution cigars. Perhaps their long history is currently keeping them in production? Who knows?

I expected upon lighting that this cigar would be quite mild, since it was 15 years old, but it was comfortably medium-mild and flavoursome. The initial third saw a strong hit of lemon citrus, honey, hay, light cocoa and apricot or peach stonefruit flavours. At the beginning of the second third the light cocoa became more dominant. This combined flavour continued into the last third when it unsurprisingly increased in intensity and stronger notes of cocoa and coffee prevailed. What a cigar and wow, what a ride!

Thanks again @Trevor2118 for allowing me to sample this cigar and share my thoughts on it for the benefit of our members.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Pirámides Extra (circa 2012/13)

I'd like to thank @Trevor2118 for gifting me this cigar to smoke and review today.

The Cohiba Piramides Extra was introduced as an addition to the Linea Clasica group of cigars (i.e. Lanceros, Esplendidos, Robustos, Coronas Especiales, Panatelas and Exquisitos) within the Cohiba marca in 2012. It was noted for its dimensions being a little larger than the standard piramide cigar such as the Montecristo No.2, which is 52 ring gauge by 156 mm (or 6.15 inches) in length. The Cohiba Piramides Extra is 54 ring gauge (1/32 on a inch larger) and 160 mm in length (4 mm or 1/6 of an inch longer). These larger dimensions I believe define why it was labelled as "extra", but I'd argue that the price point in comparison to other Habanos cigars would similarly justify why it's named "extra", especially in regards to price increases since its inception.

The other thing that the Cohiba Piramides Extra is noted for is its hologrammatic band which it was released with. In mid-2014, the other Cohiba vitolas began to follow suit.

I used to think that it was simply a regular production release of the 2001 and/or 2006 Cohiba Piramides Limited Editions but I'm convinced now that, apart from the increased dimensions of the cigar, this Piramides Extra is a different cigar due to its blend.

You see, there haven't been just two special Cohiba Piramides releases prior to the regular production addition of the CPE. No, in that time prior to 2012, there were in fact another 7 special Piramides releases in the Cohiba marca. Yes, seven! And all these were your standard 52 ring gauge x 156 mm in length.

When I first purchased a box of this cigar, it was on special. Seven or eight years later the price is three to four times what my original purchase price was, so it's no surprise that I smoke these on occasion. In fact, I'd say the greater majority of our members smoke this cigar only 'on occasion'.

What about the blend? How does it compare to other Cohiba vitolas? In a late-2019 poll on our forum the following question was asked; "Which is the most flavoursome Cohiba today?" Responses were limited to cigars from 2015 onwards. The Esplendidos garnered 21% of votes, followed by the Robusto which received 13%. The Cohiba Piramides Extra received around 6% of the vote, but more importantly it came eighth out of 14 cigars.  Why did it not poll higher?

In my opinion, firstly, the premium price disqualifies it from creating a better brand awareness. I feel cigar enthusiasts simply don't smoke enough of them in comparison to other Cohiba cigars. Secondly, if you were to compare it to the Esplendidos, which topped this poll, I tend to find it rather full-flavoured and most Cohiba cigars are noted for being more milder and subtle in its flavours.

I would counter that the Cohiba Piramides Extra is still flavoursome. However, don't approach it expecting mild Cohiba grass/hay, honey or milk coffee. On the contrary, it tends to be stronger on that mocha coffee flavour and lighter on any grass/hay to be found. The stronger mocha flavour tends to invite spice at times too.

This Cohiba Piramides Extra today certainly was full-flavoured, contained mocha coffee and Earthy flavours and proved to have some 'legs' on it yet, despite being ten years old. There were also a buttery texture to this cigar throughout, together with a little honey but it didn't become spicy at any point.

In general, when you want a bold cigar over two hours or more in the Cohiba line, then I'd recommend this cigar for you as they tend to be full-flavoured, even after five years down or so. Otherwise, if you'd prefer classic grass/hay and honey notes in a softer and milder expression, stick with aged Linea 1492 series cigars from this marca.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Medio Siglo LTO Oct 2021

The Cohiba Medio Siglo was released in 2016. Medio Siglo means “half a century” in Spanish, which coincides in 2016 with the 50th anniversary of the advent of the Cohiba marca.

In regard to the Cohiba Medio Siglo cigars I have sampled, I feel it has the hallmarks of a Linea 1492 cigar in its quality hay and sweet honey notes. What I feel it has in similarity with the Cohiba Siglo VI is its buttery texture and coffee flavours, albeit in the Medio Siglo the coffee is much darker. In fact, I'd classify it amongst the richer flavour profiled cigars in the Linea 1492 series, together with the Cohiba Siglo VI.

I can't believe that I've only had one Cohiba Medio Siglo in the last sixteen months! I do have around half a box in my inventory across a few box codes, though. I guess I want to savour them for the odd occasion when I want to enjoy its blend of quality biscuit combined with espresso or mocha coffee.

Normally, when this cigar is 'on' it provides an eloquent balance of honey, biscuit, hay, butter and mocha coffee over an hour to an hour and ten minutes. When the Cohiba Medio Siglo is not 'on' you can tell usually that the balance of flavours is askew, they can smoke 'hot' and are more intense in coffee and spice. Unfortunately, today's example was more akin to the latter description in how intense it was. There was some honey and biscuit notes lurking in the cigar somewhere, but on the whole, it was a bit too intense for my liking. Those mocha coffee notes, interspersed with what seemed like oak wood and spice made me yearn for my next Cohiba Medio Siglo to be much more approachable and more balanced in its flavour blend.

The construction here was average to below average, as I needed a few re-lights and I had to cope with some bunched leaves inducing an un-even burn around the band. The smoke per draw was more voluminous than your typical Cohiba cigar, however, which normally necessitates a change in smoking technique to properly savour (i.e. you need to smoke much more slowly).

What more can I say? Not much, other than it's time to forget about this cigar and look forward to the next time I light a Cohiba Medio Siglo!

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo II GLE Dic 2020

I did not realise that it's been eight months since I last had a Cohiba Siglo II and in fact this is just my second one in the last sixteen months too! This GLE Dic 20 example has been resting in my humidor for almost a year now and my last cigar from this box code was actually quite amazing for purely sentimental reasons in how overtly grassy, creamy and smooth...indeed quite how wondrous it was!

So, whereas a number of Linea Clasica and Linea 1492 (i.e. Classic Line and Siglo Line) Cohiba 2019 and 2020 stock I've smoked has displayed a mocha coffee core and sometimes a buttered texture, my previous Siglo II was all lemongrass, cedar, vanilla bean and cream-textured from beginning to end over 75 minutes of smoking time.

This one smoked today wasn't quite as good as that because it was nowhere near as balanced. It certainly wasn't as creamy or herbal. Instead, it had quite a bit of mocha coffee dominating the blend. The other flavours were there; only, they were in the background. It did last me a good 75 minutes though!

If you are a Cohiba fan, frankly, you'd want your Siglo II to smoke better than this. Cohiba is marketed as a premium product in the Habanos Catalogue and it's not unreasonable to expect a better return for one's investment in both time and money. 

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.1 GEL Nov 2020

I've written previously on the Montecristo marca that if I had to guess what sells, in terms of annual volume, in the original Montecristo line when it was first released in 1935, I'd say the No.4 followed by the No.2 would sell in the greatest numbers. The Montecristo No.5 would be next followed by a distance by the No.1 and No.3. The reason the last two would be less in demand, in my view, would be due to their vitola dimensions rather than how good a cigar they are. Lonsdales and coronas respectively don't currently sell in great numbers, hence their recent mass deletions in the last 15 to 20 years. I find it a great shame how 'under-the-radar' the Montecristo No.1 (and No.3) is, but I'd say that would be less so amongst enthusiasts on our forum.

Recent stocks of 2019/20 Montecristo No.1 have been smoking very well, as their sales on 24:24 listings in that time would attest to. I was low on Montecristo No.1 stock in my humidor so I acquired this GEL Nov 2020 quarter pack in the middle of 2021. I'm glad I did too, after all, this is only the second Montecristo No.1 I've smoked in the last eighteen months!

This Montecristo No.1 was not as complex in its flavours as my last Monte 1 smoked eight months ago. Nevertheless, despite it being muted in milk coffee and cocoa/chocolate, it did have some citrus twang, leather, some nuttiness and a slight creamy texture on the palate. It was around mild-medium in strength and paradoxically, it actually improved as it went along. I wouldn't hesitate to say that this Monte 1, after 100 minutes of smoking time, was a pleasure to nub by its end.

I still say that it's a pity the Montecristo No.1 doesn't get more attention from cigar enthusiasts. After all, it's only 10 millimetres (or two-fifths of an inch) longer than a Cohiba Siglo III but a lot better value in terms of price in comparison.

[Connoisseur Kim]

14 hours ago, JohnS said:

Montecristo No.1 GEL Nov 2020

I've written previously on the Montecristo marca that if I had to guess what sells, in terms of annual volume, in the original Montecristo line when it was first released in 1935, I'd say the No.4 followed by the No.2 would sell in the greatest numbers. The Montecristo No.5 would be next followed by a distance by the No.1 and No.3. The reason the last two would be less in demand, in my view, would be due to their vitola dimensions rather than how good a cigar they are. Lonsdales and coronas respectively don't currently sell in great numbers, hence their recent mass deletions in the last 15 to 20 years. I find it a great shame how 'under-the-radar' the Montecristo No.1 (and No.3) is, but I'd say that would be less so amongst enthusiasts on our forum.

Recent stocks of 2019/20 Montecristo No.1 have been smoking very well, as their sales on 24:24 listings in that time would attest to. I was low on Montecristo No.1 stock in my humidor so I acquired this GEL Nov 2020 quarter pack in the middle of 2021. I'm glad I did too, after all, this is only the second Montecristo No.1 I've smoked in the last eighteen months!

This Montecristo No.1 was not as complex in its flavours as my last Monte 1 smoked eight months ago. Nevertheless, despite it being muted in milk coffee and cocoa/chocolate, it did have some citrus twang, leather, some nuttiness and a slight creamy texture on the palate. It was around mild-medium in strength and paradoxically, it actually improved as it went along. I wouldn't hesitate to say that this Monte 1, after 100 minutes of smoking time, was a pleasure to nub by its end.

I still say that it's a pity the Montecristo No.1 doesn't get more attention from cigar enthusiasts. After all, it's only 10 millimetres (or two-fifths of an inch) longer than a Cohiba Siglo III but a lot better value in terms of price in comparison.

Glad to see one of my fav CCs on your review @JohnS! I also have a Monte 1 box from our host with different box code (ROP JUL 21) and hope that it'll be tasty as the one from Kenfession's comp sampler 😃.

I feel sad that Monte 1 is one of the completely forgotten CCs in Korea too (haven't seen any local B&Ms selling Monte 1) 😭.

BTW, what's the best cigar of RyJ Linea de Oro? I heard Nobles is quite popular RyJ Linea de Oro cigar among CC enthusiasts.

[JohnS]

5 hours ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

Glad to see one of my fav CCs on your review @JohnS! I also have a Monte 1 box from our host with different box code (ROP JUL 21) and hope that it'll be tasty as the one from Kenfession's comp sampler 😃.

I feel sad that Monte 1 is one of the completely forgotten CCs in Korea too (haven't seen any local B&Ms selling Monte 1) 😭.

BTW, what's the best cigar of RyJ Linea de Oro? I heard Nobles is quite popular RyJ Linea de Oro cigar among CC enthusiasts.

Currently, Habanos S.A is finding it difficult producing Montecristo No.4s in significant numbers, let alone Montecristo No.1s!

I don't feel I can give a definitive answer (as to what is the best cigar) on the RyJ Linea de Oro cigars right now. After all, I've not had a Dianas yet and I haven't had enough of the the Hidalgos and Nobles. I too, have heard that the Nobles has received good support amongst enthusiasts.

[Nevrknow]

15 hours ago, JohnS said:

After all, it's only 10 millimetres (or two-fifths of an inch) longer than a Cohiba Siglo III but a lot better value in terms of price in comparison

Love my lll's but damn if those 1's aren't kicking it right now. Really have to agree with your statement @JohnS. 

Still grabbing Monte 1's when I can. 👍

[Connoisseur Kim]

6 hours ago, JohnS said:

Currently, Habanos S.A is finding it difficult producing Montecristo No.4s in significant numbers, let alone Montecristo No.1s!

I don't feel I can give a definitive answer (as to what is the best cigar) on the RyJ Linea de Oro cigars right now. After all, I've not had a Dianas yet and I haven't had enough of the the Hidalgos and Nobles. I too, have heard that the Nobles has received good support amongst enthusiasts.

Much agreed @JohnS! I too noticed Montecristo No. 1s are more common on 2424 sales than pre COVID-19 years. I hope that Montecristo No. 1 production will keep going higher than that of Montecristo No. 4 😄.

Looks like RyJ Linea de Oro cigars need more time to figure what's the best cigar of RyJ Linea de Oro. I wish I have a sampler of RyJ Linea de Oro, since it's obviously different from other RyJ cigars just like Monte Linea 1935 is Monte on steroids· 😃.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo I EPM Dic 2017

The Cohiba Siglo I is the smallest of the Siglo range, a perlas (like the Montecristo No.5 and Rafael Gonzalez Perlas), it is slightly smaller than a minuto (like the San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe or Partagas Shorts) at 40 ring gauge x 102 mm or 4 inches in length.

I've found that the Siglo I tends to be the strongest of the Linea 1492 range (i.e. Cohiba Siglo I, II, III, IV, V and VI). That doesn't necessarily mean that it gets above medium to medium-full, rather they are more intense in those typical Cohiba flavours than other cigars in this line. In fact, in general, I'd rate the Cohiba Siglo I at five years of age as stronger comparably even to similar-aged minutos and perlas such as the San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe, Rafael Gonzalez Perlas or Montecristo No.5, in general.

In a poll conducted in 2018 on the best of the minutos and perlas (and recently revived) participants were asked to rank their two most favourite examples. The Cohiba Siglo I ranked quite lowly (6%)  in comparison to the two leading vitolas (Partagas Shorts and Trinidad Reyes with 21% and 19% approval respectively). Actually, the Cohiba Siglo I languished behind even the San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe, Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas, Montecristo No.5, Bolivar Coronas Junior and Rafael Gonzalez Perlas. Why so low? Perhaps its elevated price-point combined with a wide array of options within the Cohiba marca has something to do it.

The Linea 1492 series was famously introduced in 1992 to replace the Davidoff Chateaux Series as a premium marca. The five Siglo cigars had correlating Davidoff Chateaux vitolas, with the Cohiba Siglo I replacing the identically-sized Davidoff Chateau Haut-Brion. It's interesting to note that reviews of this now thirty year-old Davidoff cigar on Cigar-Reviews.Org are universally exemplary whereas reviews of the Cohiba Siglo I on the same site are mixed. Perhaps the Cohiba Siglo I needs more time down than other comparative Habanos minutos/perlas? Hmmm...perhaps indeed!

This Siglo I had notes of black espresso coffee, some honey, some elements of Cohiba grass or hay with a little citrus twang. If it had some more notes of honey and/or a little vanilla bean I guess I would have enjoyed it more but it was fine as it was. However, for its price, I too would admit I would prefer other options in the minutos and perlas range instead of the Cohiba Siglo I.

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 RUP Sep 2020

When I lit this first cigar of a RUP Sep 20 quarter pack acquisition of Montecristo No.5 today, the cigar was so flavoursome that I immediately thought only in terms of superlatives to describe it. Questions like, "how good is this cigar?" and "why can't they all be like this?" promptly came to mind. The Montecristo No.5 was of course one of the original five cigars of the Montecristo line first introduced in 1935 along with the No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4. It's a 40 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) in length perla. The typical smoking time for a small cigar like this would be around 30 to 45 minutes.

The last Montecristo no.5 I smoked around eight months ago was just your average Montecristo combination of coffee, cocoa, nut and citrus twang and it was all balanced quite nicely; no one flavour dominated the other. This Monte 5, on the other hand, had a slightly creamy texture and was more dominant in its citrus twang, which is just the way I like it.

In summary, this was every bit as good as my AUM Jul 14 Montecristo No.5s I finished last year, if not better. I think if I had another Monte 5 from this box at hand, after finishing this one, I may just have lit it up to test the adage that 'lightning does indeed strike twice'!

[JohnS]

San Cristóbal de la Habana El Príncipe (circa 2009)

I'd like to thank @NSXCIGAR for making this cigar available for me to smoke via trade. The last 2009 San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe I smoked three months ago was excellent and this was easily of its equal.

Unlike other cocoa-intensive Habanos marcas such as Montecristo, for example, I haven't found older San Cristobal changing too much in terms of flavours once they age beyond the three to five-year mark. Obviously, there is a decrease in strength but this hasn't detracted my enjoyment of older SCdLH El Principes in the past whatsoever.

The main thing I enjoyed about this cigar today was the soft, easy cocoa-marshmallow texture to the cigar, which was also present in my last 2009 SCdLH El Principe, together with a scrumptious pancake and molasses sweetness.

Overall, the fact that this cigar was over ten years old didn't diminish how well it smoked at all. It proved beyond a doubt to be full of flavour!

[JohnS]

Rafael González Perlas (circa 2013)

I'd like to once again thank @NSXCIGAR for this Rafael Gonzalez Perlas I smoked today. It's been a little over three months since I've had a RG Perlas, incidentally from the same ilk or vintage.

The Rafael Gonzalez Perlas is probably the mildest minuto/perlas/reyes option one could go for. Habanos cigars this size are a little more intense in flavour delivery than their larger brethren, but the Rafael Gonzalez Perlas (and Petit Coronas) tends not to be as intense.

Exactly like my previous RG Perlas of the same box code, this had less floral notes and baking spice than what I would expect for an older version of this cigar, yet it still certainly had a core and dependable cocoa, earth and tobacco. This time, unlike last time, this was more savoury as it had practically no honey sweetness whatsoever.

The back half of this cigar once again had a distinctive 'Earthiness' one finds in the Rafael Gonzalez marca which I noted that you don't get in other minutos or perlas-sized Habanos cigars. It was easy to smoke and I nubbed it. What more could one ask for?

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo VI ARG Jun 2015

This is the now the fifth Cohiba Siglo VI I've smoked from this ARG Jun 2015 10-count box (I've gifted two). Overall, I've only smoked twelve or so Cohiba Siglo VIs in the last four or five years, including these five smoked from this box. There are a few good reasons for this; one, I prefer Cohiba Siglo VIs in the five to ten-year window, two, the expense of this vitola at around $US40 to 45 or $AUD80 to $90 at the present time (not to mention that the market cost will most likely double in price very soon due to Habanos S.A's price re-structuring of its premium brands, Cohiba and Trinidad) precludes me smoking more and three, these weren't freely available for a eighteen to twenty-four month window from 2017 onwards anyway.

My last Cohiba Siglo VI I had, a little over six months ago, was quite muddled in its flavour delivery, the ash was flaky and it did not burn ideally. In summary, it was quite forgettable.

From the get-go, from the very first puff I took of this Cohiba Siglo VI, I immediately lamented how expensive these cigars have now become as a consequence of how 'other-worldly' this smoked in the first third. In simple terms, it smoked like I was eating a cream and honey-flavoured biscuit (or cookie).

In the middle third I got more mocha coffee and refined hay to compliment the honey sweetness and vanilla in the edges. Construction was absolutely spot-on as ash-lengths were more or less perfect, ridges were uniformly parallel and there were no need of any re-lights or touch-ups.

The final third continued in much the same vain as the middle third. It goes without saying that this Cohiba Siglo VI was nubbed as far as it could go.

And so, thankfully this Cohiba Siglo VI ironically reminded me to forget the last 'forgettable' Siglo VI I had from this box. I'm sure the next time I reach for one, I will long-remember how good this Siglo VI was!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Topes 2016 - Edición Limitada TOS Sep 2016

The regular production Trinidad Topes was released in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Trinidad marca (according to Habanos S.A). However, it was previously released in late 2016 as a Limited Edition in a large 56 ring gauge x 125 mm (or 4⅞ inches) length. And yes, it's not the first time a Limited Edition cigar has been brought back as a regular production cigar (e.g. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial and H.Upmann Magnum 50). The 2016 version of the Topes was such a great seller and well-reputed amongst aficionados that in my view, it wasn't to much of a surprise to see its re-release. Incidentally, the Montecristo Dantes and Romeo y Julieta Capuletos were also released in early 2017 as 2016 Limited Editions. Do we still remember them?

I've mentioned previously that the 2019 regular production Trinidad Topes that I've sampled since their release have tended to be a combination of spice, coffee and butter pastry, some slight gingerbread-type sweetness and even some salt. The Trinidad Topes 2016 EL had more cocoa and sweetness to it upon its release in its youth. This TOS Sep 2016 specimen was similarly sweet. It had a touch of woodiness to it, together with a consistent coffee-cream cappuccino and dough core flavour that I've found quite appealing in these Topes LEs thus far.

I mentioned in my last review that the maduro-shaded Limited Edition wrappers, which still carry some hefty sheen on every cigar from this box, has definitely imparted a lovely and subtle sweetness that is no longer cocoa-heavy, if you get what I mean. It's quite unlike the core savoury flavours I've gotten out of a variety of Trinidad cigars I've smoked in the last two or three years.

This was a pleasure to smoke and even more so considering that it took a whopping 110 minutes to finish! The impending price-correction (or should I say large increase?) by Habanos S.A to the Cohiba and Trinidad premium marcas made it even more enjoyable to smoke today!

[JohnS]

La Flor de Cano Grandiosos 2013 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico ROL Oct 2013

The La Flor de Cano Grandiosos is a 2013 Asia Pacifico Regional Edition with a 52 ring gauge x 135 mm (or 5⅜ inches) length. I opened this box once it had approached the seven year mark and I've had seven of them (or just under three-quarters of them) in the last year and eight months, with the last one smoked about six months ago.

If you aren't aware, the thinking on our forum behind Asia Pacifico Regional releases is that they generally need 5 years to 'open up'. The only recent exception to this maxim that I can recall could be the 2014 Diplomaticos Bushido, which was exemplary from the 'get-go' when it finally came out in 2015 or perhaps even the recent 2019 Punch 8-9-8 (although one could argue that this dalias-sized cigar can benefit from aging too).

I've had this cigar around the four and five-year mark and I've found it to be a combination, at that time, of butter cake and cream, floral notes, almond nuts and spice. Around the six-year mark the cigar progressed to a flavour profile of floral notes, citrus, almond nut and light cocoa 'on the edges' with a bit of spice to it.

This LFdC Grandiosos smoked today was eight-and-a-half years of age and it smoked like one of the most complex examples of a Habanos cigar I've encountered yet! It started off in the first third as a combination of shortbread, strawberries, cream, progressed in the middle third to a flavour profile of hay, almond nut and floral notes and it was joined in the last third by some wonderful, mild cinnamon spice.

This La Flor de Cano Grandiosos was so full of flavour, yet so easy to smoke. I know that I only have two left from my original 10-count box, but I guess I will enjoy them sooner rather than later as I don't envisage them lasting beyond the ten year mark!

[Chucko8]

On 5/9/2022 at 6:10 PM, JohnS said:

 

La Flor de Cano Grandiosos 2013 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico ROL Oct 2013

 

This LFdC Grandiosos smoked today was eight-and-a-half years of age and it smoked like one of the most complex examples of a Habanos cigar I've encountered yet! It started off in the first third as a combination of shortbread, strawberries, cream, progressed in the middle third to a flavour profile of hay, almond nut and floral notes and it was joined in the last third by some wonderful, mild cinnamon spice.

This La Flor de Cano Grandiosos was so full of flavour, yet so easy to smoke. I know that I only have two left from my original 10-count box, but I guess I will enjoy them sooner rather than later as I don't envisage them lasting beyond the ten year mark!

Great write up, thanks John. I feel like I need to find myself one of these see if possible to obtain these complex notes. Strawberry I've only hit on one other stick which was a Diplo Nortentos.

[JohnS]

6 hours ago, Chucko8 said:

Great write up, thanks John. I feel like I need to find myself one of these see if possible to obtain these complex notes. Strawberry I've only hit on one other stick which was a Diplo Nortentos.

I've found them more complex if they've had some spice element to them. Otherwise, I've still enjoyed them with a simpler, straight strawberry, hay and cream texture blend.

[Frinkiac7]

On 4/23/2022 at 3:40 PM, JohnS said:

Saint Luis Rey Double Coronas AEP Mar 2007

This is another cigar which I have told myself that I'd never get the opportunity to smoke since its sad deletion in 2014, but thanks to the warm generosity of @Trevor2118, I can now add this vitola to my list of Saint Luis Rey marca cigars I've smoked over the years. I think of the Saint Luis Rey vitolas deleted since 2000, I'm yet to smoke the Petit Coronas and Coronas (funnily enough).

Before I discuss in further detail the minutiae of this cigar-smoking experience, a quick background of the Saint Luis Rey marca is needed. At the moment the only vitola left in this marca is the Regios, a Hermosos No.4 cigar (48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches in length). It is very different to the Double Coronas and Serie A, which were discontinued in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Saint Luis Rey is known as a marca which exudes complexity when it's 'on song'. Perhaps the Regios does less so, but aged Saint Luis Rey is quite a thing to behold. I've found them to go bland if left too long after their peak, but in their peak period I feel that they are potentially like no other Habanos cigar when it comes to the variety of flavours they produce and the changes they can exhibit through the thirds. I also have surmised that this 'complexity' has been both a strength and a weakness; a strength in the fact that unless they age too long they aren't one-dimensional and a weakness in that the multitude of flavours makes it a marca which is rarely a 'go-to' rotational choice for cigar enthusiasts and hence the niche market over the years. Perhaps the greatest market for Saint Luis Rey since its inception in the 1940s has been the United Kingdom.

Onto this Double Coronas! It's vitola dimensions at 49 ring gauge x 194 mm in length (or 7⅝ inches). In regular production, there are four of these in current regular production. These are (in alphabetical order); the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas, Partagas Lusitanias, Punch Double Coronas and Ramon Allones Gigantes. Apart from the Ramon Allones Gigantes, these are also available in 50 cabs, apart from the Punch Double Coronas which no longer is packaged in 50 cabs since 2017. Interestingly, the two Double Coronas discontinued of recent times; the Saint Luis Rey Double Coronas and Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro, were both released post-Revolution (that is, after 1962). The four remaining Double Coronas are pre-Revolution cigars. Perhaps their long history is currently keeping them in production? Who knows?

I expected upon lighting that this cigar would be quite mild, since it was 15 years old, but it was comfortably medium-mild and flavoursome. The initial third saw a strong hit of lemon citrus, honey, hay, light cocoa and apricot or peach stonefruit flavours. At the beginning of the second third the light cocoa became more dominant. This combined flavour continued into the last third when it unsurprisingly increased in intensity and stronger notes of cocoa and coffee prevailed. What a cigar and wow, what a ride!

Thanks again @Trevor2118 for allowing me to sample this cigar and share my thoughts on it for the benefit of our members.

Great review. I have a 2009 cab that I have barely made a dent in. They are formidable and take a long time to smoke which I find hard to devote these days. You've inspired me to renew my efforts with this coming nice weather here for our summer in the States.

[JohnS]

41 minutes ago, Frinkiac7 said:

Great review. I have a 2009 cab that I have barely made a dent in. They are formidable and take a long time to smoke which I find hard to devote these days. You've inspired me to renew my efforts with this coming nice weather here for our summer in the States.

That's wonderful to hear. I'm gladdened to hear of the inspiration for smoking this sadly-deleted Double Coronas!

[JohnS]

Punch Punch RAT May 2020

Perhaps you are aware (or even perhaps not) that a 2019 Friends of Habanos forum poll relating to inconsistent cigars listed the Punch Punch, unfortunately, negatively for being prone to blandness. Ironically, in the last few years since they've enjoyed a somewhat enhanced reputation on our forum.

In that 2019 poll, Punch alongside Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo was noted as a brand that cigar enthusiasts pointed out for its inconsistency. This is true, when they are ordinary they can be bland and woody. However, I would counter that when they are smoking well no other brand encapsulates the essence of Cuban twang within a cigar quite like a Punch cigar.

If you could ask one question of the current co-presidents of Habanos S.A, Inocente Núñez Blanco and Luis Sánchez-Harguindey Pardo de Vera at the present time, it probably wouldn't be, "Why call this cigar the Punch Punch Punch?" I mention this because you'd think that the moniker of a cigar being repeated three times would bring it attention over the years, but ever since the Punch 48, Asia-Pacific Regional Edition Punch 8-9-8 and the new regular production cigar, the Punch Short de Punch came out, I can't help but feel that the Punch Punch Punch has lost a little (or a lot) of its limelight.

The Punch Punch is a Corona Gorda, 46 ring gauge x 143 mm in length. I find this medium ring gauge ideal (or even a little lower as I consider 42 ring gauge, which coincidentally is 2/3 of an inch, perfect). The last Punch Punch I had was a little over eighteen months ago and frankly, I couldn't believe it was that long. In my write-up on that cigar I noted that in 2020, within the Punch marca, it had been superseded by the Punch 8-9-8, Punch 48 and that new regular production addition, the Punch Short de Punch. Let me reassure you, a good Punch Punch still packs a 'punch' (yes, the pun is intentional) and is worthy of your attention if you are a Punch fan. And as I mentioned already, Punch Punch at the present time is worth your attention as things have changed since, in my view.

Now, I'm not here to denigrate those three aforementioned new releases to the Punch marca. On the contrary, the Punch 48 and Punch 8-9-8 have a quality light chocolate (at times) and peanut profile to them whilst the Punch Short de Punch is more dominant in sour cream and leather notes, to me, the Punch Punch (Punch) is always a cedar and classic 'Cuban Twang' affair when its at its best.

This Punch Punch did have notes of sour cream and leather, and they certainly didn't overwhelm the blend, but the cedar and that quintessential sour citrus 'Cuban Twang' we all know and love when it comes to Punch was far too nominal to render this cigar anything but 'run-of-the-mill' in comparison to other far better examples of this vitola I've enjoyed in the past.

Still, I smoked it down of course and pondered on my next opportunity to smoke this cigar, confident that it will turn out better.

[JohnS]

Partagás Serie D No.4 ROP Feb 2020

This is the first Partagas Serie D No.4 from a 10-count box I acquired three months ago. In case you didn't know it, modern consensus in the Habanos community suggests that the number one selling Cuban vitola in the world is no longer the Montecristo No.4, but rather the Partagas Serie D No.4. That's not bad for a cigar that because of its size (50 ring gauge x 124 mm or 4.9 inches) sold only 5000 boxes annually as recently as the mid-1980s.

This is another one of those common regular production cigars, which for some reason, I haven't had in over eighteen months. I must say that, in general, I prefer Partagas on the mild side and well-rested, unless it's a Lusitanias because these Double Coronas are usually big on sourdough, light on spice or pepper and medium-mild or less in strength, even when young. This Party D4, at just over two years of age, was simply outstanding and similar to a young Lusitanias; this was big on sourdough, coffee and leather flavours, had no spice or pepper whatsoever and was medium-mild in strength.

In hindsight, this was probably one of the best Partagas Serie D No.4 I've ever had. I could easily smoke this cigar much more regularly if they are like this. It's a 'no-brainer', therefore, why they sell so well!