JohnS' Smoking Diary 2021

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Montecarlos LGR Oct 2017

Looking over my Cuban Cigar Website Smoking Diary, whilst I've had a number of Por Larranaga Montecarlos in the last twelve months, this LGR Oct 2017 example is just my third from that box code in that time. The previous two were quite ordinary and quite good (in that order). Thankfully this was quite brilliant, much like how this box has been in the 12 to 18 months prior to mid-2020.

Despite being slightly underfilled, like my last Por Larranaga Montecarlos, this dominated in caramel and honey from the beginning and continued throughout the life of the cigar until I nubbed it. Along the way I got some wood and toast but no spice whatsoever, unlike my last one, which meant I didn't need to compensate and smoke the cigar slower this time.

This Box Code of Por Larranaga Montecarlos has been noted on our forum for being of sound quality and recently there's been speculation that the box has peaked and taken a downturn. My previous two examples would support that hypothesis but today's example was outstanding and suggests that I still have six sticks left that potentially will smoke as good as this one today.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills LAT Feb 2018

The last Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill I had around 9 months ago was excellent. Today's example was servicably okay, a little above average in quality but not up to the class of my ABO Ago 2018 Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 box.

Like last time, I got some nice turkish delight and berry notes, together with wood and a hint of bitter chocolate. What let this cigar down was the multiple re-lights, the slightly tight draw and the slightly below average smoke output per puff.

Again, in comparison to recent RyJ Churchills I've smoked, this Short Churchill was a tad stronger, medium-mild to medium, but still faithful to its marca profile, which still made it pleasurable to smoke. It's just that I've been distracted by some quality RyJ Churchills, Exhibicion No.4 and Petit Royales of late. Don't be surprised if I return to these aforementioned vitolas in the coming months!

[Chucko8]

On 3/27/2021 at 5:52 AM, JohnS said:

Por Larrañaga Montecarlos LGR Oct 2017

Looking over my Cuban Cigar Website Smoking Diary, whilst I've had a number of Por Larranaga Montecarlos in the last twelve months, this LGR Oct 2017 example is just my third from that box code in that time. The previous two were quite ordinary and quite good (in that order). Thankfully this was quite brilliant, much like how this box has been in the 12 to 18 months prior to mid-2020.

Despite being slightly underfilled, like my last Por Larranaga Montecarlos, this dominated in caramel and honey from the beginning and continued throughout the life of the cigar until I nubbed it. Along the way I got some wood and toast but no spice whatsoever, unlike my last one, which meant I didn't need to compensate and smoke the cigar slower this time.

This Box Code of Por Larranaga Montecarlos has been noted on our forum for being of sound quality and recently there's been speculation that the box has peaked and taken a downturn. My previous two examples would support that hypothesis but today's example was outstanding and suggests that I still have six sticks left that potentially will smoke as good as this one today.

This has spurred me to try one today from my Jul LGR 17 box. They have all been stellar and just a handful left. Haven’t had one for a bit so hopefully there has been no downturn

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, Chucko8 said:

This has spurred me to try one today from my Jul LGR 17 box. They have all been stellar and just a handful left. Haven’t had one for a bit so hopefully there has been no downturn

Yes, I will be eager to follow the outcome when you post it up on the Daily Smoking thread. 😉

[Chucko8]

16 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Yes, I will be eager to follow the outcome when you post it up on the Daily Smoking thread. 😉

Choose a beautiful looking example. Will let you know 

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones La Palmera 2016 - Edición Regional Emiratos Arabes Unidos SOM Dic 2016

The Ramon Allones La Palmera is a 2016 U.A.E Regional Edition which was released to market in early 2018. According to Cuban Cigar Website, this cigar made first use of a new regional band for the United Arab Emirates with the text Emiratos Arabes. Previous releases wore a band with E.A.U.

With a 54 ring gauge x 164mm length (or 6½ inches)  the RA La Palmera is a Sublimes vitola, the same size as the 2004 Cohiba Sublimes and 2008 Montecristo Sublimes Limited Editions and LCDH Bolivar Libertador. It comes packaged in a 10-count semi boite nature box.

Like my last one sampled around two months ago, this cigar was a touch under mild-medium, so nothing like a youthful Ramon Allones Specially Selected in strength or body, more like an aged Ramon Allones Superiores. Again, I felt the flavours were also unique to the marca, it smoked like something akin to the 2017 Montesco-sized Asia Pacifico Regional Edition Silver Jubilee. It had no cocoa whatsoever but it did have a delightful combination of baked bread, walnut, apple and pear citrus and some wood notes.

This was a long cigar to smoke, easily over two hours. Again the ash was extremely flaky and white-grey but this time I had fewer re-lights and the ash held together a bit better. Like my last one, it proved to be a fine cigar nevertheless. I wouldn't call this a complex cigar but its simple concoction of flavours resonated well with my palate. I could reach for another one right now just thinking about it!

[JohnS]

Juan López Malecon 2015 - Edición Regional Andorra ROM Oct 2015

The Juan Lopez Malecon is a 2015 Andorran Regional Edition release. It is a Montesco-sized cigar with a 55 ring gauge x 130 mm length (or 5⅛ inches). Since 2015 there's been eleven Regional Editions released in this size, a Gran Reserva (the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill in 2015) and of course, the 2019 Limited Edition Montecristo Supremos. Prior to 2015 we only had the regular production Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill, released in 2010 and the 2013 Limited Edition Hoyo de Monterrey Grand Epicure so it's gained quite a bit of popularity in the second half of the last decade!

As for the cigar's name, Malecon, of course it's a tribute to the famous eponymous promenade located on the waterfront north of Havana. In English, Malecón means "the pier". Dunhill had a Lonsdales-sized cigar (i.e similar in size as the Montecristo No.1 - 42 ring gauge x 165 mm or 6½ inches) in its marca also prior to its discontinuation in 1991.

Juan Lopez is known for its fuller strength with notes of coffee, toasted tobacco, orange citrus, chocolate and cedar or wood. I smoked a JL Malecon around two months ago and it was stupendous. This one was every bit as good. I mainly got notes of cedar, shortbread, orange citrus and Cointreau with a creamy texture throughout.  There was no white pepper notes this time. Flavours were well-balanced and the construction was fine.

Again, this was a great example of a superb Juan Lopez cigar and worthy of its fine reputation since release. If Juan Lopez cigars were like this in general, I wouldn't hesitate to seek them out and stock up, despite my aversion to cigars of this size.

[JohnS]

Partagás Capitols TUA Abr 2020

The Partagas Capitols is a new, retro-inspired 42 ring gauge x 129 mm (or 5⅛ inches) in length cigar released in conjunction with the Romeo y Julieta Club Kings. There must be some success to these 'retro releases' because I notice that the H.Upmann Regalias is next-in-line for a retro-tin packaged release.

The original Partagas Capitols was the same length but slightly smaller in ring gauge; a 40 rg Petit Cetros which was also machine-made. At least the re-introduced, rebooted Capitols is a handmade cigar!

Like my last Partagas Capitols, this one had a beautiful colorado rosado shade wrapper, which I find quite ideal in a Partagas cigar. My previous Capitols was slightly different than this one. This was mainly coffee, sourdough and forest floor flavours with a hint of pepper at times throughout the cigar.

I wrote in my previous reviews on this cigar that in comparison to the Partagas Shorts, it lacked that quality leather that you can get in those cigars, but it was a step-up from the generic Partagas Mille Fleur. Again, I still feel this way after smoking my fourth example from this 5-pack tin.

So, overall I would surmise that this Partagas Capitols was again a dependable smoke, was constructed well and it was more like a quality premium marevas than a lower-tiered 'cheap and cheerful'. It just wasn't quite up to Partagas Shorts, though.

[JohnS]

Partagás Culebras 2007 - La Casa del Habano Exclusivo MSU May 2018

The Partagas Culebras...when was the last time you had one? It's not exactly the type of cigar that will pop up in your rotation, but it is the perfect cigar when you want to share something with friends. Culebras means 'snake' in Spanish and this release signifies how three cigars are intertwined around each other in a twisted fashion resembling the outline of a snake.

Despite their 'mangled' and twisted shape they invariably always smoke well, flavourwise and draw-wise. How are they made that way? According to Cigarsofhabanos.com's late-2018 blog article, the cigars are purposely under-filled and over-moistened so that they may be bound together in a bunch without cracking the wrapper. Once bound, the cigars are sold in a bundle, and stored in this bundle until the an individual cigar is ready to be smoked. Once the bundle is separated, the individual cigars maintain their twisted shape, and the under-filled nature of the cigar results in a better draw than you’d expect.

Today, only Partagas has a Habanos Culebras product but in the past H.Upmann and Romeo y Julieta had one too. These Habanos Culebras were and are all 39 ring gauge x 146 mm (or 5¾ inches) in length, even the straight ones that were produced for the Caney and La Flor del Caney marcas. Prior to the Cuban Revolution (in the early 60's) Hoyo de Monterrey also produced a three-in-one Culebras vitola.

This Partagas Culebra is approaching three years of age and was the second one I smoked from the box. Again, the draw was ideal but ash-length was never going to approach one inch (or 2.5 cm) as is to be expected. Rather, I got regular ash-lengths of just under half an inch (or just over 1 cm). As usual, flavours were better than standard in their appeal and consisted of cedar, coffee, leather and sourdough. Unlike my last Partagas Culebras a little over two weeks ago there was a hint of Partagas pepper or spice to be found here and there, but I did not experience a strong nicotine 'kick' like a 2013 example I had around twelve months ago.

This was just simply glorious through-and-through. I envisage that I will smoke another soon, probably within a month!

 

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Club Kings RAT Dic 2019

The Romeo y Julieta Club Kings was discontinued originally in the mid-1980s. It actually came in a two formats; the handmade marevas and machine-made petit coronas although only the marevas was offered in a 5-pack tin. (The machine-made petit coronas Club Kings came in a cardboard pack.) This release was actually announced in 2015 but production was delayed, probably due to the packaging.

This was my third RyJ Club Kings from a 5-pack tin. Like my last Romeo y Julieta Club Kings from this tin, this cigar had a 'grassiness' which translated into a vegetal flavour upon smoking, but it also had a nice cherry fruit, RyJ Rosewater and toasted tobacco core element to it which made it quite flavoursome. The difference between this RyJ Club Kings and the previous two was that it had a little cocoa, which I quite liked.

In regards to construction the draw was perfect this time, whereas my previous Club Kings were firstly loose and secondly, tight. The cigar smoked well, with consistent half-inch ash-lengths and no re-lights required.

Again overall, the main difference between this Club Kings and a quality Romeo y Julieta Churchill or Wide Churchill would be that the element of cocoa was much lighter, but the cigar was quite flavoursome and it was a step-up from a RyJ Mille Fleur.

[LLC]

4 hours ago, JohnS said:

Ramón Allones La Palmera 2016 - Edición Regional Emiratos Arabes Unidos SOM Dic 2016
The Ramon Allones La Palmera is a 2016 U.A.E Regional Edition which was released to market in early 2018. According to Cuban Cigar Website, this cigar made first use of a new regional band for the United Arab Emirates with the text Emiratos Arabes. Previous releases wore a band with E.A.U.
With a 54 ring gauge x 164mm length (or 6½ inches)  the RA La Palmera is a Sublimes vitola, the same size as the 2004 Cohiba Sublimes and 2008 Montecristo Sublimes Limited Editions and LCDH Bolivar Libertador. It comes packaged in a 10-count semi boite nature box.
Like my last one sampled around two months ago, this cigar was a touch under mild-medium, so nothing like a youthful Ramon Allones Specially Selected in strength or body, more like an aged Ramon Allones Superiores. Again, I felt the flavours were also unique to the marca, it smoked like something akin to the 2017 Montesco-sized Asia Pacifico Regional Edition Silver Jubilee. It had no cocoa whatsoever but it did have a delightful combination of baked bread, walnut, apple and pear citrus and some wood notes.
This was a long cigar to smoke, easily over two hours. Again the ash was extremely flaky and white-grey but this time I had fewer re-lights and the ash held together a bit better. Like my last one, it proved to be a fine cigar nevertheless. I wouldn't call this a complex cigar but its simple concoction of flavours resonated well with my palate. I could reach for another one right now just thinking about it!

Great review John. The last time you did one on this cigar I mentioned to you that I had some boxes with the same code. What is your feeling on how they will age and how they are now vs what you anticipate they may become.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JohnS]

7 minutes ago, LLC said:

Great review John. The last time you did one on this cigar I mentioned to you that I had some boxes with the same code. What is your feeling on how they will age and how they are now vs what you anticipate they may become.

Thank you. I think that they are excellent right now, yet I have no hesitation, based on experience with cigars of similar blend in this marca, that they will become milder (naturally) and potentially develop more baking spice notes. Those citrus-type flavours will probably become more prominent too as the other nut and wood flavours recede.

[JohnS]

San Cristóbal de la Habana Prado 2018 - Especialista en Habanos Exclusivo LGR Oct 2019

In my previous review on the San Cristobal de la Habana Prado two months ago I wrote the following...

According to Cuban Cigar Website, "The Habanos Specialist programme was developed by Habanos S.A. around 2012. It is a designation given to independent tobacconists that meet certain criteria with regards to the range of Cuban cigars they carry, storage conditions, and staff training. It is administered by the exclusive distributors in their markets. There are around 500 Habanos Specialist stores worldwide.

Cigars in this category are exclusively available at Habanos Specialist and La Casa del Habano stores. They are produced indefinitely in somewhat smaller quantities than standard production. Since 2016, they have worn a special gold band that denotes this series, and tend to have higher end packaging."

The first Habanos Specialist release in 2012 was the San Cristobal de la Habana Torreon. It's arrival to market in 2013 delayed the next release, the H.Upmann Connossieur A which meant that the programme skipped a release in 2015. 2014 introduced the Por Larranaga Picadores, in 2016 the Punch 48 was added, in 2017 we saw the H.Upmann Connossieur B and in 2018 the San Cristobal de la Habana Prado was debuted. (Of course it was available in stores worldwide in 2019.) The last Habanos Specialist release was the 2019 Cohiba Novedosos, we're still awaiting the 2020 Montecristo Herederos.

Reception to this program has been mixed. We've had the excellent (H.Upmann Connossieur A and Punch 48), the respected (Por Larranaga Picadores and H.Upmann Connossieur B), the rarely seen (Cohiba Novedosos) and the highly-priced curiosities (i.e both San Cristobal de la Habana releases - the Torreon and Prado). The problem with the San Cristobal releases has been their price-point, packaging and comparison to other vitolas in the San Cristobal marca. Whereas the Torreon has been rare and costly due to its packaging in an ornate ceramic jar, the Prado is a Petit Pyramid which cannot compete price-wise with the Campanas-sized La Punta. For this reason, one must question what Habanos S.A were thinking in bringing out the Prado to market.

The cigar itself is actually quite good. Apart from been a little tight on the draw, construction was perfect, ash-length was consistent and flavours were true to the San Cristobal profile, albeit a touch milder. From the beginning I got a light cocoa, molasses sweetness, pancake texture and baking spice note which stayed on-point throughout the cigar. However, in comparison to the La Punta (a 52 ring gauge x 140 mm or 5½ inch Campanas) the Prado (a 50 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inch Petit Pyramid) is more expensive, milder and lacks compulsion for acquisition for most cigar enthusiasts because the El Principe (a 42 ring gauge x 110 mm or 4⅜ inch Minutos) and La Fuerza (a 50 ring gauge x 141 mm or 5½ inch Gorditos) are more established, more competitive in price and more reputable in flavour profile.

So, in summary, the San Cristobal de la Habana Prado has value if you'd like to try it for a change and you are favourably inclined towards San Cristobal as a marca. However, it doesn't provide compelling reasons for regular acquisition in comparison to the other aforementioned regular production San Cristobal cigars in my view.

This San Cristobal de la Habana was every bit as excellent, if not better, than the previous one I enjoyed around eight to nine weeks ago. It had distinctive San Cristobal notes of cocoa, molasses sweetness, light coffee and a smooth pancake texture together with some baking spice, light Earthiness and delicious walnut throughout the cigar. It was well-constructed, had consistent ash-lengths and ridges and smoked well. To say I really enjoyed it would be an understatement. This was 1 hour of supremely enjoyable cigar-smoking time well-spent on a mid-week Autumn's warm afternoon!

I still believe that the average Habanos cigar Enthusiast is better off investing in some solid El Principe or quality La Fuerza if they are interested in exploring San Cristobal as a marca. The Habanos Specialist SCdlH Prado release is too expensive, too scarce and too similar to the regular production La Punta to warrant anything more that acquiring it to smoke on the odd occasion, even if it is a sound, quality cigar.

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones Allones Superiores 2010 - La Casa del Habano Exclusivo TUA Ago 2020

According to Habanos S.A (and Cuban Cigar Website), La Casa del Habano is an internationally registered trademark, property of the Corporation Habano S.A.; it’s design and concept are founded in ‘know how’, and have been pivotal in Habanos’ successful development into an International Chain of Franchises in just a brief period of time.

La Casa del Habano are models for successful businesses around the world. An ample number of cigar boutiques rebuilt using norms and parameters of identity set by the Franchiser, Habanos S.A., using it’s image and excellent service, have successfully promoted the pleasures of smoking cigars along with the knowledge of it’s culture to consumers, while still maintaining the capacity to adapt itself to the characteristics and culture of the country in which it functions.

In 1990, the first international La Casa Del Habano began operating in Cancun, Mexico.

From that date to the present it’s business concept has evolved. In the beginning it functioned as a store especially dedicated to the selling of famous Cuban tobaccos commercially recognized around the world. Presently, this store not only sells tobaccos, but is also characterized by numerous other services and personalized attention provided to experts in the art of smoking cigars as well as to those beginners interested in learning about these products, it’s culture and it’s history.

Initially the LCdH releases were standard productions cigars produced in unlimited numbers.

Since 2011 a new policy of releasing special La Casa Del Habano Exclusives (La Casa Del Habano Exclusivo) in limited numbers was established. Prior to this, releases such as the 2006 San Cristóbal de la Habana Muralla, San Cristóbal de la Habana Mercaderes and San Cristóbal de la Habana Oficios and the 2007 Bolívar Gold Medal were produced in limited runs and not continued. The 2007 Partagás Culebras, 2008 Partagás Salomones, 2009 H.Upmann Noellas and 2010 Ramón Allones Allones Superiores were amongst the first LCdH releases to benefit from the 2011 change in policy and hence have been in regular production ever since.

This was a nice, yet simple smoking experience. I mention this because I've had more older, complex examples of this cigar in the past. The flavours remained fairly consistent throughout. I'd describe them as a combination of wood, baking spice, floral and/or vegetal notes and of course, the quintessential Ramon Allones stewed fruit or Christmas cake flavours which were very much present and to the fore, especially in the back half of the cigar. Despite its young age, I very much appreciated the mildness here, with the cigar being just under eight months old.

For me, this was a stupendous example of a Ramon Allones cigar. Then again, I am highly impartial to the great run of recent 2020 Habanos cigars!

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro TUA Dic 2020

The resurgence of Quai d'Orsay as a marca in worldwide Habanos markets since its re-branding in 2017 is something quite remarkable to reflect on. What exactly has caused Quai d'Orsay to become so popular in the last few years? I would advocate that the reasons why have to do with excellent marketing emphasing new releases that are a class above standard regular production Habanos cigars, new bands and excellent leaf going into those new releases; namely, the Quai d'Orsay No.50 and No.54.

The introduction of the new regular production additions to the Quai d'Orsay marca, the Nos. 50 and 54, has affected the availability of the aptly-named Coronas-sized (i.e. 42 ring gauge x 142 mm or 5⅝ inches in length) Coronas Claro of late. Thankfully, these have come back to the market in 2020 and it was with great eagerness that I looked forward to smoking today's specimen.

Despite recent larger price rises for Quai d'Orsay of 8% they are still very much in-demand. In fact, they've been colloquially termed the 'poor man's Cohiba' by enthusiasts. Incidentally, the Quai d'Orsay No.54 has been the more popular of the two new releases than the No.50, both on our forum and worldwide.

Quai d'Orsay is the only marca founded outside of Cuba and by request. The story goes that French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing wanted a uniquely French luxury cigar product to compliment other synonymous French luxury items such as French champagne, perfume and foie gras so he asked the French tobacco monopoly, SEITA to come up with the product. Tobacco Executive Gilbert Belaubre, rarely credited in these Quai d'Orsay origin anecdotes, was really the man responsible for the brand being light and Habanos as he was adamant that a French luxury cigar could not be machine-made and utilise Sumatra and Cameroon leaves (as one of the other project teams planned to do). Belaubre worked with Cubatabaco to come up with the brand in 1974. At first the brand consisted of light-wrappered cigars; in fact the Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro had two versions as the lightest-wrappered product was called 'Claro Claro' and was marked 'Clarismo' on its box. This lightest-wrappered product was discontinued in the early 1980s as the extra expense didn't translate into an extraordinary cigar-smoking experience in comparison to the other cigars in the marca such as the Coronas Claro, Gran Corona, Imperiales and Panatelas.

For many years the marca utilised light wrappers in keeping with its light and mild strength and herbal, shortbread and citrus flavour profile. Quai d'Orsay became the second largest Habanos marca behind Montecristo in France but it didn't really dominate other non-French speaking markets. Fast forward a number of years, and with the brand down to one cigar in regular production; the QdO Coronas Claro, a change in using light wrappers and an upgrading of blend has meant that the Quai d'Orsay would have to be the hottest marca outside the current Global (Cohiba, H.Upmann, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo, Partagas and Romeo y Julieta) and Value brands (Bolivar, Punch, Ramon Allones and Trinidad) in the world today.

The one characteristic common to the very best Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50 and 54 I've enjoyed in the past 18 to 24 months has been without a doubt a rich egg-and-butter brioche bread pastry texture. Other flavours of note include, quality hay, cedar, cream, ginger or cinnamon spice and toffee. When these Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50 and 54 have not been on-point it was usually due to the cigar being unbalanced, often with flavours of oak wood and/or spice dominating and detracting from those sweeter cake-type aforementioned flavours.

This Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro started off with a delicious and delectable egg-and-butter brioche bread flavour which was the main flavour of the cigar until the middle of the last third. Along the way I also got some quality hay, light cedar and cream. In the middle of the final third I got a noticeable dour oak wood which diminished the enjoyment of the cigar in comparison to the rest of it, albeit just a little.

I have no doubt these QdO Coronas Claros from this box will change with time down but I feel that judging by this first one from the box it is quite outstanding for the time being. Sure, that staid oak flavour at the end of the cigar was nowhere near as exciting as the rest of it, but believe me, 90% of this cigar was every bit as good and similar as the best Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50 and 54 I've enjoyed since their release. It goes without saying that I'll be smoking another one soon!

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 AUM Jul 2014

I'm now coming to just under the last third of this box with seven sticks left and it's been quite a good box thus far. The last three have mainly been a combination of cocoa/chocolate, light milk coffee, nut and baking spice, all mild and very easy to smoke. Some others have been far more intense in cocoa and/or chocolate flavour, as this one was today.

This Monte No.5 had a deep, dark brown colorado wrapper. The cocoa in it was so strong that the other flavours (toasted tobacco, leather, coffee) were muted in comparison. I had to slow down my smoking to prevent a 'nicotine-kick' to my head, which thankfully I did.

It's not like I didn't enjoy this diminutive perlas; on the contrary I was fine with it, it's just that my other cigars from this box have been much milder, well-balanced and more indicative of a cigar that's aged around seven years, and therefore more to my preference.

[JohnS]

Saint Luis Rey Regios GOB Jun 2020

According to Cuban Cigar Website, "Saint Luis Rey is a current pre-revolution brand, established around 1940 by a British firm. It was imported exclusively into the UK market until the 1993. Production was always fairly small, and starting in the early 2000s the line has been gradually reduced to a single cigar produced for copyright reasons." That one cigar is the Hermosos No.4-sized Regios (48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches in length).

I chose to smoke this Saint Luis Rey Regios today to challenge my bias in relation to this marca because you see, for me at least, Saint Luis Rey has always been a cigar that requires aging to get the benefits of its blend profile and my preference makes it difficult to appreciate smoking it in its youth. Whether it's the now discontinued corona gorda-sized Serie A, the similarly deleted Double Corona, Lonsdale and Churchill or the Regional releases such as the Asia-Pacifico Pacificos and Cuban Marquez, I've always smoked them with time down.

Make no mistake however, the Regios does indeed carry the hallmarks of the Saint Luis Rey flavour profile. These are its cocoa, hay and stonefruit (think dried apricots) core. Today's Regios had these flavours but its apple citrus tart flavour wasn't as dominant as I would have liked. Otherwise, the cigar was serviceable.

A dear friend of mine commented that the Regios is the type of cigar that will give you that apple or pear citrus tart and bread flavour in its first three to six months, thereafter you're best to let them settle for two or three years as the citrus tart recedes and the other Saint Luis Rey flavours build. I think that's sage advice indeed!

[Luca]

On 3/21/2021 at 6:39 AM, JohnS said:

Cohiba Siglo VI ARG Jun 2015

This is the second Cohiba Siglo VI I've smoked from this ARG Jun 2015 10-count box and it was even better than my first one, which was superb. I shared one each with @Luca, paired with some Yellow Chartreuse and this was easily a 95-point cigar.

@Luca stated that his example was a combination of butter, toffee, hay and some mocha coffee. That's good enough for me as later on we both were trying to smoke our Siglo VIs way past their safe 'nubbing point' and endangering our fingers!

Again, I hope to smoke another Cohiba Siglo VI from this box quite soon. One thing I'm now sure of: I don't think this box will see even another twelve to eighteen months of aging, judging by how good the first three from the box have been!

I almost burnt my fingers!

[Luca]

On 3/27/2021 at 5:47 AM, JohnS said:

Juan López Selección No.2 MEL Dic 2016

I'd like to thank @Luca for this Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2. It's been six months since my last JL2, also kindly gifted by @Luca. At the time I wrote that the cigar had some Cointreau orange, citrus and chocolate in the first third but it soon settled into a stronger espresso coffee, toasted tobacco and spice offering towards the end of the first third and stayed that way until the end.

In summary, it wasn't too different to the JL2s from my box these past few years. For me, I felt that I needed some more time for those orange and chocolate flavours to come more to the fore and for those espresso coffee and toasted tobacco flavours to recede. How long? At the time I indicated that I will sample another one in the next six to nine months to see how they were coming along.

Fast forward six months and this four-and-a-third year-old Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2 was the kind of cigar that makes you perform a complete 180° turn in your wish list. I make no secret of the fact that I haven't had the best time with young Juan Lopez in the past, I haven't loathed them, but I haven't loved them either. This was all orange peel citrus right from the word go, with a combined light coffee and milk chocolate core and most importantly, it was medium to medium-mild in strength the whole way.

It's been explained to me in the past, from a dear and sage friend, that the key to a quality Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2 was letting them rest and develop, and this was why I guess this cigar today connected so favourably with my palate. 5 out of 5, 10 out of 10, a 95 point cigar, however you want to rate it, it was superb!

Thank you John. Great review and I agree with your tasting notes. I'm actually smoking one right now! 

[JohnS]

El Rey del Mundo Petit Cayo 2018 - Edición Regional Andorra SMA Nov 2018

The El Rey del Mundo Petit Cayo is a 2018 Andorra Regional Edition released in early 2019. It is a 52 ring gauge x 110 mm (or 4⅜ inches) in length Petit Edmundo and it came packaged in a 25-count slide lid box. The last time I smoked this cigar, around two months ago, I was significantly disappointed. This time it was a lot better; alas, it's still no Juan Lopez Malecon!

This time the light colorado claro wrapper thankfully remained intact and did not split. Also, it was much more true to the El Rey del Mundo profile. El Rey del Mundo is known for its mild strength and softer attributes such as floral notes, a touch of citrus, shortbread, hay, almond nut and perhaps toast. My last ERdM Petit Cayo was mainly burnt almond, toast and black pepper. This example had no burnt flavours nor black pepper. Instead it was basically hay, toast and some citrus and it was much easier to smoke! It was also much milder and less intense.

Last time I mentioned that I wouldn't be reaching for another one of these soon. Let's just say I wanted to clear up space in my humidor today. Needless to say, this was my last one I have and no, I won't be seeking out another box or stick for acquisition. Let's just leave it at that!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Byblos 2016 - Edición Regional Líbano SMA Dic 2017

The Bolivar Byblos is a 2016 Libano Regional Edition which hit the market late in December 2017. It's named after the Phoenician city of Byblos, the oldest continuously inhabited city in modern history. It is a Magicos vitola, with a 52 ring gauge x 115 mm (or 4½ inches) length and comes packaged in a 25-count semi boite nature box.

The last Bolivar Byblos I had around two months ago was a full-bodied smoke with notes of dry wood, earth, leather along with sweet hay and pepper. If I didn't have to touch it up a few times due to bunched leaves, which induced an uneven burn, I would have rated that cigar higher.

This Bolivar Byblos was medium-mild in the first half and much fuller in the second. It was mainly dry wood, leather and sweet hay to start with and much more 'earthy' to finish off. In summary, it was fine but I'd much rather reach for a 2019-20 Bolivar Belicosos Finos or Bolivar Petit Coronas before I were to reach for this Petit Robusto again!

[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 second Ramon Allones No.2 I've had and once again, upon lighting, I noted that this was a quality, refined cigar. The flavours were typical for Ramon Allones such as cocoa and cherry fruit. The last Ramon Allones No.2 I had in early-December 2020 contained hazelnut and soft baking spices on the edges and this RA No.2 LE was much the same upon smoking around four months later. The flavours were not delineated; rather they were melded at this point (again, pretty much like my last RA No.2 LE) and I still feel that this cigar will require a good 2 or 3 years to start opening up to fully appreciate. Then again, 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 saying this does carry precedence.

The cigar took me 75 to 80 minutes to finish and yes, I did enjoy it but for me, it's a full-bodied cigar with refined, conflated flavours at this stage. You're best to let this cigar settle three to five years.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo VI ARG Jun 2015

It's often said that the best very cigar-smoking experiences are the ones enjoyed with good company rather than just by judging via the usual criteria of construction and flavours. Today's Cohiba Siglo VI was exactly like that; mind you, there was a little sentimentality attached to the cigar and that made it even better in my mind than the fact that it was a wonderfully flavoursome cigar.

Over many years I've enjoyed a cigar or two with the founder of Cuban Cigar Website, Trevor Leask when we catch-up every few months or so. Whilst we've enjoyed many varied regular production and special release cigars, invariably the ones we've enjoyed the most have been the aged Cohiba examples. We've had some spectacular aged Cohiba Siglo VIs in the past and this near six-year old Siglo VI was every bit as good as previous ones we've enjoyed together.

Usually I place most emphasis on the quality of flavours in Habanos cigars when I rate them but this ARG Jun 2015 Siglo VI transcended that because it just seemed to smoke so well in every category I could think of. This meant that I actively stopped myself from discerning specific flavours and just simply enjoyed the cigar for what it was...that is, a superlative specimen of an aged Cohiba Siglo VI.

I could tell you that this had mocha coffee, refined hay, honey sweetness, vanilla and a smooth butter texture but I may be understating the cigar in describing it. Both Trevor and I nubbed our cigars as far as we could go over 95 to 100 minutes of pure cigar-smoking enjoyment on a gorgeous April Autumnal day. It's this memory that will linger in my mind, I would think, when the time comes to light up my next Cohiba Siglo VI in the future.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Leyenda LGR Sep 2018

The Montecristo Leyenda is part of the Linea 1935 series, a group of three cigars (the others are the Dumas and Maltes) which are the Montecristo version of the Cohiba Behike series. Its dimensions are identical to the 2015 Montecristo 80 Aniversario release, that is big...a Maravillas No.2 cigar with a 55 ring gauge by 165 mm (or 6½ inches) length. These have been marketed as been fuller in strength (or is it flavour, or possibly both?), but I consistently found these to be suitably medium to medium-mild. This Leyenda wasn't as light as an Especiales No.2, for example, but it was nowhere near as strong as some Petit Edmundos or even Montecristo No. 4's I've had.

Unlike my last Leyenda smoked six months ago, this had a pleasant marshmallow-textured creaminess to it which is something I actively look for in this cigar and appreciate. It also had notes of light cocoa, cedar and almond nuts but again it didn't have any sign of white pepper like the last few Leyendas I've had in 2018 and 2019. This time the cigar did not get intense into the last third and I enjoyed it well past the band. It took a good two to two-an-a-quarter hours to finish.

This was as excellent as the best Leyendas I have had in general, mainly because it had a marshmallow-textured creaminess to it and had plenty of smoke per draw. Whilst I have stated in my last review on the Montecristo Linea 1935 Maltes that overall I feel the Linea 1935 is a disappointing release, due to its premium marketing and price point, I will continue to laud the virtues of the Leyenda and I will continue to seek it out and enjoy it on occasion, unlike the Maltes and Dumas.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Dantés 2016 - Edición Limitada MEL Dic 2016

The Montecristo Dantes 2016 Limited Edition is a Hermosos No.1 which came out in early 2017. At 48 ring gauge x 167mm (or 6⅝ inches) in length, it is indeed a rare vitola not seen since the 2003 Romeo y Julieta Limited Edition and the three special release San Cristobal de la Habana Mercedares releases last seen in 2009. A commemorative Hoyo de Monterrey Primaveras 18 release is due in 2021, which will see the return of this vitola size.

At the time of release Rob and Ken reviewed this cigar and commented that it needed a three to five year window to peak. This Montecristo Dantes, at around four-and-a-half years of age, justified in my opinion this view.

In 2017 initial reviews stated that the Dantes honoured the Montecristo cocoa or chocolate and coffee profile and had a bit of fruit and white pepper to it, although it was a little one-dimensional. Fast forward to 2021 and this Dantes today had your classic Montecristo cocoa, coffee and cream core intermixed with some baking spice, marshmallow, leather and wood (but nowhere near what you'd get in a good Montecristo Leyenda cigar) but little to no hints of white pepper.

It was still mild-medium in strength and quite flavoursome. I have an unopened 10-count box of this Limited Edition cigar resting away and I intend to smoke from it in the next six to twelve months as I feel that they are coming along quite nicely right now at this stage.