Juan Lopez Seleccion No 2 MAY 06

[Colt45]

It always takes me a little by surprise when ammonia is mentioned regarding

recent production cigars. I've always associated it with young and/or improperly

fermented tobacco. With the 3-2-1 aged tobaccos, and hopefully proper fermentation,

I just don't expect it.

Bitterness I can grasp a little more, as even aged tobaccos may need time to marry

after rolling. I'm probably off track, but any thoughts?

[Freefallguy]

Rob- I don’t know what the box code, but the one you gave me was all you said without the nasty ending. If anything, mine got a little hot (tarrish) towards the end. Cheers.

[Miami101]

El Pres

Thanks to you this has become a staple in the line of cigars I smoke. The 1st one I smoke had no label..and I guess must of been older in age. It was more complex, not to knock the cigars with the bands. Pres do you know if this was because the JL with the bands where older, or did the blend change.

The JL with the bands are on the top of my list, and the smell is beyond words............

Thanks once again for the great review:

[Ethernut]

I notices that the cigar didn't have a triple cap. I was under the impression that all Cubans had a triple cap as a characteristic.

Just curious.. ;-)

[Ethernut]

oops double post (i'm an idiot)

[tacmedic]

» I notices that the cigar didn't have a triple cap. I was under the

» impression that all Cubans had a triple cap as a characteristic.

»

» Just curious.. ;-)

it's hard to see, but look closer....it's there;-)

[El Presidente]

» I notices that the cigar didn't have a triple cap. I was under the

» impression that all Cubans had a triple cap as a characteristic.

»

» Just curious.. ;-)

It does have a triple cap.....just look a little closer.

Miami...bands only came into force on the JLS1 and seleccion 2 in June 2006.

[shrink]

Thanks for the review, Rob. I have had mixed experiences with the JL2. Some excellent, some not so good. But the good ones keep me coming back.

My first experiences with this cigar were a dozen singles I got from you in 2004. They were strong and pretty tannic, but had plenty of tang, and an underlying caramel sweetness which showed itself more over time. A very good smoke indeed.

On the strength of this experience, I got a box of ABR05 and put it away until late last year. What a beautiful cigar.. dark brown and dripping with oil. The smell was pure fermented tobacco, all barnyard and spice. I was expecting a great smoke. But it tasted like I suppose barnyard would taste... bitter. I couldn't even finish it. The cab went down deep in the sleeper.

Now the SML ENE06 has been superb. All the good things you had to say about the early '06s. Not a hint of bitterness or sourness.

What's up with JL?

[El Presidente]

» What's up with JL?

Not much

The example I reviewed was good to very good. It is just hard as after the brilliat ENE 06 JLS2.....I now compare everything to them.

I have the same problem with wine. The better wine you drink the higher your expectations........

[El Presidente]

The Jan 06 JLS2 remain one of the best cigars produced in 2006. I personally went through boxes of them. Full bodied, complex and perfect to the last draw. Subsequent production has been generally good without reaching the apex of the Jan 06 examples.

So I reached for a May 06 example yesterday afternoon on the deck. Looked good. Construction appeared perfect. Smell at cold was tobacco and dried pear. Hopes high.

Cerrated the cap to find another great draw. Slight sweetness on the lips but plenty of Veulta Abajo tobacco.

Torched the foot, good level of smoke and immediate flavours of quality tobacco and an exotic hint of caramelized pears/apples. Medium bodied and certainly not the powerhouse which was the Jan 06. Classy cigar. Sweetness disappearing and back to tobacco, old leather and earth.

A touch of almond slivers entering the midpoint and body has scaled back to just below medium. Mouthfeel is viscous with the smoke dense and lush. Tobacco, almonds, leather, earth. Nice.

I was very much getting into this cigar when the forces of evil (bitterness and amonia) arrived to shut down any real level of enjoyment. A great shame as the JLS2 was developing nicely. I am intrigued how some young 06 cigars miss the evil traits completely and yet it is still apparent in others. I would like to try the JLS2 of this month code again near Christmas to see how it develops. Real potential. A few sticks have found their way to my private humidor.

87/100 4/6 smokerings.

[mark1966]

» The Jan 06 JLS2 remain one of the best cigars produced in 2006. I

» personally went through boxes of them. Full bodied, complex and perfect to

» the last draw. Subsequent production has been generally good without

» reaching the apex of the Jan 06 examples.

»

» So I reached for a May 06 example yesterday afternoon on the deck. Looked

» good. Construction appeared perfect. Smell at cold was tobacco and dried

» pear. Hopes high.

»

»

»

»

»

» Cerrated the cap to find another great draw. Slight sweetness on the lips

» but plenty of Veulta Abajo tobacco.

» Torched the foot, good level of smoke and immediate flavours of quality

» tobacco and an exotic hint of caramelized pears/apples. Medium bodied and

» certainly not the powerhouse which was the Jan 06. Classy cigar. Sweetness

» disappearing and back to tobacco, old leather and earth.

»

»

»

» A touch of almond slivers entering the midpoint and body has scaled back

» to just below medium. Mouthfeel is viscous with the smoke dense and lush.

» Tobacco, almonds, leather, earth. Nice.

»

»

»

» I was very much getting into this cigar when the forces of evil

» (bitterness and amonia) arrived to shut down any real level of enjoyment.

» A great shame as the JLS2 was developing nicely. I am intrigued how some

» young 06 cigars miss the evil traits completely and yet it is still

» apparent in others. I would like to try the JLS2 of this month code again

» near Christmas to see how it develops. Real potential. A few sticks have

» found their way to my private humidor.

»

» 87/100 4/6 smokerings.Great cigar!