Early 60's Pre Embargo Los Statos Selectos (R90)

[teamrandr]

  Here we revisit a super aged Pre Embargo. I am happy to be here and thankful for all that I have. This Corona has been aging for decades wrapped in cedar and cellophane.   A great treat to review for the FOH heads.  

  Cold aroma was pure old newspaper after removing the cello and cedar. I let it air out for about 8 hours. Then gave it a rinse with tap water. The smell became ever so slight. A nice herbal ginger floral aroma. Ever so faint but there. The foot is a beautiful box pressed rectangle. The foot is loosely packed but honestly looks gorgeous. The wrapper is a mottled colorado claro as they called them. A rather attractive wrapper for such an aged smoke. The cigar appears to have benefited from the cedar and cello wrappers.

  1/3. All it took was toasting the foot of this beautiful smoke. The initial draws are full bore. I know I must take slow drags. The draws are amazing. Light body that has an elegance to it. I am hit with a citrus. That comes in with an herbal ginger flavor. Feels like I am smoking ginger ale at this point. It is proving difficult to smoke this one as slow as I should. The draws are so complex. As it progresses the flavor gets a touch more body. I am actually picking up tobacco. Which to me is a good sign. These were aged well. This is a rare treat.

  2/3 A beautiful lemon lime ginger soda flavor is blowing me away. No doubt the body is pretty light. It helps that I have not smoked many cigars lately. The retrohale is so smooth. It really brings forth the floral ginger aspect. The flavor is very light yet so enjoyable. So I am not the foremost authority on super aged smokes. However I have smoked quite a few of them. Usually there is a palate coating effect that is off putting but acceptable. You pick out the subtleties through the retrohale. This one is just smooth. As it approaches half way it picks up a little body. A clove/cinnamon flavor accompanies the herbal ginger ale flavor.

  Half way and the retrohale is smooth with more body to it now. A slight toasted graham/tobacco enters the fray. The flavor progression is wonderful. I am getting a pleasant cappuccino retrohale. The creaminess is surprising me. The open of the cigar was pure floral/herbal. The complexity is welcomed. As we move to the final 3rd the draw is wide open. The ginger aspect has a slight spiciness to it. Underneath that is the sweet coffee. The retrohale is like candy.

  Final 3rd  and this cigar has held a beautiful ash throughout. Flavors have become more robust. Ginger is in there with cloves, tobacco and cinnamon. This cigar is smoking beautifully. The hand rolled stick is just amazing. As it approaches the end the cigar loses the floral aspect. I am getting more of the tobacco mixed with cappuccino. Retrohale has taken on a slight bite so to speak. The coffee bean flavor is taking over. What a wonderful progression. I nub it till it gets too hot. Just an enjoyable experience.

  93 all day These are proof that something magic happens with certain marcas after 20+ years.

[Sir Diggamus]

Great review! The flavors you picked up make it sound like a one hell of a smoke. 

[Connoisseur Kim]

It is definitely blast from the past! Are they handmade cigars?

[Markspring1978]

Wow. Impressive review. 

[SmokeyGigi]

Thanks for sharing, great review. 

[inter4alia]

Excellent review! Thanks for sharing. 

[teamrandr]

3 hours ago, Connoisseur Kim said:

It is definitely blast from the past! Are they handmade cigars?

Yes they were handmade up to c.1980

[Connoisseur Kim]

Yes they were handmade up to c.1980

Thanks buddy! You must be lucky to have pre embargo cigars!

[Sorrowful]

Sounds like a pretty amazing smoke.  Have you smoked more than 1 out of this box and have they all had this profile?

[teamrandr]

41 minutes ago, Sorrowful said:

Sounds like a pretty amazing smoke.  Have you smoked more than 1 out of this box and have they all had this profile?

Yes this is the 2nd I have tried.    The profile was very similar.  Super smooth herbal/sweet floral flavors.  I like reviewing more and more these days as it makes me sit there and really zone in on flavors. Sometimes though you just want to smoke and not think too much!

[Skypilot]

Wonderful review, I love hearing about the pre embargo cigars. 

[teamrandr]

2 hours ago, Psiman said:

Nice. How many are left in that box ? Is that about a 40 RG by 5 inch cigar ?  Go Blue !!!  is McCaffery going to be the QB this year ? He has waited long enough and I hope he makes it to the NFL with his brothers. 

Only 2 more left unfortunately!  Yes it is a Corona, 40rg x 5.5 inch.  I sure hope McCaffery gets the start.  Honestly I am starting to question if the football season will even happen.