Last week the wife and I rented a cottage up north. I brought up some "once a year" cigars such as the RA Phoenicio, RA 225, etc. The most special to me was a Hamlet Flying Pig. Legend has it that he used to roll this for some Royal types many moons ago and only rolled exceptions for friends now and then. Fortunately, I happened to be in a group of friends that he would roll these for (and Lanceros) once in a while. I have a stash of these from 2010 and 2012. I'v smoked about half since 2010 and have enjoyed everyone one of these. I don't have specific dimensions but here goes. As long as an 898. Two RG's. The Pigtail foot (yes the foot and I'll explain later) and the flat, head. RG of the foot is about 56/58 RG. The head about 52/54.
Here's a side shot. Pigtail up top. A little home made band to help me differentiate between the 2010 and 2012 batch.
A large punch cut on the foot. Hamlet was clear in advising us not to use anything else to cut it with otherwise... "You'll fuck it up Meng".
Now, as for the Pigtail foot. That is where the magic is. You light the pigtail and maybe about a centimeter wide diameter around it to get it lit. He said he blended the pigtail to be more combustive and basically light the cigar. From the dozen'ish I've smoked of these. None have every faltered. Sure enough, that's what a did. Took a few puffs and when I flipped the cigar, the foot was lit perfectly.
I won't do a review of this beauty in this post. But what I've found is that these smoke like a Habanos marca tour. I get everything from RyJ, to Montecristo, Cohiba, RA and some PL. These are true works of smoking art. Now that he's jumped shipped into the NC world there's little chance of him making these Cuban puros ever again. Though he has made NC ones when he tours various B&M's.
Here's a few more "in action" shots. This cigar is good for 2-3 hours of smoking bliss.
And finally, the nub. What a beautiful cigar. I've been very fortunate to have been able to spend time with Hamlet in Havana and in Toronto for an extended period of time around 2011/12 when he was touring B&M's across Canada. I still have many of his Cuban custom rolls in my humidor. I count them amongst my most treasured and personal cigars. There are probably many of you here on FOH that have had the opportunity to grab them as well. What are you thoughts?