Juan Lopez #1 EOS MAY 19 (MQRW)

[Spaceman Spiff]

I decided I would light a JL#1 before work this morning, which is a special treat for me as lately, I've been hoarding my CCs like a deranged person hoards newspapers and cats. I suppose it's up for debate, but I would argue that my CC's smell a lot better.

Anyway, when I pulled the JL#1 it was nice and firm in hand (I'll spare you that comparison- but I do have one!) and had a beautiful sheen. Aroma at was faint but I'd say a sweet tobacco note. It's one of those cigars that is surprisingly light for how dense it feels.

After clipping the cigar I was unfortunately unable to take a draw but after some proper reaming with my perfecdraw, the cigar drew fantastically. My girlfriend liked to tease me about using the term "ream" when it came to reaming a cigar until I pointed her to the true definition of the word. She had to concede that I  was right, but since then I've been reaming only cigars exclusively. More sweet tobacco on the cold draw.

Upon lighting, I was impressed at how much kick there was! It has been a while since I've had a JL#1 and I think I forgot how strong they can be. In the first 1/3 I got a spicy peppery note, earthy tobacco and a faint citrus sweetness. I'd like to see Habanos explore the more powerful sides of Cuban leaf but as they say, wish in one hand and make a fist with the other to punch yourself in the face with.

Around the 2/3 mark I begin to notice more of a bread note that becomes rather dominant. There is still undoubtedly a sweetness that lingers in the mix but I don't get an identifiable citrus note. Around this point the finish amps up as well and leaves a delicious sweet tobacco note that lingers on the tongue. I'll always wonder why this seems to be almost exclusively a Cuban tobacco trait. I have had nice finishes with some NCs but never any that linger like a good CC does.

 

Cigar goes out around this point and needs a relight. I'm not sure if this is the cigars fault or my storage/resting methods. I store my CCs at 65% and let them dry out to 62% for about a week before smoking. 
 

Okay so in the final stretch, the last 3rd seems to intensify the earthy tobacco note. The sweetness is still there but much more faint. Finish increases in duration fortunately, and leaves a savory dark tobacco note on the palate. Intensity increases but smoke production stays about the same. 

I would like to add that I am fortunate enough to be able to smoke indoors during the winter as I live in a home that my grandfather built. In the basement, where his workshop still stands, he built a simple but effective fan blower/exhaust system that pulls the smoke out of the workshop.

He was an avid cigar smoker and I can't help but wonder if that's where my love for cigars originated. When he was alive, I managed to smoke an NC with him for my 18th birthday but this was long before I became serious about this hobby. I wish he was still around because he smoked long before the embargo and I would have loved to hear about the brands he smoked when he was younger. I think he would have really enjoyed this JL#1.

That concludes my review for the JL#1, I hope you have enjoyed reading & have a fantastic Thanksgiving everyone!