Hamlet Tabaquero Corona

[ayepatz]

Thought I'd try this today:-

Paired with Samuel Smith's Organic Cider

Construction - excellent, veins very small, almost unnoticeable

Nose - chocolate and cocoa

Cold draw - leather and tobacco

Opening - full, bloody hell it's FULL!, very harsh start - tobacco monster!, long bitter aftertaste, need to slow WAY down and smoke this as cool as possible

1st third - toasted pine nuts, toasted almonds, leather, very dense smoke, initial tobacco onslaught dying down, some sweetness on the aftertaste, a tiny amount of mint, burnt toast, a dark sweetness like treacle, harshness settled down now (or my tastebuds have recalibrated!), buttery quality coming through, approaching end of third this has really settled down into a buttery nuttiness, ash surprisingly gray

2nd third - a dry saltiness reminiscent of Sancho, butteriness continues, very smooth smoke now, at this stage very enjoyable, underlying sweetness prevails, long aftertaste of toasted tobacco and treacle, more saltiness like a very full-bodied Sancho now, dark bitter chocolate and cocoa coming through, at the halfway point it's a completely different animal from the opening, relight necessary as I'm smoking it on the point of going out, but any faster and it becomes an ogre again, a couple of little oil-eggs forming in ash, stepping up in strength (if that's possible) now very full-bodied, touch of mint again, this is a cigar of dark flavours - toasted nuts/burnt toast/dark chocolate/treacle but wrapped in butter and remarkably few elbows and knees if smoked slowly, very well balanced at this stage

3rd third - Sancho saltiness persists, getting peppery on tongue now, easily the most full-bodied smoke I've had, definitely NOT a morning cigar!, some woody notes coming through now, saltiness dying away now, bit of game-iness showing, dark chocolate and tobacco aftertaste, still buttery, leather again, dryness is more tanniny now, definitely more meatiness in this final third, buttery treacle very strong, starting to get very hot now, put it down with about about an inch and a half to go.

Total smoking time - 1 hour 40 mins

Summary - Easily the most interesting NC I've tried. It's a beast, though. Smoke it slowly and you'll be rewarded with toasted nuts/burnt toast/dark chocolate/treacle/butter. Having ordered Hamlet's selection from El Pres, I will put these away for some time in the full expectation of some real development.

[Habana Mike]

Nice review.

Yeah, these do pack a punch!

[ayepatz]

PS I've followed Bundwallah's format of a draw-by-draw account. I find it's easier to make notes that way as you go along.

Thanks Bundwallah!

[garbandz]

yes,they will knock you on your ass,but then help you up........

AND knock you on your ass AGAIN...........

this cigar should be amazing in 5 to 8 years,,,,,,,,,,

[JohnS]

Great review, ayepatz! Thank you for taking the time to let us know how they are, young and fresh!

[alloy]

So there was driftwood, eh?

[Orion21]

Great review. I smoked my first robusto yesterday and loved it. The more I think about it the more I get excited to smoke another.

My local B&M has three sizes in stock. Going to smoke a Salamones today.

[HavanaSunday]

Spot on review.

[jwr0201]

Sampled all three vitolas, not a fan.  Many other NC's at this price point that are much better.

[polarbear]

I've smoked the Corona and Robusto so far

Found the Corona to be a touch on the young side but the Robusto quite smokeable

I'm ashamed to admit it, but there is some decent stuff coming out of the House of Patel at the moment
The Decade Cameroon and 20th Annivesary are all darn good and worth looking at if you can lower yourself to smoking NCs

[Akela3rd]

I had the corona whist camping in The Lakes last month. Beautiful cigar, very smooth and strong and needs to be smoked slowly. Definitely in my top 5 so far this year. Going to try the robusto this next week and am really looking forward to it.

Great review BTW Ayepatz, thanks.

[ethosan]

If there are any botl's in San diego, and are curious to try the hamlet,my shop carries the line. Come down and see me in old town state park. Cheers!

[westg]

Had a little taste of one on the weekend with lord analbus (mus)....have to say was suitability impressed

[OZCUBAN]

Ha ha Lord Analbus ....love it 

[LordAnubis]

Last time i let you blokes taste my stick

 

[Danimalia]

I've only tried one, and my experience was that the flavor was quite good (definitely full), but the construction was problematic, and by the time I was halfway in, the cigar had become pretty tarry and unpleasant do to the relights. Frustrating. It may have been a bit moist and probably would have benefited from a couple days out of the humidor.

 

I really enjoy cigars that make good use of that wrapper leaf (Mexican San Andres). I fully recommend: La Mission Du L'Atelier, Matilde Oscuro, and Illusione Rothchilds (and Gigantes), which are all great examples in my opinion.