JohnS' Smoking Diary 2021

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay Panetelas circa 2010

Created in 1973  for the French market and the French state tobacco monopoly SEITA (Société Nationale d'Exploitation Industrielle de Tabac et Allumettes) in Cuba, the Quai d'Orsay brand was intended to be a French luxury cigar deliberately milder and more refined than the standard Habanos cigar. Two theories abound as to evolution of the name of the brand, one theory is that it comes from the nickname of the French Foreign Ministry or perhaps more likely the SEITA headquarters which are both located on the same named street on the Seine riverside in Paris. The most famous vitola over the years in this brand remains the Corona Claro.

I must admit that I have been wanting to smoke this cigar for a long, long time. The reason? The Quai d'Orsay Panatelas was the last of its kind; a 33 ring gauge x 178mm in length (or 7 inches) long-and-skinny Ninfas discontinued in 2010, eight years after the Punch Ninfas preceding it. I am grateful to @jay8354 for gifting me this cigar to sample today.

Upon lighting it, the cigar settled in its first third quickly with a bit of cedar and light shortbread quality to its texture. The middle third saw that delicious orange citrus, that Quai d'Orsay used to be known for prior to its re-branding in 2017/18, come to the fore. The final third settled with those aforementioned flavours joined by some forest floor flavours.

I was surprised how quickly I smoked it; it must have been only 70 to 80 minutes. Honestly, I wasn't paying too much attention as I was simply enjoying and contemplating how good this cigar was. I guess we all wish we could source some more. Well, there is one method but it will cost you; recent Bond Roberts 25-count Semi boîte nature boxes from the mid-2000s went for $US1300 and some mid-1990s ones went for circa $US1700 in 2021. I wonder how that makes you feel the next time you reach for a Quai d'Orsay Panatelas? (If you indeed have them still in your humidor!)

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Galanes RAT Nov 2020

The Por Larranaga Galanes is a 52 ring gauge x 120 mm (or 4¾ inches) in length Robusto. I'm not sure why it has a unique size but if it was slightly smaller in girth I'd like to think it to be like a Punch Short de Punch, which is 50 ring gauge, but the same length. Why it's not is anyone's guess.

It's been six months since I had the first cigar from this 10-count box and three months since I had my second one. Today's cigar was my third from the box. I wrote previously that my first one was quite 'buttery' upon its opening whereby it settled in the first half in its core butter bread flavour; something akin to a recent Quai d'Orsay no.50 or 54 with its brioche characteristics. The second Por Larranaga Galanes was similar and it also had a milk coffee flavour in its opening to compliment that brioche-type butter bread taste on the palate, but halfway through the first half that characteristic dull oak wood flavour came to the fore of that cigar.

This third cigar, after six months, demonstrated to me that the box is coming around quite nicely. This time, unlike my second cigar three months ago, the construction and burning was ideal. The flavours I picked up were a combination of milk coffee, oak wood and butter brioche bread that was a touch sweeter at times; almost like butterscotch candy. In fact, I felt that the best way to characterise this PL Galanes today, after smoking it over 75 minutes, would be to state that it was like a Punch Short de Punch with a butterscotch sweetness, if you could imagine such a thing! If you are looking for that typical Por Larranaga caramel sweetness, I would advise to look elsewhere as it wasn't present in this cigar.

I have said previously that based on the flavours I have picked up in these first three PL Galanes from this box, I wouldn't be surprised if this new release turns out to be quite popular with our members, when they can actually be more readily sourced. Unfortunately, they still remain difficult to acquire at the time of writing this review.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 ABO Ago 2018

This ABO Ago 2018 box of Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4s has been so consistently good that when I turn to my humidor to reach for one I'm confident that I will be well-satisfied after smoking one. This RyJ Exhibicion No.4 was therefore, in that respect, an anomaly.

What I look for in a quality Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 is a tart 'fruitiness' that is typical of this marca. The key to the 'fruity' flavours, I believe, is to ensure one gets a box of these with rosado-hued wrappers. It makes all the world of difference to the a RyJ Ex4 cigar, in my opinion. I got some sour cherry out of this RyJ Ex4 together with some cocoa, anise and oat biscuit but what 'unbalanced' this RyJ Ex4 was the advent of some vegetal or herbal flavours in the first third which lilted in and out of the cigar thereafter. It was a strange flavour, admittedly. It felt very much like it did not belong there.

Still, the smoke wasn't that bad. Then again, on the other hand, it wasn't outstanding either. It was merely 'serviceable', but if you smoke Habanos cigars regularly you're going to get one of those now and again, even out of a box that is smoking great!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Petit Coronas ETP Mar 2017

Is the Bolivar Petit Coronas the most under-rated quality Habanos Petit Corona currently? I think that when it come to Petit Coronas we can say two things; one, there aren't too many left and two, the Montecristo No.4 overwhelmingly dominates this market and therefore by reason gets all the consumer attention. I believe, therefore, that one could make a case for the Bolivar Petit Coronas being greatly under-rated.

As many of you know, I'm not as favourably-inclined to the Bolivar marca as I am to Cohiba and Montecristo, for example, but that's because I don't connect with the 'Earthy' flavours of Bolivar. It seems to me though that Bolivar was more 'Earthy' in the past than it is nowadays and I think this is true of recent Bolivar Petit Coronas and Belicosos Finos I've enjoyed in the last year or two.

This Bolivar Petit Coronas had an excellent draw and construction. The flavours were a little muddled on this BPC today, in other words, they weren't as discrete or delineated as the flavours I have got from my last few BPCs. I got typical flavours of leather, Earth, cocoa and wood although I didn't get those fruit or berries and malt flavours that I typically enjoy.  

I think that if I got more of those berry and malt flavours from this cigar it would have been outstanding. Nonetheless, I still smoked it down and nubbed it. After all, it wasn't that bad!

[oneizzzz]

@JohnS, these reviews are such a pleasure to read.  And such a great resource.  I love returning to them.  Thank you!

[JohnS]

44 minutes ago, oneizzzz said:

@JohnS, these reviews are such a pleasure to read.  And such a great resource.  I love returning to them.  Thank you!

Thank you kindly, @oneizzzz! This blog began somewhat by request as I was asked by members to post my Daily Smoking threads in one place a few years ago and they've developed from there. If our members can glean information from this blog that allows them to make informed purchases in regards to their future acquisitions, or even how their current stock is coming along, well...then I am satisfied.

[99call]

On 10/28/2021 at 9:34 PM, JohnS said:

I must admit that I have been wanting to smoke this cigar for a long, long time

Cant believe a hesitated and lost out on two PSP looking boxes at €600 all in.     Still cant forgive myself for this .  It's in my top 10 cigar related blunders. 

Great reviews as ever John,  Hats off 

[99call]

On 10/28/2021 at 9:36 PM, JohnS said:

This third cigar, after six months, demonstrated to me that the box is coming around quite nicely. This time, unlike my second cigar three months ago, the construction and burning was ideal. The flavours I picked up were a combination of milk coffee, oak wood and butter brioche bread that was a touch sweeter at times; almost like butterscotch candy. In fact, I felt that the best way to characterise this PL Galanes today, after smoking it over 75 minutes, would be to state that it was like a Punch Short de Punch with a butterscotch sweetness, if you could imagine such a thing! If you are looking for that typical Por Larranaga caramel sweetness, I would advise to look elsewhere as it wasn't present in this cigar.

I'm yet to try one of these.   But if they have indeed managed to create a blend that is butter brioche and oak and butterscotch sounds pretty awesome to me.   

They seem to be available in the EU, but thanks to the idiots that voted for Brexit,  the UK is now like cold war Russia, and every single source imaginable has been cut off.   Soon i will be thankful for a Guantanemera Cristales smuggled in a tin of dehydrated rat meat

[JohnS]

2 minutes ago, 99call said:

I'm yet to try one of these.   But if they have indeed managed to create a blend that is butter brioche and oak and butterscotch sounds pretty awesome to me.   

They seem to be available in the EU, but thanks to the idiots that voted for Brexit,  the UK is now like cold war Russia, and every single source imaginable has been cut off.   Soon i will be thankful for a Guantanemera Cristales smuggled in a tin of dehydrated rat meat

I am very much sorry to hear that is the case. As mentioned in that review, the Por Larranaga Galanes is packaged in a 10-count so I hope you can get a box to sample at some point!

[99call]

8 minutes ago, JohnS said:

I am very much sorry to hear that is the case. As mentioned in that review, the Por Larranaga Galanes is packaged in a 10-count so I hope you can get a box to sample at some point!

Of course I could buy in the UK............but I'm not that desperate HA!

It's funny prices in the UK, are actually getting closer and closer to the rest of the world (something I thought I would never live to see).   I have source in the UK I sometimes buy RE's from, they have boxes of Molinos at around £350 odd, which I ridiculously starting to look like bargains.      The world has turned on its head.    crazy times

[JohnS]

Cohiba Petit Robustos 2012 - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019

In 2003, Habanos S.A. introduced the Habanos Selection (Selección Habanos) releases, which consist of a selection of cigars of the same vitola from a number of different brands, presented in a small partitioned box. They are produced every year, and are available worldwide. The initial releases came in Piramides and Robustos sizes and the greater majority of these cigars are drawn from standard production models. In 2016, these two initial multi-brand offerings were re-released in newer, updated formats.

In 2012, Habanos S.A added a Petit Robustos multi-brand Habanos Selection (Selección Habanos) offering which differed from the Robustos and Piramides versions because apart from the regular production Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill, all the cigars were unique to this special release. In other words, you can't get a Cohiba Petit Robustos, Montecristo Petit Robustos, H.Upmann Petit Robustos and Partagas Petit Robustos anywhere else. Incidentally, the immensely popular regular production cigar, the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robustos is not included in this release.

The Cohiba Petit Robustos is 50 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) in length cigar. After smoking it, I can tell you that it is not like a Cohiba Medio Siglo which is the same length and a slightly bigger ring gauge (52 rg). This cigar had nowhere near the same buttery texture as one would expect from a Cohiba Medio Siglo. Instead, it was more akin to a smaller Cohiba Robustos, in my view.

The cigar smoked well over 60 minutes but it didn't offer too much past a dominant Cohiba mocha coffee and some honey sweetness. This was okay, it's just that the complexity of Cohiba that one can experience when you smoke this brand and you can get flavours of grass/hay, citrus and vanilla bean was not to be found here.

So, all in all, it wasn't bad for Cohiba but it wasn't a Cohiba Medio Siglo or Cohiba Esplendidos in class. If it had slightly more complexity and range in its flavours I would think that I would have rated this cigar higher today.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Robusto 2012 - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019

In 2012, Habanos S.A released a Petit Robustos multi-brand Habanos Selection (Selección Habanos) offering which differed from the 2003 Robustos and Piramides versions because apart from the regular production Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill, all the cigars were unique to this special release. In other words, you can't get a Montecristo Petit Robustos anywhere else.

The Montecristo Petit Robustos is 50 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) in length cigar. After smoking it, I can tell you that it is not like a Montecristo Petit Edmundo which is slightly longer at 110 mm (or 4⅜ inches) and slightly bigger in ring gauge (52 rg). This cigar had nowhere near the same intensity or complexity in coffee and dark chocolate flavours as one would expect from a Montecristo Petit Edmundo. Instead, it was more akin to a smaller special release Montecristo Leyenda, Maltes or Dantes, in my view...although without the same quality marshmallow soft texture as you can get in those Linea 1935 cigars.

From the very first puffs, I really connected with this cigar. It was very simple in its flavours, basically being a mixture soft milk chocolate and cream, with perhaps a tiny bit of milk coffee. It smoked really well over 60 minutes and it did not need anymore flavours in its 'arsenal' to deliver quality and satisfaction in that time.

So, in summary, this Montecristo Petit Robustos might have lacked that 'citrus twang' that has become synonymous with the marca of late but it didn't need it. It was simply a brilliant cigar which I wouldn't hesitate to acquire for my humidor if it was available in a 10-count and/or 25-count regular production offering.

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Petit Robustos 2012 - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019

In 2012, Habanos S.A released a Petit Robustos multi-brand Habanos Selection (Selección Habanos) offering which differed from the 2003 Robustos and Piramides versions because apart from the regular production Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill, all the cigars were unique to this special release. In other words, like the Montecristo Petit Robustos I smoked prior to this cigar, you can't acquire a H.Upmann Petit Robustos anywhere else.

The H.Upmann Petit Robustos is 50 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) in length cigar. After smoking it, I can tell you that it is not like a H.Upmann Half Corona which is slightly shorter at 90 mm (or 3½ inches) and slightly smaller in ring gauge (44 rg). This cigar had nowhere near the same intensity in toasted tobacco flavours as one would expect from a H.Upmann Half Corona. Instead, it was more akin to a smaller H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1, in my view.

From the very first puffs, I really connected with this cigar, just like the Montecristo Petit Robustos. Again, it was very simple in its flavours, basically a combination of H.Upmann Shortbread and cedar flavours, with perhaps a little espresso coffee. It smoked fabulously well over 70 minutes and for me it did not need to be any more complex to deliver a quality smoking experience.

So, in summary, this H.Upmann Petit Robustos was more akin to smoking a H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 or Connossieur A in delivering a smooth and mild, consistent hit of Upmann shortbread from beginning to end. Just like the Montecristo Petit Robustos, it was another brilliant cigar which I wouldn't hesitate to acquire for my humidor if it was available in a regular production offering.

[JohnS]

Partagás Petit Robustos 2012 - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019

In 2012, Habanos S.A released a Petit Robustos multi-brand Habanos Selection (Selección Habanos) offering which differed from the 2003 Robustos and Piramides versions because apart from the regular production Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill, all the cigars were unique to this special release. In other words, like the Montecristo Petit Robustos and the H.Upmann Petit Robustos I smoked prior to this cigar, you can't acquire a Partagas Petit Robustos anywhere else.

The Partagas Petit Robustos is 50 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) in length cigar. After smoking it, I can tell you that it is not like a Partagas Shorts which is slightly longer at 110 mm (or 4⅜ inches) and smaller in ring gauge (42 rg). This cigar had nowhere near the same type of coffee flavour as one would expect from a Partagas Shorts. Instead, it was more like smoking a mini Partagas Lusitanias or Serie E No.2, in my view, if you could believe it.

From the very first puffs, I really connected with this cigar, just like the Montecristo Petit Robustos and H.Upmann Petit Robustos. Again, it was a very simple cigar, basically a combination of Partagas Sourdough, leather, with perhaps a little coffee and some Partagas Spice on the edges. It smoked like a dream over 70 minutes and  for me, it completed a 'triumvirate' of exemplary cigars smoked from this Multi-brand release.

So, in conclusion, this Partagas Petit Robustos was more like smoking a Partagas Lusitanias or Serie E No.2 in delivering a smoother and mild 'hit' of Partagas Sourdough and for being less intense than a Partagas Shorts for its age. Just like the Montecristo Petit Robustos and H.Upmann Petit Robustos, it was another fantastic cigar which I would acquire for my humidor if it was available in a regular production offering.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchills 2012 - Selección Petit Robustos LAT Mar 2019

The Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchills is the only cigar of the 10-count Multi-brand Selección Petit Robustos release from 2012, which also includes two each of the Cohiba, Montecristo, H.Upmann and Partagas Petit Robustos, that is available as regular production cigar. It is the same Petit Robustos size as the other cigars with a 50 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) length.

The RyJ Petit Churchills was made available in 2012, incidentally the same year that it was also packaged in a Petit Robustos selection, replacing the poor selling Perlas-sized RyJ Petit Princess. If you've never heard of this cigar don't feel too bad. Re-marketing it from its former name of Petit Prince did not ward off its ultimate demise.

Of the five Petit Robustos I smoked from this Multi-Brand Petit Robustos release, the RyJ Petit Churchills was by far the most complex. Again, don't expect a RyJ Petit Royales which is slightly smaller in ring gauge (47 rg) and slightly smaller in length (95 mm or 3¾ inches). The RyJ Petit Royales has much more cocoa to its blend.

This RyJ Petit Churchills was also much milder. It still had that distinctive RyJ fruitiness which you could classify as a cherry flavour but not as intense as you would get in a RyJ Petit Royales. Its core flavours were walnut, nutmeg, some wood and a hint of bitter chocolate. It smoked for a whole 90 minutes which I found hard to fathom but I'm here to verify that yes...it smoked for well over an hour!

If you are favourable to Romeo y Julieta as a marca then this cigar will certainly please you and is well worth seeking out for a 'change-of-pace'. As for myself, I'm content to smoke more RyJ Petit Royales but I would not be adverse to smoking this cigar from time-to-time.

[augster123]

Thank you for this fantastic series of reviews on the Petit Robustos!  I especially liked the comparison to the regular production cigars, which is exactly what I was wondering.  Given that the Robustos are pretty much all regular production... Pyramides next??   

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, augster123 said:

Thank you for this fantastic series of reviews on the Petit Robustos!  I especially liked the comparison to the regular production cigars, which is exactly what I was wondering.  Given that the Robustos are pretty much all regular production... Pyramides next??   

Absolutely, you've read my mind. I enjoyed these Seleccion Petit Robustos so much that I envisage that I will acquire another box down-the-track. However; yes, I will be acquiring the Piramides Seleccion first to see how they compare to other piramides I have smoked in 2020 and '21.

[JohnS]

Sancho Panza Molinos ABR Oct 2011

2006 was a bad year for Sancho Panza. Four vitolas, the Bachilleres, Coronas, Coronas Gigantes and Sanchos were deleted that year. In 2012, one of the last remaining regular production Lonsdales was also deleted, the Molinos. Why, oh Habanos S.A, why? I can attest that this ABR Oct 2011 Molinos I smoked today was everything one could asked for in an aged Sancho Panza cigar. It had a nice balance of salted cream and wood, yet it was light on the palate. At times it was a little floral but it was magnificent.

The last Sancho Panza Molinos I had acquired, prior to this one, was from a Family Cruise holiday I took throughout the Caribbean. The boat docked in port in Jamaica on the trip and I visited the LCDH there at Falmouth in December 2018. In the shop was a box containing around six to eight sticks, that's how long they were in the shop from 2011, so that may explain why they were deleted.

Ten years is a long time to wait before opening up a box of Habanos cigars but when it comes to the Sancho Panza Molinos, its a cigar that benefits greatly from having significant time down. This was my first SP Molinos from this box. It was very easy to smoke, easy on the palate yet it still had significant body and flavour to suggest that another five or ten years wouldn't do it harm at all!

It's a shame though that more cigar enthusiasts are not familiar with how well Sancho Panza ages and how uniquely good they can be. If you have Sancho Panza in you humidor, excepting the SP Belicosos, and especially the recently discontinued SP Non Plus, then keep in mind to give them time to develop. I'm confident you'll be glad you did in the long run.

[JohnS]

Bolívar Tubos No.1 ULA Jun 2015

The Bolivar Tubos No.1 was a medium-full Corona cigar discontinued in 2017. It was one of the last Coronas, a 42 ring gauge, 142 mm (or 5⅝ inches) in length cigar that was packaged in aluminum tubes in larger-than-average 25-count dress boxes. You may be struggling to account for the Coronas that we do have left in regular production to this day. Cigar enthusiasts may remember the Montecristo No.3 and Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro, but would they remember the Romeo y Julieta Cedros De Luxe No.2? Perhaps, no? I know, after smoking the first Bolivar Tubos No.1 from this box today I wondered myself why the Romeo y Julieta Cedros De Luxe No.2 is still around and the Bolivar Tubos No.1 is not. (Granted, I am aware poor sales would obviously have something to do with it!)

The Bolivar Tubos No1 was noted as an elegant cigar of better-than-average construction (probably as less were made) and provided lots of complexity in aromas, especially floral ones. The flavours tended to be Earthy, wood, some spices, leather and even bitter chocolate.

After having this box in storage for approximately five years I can tell you that this Bolivar Tubos No.1 was not necessarily bitter chocolate, leather, Earth and spices when I lit it up today. Nor was the smoke off the draw crisp or wispy. On the contrary, this cigar has very much settled with those Bolivar dried fruits developing into a chewy, caramel-marshmallow with the smoke on the palate being quite mild yet viscous. I still got some Bolivar Earth and leather but no spice and no real chocolate-y flavours as those aforementioned notes very much dominated the cigar.

It goes without saying that I rated this cigar highly, lamented its deletion and am now very much anticipating lighting up the second example from the box. I'm not exactly sure when that will be bit one thing I do know...I promise it will be soon!

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo ESO Sep 2014

I think it would be fair to say that the Montecristo Petit Edmundo, with its release in 2006, together with the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto in 2004 brought in the quintessential 'Petit Robusto' era of the 2010s and beyond? After all, I think just about very major marca in the Habanos regular production catalogue has one these days. And we know how popular this vitola has been for Regional Edition releases over the years, albeit the 55 ring gauge Montesco has possibly usurped that mantle of recent times. Nevertheless, both the Montecristo Petit Edmundo and Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto remain very popular on our forum.

The Montecristo Petit Edmundo is one of the few cigars I've seemingly lucked out on when smoking it over the years. Mind you, in the MPE's case, it seems to be only for youthful examples. In the last five years I'd say I'd only smoked four of these cigars. Two were around ten years aged and were glorious but the 2017 Xmas Sampler stick was just average for me. One of my last ones, around three to four years ago, was from a FoH: Week in Pictures Competition prize and I must admit, it was fantastic!

The Montecristo Petit Edmundo is a 52 ring gauge x 110 mm (or 4⅜ inches) in length cigar. One needs a good sixty minutes to smoke it as it's not as small as one thinks! As I don't prefer the MPE when its fuller in body and strength in its youth, I knew that I needed to turn my attention to this box from 2014. The reason for this is because Montecristo as a marca, for me, doesn't necessarily benefit from long-term aging like other marcas. I would make a notable exception for the long-and-skinny Montecristo Especial and Especiales No.2, however.

After seven years, this MPE was much lighter in strength and body than a 2020/21 MPE would be. It also didn't have much in the way of cocoa/chocolate and coffee flavours. Instead, it was at its stage of development whereby those leather and nutty flavours start to abound in this marca, together with a hint of citrus twang. I think that the twang wouldn't have been evident without aging though; that's how mild this cigar was today.

In summary, what I've described for you in this Montecristo Petit Edmundo may not be your 'cup-of'-tea' because of its lightness of body and strength and its diminished coffee and chocolate flavours. I admit it was a little on the light side for my preference too but for me, I could manage this cigar better than I could more youthful examples from the past. I now look forward to smoking my second cigar from the box to compare to this first one.

[JohnS]

Trinidad Topes 2016 - Edición Limitada TOS Sep 2016

Trinidad...where does one start with Trinidad? For starters, it's difficult to ascertain when exactly the marca, in its Cuban version, actually began. Adriano Martínez Rius, in Min Ron Nee's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars, mentions that the Trinidad brand was first produced in 1969 at the El Laguito factory in Havana. A 1992 Cigar Aficionado interview with Avelino Lara (formerly the manager of the El Laguito factory) stated that Trinidad was an exclusive brand equal to Cohiba that only Fidel Castro was authorised to hand out as diplomatic gifts. A 1994 Cigar Aficionado interview with Fidel Castro himself denies this statement, he was only aware of the Cohiba Lanceros and Coronas Especiales when discussing diplomatic gifts in that interview.

So how did we get here? At an evening in 1994 dubbed 'the dinner of the century' the first public mentioning (and auctioning) of the Trinidad brand was made known with the introduction of the Trinidad Fundadores. In 1997 the brand was marketed as a premium marca alongside Cohiba and Cuaba (yes, Cuaba). In 2003, the Coloniales, Reyes and Robustos Extra was added. In 2009, the Robustos T was added. In 2012, the Robustos T and Robustos Extra were discontinued in unclear circumstances, to this day. Some say these cigars had poor sales, others espouse the opposite view. Nevertheless, at the start of the 2010s Trinidad was languishing as a marca. In 2014, the Vigia was released and there was talk of a re-branding. That hasn't quite happened but to mark the 50th anniversary of the brand (according to Habanos S.A, as there is scant proof of physical diplomatic examples of Trinidad cigars prior to 1992), the Trinidad Media Luna, Esmeralda and Topes were released.

Which brings us to the Topes. Yes, it was previously released in late 2016 as a Limited Edition in a large 56 ring gauge x 125 mm (or 4⅞ inches) length. And yes, it's not the first time a Limited Edition cigar has been brought back as a regular production cigar (e.g. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial and H.Upmann Magnum 50). The 2016 version of the Topes was such a great seller and well-reputed amongst aficionados that in my view, it's no surprise that it was released in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the marca (according to Habanos S.A et al.) Incidentally, The Montecristo Dantes and Romeo y Julieta Capuletos were also released in early 2017 as 2016 Limited Editions. Do we still remember them?

So how did this smoke and how does it compare to the 2019 regular production release? Habanos S.A mention on their website that large ring-gauged cigars such as this one leave a rich feel on the palate in contrast to smaller ring-gauged cigars which tend to leave a sharp taste on the tongue and hence don't include ligero leaf. In the case of the Topes, that richness on the palate is self-evident from the first puffs until the last. A Partagas Serie D No.4 Robusto at 50 ring gauge x 124 mm would normally take me 70 minutes to smoke. This 56 ring gauge x 125 mm Trinidad Topes took me closer to 90 minutes to smoke.

The 2019 regular production Trinidad Topes that I've sampled since their release have tended to be a combination of spice, coffee and butter pastry, some slight gingerbread-type sweetness and even some salt. The Trinidad Topes 2016 EL had more cocoa and sweetness to it upon its release in its youth. This TOS Sep 2016 specimen certainly had a sweetness to it that is not found in its regular production younger brother. After five years though, the body and strength has diminished somewhat and it is now quite mild, but it did have a core coffee, wood and dough core flavour to it which made it quite effortless to smoke.

In summary, I would opine that the maduro-shaded Limited Edition wrappers, which still carry some hefty sheen on every cigar from this box, has definitely imparted a lovely and subtle sweetness that is no longer cocoa-heavy, if you get what I mean. It's certainly unique in comparison to the variety of Trinidad cigars I've smoked in the last two or three years. I suppose I need to smoke another one (or two) to compare the flavours I got from this one to get a more accurate picture as to how these are coming along at this stage.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo VI ARG Jun 2015

This is the now the fourth Cohiba Siglo VI I've smoked from this ARG Jun 2015 10-count box (I've gifted two). Overall, I've only smoked twelve Cohiba Siglo VIs in the last four or five years, including these four smoked from this box. There are a few good reasons for this; one, I prefer Cohiba Siglo VIs in the five to ten-year window, two, the expense of this vitola at around $US40 to 45 (or $AUD80 to $90) at the present time precludes me smoking more and three, these weren't freely available for a eighteen to twenty-four month window from 2017 onwards anyway.

This was not the best example of a Cohiba Siglo VI that I've had. The cigar was quite muddled in this flavour delivery and the ash was flaky which precluded it from burning ideally. Sure it has a mild mocha coffee spine with Cohiba grass/hay and honey core but quite frankly that was about it. After I finished it I turned my attention to my next cigar that I was going to smoke. In other words, it was quite forgettable.

I hope to smoke another Cohiba Siglo VI from this box quite soon only because I'm confident it won't smoke like this one today!

 

[99call]

15 hours ago, JohnS said:

especially the recently discontinued SP Non Plus, then keep in mind to give them time to develop. I'm confident you'll be glad you did in the long run.

Completely agree with you on this John.   I think SP really suffers,  as many people often approach it like a cheap brand and afford it no leeway to reach where they need to be.  For example I would approach a Molino like I would a Sir Winston. i.e. I'm not going to smoke 5 ROTT, and then denounce them as being crap or unimpressive.     I think it really illustrates a category of light bodied cigars that really need time down.  Trini Coloniales, Des Dieux, Molinos, RGCE, RG Lons, Non Plus, Dip 4s, ERDM.         I think all of these cigars can be underwhelming if chuffed through in their 1st year

I've heard lots of accounts of people starting to get good results with the rebranded Vegueros.   I think it all goes to prove, we should never judge a book by its cover.   Reminds me of a great quote by Paul O'Connell (Irish rugby great) when discussing team mates. "You should assume that the guy to the left and right of you, are great blokes....and let them prove you wrong"

15 hours ago, JohnS said:

On the contrary, this cigar has very much settled with those Bolivar dried fruits developing into a chewy, caramel-marshmallow with the smoke on the palate being quite mild yet viscous. I still got some Bolivar Earth and leather but no spice and no real chocolate-y flavours as those aforementioned notes very much dominated the cigar.

I think this is a brilliant description of whats going on with these cigars.  The great ones interweave these two starkly different sides

Dr Jekyll = that chewy viscous sweetness, with aromatic floral bursts

Mr Hyde = The dark brooding, burnt roast beef, rich earthiness, and tannic leather, brazil nut oiliness

Interestingly I think current Partagas Presidente's are also walking this path, but obviously in a Partagas register

 

As ever great reviews John. Hats off to you Sir

 

[JohnS]

15 minutes ago, 99call said:

Completely agree with you on this John.   I think SP really suffers,  as many people often approach it like a cheap brand and afford it no leeway to reach where they need to be.  For example I would approach a Molino like I would a Sir Winston. i.e. I'm not going to smoke 5 ROTT, and then denounce them as being crap or unimpressive.     I think it really illustrates a category of light bodied cigars that really need time down.  Trini Coloniales, Des Dieux, Molinos, RGCE, RG Lons, Non Plus, Dip 4s, ERDM.         I think all of these cigars can be underwhelming if chuffed through in their 1st year

Well said. Yes, I concur...these light-bodied cigars you've mentioned benefit greatly from time down.

15 minutes ago, 99call said:

I think this is a brilliant description of whats going on with these cigars.  The great ones interweave these two starkly different sides

Dr Jekyll = that chewy viscous sweetness, with aromatic floral bursts

Mr Hyde = The dark brooding, burnt roast beef, rich earthiness, and tannic leather, brazil nut oiliness

Interestingly I think current Partagas Presidente's are also walking this path, but obviously in a Partagas register

As ever great reviews John. Hats off to you Sir

Thank you. You've described the two sides of an aged Bolivar Tubos No.1 well!

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.2 PMS Abr 2015

Around six years ago I purchased two 10-count PSP standard PMS Abr 2015 Montecristo No.2s from a 24:24 listing. I smoked through the first box between 2018 and late 2020. The wrappers on these cigars were a colorado/colorado rosado shade (i.e. one step short of colorado maduro) so I was expecting a strong cocoa and coffee hit when I 'cracked open' the first box in 2018, which was the case. There was some nut and leather, but no cream texture to those first few cigars smoked, unlike some lighter-wrappered Montecristo No. 2's I've had this past few years.

The best Montecristo No.2 from that first box was the last one smoked. The reason it was so good was because it was well-balanced, there was ample amounts of nut, coffee, cream and even citrus twang on the edges but it was the generous serving of quality cocoa which made it stand out for me.

Fast forward twelve months and this first cigar from this second box was very different to all ten cigars smoked from the first box. After six years the cocoa and coffee has very much receded and what we now have left is a nut, leather and citrus twang mild cigar which I feel may not be everyone's 'cup-of-tea' when it comes to smoking a Montecristo No.2 but I don't mind it like this.

One thing I'm sure of though, I will need to smoke another one or two cigars from this box code soon(ish) to ascertain whether that lightness of body and strength is consistent in these cigars. If it is, there will be no point in letting them see much time beyond their seventh year!