Ramon Allones Allones Extra EL. - 21-Feb-2012

Ramon Allones Allones Extra Edicion Limitada 2011 - 21-Feb-2012

Origin: Cuba
Format: Franciscos
Size: 44 x 143
Unknown Box Date

Initial impressions: This cigar was gifted to me by the owner of La Casa del Habano in Playa del Carmen. This being an edicion limitada, I would have hoped for near perfect appearance and construction. This was a bit rustic looking, but well made. Pre-light draw was perfect. Aroma at cold is a touch of sweet with notes of tea leaves and leather.

Opening: Right away, this cigar shows its strength and youth. I understand this cigar was made from 2 year old aged leaves, but its bucking like an unbroken bronco. Very strong from the start, burn is a bit funky. Aroma and smell still hints of tea leaves. Spicy as well. Flavors and strength are in your face, and the burn is just about all over the place the first ¼ inch.

First third: This cigar has complex notes of spices, tea leaves and an almost semi sweet character. Again, medium full. Some slight burn corrections needed throughout first third, but it settled down long before the second half.

Second third: The medium full to full strength accompanied by a spicy tea leaf flavor is working well. A very tasty cigar. Very long oily mouth feel and great big volumes of smoke.

Final third: The tea leaf character gave way to an oily baking cocoa flavor with a creamy strong finish. Still medium full to full. Some slight funky burns appeared late in the final third but nothing got out of control.

Conclusions: Say what you want about EL’s and RE’s, but this cigar had me entranced the whole way. Far from my finest smoking experience, but this little cigar delivered in flavor and strength. I would love to taste these 3-5 years from now.

H. Upmann #2 Review - 18-Feb-2012

H. Upmann #2 - 18-Feb-2012

Origin: Cuba
Format: Piramides
Size: 52 x 156
Mid 2011 Box Date

Initial impressions: Construction is overall pretty nice. Appearance is like a very well worn and soft paper bag. No real flaws. Draw at cold is spot on. Aroma at cold is leather and tobacco with a very soft hint of honey.

Opening: he opening definitely has my attention – not due to strength, but due to the subtle nature of the aromas and tastes. This cigar makes you sit back, enjoy it and think about the flavors you are experiencing. There is an ever so slight sweetness to this cigar, accompanied by some light nuttiness and cream. Leather notes remain as well.

First third: Slight uneven burn but that is most certainly due to its youth. Cigar is light to medium at this point, which would usually not capture my attention, but again the subtle nature of this cigar is intriguing. A slight sweet cream flavor remains. Very long finish and creamy mouth feel.

Second third: Still a slight uneven burn and a funky looking ash at this stage, but nothing required a touch up. Strength picked up a bit to medium but nothing more. The sweetness has faded and left behind a sort of leathery creaminess that is quite subtle but very nice.

Final third: Medium at this point. Quite certainly the subtle flavor profile of this cigar couldn’t have worked with anything stronger than light to medium – this was very well balanced. Flavors have migrated to an understated milk coffee character, with a hint of nuttiness.

Conclusions: This being my first H. Upmann #2, I am hooked. I lean towards stronger cigars but this was a very nice change of pace. Looking forward to smoking more.

Bolivar Royal Corona 16-Feb-2012

Bolivar Royal Corona – 16-Feb-2012

Origin:  Cuba

Format:  Robusto
Size: 50 x 124
Box Date:  Feb 09

Initial thoughts:  Hopefully this is a story about the little ugly cigar that could.  This was one of two sticks left out of an early 2009 box.  Not only was it very rustic in appearance, it had been handled by customers for quite some time and was showing some signs of wear and tear.  So, I decided to rescue it.  As stated, appearance was rustic at best.  Pre-light draw was a bit easy, but not loose, and the aromas at cold were a very earthy strong tobacco character.

Opening:  Just after lighting, draw remained a bit easy, but no wind tunnel.  Deep earthy tobacco flavors remained, with an ever so slight nuttiness.

First third:  This cigar is lacking an oiliness that I expected.  Almost a barnyard character is now present.  Mouth feel or finish is very short, I suspect because there is no creaminess or oiliness on the palate after the draw.  Cigar is medium or slightly below at this point.

Second third:  The only real good news here is that the draw tightened up somewhat close to spot on.  It is burning relatively evenly, no real touch ups needed yet.  The cigar is still lacking a creamy or oily character which I am definitely missing.  It’s almost like a dryish hay finish.

Final third:  Not sure if my palate was holding it back or the cigar was holding itself back, but a slight oiliness is finally coming on.  Flavors remain very earthy at this point.  Cigar is finishing at medium plus but nothing more.

Final thoughts:  Pretty much blah.  Smoked the cigar down to the band, but was not compelled to nub this one.  Not the best indication of this marca’s strength.

Cohiba Esplendidos Review

Cohiba Esplendidos -  12-Feb-2012

Origin:  Cuba

Format:  Julieta #2

Size:  47 x 178

Initial impressions:  Construction is very nice, almost satiny, oily like a well worn paper bag.  Pre-light, the draw is a bit easier (not loose mind you) than I would like.  Aroma at cold is a creamy cocoa and hay.

Opening:  This is a fairly young cigar, from a mid 2011 box.  As such, and based on my last several Esplendidos, I am honestly not expecting a whole lot out of this cigar.  Draw after lighting is still a bit easy.  The creaminess is right there from the start, and the finish and mouth feel lasts very long.  Almost like a creamy espresso taste.

First third:   When Esplendidos are on, they are really good – when not, they vary from mediocre to bad.  This one, while its way too early to call it a victory, is tasting very good.  Still very creamy and espresso notes, but a hint of nuttiness has crept in.  Draw firmed up a touch to spot on mid way through the first third.

Second third:  Pretty dead on medium at this point, still very creamy with a long finish and oily mouth feel.  A nutty almost raisin bread taste is creeping in as well.  Overall, a nice combination of flavors.

Final third:  Still medium not much more.  The creaminess is still there, but not as long on the finish.  The nutty, raisin bread and dried fruit notes are there, and create a nice sensation with the slight creaminess that remains.

Conclusions:  While far from the best Esplendidos I have smoked, its head and shoulders above those I have smoked in the past 1-2 years.  A nice smoking experience this evening.

Vegas Robaina Unicos 6-February-2012 Review

Vegas Robaina Unicos 6-Feb-2012

Origin:  Cuba

Format:  Piramides
Size:  52 x 156

Initial impressions:  Nice oily wrapper, good construction.  Draw at cold is spot on.  Aroma at cold is milk coffee.

Opening:  This is a young cigar and the initial burn is a bit uneven.  Flavors are a milky coffee and slight Christmas spices.  Very oily mouth feel and large volumes of smoke.

First third:  The uneven burn seems to have worked itself out.  Strength at this point is slightly less than medium but should build nicely.  Flavors are almost a caramel character with a slight spicy finish.

Second third:  For such a young cigar, this stick is coming it its own very nicely.  Moving towards medium plus now, with definite coffee and cocoa flavors.  Spiciness has subsided and left a creaminess in its absence.

Final third:  Once this cigar passed the first third, it has been a very good example of this marca and vitola.  A very nice smoke.  Slightly under its expected strength, at medium plus a bit now, but so creamy and coffee flavors.

Conclusion:  I smoked this happily all the way until my fingers burned.  What an enjoyable young smoke.