Conde de Villanueva Culebra 2001

[MaltPointer]

what a fascinating review!

[Benzopyrene]

Nice review and beautiful cigar!!!!

[shrink]

Bravo! Bravo!

[Fatshotbud]

» Bravo! Bravo!

Thanks for your review - very nice.

[Professor Twain]

Wow, very cool. Is the foot of the culebra wrapped in a bit of tobacco leaf?

[cadillacdoc]

Is the foot of the culebra wrapped in a bit of tobacco leaf?

Head and foot are secured with a strip of wrapper leaf

[tigger]

Nice review, CD!

What kind of beans were you roasting? Warmer weather coming will mean I can back to roasting at home myself.

[cadillacdoc]

What kind of beans were you roasting? Warmer weather coming will mean I can back to roasting at home myself.

These are an espresso blend called "Espresso Monkey" from sweetmarias.com. I also like their "Moka Kadir". Espresso is perfect with a cigar.

[tigger]

» What kind of beans were you roasting? Warmer weather coming will mean I

» can back to roasting at home myself.

»

» These are an espresso blend called "Espresso Monkey" from sweetmarias.com.

» I also like their "Moka Kadir". Espresso is perfect with a cigar.

Gotta love Sweet Maria's. :-)

Most, if not all of my home roasting is done at City to Full City +, to retain the character of the beans. Might have to do some darker roasts this spring.

[cadillacdoc]

Most, if not all of my home roasting is done at City to Full City +, to retain the character of the beans. Might have to do some darker roasts this spring.

I roast yearound and usually go deep into second crack. I don't use a stopwatch but rely on sight, sound and smell to determine when to end the roast. Homeroasting is an awesome sensual experience!

[tigger]

» I don't use a stopwatch but rely on sight, sound and smell to determine

» when to end the roast. Homeroasting is an awesome sensual experience!

My thoughts (and technique) exactly.

I don't like smoking up the house, so I roast in the unheated garage. Substandard wintertime batches result, so I'm a three season roaster.

[cadillacdoc]

I don't like smoking up the house, so I roast in the unheated garage.

I use a hot-top roaster and have set it on an upturned roasting pan under the hood on the stove. No smoke escaped!

[MaltPointer]

» I . . . go deep into second crack.

» . . . an awesome sensual experience!

I'm just warning you now . . . you keep up that kind of talk, and people here are gonna start giving you shite about it.

yes indeedy . . .

[cadillacdoc]

This cigar was commissioned from the Conde de Villanueva in Havana Vieja in 2001. Reynaldo Gonzales is the torcedor. This threesome has a nice colorado wrapper with a nice barnyard leathery aroma.

This culebra is held together with strips of wrapper leaf. Separation is easy.

The Drink:

Legendario Elixir de Ron, A rum liquor

First third:

Cigar was punched and draws extremely well, prelight flavors are leather and tobacco. Upon torching black pepper is apparent as is rich tobacco flavors.

Second third:

Intensity builds, richness unfolds and the pepper settles down.

Beyond the crook, bring on the twang:

The final third develops the unmistakable cuban twang that highlights this medium to full bodied 39/64th beast. This stick has never failed me. I believe Reynaldo is a star and will be spoken of in terms now reserved for the likes of Toboada, Cueto, la China, Yolanda Medina, and Hamlet.

Post smoke:

Conde de Villanueva Culebra: 93

The sweetness of the rum liquor compliments this cigar rather nicely. This fine stick was enjoyed on a beautiful afternoon while roasting three batches of coffee. Two down, one to go.