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A recent smoke, of which I thought I'd jot down a few unsorted lines to share, although I smoked this one without a review in mind and didn't take detailed notes. So, this is rather from memory. The Clásicos - despite bearing a name exuding class and elegance having never really become popular in its rather short life - has always been a favourite of mine (for me, the best of the line, together with the DA). And when they were announced to be disced a few years ago, I bought up what felt like the remaining stock off all suppliers I could get my hands on. However, this stick here comes from an older box, from '01. This box had been consistently good to great, and although stemming from the 'difficult' period, never incurred any construction issues whatsoever. As the young Marca had still been rather new at that time, perhaps they were yet putting a bit more care and effort into its making. But that's just a theory. Tobacco quality had always been above reproach for that period and Vitola as to my experience. This particular stick presented itself as being preserved in perfect condition under my TLC. Nice, smooth and supple hazelnutty-brown wrapper with a very slight hue of red. Not oily, but still displaying some matte, silky sheen. After cutting - a perfect draw, with a noticeable, not too firm resistance, just how I like it. Off the box, the 15-year old came with this characteristic smell that Ken would so aptly describe as "Old lady's handbag" (always pleasing to me, while surprisingly unpleasing to my female family members). After a while in the open, this smell made a wonderful and miraculous transition into a sort of fruity vanilla note, with hints of anise or fennel (with that ever so slight liquorice tone) and alder wood. Interesting, to say the least! After firing up, the cigar started remarkably tannic and slightly bitter in the first draws. Actually, for me, usually not a bad sign, as this was showing it was still lively. Not that I was expecting different, since the previous ones from that box had been on a steady upswing and had always been indicative of a good aging potential. In the following, the cigar turned out to slowly evolve into a truly remarkable smoke. Even better than what I had in memory, with a unique aromatic profile. The tannic notes disappeared after about half an inch in (or I got used to it by then), and then there remained a taste, as banal as it might sound, of plain, gracefully aged tobacco. Yes, simple as that - tobacco! But still special and unique and hard to describe. No pronounced flavours of chocolate, no nuts, no honey, no stonefruit or the like: Tobacco, in all its fine complexity. Actually, that very taste and the reason for why we all are smoking. From the foot there was emanating this everlasting note of vanilla and fennel, that had already been present in the cold aroma of the wrapper. So great and so pleasing. Just mesmerizing. I attribute that in part to the fine wrapper from one of the best Vegas. The cigar developed nicely, with a good smoke volume and excellent burn. Without thinking too much about it, I was simply enjoying it. So much, that I didn't care about taking notes or being analytic about it. In restrospect, there were always transitions back and forth with slight floral and herbal, some more distinct Assam notes - again and in itself a complex flavour - and perhaps some woody notes on top of that pronounced tobacco taste, of which I'd be hard pushed to pinpoint to a certain specific aroma or flavour. The compexity was so great, the aroma components so nicely interwoven, that it was impossible for me to dissect and cast in words what I was tasting. All I can say is, it was fantastic! About midway into the second third, the smoke volume became a little muted. The taste, however, was always there and even intensified. But it seemed as if the smoke just wasn't so 'visible' anymore. You taste it, but you don't really see it. Having started outdoors, I now moved inside, as I was keen to see how the room note of this cigar would be like: Just. So. Great. The room soon smelled of what I tasted, with that slight vanilla-fennel note on top, but with a certain leathery hue (was it really leather? again, I can't really say...), a hue that got completely lost outdoors. I stayed in the house for about an hour before moving out again for ending the stick. In the last bit, I had to slightly correct the burn, but the cigar always stayed in great form. As usual, becoming a bit stronger, more intense, with more dark notes added towards the end with the concentration of condensates. But still velvety, with notes of fresh ground coffee and walnut (perhaps?) appearing. Delish till the end. Smoked it almost to the nub, and eventually sat there feeling left with complete satisfaction! When I finally checked the time I was amazed to realize how slow I had smoked that stick: This cigar took me on a continuous 130 min (!) journey into great Cuban tobacco artistry. During the whole time it had been interesting and entertaining, not for a second been boring. Final thought This was a prime example of what the Cubans are being capable of, and what proper aging can do to a stick when the quality is there. This one surely hadn't reached it's "expiry" date yet, and I am happy to know that I am still in hold of another untouched box of the same code. Having slowly smoked through this box over the years confirms once again to me that there is a distinctive difference between a six, seven years aged stick and a 15-year old or older one. There were aroma notes and a complexity that hasn't been there before, and which you'll never find in a freshy. Beyond that, it was another bright proof for the fact that it doesn't need double bands or 'exclusive' pricing for making an exceptional cigar. Too sad, and what a big, big shame again, for HSA killing such a wonderful cigar in its teenage years from its portfolio. Cheers, Goo