Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1 (MAY03)

[cigardawg]

Well, last night at our regular Thursday night herf, I decided to break out a Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1 from a box split that I did months ago. Here are my thoughts.

Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1

This was a good looking cigar with a medium-brown wrapper and wonderful feel, almost like suade. The was a bit of damage at the foot, but nothing that was going to detract much. There was a single vein visible in the wrapper, but it did not seem significant. The cigar was well-rolled, with almost invisible seams and a well-applied triple-flag cap. The pre-light nose was of grassy fields, leather, and earth. The pre-light draw was, in a word, perfect.

I lit this cigar with almost no effort...in fact, it seemed to WANT to be smoked. The draw stayed absolutely perfect and the volume of smoke was out of this world. Honestly, I think this corona gorda produced more smoke than any other cigar of this vitola that I have experienced. Fantastic. The burn was even throughout, with a laser-sharp burn line all the way down. The ash was light gray and medium-firm. The cigar burned cool all the way to a very short nub. Even with the minor damage,the construction on this cigar was out of this world.

Finally, the taste...ah, the taste. The thick smoke produced by this cigar was loaded with flavor. It started off with flavors similar to the nose, grassy fields, leather, and wood, with just a hint of sweet earth. The earthiness disappeared quickly and the grassy/woody flavors moved into prominence. At about the 1/3 mark, some spice and coffee could be noted along with the earlier flavors to create a balanced blend of tongue-tingling treats. Finally, after the midpoint, some toasty tobacco flavors showed up and brought it all home in fine fashion.

This cigar was an experience, an absolute delight. It has firmly established itself as my second favorite corona gorda and is pushing hard on No. 1. I rate this cigar an A , with half-a-plus (92-94) behind it. Outstanding.

[SuperT]

Nice review, I've only had a few of these - so I really can't compare my experience to yours. However, based on this review, I will certainly look hard into a box purchase.

[alexgtp]

» Nice review, I've only had a few of these - so I really can't compare my

» experience to yours. However, based on this review, I will certainly look

» hard into a box purchase.

Excellent review CD. I have some form 03 sitting. I think I might have to lihgt one up this weekend. I totally forgot that I had a box resting deep deep in the cooler.

[The Privateer]

Thanks for the great review! Sounds like a cigar I should revisit!

[shrink]

Nice review, Dawg!

I share your passion for this under-rated smoke. This is a cigar that smokes well when young, being full-flavored and spicy. It undergoes an evolution that eventually renders it a medium-bodied, complex and floral cigar with a very different personality. Yours is a teen-ager, and probably shows the best of both worlds. A consistently well-made cigar, in my favorite vitola: Coronas Gorda!

[occifer143]

Wow really nice review. It is on the must try list now..

[pittesq]

Yet another excellentreview dawg!

[Ginseng]

Wonderful review Dawg!

I've stayed away from the JLS1 and JLS2 because I was concerned they might be too mild. But from your experience, it certainly sounds like a flavorful smoke. Kinda makes me want one now. :-D

Thanks for the enticing review.

Wilkey

[SeanGAR]

Smoked one from 03 last weekend in a snow storm in Tennessee. 7 or 8 18 wheelers off the road along with a half dozen cars. Happened within sight, maybe a quarter of a mile up the road. Wasn't going anywhere, so I lit one up. I really enjoyed it ... course there wasn't aneything else to do but watch the cops, ambulances and tow trucks do their job.

[PigFish]

I am really glad to see some reviews on cigars that you just don't think of everyday. Nice job!

I think I have a box of those from '03 hanging about somewhere! Might need to light one up. -Piggy

[km13]

» I am really glad to see some reviews on cigars that you just don't think of

» everyday. Nice job!

»

» I think I have a box of those from '03 hanging about somewhere! Might need

» to light one up. -Piggy

Nice review on an oftern overlooked cigar.

[Elric]

I just had my first JL 1 and was impressed with both the complexity and the strength.

[PJ_CEONAD_CC]

Very good smoke! Always liked them.

[Smokiethebear]

I really need to stop reading cigar reviews. There is something very Pavlovian about this. Why do I have the sudden urge to smoke now?:-D

[mulberry]

I have a box from May 05 that need more time but right now are very woody and have a sweet aftertaste

[tey]

Thanks to El Prez I am currently hooked on these. One of the most consistent boxes Iv'e had off the islands.

[tey]

» Thanks to El Prez I am currently hooked on these. One of the most

» consistent boxes Iv'e had off the islands.

Just had nother one tonight and am blown away by how awesome these are smoking:ok:

[guilow]

Great review. Thanks! You've bummed me out because I'm down to my last two from 03 box. :-(

[hazleem]

» This cigar was an experience, an absolute delight. It has firmly

» established itself as my second favorite corona gorda and is pushing hard

» on No. 1. I rate this cigar an A , with half-a-plus (92-94) behind it.

» Outstanding.

Great review. BTW what's your favourite corona gorda?

-Haz-

[cigardawg]

» » This cigar was an experience, an absolute delight. It has firmly

» » established itself as my second favorite corona gorda and is pushing

» hard

» » on No. 1. I rate this cigar an A , with half-a-plus (92-94) behind it.

» » Outstanding.

»

»

» Great review. BTW what's your favourite corona gorda?

»

» -Haz-

My favorite corona gorda is the Punch Super Selection No. 2.

[jgros001]

JL #1...One of my favorite cigars - been going through an OCT '03 box. My only complaint has been 2 plugged and a few tight draws. Otherwise, fantastic flavor. Nice review.

[sobek]

Nice review. My favorite JLs.

[cigardawg]

Just smoked another of these last night. Same box, same storage conditions, same everything...different day. Not near the cigar that the last was. Had a very salty character to it. Some of the same tastes from my review above, but they were covered with this salty attribute. Very strange.

[habanohal]

My 1st box of these were from 03. Vey dark, oily wrappers. Draw was fiem,but decent. One of the most flavorful cigars I had at the time, with decent spice on the end.

My most recent box from 05 that I have now are nothing compared to my last box. Light wrappers( no big deal), but the flavor is just not there. If I didnt know any better, I would say they are Dominican. Very plain and Blah. Had another 1 this morning as the 1st cigar of the day and same thing.

My option is to let them sit in the back of my cabinet for years, and hopefully the will turn out spectacular.

Keeping my fingers crossed

[cigardawg]

» Just smoked another of these last night. Same box, same storage

» conditions, same everything...different day. Not near the cigar that the

» last was. Had a very salty character to it. Some of the same tastes from

» my review above, but they were covered with this salty attribute. Very

» strange.

Just had to try another of these from this box. Lit one up last night at our usual Thursday night herf. Made me forget all about the saltiness of the last one.:-D :-D This cigar was rich and flavorful. Burned perfectly. Definitely moved up the priority list.