La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or no 2 2013 (BGRW)

[99call]

La Gloria Cubana Medialle D'or no 2 (2013)

Aroma at cold :  old leather, dark fruits, Christmas cake, manure

Cold Draw:  Christmas cake, just pure Christmas cake. 

1st 3rd:   Initial few puffs of chlorine, but then beds down into a soft lilting opening. Last one I have of these was a powerhouse, so i’m interested to see where this goes.   Not much going on for the last 5 or so minutes.  soft, toast and a vague sort of cake flavour.   Couldn’t be more different from the last out of the box, it was A, excellent, and B, full to say the least.   This example soft and pleasant thus far, but nothing more. 

2d 3rd Just at the transition, I hear I little crackle in the cigar, who knows what it was, but the flavour is glorious, salty sweet, Christmas fig pudding, which hand in hand, evokes some sort of burnt alcohol, but i say its far closer to a American Rye, than a traditional brandy.  Anyway it came and went, and we are back to not much at all.  Don’t get me wrong it’s got all that sort melded background tobacco flavour of a well aged cigar,  but very few highlights as things stand. 

Definitely a salt building on the lips, and as previously mentioned all that hallmark converted tannins of a well aged stick…..wait…..here we go..... about three inches in and it’s consistently like Christmas fig pudding bathed in burnt alcohol and cream.  I little bit of powdered ginger.   And just as the wheels get put on…….they fall off again.   God this is frustrating, those bursts are wonderful, but far too infrequent. 

3rd 3rd:  Starting to feel like I’ve given the cigar a bad press, It’s been ok, but when you’ve had a good one…..one that lives up to the hype, anything short of that,  feels a loooooong way short.    The end ramps up a little, and getting that slightly artificial grape soda, thing FOH members have mentioned for other cigars.     The end finishes with a sour rye/ginger bread, charcoal and fizzy on the palate. 

Conclusion: A classic example of when expectations kill an experience. If I’d been handed this unbanded, i’m sure I would enjoyed it more, but i’m left wanting, and irritated. 

Score:  87-88

[Connoisseur Kim]

I had LGC MdO No. 4 and I really enjoyed it a lot. Is MdO No. 4 better than MdO No. 2 in your opinion? I found MdO No. 4 seems to get more positive reviews than MdO No. 2 (only had MdO No. 4 for LGC).

[99call]

9 minutes ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

I had LGC MdO No. 4 and I really enjoyed it a lot. Is MdO No. 4 better than MdO No. 2 in your opinion? I found MdO No. 4 seems to get more positive reviews than MdO No. 2 (only had MdO No. 4 for LGC).

It's all subjective,  but I would say no,  MdO No 2  is a legitimately highly regarded cigar.   At their best they not only match the flavour profile or the No 4, but they bring a great deal more complexity,  evolution. etc.     They are one of the most hotly chased of the discontinued catalogue, and for good reason.    If you can find them,,, don't flinch

[Connoisseur Kim]

It's all subjective,  but I would say no,  MdO No 2  is a legitimately highly regarded cigar.   At their best they not only match the flavour profile or the No 4, but they bring a great deal more complexity,  evolution. etc.     They are one of the most hotly chased of the discontinued catalogue, and for good reason.    If you can find them,,, don't flinch

Thanks 99call! I feel sad that I can't even get MdO No. 2 unless using Bond Roberts. Lonsdale is one of my wishlist cigar, so I wish I can source it as many as possible.

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[SenorPerfecto]

I’ll take em off your hands

[RDB]

The usual excellent review, thank you. No worse for being honest rather than ecstatic! It’s just as helpful to see less enthusiastic comments. 

I love the no.4 but have no experience of the no.2... and just one single (also 2013) waiting for the right moment.

[99call]

5 minutes ago, RDB said:

and just one single (also 2013) waiting for the right moment

From the UK box pass?  if it is, it will be from the box pictured above

[RDB]

@99call Ahh that’s nice to know, thank you for your generosity! I will be sure to post a review when I finally smoke it.