JohnS' Smoking Diary 2025

[Sirius]

On 3/16/2025 at 5:33 PM, JohnS said:

Quai d'Orsay No.52 GRB May 2024

The Quai d'Orsay No.52 is a 2021 release that came to market in early 2023. It has a 52 ring gauge x 156 millimetres (or 6⅛ inches) length, which is similar in size to a Cohiba Siglo VI, only six millimetres or a quarter of an inch longer. This cigar was recommended to me by @99call and @Li Bai and I'm elated to have finally acquired this cigar to sample.

Having smoked a number of Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50 and 54 since their launch in 2017/18, I can assert that the blend of this Quai d'Orsay No.52 is similar. What made it stand out for me was how full-flavoured it was for a mid-bodied cigar. It had typical Quai d'Orsay flavours of brioche and butter complimented by an underlying cedar, hay and cream texture. In terms of its smoking, there's a case to be made that this latest addition to the Quai d'Orsay marca is the Cohiba Siglo VI of the Quai d'Orsay line. It was a beautiful smoke over more than 2 hours!

In my part of the world, the Cohiba Siglo VI is three to three-and-a-half times more expensive that the Quai d'Orsay No.52. In other markets it's at least twice as dear. You could say, therefore, that the Quai d'Orsay No.52 is the new poor man's Cohiba Siglo VI.

They have come up a little more often recently on 24:24 listings, but in general, they aren't easy to acquire in regards to their availability. If you manage to source a box, I know you'll be glad that you did so!

Very nice, thank you for this! This is one Cigar I am eager to get my hands on! I have yet to try any Quai d'Orsays, but they are very intriguing to me. Also, nice Cigar holder there! 

[JohnS]

On 8/13/2025 at 6:41 AM, Sirius said:

Very nice, thank you for this! This is one Cigar I am eager to get my hands on! I have yet to try any Quai d'Orsays, but they are very intriguing to me. Also, nice Cigar holder there! 

Thank you, kindly!

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux MER Abr 2013

The last run of Hoyo de Monterrey des Dieux manufactured prior to being discontinued was in 2013/14. The Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux was a 42 ring gauge x 155 mm (or 6⅛ inches) in length Coronas Grandes cigar. Today, only the Cohiba Siglo III and Montecristo Tubos have these dimensions and are in regular production. I would assert that their respective marcas, being highly unlikely to being prone to deletion, has ensured their survival whereas other Coronas Grandes cigars have not.

My initial exposure to the Hoyo de Monterrey des Dieux were from a 2003 box code. Those HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux were especially creamy in texture. With time, I've come to understand that those '03 des Dieuxs were a 'class above' and other HdM Le Hoyo de Dieux (up to when they were discontinued in 2014) were subject to normal development over time like other Le Hoyo cigars.

When I mention the aging development of Le Hoyo line cigars I am naturally not including the recent additions to the line, the 2018 de Rio Seco and the 2014 de San Juan. Like Cohiba in the past five years or so, these two Le Hoyo additions seem to develop their peak flavours much younger than in the past. In the case of the de Rio Seco and de San Juan, this means the advent of creaminess in the cigar, with the de Rio Seco being noteworthy for creaminess even sooner than the de San Juan. (Personally speaking, I have found the HdM Le Hoyo de Rio Seco especially approachable once they've hit the two-year mark.)

So what have traditional Le Hoyo cigars been like, in general? In a word, they have been characterised by their woodiness when young. The aim of resting them long-term is to let them become more creamy. As mentioned, like traditional Cohiba, developing those peak flavours can take five to ten years (or even longer).

I've mentioned these things before in previous reviews on this cigar, but what about today's Hoyo de Monterrey des Dieux? Did it conform to this profile? In a word, yes (and no). Sound confusing? Read on...

At around ten years rested, I found this HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux both cream-textured and abundant in forest floor flavours. I've stated this before, but when Le Hoyo cigars are under five years they can have a mushroom/forest floor-type flavour to them that can dominate the cigar. This particular HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux started off exhibiting signs of its age from the word "go"; it was cream-textured, light-cedared and had hints of vanilla sweetness. In fact, it was similar to examples of excellent, aged HdM des Dieux I've had in the past. This combination of flavours continued until the beginning of the middle third.

In the middle third, the cigar transitioned markedly. The cream texture gave way to forest floor flavours, oak and cloves, which are flavours more indicative of a younger HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux. This flavour blend continued until the end of the cigar, but in my opinion, it didn't diminish my final evaluation of it. Quite simply, these two contrasting features to this cigar today was brilliant...just brilliant!

The strength of this cigar was mild but it was medium-bodied, much like the last HdM Des Dieux I smoked that was also boxed in 2013/14. In other words, it didn't lack at all in regards to flavour. Like aged cigars in general, once that strength wears off it becomes quite easy to smoke. I smoked this in around an hour and ten minutes. That may sound quick for a cigar that is a little over six inches in length, but keep in mind that aged cigars tend to burn quicker in general than newer cigars, due to having less moisture over time, and so this is not in fact unusual.

In my mind, when the last third start to develop more creaminess and the flavours have melded from beginning to end, then that's the time when the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux has peaked. I still feel that we are few more years away in the case of the batch of the last run of the HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux from 2013/14. 

[JohnS]

Cohiba Medio Siglo LGB Jun 2020

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've mentioned previously that 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.

It's been one-and-three-quarter years since I last smoked a Cohiba Medio Siglo. I do have around half a box in my inventory across two 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 (or so). 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. Fortunately, today's example was more akin to the premier description in how balanced it was. By contrast, the last time four times I smoked a Medio Siglo I found them unbalanced and not 'to taste'. It's exhilarating to have a change of luck today!

This Cohiba Medio Siglo had distinctive honeycomb biscuit notes from the very first puffs, yet it also had the hallmarks of classic Cohiba grass/hay, butter and light mocha coffee. In its back half I also noted a delicious sour, tangy citrus flavour which made the cigar simply delectable. 

The construction here was quite exceptional, the ash was perfect and the smoke per draw was more voluminous than your typical Cohiba cigar, which necessitates a change in smoking technique to properly savour (i.e. you need to smoke much more slowly). 

What more could one add? Ever since the price re-structuring by Habanos S.A. in mid-2022 a number of us have supplemented our smoking regimes with the acquisition of Non-Cuban cigars. Frankly, I wish my humidor was more abundant in Habanos cigars like this; however, that's not the reality of things. If I could, I'd elect to smoke a Cohiba Medio Siglo like this as often as possible. At the same time, I have a long memory and I'm fully aware that Cohiba Medio Siglos don't always smoke like this one did today.

[JohnS]

Partagás Shorts AUM May 2015

I first opened this 50-cab box around six weeks ago and mentioned that the first Partagas Shorts from that box was smoked four years after I had my last one. So do I hate Partagas Shorts? Of course not, but I can't admit that they've been in my rotation either. Rewind back to late-2016/early-2017 and I would say that at that particular time, they were. It's funny how trends change over time, isn't it?

That first Partagas Shorts had some paprika spice to it, and especially in the back half. So it was okay, but for me, it wasn't optimal according to my preferences.

This second Partagas Shorts from this 50 count box rested for ten years (yes, ten years!), started off again with some Partagas sourdough and leather coming together, together with some coffee but this time I found next to no paprika spice. The cigar was quite mild but still fulsome on the palate. In summary, I loved it!

So, today's Partagas Shorts was evenly balanced in its flavours for my liking and I have no issue returning to this box to smoke from it, purely for enjoyment. Expect no more reviews (on this cigar) at least in the immediate future!

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Montecarlos EML Sep 2014

The Por Larranaga Montecarlos is a 33 ring gauge x 159 mm (or 6¼ inches) in length cigar commonly considered a 'forum favourite' on our forum...you know, a cigar that has many admirers for providing value for money when it comes to its smoking performance.

This is the second Por Larranaga Montecarlos I've had from this box, the first was smoked two-and-a-half months ago. Much like the greater majority of LGR Oct 17 PL Montecarlos I smoked, which I classify as amongst the best cigars I've had in a box purchase, this cigar today was characterised by its beautiful hit of sweet, refined caramel. Indeed, this is always the one characteristic that I look for whenever I smoke this cigar. Whereas the first cigar from a well-rested nine-and-a-half year box was not caramel-laden, this second PL Montecarlos from this box was defined instead by its soft wood, coffee, toffee sweetness and of course, caramel.

In regards to construction, this PL Montecarlos burned very well and didn't need any re-lights. The draw was also ideal.

The adage when it comes to Por Larranaga cigars that they need five to eight years to mature is certainly a generalisation. Well, I can state that this may be more true of the PL Petit Coronas than the PL Montecarlos in that the PL Petit Coronas does need more time. Yet this PL Montecarlos stick, aged around ten years, still wasn't over-flowing in its caramel (but it did have enough caramel to it to satisfy me). Yet, I've had PL Montecarlos less than three years old that were. Maybe the next one I have from my humidor across four box codes will be 'full of caramel', so-to-speak. It's why I keep coming back to them.

[JohnS]

Punch Punch ALO Mar 2016

From 2015 to 2017, the Punch Punch enjoyed a revival on our forum. So much so, it actually became a forum favourite. At that time, from what I can recall, Punch Punch during this period had been quite approachable despite its youthfulness. Prior to this, I recall having Punch Punch from 2014 and earlier that was woody and flavourless, or alternatively, there was a sense of 'wet' leather to them that indicated the need for resting. But that Punch Punch from 2015 to 2017, which I really enjoyed, excelled in its combination of cedar and spiced cream at a medium to medium-mild strength. 

By comparison, I've also enjoyed Punch Punch in the last few years that has dated from mid-2020 that was equally as brilliant but very different in its blend. These cigars tended to have a combination of cedar, leather, sour cream and 'Cuban Twang' which frankly made them irresistible. 

This was the second cigar from a 50-count cab of early-2016 Punch Punch. Unlike my first one I had from this box, smoked three months ago, this did not have clove to it until the back half of the cigar. Instead, there was some cedar and leather there, but that cream texture this time was unmistakable; it's what you want when you smoke a Punch Punch of this vintage. 

A year after I acquired this box Habanos S.A. discontinued production of the Punch Punch (and Punch Double Coronas) in 50 cabs. What a shame, as these 50 cabs have traditionally been ideal for long-term aging within the circles of our cigar community. As for me, yes...I enjoyed this cigar (and even more so than last time!), but I know that having so many left in the box augurs well for resting these even longer. Not all of them, mind you, as I will re-visit this box this year, but I'm glad I have the option to explore these further well down the track. Say, five years or so as a minimum.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux BUM Feb 2014

I've only just smoked a MER Abr 2013 Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux a few weeks ago, so why produce another review on this cigar so soon? Well, the reason is because it comes from a different box code (i.e. BUM Feb 2014) and was gifted to me by @jay8354 (thank you!), so I figured, "Why not report on how similar/different it was in comparison to the last HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux I smoked?

At around ten years rested, I found this HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux similarly cream-textured and noteworthy in its forest floor flavours. This specific HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux started off again displaying clues as to its age from the word "go"; it was cream-textured, light-cedared and had hints of vanilla sweetness. In fact, it was similar to examples of excellent, aged HdM des Dieux I've had in the past. This combination of flavours continued until the beginning of the middle third to the halfway point of the cigar.

In the middle third, the cigar again showed signs of change. The cream texture this time was more evident in the blend, but those forest floor flavours, oak and cloves, which are flavours more indicative of a younger HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux started to dominant the cigar. This flavour blend continued until the end of the cigar. And so, these two contrasting features to this cigar today was just as outstanding as the last time I smoke this cigar a few weeks ago!

Once again, this HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux didn't lack at all in regards to flavour and it was quite easy to smoke due to its age.

In summary, my last two Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieuxs have been quite similar in their smoking and in my view, they're quite fine to enjoy now. But I only have four left in my humidor and part of me wonders what development is left in this final run of HdM Le Hoyo des Dieux? The only way I will find out is if I give the ones I have left even more time to develop. 

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones Small Club Coronas BUM Mar 2013

The Ramon Allones Small Club Corona is a reputable (42 ring gauge x 110 mm or 4⅜ inches in length) minutos. I think I had around six or seven RASCCs mainly in the second half of 2022, and overall I rated them quite well for their flavours and smoking time. In fact, although I would opine that cigar enthusiasts favour the Montecristo No.5 or San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe more, I find the Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas is quite dependable and varies less in its quality, both construction-wise and flavour-wise. Despite the fact that I had a number of RASCCs in that aforementioned timeframe two years ago, this is only my fourth one since, for no peculiar reason other than I've had a whole lot of other cigars to persue in the meantime. 

When it comes to the RASCC you are really looking for its typical and distinctive dried fruit flavour, something akin to raisins. When that is present they're ideal. When they are not, I tend to still find them a decent option to smoke when I need a shorter smoke due to time.

This RASCC was gifted to me by @baragh (thank you!) and it started off with a little woodiness, yet with some characteristic light cocoa flavour. Soon after I lit it though, the amount of smoke and flavour per puff started to overwhelm my palate and so it wasn't possible to ascertain any more subtle features to the cigar, like whether it had 'raisin-type' sweetness or not. That being said, it was certainly mild but it wasn't possible to draw down on the cigar quickly due to its smoke output.

Despite this situation, I still found this Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas packed a 'punch' in its flavours. Twelve years in the box and it goes to show that one could give this cigar even more time to rest and age prior to smoking it the next time!

[JohnS]

Cohiba Espléndidos UAO Dic 2018

The Cohiba Esplendidos is a Churchill-sized cigar, with a 47 ring gauge x 178 mm (or 7 inches) length. It was first introduced in 1989 and of course means 'splendid' in Spanish. It's a shame that there aren't more Churchills around in the present day. Twenty years ago (or thereabouts), the Habanos catalogue had 13 more in regular production, but the partnership in 2000 with Altidis saw a streamlining in the vitola so that today we are left with the Cohiba Esplendidos, H.Upmann Sir Winston and Romeo y Julieta Churchill.

In comparison to the Linea 1492 range, that is the Siglo I to VI (and the Medio Siglo), I have tended to find the Clasica Linea range more stronger and richer on the palate in flavours in general. I have smoked a few aged Cohiba Esplendidos from 2006 in the last few years and so the last time I smoked a Cohiba Esplendidos from this box code was fifteen months ago. I found it 'classy' then, so how has it progressed in the meantime? 

In the first third I got some milk coffee, honey and some grassiness, underscored by a buttery texture, which very much appealed to me. The strength was under medium-mild, construction was on-point, as was the ash-length and it wasn't hard to decipher that this was a 'classy' cigar in the way it was smoking, pretty much from the 'get-go'.

In the middle third, the cigar settled in its milk coffee core, buttered-texture and honey sweetness. 

In the final third, the cigar continued as it did in the middle third. There wasn't much of change in flavour profile or intensity; the cigar just continued to smoke well right down to the nub, similarly to the last time I smoked this cigar. 

So, in summary, this Esplendidos was classy, rich and vibrant and I very much enjoyed it, like last time. 

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay Imperiales 2022 - Travel Humidor UBL Jul 2023

The Quai d'Orsay Imperiales was a regular production Churchill-sized cigar (i.e. with a 47 ring gauge x 178 millimetres or 7 inch length) that was discontinued in 2015. In 2022, Habanos S.A. announced that the cigar will return as a Duty Free and Travel Retail release, in an ornate Travel Humidor holding 20 cigars. The cigar finally hit the market in early 2024.

According to Cuban Cigar Website, the Duty Free and Travel Retail programme was introduced in 2006. Items in this series are released exclusively for sale in Duty Free and Travel Retail stores. They are generally marketed as luxury gift items. They are usually travel humidors, although there have been examples of both jars and tube sets in this category. They have contained both standard production and special cigars. Recently (as in September, 2024), the Hoyo de Monterrey Destinos was released in Andorra. In 2021, the Trinidad Robustos Extra was released after being discontinued in 2012. (Critically-speaking, this release was very well received.)

I had the opportunity to smoke this cigar twice in the second half of 2024 and again today and I can affirm that, in general, this cigar has been exemplary. In a nutshell, as a Julieta No.2-sized cigar (in other words, the factory name for a Churchill) this Quai d'Orsay Imperial Travel Humidor release more than 'holds its own' in comparison to any Cohiba Esplendidos, H.Upmann Sir Winston or Romeo y Julieta Churchills I've smoked. Yes, it's quite a bold statement to make, but quite simply, apart from a touch of cloves in the last third, this QdO Imperiales was all soft brioche, butter, cream, hay, orange citrus and vanilla over two hours of smoking bliss. In terms of construction; here again today it was impeccable. The ash-lengths were ideal, and there wasn't even a hint of needing to re-light anything or indeed touch anything up. It was that sort of cigar.

In comparison to the Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50, 54 and Coronas Claros I've smoked which have all contained the new Quai d'Orsay blend post-2017, this QdO Imperiales had no harsh edges, no cedar, oak or woodiness and no toasted tobacco in the last third. So, imagine the perfect Quai d'Orsay cigar and this would just about describe it. What about the Quai d'Orsay No.52, I hear you say? Well; yes, I smoked one three months ago but I would think that I would need to smoke a few more to make a fair comparison. It goes without saying, but that Quai d'Orsay No.52 was about as brilliant as this Quai d'Orsay Imperiales was today.

It's interesting how different this release of the Quai d'Orsay Imperiales has been different to the discontinued regular production cigar from 2015. The blend in the original QdO Imperiales was more akin to the traditional one; that being, it was herbal, shortbread and citrus, light-wrappered generally and very mild in strength and body. This Travel Humidor release is definitely not like that, especially in terms of its body. Each cigar I've smoked has been full of flavour on the palate.

I continue to be enamoured with this release. It has reinforced in my mind the notion that since mid-2022 Habanos S.A. has tiered these special releases with a higher price point to be of a smoking quality that is greater than the standard regular production offerings. And in a way, that's a shame as part of the appeal of our hobby is the value of resting and aging one's own regular production cigars and judging that value by their improvement over time against an initial outlay. The bigger the difference between those two parameters; the greater the satisfaction. 

I guess we've entered a new phase in Habanos cigars whereby quality cigars requires a much bigger initial monetary outlay. It just means that we will need to enjoy cigars like the Quai d'Orsay Imperiales Travel Humidor less often than we would have in the past. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it currently is.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas GOB Dec 2021

Ever since the re-structure of Habanos S.A.'s cigar production in mid-2022, there has seemingly been a hiatus on the availability of longer cigars such as the Double Coronas and Churchills. Well, not all of them because I sometimes see the Partagas Lusitanias, Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas, Cohiba Esplendidos and Romeo y Julieta Churchill available on 24:24 listings, of late. The Ramon Allones Gigantes and Punch Double Corona? Not so much.

This HdM Double Coronas was quite mild, starting off. I found that it had a minimal light cocoa, together with a core cedar, biscuit and light cream texture. As I smoked down the cigar towards the halfway point, I picked up quite a bit of spice, even nutmeg, and it stayed this way until its end.

Construction-wise, this was on-point from the very beginning. It was effortless to light, it ashed very well and it was also very easy to smoke and retrohale. This Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas took me two-and-a-half hours to smoke and very much delivered on flavour, body and strength.

How often do we get the chance to light up a Double Corona? Not often, I'd bet, with the demands of modern life, two to two-and-a-half hours to set aside and reflect on a cigar can be considered a luxury in terms of time. However, in addition to these longer cigars being on hiatus from time-to-time, we could also note that smoking a cigar of this type is a luxury in terms of opportunity cost too.

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay No.52 GRB May 2024

The Quai d'Orsay No.52 is a 2021 release that came to market in early 2023. It has a 52 ring gauge x 156 millimetres (or 6⅛ inches) length, which is similar in size to a Cohiba Siglo VI, only six millimetres or a quarter of an inch longer. Its common name is a Robustos Extra, which no doubt is a familiar term for us in our hobby, but its factory name is a Lanzas, which is not as well-known on account of its unique size. I first sampled this cigar three months ago, and today this is my second one I've smoked.

Having smoked a number of Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50 and 54 since their launch in 2017/18, I can again assert with confidence that the blend of this Quai d'Orsay No.52 is similar. It was again veritably full-flavoured for a mid-bodied cigar. It also had typical Quai d'Orsay flavours of brioche and butter complimented by an underlying cedar, hay and cream texture. This time however, this QdO 52 differed in how spicy it was, especially in the back half. So, it wasn't quite as outstanding as my first QdO 52 sampled earlier this year, but it was still quite enjoyable to smoke due to the core blend on offer.

In terms of its smoking, I mentioned in my last review on this cigar, that there's a case to be made that this latest addition to the Quai d'Orsay marca is the Cohiba Siglo VI of the Quai d'Orsay line. Despite the increased level of spiciness, it was still an above average smoke over 2 hours or so!

In my part of the world, the Cohiba Siglo VI is three to three-and-a-half times more expensive that the Quai d'Orsay No.52. In other markets it's at least twice as dear. You could say, therefore, that the Quai d'Orsay No.52 is the new poor man's Cohiba Siglo VI.

They have come up more often recently on 24:24 listings, but in general, they aren't easy to acquire in regards to their availability in certain regions. If you manage to source a box, I know you'll be glad that you did so!

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay No.50 SMA Jul 2018

It's been ten months since I last had a Quai d'Orsay No.50 from this SMA Jul 2018 box. This cigar represents the sixth example I've had from this mid-2018 box. I have smoked through a 10-count box of a different SMA Jul 2018 Quai d'Orsay No.50s previously (when first released around six years ago or so), and in the meantime I finished a 10-count of LMB Jun 2019 Quay d'Orsay No.50s, as well as having one or two others from a MSA May 2019 box code, but these never quite matched how good the SMA Jul 2018 Quai d'Orsay No.50s have been for me overall.

What I have admired from this cigar in the past, when it is at its very best, is the luscious egg and butter texture to the smoke, together with the cedar, hazelnut and ginger spice, topped off with a refined brioche bread flavour. Sometimes you can even get sweeter toffee-like flavours. When this occurs, the QdO 50 really shines!

Today's example opened with a egg and butter brioche blend, settled into a cedar and hazelnut core and finished with some oak and ginger spice at the end. Like the last time I smoked this cigar, it was beautifully complex. This seven year-old QdO No.50 again recalled the glory days of the superlative specimens I smoked in 2018 and 2019 when this cigar was well and truly 'hot' and the moniker, "poor man's Cohiba" had no relevance whatsoever. Heck, when QdO 50s smoke like this, you simply don't care about Cohiba or Trinidad and anything to do with what they cost presently.

I must reiterate though, it seemed that every time I lit up a 2019 box-coded Quai d'Orsay No.50 in late 2019 or in 2020, it was always more prevalent in wood and spice flavours and never as complex or well-balanced neither. Thankfully I have some more 2018 QDO 50s to enjoy in the meantime before I explore a late November 2019 box at some point down-the-track.

[99call]

3 hours ago, JohnS said:

"poor man's Cohiba" had no relevance whatsoever. Heck, when QdO 50s smoke like this, you simply don't care about Cohiba or Trinidad and anything to do with what they cost presently.

I have to confess the "poor mans Cohiba" moniker (whilst I completely understand it) has always irritated me.    

Top tier CC to me just need to tick these boxes consistently:

- Good construction, consistently well made

- Intelligently, and interestingly blended

- Opulently rich, fully of flavoured

- Pleasurable to smoke ROTT, only improving with age. 

I think cigars like those old band QDO Coronas Claro from 2015-16, cannot just be referenced as 'value options' or 'punching above their weight",  they are simply as excellent as any 'Premium' cigars, so they become 'Premium' cigars. The only thing that could possibly act as a barrier is what I call 'Band Blindness', 

I was very interesting to listen to one of the most recent episode of Lounge Lizards, when they were shocked at the quality of a Cuaba Distinguidos. Lead up conversations covered how overpriced and uninteresting they felt the cigars were at the $30 mark. Needless to say, the performance of the cigar made them think again. 

I've never understood that for some smokers they have CC marcas divided in there heads like divisions of a football league, I've never felt that way about CC's, or particularly understood it. Do I love Trinidad? Yes I do, but only for the same reasons I love QDO, not because they are some how an elite brand that is known to be a cut above. 

Haha! Rant over. 

Great to see QDO is being so good to you of late @JohnS. And interesting to hear the Des Dieux are coming around. 

[JohnS]

There's no doubt about it, @99call. I've been infatuated by Quai d'Orsay of late. Thankfully, this blog necessitates that I smoke a widespread range of cigars, otherwise I may have been just smoking Quai d'Orsay and Cohiba these past few months! Thank you for commenting! 👍

[joeypots]

9 hours ago, JohnS said:

Thankfully, this blog necessitates that I smoke a widespread range of cigars, otherwise I may have been just smoking Quai d'Orsay and Cohiba these past few months! Thank you for commenting! 👍

You could do a lot worse!

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Churchills 2019 - Habanos Añejados ALP Mar 2007

The Anejados program was first announced in 2014 with the release of the Montecristo Churchill and Romeo y Julieta Piramides. In 2015 the Partagas Corona Gorda and Hoyo de Monterrey Hermosos No 4 were released and finally in 2016 we got the H.Upmann Robustos. The two characteristics these cigars all shared were that they were aged (anejados in Spanish means 'aged') and they represented vitolas not normally associated with their marcas in regular production. I could further point out a third characteristic: reviews for all these cigars have been mixed, ranging from very good, to acceptable to downright bad. The elevated price points for these cigars hasn't helped marketing either.

I mentioned in my last review that whispers surrounding the authenticity of the whole program haven't helped. I mean, is it plausible that Habanos S.A really kept aside cigars in unique vitolas from the mid-2000s to release to market ten years later? I mean, was some Habanos S.A. executive/s somehow inspired by the well-known story of Joseph telling the Pharaoh of Egypt from the book of Genesis to set aside grain for future famine conditions the motivation for this idea? It's been cynically suggested on our forum that the first five releases were re-packaged unsold vitolas in other marcas. For example, it's been said that the Montecristo Churchill Anejados were simply unsold 2006 Sancho Panza Gigantes. Given that no-one in the Cuban Cigar Industry has gone on record as even knowing the existence of this program prior to 2014, you'd have to say that these concerns have been well-justified.

Fast-forward to 2019 and for the first time in three years a new release to the program was added, only this time it included a vitola that is already in regular production: the Romeo y Julieta Churchills Anejados Tubos. These Romeo y Julieta Churchills come in their historical grey aluminum tubes with a bottom screw-cap in which the cigars were aged for about 12 years. They include their original dress box from 2007, with an additional elegant brown protective case that protects and embellishes the vintage box. The old bottom screw-cap is a nice reminder of days gone past as since 2006 Habanos S.A has gradually phased them out with friction-held slide-off caps at the top of the tube.

I wonder if the Romeo y Julieta Churchills Anejados restored 'faith' in this program, because despite the elevated price-point of these releases, in 2021 Habanos S.A announced a further two releases of cigars already in regular production; the Montecristo Tubos and Trinidad Fundadores. I'm waiting in anticipation just to view the old-style bands that these latter releases would carry. No surprises that as of mid-2025 the Montecristo Tubos was not yet in circulation. However, the Trinidad Fundadores was released in 2024, albeit under a rebranded or rebooted program named 'the Vintage Series'.

According to Cuban Cigar Website, this Vintage Series consists of regular production cigars that are stored in Cuba under perfect conditions for five years or longer, before being inspected, repackaged into special boxes, and released to the market.

In addition to their regular bands, the cigars have a special band indicating the period for which they were stored.

• Vintage 5 (silver) are aged five to nine years
• Vintage 10 (gold bronze) are aged ten to fourteen years
• Vintage 15 (gold) are aged fifteen to nineteen years
• Gran Vintage 20 (large gold glitter band) are aged for twenty years and longer

So this Romeo y Julieta Churchills Anejados represents the last release of the Anejados program, unless the Montecristo Tubos is released at some point in 2025, which I concede would be unlikely (but you never know with Habanos S.A.). Maybe it will be released within the Vintage Series? Who knows?

Back to this cigar at hand. It has the typical 47 ring gauge x 178 mm or 7 inches length and came with a wrapper that had a beautiful dark brown color, just under colorado maduro shade, just like my last one smoked a little over a year ago. This Romeo y Julieta Churchills Anejados was acquired as a six-pack purchase from a late-2022 24:24 listing, based on how superb my last two RyJ Churchill Anejados were. All six of these newly-acquired RyJ Churchill Anejados also have a similar dark brown wrapper shade. The cigar comes with the old Romeo y Julieta band, with a second Aged (Anejados) band on the wrapper.

I straight-cut it the head of this cigar. The draw was good and again, there was a good amount of smoke off the draw. My second-to-last RyJ Churchills Anejados started off with some RyJ fruitiness to it, somewhat like cherries, but this cigar had a strong presence of walnut and vanilla undertones throughout its duration. The last time I smoked this cigar, it had a strong nutty/creamy texture to it, like combination of walnut and coconut. In the middle third, there were hints of ginger. In the final third, there was an addition of Earth and forest floor-type flavours. This RyJ Churchills Anejados smoked in much the same way today.

There's no doubt that the Romeo y Julieta Churchills Anejados has been good to me.That walnut/vanilla/creamy texture was simply glorious. I really wish I had a never-ending supply of these! It continues to smoke superbly.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Especial LTO Mar 2021

Along with the Cohiba Lanceros and Trinidad Fundadores, the Montecristo Especial is the epitome of the 'long-and-skinny', a Laguito No.1 with a slender 38 ring gauge by 192 mm (or 7.6 inches) in length. I had the first cigar from this LTO Mar 2021 box in mid-2021, and I've now gone through almost four-fifths of the box. 

So what makes the Montecristo Especial stand out within the Montecristo marca? Alongside the Laguito No.2-sized Montecristo Especiales No.2 (i.e. 38 ring gauge x 152 mm or 6 inches in length), I would say it's the potentiality of aging these cigars long-term which makes it unique in comparison to other Montecristo vitolas. Yes I know what you're thinking, perhaps I can ease up on smoking these and let them age a little? Fear not, I'm thinking the same thing too! I can add that it's been eight months since I've had my last one from this box, so we are now gone past four years from the box date.

This cigar opened with a beautiful soft, creamy cocoa and citrus twang in the first third, which was simply sublime.

In the middle third of the cigar, that creamy cocoa and citrus twang was supplemented by a Cointreau-like, ginger sweetness which I consider quite desirable and commendable in a Montecristo cigar. It continued in much the same way into the last third, with a bitter chocolate coming to the fore towards the end.

So, in conclusion, the evidence of those ginger elements and creamy texture, which resembled a Cointreau-like sweetness, suggests that this Montecristo Especial is starting to enter its peak period. Or perhaps its an outlier, as the Monte Especial is well-known for having 'long legs' (i.e. aging potential over many, many years). In any case, I look forward to seeing how the next few Monte Especials smoke similarly and/or differently to this particular specimen I sampled today.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales SMA Sep 2020

I need to address my bias, I suppose, when it comes to the Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales as I've had a few of these now, across a number of box codes, and frankly this RyJ Petit Royales was every bit as good as the last time I had one from the same box code! Now that's saying something, as that was one-and-a-half years ago.

I guess you really need to connect with Romeo y Julieta as a marca to have a full appreciation of just how good these are (and have been). Judging by frequent polls on FriendofHabanos however, Romeo y Julieta isn't everyone's 'cup of tea' and I can accept that. However, if you do like Romeo y Julieta you really owe it to yourself to try this cigar, in my opinion. 

So what exactly made this Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales so great? Simply put, it was the combination of its construction, draw, ash-length and well-balanced flavours. In regards to those flavours, much like the last time I had this cigar, there was a balanced mix of chocolate, anise sweetness, turkish delight and cherries which was simply magnificent!

I didn't want this to end after fifty minutes but alas, of course, it did. Never mind, there's always the next Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales to look forward to. I just hope it turns out every bit as good as this one!

[JohnS]

Partagás Serie D No.6 UTL Abr 2019

The Partagas Serie D No.6 was released in 2014. It's a mercurial addition to the Partagas marca, firstly due to its size (50 ring gauge x 90 mm or 3½ inch length) and secondly (and I believe foremost) due to its packaging. The square wooden single-tiered box made this awkward for Habanos S.A to price competitively in comparison to other similar cigars of the same size and as a result these have been a slow seller. Prior to the pricing re-structure announced by Habanos S.A. in April 2022, and put into effect a few months later, the Partagas Serie D No.6 had only just come into some discounting in the last few years and honestly it was overdue.

Perhaps the price re-structure has made the Partagas Serie D No.6 more appealing too, at the present time, as these come in a secondary packaging option: a five-count aluminium tin pack. This is how I picked up my present acquisition of Partagas Serie D No.6, for example.

In the meantime, if you've sampled these then you'd know that they pack a ton of flavour in an oft medium-strength small cigar. Sourdough, coffee and leather, variously with pepper or spice; in other words, standard core Partagas DNA flavours. 

Now, this is my first Partagas Serie D No.6 that I have smoked in ten months, and since this cigar has reached six years of age it has now reach it's next stage of development, in my view. Similarly to the last Partagas Serie D No.6 I had from this box code, in general, this means that it's not as fulsome in flavour, the spice or pepper has less 'bite' to it, it's milder than usual...around the mild-medium mark. It is more dominant in leather notes than sourdough ones. The coffee will be more cream-like than espresso-like. 

I'm now down to my last four lot of Partagas Serie D No.6s and I don't see myself replacing them at current pricing. I've enjoyed them, mind you, but I have plenty of other Partagas options in my humidor to keep me occupied for some time yet.

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 RUP Sep 2020

It's been a year since I've had a Montecristo No.5 from this box code. When I lit the first cigar of from this RUP Sep 20 quarter pack acquisition of Montecristo No.5s in 2022, 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. If only every Montecristo No.5 was like that when one lit one up!

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 had from this box code had a combination of coffee, chocolate, nut, spice, a slightly creamy texture and a noticeable citrus twang, which is just the way I like it. It was simply brilliant.

In summary, this perla-sized cigar started of beautifully, but it became obfuscated towards the end. What I mean by that is that it got 'heavy' in cocoa and coffee and those other adorable flavours I've cited disappeared. But for 25 minutes out of 35 minutes of smoking time in general, this cigar was total bliss. If only it could have lasted another 10 minutes!

[JohnS]

Juan López Selección Especial 2020 - La Casa del Habano Exclusivo GRM Sep 2021

The Juan López Selección Especial is a La Casa del Habano Exclusivo release, first announced in 2020 and available for purchase in late 2021. The timing of the announcement was meant to capitilise on the 150th anniversary of the Juan López marca and the 30th anniversary of the La Casa del Habano program.

The cigar has a 52 ring gauge x 170 millimetres (or 6¾ inches) length. It is a unique Fortunas size (okay...unless you are 'au fait' with obscure Regional Editions such as the 2009 Juan López Selección Suprema and 2010 Ramón Allones Gladiator, which are the only Habanos cigars that share its size), although one could just as readily say that the JL Selección Especial is a Double Robustos. In essence, any way you look at it, it's a big cigar.

I must say, the La Casa del Habano program has been replete with quality releases of late, because either side of the 2020 Juan López Selección Especial we have been fortunate to have had the 2017 Trinidad La Trova, 2018 Hoyo de Monterrey Escogidos, 2021 La Gloria Cubana Glorias, 2022 El Rey del Mundo Royal Series and 2023 Bolívar New Gold Medal. I had my first Juan López Selección Especial around a year ago and it was a fantastically complex cigar. It goes without saying that I was hoping to have a second one like it today.

In general, cigar enthusiasts have lauded this release and after smoking this JL Selección Especial it's not hard to see why. Quite simply, the cigar oozes class. If one thinks of the Juan López Selección Nos. 1 and 2, it's generally agreed that these vitolas within the Juan López marca are full-bodied. Both the Juan López LCDH releases I've smoked have been full of flavour, but they have been more medium to medium-full in body and strength. 

The other distinctive note that impressed me about both JL Seleccion Especials that I've smoked is their balance of flavours. The espresso coffee here is toned down, the Cointreau and orange chocolate was on-point and the combination of wood, Earth and bread (which I admit sounds like a strange mix, but if you smoke Juan López even semi-regularly I would hazard to guess that you would know what I mean in this description) never raised its tone at any point to resemble toasted tobacco. 

Even though I very much enjoyed this quality smoke today, I still can't say that I readily identify with the Juan López marca. Even so, I've smoked enough Habanos cigars in my lifetime to easily identify a great cigar, and this Juan López Selección Especial was definitely very much one of those. For me, the best way to describe it is to think of what the Trinidad La Trova LCDH is to the Trinidad marca; well, in the same way, that is what the Juan López Selección Especial is within the Juan López marca.

[JohnS]

Partagás Serie E No.2 MSU Jun 2019

I've had very few Partagas Serie E No.2s over the years but that's not because I have an aversion to them. On the contrary, they enjoy quite a stellar reputation on our forum. In 2018 the Partagas Serie E No.2 was even touted (again, on our forum) as a 'Behike replacement' and El Laguito factory code Partagas Serie E No.2s are highly sought after.

The Partagas Serie E No.2 is a 54 ring gauge x 140 millimetres (or 5½ inches) in length 'Duke'. No other cigar in regular production shares its dimensions but ten other Regional Editions have been released over the years (including the Qatari Regional Edition 2022 Juan Lopez Hat-Trick, the 2021 RE Diplomaticos Leal and the 2021 RE Por Larranaga Prometidos - all recently released in mid-2023/early 2024). According to Cuban Cigar Website, it comes packaged in a display box of 15 aluminium tubed cigars in 5 cardboard packs of 3, a semi boite nature box of 5 cigars and a semi boite nature box of 25 cigars. It has many fans on our forum, but unfortunately, it has been less available since 2021.

From the very first puffs on this cigar, I could easily make out those classic Partagas flavours such as sourdough, leather, citrus and light coffee. In the second third, I also got some wood and paprika spice on the edges, but that was were the peak enjoyment of this Partagas E2 ended. Unfortunately, by the last third I encountered burn issues (as in, it wasn't happening as far as the wrapper was concerned) on account of some serious bunching that wouldn't allow the volado layer of the cigar to function as it should have.

In general, I can't say I've had my fair share of luck with this cigar because I distinctly remember the three Partagas Serie E No.2s I had in 2021 similarly all had excellent flavours of coffee, leather and sourdough but varied in their flavour delivery. They weren't downright bad, however, one can read between the lines that they weren't to my 'optimal liking'!

Perhaps the problem here is that I've had Partagas Serie E No.2s of the highest quality in the past and my recent few just couldn't compete with such lofty ideals. Or perhaps I have a strong bias to more simpler blended Partagas cigars such as the Partagas Serie D No.4 and Partagas Lusitania. If I'm honest with myself, I'd lean more towards the aforementioned latter reason to explain my feeling towards the Partagas Serie E No.2.

[JohnS]

H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 EPO Abr 2023

I acquired some H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1s a year ago and smoked one of the cigars "right-off-the-truck". I haven't smoked one since. Honestly, I don't know why. They tend to be such an approachable cigar that it would be no surprise when cigar enthusiasts nominate this cigar to be part of their 'rotation' (i.e. a cigar that forms part of a regular cigar-smoking collection or regimen).

We know that this is a young H.Upmann cigar because the spelling of the band has been updated to spell 'Connossieur', which is not a word that exists in formal English (or French). It had very typical H.Upmann shortbread and coffee flavours, some cream texture and some hints of white pepper from the second third onwards. There was also some nut and sweetness at times akin to something like licorice. In comparison to my recent late-2018 H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1s I've been smoking, this was fuller in coffee and cedar, without a doubt.

It was constructed very well, the ash was on-point and the cigar burned very well. This was easy to smoke into the last third.

Overall, I still prefer an aged version of this cigar. I quite liked it mind you, but nothing beats the semblance of cream texture and aged cedar in a H.Upmann cigar for my tastes. Oh how I wish I bought more PLM May 2011 samples of this cigar. Now those were the days!