JohnS' Smoking Diary 2022

[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 fourth Partagas Maduro No.3 from the box. I smoked my first three within three months of acquiring this box but it's been ten months since I've re-visited it.

Within the Partagas Linea Maduro (as it's called) I've had Partagas Maduro No.1s the most and in my view, 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 categorise it as a classic Partagas-flavoured cigar, nor a complex cigar. The Partagas Maduro No.3 is similar in profile to the Partagas Maduro No.1.

This fourth Partagas Maduro No.3 started off innocuously or even inconspicuously. Forgive me in reiterating long adverbs, but paradoxically it remained that way.

There was again less body or fullness of flavour than the Partagas Maduro No.1s or Partagas Maduro No.2s I've smoked in this cigar, and of course it wasn't complex; on the contrary, it was rather one-dimensional. The flavours were mainly sourdough, sour cherry and coffee. Maybe there was some cocoa/chocolate, but it was so light that it was there in the background.

In regards to smoking time, give yourself around 90 to 100 minutes for the Partagas Maduro No.3. I would think my first three Partagas Maduro No.3s from the box were better than this fourth one. I might leave this box for some time and see how it further develops down-the-track.

[JohnS]

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 (and that's taking into account the recent large price increase for the Cohiba marca). 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 2002 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 of you missed the Sancho Panza Non Plus (discontinued 2019) in the same way as the H.Upmann Petit Coronas (discontinued 2017), even despite the fact that the Sancho Panza Non Plus came back into regular production in late 2021/early 2022.

This Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona today was not as balanced in its flavours as I would have liked it to be. Sure, it had cocoa, wood and some dried fruit to it but it lacked that subtle honey sweetness and at times it was too 'Earthy' for my liking. Suffice to say, this was not the best Rafael Gonzalez I've ever smoked. However; I consider this an outlier as on the whole, my experience with Rafael Gonzalez marca cigars has been quite good and I'm willing to bet that my next RGPC will be a much better smoking experience!

[JohnS]

La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 MSU Abr 2017

The La Gloria Cubana marca has been whittled to one vitola, the Medaille d'Or No.4 and this cigar had been in hiatus since the first quarter of 2018. The La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 has only just recently come back into production last year in 2021, with box codes indicative of late 2020. Unfortunately, it seems that the recent update to pricing by Habanos S.A has seen stock once again diminish. What caused the hiatus since 2018 anyway? In one word, in my view, 500000 sticks of La Gloria Cubana Serie D No.5s in the much-admired (from Habanos S.A's point-of-view) Petit Robusto format certainly contributed to the leaf that would normally go into a La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 been diverted to production for the Spanish Regional Edition La Gloria Cubana Serie D No.5.

This hiatus of La Gloria Cubana product is again temporary as Habanos S.A has announced last year that the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 will be joined in regular production by the LCDH Glorias, a 49 ring gauge x 156 mm (or 6⅛ inches) in length Flechas and Turquinos, a 50 ring gauge x 141 mm (or 5½ inches) in length Gordito. Unsurprisingly though, Habanos S.A has not managed to release these latter two additions to market quite yet but if you follow these new releases than this should come as no surprise.

For me personally, the prolonged hiatus of this cigar has had an affect on my smoking habits as I smoked six La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4s in 2021 but only one thus far in 2022. This is also inclusive of the fact that I've only had two since September last year, so I'd like to humbly thank @baragh for gifting me this cigar to smoke today.

The LGC Medaille d'Or No.4 has two unique characteristics as a Habanos cigar; firstly, it's one of the last truly 'long-and-skinnies' (i.e. a cigar that is less than 35 ring gauge and at around six inches in length or longer) and secondly, it has a complexity of flavours unique to its brand.

In terms of this array of contrasting flavours, these can range from savoury to sweet to spicy. This LGC No.4 had a distinctive fruity, lemon-type citrus (which I quite like) from the get-go and was soon joined by a core almond nut flavour and creamy texture overall which remained throughout the cigar. I also got some wood and herbal notes on the edges. Like my last La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4, this was simply superb as these are the type of flavours I look for in a LGC No.4 when I smoke one.

Maybe my critical appraisal of this LGC4 today is influenced by my lament of its current unavailability. However, when these smoke like this one once again today, the accolades are most certainly justified.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 ABO Ago 2018

My last Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 from this ABO Ago 2018 box, smoked nine months ago, was what I consider an anomaly because it was strictly average in its flavour delivery. This RyJ Ex4 was much, much better.

What I typically look for in a quality Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 is a tart 'fruitiness' that is a defined characteristic of this marca. The key to the 'fruity' flavours, I believe, is to ensure one gets a box of these with rosado-hued wrappers. It makes all the world of difference to the a RyJ Ex4 cigar, in my opinion.

This RyJ Ex4 had a beautiful ream of sour cherry throughout it with some cocoa, anise and oat biscuit intermingled into the blend. Last time I got an undesirable vegetal or herbal flavour that unbalanced the cigar. Thankfully, there was no evidence of that here today.

I was pleased too with how long this cigar lasted...75 minutes! Not bad for a cigar 5 inches long and under 50 ring gauge!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Petit Coronas ETP Mar 2017

When it comes to Petit Coronas, one would think that the Montecristo No.4 so overwhelmingly dominates the market that it leaves other Petit Coronas, such as the Bolivar Petit Coronas, being greatly under-rated.

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

This Bolivar Petit Coronas again had an excellent draw and construction. My last one, smoked nine months ago, had muddled flavours but this BPC was spot on in its balance of leather, Earth, cocoa and wood, together with some dried fruit and malt flavours on the edges, which I typically enjoy.  

There was plenty of smoke and flavour on this cigar which prolonged its smoking time to 70 minutes. I was quite pleased with that indeed!

[JohnS]

Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour - Churchill

Davidoff introduced the Winston Churchill Late Hour line as an addition to their Winston Churchill cigar line at 2017’s IPCPR.  The Late Hour is named after the early morning period when people normally sleep, that Winston Churchill found most of his inspiration and creative spark, the late hours. What makes this cigar unique is that like the American Barrel-Aged line, which uses Honduran corojo aged in bourbon barrels, the Late Hour uses a viso from Condega, Nicaragua that was aged for six months in Speyside scotch barrels. Three Dominican tobaccos; olor viso, piloto seco, San Vicente mejorado viso and a viso from Estelí, Nicaragua are also included, together with a Mexican San Andrés negro binder and an Ecuadorian habano marron oscuro wrapper.

The dimensions of the Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Churchill is slightly bigger for a Churchill in comparison to a 47 ring gauge Habanos Churchill, i..e. The Late Hour Churchill is 48 ring gauge x 178 mm or 7 inches in length. The Winston Churchill The Late Hour has a dark chocolate-colored and oily wrapper also. The cold draw was mainly coffee and slightly peppery. Certainly, it was very different on the cold draw than any Habanos Churchill I've had.

I found that this cigar had a medium-full body to it throughout and was medium to medium-full in strength. This necessitated that I slow down my smoking to savour it. The cigar was well-constructed, I seem to remember only correcting an uneven burn once. The flavours stayed fairly the same from beginning to end; coffee, oak, forest floor and mushroom. You might equate those forest floor and mushroom aspects to the cigar as flavours found in scotch like charred wood perhaps. I say this because some people find scotch flavours present in this blend but that is not what came immediately to mind when I smoked it. Nevertheless, those flavours were secondary in the blend, the coffee and oak flavours stood out more.
    
Overall, the Winston Churchill The Late Hour by Davidoff was a nice change-of-pace from what I'm used to in comparison to other Habanos Churchill cigars such as the Cohiba Esplendidos, H.Upmann Sir Winston, Romeo y Julieta Churchills and even the Regional Edition, El Rey del Mundo Tainos. I certainly wouldn't smoke this cigar as regularly as those other aforementioned Habanos cigars, but I wouldn't mind smoking another Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour cigar on the odd occasion in the future, if only to sample a Churchill-sized cigar that is medium to medium-full in body and strength.

[JohnS]

Nudies N3 Carlota

I'm coming towards the end of my acquisitions of the initial 2019 run of Nudies N3 Carlotas (and of course, Nudies N1 Lanceros) and honestly they keep getting better with age.

The original intention was to make a cigar utilising Non-Cuban leaf to mimic, as closely as possible, the now long-discontinued Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3. And 'by God' have El Pres and Hamlet succeeded! After two-and-a-half years down this cigar truthfully just keeps developing!

It is by no means a complex cigar but it wasn't blended that way. For me, it continues to deliver a simple easy-smoking experience over 75 to 90 minutes. Sometimes I get a nice lemon citrus twang, like I did today, to compliment the Partagas sourdough and leather flavours and sometimes I don't. I don't even think it matters as they are great either way.

I now have three combined initial 2019 Nudies left (two N1 Lanceros and 1 N3 Carlota) but I have no qualms about the fact that I have so few remaining. I have a second run of 2021 Desnudos resting away and I look forward to smoking those, at some point, to continue this fun journey begun with the Nudies N1 Lanceros and Nudies N3 Carlotas.

[JohnS]

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic is a Perfecto measuring ¾ of an inch in diameter (i.e. 48 ring guage) and 7 inches (or 178 mm) in length. It's shaped more like a Habanos Perfecto such as a Salomones than a Taco-type cigar and thus, the AF Hemingway Classic is only slightly tapered at the head but it is predominantly tapered at the foot. There is a common urban-like adage that some have advised to snip the foot to open up the cigar and make it easier to light. Trust me, this is unnecessary.

According to Arturo Fuente, the Hemingway natural line employs a combination of patiently aged Dominican filler and binder encased in a select African Cameroon wrapper. The line is said to be medium-mild to medium in body.

The cold draw had notes of hay. As for flavour, I was immediately taken in by the sweet hay, cedar and creamy texture. If I'd describe the sweetness I would categorise it as having aspects of hazelnut and vanilla on the edges, which peaked just past the first third to the middle of the cigar. The cigar was mainly mild until the beginning of the last third whereby it ramped up in intensity to be medium-bodied; less sweet and more cedar and leather in profile.

Construction-wise, Arturo Fuente cigars are well-known for their consistency and this was no different. The burn was even throughout with no need for any touch-ups, the draw was smooth, the ash held well and the smoke output was above average.

I finished the cigar after 1 hour and fifty minutes and was highly impressed. If I were to compare it to a Habanos cigar then the H.Upmann Connossieur series immediately comes to mind. I need to add a caveat here in saying that this Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic was acquired with a little age on it as there was no pepper or spice in the smoke, it was one-dimensional in the way the flavours had melded together and it was mild-bodied. Despite this, I really admired this cigar for how well it smoked; both flavour-wise and construction-wise.

It goes without saying that I intend to acquire some more cigars within this line in the future. I suppose this is a testament to how it connected with my palatial preferences and how it exceeded my expectations for frankly how good a cigar it was.  

[JohnS]

Padron 4000 Maduro

The Padron Maduro 4000 is a large Double Robusto-sized cigar with a 54 ring gauge x 164 mm (or 6½ inches) length. It's the type of cigar that you need a good hour-and-a-half to two hours to appreciate. Whilst not as well known as the premium 1926 and 1964 series from Padron, the 'Thousands' line (i.e. 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000) is part of the original Padron Series founded in 1964, after founder Jose Padron was forced to leave his family plantation in Cuba in 1961, and are fairly popular with Padron smokers because they offer a consistent smoke and a more competitive price.

The initial draw upon lighting proved that this was a medium-full bodied cigar with strong flavours of espresso coffee and toasted nuts.There was some spice in the opening third which settled soon thereafter. I also got some strong malt stout.

The middle third produced a little more strength and body as the blend became a bit more 'earthy'. I still got those coffee, toasted nuts and a little spice which was interspersed with some oak wood too.

The final third naturally had a stronger, full-bodied profile which saw the earthiness and oak of the middle third feature more. There was still a strong coffee core flavour until the end. The burn and combustion were ideal overall.

If I were to compare this cigar to a Habanos marca I would choose the Ramon Allones brand simply because this cigar reminded me of some of the stronger Ramon Allones Specially Selected Robustos I've smoked in the past, only the Padron 4000 obviously lacked the 'stewed fruit' profile of the Ramon Allones. Still, I can understand why this cigar has its fans. Simply put, it delivers.

[JohnS]

Partagás Maduro No. 1 TUE May 2020

When the Partagas Maduro No.1 is 'on', the cocoa and/or coffee flavours seem to stay in perfect balance and don't overwhelm or detract from the other wonderful flavours. These other flavours include sourdough, leather, a touch of cream, hay and distinctive flavours such as anise and sour cherry. Together with the light cocoa, none of these flavours seem to dominate the other; they just work together perfectly.

I've had a few of these now; almost half a box, since I acquired a box in 2020 but I didn't realise until today that I hadn't had one in sixteen months, nor that I only had two in 2021. I suppose having a myriad of other Habanos cigars, as well as having a box of Partagas Maduro No.2 and Partagas Maduro No.3 boxes no doubt influenced that outcome.

In the last two reviews I wrote on this cigar in 2021, I noted that when the Partagas Maduro No.1 was smoking well it was like a quality Partagas Serie E No.2 with a maduro wrapper. On the other hand, the other one was unbalanced and it was like a conglomeration of simple cocoa or chocolate, coffee and pepper which I admittingly don't care for that much in Partagas. I did get some other interesting flavours in the middle of that cigar such as sourdough, anise and sour cherry but overall I smoked the cigar reflecting on better days.

This TUE May 2020 Partagas Maduro No.1 once again shone in its balance of sourdough, leather, a touch of cream, hay, anise and sour cherry. Together with the light cocoa, none of these flavours dominated the other; they just worked together perfectly. So, in other words, it had an assortment of flavours, yet it was simply good and easy to smoke. The construction was pin-point too with perfect inch-long ashing and dime-like cylindrical rings in parallel sequence all along each ash.

I enjoyed this cigar overall but I wonder how long it will be until I reach for it again? I will probably smoke the Partagas Maduro No.2 and Partagas Maduro No.3 before I smoke this again, so it may be some time yet!

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.4 GEL Feb 2022

Last year in 2021, in a review of the Montecristo No.4, I had opined that the Bolivar Petit Coronas, Cohiba Siglo II, Montecristo No.4, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas are the only premium marevas left in regular production. That's five in total. Yes...five! If we add the Sancho Panza Non Plus, the cigar that has somehow reappeared in 2022 after being discontinued in 2019, well...maybe that makes six. I did say, "maybe!"

One could argue a case of the inclusion of the Bolivar Tubos No.2 and maybe even the Montecristo Petit Tubos in the 'upper-tier' classification but I would argue that the Bolivar Tubos No.2 makes a rare appearance on our forum and the Montecristo Petit Tubos invariably never does. In fact, what is a Montecristo Petit Tubos, is it a Montecristo No.4 in a tube? It probably isn't but I raise the question to highlight why that particular cigar is around nowadays and not the Partagas Petit Coronas or Ramon Allones Petit Coronas, perhaps. How about a re-release of the Diplomaticos No.4 or even the H.Upmann Petit Coronas?

So consider this, of the Bolivar Petit Coronas, Cohiba Siglo II, Montecristo No.4, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas what would you smoke the most of? One thing I know, and that is, there's one cigar in that list that may possibly out-sell the others combined on an annual basis, worldwide. However, do you reach for a Montecristo No.4 as often as the rest of the world does and why does it sell so well?

I would make a case that, whilst they vary in quality, and more so than other Habanos cigars, they offer a generic cocoa, milk coffee, perhaps nut, leather and/or citrus twang flavour profile which is very approachable. Perhaps, this is why they sell so well; Monte 4 are more approachable than other cigars in its vitola group.

This Monte 4 was the first of a recent quarter pack acquisition of a GEL Feb 2022 box code and honestly it was generic, but still...it satisfied me fine over 70 minutes. Perhaps that 'other-worldly' Monte 4 awaits the next time I smoke from this box code?

I enjoy and smoke the Bolivar Petit Coronas, Cohiba Siglo II, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas semi-regularly but the Montecristo No.4 is always in my humidor. And I mean...always!

[JohnS]

Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Limitada

The Oliva Serie V line has been around since 2007 and, according to Halfwheel, now encompasses around forty different cigars and three different line extensions—Oliva V Melanio, Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro and Serie V Maduro Especial, as well as other cigars created for special events. A cigar line with this many releases and extensions suggests one thing...it's been popular with consumers and it's a good cigar.

This recent release, the Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada, is a 54 ring gauge x 140 mm (or 5½ inches) in length perfecto which tapers only at the foot for about the length of the first third of the cigar. After that, it smokes pretty much like a larger ring-gauged parejo. This cigar commemorates the 135th anniversary of the company’s history; or more accurately, the time from 1886 when Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Cuba’s Pinar del Río, which is considered to be the start of Oliva as a tobacco family. Oliva didn't actually get incorporated as a company until 1995.

Like other Serie V line cigars, the 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada utilises an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler tobacco from Nicaragua. It has the same blend therefore as normal Serie V cigars but it smokes very differently. I will explain further below.

Because the ring gauge is more narrow in the first third, the flavour was more concentrated around the tip of my tongue when I first lit this up. It was also more subtle and wispy. I picked up coffee, earth, leather, baking spice and floral notes at a mild-medium strength.

When the cigar went into the middle third and the ring gauge was larger, the cigar transitioned into a fuller-bodied smoke with the flavour encompassing my whole palate, as larger ring-gauged cigars often do. I got similar flavours in the middle third but there was more dark chocolate, toasted caramel and wood in the blend at this point.

The final third was mainly, dark chocolate, coffee, earth, leather and especially wood.  

I think Oliva have done a very clever thing here with the release of this cigar. Non-Cuban cigars are often criticised for lacking transitions through the thirds or being one-dimensional, hence, with Oliva designing the 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada like this they've successfully made a more complex cigar but using the same blend as the usual Serie V line.

It goes without saying that I have no doubt that if you enjoy Oliva cigars you will definitely enjoy this release. I know I did!

[cgoodrich]

21 hours ago, JohnS said:

Montecristo No.4 GEL Feb 2022

Last year in 2021, in a review of the Montecristo No.4, I had opined that the Bolivar Petit Coronas, Cohiba Siglo II, Montecristo No.4, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas are the only premium marevas left in regular production. That's five in total. Yes...five! If we add the Sancho Panza Non Plus, the cigar that has somehow reappeared in 2022 after being discontinued in 2019, well...maybe that makes six. I did say, "maybe!"

One could argue a case of the inclusion of the Bolivar Tubos No.2 and maybe even the Montecristo Petit Tubos in the 'upper-tier' classification but I would argue that the Bolivar Tubos No.2 makes a rare appearance on our forum and the Montecristo Petit Tubos invariably never does. In fact, what is a Montecristo Petit Tubos, is it a Montecristo No.4 in a tube? It probably isn't but I raise the question to highlight why that particular cigar is around nowadays and not the Partagas Petit Coronas or Ramon Allones Petit Coronas, perhaps. How about a re-release of the Diplomaticos No.4 or even the H.Upmann Petit Coronas?

So consider this, of the Bolivar Petit Coronas, Cohiba Siglo II, Montecristo No.4, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas what would you smoke the most of? One thing I know, and that is, there's one cigar in that list that may possibly out-sell the others combined on an annual basis, worldwide. However, do you reach for a Montecristo No.4 as often as the rest of the world does and why does it sell so well?

I would make a case that, whilst they vary in quality, and more so than other Habanos cigars, they offer a generic cocoa, milk coffee, perhaps nut, leather and/or citrus twang flavour profile which is very approachable. Perhaps, this is why they sell so well; Monte 4 are more approachable than other cigars in its vitola group.

This Monte 4 was the first of a recent quarter pack acquisition of a GEL Feb 2022 box code and honestly it was generic, but still...it satisfied me fine over 70 minutes. Perhaps that 'other-worldly' Monte 4 awaits the next time I smoke from this box code?

I enjoy and smoke the Bolivar Petit Coronas, Cohiba Siglo II, Por Larranaga Petit Coronas and Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas semi-regularly but the Montecristo No.4 is always in my humidor. And I mean...always!

Completely agree with you, always in my humidors. Every time it comes up on 24:24 my finger is poised to get another box. It was my entry to Cuban cigars so will always have that special place in my heart.

[cgoodrich]

21 hours ago, JohnS said:

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic is a Perfecto measuring ¾ of an inch in diameter (i.e. 48 ring guage) and 7 inches (or 178 mm) in length. It's shaped more like a Habanos Perfecto such as a Salomones than a Taco-type cigar and thus, the AF Hemingway Classic is only slightly tapered at the head but it is predominantly tapered at the foot. There is a common urban-like adage that some have advised to snip the foot to open up the cigar and make it easier to light. Trust me, this is unnecessary.

According to Arturo Fuente, the Hemingway natural line employs a combination of patiently aged Dominican filler and binder encased in a select African Cameroon wrapper. The line is said to be medium-mild to medium in body.

The cold draw had notes of hay. As for flavour, I was immediately taken in by the sweet hay, cedar and creamy texture. If I'd describe the sweetness I would categorise it as having aspects of hazelnut and vanilla on the edges, which peaked just past the first third to the middle of the cigar. The cigar was mainly mild until the beginning of the last third whereby it ramped up in intensity to be medium-bodied; less sweet and more cedar and leather in profile.

Construction-wise, Arturo Fuente cigars are well-known for their consistency and this was no different. The burn was even throughout with no need for any touch-ups, the draw was smooth, the ash held well and the smoke output was above average.

I finished the cigar after 1 hour and fifty minutes and was highly impressed. If I were to compare it to a Habanos cigar then the H.Upmann Connossieur series immediately comes to mind. I need to add a caveat here in saying that this Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic was acquired with a little age on it as there was no pepper or spice in the smoke, it was one-dimensional in the way the flavours had melded together and it was mild-bodied. Despite this, I really admired this cigar for how well it smoked; both flavour-wise and construction-wise.

It goes without saying that I intend to acquire some more cigars within this line in the future. I suppose this is a testament to how it connected with my palatial preferences and how it exceeded my expectations for frankly how good a cigar it was.  

Love the Hemingway Series from AF. Your tasting notes are spot on from my perspective. I’m not much for Dominican cigars in general, but with a Cameroon wrapper it elevates the Dominican leaf.

[Boxer31]

On 7/30/2022 at 10:12 AM, JohnS said:

Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Limitada

The Oliva Serie V line has been around since 2007 and, according to Halfwheel, now encompasses around forty different cigars and three different line extensions—Oliva V Melanio, Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro and Serie V Maduro Especial, as well as other cigars created for special events. A cigar line with this many releases and extensions suggests one thing...it's been popular with consumers and it's a good cigar.

This recent release, the Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada, is a 54 ring gauge x 140 mm (or 5½ inches) in length perfecto which tapers only at the foot for about the length of the first third of the cigar. After that, it smokes pretty much like a larger ring-gauged parejo. This cigar commemorates the 135th anniversary of the company’s history; or more accurately, the time from 1886 when Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Cuba’s Pinar del Río, which is considered to be the start of Oliva as a tobacco family. Oliva didn't actually get incorporated as a company until 1995.

Like other Serie V line cigars, the 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada utilises an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler tobacco from Nicaragua. It has the same blend therefore as normal Serie V cigars but it smokes very differently. I will explain further below.

Because the ring gauge is more narrow in the first third, the flavour was more concentrated around the tip of my tongue when I first lit this up. It was also more subtle and wispy. I picked up coffee, earth, leather, baking spice and floral notes at a mild-medium strength.

When the cigar went into the middle third and the ring gauge was larger, the cigar transitioned into a fuller-bodied smoke with the flavour encompassing my whole palate, as larger ring-gauged cigars often do. I got similar flavours in the middle third but there was more dark chocolate, toasted caramel and wood in the blend at this point.

The final third was mainly, dark chocolate, coffee, earth, leather and especially wood.  

I think Oliva have done a very clever thing here with the release of this cigar. Non-Cuban cigars are often criticised for lacking transitions through the thirds or being one-dimensional, hence, with Oliva designing the 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada like this they've successfully made a more complex cigar but using the same blend as the usual Serie V line.

It goes without saying that I have no doubt that if you enjoy Oliva cigars you will definitely enjoy this release. I know I did!

I bought 2 of these think it was special anniv melanio which is one of my fav NCs. If I had my glasses and saw it was only serie V would not have bought it since not a fan. If I had to bet no way I say same blend as the V. Kicking myself did not buy a few more

[JohnS]

On 7/30/2022 at 11:39 PM, cgoodrich said:

Love the Hemingway Series from AF. Your tasting notes are spot on from my perspective. I’m not much for Dominican cigars in general, but with a Cameroon wrapper it elevates the Dominican leaf.

I was really impressed by this cigar. I intend to get some other vitolas within this line to sample.

8 hours ago, Boxer31 said:

I bought 2 of these think it was special anniv melanio which is one of my fav NCs. If I had my glasses and saw it was only serie V would not have bought it since not a fan. If I had to bet no way I say same blend as the V. Kicking myself did not buy a few more

That's understandable as there's a notable difference between the Melanio and standard Serie V lines. However, this 135th Anniversary Limited Edition was a better cigar than the Oliva Serie V Lancero that I sampled last month, and I didn't mind that Lancero at all!

[99call]

On 6/20/2022 at 12:43 PM, JohnS said:

Upon lighting, I noted how it reminded me of a Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro in its chocolate, almond nuts and dates. It even had some baking spice in the first third and was at a medium-mild strength. Towards the middle third the cigar built in intensity, being joined by some earthy and leathery flavours and becoming more medium-full in strength. The last third I would recommend only to seasoned cigar smokers as those earth and leather flavours completely dominated and the cigar became quite full in its strength.

In comparison to a Nudies N1 Lancero, I would opine that the Olive Serie V Lancero is not as mild nor as nuanced in its flavours. Nevertheless, I wouldn't hesitate to acquire more of these and enjoy them in the future, much the same as I did today.

Don't know how I've missed this for so long, as I was looking forward to your review. 

It's interesting isn't it, with the moving feast of body and strength in both the CC and NC worlds comparatively. It's quite hard to keep tabs on where the needle point is, and how they relate.   I've been enjoying the Warped Maestro del Tiempo Lonsdale of late, and whilst I can see how NC smokers welcome them as flavourful, cool smoking cigars, however the final 3rd, can have an amped up kick, which compares to a Party 898 and beyond.   

With everything thats going on with CC prices, I'm actually enjoying seeing what else is out there, however even with lots more NC lines dropping their ligero, it still comes as a bit of a shock, when things get dark and nic heavy in the final 3rd. 

The Oliva Serie V Lancero sounds interesting,  I was hoping it has a lot more in common with the Monte Especial, but a Don Alejandro similarity is no bad thing at all. 

Keep up the good work John, your review pages are really enjoyable, and a brilliant resource for cigars smokers.  

[JohnS]

Herrera Esteli Lancero Limited Edition

In early 2019, Drew Estate announced the return of the Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero after it was first released as a Limited Edition cigar in 2014. Drew Estate, Master Blender Willy Herrera has noted that the lancero is difficult to both blend and roll and so it is rolled with a small, expert team. (I believe it was something like four rollers. In comparison, the initial run of Hamlet and El Pres-inspired Nudies in 2019 were rolled by a similar small team of only five or six rollers. It goes without saying that both releases are known for their consistency.)

The 2019 Herrera Esteli Edicion Limitada Lancero has the same blend as the original which contains an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan filler. It is a 38 ring gauge x 178 mm or 7 inches in length cigar, around one-quarter of an inch longer than the 2014 Limited Edition.

I noted the cold draw had a pleasant barnyard, hay and pepper feel. The first few puffs were buttery and there was some pepper, especially on the retrohale. As I smoked down the cigar I got some cedar, vanilla, nut and light cocoa to go along with the pepper. The cigar produced good smoke and was constructed well; both the draw and the ash-lengths were fine. The cigar took me 100 minutes to smoke.

In summary, I appreciated how full-bodied in flavour this cigar was whilst being medium-mild to mild in strength. It certainly was a good cigar, the only criticism I can offer is that it would have been better if it had less pepper. Then again, that's just my personal preference. That sort of interesting diversity in the blend may appeal to you and if it does, then I'd say you ought to give this long-and-skinny a try some time.

[JohnS]

The Tabernacle Lancero

As quoted by Cigar Aficionado and according to The Foundation Cigar Company, the manufacturer of The Tabernacle line of cigars, "The Tabernacle is a dark, Connecticut broadleaf cigar made in Nicaragua at A.J. Fernandez's namesake factory Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua. Under the broadleaf wrapper is a Mexican San Andrés binder and filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua, most notably tobacco from La Soledad, a farm in Nicaragua owned by Fernandez. The packaging for The Tabernacle is emblazoned with an image of Haile Selassie, the 225th emperor of Ethiopia (and regarded as a deity by the Rastafari movement)".

The Tabernacle Lancero has a 40 ring gauge x 178 mm (or 7 inches) length. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is rough, dark and 'toothy'. The cold draw was like a sweet, dry wood, Different, but interesting!

The first third 'hit the ground running' in strong flavours of coffee and berries with some pepper and bitter chocolate.

The second third was much the same in its coffee, chocolate and slight hints of sweet maple syrup on the edges.

The last third of the cigar was obviously stronger in staid, traditional flavours common at the end of long-and-skinnies such as this one...flavours like cedar, earth and slight pepper.

I finished the cigar in around 90 minutes and noted that it was a classic, strong Non-Cuban cigar; the type that commonly utilise Nicaraguan leaf and have dark wrappers. Unfortunately, it didn't appeal to my senses because it was too full in body and strength. Still, I didn't mind smoking it for a change-of-pace in a Lancero format.

[JohnS]

San Cristóbal de la Habana Harimau Malaya 2020 - Edición Regional Malasia RAT May 2021

The San Cristobal de la Habana Harimau Malaya is the first Regional Edition cigar that Asia-Pacific distributor PCC (Pacific Cigar Company) have released with a secondary band denoted to the country of Malaysia. The cigar is named after the tiger that comes from the region of Malaya, is unique in its characteristics, looks and size and is protected as an endangered species. In the same way, the SCdLH Harimau Malaya is unique for a San Cristobal special release because it is the first Montesco-sized cigar for the marca, even though Montesco vitolas are now quite common for Habanos Special releases.

The packaging is unique too. It comes in an ornate outer cardboard carton box which neatly houses a 10-count semi-boite nature box, of which of course there were 8888 produced (for good luck - this is a Chinese cultural reference). As mentioned, a Montesco-sized 55 ring gauge x 130 mm or 5⅛ inches length cigar now no longer seems as grand or intimidating to cut at the head as it once used to.

This is my second SCdLH Harimau smoked from this box; the last one was smoked eight months ago. You see, I have smoked many, many San Cristobal de la Habana El Principes over the years; they are a favourite 'go-to' Habanos cigar of mine, for sure. The SCdLH Harimau Malaya is quite different to the SCdLH El Principe in its feel on the palate. The SCdLH Harimau is much fuller in its 'mouthfeel' and simpler in flavour. Perhaps this is the antithesis of the ScdLH El Principe and that is why I continue to struggle with connecting with this cigar.

Construction-wise; again, it was perfect. And yes, I mean perfect. Yet, like when the Rafael Gonzalez 88 first was released nearly five years ago, this SCdLH Harimau Malaya was 'closed' in its flavours...a little one-dimensional but I wouldn't go so far as to label it 'offensive'. No, rather, I would advocate that this cigar is just over a year old and being an Asia-Pacific Regional Edition surely it needs more time to develop to my preference.

So what flavours did I get? Some interesting notes of baking spice, walnut, cocoa, raisin and cake in the first two-thirds of the cigar which descended markedly into the last third of the smoke. At that point it became distinctly wood and bitter chocolate...nothing like what I'd prefer in a cigar after the first two-thirds were quite pleasing. Maybe I will strike it 'third-time lucky' the next time I light up this cigar!

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Petit Coronas LGR Oct 2019

I've written in my last few reviews on this cigar that when it comes to the Por Larranaga Petit Coronas there seems to be two leading views as to what profile the cigar represents; one, the aged, refined caramel-laden variety or alternatively, the young potent coffee-and-spice version. Is it possible to like both types of these PLPCs? I would advocate that indeed it is possible, but consequently I find enthusiasts seem to favour one or the other.

As for me, I don't mind them in their youth but yes, I do favour them aged, especially if they are strongly mild, caramel and baking spice in their smoking. This quarter box of LGR Oct 2019 PLPCs that I acquired from our host have been almost universally excellent despite been under three years of age. I've been pleasantly enamoured by how strong they've been in caramel at such a young stage and how little spice they've had.

Despite this run of Por Larranaga Petit Coronas being good thus far, this is just my second PLPC in twelve months. My how time flies! Today's PLPC was an outlier in comparison to others I've smoke from this box code. It wasn't too potent nor spicy; rather, it was strangely nondescript or bland in its flavour profile. Sure, there were hints of caramel here and there, but mainly it was just coffee and wood all the way, the cigar would have benefited from being a little sweeter. If I were to describe it aptly, it was much like the PLPC I had from this box code a year ago. How strange!

And as I stated twelve months ago, I couldn't complain about the construction here either as it was spot-on. And the cigar really wasn't all that bad. It's just that I've had much better.

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Petit Coronas LUB May 2014

Twelve months ago, the last time I had a H.Upmann Petit Corona from this box code, I confidently affirmed that this box code of HUPC cigars had finally reached that stage of development which I aspire them to reach. Alas, they had taken a little over seven years to exhibit the signs. Even then, there was still some more aging to go to get these where I'd like them.

Of course, 'the signs' I'm referring to is the combination of that other-worldly H.Upmann shortbread and sweet cream texture. When you get this in an aged H.Upmann cigar I promise you that there is nothing finer. Fast forward twelve months and I got this profile throughout the first two-thirds of the cigar, together with a perfect construction and a consistent ash-length.

In the the last third I found that the superlative H.Upmann shortbread and cream took a back-seat to the burgeoning espresso coffee and toasted tobacco which intermingled with the shortbread and cream to make the cigar smoke quite differently. It was all quite nice, but that first two-thirds were nicer. Twelve months ago I noticed that my HUPC smoked then differed diametrically between two halves. Today, this wonderful creaminess lasted a little longer into the smoke. Next time, I hope to get a more pleasant change even into the last third.

In the end, this was an outstanding H.Upmann Petit Corona. Yet, I can still confirm that even though the signs of greatness are there, I may still need another year or two yet for the back half of this cigar to catch up with the first half in its smooth shortbread and cream.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Panetelas LGR Dic 2017

The Cohiba Panetelas is probably best classified as the 'forgotten' Laguito cigar. I say that for two reasons; one, I wouldn't think too many people would be aware that its factory name is 'Laguito No.3' and secondly, that it has been around since 1967. Of course, I'd opine that a lot more people would know the Laguito No.1, the Cohiba Lanceros and the Laguito No.2, the Cohiba Coronas Especiales. Both these latter cigars originated in 1964 and 1967, respectively.

Along with the slightly bigger Cohiba Exquisitos, the Cohiba Panetelas is a thin ring-gauged cigar commonly overlooked within the Cohiba marca. Recent changes to the pricing of the Cohiba and Trinidad marcas by Habanos S.A., denoting both as luxury brands, has meant that cigars such as the Cohiba Panetelas and Exquisitos have become better known. Then again, maybe that's because these two vitolas and the Cohiba Siglo I are just about the only Cohiba products available at the time of writing this review. (Okay, I concede that the Cohiba Robustos has been made available lately too)

The Cohiba Panatelas is just 115 mm long (or 4½ inches) and carries a minuscule 26 ring gauge. At such a thin ring gauge, it probably wouldn't surprise you to know that it can suffer draw issues and be prone to 'plugging'. Personally-speaking, I was only prompted to get a box of these on account of the recent price changes to the Cohiba brand, and fortunately I did so at the old pricing. What's more, I was even luckier to receive these with four-and-a-half years of age on them already. I didn't press my luck expecting to receive them in a varnished boite nature box of 25 cigars. No, I was just happy to have them in the more usual display box of 25 cigars in 5 cardboard packs of 5 packaging.

I had my first cigar from this box six weeks ago and it was quite good. So how did this second cigar fare? Well, I'm happy to say that this cigar again had a voluminous and 'chewy' smoke. It also drew well for a small, thin ring-gauged cigar.

The cigar opened with a typical Cohiba mocha and sweet hay blend. Soon thereafter, it settled into a coffee, honey and Cohiba grass combination and stayed that way until the end. Again it was rich.The flavours were certainly bold (like last time) and the body was within the medium to medium-full range.

In summary, this Cohiba Panetelas had plenty of strength and distinctive Cohiba flavours. If you acquire a box I advise you to smoke them slowly to prevent potential spicy and bitter flavours.

[JohnS]

Punch Short de Punch RAT Nov 2019

The Punch Short de Punch is a recent 2019 release by Habanos S.A. In my opinion, there's nothing 'short' about it. Firstly, its length is only 4 mm (or ⅙ of an inch) shorter than a robusto and secondly, it normally takes quite some time to smoke. Whereas a robusto would normally take me around 70 to 75 minutes to smoke the average Punch Short de Punch normally takes me around 90 to 105 minutes to finish!

This RAT Nov 2019 was the third cigar from a 10-count box I purchased a year ago. I had the first two within the first two weeks and they were both absolutely stupendous! I smoked this one around eleven months later and I can honestly admit that they are getting even better.

In regards to flavours, like the previous Punch Short de Punch cigars I've had, this was again all classic Punch...the sour cream, leather, cedar and Cuban twang was all there from beginning to end, and more so the sour cream and cedar notes. A year ago I had noted that the leather in this cigar was more prominent, but after a year, I note that the cigar has settled and the traditional Punch cedar is more evident in the blend. This cigar was simply delicious today over 95 thoroughly enjoyable minutes!

For me, the PSdP has been so good that I'm more than happy that I've acquired another box a year ago knowing that I'll need them 'down-the-stretch!'

The Punch Short de Punch is by no means a complex cigar, but if you like Punch in general then I'd definitely recommend that you give this a try.

[JohnS]

E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel

Ever since the release of the La Historia in 2014, E.P Carillo has grown in reputation and stature to now become one of the most recognised Non-Cuban cigar brands. The release of the Encore series in 2016, which culminated in the Encore Majestic being named Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year for 2018, no doubt contributed to this. That cigar's rating by Cigar Aficionado of 96 points brought it a lot of attention, however; the release in 2020 of the E.P Carillo Pledge Series (consisting of the 50 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches long Prequel and larger 52 ring gauge x 152 mm or 6 inches long Sojourn) which saw the E.P Carillo Pledge Prequel win the Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year in 2020 and being rated 98 points has ensured high interest in this brand in the last few years. Wow...98 points! "But what does it mean?" I hear you say. Never fear, we shall discuss this.

What I found interesting about this cigar was the blend. It consists of Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuadorian binder and a Cuban-seed varietal grown in Connecticut named Connecticut Habano for the wrapper. This wrapper leaf was made famous by the introduction of the Drew Estate Liga Privada T-52 and has been used recently in the Foundation Cigars Tabernacle No. 142 release. It is a dark, almost Oscuro-shaded wrapper which makes a stark contrast to the wrappers used for the E.P. Carillo Encore series.

The wrapper on this Pledge Prequel was oily. There was a box-press to this cigar too and the cold draw unsurprisingly featured a coffee, cocoa, leather and earth blend which would feature dominantly when I lit it up.

This cigar immediately introduced itself within the first few puffs in how full-bodied it was and full of flavour. It reminded me of the powerful Ramon Allones cigars I've had in the past such as some Specially Selected varieties, the RA Celestiales Finos and RA Club Allones. Of course the leather, earth and coffee was there but there was also subtle sweetness on the edges which tasted like a combination of black cherry, walnut and baking spice. As I got into the second third I picked up some pepper to add to those flavours, with the last third being mostly the same, with more leather and coffee.

I concluded the cigar after 95 minutes and found it to be very solid, full-bodied smoke that was remarkably complex. However, would I rate it at 98 points? Perhaps not, but I would say that this is a good option to reach for if you want a strong cigar with matching flavours on the odd occasion. I wouldn't recommend it as the type of cigar to feature in one's rotation on a regular basis as I feel it's not that type of cigar.