A Cheap and Cheerful Journey

As many of you know, I smoke cigars regularly. More regularly now that my daily routine includes our PDC smoke shop. Because I have time to smoke just about whatever I want, I tend to smoke larger format cigars. Generally a robusto is a short smoke for me, with cannonazos, churchills and double coronas being favored much of the time.

Stocking up for the tourist high season gave me an opportunity to take a journey into the smaller and more cost effective cigars (read as "what the tourists like"). Sure, I have had my share of cohiba siglo II's, montecristo 4's and 5's, etc., but today I took a stab at the cheap and cheerful. I’m not sure what the parameters are for the "cheap" part, but in our store, of the Cuban cigars, these are generally the cheapest ($14-$16USD), excluding panatella sizes or the like. In other words, I still consider these cigars I can sit down and enjoy for some length of time.

I was manning the shop on my own, so I had a lot of time on my hands, so I sampled four sticks out of our new stock of smallish cigars. These were Partagas Mille Fleurs, Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs, Partgas Aristocrats and Romeo u Julieta Regalias Londres.

Partagas Mille Fleurs
Origin: Cuba
Format: Petit Corona
Size: 42 x 129
Box/Date Code: Unknown thanks to the enormous box sized warning labels applied to the side and entire bottom of the cigar box, as required in Mexico

Initial impressions: Nicely constructed, aroma at cold was very earthy with notes of nuts and cocoa. The wrapper was nice and absent of unsightly veins, oily-ish just like I prefer and the tobacco was at optimal conditions for smoking. Draw at cold was firm but not tight.

Opening: The cigar gave forth a very nice volume of smoke. Again the earthy flavors are coming through.

First half: As these are smallish cigars, I will review in halves. The first half was light to medium, and continued the earthy flavors and notes of cocoa. The nuttiness (is that a word) peaked its head out a bit. Nice ash that held on for over an inch.

Second half: The cigar didn’t really go anywhere or evolve into more complex flavors. Could be the young age of the cigar or jus the small size doesn’t give it a chance to evolve. Medium bodied, nothing more.

Final thoughts: Honestly, my mind is being opened up to these smaller format cigars. This was enjoyable but it yearned to be more than it was. I think some age will do this cigar some good.

Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs
Origin: Cuba
Format: Petit Corona
Size: 42 x 129
Box/Date Code: Unknown for same reasons above

Initial impressions: Not as well constructed as its Partagas cousin. A bit dry to the touch and certainly not anything I could call oily. Aroma at cold was like haystacks, and the draw was firm.

Opening: Very nice volume of smoke, nice peppery taste on the tongue which I didn’t expect.  Draw is firm.  Medium if ever so on the lighter side.

First half:  Lots of smoke, even burn, nice ash.  Flavors were very natural, hay, coffee, etc.  Reminded me of a RyJ short Churchill I smoked last week.

Second half:  A bit stronger, but certainly medium at best.  At this point, I prefer the Partagas version of Mille Fleurs over this cigar, but I am continuing to take a liking to these formats.

Final thoughts:  A decent cigar, but not the best representative of this marca or this vitola.

Partagas Aristocrats
Origin:  Cuba
Format:  Petit Cetros
Size: 40 x 129
Box/Date Code: Unknown for same reasons above

Initial impressions:  Back to an oiler feel like the first cigar in this review.  Aroma at cold was like creamy coffee and the draw is again firm.

Opening:  Nice firm draw but tons of flavorful smoke.  Medium strength, loads of creamy coffee and chocolate notes. 

First half:  Right away, I am getting more pleasing flavors from this cigar.  Its oily and smooth and trying to get to medium full.

Second half:  No real evolution which is beginning to be a theme to this review.  Towards the end, more earthy flavors appear, and this cigar ends a touch over medium.

Final thoughts:  So far, the best of the cheap and cheerful club.  Id pack some of these away for sure.

Romeo y Julieta Regalias de Londres
Origin:  Cuba
Format:  Coronitas
Size:  40 x 117
Box/Date Code: Unknown for same reasons above

First impression:  As stated earlier, I am far from a small cigar aficionado, but of the four cigars I reviewed today, this was the only one I was completely unfamiliar with, so I had no expectations.  Draw as in the other cases is firm, and aroma at cold was much more earthen in nature then the others.

Opening:  Firm draw gave way to an enormous volume of smoke with floral aromas.  Nice opening.

First half:  Medium body if just.  Floral and natural earthy flavors are present.  So far, better than the RyJ Mille Fleurs but behind both of the Partagas cigars.

Second half:  Again, like the others, not any real evolution of flavors.  Still medium barely, and lots of earthen flavors.

Final thoughts:  I had no real expectation for this cigar, but I did like its floral notes.

My final thoughts are pretty simple.  I am certainly more open to these smaller format cigars now.  They are likely 2011 cigars, but as stated above, the enormous tobacco warnings that Mexico requires be placed along the bottom of boxes are hiding the date codes (although this is likely preferable to the Aussie plain packaging law).  They are young and could use some age, but I am not sure I see these as something you want to put back for a very long time.  Revisit in 6 to 12 months, smoke abundantly in 1-3 years.  To me the Partagas Aristocrat was best with the Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs in fourth and right in the middle are the Partagas Mille Fleurs and Romeo y Julieta Regalias de Londres.