Three great cigars in the belly of the beast...

[greenpimp]

I don’t really contribute as much as I would like, but with a four year old and a ten month old I hardly have time to take a crap. I wrote this awhile ago and haven’t had time to clean it up till now.

I had a quite memorable weekend of smokes on a sojourn to Los Angeles to watch the Dodgers play and hang out with a friend’s family. Unusually high quality cigars in an otherwise draining couple of days.

On the way to the game against the Angels we smoked a pair of my remaining 2003 SLR Regios. These have really come around in the past couple years. I almost stomped them all in disgust when I first tried them. Now, however, they are a very unique and satisfying smoke, probably too stout for the morning when we smoked them, staring out at the endless traffic hardly moving at walking speed, infinite varieties of lemmings all on our way to some final reservation with the apocalypse which is how I always feel when I come back to this infernal, maddening town. But the Regio fends it off, with deep but smoothed earth flavors, that coffee richness combined with the spicy, candied ginger overtones that make the cigar so unique and enjoyable. The time in the box has fused all of these elements and also made the cigar stronger, both in body and strength. Perfect draw and slow burn. I got quite a buzz, and passed the time staring out the window looking at the detritus of humanity we passed, each person a different, vivid story unfolding on the Ventura highway. That impression of the end of the world, the taste of so many people everywhere that you’re moving all the time because it takes all your time to get anywhere. I tried to let that go and enjoy the cigar which had become heady, almost overpowering in its richness by the final third. I scored mine a 92, my friend a 93.

We watched the Dodgers stumble their way to a painful loss to the Angels, watching all of LA on parade on a hot day, bloated mammaries and the intentionally dressed down wealthy and famous in the front box seats where we sat, the land of a million degrees of sunshine and ten dollar beers (and six dollar bottled waters!) Jason Schmidt blew out his shoulder and I overheated. Afterwards we sat inside the car with the air conditioning on and the windows down, and watched the sold-out crowd inch away. The true detritus of humanity lingers in parking lots after a sporting event. So we fit right in. Domestic disputes and slurred proclamations and cars everywhere, pumping out exhaust as they queued up to sit for thirty minutes. Then lurch forward an inch every couple minutes. Maddening, the true pace of progress. So we sat away from the rest of the racing rats, listened to the drunken cross town rivals compare attempts at insults, and smoked a Por Larranaga PC from my Oct 06 cab, only the second I’ve had from that box. The first was OK, this one was GREAT. Maybe it was in part because I really needed one, but this cigar was truly complex, with some of that caramel smoothness to it, but also a great deal of earthy flavors, like a strongly earthy, dark coffee. Powerful smoke, from the get go, without any harshness as it was smoked down to the very end an hour later when we were still not home. High level of complexity and balance, though by far the most masculine of the PLPC’s I’ve had, and one of the better examples of a PC I’ve had period. A young yet profound melding of powerful earth and roasted caramel, with a floral finish poking through at times. Conversation was unnecessary, and I was saddened when it ended. Though not as saddened as I was to not be home, for my moron friend took two wrong turns and we ended up past the airport and at the end of the 605. However we both scored ours a 94.

The last and perhaps the best was a Montecristo #2, from my ABR06 box. Mid morning, after a big breakfast of homemade tamales and leftover chicken flautas with garlic potatoes. We sat on the porch overlooking the lush neighborhood. The morning fog had not yet become smog as it played over the rolling green hills of the odd little enclave called Hacienda Heights. Stuck in the middle of the metropolis. I was dreading the drive home, but was still deep enough in the embrace of the morning so that the worries of the world and the day weren’t able to climb on my back yet, so there was peace and pleasure and I could exhale. And what a cigar to exhale! Both torpedoes were unbridled powerhouses from the get go, enough to plant me in my seat rather than leaning over the long drop from the porch that jutted out from the square house, angry as an afterthought. Very little bitterness, surprising for so young a cigar (the cliché being tossed around grows tired and familiar.) But lots and lots of that Montecristo thang, the nuts and chocolate and cream and leather, and yet none of those things for it tastes like a MONTECRISTO, the king of cigars and what made me fall in love with Cuban cigars in the first place, chain smoking Montecristo #4s in Paris. It tastes like Cuban tobacco. High quality, Cuban tobacco. The other things are what you close your eyes to draw out of it, to discover what parts lie within it. But IT is Cuban tobacco, and that is what this Montecristo torpedo delivered with intensity, finesse, and class. Almost 2 hours of it, and the rest of the box is hereby deemed special and I wish I had bought more. I scored it a 95, Peter a 96.

[El Presidente]

......you need to write more as you are a poet and you don't even know it :-D

Magnificent reviews of three exceptional cigars which gave you absolutely everything that they could....and no man can ask more

[shrink]

Nice trifecta, Matt. Although I wouldn't rate my 2006 Monte #2's quite that highly, they are marvelous. The most improved vitola in the great class of 2006. Glad you enjoyed all of 'em.

[Guest Warren]

That was amazing Matt , I can't wait for the next instalment. You wouldn't be related to Hemingway would you.

Rob is right you really should write more often.

[jasonM]

Great reviews!!

LA effin' sucks.

[jgros001]

great reviews

[Guest Warren]

» great reviews

I have a little review for ya.

The other day I was on my way home from work and I decided to stop at a little national park I pass all the time and enjoy a nice little Por Larranaga. I haven't yet tried to write a review and I really haven't developed a pallet yet but the point is I was really enjoying the experience. Out in nature , just me , my cigar and the bird life.

Then all of a sudden this guy pulled up in his car and said Hi.

I said how ya goin.

Any how this is how the conversation went.

He said.

" So what are you doing here."

" Oh just killing time"

"Are you married"

" Yes"

" So am I , are you bi."

" No"

" Do you swing , my wife and I come here sometimes and meet people"

Wholy **** thought I, I'm never going back there again.

[tigger]

mmmmmm, flautas! I need to visit New Mexico soon. :-)

Terrific reviews of a nice lineup...

[Wiley]

Greenpimp...

That's a great story and review! I've got news for you though, kids just take more time as they grow up. Wait until they're in sports!

Warren, ROFL!

[Trevor2118]

» » great reviews

»

» I have a little review for ya.

» The other day I was on my way home from work and I decided to stop at a

» little national park I pass all the time and enjoy a nice little Por

» Larranaga. I haven't yet tried to write a review and I really haven't

» developed a pallet yet but the point is I was really enjoying the

» experience. Out in nature , just me , my cigar and the bird life.

» Then all of a sudden this guy pulled up in his car and said Hi.

» I said how ya goin.

» Any how this is how the conversation went.

» He said.

» " So what are you doing here."

» " Oh just killing time"

» "Are you married"

» " Yes"

» " So am I , are you bi."

» " No"

» " Do you swing , my wife and I come here sometimes and meet people"

» Wholy **** thought I, I'm never going back there again.

I think you can actually see that park from the Czar deck....:-D

[El Presidente]

» " Do you swing , my wife and I come here sometimes and meet people"

»

Which Park Warren?

[greenpimp]

Thanks Rob.

Warren--Thanks and I enjoyed your review. However, at least here in the states, if you hang out by yourself in the bathroom or in your car at a "nature spot" you are not looking to smoke just a cigar.

[El Presidente]

» Warren--Thanks and I enjoyed your review. However, at least here in the

» states, if you hang out by yourself in the bathroom or in your car at a

» "nature spot" you are not looking to smoke just a cigar.

......here either :cool:

[hoyopr]

We watched the Dodgers stumble their way to a painful loss to the Angels,

» watching all of LA on parade on a hot day, bloated mammaries and the

» intentionally dressed down wealthy and famous in the front box seats where

» we sat, the land of a million degrees of sunshine and ten dollar beers (and

» six dollar bottled waters!)

Great reviews and great writing, thanks. I was thinking he may be related to Tom Waites

[Guest Warren]

» » " Do you swing , my wife and I come here sometimes and meet people"

» »

»

» Which Park Warren?

Why do you ask Rob, is there something we don't know.:-D

J.C .Slaughter Falls, and I think if a man wants some piece and quiet from a nagging wife he should also be able to avoid predatory pants boys. I didn't know weather to laugh , cry, or scratch his eyes out.

I mean look at me could I be sending the wrong signals.