JohnS' Smoking Diary 2021

[JohnS]

La Flor de Cano Grandiosos 2013 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico ROL Oct 2013

The La Flor de Cano Grandiosos is a 2013 Asia Pacifico Regional Edition with a 52 ring gauge x 135 mm (or 5⅜ inches) length. I opened this box once it had approached the seven year mark and I've had six of them (or just over half the box) in the last year and two months, with the last one smoked about six months ago.

If you aren't aware, the thinking on our forum behind Asia Pacifico Regional releases is that they generally need 5 years to 'open up'. The only recent exception to this maxim that I can recall could be the 2014 Diplomaticos Bushido, which was exemplary from the 'get-go' when it finally came out in 2015 or perhaps even the recent 2019 Punch 8-9-8 (although one could argue that this dalias-sized cigar can benefit from aging too).

I've had this cigar around the four and five-year mark and I've found it to be a combination, at that time, of butter cake and cream, floral notes, almond nuts and spice. Around the six-year mark the cigar progressed to a flavour profile of floral notes, citrus, almond nut and light cocoa 'on the edges' with a bit of spice to it.

This LFdC Grandiosos smoked today is just over eight years of age, smoked much the same as what I mentioned above around the six year mark. This one was a combination of shortbread, strawberries, cream, hay, almond nut and floral notes, with the slightest hint of vanilla sweetness and some spice on the edges. Much like my last one smoked six months ago, it was beautifully complex yet remarkably easy to smoke.

Construction and draw on this was impeccable all the way as the cigar was not under-filled. I got ashes over one inch in length all the way. It was so flavoursome, yet so refined, that it was quite effortless to smoke which is just the way I like to smoke Habanos cigars in general.

The only regret I had about this cigar today was the fact that I only have three left from my 10-count box. C'est la vie, as they say, I guess I will enjoy them sooner rather than later as I don't envisage them lasting beyond the ten year mark!

[JohnS]

Rafael González 88 2016 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico SOM Dic 2016

As I wrote briefly in my last review recently on this cigar, the Rafael Gonzalez 88 is a 2016 Asia-Pacific Regional Edition release. It stood out at the time for its vitola dimensions, a Británicas Extra at under 50/64ths of an inch ring gauge and was in fact only the second Rafael Gonzalez Regional Edition release other than the 2013 German Petit Piramides at the time. The hype generated by its predecessors, the 2014 Asia-Pacific Diplomaticos Bushidos (and less so the 2015 La Gloria Cubana Revolution) caused a lot of demand from our forum members for the RG88 when it came out eventually in 2017, so much so that supplies for the new release couldn't keep up with demand initially. But then things quickly changed!

You see, much like the 2010 discontinued Rafael Gonzalez Coronas Extra, this cigar was 'closed' in its flavours in its youthful stages upon release and the consensus amongst our forum members at the time was that it need a good five years for it to blossom or 'open up'. After waiting four-and-a-half to smoke an RG88, I only waited a few more to smoke this example today and I'm more than happy that I did so!

This RG88 had more of a lighter, 'neutral' colorado shade than the other one, which had a darker (comparatively-speaking) colorado maduro shade.In mid-2017, I found my RG88s to be very light in flavour and body paradoxically. They tended to be a flavour combination of cocoa, floral notes, honey and nuts but those flavours were indistinctive in the blends of the cigars I sampled at the time. In other words, slightly muddled. In contrast, this RG88 after five years, of course was light in strength (as all Rafael Gonzalez cigars tend to be) but the body was thankfully medium to medium-full and the flavours were simple and again, much like my other RG88 this week, quite distinctive and expressive. I basically got a combination of cocoa, earthiness and a floral bouquet that ran through the core of the cigar from beginning to end, but this was a tad stronger and had a little spice to it which complemented the flavour blend quite nicely. After smoking two RG88s in the space of a week, and after letting them develop over five years, make no mistake, both these RG88s smoked like a quality cigars from beginning to end.

I now eagerly look forward to opening my aforementioned 10-count Rafael Gonzalez 88 box sometime in the new year!

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 AUM Jul 2014

Today's cigar is my second last one left from this mid-2014 Montecristo No.5 box and overall I'm grateful for how consistent they've been both flavourwise and in their construction. Of course, I have more Montecristo No.5 left in my humidor, across a few box codes, but they are all less than 24 months old.

This Montecristo No.5, like my last one smoke last month, had a dark colorado brown wrapper which for me, parted a ever-present deep cocoa over 40 minutes of smoking time, but this time I got a subtle coffee, leather and nut-type flavours to compliment that cocoa.

With six-and-a-half years down, the strong body was matched by a mild strength. This helped me to cope with parts of the cigar that were slightly under-filled, which parted a sharper taste of strong cocoa on my palate at times. Then again, I can only imagine what this cigar would have been like five years ago. I would imagine it would have been more bitter.

Whilst I was content to persevere with this cigar today, I have no plans to see the last Montecristo No.5 go beyond their seventh year because there's no advantage to refining the body and strength in these cigars any further, in my view. They are fine to smoke as they are at the moment, or even younger.

[oneizzzz]

Dear @JohnS, have you smoked an ERDM Kon Tiki?  If so, would you be willing to post a review?

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, oneizzzz said:

Dear @JohnS, have you smoked an ERDM Kon Tiki?  If so, would you be willing to post a review?

@oneizzzz, no I have not done so, yet. And yes, I'm willing to smoke all types of Habanos cigars because I aim to keep myself open-minded when it comes to preferences/biases etc. and to learning something new along the way. I enjoy sharing that information too, naturally.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo ESO Sep 2014

As you may already know, I've only just opened this ESO Sep 2014 box of Montecristo Petit Edmundos and this is now my fourth one I've had in a very short time; something like six or seven weeks, which is atypical for me. I'm getting used to the simple, mild body and flavour these have produced thus far, I guess!

I've mentioned a few times in my previous reviews on this cigar that after seven years, the fullness of flavours (especially when it comes to the Montecristo cocoa and coffee) has greatly diminished and now these have been more nutty, leathery and there's been more room for any citrus twang to 'shine'. This wasn't quite true today as the cocoa in this MPE dominated the other flavours but it is was still medium-mild overall and rather effortless to smoke. I again I got a consistent smoke construction-wise over sixty-five minutes (or so) of smoking time.

After finishing the cigar I reflected upon whether this MPE would have been better in its first or second year and surmised that, for me, I still preferred it with less strength and body, even though the flavours were a little unbalanced today. After all, it was quite interesting despite the fact that the first three cigars, smoked thus far, have been marginally better from this box.

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 AUM Jul 2014

This is my last cigar from this mid-2014 Montecristo No.5 box and overall I've been quite happy with how consistent they've been both flavourwise and in their construction. Thankfully, I have more Montecristo No.5 left in my humidor, across a few box codes, but they are all less than 24 months old.

This Montecristo No.5, like my last few smoked with this box code, had a dark colorado brown wrapper which for me, again parted a ever-present deep cocoa over 35 to 40 minutes of smoking time.

Much like the second last Montecristo No.5 I smoked just a few days ago, this cigar was slightly under-filled and annoyingly went out on me a number of times. I honestly detest re-lighting cigars when I am puffing away on them at a consistent rate, and by that I mean taking a puff every minute or two I suppose. The fact is that a Habanos cigar shouldn't go out in those circumstances, with the word 'shouldn't' being the optimal word. I suppose, real life doesn't always transpire that way, does it?

Whilst I once again persevered with this cigar today, I'm glad to have finished this box within a seven year time frame. I feel that this was long enough. Overall, despite the last three cigars been less that ideal in their smoking quality, I was quite content with this box because nearly all the rest of the cigars produced a quality smoking experience. I now look forward to smoking my other younger Montecristo No.5s.

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones No. 2 2019 - Edición Limitada GEM Jul 2020

The Ramon Allones Allones No.2 (yes, that is its full name but I can foresee that it will be quickly re-monnikered the Ramon Allones No.2 amongst aficionados) is a 2019 Limited Edition that is packaged in a 10-count ornate, green box and was launched with much fanfare by Habanos S.A in conjunction with Hunters & Frankau in London in August 2020. Habanos S.A invested heavily in its marketing campaign by releasing a technically slick video advertisement and 600 guests at the launch party were gifted packs including the new cigar; a small bottle of Hine Cigar Reserve Cognac and a glass; chocolates especially designed for the event by London club, 5 Hertford Street, a cutter, matches and a detailed informational booklet.

The Ramon Allones No.2 is a campanas; a torpedo-shaped cigar with a 52 ring x 140 mm or 5½ inches length which has the identical dimensions of a Bolivar Belicosos Finos. This is the fourth Ramon Allones No.2 I've had and indeed once again, upon lighting, it was easy to discern that this was a quality, refined cigar. The flavours were again typical for Ramon Allones such as cocoa and cherry fruit. The last Ramon Allones No.2 I had in August 2021 contained hazelnut and soft baking spices on the edges, full-bodied and medium-mild in strength. This RA No.2 LE was similar in flavours yet different because I feel that now, after eighteen months, this has finally begun to 'open up' and smoke like the quality cigar it has promised to be the last three times I've smoked it in late 2020 to mid 2021.

This time flavours were easier to decipher; they were not melded or 'muddled' (which pretty much sums up my previous RA No.2 LEs) and instead of needing two or three years to 'open up', as I've said in previous reviews, thankfully we've seen signs of it at the eighteen month mark. It's no surprise though, for if we compare the 2009 Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos Asia-Pacifico Regional Edition and the 2015 Ramon Allones Club Allones, those special releases took some time to settle so mentioning this does carry precedence.

The cigar took me around 100 minutes to finish and for the first time I can say that this Ramon Allones No.2 LE is smoking like the great cigar that it was specifically blended to be. If you have this cigar in your inventory, why not seek it out and see how they are coming along? Who knows, you may be in for a pleasant surprise!

[JohnS]

Sancho Panza Molinos ABR Oct 2011

In 2012, one of the last remaining regular production Lonsdales was discontinued, the Molinos. As I wrote in all my previous reviews on this cigar..."Why, oh Habanos S.A, why?" This was the third ABR Oct 2011 Molinos I smoked today around one month after I smoked the second and two months after the first.

As I mentioned in that initial review, 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. That first Sancho Panza Molinos was easy to smoke and the second and third ones were much the same!

This SP Molinos today was more like the first one in its flavours. That first one had some more floral notes and was more cream-textured, the second one was more herbal and replete with subtle forest floor or mushroom-type flavours to compliment the light wood and minimal salt. This third one was all floral, cream-textured, light wood and minimal salt. Again, it was another superb smoking experience one looks for when you desire an easy-going smoke with fine, subtle combination of flavours.

I wrote in my last few reviews that if you have Sancho Panza in your 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. I still stand by this statement after having this third Sancho Panza Molinos today!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Topes 2016 - Edición Limitada TOS Sep 2016

The regular production Trinidad Topes was released in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Trinidad marca (according to Habanos S.A). However, 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 wasn't to much of a surprise to see its re-release. Incidentally, the Montecristo Dantes and Romeo y Julieta Capuletos were also released in early 2017 as 2016 Limited Editions. Do we still remember them?

This was my second late-2016 Trinidad Topes LE from the box. In my last review I posed the question, "So how did this smoke and how does it compare to the 2019 regular production release?" I think the relevancy of this questions remains much the same as it did a few months ago when I 'cracked open' the box. 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.

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 again 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. Perhaps, one could say that it was more woody or savoury than the first cigar from this box smoked two months ago, but it was still fairly easy to smoke.

I still think 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 quite unlike the core savoury flavours I've gotten out of a variety of Trinidad cigars I've smoked in the last two or three years.

[Kaptain Karl]

On 12/25/2021 at 12:21 PM, JohnS said:

Trinidad Topes 2016 - Edición Limitada TOS Sep 2016

The regular production Trinidad Topes was released in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Trinidad marca (according to Habanos S.A). However, 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 wasn't to much of a surprise to see its re-release. Incidentally, the Montecristo Dantes and Romeo y Julieta Capuletos were also released in early 2017 as 2016 Limited Editions. Do we still remember them?

This was my second late-2016 Trinidad Topes LE from the box. In my last review I posed the question, "So how did this smoke and how does it compare to the 2019 regular production release?" I think the relevancy of this questions remains much the same as it did a few months ago when I 'cracked open' the box. 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.

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 again 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. Perhaps, one could say that it was more woody or savoury than the first cigar from this box smoked two months ago, but it was still fairly easy to smoke.

I still think 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 quite unlike the core savoury flavours I've gotten out of a variety of Trinidad cigars I've smoked in the last two or three years.

It's always interesting to see the difference in palette's in terms to how one perceives a cigar. I've found Trinidad's recently to be like a decadent semi sweet French pastry with some butter and honey. They definitely come across more dessert like and less savory to me!  

Thank you for all of your reviews, they are a delight to read! 

[JohnS]

1 minute ago, Kaptain Karl said:

It's always interesting to see the difference in palette's in terms to how one perceives a cigar. I've found Trinidad's recently to be like a decadent semi sweet French pastry with some butter and honey. They definitely come across more dessert like and less savory to me!  

Thank you for all of your reviews, they are a delight to read! 

Thank you kindly, Karl ! 👍

[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. I remember that it was available for a lot longer via vendors than the other noted Bolivar deletion that year, the Coronas Gigantes, which sold out in seemingly three to four weeks. (The Bolivar Tubos No.1 was available for a good six to twelve months at least, if my memory serves correctly.)

Around six weeks ago, there were some sentimental references made to the Bolivar Tubos No.1 on our forum and specifically to how well it is developing around the five to six-year mark. This is my third Bolivar Tubos No.1 from this box, after sampling the first and second ones eight and six weeks weeks ago respectively, and I can confirm that yes...I was very much looking forward to smoking this third one!

With my first Bolivar Tubos No.1, I noted that it was like a chewy, caramel-marshmallow stick with the smoke on the palate being quite mild yet viscous and some Bolivar Earth and Leather but no spice and no real chocolate-y flavours. My second one was very similar, only I would add that it was slightly more floral and had a note of mushroom or forest floor mild 'Earthy' flavour to its core. It was every bit as brilliant as the first one I smoked from this box. This third one had yet again more Earth, leather and forest-floor flavours and was less 'chewy' in texture. I wouldn't say that it was a caramel-marshmallow laden dessert 'bomb' either. It was still quite reputable as a solid, quality cigar, nonetheless.

I still lament the deletion of this coronas-sized cigar and I can't wait to light up a fourth sample from the box to celebrate the coming of the new year.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Especial LTO Mar 2021

Together with the Cohiba Lancero, the Montecristo Especial is the epitome of the 'long-and-skinny', a Laguito No.1 with a slender 38 ring gauge by 192 mm (or 7.6 inches) in length. I had the first cigar from this LTO Mar 2021 box around five months ago, another three within a month of that initial one and now this fifth one about three months later.

Like my last Montecristo Especial, this opened with more cocoa/milk chocolate than the first three Monte Especials I had. Of course, I still got a citrus twang that stayed consistent throughout the smoke and some light milk coffee, however this time there was some baking spice which added to the appeal of the cigar, in terms of its flavour.

Construction, this time, was nowhere near as consistent as the flavours of this cigar, though. I had no complaints as the burn and ash were fine. I did have to re-light up to seven or eight times though!

If it wasn't for the constant re-lights this cigar would have been another fine example of an outstanding Montecristo long-and-skinny. As it was, I could still live with the flavoursome offering this was; albeit, over a mammoth three hours!

[JohnS]

Montecristo A MOL Jun 2017

The biggest Montecristo cigar (and in fact, the biggest regular production cigar) around is this one, but don't fooled, it's not the strongest. At 47 ring gauge x 235 mm in length (that's 9¼ inches!) this felt like a toothpick in diameter in comparison to the many other post-52 ring gauge cigars that are around nowadays. (And how many would that be? I'm glad you asked - the answer is currently forty-three!)

At four-and-a-half years in age, this was simply sublime. The Montecristo coffee and cocoa in this was light, however, it was the flavours that complimented the muted Montecristo quintessential flavour which esteemed it so highly, for me. I really enjoyed the softer, marshmallow-like texture, the almond and hazelnut flavours which reminded me of Frangelico liqueur and especially the orange citrus twang like Cointreau. There was no doubt whatsoever, for this was the absolute superlative flavour held and maintained me in attentive bliss for easily over 2½ hours.

So, in summary, if you are looking to this cigar to overwhelm you with strength or complexity, then look elsewhere, otherwise do yourself a favour and give this some time to rest (at least 12 to 18 months in my opinion) and hopefully you could sit back and enjoy it like I did. This is a strong candidate for my best cigar of this month thus far.

[JohnS]

Bolívar Coronas Junior MSU Jul 2019

Personally speaking, I have found all the Bolivar vitolas I have sampled quite good in the last eighteen to twenty-four months including the Bolivar Tubos No.1, Bolivar Belicosos Finos, Bolivar Petit Corona and especially the under-rated and perhaps sadly over-looked Bolivar Coronas Junior.

This BCJ was very much similar to my last one I smoked three months ago and it took about the same time to smoke! I wouldn't necessarily describe it as 'Earthy' but it still had those other core Bolivar flavours of light cocoa, leather, espresso coffee and cedar, together with a little sweet Cuban twang. However, make no mistake, this cigar was full-bodied with premium flavour. It took me a whole 75 minutes to smoke! Now that is great value for a minutos-sized cigar in terms of smoking time, wouldn't you agree? After all, one should expect a 30 to 40-minute smoking time for a minutos cigar such as this one.

In summary, this Bolivar Coronas Junior was again simply exceptional today and I would have no issue rating it as a 93 to 94-point cigar.

[JohnS]

Bolívar Belicosos Finos SOR Ene 2020

The Bolivar Belicosos Finos topped the poll for the tastiest cigar of 2019 on our forum not once, but twice! It's simply been a superlative and dependable cigar in the last few years and it remains a Friends of Habanos forum favourite. In this year's FOH top 26 of 2021 as endorsed by El Pres, the Bolivar Belicosos Finos still managed to come in at a very respectable eleventh.

Your average Piramide (also known colloquially as a Torpedo) is 52 ring gauge x 156 mm in length, the BBF is a Campanas and so is slightly smaller at 52 ring gauge x 140 mm in length. I've found them quite reliable in construction and flavour delivery over the years, on the odd occasion I have one.

I've had excellent smoking experiences with BBFs in 2019/20 and so I admit that I was a little surprised that it has been around six months since I've had one and ten months since I had the previous one. (In other words, I've only had two BBF's in the last sixteen months!) I think the reason for this is because this was the first one of a quarter pack acquisition in mid-2020 and I had intended resting them, albeit not for this long though. Then again, I have been distracted by other Bolivar options in my humidor such an early-2017 box of outstanding Bolivar Petit Coronas and an equally dependable half-box of mid-2019 Bolivar Coronas Junior!

This BBF had an even cocoa and light marshmallow texture to it from the 'get-go'. Soon after the quintessential bitter malt, nutmeg, Earth and leather flavours made for a wonderfully complex and ideal cigar for a change-of-pace from my usual 'go-to' cigars. I did not register any 'licorice' sweetness or extra spiciness in the back-half of this BBF today, like I have done with other BBF's in the past.

I will still probably go back to smoking my ULA Jun 2015 Bolivar Petit Coronas in the immediate future before I re-visit this box code again. I didn't mind this BBF; I just think that I prefer my other Bolivar cigars in my humidor (i.e. early-2017 Bolivar Petit Coronas, mid-2019 Bolivar Coronas Junior and mid-2015 Bolivar Tubos No.1) .

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.2 SOR Jun 2020

When it comes to certain Habanos cigars, their reputation is so firmly ingrained into our collective subconscious that I don't think one could imagine being without them, no matter their state, their performance or their gratification. For example, it's often noted that the Montecristo No.2 and Montecristo No.4 are amongst the highest-selling Habanos cigars annually but would you necessarily reach for one if you wanted a Montecristo cigar? Perhaps yes and yet, perhaps no but one thing I do know is this...someone out there is buying these cigars on a consistent basis!

And why is that, do you think? We've mentioned a number of times just how inconsistent the Montecristo No.2 and Montecristo No.4 are. I believe the answer lies in both their variance of performance and flavours profile. What I mean by this is that when it comes to the Montecristo No.2 it varies more than other Habanos cigars, in my view, in their wrapper shades, their construction quality, their dominant flavour characteristics that you want to smoke one on occasion, just in case you 'land on' a superlative example.

Personally speaking, my humidor has four different box codes of varying amounts (around five to ten sticks of each) of Montecristo No.2 so that I can take in and experience the differences one gets in Monte 2s that are dark-wrappered, light-wrappered, young, mid-aged or aged and a combination thereof.

So what are you looking for when you smoke a Montecristo No 2? You may be seeking a strong cocoa/coffee flavour profile, or maybe more leather, nut and /or citrus twang, for example. Perhaps a fuller-bodied cigar or a lighter one? The Montecristo No.2 is the type of cigar that can deliver this variance of outcomes.

This SOR Jun 2020 Montecristo No.2 cigar was the first of its type smoked from a quarter-pack acquisition from our host. It had a light wrapper but where it delivered in satisfaction for me was in its balance of flavours. It simply had an ideal array of cocoa, milk coffee, nut and a some hints of citrus twang which reinforced why I keep these in my humidor and why I keep coming back to them. Despite being just eighteen months old it was medium-mild in strength and mid-bodied but mainly it was just an excellent example of what you want from a Montecristo No.2 when you smoke it.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, the last few years has seen a resurgence in the the general quality of Montecristo No.2 across a number of box codes.

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones Small Club Coronas ETP Mar 2017

The Ramon Allones Small Club Corona is a reputable (42 ring gauge x 110 mm or 4⅜ inches in length) minutos which I've sadly neglected, to my detriment, in the past but of which I've since re-visited this year and enjoyed immensely with three supreme examples of the cigar. Unfortunately today's fourth example didn't live up to the reputational quality of its predecessors.

My previous RASCCs this year had a combination of quality nut and dried fruit, like raisins, light cocoa, wood and leather. This RASCC was very generic in comparison. I wouldn't say that it was fruity or even mildly sweet; on the contrary, it was just dull cocoa, wood and dare I say nondescript toasted tobacco. Not exactly an endearing flavour description, is it?

This Ramon Allones Small Club Corona provided an astute example of how much value these smaller minuto-sized cigars have when they happen to pack a lot of flavour, over a longer-than-expected smoking time, in such a small cigar. Sure, I still got something like 65 to 70 minutes out of this cigar but I've had a better time smoking much better examples!

[JohnS]

I'd like to take the opportunity to again thank you for taking the time to peruse and support this blog. I would like to especially thank a number of you who have supported me in your gratitude expressed via myriad ways for the content that lies herein. I hope this blog can assist our members with their cigar smoking well into 2022 and beyond.

I intend to take a break but in the meantime I wish all our members a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2022!

[joeypots]

14 hours ago, JohnS said:

Montecristo A MOL Jun 2017

The biggest Montecristo cigar (and in fact, the biggest regular production cigar) around is this one, but don't fooled, it's not the strongest. At 47 ring gauge x 235 mm in length (that's 9¼ inches!) this felt like a toothpick in diameter in comparison to the many other post-52 ring gauge cigars that are around nowadays. (And how many would that be? I'm glad you asked - the answer is currently forty-three!)

At four-and-a-half years in age, this was simply sublime. The Montecristo coffee and cocoa in this was light, however, it was the flavours that complimented the muted Montecristo quintessential flavour which esteemed it so highly, for me. I really enjoyed the softer, marshmallow-like texture, the almond and hazelnut flavours which reminded me of Frangelico liqueur and especially the orange citrus twang like Cointreau. There was no doubt whatsoever, for this was the absolute superlative flavour held and maintained me in attentive bliss for easily over 2½ hours.

So, in summary, if you are looking to this cigar to overwhelm you with strength or complexity, then look elsewhere, otherwise do yourself a favour and give this some time to rest (at least 12 to 18 months in my opinion) and hopefully you could sit back and enjoy it like I did. This is a strong candidate for my best cigar of this month thus far.

I have a 5 count box of this code and date. I bet we got them from the same vendor! I'm going to burn one given the great review here. Thanks for all of your reviews, John. Your posts are one of the highlights of this board. Happy New Year!

[JohnS]

4 hours ago, joeypots said:

I have a 5 count box of this code and date. I bet we got them from the same vendor! I'm going to burn one given the great review here. Thanks for all of your reviews, John. Your posts are one of the highlights of this board. Happy New Year!

Thanks and indeed, I bet we did get these Monte As from the same vendor! 😉

[karp]

On 12/31/2021 at 8:07 PM, JohnS said:

I'd like to take the opportunity to again thank you for taking the time to peruse and support this blog. I would like to especially thank a number of you who have supported me in your gratitude expressed via myriad ways for the content that lies herein. I hope this blog can assist our members with their cigar smoking well into 2022 and beyond.

I intend to take a break but in the meantime I wish all our members a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2022!

Thank you for all the reviews - they are excellent and I’ve learned a great deal from your commentary! 

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, karp said:

Thank you for all the reviews - they are excellent and I’ve learned a great deal from your commentary! 

Thank you @karp!

[Chucko8]

Happy New Years John and I look forward to your insights in 2022. Always a quality read cheers mate