JohnS' Smoking Diary 2021

[KCCubano]

On 7/22/2021 at 8:22 AM, JohnS said:

Rafael González Petit Coronas SOM Ene 2017

There's so few premium Marevas options nowadays that it's hard to believe that the Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona could be thought of as a forgotten vitola. Maybe it's just a case of its current hiatus or perhaps the Montecristo No.4 and Cohiba Siglo II account for the greater majority of sales in this size. When I mean marevas, I am of course referring to a 42 ring gauge x 129 mm (or 5⅛ inches) in length handmade Habanos cigar. The Petit Corona classification used to refer to a machine-made vitola of the same length.

At one stage, it seemed that close to every marca had a marevas option in their line-up. In my mind, when Habanos S.A went into a 50/50 partnership with Altidis in 2000 and then started to streamline their regular production catalogue in 2002 starting with the H.Upmann No.4, Partagas Petit Coronas, Punch Petit Coronas and Ramon Allones Petit Coronas being discontinued, this signalled the beginning of the shift towards other vitolas such as the Robustos as the quintessential Habanos size. The discontinuation of the Diplomaticos No.4 and Punch Royal Seleccion No.12 in 2010 confirmed this shift, in my view.

I equate just 5 marevas as premium offerings currently; the Montecristo No.4, Cohiba Siglo II, Bolivar Petit Coronas, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas. Romeo y Julieta may have five marevas cigars in its marca but I don't view these as premium offerings, including the latest retro release, the RyJ Club Kings. And not all deletions in this vitola have had the same reaction amongst cigar enthusiasts; I doubt too many would miss the Sancho Panza Non Plus (discontinued 2019) in the same way as the H.Upmann Petit Coronas (discontinued 2017).

This Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona came from a recent 5-pack singles acquisition. They had a good few years on it too, but my UTE Oct 2015 RGPCs are a little older. This SOM Ene 2017 example more than 'holds its own' in quality in comparison to my 2015 RGPCs, in my view, after smoking this cigar today. It simply had a wonderful balanced combination of cocoa, Earth, wood, dried fruit and a little honey sweetness here and there. Suffice to say, this could have possibly been the best Rafael Gonzalez I've ever smoked, and that's saying something, because I assure you I've smoked a few!

If you haven't smoked a Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona for awhile why not re-visit it soon? You may be in for a wondrous surprise!

I have had one from a 17 box. About time to revisit. First one was decent and thought at time may need another yr for them to balance out a bit more. PCs are my favorite. Wish I still had RAPC! 

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones Celestiales Finos 2009 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico OMA Ago 2009

The Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos. No doubt you've heard of it if you've perused this forum a little time for this cigar equates to the ancient city of Atlantis, El Dorado or the Holy City of Mt Zion at the end of the Book of Revelation. In other words, on the one hand discussing it when you haven't had one (ever or even for awhile) adds to its mythical status or legend, smoking one, especially after a good 12 years after they came out, reinforces the veracity of those lofty accolades.

So, a brief history of this fabled Asia-Pacifico 2009 release, if I may. The first year of this release up to its second or third saw many reviewers state how potent this cigar was, like very strong stout beer. The consensus was justified, you see, Pacific Cigar Company blends their Regional Editions for a 5-year development at least. It's why so few are great 'out-of-the-box' except for a very few, one of these being the 2014 Diplomaticos Bushidos, for example.

The second phase saw the potency diminish a little but flavours were still strong. Reviewers mainly stated that the cigar had more development to go. I feel that after smoking this cigar, coming upon 12 years of age, that the flavours have mellowed and blended sufficiently to warrant stating that these are closing upon their peak, in my view, but there's sufficient potency for development for a few years yet.

This RACF had a milk chocolate/cocoa, leather and cherried stewed fruit profile that remained consistent throughout the smoke. Previously I found this milk chocolate profile much stronger. There is a dough and dried apricot sweetness to the cigar that was more evident here than I remember it in the past. Even though the strength of the cigar was under medium-mild, it was still fairly full-bodied in terms of flavour. Construction was excellent as ash-length was consistently around the inch mark and ridges were like a perfect stack of dimes.

If you have any RACF left then you are very fortunate. I can count mine on one hand, I look forward to smoking them gradually in the next few years.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Maire TEO May 2018

In my last few reviews on the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Maire I had written that when it comes to the Le Hoyo series I sometimes wonder why the du Gourmet, du Roi, du Prince and des Dieux were discontinued but the du Maire remains. I surmised then (and I still do) that the cold hard facts is that the du Maire continues to sell, while the other aforementioned cigars of the Le Hoyo series did not, but I still reminisce and pine for a des Dieux or du Prince at times; whereas I never pine for a du Maire other than when I need a cigar to smoke for a 20 to 25-minute duration.

This box is now just over three years of age and it's been an up-and-down ride thus far. The last HdM Le Hoyo du Maire I had around two months ago was brilliant; in contrast, this du Maire today was dependable and solid. Like my last HdM Le Hoyo du Maire, this cigar was well-constructed, the draw was ideal and it smoked well and cool. Whereas my last HdM Le Hoyo du Maire was all light cocoa, cedar and vanilla, this one was more woody and had cinnamon spice here and there on the edges, which is why I did not rate it as highly. Still, it was a lot better than many other du Maires I've had!

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales SMA Jun 2019

I've developed quite a liking to the Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales, of late, as I've found them consistently sound in construction and flavour. In fact, I can unequivocally say that I haven't had one with construction or burn issues (yet).

Unlike my last one, this RyJ Petit Royales had strong notes of anise, with the quintessential cocoa/chocolate, toasted tobacco, cherry and rosewater flavour profile to compliment it, but this time I only got hints of walnut. Nevertheless, it still smoked well from beginning to end. Again, there was no spice.

If you have a predilection towards the Romeo y Julieta marca than do yourself a favour and find out for yourself what a good, short smoke these are! Give yourself around 30 to 35 minutes to savour it. (Even though my RyJ Petit Royales lasted 40 minutes today!)

[JohnS]

Cohiba Espléndidos UAO Dic 2018

If I were to ask you what cigar do you think of when you think of Cohiba as a marca, do you think of the Esplendidos? Or possibly the Lanceros? Perhaps the Siglo VI? If you were to think of Hoyo de Monterrey it's easy to picture the Double Corona as its flagship cigar. Similarly, Montecristo has the Montecristo No.2, H.Upmann, the Sir Winston and Romeo y Julieta has the Churchill. But Cohiba? Perhaps consensus on its flagship isn't so easy. You could make valid arguments for the Lanceros, Esplendidos or Siglo VI. In regards to the Gran Reserva series, introduced in 2009 and one could make an argument that these come out in brand flagship cigars, we did indeed get a Cohiba Siglo VI, Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona, Montecristo No.2, H.Upmann Sir Winston but the Cohiba Esplendidos and Romeo y Julieta Churchill were reserved first, ironically, for the Reserva series, which pre-dated the Gran Reserva series by six years, coming out in 2003.

The Cohiba Esplendidos is a Churchill-sized cigar, with a 47 ring gauge x 178 mm (or 7 inches) length. It was first introduced in 1989 and of course means 'splendid' in Spanish. It's a shame that there aren't more Churchills around in the present day. Twenty years ago, the Habanos catalogue had 13 more in regular production, but the partnership in 2000 with Altidis saw a streamlining in the vitola so that today we are left with the Cohiba Esplendidos, H.Upmann Sir Winston and Romeo y Julieta Churchill (perhaps you could argue for the Montecristo Churchill Anejados being available in the current day, but I'd consider this a special release and whilst it is available, it doesn't carry the same reputable strength as the current three Churchills).

In comparison to the Linea 1492 range, that is the Siglo I to VI (and the Medio Siglo), I tend to find the Clasica Linea range more stronger and richer on the palate in flavours in general. In the first third I got some milk coffee, mocha, honey and a little bit of grass. The strength was just under medium, construction was on-point, as was the ash-length and it wasn't hard to decipher that this was a 'classy' cigar in the way it was smoking.

In the middle third, the cigar settled in its mocha and milk coffee core, balanced by a honey sweetness. At this point some more vanilla bean started to come through to counter-balance the hints of grassiness.

In the final third, the cigar continued to exhibit a rich complexity. There wasn't much of change in flavour profile or intensity; the cigar just continued to smoke well right down to the nub.

So, in summary, this Esplendidos had a classy, rich and vibrant complexity over two-and-a-quarter hours of smoking time. It goes without saying that I very much enjoyed it.

[JohnS]

Partagás Lusitanias UEB Abr 2019

The Partagas Lusitanias is perhaps up there as one of my very favourite Partagas vitolas, it's just a pity I don't smoke them too often. In fact, prior to my last Partagas Lusitanias a month ago, my Cuban Cigar Inventory states that I've only had five Lusitanias in the last 5 years. Why so? Probably because they take a minimum of 2 hours to smoke!

This 'Lusi' was picked up in a 5-pack singles acquisition a month ago so I was excited to try the first one out today. Again, I was pleased how 'colorado red' the wrappers were on each of these UEB Abr 2019 Party Lusis.

This Partagas Lusitanias was a lot better than my last one a month ago. Partagas sourdough, milk coffee, cedar, nut, leather, honey and lashings of caramel-like sweetness (what El Pres lists as nougat) dominated the cigar. There was no paprika spice to be found whatsoever.

Unlike my last few Lusitanias, thankfully this Double Coronas ashed consistently well with strong ridges all the way. A standard cigar will burn around the ligero leaves in the centre, that is if it's larger than around 38 ring gauge and it contains ligero leaves, and in doing so it will leave a slight cone shape as the ash drops signifying that the seco and volado leaves around the core burn quicker and hence drop off accordingly. Sometimes a well-constructed cigar will ash off in seemingly perfect inch-long cylindrical tufts, which this cigar did.

In summary, that caramel or nougat sweetness started from the first few puffs and did not let up over two-and-a-half hours of smoking time. I wouldn't hesitate to say that this was the best and most complex Partagas Lusitanias I've smoked in years!

[JohnS]

Partagás Maduro No. 3 TUE Mar 2021

The Partagas Maduro No.3 was added along with the Partagas Maduro No.2 in 2018 to form the Linea Maduro with the Partagas Maduro No.1 introduced in 2015. It is a unique Maduro No.3 size with a 50 ring gauge by 145 mm (or 5¾ inches) length. This was my first Partagas Maduro No.3 from the box.

I've had quite a few Partagas Maduro No.1s since acquiring a box in September 2020 so I was again quite keen to smoke this cigar to compare it to that original Partagas Maduro cigar after smoking my first Partagas Maduro No.2 from the box a few months ago. The Partagas Maduro No.1 has been a refined cocoa, chocolate, coffee, anise and sour cherry smoke according to my palate, in general. I wouldn't necessarily classify it as a classic Partagas-flavoured cigar. Having said this, I would categorise 2019/20 Partagas Maduro No.1 as a quality cigar well worth your time in acquiring.

This first Partagas Maduro No.3 had a similar flavour profile to the majority of TUE May 2020 Partagas Maduro No.1s I've enjoyed in late 2020/early 2021 and the initial Partagas Maduro No.2s I've smoked recently. It was definitely the most refined of the three with less body or fullness of flavour (than the Partagas Maduro No.1s I've smoked). The flavours were a combination of cocoa/chocolate, sourdough, anise, sour cherry and coffee...quite distinctive and quite enjoyable.

In regards to smoking time, give yourself around 90 to 100 minutes for the Partagas Maduro No.3. This one took me around 95 minutes to finish. In contrast, give yourself around 60 to 65 minutes for the Partagas Maduro No.2. The Partagas Maduro No.1 requires a little longer, perhaps 80 to 90 minutes to smoke.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Secretos MSU Nov 2017

This is the first Cohiba Secretos from this MSU Nov 2017 box I've sampled. It was acquired from PCC and sourced from the Spanish Habanos distributor, Altidis. The Secretos is a Reyes-sized cigar with a 40 ring gauge x 110 mm (or 4⅜ inches) length. Of the three Cohiba Maduro 5 releases first introduced in 2007 (the Genios, Magicos and Secretos) I would opine that the Secretos remains the most popular amongst enthusiasts, followed closely by the Genios.

In my experience, the Cohiba Maduro series takes a very long time to peak, somewhere in the vicinity of 7 to 10 years. In contrast, I've found the Partagas Maduro series much more approachable much sooner. The reason I say this is because the Cohiba Maduro 5 series tends to be more full-bodied when young, packing strong flavours which very much benefit from melding with time down.

This Cohiba Secretos was medium-strengthed but indeed, very much full-bodied. The chocolate and coffee dominated the Cohiba grass/hay in its spine and it necessitated me slowing down to not overwhelm my palate each time I drew down on the cigar. A Reyes-sized cigar like this normally takes me 35 to 40 minutes to smoke. This one took a whole 75 minutes to savour!

So, despite three-and-a-half years of rest I would say that the remainder of this box would benefit from at least another three-and-a-half years of rest. Or at least until that time comes and the chocolate and coffee recedes, the Cohiba grass/hay is more definable and we start to get some baking spice and perhaps floral notes on the edges. I am willing to wait!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Petit Coronas ETP Mar 2017

As I approach the halfway mark of this early-2017 box of Bolivar Petit Coronas, I have found them both consistent in construction and flavour delivery and this cigar was no different today.

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.

I was surprised today to find that it's been a whole three months since I've enjoyed my last BPC, according to my Cuban Cigar Website Smoking Diary. (One may ask why did it take so long and what is wrong with me? Perhaps I've been unduly distracted!) This Bolivar Petit Coronas again smoked well and the flavours were once again excellent. Much like my last one, these included a mix of leather, Earth, cocoa, wood, fruit or berries and malt (or stout). I've now gone through just over two-fifths of the box (i.e, I've smoked nine and given away two) and they continue to be great to excellent in my view. I still have fanciful dreams to see the remaining stock through to its fifth year, which is a just under twelve months away. I might not make it!

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 ABO Ago 2018

This Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 box had been nothing short of outstanding. Why so? Simply put it's the flavours. This RyJ Exhibicion No.4 cigar had beautiful, softer RyJ flavours of anise, rosewater, cocoa/nutmeg, oat biscuit, cherry, coconut and cream. I would also add that this cigar was up there as one of the best from this box, thus far. There's no doubt though that the solid construction, ash, good draw and consistent burn-line also contributed to my glowing appraisal.

As Romeo y Julieta is the only Habanos marca to include a regular production Hermosos No.4 (i.e. 48 rg x 127 mm or 5 inches) and a Robustos (i.e. 50 rg x 124 mm or 4⅞ inches) how does the Hermosos No.4-sized RyJ Exhibicion No.4 compare to the Robustos-sized RyJ Short Churchill? In general, the RyJ Short Churchills I've smoked mostly this year and last had more toasted tobacco, wood and darker chocolate flavours in comparison to the RyJ Exhibicion No.4. For my preferences, I much prefer these 'softer' Romeo y Julieta flavours I've quoted in this review on the Exhibicion No.4.

(N.B. Technically-speaking, both the H.Upmann and Hoyo de Monterrey marcas have a Hermosos No.4 and Robustos option but these marcas include an aged anejados cigar as the second choice.)

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro TUA Dic 2020

The introduction of the new regular production additions to the Quai d'Orsay marca in late 2017, 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. This is my third one that I've smoked from this box around three months after I smoked the first two back-to-back within a week.

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.

I stated in my previous review on the Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro that 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 was much better in the flavour department than my last one. This cigar had a decent amount of smoke per draw and was slightly woody or oak in texture. It also had that quintessential egg-and-butter brioche bread, hay, orange citrus and ginger sweetness at times which made it quite delectable.

Construction-wise, it was still slightly flawed. I never managed to get a consistent ash and I had to re-light a few times. I think the quality flavours helped to ease my concerns in relation to how this QdO Coronas Claro smoked today, however.

I think I'll leave the box to settle again for now and re-visit it in a few months to see how it is progressing.

[Fuzz]

On 7/8/2021 at 2:26 PM, JohnS said:

Noooooo!!! You wiped off the plume!!!......

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 AUM Jul 2014

This mid-2014 Montecristo No.5 was similar to one I smoked around three months ago and even though I rated that cigar particularly highly, I can unequivocally say that this one was definitively the best one from the box!

The qualities I appreciated from that cigar three months ago was the luscious chocolate which coated the palate thickly, a molten texture that lingered long after each draw was taken and some baking spice, light milk coffee and a bit of nuttiness. This Monte 5 today was similar in taste and texture; albeit, it was a little better because it had a perfect balance of citrus twang added to compliment the soft 'Lindt-like' chocolate. Trust me, you don't get them like this often enough!

I'm now down to four sticks left from this box. It's definitely time to think about ordering another!

[JohnS]

Partagás Maduro No. 2 TUE Dic 2020

The Partagas Maduro No.2 was added along with the Partagas Maduro No.3 in 2018 to form the Linea Maduro with the Partagas Maduro No.1 introduced in 2015. It is a Short Piramides with a 55 ring gauge by 120 mm (or 4¾ inches) length. If the large ring gauge concerns you that this new addition to the Partagas line is a jaw-breaker, rest assured, the conical head makes it much easier to smoke after cutting than it would otherwise. In my case, I use a Colibri V-Cutter which makes a deeper v-cut in cigars than typical V-Cutters.

I've had quite a few Partagas Maduro line cigars in the last year or so, and in my opinion, I wouldn't necessarily classify them as a classic Partagas-flavoured cigar. For example, you're not likely to get spice or pepper out of them. Having said this, I would categorise 2019/20 Partagas Maduro No.1, No.2 and/or No.3 as quality cigars well worth your time in acquiring.

This fourth Partagas Maduro No.2 from the box had a similar flavour profile to the first three Partagas Maduro No.2s I've smoked in the last three months. Like those Party Maduro 2s, this had more strength and more body or fullness of flavour than the Partagas Maduro No.1 or Partagas Maduro No.3. The flavours were a combination of cocoa/chocolate, anise, sour cherry and coffee. In today's cigar, the combination of anise and sour cherry was particularly distinctive in comparison to my previous Party Maduro 2s.

In regards to smoking time, give yourself around 60 to 65 minutes for the Partagas Maduro No.2. This one took me a little longer to finish, around 75 minutes to finish. The Partagas Maduro No.1 requires a little longer, perhaps 80 to 90 minutes to smoke, whereas the Partagas Maduro No.3 can take around 90 to 100 minutes.

[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 5 of them (or half the box) in the last eight months.

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 3 months short of eight years of age, and smoked a little differently, further still. This one was more a combination of shortbread, cream, hay, almond nut and floral notes, with the slightest hint of vanilla sweetness on the edges. 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 that I didn't notice how quickly I had smoked this Edmundo-sized cigar down...somewhere around 50 minutes. In comparison, a 50 ring gauge x 124 mm (or 4⅞ inches) in length Robusto would normally take me around 70 minutes to smoke.

The only regret I had about this cigar today was the fact that the band was glued onto the wrapper and it tore as I removed it towards the end of the second third. I still enjoyed the cigar the rest of the way but I was smoking it with just the binder at the end of the last third. C'est la vie, as they say, it happens to the best of us!

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Half Corona OPG Feb 2015

I opened this box in 2020 and I've now gone through eleven sticks from it (including gifting three for others to sample). It had a glorious rosado-shade wrapper but was a little 'spongy'. Overall it was okay but I must say that the H.Upmann Half Corona flavour blend is not to my choosing when it comes to H.Upmann as a marca. After all, there's plenty of choice elsewhere within this brand.

When it comes to H.Upmann I have a stronger preference for the milder shortbread-intensive vitolas such as the Connoisseur No.1 and Connossieur A. This one was under medium-strength, had a pleasant licorice sweetness combined with a core espresso coffee and toasted tobacco in the first half and basically stayed that way until the end. It lasted around 40 minutes.

I mentioned last time that according to my palate, this box was still peaking so I envisaged that I would return to it a little later down-the-track to see how things were coming along. I opined that it would be at least six months but it turned out to be just under three. I think the next one will be sampled around the end of the year, at least.

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Connoisseur No.1 BRE Nov 2018

Much like my last H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1, this had a rich creamy texture with some light coffee notes, cedar, hay and a little bit of white pepper on the edges, at times. Coming soon after I smoked an early-2015 H.Upmann Half Corona, I very much gravitated to this flavour profile almost from the very first puffs.

I have a great admiration for that creamy shortbread profile you can get in H.Upmann cigars that have been rested or aged for a while. This cigar stayed faithful to that profile over 85 minutes of smoking pleasure.

I guess I'm lucky as this box has been excellent, on the main. I'm grateful I have seven sticks left and I see no need to let them age any further.

[JohnS]

El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse MLU Dic 2018

I had a stick from this MLU Dic 2018 box of El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse around two weeks ago and it was quite good, so I decided I would try another one today.

These smaller ring-gauge cigars are prone to rolling errors ranging from plugged to under-filled because simply-speaking they're harder to roll. Therefore, it's imperative not to buy Entreactos-sized cigars from vendors 'blind' which admittingly is hard to do when these cigars are often discounted.

This ERdM Demi Tasse again had a good draw and it smoked well. The flavours were much like my last ERdM Demi Tasse two weeks ago; a mix of toasted tobacco, floral notes, fruit, citrus and honey. I now have two cigars left from this box and I don't think I care to age them as I have a SGA Sep 2016 box for that purpose and I hope to explore that box as it approaches the five years of age mark this year.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo III TUE Jun 2020

The Siglo III is and remains my favourite of the linea 1492 series. The reason is simple, the vitola is 42 ring gauge by 155 mm (or 6.1 inches) in length and that, I feel, is the ideal cigar size for me. This was the first cigar of a quarter-pack acquisition from a two months ago.

The Linea 1492 series was announced in November 1992 as the new line of Cohiba intended to replace the premium Davidoff Chateau series which concluded in 1991. When these cigars did hit the market (in 1994), the Cohiba Siglo III, a coronas grandes cigar with a 42 ring gauge x 155 mm (or 6⅛ inches) length was the replacement cigar for the Davidoff Château Mouton Rothschild cigar in the Chateau series.

Today, the Cohiba Siglo III is only one of two regular production coronas grandes cigars in existence (the other is the Montecristo Tubos). The last one deleted from Habanos S.A's catalogue, the highly-regarded cigar enthusiast favourite, the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo des Dieux was discontinued in 2014 but most coronas grandes-sized cigars were discontinued in the early-2000s soon after Habanos S.A. was 50% acquired by Altidis in 2000.

This Siglo III again continued the trend of recent 2019/20 Habanos stock smoking well with minimum time rest. It's long been said on our forum that Cohiba is a marca that benefits from long-term aging (think five years and over) but, of late, I've noted that Cohiba has smoked well a lot younger. Also, the Cohiba brand has been noted for its herbal qualities since its inception to the consumer market in the 1980s, yet I feel that recent Cohiba hasn't had as much herbal element in their cigars in comparison to Cohiba pre-2015. When I mention herbal flavours, I am referring of course to the quintessential Cohiba grass/hay. Grass indicates that the herbal flavour is sharper and more distinct in the blend, hay indicates that the herbal flavour is rounder and more melded.

With this mid-2020 Cohiba Siglo III, I did get minimal Cohiba grass, complimented with a light, sweet honey and citrus, however; this was overshadowed by just how much butter, mocha coffee and creaminess there was in the first two thirds of this cigar. To say it was glorious would be an understatement. In fact, it's astounding how rich, creamy and buttery this cigar was in its youth. Into the final third the cigar was slightly more woody, much like my last Siglo III I smoked eight months ago, but still smoked fantastically well with those aforementioned characteristic Cohiba flavours.

I smoked this as far as I could take it. For its age, this Cohiba Siglo III truly was an exquisite and exemplary example of how great Cohiba can be when it is 'on song', like it was today.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Montecristo No.2 REG Ene 2020

Late last year in 2020 the Montecristo No.2 was nominated as the No.1 cigar of 2020 by El Pres on our forum. Considering that a number of 2019/2020 cigars have been smoking so well of late (and 2021 box coded Habanos cigars too), and seemingly soon after their boxing dates, this appraisal is even more noteworthy, in my opinion. Despite having a few Montecristo No.2s from separate box codes in my humidor, I fortunately picked up a quarter pack offering of 2020 Montecristo No.2s in mid-2020 to sample some recent examples of this piramide cigar.

This Montecristo No.2 was dark-wrappered, somewhere between colorado and colorado maduro in shade. I mention this because I much prefer lighter shades in Montecristo cigars, in general, because they tend to emphasise citrus twang, nut and creaminess in their blends, in my view. Darker-wrappered Montes tend to dominate in cocoa, coffee and leather flavours, according to my palate, and I tend to compensate by resting them longer.

Much like my previous cigar from this box code eight months ago, I was pleased to find that this Monte 2, although medium in strength, had dark milk chocolate flavours, as well as citrus twang and some leather. This was quite a good Montecristo No.2 and was grateful to have sampled it (like this).

When Monte 2s smoke this well, and I mean somewhere in the 93 to 95 point range, there's no advantage to be gained in aging the other cigars from the box code. In my mind, they are smoking outstandingly well right now and I aim to smoke my other four cigars from this box within the next 6 to 9 months.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Espléndidos PLM Oct 2006

It was only two weeks ago that I enjoyed a late-2018 Cohiba Esplendidos. This cigar comes from late-2006, and at near 15 years of age, it didn't lack in any way in terms of flavour. I'd like to thank @Trevor2118 for gifting me this cigar.
 
It was a touch under mild in strength, which is where I'd like it to be for its age. It had some very typical Esplendidos flavours, consistent with the Cohiba Clasica line, such as milk coffee or mocha, butter, honey and vanilla. There was no real spice but I was surprised how distinctive the Cohiba grass/hay was, which you can get in these Clasica line cigars at times, but which I find more consistent in the Siglo line from around this period. It goes without saying that I nubbed it as far as the safety of my fingers allowed me to!

If you are a Cohiba fan, then this is the type of cigar that would appeal to your senses, especially when it smokes like this one did today!

[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. It's taken me six years of patience to have the opportunity to acquire this box and when it came with an 'LTO' box code, well...of course, naturally I was ecstatic! (That's because LTO has been an esteemed box code in 2021)

The Montecristo marca is one of my favourite, although I do prefer the majority of its vitolas in the 3 to 5 year window of rest. The Especial, and its shorter Laguito No.2 brother, the Especiales No.2, is an exception to this preference. I've found these long and skinnies tend to get rolled with quality seco leaf, hence the mocha creaminess you can get from them as they mature. However, having said this, I've found Montecristo cigars from 2019 to 2021 quite favourable to smoke with minimal rest.

This cigar had a little citrus twang to start off with but soon it settled in the middle of the first third. It was basically mocha chocolate and milk coffee at that point but from the middle third onwards it was basically dominated in fine rich, quality chocolate. If there's one analogy to compare this too, it was like smoking fine Lindt milk chocolate for two-and-a-half hours!

Of course I nubbed it. I think the only two better Montecristo cigars I've ever enjoyed, other than this one, was a 2016 Montecristo 80 Aniversario and a 2020 Montecristo Supremos Edicion Limitada. After finishing it, I reflected that I actually wasn't looking forward to smoking my next Habanos cigar because it could only be a letdown in comparison to this. Hopefully I'll sleep this anxiety off and return to normal tomorrow!

In all seriousness though, I believe this is one of the reasons why the Especial (and Especiales No.2) never hang around long enough on FoH 24:24 listings when they invariably come up. In the case of the Montecristo Especial, I can't even recall them been available in the last five years or so, they are that rare.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial TOS May 2016

The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial was the first Limited Edition to be re-released as a regular production cigar. The H.Upmann Magnum 50, Partagas Serie D No.5 and Trinidad Topes has since joined this elite club, although one could argue that the Cohiba Talisman should join this rare club as an anomaly of its own for being the first and only Limited Edition to be released...as a Limited Edition. (Yes I know, don't try to understand it as it makes no sense of the word 'Limited' to bring back the same release as a 'Limited' Edition, but forgive me for I digress!)

Like the 2004 Limited Edition, the regular production Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial, released in 2008, is a 50 ring gauge x 141 mm (or 5½ inches) in length Gorditos vitola. Like the HdM Epicure No.1 and No.2, it was released in a 25-count and 50-count Slide lid box, as well as a Display box of 15 aluminum tubed cigars in 5 cardboard packs of 3. The HdM Epicure No.1 and No.2 also come in a Display box of 15 cigars in 5 cardboard packs of 3 whereas the HdM Epicure Especial comes in a Slide lid box of 10 cigars. The Epicure No.2 is the only vitola of these three still released in 50 cabs. (The Epicure No.1 50 cab was discontinued in 2010 and the Epicure Especial 50 cab was discontinued in 2012.)

The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial is noted for being the 'king of cream' amongst Hoyo de Monterrey vitolas. For me, when they lack that creamy texture their appeal wanes so my preference is to smoke them with at least two to three years down. Before this time I feel that the Epicure Especial's propensity to smoke with an array of spices tends to overshadow any creamy texture notes.

I smoked my first HdM Epicure Especial around 6 to 7 weeks ago, from this box code and on that first cigar the construction was outstanding. Flavour-wise, it was a little 'Earthy' and spicy but more so in the back-half. This time, this second cigar had a better balance of light cocoa, cedar and vanilla but it was so much more creamy. It really appealed and held my senses over 100 minutes, even though construction wasn't ideal because the wrapper came loose around the band. It was a struggle to keep the cigar intact into the last third but 'boy-oh-boy', this was a flavoursome cigar and I'll take that any day!

The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial, when aged like this cigar at five years, certainly appeals in its mix of cocoa, cedar and creaminess and is a great choice when one desires 'creaminess' in a cigar!

[JohnS]

Fonseca No.1 OEP Nov 2014

If there's a candidate for a regular production Habanos cigar, which you don't reach for that often, I'd hazard to guess that the Fonseca No.1 would be most likely in that list.

This OEP Nov 2014 came from Spanish stock held by Tabacalera, sourced by Pacific Cigar Company (or PCC) and acquired ultimately via a 24:24 listing on Friends of Habanos. Coincidentally, I noticed that Rob and Ken released a review on the Fonseca No.1 late last year and Rob stated that FoH would account for quite a few sales more than the worldwide average, which is most probably on the lower side of things.

This was my second Fonseca No.1 from this box code; the first one was smoked around 6 to 7 weeks ago. Again it was very, very mild and definitely not complex. This time it was mainly cedar/sandalwood, a little marshmallow, some floral notes and it had a nice creamy texture but no cloved spice. I quite enjoyed it over 80 minutes. The ash-length was easily over an inch per ash and it was very easy to smoke. After smoking these two Fonseca No.1s, I feel that it's the type of cigar that you either identify with its mellow nature and appreciate or alternatively you'd classify as bland and boring, it's that 'leisurely' on the palate.

If you're looking for a mild Lonsdale-sized Habanos option why not give the Fonseca No.1 a try? Just remember to remove that obligatory tissue-wrap prior to smoking!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Coronas Junior MSU Jul 2019

I had my first Bolivar Coronas Junior in three years around three weeks ago and it was an exemplary 95-point cigar. I've figured that my Bolivar Belicosos Finos' and Petit Coronas have been so dependably good of late that I needed to give the Bolivar Coronas Junior a go. After smoking this second stick from this recent acquisition today, I'm still really glad I did!

This BCJ was a little more 'Earthy' than my previous one three weeks ago. It still had those other core flavours of light cocoa, leather, espresso coffee and cedar, together with a little sweet Cuban twang. The cigar was full-bodied with premium flavour. It took me 60 minutes to smoke!

In summary, this Bolivar Coronas Junior was not as exceptional as my previous one, today. It was still easily a 91 to 92-point cigar.