La Escepcion Longos

[aavkk]

I would first like to thank the generous BOTL who allowed me to put this great cigar to flame, it was my first and hopefully not my last.

This Ninfa sized cigar was from 1986 and as I smoked it I couldnt help but think it was boxed when I was 4 years old. Its also possible that the tobacco used in the cigar was harvested the year I was born.

Smoke time was 1 hour 55 minutes. Construction was exemplary and the burn was absolutely perfect requiring not a single touch up. The draw required just the slightest bit of resistance which is ideal for me. Wrapper shade was light colorado with the slightest oily sheen and felt great in hand, both in weight and resistance. I didnt find any soft or hard spots. Now to the good stuff.

Prelight draw exhibited pure quality tobacco, nothing too exotic.

Upon lighting this cigar hit its stride immediately wasting no time in capturing my attention. Straight medium bodied and full of exotic flavors which I didn't have a preview of before lighting. Immediately this cigar brought a whole new meaning to what I thought was earthy. This was pure mushroomy forest floor, definitely a dank quality to it. Initially the finish had the slightest sweet edge of what tasted like a nutmeg spice. As for the aroma off the cigar, it was like walking into an old musty cellar...beautiful start.

Toward the 2/3 I picked up a distinct hazelnut flavor on what I would call the mid pallate. It wasnt noticable immediately probably because that slot was fully occupied by those deep earthy flavors. The hazelnut and nutmeg flavors stayed with me and the finish was very very long... delicious. At this point the body moved from medium to full, I was not about to stand up.

The final third of the Longos was glorious, epic even. A crescendo of flavors included all of the above in an even more intense delivery. This cigar required my full attention. If I was reading a book it would have been put down a long time ago. If I was talking on the phone I would have hung up a long time ago... that includes my wife and mother. Perfect!

I took my time with this cigar being cognizant of not to let it overheat and I was really rewarded. It was fantastically complex, flavorful and most importantly amazingly entertaining. It was so unique, not quite Punch or Bolivar but shared similar characteristics of both and then some. Although totally different a bit like the Edmundo Dantes is to the Monte and Upmann marques. Id love to know what this cigar tasted like in 1988 and again in 2018 but alas one can only imagine. To score this cigar, I kept thinking ok you start at 100 and then where could it improve, where could I knock it down a bit? I drew a blank for a minute and then 2 and then 5 so I said **** it, its perfect :tup:

[kjellfrick]

Very nice review! I know I have one of these in a singles drawer and you sure inspire me to light it up!

[android]

Thanks for sharing the review.

[El Presidente]

Beautiful review!

I have only smoked a half a dozen of these in my life and I can remember every one.

[SnakeHips]

Wow! Many thanks for the review. I think this marque would be a good one for a welcome-back, and there are far too few reviews of it.

[Colt45]

[thechenman]

Thanks for sharing that amazing experience.

[chrisguinther]

Perhaps HSA should consider bringing back a retired marca for one vitola a year. Makes sense to me rather than so many RE's.

[aavkk]

My exerience with the Longos last night was bittersweet. I couldn't have been happier with the experience however it really just goes to show that the tobacco used in that cigar was different. I hope te current production cigars age into something beautiful but there is no replacing the Longos that's for sure. There was a thread not too long ago regarding bringing back the La Flor De Cano Short Churchill, I'd love to see it happen but am very skeptical as to how close to the original they could come with respect to blend integrity.

[crasmith]

Fantastic review! Thanks for sharing with us.

[roughrider]

Thanks for the review.