JohnS' Smoking Diary 2022

[helix]

@JohnS these reviews are just awesome ! Thanks so much.

[Goodfortune]

As always, thank you for the wonderful reviews @JohnS. I thoroughly enjoy reading your detailed expressions. 

[gormag38]

Loved reading your reviews on the Seleccion Piramides @JohnS. I too look forward to experiencing my remaining sticks in my BRE 17 box and seeing the similarities/differences from yours when doing so. 

[JohnS]

Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill

The Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado won Cigar Aficionado’s #1 Cigar of 2014 with a rating of 96 and some very high praise. The Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill was Cigar Aficionado’s No.8 cigar of the year in 2018 and 2020, with scores of 93 and 95 respectively, but trust me, it’s easily the equal of the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado, in my opinion.

Whereas the Oliva Serie V Melanio is a Figurado-shaped cigar tapered at both ends, box-pressed and 165 mm (or 6½ inches) long with a 52 ring gauge, the Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill is similarly box-pressed but has a normal straight foot and a slightly curved head with a 178 mm (or 7 inches) length and 50 ring gauge, which is a little bigger than the traditional Habanos girth for a Churchill-sized cigar that is usually 47 rg. It comes with the now accustomed, yet impressive, Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper but it is the binder and filler which makes a difference to the Melanio line. Both the binder and the filler use Nicaraguan Jalapa tobacco which is said to impart more flavour and less strength.
    
On the cold draw I got some coffee, cedar and sweet tobacco notes. At this point I envisage that I am in for a quality smoke just based on the cold draw. This proved to be unequivocally true.

The first third opened with a mild-bodied smoke full of flavour that was like the last Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado I had around three months ago. That is, it was replete in coffee, almonds or walnuts and cedar. The smoke was quite full per draw, and it had a nutty and cream texture to it on my palate. As I smoked into the first third there was no doubt whatsoever that I was sampling an excellent cigar.

Toward the middle of the cigar, I got some more cedar, almonds, a little bitter dark chocolate and some leather. The strength remained the same and the cigar continued to have a creamy and nutty texture on the palate. The burn remained completely straight but paradoxically the ash was splitting at times as I smoked the cigar down. Normally, I’ve tended to have Oliva cigars that have been highly consistent in burn and construction. This didn’t affect the flavour of the cigar as this remained of the highest quality.

Moving into the final third, the body and strength both increased to a touch over medium. The cigar at this point took on more of a coffee and tobacco profile. This complimented the core flavour blend of cedar, almonds or walnuts, bitter chocolate and cream well and did not detract from my enjoyment of the cigar, which I nubbed after two hours.

In summary, Habanos S.A. have very few Churchill-sized cigars left; in fact, just three in regular production (Cohiba Esplendidos, H.Upmann Sir Winston and Romeo y Julieta Churchill). These all enjoy a ‘lofty’ reputation within the Habanos catalogue, but this Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill was of their equal today. I know that sounds like a huge statement to make, but this cigar was simply that brilliant, there’s just no other way to express it.

I’ve been fortunate to enjoy some great Oliva cigars of late, yet this Oliva Serie V Melanio Churchill was better than them all, even the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado. I envisage that I will acquire more for my humidor, that is for sure!

N.B: This cigar was smoked at the Beach City Resort & Spa Hotel in Sitia on the island of Crete in Greece

[JohnS]

Padron 6000 Maduro

In recent months I've sampled a Double Robusto-sized Padron 4000, a Gordito-sized Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo Maduro and a Campanas-sized, torpedo-shaped Padron Serie 1926 No.2 Maduro so why not try the Campanas-sized, torpedo-shaped Padron 6000 Maduro? Hmmm...why not indeed!

This cigar is the same size as a Bolivar Belicosos Finos or a Sancho Panza Belicosos (i.e. 52 ring gauge x 140 mm or 5½ inches in length) but that's where the similarities end as neither of these cigars smoke like a Padron 6000 Maduro. So what does a Padron 6000 Maduro taste like, especially as it's not from a top-of-the-tier Padron line like the 50th Anniversary, 1926 Serie or 1964 Anniversary Series? For a lower-tiered Padron you'd still expect some form of a qualitative and reliable outcome due to the reputation of the Padron brand and this is what in effect came about today.

The wrapper on this Padron 6000 Maduro was dark and oily, it was almost an oscuro shade. The smell of the wrapper was not quite like the wondrous musty cedar scent I got off the 1964 Exclusivo Maduro I smoked around six weeks ago but it did have a quality cedar and cocoa aroma to it. The cold draw had typical Padron cocoa, leather and wood flavours.

Upon lighting I remarked to myself that this cigar was much more easy to smoke than I had envisaged. I was expecting a strong, potentially peppery or spicy smoke with plumes of smoke off the draw but this was not the case. Instead, whilst the cigar was medium-full in strength it was much. much lighter in body so it wasn't hard to draw more per puff to appreciate the flavours. These flavours were dark chocolate, leather, Earth and wood mainly. At times I could pick up some cinnamon spice on the edges but in general this had a nice subtlety to it which I very much admired.

The second third was much like the first third, and the light body, easy draw and medium-full strength combined to have me reach the final third after about twenty-five minutes. Each ash-length was a regular one inch and the burn was spot-on so it wasn't a case of smoking too fast as this smoke never got bitter or hot. It was simply a matter that the cigar was unique in its juxtaposition of having a subtle body and robust strength.

The final third naturally saw an intensity in the body of the cigar but the flavours remained much the same. It was all over after thirty-five minutes but I had no regrets. I don't think a 1926 Serie or 1964 Anniversary Padron would smoke like this Padron 6000 today. It was basically a 'cheap-and-cheerful' version of those cigars but for me, I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

N.B: This cigar was smoked at Sitia Beach in Sitia on the island of Crete in Greece

[JohnS]

Davidoff Grand Cru No.3

According to Davidoff, The Grand Cru series embodies total sophistication. It brings you a depth and character second to none – an enchanting mild to medium-body experience. In regard to the coronas-sized Grand Cru No.3, they describe it as the typical Corona shape (n.b. this is Davidoff's term for the size of the Grand Cru No.3) which enables their tobacco masters to use a higher percentage of Piloto tobacco with a higher density of leaves. This emphasises the spicy component of this complex blend, offering a slightly bolder, yet still sophisticated, pleasure.

The Davidoff Grand Cru No.3 consists of an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, a Dominican Republic binder using Piloto Seco leaf and a Dominican Republic filler which uses San Vicente Seco, Piloto Seco and Olor Seco. It is a 43 ring gauge x 129 mm (or 5⅛ inches) in length Petit Coronas-sized cigar. (Again, Davidoff describes it as a Corona on their website)

If you aren't aware, the Davidoff Grand Cru line is considered mild, so keep that in mind in case you've never sampled it. The Winston Churchill Late Hour Series, by comparison, is fuller-bodied and medium strength. In other words, two very different lines of cigars. I sampled the Davidoff Grand Cru No.5 perlas-sized cigar a little over a month ago and quite liked it. I thought it had some discernible characteristics which were similar to a Habanos brand Fonseca cigar.

The first few puffs of this cigar indeed proved to be more spicy than the Davidoff Grand Cru 5. As I smoked through the cigar there were notes of oak and nuts, as well as sandalwood. Towards the end of the first third the pepper notes completely vanished and the cigar became more light-bodied. There was some flavour there; just not that much of it. The final third finished the same way as the middle third with the cigar being very light on flavour.

Davidoff's website suggests that the Grand Cru No.3 may be enjoyed over a twenty-five minute smoking time. On the contrary, I took about sixty minutes to finish it. In general, this cigar was obviously nowhere near as flavoursome as the Davidoff Grand Cru No.5. Despite that, I still finished it down to the nub because it was easy to smoke and although it didn't 'wow' me, it didn't offend my senses either. I now look forward to sampling the slightly larger Davidoff grand Cru No.2 to compare the similarities and differences to the Grand Cru Nos. 3 and 5.

N.B: This cigar was smoked at Vai Beach on the island of Crete in Greece

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.5 ESL May 2018

The Montecristo No.5 was of course one of the original five cigars of the Montecristo line first introduced in 1935 along with the No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4. It's a 40 ring gauge x 102 mm (or 4 inches) in length perla. The typical smoking time for a small cigar like this would be around 30 to 45 minutes.

The first Montecristo No.5 I had from this ESL May 2018 box was in May this year. At four years of age it was replete in cocoa but it had no harsh edges to it, the coffee was mellow and it was not cream-textured in any way. It didn't have any citrus twang either. It was constructed well, smoked well and most importantly, was quite impressive in its balanced flavours, even if it was not overly complex.

This second one from the box a month later was every bit as outstanding. It had the same fine balance of chocolate and coffee, only it had a slight creamy texture which made it even more pleasurable to smoke.

This third one, smoked three months later, continued the trend in establishing what you want from an outstanding example of a Montecristo No.5. Again, it had the ideal balance of milk coffee, cocoa or milk chocolate, a little creaminess and even nut. It goes without saying from my description of it that I enjoyed it a lot!

Who would have thought that I would have three superb examples of Montecristo cigars from the same box? It's just a pity now, as I reflect upon writing this, that the box is from a small 10-count one!

N.B: This cigar was smoked in Athens, Greece

[JohnS]

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature is a Perfecto measuring almost ¾ of an inch in diameter (i.e. 46 ring gauge) and 6 inches (or 152 mm) in length. It's one inch shorter than the Classic (with the same ring gauge) and, like the Classic, it's shaped more like a Habanos Perfecto such as a Salomones than a Taco-type cigar and thus, the AF Hemingway Signature is only slightly tapered at the head but it is predominantly tapered at the foot.

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 per the usual for all the various vitolas I've sampled within the Arturo Fuente Hemingway line of late. As for the flavour, this AF Hemingway Signature was nowhere near as sweet as the Classic, rather it was more savoury. I would describe it as a mix of hay, cedar, white and cayenne pepper embodied within a lovely creamed texture that continues to appeal to me every time I light a AF Hemingway line cigar. The cigar was mainly mild in the beginning and remained that way throughout.

Construction-wise, Arturo Fuente cigars are well-known for their consistency and this was no different. Once again 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 one-and-a-half hours and was again impressed. My view that the Arturo Fuente Hemingway line closely compares to the H.Upmann Connoisseur Habanos line remains steadfast; it's actually quite uncanny how directly they align. I guess you just have to smoke one for yourself to see what I mean!

N.B: This cigar was smoked in Athens, Greece

[Fuzz]

@JohnS As much as I appreciate your reviews, you are missing some key information lately.... location!!! I know you buggered off to the motherland for a month to escape the dreary weather in Sydney. What about the places you've been smoking around?!?!

[JohnS]

Good point @Fuzz. I'll update the reviews posted from September 28th onwards that were all smoked whilst I was on vacation in Greece. Apart from one windy day on Balos Beach, West Crete and the two days I smoked in Santorini, which were very humid, I can unequivocally state that each day in September I smoked a cigar in Greece this year was blue skies, and perfect temperatures ranging from 27° to 32°C (around 80° to 90°F). In other words, ideal conditions for smoking.

[JohnS]

Bolívar Tubos No.1 ULA Jun 2015

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

The Bolivar Tubos No.1 was noted as an elegant cigar of better-than-average construction (probably as less were made) and provided lots of complexity in aromas, especially floral ones. The flavours tended to be Earthy, wood, some spices, leather and even bitter chocolate.

After having this box in storage for approximately five years I can tell you, that after having gone through almost half the box, that this cigar today was the first one to have dominant characteristics of bitter chocolate, leather, Earth and spices in its blend. It was also the first one to exhibit sharp, distinct and fulsome flavours. In general, my other Bolivar Tubos No.1s smoked were mainly all chewy, soft caramel-marshmallow with some Bolivar Earth and leather and a touch of spiciness on the edges. One thing every cigar from this box has had has been plenty of smoke per puff!

This Bolivar Tubos No.1 began like all the others, it was soft and chewy on the palate, full of sweet caramel and floral notes with hints of underlying mushroom. In the middle third, it smoked more like a typical Bolivar cigar when its earthiness and leather started to come through. In the last third, it changed again, with more bitter chocolate and spice and it became much fuller in body and strength. It was the antithesis of what I'd categorise as 'one-dimensional'!

Overall, I would have to state that this was possibly the most complex cigar I've had in quite awhile in its transitions. It even left me afterwards with a slight 'nicotine hit' which I encounter very rarely. If you'd had told me that this would happen after lighting it up I wouldn't have believed you. Alas, I can only relay my experiences via this blog as I encounter them. I wouldn't envisage the next one will be like this but you never know. We'll see!

N.B: This cigar was smoked in Athens, Greece

[JohnS]

Cohiba Panetelas LGR Dic 2017

I have mentioned before that the Cohiba Panetelas has been around since 1967 but it oft-forgotten in comparison to other Cohiba vitolas. Even amongst cigar enthusiasts who know of it, it garners dichotomous reactions. In other words, it tends to be greatly admired or dismissively derided.

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've had three Cohiba Panetelas so far and overall they've been quite good. They've also all drawn well.

Like my last one two weeks ago, this fourth one was a solid combination of mocha coffee, honey and Cohiba grass.The flavours were once again bold and the body was within the medium to medium-full range.

I still advise that if you can successfully acquire a box within the 'current climate', so-to-speak, smoke them slowly to prevent potential spicy and bitter flavours.

N.B: This cigar was smoked on the top floor outdoor bar at Elia Ermou Hotel in Athens, Greece

[JohnS]

Oliva Serie V Lancero

The Oliva Serie V Lancero is an unusual Non-Cuban cigar because of its dimensions. It's long (7 inches or 178 mm) and its ring gauge is thin (19/32 of an inch diameter in circumference) The Oliva Serie V line is known for its intensity and full flavors. The cigar is made in Nicaragua.

In my opinion, this cigar is a deference to cigar aficionados because, from my understanding, it's not as popular as other Non-Cuban cigars, even within the Oliva Serie V line. It's a dense smoke with full earthy and leathery notes combined with sweeter flavours of chocolate, almond nuts and dates.

Unlike my last Oliva Serie V Lancero smoked three months ago this was very light on chocolate, almond nuts and dates. Neither did it have baking spice but it was certainly medium-full in strength. It was basically earthy and leathery in its flavours over eighty minutes of smoking time. In comparison to the Oliva Melanio line it did not have a nutty and/or creamy texture.

In comparison to a 2019 Nudies N1 Lancero; however, I still maintain that the Olive Serie V Lancero is not as mild nor as nuanced in its flavours. Nevertheless, it's still a serviceable solution as a 'workhorse-type' cigar.

N.B: This cigar was smoked in Athens, Greece

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales SMA Jun 2019

We all have one cigar, I think, that we personally rate more highly in contrast to how its general received by cigar enthusiasts. For me, the Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales is that type of cigar, which lasts around 30 to 35 minutes, that I go to when I need something solid, reliable and most likely to give me consistency of flavours, construction and performance.

The SMA Jun 2019 Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales box code has been generally excellent to outstanding for me thus far. It's been a year since I've had a RyJ Petit Royales from this box code, as I have RyJ Petit Royales across four separate box codes in my humidor and this one had all the hallmarks of the  previous ones I've smoked; namely, an abundance of quality flavours such as cherry, fruit, chocolate, anise and a little turkish delight. From beginning to end, it was the type of Romeo y Julieta cigar-smoking experience you just simply have to admire and enjoy.

I've mentioned in previous reviews on the Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales, across four different box codes in my humidor, that I can attest that no one code is better than the other. They continue to maintain a consistency that is quite remarkable.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo SMA Oct 2018

I've been going through an eight year-old ESO Sep 2014 box of Montecristo Petit Edmundos of late and I admit it's been some time since I've had a young MPE. The reason for this is due to the fact that I've never really connected with the strength one can get from a young MPE in comparison to other Montecristo cigars. Having said this, I was confident that this SMA Oct 2018 box code was rested enough to make its power a non-issue. After smoking it, I was indeed proven correct.

This was possibly amongst the best Montecristo Petit Edmundos I've ever had. The cigar was perhaps a touch under medium, with dark cocoa, milk coffee, leather and vanilla bean notes. It took me a whopping eighty minutes to finish it due to the large volumes of smoke per draw. This meant that there was plenty of flavour on my palate after every puff, so I didn't have to draw as often to savour it.

This was the first cigar of a ten-count acquisition. I would think that I would reach for the second one at some point sooner rather than later, judging by how well this Montecristo Petit Edmundo smoked today.

[joeypots]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

 

 

[Chucko8]

Great reading as always John. Thanks mate

[99call]

On 10/15/2022 at 10:14 AM, JohnS said:

It was the antithesis of what I'd categorise as 'one-dimensional'!

As ever John, you have this bang on.  Like the current Partagas Presidentes, I love that soft chewy aspect to this cigar and a good number of them smoke in that simple stellar opulent haze.  But when you get the couple that add that strong BBF meaty stout aspect, it transcends the cigar into something really special.

[JohnS]

San Cristóbal de la Habana El Príncipe TOS Jun 2016

This is my second San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe from this box code in the last six weeks. In 2021, I had two outstanding examples from this box and one very good one (it was a little unbalanced otherwise it would have been outstanding too).

This box has now hit the six-year mark and in my opinion there has been no let-up in quality as again today's cigar was absolutely superb. For me, it exemplified why I smoke Habanos cigars. Pancake and molasses treacle, together with no spice, no harshness or edges which made this 60 minutes of pure smoking 'bliss'.

This was simply another 5-out-of-5 cigar today. I now have four of these San Cristobal de La Habana El Principes left in my humidor.There's no way they'll last another twelve months based on how good the last four or five have been!

I mentioned a year ago that I considered that it was time to acquire another box and I'm glad I acquired one late last year. I also acquired another half-box after that, just before the recently announced price re-structure by Habanos S.A. After smoking this San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe today, I'm glad that I did!

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Montecarlos LGR Oct 2017

The Por Larranaga Montecarlos is a 33 ring gauge x 159 mm (or 6¼ inches) in length Deliciosos, which is its Factory Name and by which no-one virtually outside of Cuba calls it as such. It's Common Name for its size, a Slim Panatela, is incidentally indeed more common. On our forum it's what I consider a 'forum favourite'...you know, a cigar that has many admirers for providing value for money when it comes to its smoking performance.

Personally-speaking, I quite enjoy the Por Larranaga Montecarlos and I've been smoking from three different box codes in the last few years and they each tell a different story. My LGR Oct 17 box has been by far my favourite because it is the most light-wrappered and has been consistently caramel in its profile. This box is down to two sticks. My LGR Ago 18 box has been best described as dependable. I've gone through half this box and the wrappers in this box are darker. My third box, a TOS Mar 17 example has the darkest wrappers and has been the woodiest of the lot. I've gone through 60% of this box but they are nowhere near their peak so I haven't reached for one for a few years now. Neither do I intend to re-visit this last box soon. Maybe I will in another 2 or 3 years.

Like my last LGR Oct 17 PL Montecarlos smoke five months ago, the beautiful hit of sweet, refined caramel was all I needed from the very first puffs to be truly 'hooked'. It is always the one characteristic that I look for whenever I reach for this cigar. Together with the milk coffee, the honey, some toffee perhaps and the woodiness you can get from a PL Montecarlos (especially in the last third today) it simply makes for a great smoke, flavour-wise.

In regards to construction, this was unlike my last few smoked within the last six months (from different box codes) in that it burned consistently well and didn't need re-lights. I was more than satisfied by the time the cigar was done after 65 minutes.

The adage when it comes to Por Larranaga cigars that they need five to eight years to mature is certainly a generalisation. Well, I can state that this may be more true of the PL Petit Coronas than the PL Montecarlos in that the PL Petit Coronas does need more time. This box has just reached the five-year mark and I'm down to my last one. Purchased for $US72 (don't we wish we could see those prices again?), it is probably one of my most significant acquisitions I've ever made in terms of Habanos cigars. The return in value has far exceeded what I paid for it.

[JohnS]

Cohiba Coronas Especiales LTO Sep 2020

The Cohiba Coronas Especiales is a Laguito No.2-sized 38 ring gauge x 152 mm (or 6 inches) in length cigar. It is known for its pig-tail, like its Laguito No.1-sized brother, the Lanceros. Its origins go back to 1967, three years after the Lanceros was born. Initially, the Lanceros was only made available outside of Cuba as diplomatic and VIP gifts, it wasn't until the 1980s that the Cohiba Coronas Especiales, Lanceros and Panatelas were released to the public, being the first three cigars of the Classic Line. (The Esplendidos, Robustos and Exquisitos were added to the line in 1989)

Prior to being released to public the Cohiba Coronas Especiales was packaged in dress boxes of 25 and 50 cigars respectively; thereafter it was packaged in cardboard packs of 3 cigars and varnished boîte nature boxes of 25 cigars and 50 cigars with and without cellophane until some time in the early to late 1990s. With the discontinuation of display box packaging (i.e cardboard boxes containing five cardboard boxes of five cigars) in 2017, the only packaging the CCE comes in today is a varnished boîte nature box of 25 cigars.

It's been a little over twelve months since I've had a Cohiba Coronas Especiales. I never seemed to find the same amount of satisfaction in my AUM Jul 2014 CCEs as I've encountered from some late-2005 examples I've enjoyed prior to this period. The old adage in our hobby is that one should keep an open mind in respect to marcas and/or vitolas we struggle to connect with, and so with this thought in mind, I acquired a quarter pack of LTO Sep 2020 CCEs early in 2021.

This cigar opened with classic mocha coffee, hay and honey flavours. As the cigar settled into the end of the first third the honey note started to dominate, which I greatly admired. From the middle third onwards the cigar was a little 'toasty' in but it remained quite 'solid' and delectable in its smoking until the end when I nubbed the cigar to my fingertips after sixty minutes of smoking time.

Perhaps it was fate, luck or sheer chance that accounted for my change in fortune with this vitola. More likely, it was the fact that I fortunately picked up an acquisition of these CCEs with a reputable factory code (i.e LTO). Whatever it was, this is now my second excellent example of a LTO Cohiba Coronas Especiales from this quarter-pack acquisition which leaves me with great confidence in looking forward to smoking the other four!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Topes 2016 - Edición Limitada TOS Sep 2016

The regular production Trinidad Topes was released in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Trinidad marca (according to Habanos S.A). However, it was previously released in late 2016 as a Limited Edition in a large 56 ring gauge x 125 mm (or 4⅞ inches) length. And yes, it's not the first time a Limited Edition cigar has been brought back as a regular production cigar (e.g. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial and H.Upmann Magnum 50). The 2016 version of the Topes was such a great seller and well-reputed amongst aficionados that in my view, it wasn't too much of a surprise to see its re-release. Incidentally, the Montecristo Dantes and Romeo y Julieta Capuletos were also released in early 2017 as 2016 Limited Editions. Do we still remember them? (Well, perhaps we remember the Montecristo Dantes still!)

I've mentioned in previous reviews that the 2019 regular production Trinidad Topes that I've sampled since their release have tended to be a combination of spice, coffee and butter pastry, some slight gingerbread-type sweetness and even some salt. The Trinidad Topes 2016 EL had more cocoa and sweetness to it upon its release in its youth. This TOS Sep 2016 specimen was sweet, but it had a savoury aspect to it also, and more so in the back half. It again had a touch of woodiness to it, together with a core coffee-cream cappuccino and dough core flavour that I've found quite endearing in these Topes LEs during the last few times I've smoked them.

My last Trinidad Topes LE took a whopping 110 minutes to finish, this one took even longer, taking 135 minutes! The reason for this was due to the large volume of flavour per draw I was getting. This necessitated a slower smoking method as the smoke was quite viscous on my palate and I didn't need to puff as often. Unfortunately, this meant that I need a few re-lights when the cigar went out!

The price-correction (or should I say large increase?) by Habanos S.A to the Cohiba and Trinidad premium marcas in 2022 once again made it that much more enjoyable to smoke today!

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Galanes RAT Nov 2020

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

I went through five cigars of this 10-count box (and so half-a-box) in the first twelve months of opening it but it's been six months since I've had my last one. I have written in previous reviews that some of my PL Galanes have been quite 'buttery' upon their opening and some have exhibited a core butter bread flavour; something akin to a recent Quai d'Orsay no.50 or 54 with its brioche characteristics. Other Por Larranaga Galanes have also had a milk coffee flavour in their opening to compliment that brioche-type butter bread taste on the palate, whereas others have had a characteristic dull oak wood flavour come to the fore.

This sixth cigar from the box again attested to the notion that this regular production Por Larranaga release is currently quite brilliant. The flavours I got were a typical combination of milk coffee, brioche bread and a butterscotch sweetness with some hints of dull oak wood flavour in the last third of the cigar.

I still maintain that the best way to characterise a PL Galanes would be to state that it is like a Punch Short de Punch with a butterscotch sweetness, if you could imagine such a thing! The last two PL Galanes I've had, smoked six months apart, both lasted around 85 minutes and were pretty much like this. So, if you are looking for that typical Por Larranaga caramel sweetness, I would advise to look elsewhere as again it wasn't present in this cigar.

I am disappointed that the Por Larranaga Galanes has not been easy to source for some time now, but if you have a box or two, then I'm confident that you can relate to my acclamation of this outstanding cigar.

[JohnS]

Trinidad Media Luna BSM Nov 2019

The Trinidad Media Luna is a unique Marinas size with a 50 ring gauge x 115mm (or 4½ inch) length. "Media Luna" is the name of the Hostel with an important architectonic value located in the street of the same name in the city of Trinidad, Cuba.

I had five or six Trinidad Media Lunas from this box code in the second half of 2020 and one in August 2021. I have not re-visited them since. A number of these were outstanding 90 to 95 point cigars so I was happy to try another today to see how they were coming along.

Like my last Trinidad Media Luna smoked fourteen months ago, this started off with some cookie dough/cake and coffee core flavours together with a little gingerbread-type sweetness. Whereas that cigar soon settled into a coffee, wood, leather, Earth and salt savoury core in the middle and stayed that way until the end, this one had more of that cookie dough/cake texture in the middle to compliment those other savoury flavours. The final third was definitely more 'woody' and 'Earthy'. Make no mistake though, from beginning to end there was an exquisite buttery texture to this cigar which was rich on the palate and this has been a consistent feature of all the Trinidad Media Lunas I've smoked from this box.

Even though I believe that this 50th anniversary regular production petit robusto is a quality addition to the Trinidad marca, I now lament its premium price-point. It means that I will now smoke them less often from hereon in to preserve my stock. At least they continue to 'shine' and improve as they age.

[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. All one needs to do is light the foot with a single-flame lighter, draw and the cigar will take care of itself.

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.

I last smoked this cigar three months ago and was highly impressed. At that time I noted that the cold draw had notes of hay. That cigar was quite simple in its flavours; basically sweet hay, cedar and creamy texture. There was a sweetness which I categorised as hints of hazelnut and vanilla on the edges. 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. This cigar was much the same; simple, yet it had more spice to it which was a bit like white pepper.

Construction-wise, Arturo Fuente cigars are well-known for their consistency and this was much the same. The burn was even throughout, the draw was smooth and effortless, the ash held together extremely well and the smoke output was excellent. There was plenty of flavour per draw.

I finished the cigar after 1 hour and thirty minutes, around twenty minutes shorter than last time. I said three months ago that this line from Arturo Fuente reminds me of the H.Upmann Connossieur series and I continue to think that after smoking a number of its vitolas in the second half of 2022.

Of course I intend to acquire some more cigars within this line in the future. The Arturo Fuente Hemingway series has become one of my favourite Non-Cuban releases and each cigar I smoke continues to exceed my expectations for frankly what good cigars they are.