JohnS' Smoking Diary 2023

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Connoisseur No.1 BRE Nov 2018

The H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 is a 48 ring gauge x 127 mm (or 5 inches) in length Hermosos No.4. It's what is colloquially termed a 'forum favourite' because no matter what occurs in the culture of Habanos cigars, the HU Connie 1 will always have its fans. It goes without saying that I consider myself amongst their number.

The last few H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1s I've had from this box code have had various levels of white pepper to them I admit that this is not to my liking. Then again, that is not unexpected when it comes to vitolas within the H.Upmann marca.

This cigar had a quintessential cedar, coffee and shortbread note to it which suited me fine. In the second half it had a sliver of white pepper which merely enhanced the smoke, not detracted from it. This was obviously more evident via retrohaling. The cigar smoked well, there were no outstanding construction issues to be had here.

At five years of age this box is coming along nicely. The problem is that I have only two cigars left from it. The obvious solution is to acquire another box but five years ago the pricing of Habanos cigars was a very different fare to what it is today. Oh how good would it be to bring those days back? How good indeed!

[JohnS]

Vegas Robaina Famosos ARS Ene 2019

I've really enjoyed an AEM May 2015 aged box of Vegas Robaina Famosos since I opened it in mid-2019 and I've come down to my last three sticks of that box, so I figured I'd smoke some fresh samples of this vitola, at the present time, and let my 2015 sticks rest a little longer.

Today's cigar was every bit as great, but very different, in relation to my eight-and-a-half year-old AEM May 2015 Vegas Robaina Famosos box. These aged sticks tended to have quality lush tobacco and grass, dates, baking spice, bitter or rich milk chocolate and floral notes here and there. This somewhat youthful VR Famosos (by comparison) emphasised more of that rich milk chocolate today that really appeals to the palate. It also had sweet dates or raisin, prunes and leather. Unlike my aged examples, this Famosos didn't have nuanced floral notes or a quality lush tobacco and grass, but it did exhibit the emergence of baking spice on its edges. In comparison to my last three VR Famosos smoked from this box code, this particular example demonstrated signs of development, especially in its softer feel on the palate and its baking spice.

Normally a Hermosos No.4 of this size (i.e. 48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches in length) would take me around 70 minutes to finish. This one took a mere 55 minutes. What can I say? It was very easy on the 'senses'! Plus, it was quite simply a great cigar!

I have around half a box of Vegas Robaina Famosos across three box codes, but as I sit here pondering this fact while typing this sentence, I can't help but think that I will savour every single one I have left!

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Half Corona OPG Feb 2015

The H.Upmann Half Corona was released in 2011, has a 44 ring gauge and is 90 mm or 3½ inches in length. It typically smokes around 25 to 35 minutes. It comes packaged in a 5-pack metal tin or 25-count dress box. This OPG Feb 2015 H.Upmann Half Corona I smoked today came from a dress box.

Since its introduction, the HU Half Corona has become quite a popular release because its generally known as a vibrant smoke which one can reach for when pressed for time. It may surprise you to know that its vitola is not unprecedented; there was a Partagas 'Half a Corona' that was the same length but slighter smaller, at 42 ring gauge, which was discontinued in the early-1970s.

I've mentioned in my last few reviews on the HU Half Corona that when young, it can noted for its espresso coffee, toasted tobacco and white pepper/spice flavours. I opened up this box after five years and I've steadily noticed a change in how the cigars have smoked from late 2020 to the present day. The first lot, up to around mid-2021 were average to just above that mark, in general, mainly because they were quite potent in their toasted tobacco and/or white pepper flavours. From mid-2021 until mid-2022 they developed still to be less dominant in coffee and toasted tobacco, and thus, I graded them higher, around above average. The last five I've enjoyed since August 2022 have been all outstanding. This is therefore the sixth one I've had in the last fifteen months.

This HU Half Corona has almost reached its nine-year mark and this time, it was great. The reason for this is because the flavours here were light, with some light coffee, leather and licorice. If you are accustomed to younger H.Upmann Half Coronas I would have to say that this HU Half Corona would not have been 'your cup of tea', whatsoever.

I now have six cigars left from this box. I still continue to think there's no need to let them age further as this box of H.Upmann Half Corona is definitely within its 'peak period'. I look forward to enjoying the rest.

[JohnS]

La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 (Circa 2016)

Did you know, apparently, that the La Gloria Cubana marca now has not one, not two but three vitolas, the Medaille d'Or No.4, the La Casa del Habano Exclusivo Glorias and the Turquinos? The LCDH Glorias, a 49 ring gauge x 156 mm (or 6⅛ inches) in length Flechas was released in October 2022. The third regular production cigar, the La Gloria Cubana Turquinos, a 50 ring gauge x 141 mm (or 5½ inches) in length Gordito was released in early 2023.

From 2014, when the La Gloria Medaille d'Or No.2 was discontinued and the LCDH Immensos stopped been made, there was only one regular production vitola in the La Gloria Cubana marca. Now, in the last two years we have three. Wouldn't it be nice if the Diplomaticos marca had some additions to its marca? Mind you, the La Gloria Cubana marca has enjoyed a steady stream of special releases since 2008, and notably so since 2017.

The La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4, the LGC vitola that many of you no doubt are familiar with, had been in hiatus since the first quarter of 2018. The La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 had only just recently come back into production in the first quarter of 2021, with box codes indicative of late 2020. Unfortunately, the recent mid-2022 update to pricing by Habanos S.A has seen stock once again diminish, although the cigar has come back into production late this year, with mid-2023 box codes. These have been retailing for around $US20 a stick on Bond Roberts.

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 in 2022 and this is now my third one smoked in 2023. This is also inclusive of the fact that I've only had five in total since September 2021. Furthermore, I guess it makes it hard to smoke a LGC No.4 when I reflect on the recent pricing of pre-2018 stock on Bond Roberts, which I think is in the region of $US35 to $US40 a stick. I must further acknowledge @jay8354 for gifting me this La Gloria Medaille d'Or No.4 to smoke today. As the box code for this cigar is on the cardboard packaging rather than the box itself, which is an anomaly when it comes to box codes, it could be possible that this LGC No.4 could be even older, perhaps ten years or so.

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 began with a core almond nut flavour and creamy texture overall. In the middle third there was some fruit and herbal notes which progressed to become a woody and spicy smoke into the last third. It was all so wonderfully complex that the cigar made me reminisce and lament that Habanos cigars don't seem to be this complex in the thirds anymore. Perhaps I am being too sentimental in mentioning that? After all, I would opine that ready-to-smoke Habanos cigars are much more popular amongst consumers nowadays and resting cigars for five to ten years belongs to the domain of the few enthusiasts. Then again, when you are lucky enough to experience a cigar like this one today, the patience is well worth it.

One could say that my appraisal of this LGC4 today is influenced by my bias and continued lament of its inconsistent and varied availability. However, when these smoke like this one once again today, the acclaim is well-merited.

[JohnS]

Bolívar Belicosos Finos UER Abr 2019

The Bolivar Belicosos Finos remains a Friends of Habanos forum favourite, years after topping a Forum poll twice in 2019 declaring members' favourite cigar. Even with the current adjustments upwards to the pricing of Habanos cigars, you'll tend to find that demand is strong on our forum for the BBF when it is listed on 24:24 sales. In the FOH top 26 of 2021 poll as endorsed by El Pres, the Bolivar Belicosos Finos managed to come in at a very respectable eleventh.

Your average Piramide (also known colloquially as a Torpedo) is 52 ring gauge x 156 mm in length, the BBF is a Campanas and so is slightly smaller at 52 ring gauge x 140 mm in length. I mostly find them quite reliable in construction and flavour delivery over the years, on the odd occasion I have one.

In general, I've had excellent smoking experiences with BBFs in 2019/20 but of late I've only had five in almost three years, I believe. I think the reason for this is because I had intended resting them, albeit not for this long though. Then again, I have been distracted by other Bolivar options in my humidor such a mid-2015 box of Bolivar Tubos No.1, an early-2017 box of outstanding Bolivar Petit Coronas and an equally dependable half-box of mid-2019 Bolivar Coronas Junior!

This BBF was again very light on cocoa, yet it did have those big BBF flavours; bitter malt, nutmeg, Earth and leather which made it a good option for a change-of-pace from my usual 'go-to' cigars. Unlike my last BBF, there were indeed hints of 'licorice' sweetness in this BBF today. Sometimes I have also enjoyed a marshmallow texture to this cigar and this particular BBF delivered in that area too.

In terms of construction, this cigar burnt fairly consistently, except for a small part of the middle third where the leaves were bunched and the burn hence became uneven. After the evening the burn on one side, the cigar thankfully returned to normal. My last BBF, smoked eleven months ago had poor construction too, however, this one by comparison wasn't anywhere near as detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the cigar!

In conclusion, I didn't mind this BBF; but I would still choose my other Bolivar cigars in my humidor for the time being (e.g. early-2017 Bolivar Petit Coronas, mid-2019 Bolivar Coronas Junior and mid-2015 Bolivar Tubos No.1), only because they all seem closer to their 'peak' maturation, currently.

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.2 PMS Abr 2015

Around seven to eight years ago I purchased two 10-count PSP standard PMS Abr 2015 Montecristo No.2s from a 24:24 listing. I smoked through the first box between 2018 and late 2020. The wrappers on these cigars were a colorado/colorado rosado shade (i.e. one step short of colorado maduro) so I was expecting a strong cocoa and coffee hit when I 'cracked open' the first box in 2018, which was the case. There was some nut and leather, but no cream texture to those first few cigars smoked, unlike some lighter-wrappered Montecristo No. 2's I've had this past few years.

The best Montecristo No.2 from that first box was the last one smoked. The reason it was so good was because it was well-balanced, there was ample amounts of nut, coffee, cream and even citrus twang on the edges but it was the generous serving of quality cocoa which made it stand out for me.

Fast forward twelve months and the first cigar from this second box was very different to all ten cigars smoked from the first box. After six years the cocoa and coffee had receded and what we have now is the next stage of development in a cigar of this age. A mild-bodied cigar with some nut, leather and citrus twang which I feel may not be everyone's 'cup-of-tea' when it comes to smoking a Montecristo No.2 but I don't mind it like this.

The second Monte 2 from this second box was smoked eight months later and I believe at this time the cigar has reached a turning point, what many enthusiasts consider a cigar's 'peak'. By that we mean a cigar has reached a certain point in its rest or aging whereby the flavours have melded, some flavours have receded whilst others have come to the fore and the body of the cigar is still preferable. In other words, the cigar is finely balanced. Simply put, that was the best way to describe how superlative the second Monte 2 from the box smoked.

The third cigar, smoked four months later, started off with a beautifully sweet milk chocolate, milk coffee and cream in the first half which evolved into a nutty, soft leather and floral notes combination in the second half, which I believe is indicative of the next stage of this cigar's journey.

The fourth cigar, smoked five months later after the third encountered what one may colloquially term as a 'throwback', a cigar that is more indicative of a stage of development from an earlier period in comparison to the rest of the box. You see, whereas the first three cigars from this second box were all nutty and soft leather, with the cocoa, coffee and chocolate all having receded, the fourth cigar was, by comparison, quite robust in its coffee, cocoa and spice. Yes, you heard me correctly...not every Montecristo cigar aged over seven years diminishes in strength. This cigar smoked more like the cigars from the first box that were smoked within five years of its boxing date.

The fifth Montecristo No.2, smoked three months after the fourth, was more in line with the other Monte 2s smoked from the box in that it was milder, more replete in softer and sweeter cocoa and chocolate, less robust in coffee terms, had semblances of baking spice in its opening, was 'nutty' in its middle and 'leathery' towards its finale. In-between there was some spice here and there, but overall that eight year-old Montecristo No.2 (at the time) proved that class within a Habanos cigar doesn't necessarily expire before its 10th year anniversary (or even later). In fact, I have Montecristo No.2s from five different box codes within my humidor/s but I've only reached for Monte 2s from this box since the beginning of 2022 because frankly, they've been smoking so well. The rest are three years of age or less and in my opinion, they can wait.

And so we come now to the sixth Monte 2 from this box, smoked about five months later and I can report that, to me, the cigars continue to ooze 'class'. There were no harsh or obvious edges on this cigar, it was well-balanced, it had a nice cream texture and combination of sweet milk chocolate, nut, leather and a hint of citrus twang. Frankly, it was ideal for my taste and furthermore, I lament the fact that I have only four more left.

I mentioned the following in my last review on a Montecristo No.2 from this box, but it's worth referencing again in my view, that it's all very interesting to reflect upon because there are generalisations made concerning the Montecristo marca, whilst, yes; they have validity when it comes to strength, yet when it comes to variance in flavours...well, that's a whole other story. One thing I know, if you have a predilection for Montecristo as a marca, then you most likely have a wide range of tastes when it comes to smoking the different vitolas within this marca. Yet, when they 'hit the mark', so-to-speak, there can almost be no finer example of what can potentially represent the very finest of what Habanos cigars have to offer. I guess that is what makes us all come back to the Montecristo marca time and time again!

[JohnS]

Diplomáticos No.2 EML Ago 2014

Despite acquiring this EML Ago 2014 box of Diplomaticos No.2 in 2016, I didn't actually 'crack it open' until it had reached the five year mark in 2019. In the time that has passed since, I've gone through nearly the whole box, having smoked sixteen of the cigars and given eight away to various cigar enthusiasts to sample at catch-ups or get-togethers over the years, mainly because I find that other cigar smokers aren't as necessarily familiar with the Diplomaticos No.2 as they are with the Montecristo No.2, for example.

My last Diplomaticos No.2 smoked from this box was around five months ago, yet at nine years of age, trust me, these Diplomaticos No.2s from this box continue to show no sign of diminishing in the flavour department whatsoever, which you'd have to agree is quite impressive. I find that, in general, Diplomaticos cigars can vary markedly between flavours that are savoury (such as capsicum or bell pepper, paprika spice) and flavours that are sweet (cinnamon, nutmeg). These Dip 2s from this box have definitely been on the savoury side.

This cigar was fairly similar to the last one I smoked from this box in that it was quite savoury, with notes of wood, capsicum or bell pepper and paprika spice, and in particular again, the paprika spice. The cigar had a decent amount of smoke per puff and packed a heap of flavour. Once again, the ash was consistent and the burn and draw were both fine.

This Dip 2 did not have any notes of 'toastiness' or possess a core sourdough like my last few Dip 2s. Instead, as mentioned briefly above, it had a dominant paprika spiciness from beginning to end. When it comes to the Diplomaticos No.2, I wouldn't say that this was to my preference, but I can't fault the cigar for flavour as, even though it was atypical, it wasn't unpleasant.

So, all-in-all, I've now finished this box of Diplomaticos No.2s and I'm onto my next one which I just recently opened, a TOS Dic 2015 sample. Which incidentally, was a reputable box code for Diplomaticos No.2s at the time. I look forward to bringing you reviews of those cigars next year!

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones Gigantes ABO Ene 2019

The Ramon Allones Gigantes represents a Habanos vitola of which there are only four left. At 49 ring gauge x 194 millimetres in length (or 7.6 inches), this Double Corona usually requires a minimum of 2 hours to smoke. They always seem mild in strength to me when invariably I find the time to smoke one, they definitely are never medium to medium-full. However, together with the Partagas Lusitanias, Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona and Punch Double Corona, they represent a vitola that, unlike Lonsdales and Churchills, hasn't been depleted completely in the last 20 years or so. Still, this hasn't stopped rumours circulating in 2019-20 that the Gigantes is on the way out. Maybe the Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro and Saint Luis Rey Double Corona's discontinuations has fueled such speculation? I certainly hope not.

The advent of the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, along with the subsequent rationalisation of the Habanos cigar industry in mid-2022 made fears of discontinuation amongst Double Coronas and Churchills-sized cigars a moot point. Frankly, we barely saw any available in last twenty-four months or so. Thankfully, in last three to six months, Churchills and Double Coronas-sized cigars have started to be reproduced and made available for acquisition. For these reasons, it's been a barely believable two-and-a-half years since I last had a Ramon Allones Gigantes! Incredible!

This Gigantes was much like my last one from this same box code, in its core flavours. There was a beautiful balance of cocoa, light coffee and raisin and this was the way it stayed again pretty much throughout. If you want complexity, I'd suggest look elsewhere as I find the Gigantes has a set of typical flavours which stay consistent all the way from beginning to end. A few notes of difference though, last time there was a hint of a marshmallow texture to the draw on the palate which became more like a quality baking spice as this cigar ages long-term. Also, those raisin notes tend to become more like dried fruits and an aged RA Gigantes is more likely to have leather flavours than a younger one. This particular RA Gigantes certainly had notes of dried fruits at times and in the back half it had notes of forest floor flavours. It also had a tang of sour lemon citrus in places, which is not a flavour I usually equate with Ramon Allones cigars, but there you go!

Quite like my last Gigantes from this box code, the construction on this cigar was quite excellent, I did not need any touch-ups or re-lights. It still took me two-and-three-quarter hours to smoke, which you'd surely agree, is quite a long time to smoke a cigar!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Fundadores RAG Abr 2019

When it comes to the Trinidad Fundadores, in general, this cigar is considered the flagship of the brand. Prior to 2003 these were produced solely in the El Laguito factory. From 2004 onwards, production was also diverted to the Francisco Donatien factory, due to greater demand. Trinidad Fundadores from 1998 to 2003 is generally considered the best of its kind, especially the original run of 1997-98.

Prior to the advent of the 2019 50th anniversary regular production additions to the Trinidad marca (i.e. the Media Luna, Esmeralda and Topes), the Trinidad Fundadores was considered the 'hot' cigar of the brand, in terms of smoking, of course. I myself have enjoyed around a combined twelve ARS and RAG '17/'18 and '19 box code cigars in the last five years.

I've found that these ARS and RAG box code Fundadores to have more of a milk coffee and dough combination, unlike the more savoury and complex wood, grass, honey, coffee flavours I've picked up in Trinidad cigars that I've smoked in the past.

I unwound the pig-tail on this Trinidad Fundadores and found the draw slightly tight. Unlike my last Trinidad Fundadores smoked from this box around twelve months ago, which had a quintessential milk coffee, dough, cake and almond nut flavour combination to it, this was atypically savoury in comparison to my recent Fundadores I've smoked, as I've already mentioned. The cigar opened with a combination of coffee, Earth, wood and hay. In the middle third the cigar picked up in its 'woodiness'. By the last third this 'woodiness' became more 'oak-like', so-to-speak, and the cigar was not as easy to smoke as it was in the first two-thirds. Coincidentally, this was an identical outcome to what occurred the last time I lit up a 'Trini Fundy' from this box!

The last third saw me struggle to maintain the cigar alight. This is fundamentally why I took two-and-three-quarter hours to finish this today! Frankly-speaking, I still enjoyed elements of this Fundadores. If it wasn't for the last third this would have been much better. As it was, yes; I've certainly smoked better versions of this cigar, that's for sure! I wouldn't have been too pleased to have experienced these issues with Trinidad being currently twice the retail price these days than what it was in comparison to mid-2022. Thankfully, I had acquired the Trinidad Fundadores beforehand, as the box code suggests, so the 'dent' to my expectations didn't 'cut quite as deep'.

[JohnS]

Trinidad La Trova 2017 - La Casa del Habano Exclusivo RAG Ago 2017

At the time of writing this review, at the end of 2023, this is in fact just my third Trinidad La Trova I've smoked in the last four years. In August 2021, I believe my dissuasion for choosing to smoke the cigar at that time was due to its difficulty in sourcing it, and thus consequently, feeling it necessary to preserve my remaining stock. In April 2023, my dissuasion was different. Currently, it doesn't matter how well-stocked this LCDH cigar is because, at the new adjusted prices, I'm not tempted to acquire more. I'm sure you can relate to this dilemma!

In World War 1, Anzac troops (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) went to Europe to fight in the Great War supporting Britain and the Allies. Many were sent (later labelled) Anzac Biscuits by their family to sustain them in battle. This Anzac Biscuit lives on in Australian and New Zealand culture today as these rolled oat, butter, flour, sugar, golden syrup and baking soda biscuits have a long shelf-life and are popular. I mention these Anzac biscuits because they are full of flavour and I feel the La Trova is exactly the same way. To me, the La Trova is like a rich butter cookie slightly burnt, when it's in its youth, that is.

Like all Trinidad vitolas, it comes with a pig tail which I again had no issue untwisting with my thumb nail. The resultant draw produced from preparing the cigar in this way was again adequate.

In regards to strength, since it's gone past six years of age, I must say that it has certainly mellowed more to be around medium-mild. How did it taste at this stage? It still had elements of butter, salt and light elements of milk coffee, Earth and leather. Like my last Trinidad La Trova smoked six months ago, the dough flavour was again on the sweeter side, and especially in the first third to first half of the cigar. The last third was much more savoury, more oak-like, as has become somewhat custom in my Trinidad cigars I've smoked of late, it seems!

If you are familiar with the discontinued (in 2012) Trinidad Robustos Extra, an attempt by Habanos S.A. to release a Cohiba Siglo VI-type vitola to a premium marca, then you'd be aware how good these were and how they have aged so well, if you are lucky to have any left. The Trinidad La Trova strongly reminds me of the discontinued Trinidad Robustos Extra, and even more so as it ages.

If you have a box of Trinidad La Trova and you are keeping it aside for a special occasion, rest assured, it hasn't begun to peak in my view. These are only getting better as they age, in my opinion. Just remember to give yourself a good two hours to smoke it, too!

[JohnS]

Partagás Lusitanias UEB Jun 2018

The Double Coronas is a vitola with a 49 ring gauge and 194 mm or 7⅝ inches length. It typically takes a long time to smoke, somewhere in the vicinity of two-and-a-half hours or more. Of the Double Coronas in regular production in the current Habanos catalogue, I would believe that the Partagas Lusitanias is rated the highest among our members.

Until recently, the Partagas Lusitanias was seemingly unavailable for the greater majority of 2022 and 2023. Fortunately, alongside the other Double Coronas in regular production; namely, the Ramon Allones Gigantes, the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas and the Punch Double Coronas, these have all been made available again, albeit in select quantities and at select times.

I last smoked a 'Lusi' from this UEB Jun 2018 box code about a year ago. At the time, the flavours I had listed were sourdough, milk coffee and leather. Any paprika spice to be had in that cigar was after the first third, and it was much less than the two previous UEB Jun 2018 Lusis I had prior to that one. Also, it was quite light on any caramel-like sweetness (what El Pres lists as nougat). After almost twelve months, I can state that the next cigar from this box code had very similar flavours. For me, that suggests that the cigar is settling within its current phase of development.

Construction-wise, all my UEB Jun 2018 Partagas Lusitanias have struggled to maintain a one-inch ash, but this one 'bucked the trend' in how well it ashed, by contrast. Overall I consider this UEB Jun 2018 cigar better than my last one, but I consider my last three UEB Abr 2019 Lusis were all better by comparison, though.

So, when was the last time you smoked a Double Coronas and if you have some in your humidor, are you reticent to smoke your stock given the current state of things? (I.e. with the increase in pricing and issues in regards to availability.) I sometimes wonder when will be the next time that I reach for a Double Coronas myself, but invariably of late, I seem to be fortunate enough to find one to smoke!

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Churchills UEB Jun 2019

The Romeo y Julieta Churchill has been a standout cigar, for me in general, for a while now, especially after 2019. For a few years before 2015/16, I would say that this definitely wasn't the case; after all, I can recall my fair share of tasteless, bland toasted tobacco RyJ Churchills. Afterwards, the opposite may be true: I have had a great number of excellent RyJ Churchills, mostly replete with delicious fruity flavours.

This RyJ Churchill had a decent draw and was easy to smoke. The construction was somewhat flaky, however, as can be seen from the image above. I struggled to maintain a half-inch ash. In terms of taste, I've quite enjoyed the anise/turkish delight/rosewater and fruitiness of the Romeo y Julieta marca for some time now and this particular RyJ Churchill was again like that, with some Earthiness within the mix.

It seems a shame to me, that since the production downturn and price increases of Habanos cigars was announced in April 2022, that these longer vitolas have generally gone into hiatus. I say that because they tend to be amongst the better-performing cigars within the Habanos regular production catalogue, well...at least for me. At least it's good to see that they have become available again, albeit with new (elevated) pricing, of course.

I very much enjoyed this Romeo y Julieta Churchill on a warm afternoon, over 95 minutes. I lament the thought that my stock is dwindling and I will want to replace it with a new acquisition. I would hope that occurs later rather than sooner. The thought of what a box of Romeo y Julieta Churchills used to cost prior to 2022 remains, for me, quite a stumbling block, for the time being!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Tubos No.1 ULA Jun 2015

If you aren't aware, 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. In case you are wondering what other Coronas we have left in regular production to this day, there are indeed only three; the Montecristo No.3, the Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro and the Romeo y Julieta Cedros De Luxe No.2.

After having this box in storage for approximately five years, I've smoked three to four Bolivar Tubos No.1s a year for the last three years, and so I've now gone through just over three-fifths of the box. 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!

I had two superlative examples of Bolivar Tubos No.1 in a row about seven-and-a-half months ago. They were perhaps my best examples of Bolivar cigars I have ever smoked, and I say that without exaggeration! There was a topic on our forum, posted around that time, querying when was the last time members smoked two 95-point cigars in a row, as I had done with those last two Bolivar Tubos No.1s. The link is below if you'd like to peruse it...

https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/155610-when-is-the-last-time-you-had-back-to-back-95-point-cigars/#comment-1195048

Atypically, this particular Bolivar Tubos No.1 did not begin like all the others of late, in that it was not soft and chewy on the palate, it had minimal sweet caramel and floral notes, but it certainly had an underlying mushroom core. In the middle third, the cigar settled somewhat. Those standard-fare Bolivar flavours of leather, Earth and spice were evident, but I wouldn't say that there was any significant bitter chocolate. Similarly to my previous Bolivar Tubos No.1, this had more Earth, mushroom and forest floor 'funk' in its blend from the halfway point on. If you smoke Bolivar cigars regularly (or even perhaps on a semi-regular basis) I'm confident you'll know what I mean by this colloquially-named 'funk'. For me, according to my tastes, this suggests that there's still plenty of developmental life in this box of cigars yet.

This Bolivar Tubos No.1 might not have been a 95-point cigar, but I'd still easily rate it a 90 to 91 point cigar. I do wish that it had more of a caramel sweetness and mushroom undertone though. If it did, I certainly would have rated it higher. As it was, I didn't mind too much. After all, how often does one smoke a 95-point cigar?

[JohnS]

Padron 1964 Torpedo Maduro

Padron is considered amongst enthusiasts as one of the most consistent Non-Cuban brands in both construction and blend.

According to Padron, The Padron 1964 Anniversary Series line was introduced in 1994 to commemorate Padron's 30th anniversary. This line consists of ten sizes that are all available in sun-grown natural and maduro wrappers. All tobacco used in this limited production series is aged for four years, creating a smooth and complex flavor. In honor of the age-old Cuban tradition of box-pressing cigars, the 1964 Anniversary line was introduced as a box-pressed series.

The Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Torpedo has a 52 ring gauge x 152 mm or 6 inch length. It has a pronounced apex at its head, similarly I suppose to a Tacos-shaped Habanos cigar, but because it's box-pressed the 'pointiness' of its head is even more accentuated, in my view. For this reason, I took an extra photo with this review to highlight this feature, as it's visually easier to compare how much of the head I had to snip with my Colibri V-Cutter to draw through the smoke.

The first few puffs revealed sharp, distinct flavours on my palate typical of Padron Maduro cigars. I would say that the sharp apex on the head concentrated the smoke more so that it was even more potent, at first, on the mouthfeel, than what I'm used to with Padron. This necessitated a slight slowdown in my smoking technique to re-balance my palate, which I was able to successfully do. Despite all this, the cigar was well-constructed, the draw was spot-on and huge plumes of smoke were of course evident from every puff.

As I smoked this Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Torpedo into the second third I noticed that the reliable Padron flavours of coffee, Earth and leather was supplemented by a slight nutty texture which was akin to cashews. Trust me, it was quite nice!

At the start of the last third, the full-bodied flavour remained, as did the volumes of smoke. I gladly nubbed this at around 95 minutes. And when I mean nubbed, I mean until I couldn't hold the cigar to smoke it. It was all very similar to the last time I smoked a Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Torpedo around a year ago.

The Natural-wrappered version of the 1964 Anniversary Torpedo won the Cigar Aficionado 'Cigar of the Year' award for 2021 with an incredible 97-point rating. This has made this cigar naturally harder to source ever since. Perhaps the Maduro version is more easier to acquire right now? No matter, whilst I don't think that this Maduro version was a 97-point cigar, still I would easily rate it a 91 to 92 point cigar. The only thing I could critique is that in comparison to other higher-tiered Padron cigars, the Torpedo shape of the head of this cigar makes it noticeably sharper than other Padrons, which I would consider rounder in mouthfeel, in general, and therefore a little more comfortable to smoke.

[JohnS]

Padron Serie 1926 #6 Natural

The Padron 1926 series was introduced in 2002 to commemorate founder Jose O.Padron's 75th birthday the year before. (He was born in 1926.) This series is offered in a box-pressed format with tobacco specifically aged five years as a minimum. Since its release it has rated highly and won a number of awards. Furthermore, cigar enthusiasts have consistently rated the 1926 Series highly also.

The Padron Serie 1926 No.6 Natural seems comparable to a San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe but it is actually about the same size as a Punch Short de Punch (i.e. 50 ring gauge x 120 mm or 4¾ inches in length). That's where the similarities end, however, as the box-press on the Padron Serie 1926 No.6 Natural make it look and feel quite unique.

The cold draw offered a refined barnyard and leather taste.

The first third naturally brought with it a plume of smoke and flavour, as is to be expected with Padron cigars. The first third was a mixture of cocoa and espresso coffee. There was little to no pepper or spice at this point of the cigar The volume of smoke necessitated that I take a few sips from the back of the head every few minutes and that was enough to coast my palate with a rich, full flavour. It was wonderful, believe me!

The middle third saw the cigar settle a touch in strength but maintain its full flavour. The core strong cocoa and coffee remained, joined by some Earthiness and dark cherry. As is usual with Padron cigars, the construction was ideal with ash-ridges symmetrical and each ash-length a consistent  (and somewhat impressively long) length.

The final third had coffee, dark chocolate, some cedar and Earth. There weren't really any notable hints of pepper or spice even towards the end of the cigar. The strength remained consistent but the plumes of smoke and full flavour continued until I nubbed the cigar after 80 minutes.

After finishing the cigar I reflected on how this is the type of cigar best suited to experienced cigar enthusiasts, on account of its medium-full to full body. It's certainly not an overly complex cigar, and for the price point I would opine that there are better options amongst Non-Cuban cigars, but the Padron 1926 series, whether it's a Natural-wrappered or Maduro-wrappered version, grows on you in the same way perhaps as taking your morning coffee strong without milk or sugar does after drinking coffee for a number of years.

I must add that I very much enjoyed this Padron Serie 1926 No.6 Natural cigar today. For me, in comparison to other cigars within the Padron Serie 1926 line, it wasn't dissimilar to how the Padron 1964 Principe compares to other cigars within the Padron 1964 line. In other words, with only a difference of a quarter of an inch in length and one-sixteenth of an inch in girth, these two cigars are like the 'Petit Robusto' versions of their respective lines, if you get what I mean.

Still, if you enjoy the 1964 anniversary series, think of the 1926 line as an amplified version of what the 1964 line has to offer. Both lines are quality options, yet they are quite distinct from each other.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo SMA Oct 2018

I had the first Montecristo Petit Edmundo of this SMA Oct 2018 10-count box in October 2022. I had been going through an eight year-old 25-count ESO Sep 2014 box of MPEs of recent times and I must admit that younger MPE was quite brilliant to smoke. That 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.

The second cigar started off quite mellow in its milk coffee, cocoa and cream texture and I initially thought that it would remain that way throughout the smoke. However, halfway through the first third the cigar 'ramped up' in strength, with subsequent dominant notes of dark cocoa and leather. Again, there was a tremendous volume of smoke per draw so there was plenty of flavour on my palate after every puff and I didn't have to draw as often to savour the cigar.

I finished that cigar after a barely believable ninety minutes, which is a long time for a cigar of this size. I did enjoy that MPE, but it was very different to the ESO Sep 2014 box I've been smoking in the recent past. The difference is quite stark and quite remarkable, yet I'm glad I have both varieties of Montecristo Petit Edmundos in my humidor.

That second Montecristo Petit Edmundo was smoked in November last year, and the third one was smoked around eight months later. Unfortunately, that MPE opened with burn issues and subsequently it started to wilt outwards in its ashing. I must admit, it's not something one sees often, but it did mean that it was caused by some under-filling in the foot. This in itself is less common than the under-filling occurring more towards the centre of the cigar, whereas an over-filled cigar which results in a tight draw will usually have that particular construction problem around the band.

Fast forward six months and this fourth one proved to be reliable in its construction. It also followed the trend of the first two cigars from this box in its dark cocoa and leather dominant notes, alongside some milk coffee and strong plumes of smoke. Again, this particular Montecristo Petit Edmundo took an incredible ninety minutes to finish. It was a good smoke; however, I have smoked a heap of Montecristo Petit Edmundos over the years and I do prefer them somewhat 'softer' and 'rounder' on the palate. Therefore, it goes without saying that I will seeking to age this box further to see how they develop.

[GoodStix]

@JohnS, as ‘23 nears a close, thank you for another great year of reviews. The huge amount of time you commit to sharing here is truly impressive, and very much appreciated. Again, thank you. Merry Christmas to you and yours 🙂

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo OEG Jun 2023

I know, I know...you've seen reviews aplenty on the Montecristo Petit Edmundo within this series and surely you must be wondering, "what's new?" Well, this particular Montecristo Petit Edmundo comes from a newly acquired 10-count box and has a mid-2023 box code. It also smoked very differently from my late-2018 and late-2014 varieties of this cigar that I've written about within this series, and in my view, it all makes for an interesting discussion.

You see, a Montecristo Petit Edmundo of this age can't be compared to one that is approaching its tenth year on account of their different stages of development. The key is understanding those stages, pertinent to the Montecristo marca, of course. Then, you'd need to highlight the signs that indicate when we're approaching a change towards the next stage. Have you got all that? That said, it's all 'easier said than done', as we are prone to say colloquially from time-to-time, but it is my goal to lay down some 'markers', so-to-speak.

Okay, going back to this mid-2023 Montecristo Petit Edmundo, it had a strong element of espresso coffee, some leather and cocoa and stayed that way for sixty-five minutes. That coffee flavour dominated the flavour blend, so much so that I knew that there was some typical Montecristo cocoa/chocolate in the cigar, it's just that the strength of the coffee overrode the other flavours at this stage of its cigar journey. Having said that, I had no issue really with its medium to medium-full strength and full-bodied mid-2023 Montecristo Petit Edmundo.

By comparison, even the late-2018 Montecristo Petit Edmundo that I smoked last week was not as evident in its fortitude when it came to coffee within its blend. No, rather, that cigar had more obvious notes of cocoa and leather than this mid-2023 MPE that I smoked today. The question is, what are the signs that my Montecristo Petit Edmundo is moving towards that stage of development? In other words, when do recognise that period?

Within the circles of this hobby it's sometimes heard that cigar enthusiasts will smoke a cigar, let's say from a 25-count box, and return to it within a three to six-month window, depending on the cigar to gauge its progress. As for this mid-2023 Montecristo Petit Edmundo, I would think that from experience I will smoke another one in less than six months time to see if this smoke today was an anomaly or not, if it was atypical in its smoking, in other words. If not, then I would gather to guess that I would then wait longer than six months to smoke the next one. You see, for this Montecristo Petit Edmundo to diminish in its espresso coffee flavours it would first need to establish signs that it was changing in its strength to somewhere below the medium mark before it lessens in its body. It's the strength that will first recede, rather than the body. For a significant change in flavours, therefore, I wouldn't hesitate to guess that it would take a good three years, perhaps five years, even!

However, there is one further point to add to this discussion to conclude. Quite simply, that is the preference of the cigar smoker. It may not be in your interest to wait for that next change in development for the cigar that you're smoking and enjoying right now. If that's the case, there's no qualms about smoking them sooner rather than later. It's all about identifying that 'peak period' that is right for you.

[JohnS]

Partagás Presidentes RSG Mar 2023

I think we all have that one (or perhaps two) cigar/s that we aspire to return to and see if it's changed since we last smoked it 'ages' ago. For me, that cigar currently is the Partagas Presidentes. It's been a few months short of five years since I last smoked one, and that one came from the 2018 Friends of Habanos Xmas Sampler. Do you remember them? Ah yes, the good old days when our forum host could actually access a guaranteed supply of Habanos cigars and subsequently could provide Sampler packs around the end of each year to try the best cigars of that year. What memories, folks!

That last time I smoked a Partagas Presidentes I had noted that it had a pleasant mix of Partagas sourdough and coffee with a Fonseca-type marshmallow sweetness. By contrast, I remember my previous forays into sampling the Partagas Presidentes revealed a more typical 'old school' blend of Partagas Earth and Forest Floor and perhaps even leather and I remember at that point of my journey within this hobby that it didn't really connect with me.

This early-2023 Partagas Presidentes, on the other hand, was quite simply a revelation. If there's one cigar that I would have to nominate as being the best in its flavour delivery and construction since the advent of the Covid era in early 2020, then it would have to be the Partagas Serie D No.4. The varieties that I've had of the PSD4 have been simple concoctions of Partagas sourdough, coffee and leather, intertwined in a seemingly perfect balance. Unbelievably, this Partagas Presidentes was much like that. Yes, I couldn't fathom it. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement.

The notions of the Partagas Presidentes, well at least in my mind, that had a dominating strength and old school flavours of Earth, Forest floor and leather are simply incomparable to what I smoked today. This Partagas Presidentes was simply sensational. I simply have to smoke another soon to see if I get a similar result to what I experienced over sixty-five wondrous minutes today. If so, then I would need to acquire more Partagas Presidentes. And dare I say, maybe you will need to also!

[JohnS]

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art was ranked no.6 in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 cigars of the year in 2018. It's difficult to roll, yet Arturo Fuente still finds a way to maintain consistency in construction with these perfecto-shaped cigars. The Cameroon wrapper indeed imparts a wonderful sweetness to the blend and the shape of the cigar induces fantastic transitions on the palate.

The ring gauge of the Work of Art is 60 rg at its most widest, hits 56 rg at the midway point, and decreases to 46 rg around the band. It takes great skill for torcedores to create this complex vitola. That, there is no doubt! It's available in Natural and Maduro varieties. The wrapper (of this Natural version), as mentioned, is of the Cameroon sweet variety and both the binder and filler contain aged Dominican tobacco.

I smoked quite a number of the AF Hemingway Work of Art cigars in 2022, especially during my Christmas/New Year vacation period which I didn't necessarily smoke to review. Instead, I smoked them quite simply for enjoyment. Having said this, I haven't revisited this cigar since late-March 2023, which is a tad longer than I had envisaged.

Once again, the opening was like a beautiful hit of sweet shortbread and honey. Thereafter, the trajectory of this particular AF Hemingway Work of Art settled between a balance of savoury and sweet flavours. There was cedar, some shortbread, hay and a some white pepper, but nothing like what I'd label as white pepper commonly found in H.Upmann cigars, on occasion. No, that white pepper was much more subtle within this blend. I've smoked some AF Hemingway Work of Art cigars that have lasted as long as one hour and fifty minutes. This particular AF Hemingway Work of Art endured for an hour and fifteen. No matter, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

In summary, I still continue to think there is a strong resemblance in its flavours with the H.Upmann marca. Having said that, there's no doubt that I greatly admire the Arturo Fuente Hemingway series but the fact remains that I would never had stumbled upon it if the state of Habanos cigars was like it was in 2021 (or earlier). The Work of Art certainly lives up to its name. It continues to be a quality mild to mild-medium strength cigar that I would easily recommend anyone to try.

[JohnS]

DesNudos N1 Colorado Maduro Lancero

I have not smoked a DesNudos N3 Colorado Rosado Lancero or its fraternal twin, the DesNudos N3 Colorado Maduro Lancero for twelve months. These were the second batch of Nudies releases that saw the light of day in 2021. Of course the original Nudies came out with only a Rosado wrapper option. Recently, there were a few members on our forum that commented that these were smoking well and served a good option in comparison to the Montecristo Especial, which admittingly is nowhere near as viable a choice for acquisition, currently, as Nudies cigars are and I wanted to see, therefore, how these were coming along.

If you aren't aware, the term 'Colorado Rosado' refers to what we know as a 'Natural shade wrapper' in Habanos cigars. 'Colorado Rosado' is the term used for Non-Cuban cigars. The difference in wrapper shades, therefore, between these two releases is in fact the only point of variation between the cigars. In other words, the leaves inside contain the exact same blend. Keep that in mind the next time you smoke a DesNudos N3 Colorado Rosado Lancero and a DesNudos N3 Colorado Maduro Lancero or Carlota 'back-to-back' (or one after the other).

This DesNudos N1 Colorado Maduro Lancero had a grassiness core flavour upon its opening, much like the last DesNudos N1 Colorado Maduro Lancero I smoked. At least we can say that the flavour blend is consistent. The maduro shade wrapper imparted a flavour of cocoa from beginning to end but in comparison to a Montecristo Especial, which this cigar replicates, the cigar was much more 'sharper' on the palate. For me, it remains a simple-blended yet quality option for a long-and-skinny cigar. (The Maduro version of the Desnudos N1 Lanceros in fact tries to combine aspects of the Montecristo Especial and Trinidad Fundadores.)

So, in summary, I'm glad I've given this a little time to rest prior to smoking it today. These DesNudos releases will continue to get better with age on them so if you have more than one bundle of these try to set aside some down-the-track. Somewhere in the vicinity of the twenty-four month mark is about where I envisage these 'rounding off' even more and becoming even more interesting on the palate. That would mean that I may revisit these again in twelve months to see how they are developing.

[JohnS]

DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado Lancero

In 2019, the original Nudies N1 Lancero and N3 Carlota were released. The N1 Lancero aimed to replicate the blend of the long-discontinued Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.1 and No.2. The N3 Carlota replicated the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3.

They were well-received by our members, with the consensus being that they were remarkably 'Cubanesque' for cigars utilising Non-Cuban tobacco. Construction on these cigars were consistently sound, the small team of rollers responsible for the rollout no doubt contributed to this consistency.

The DesNudos second version of Nudies had an additional Maduro-wrappered release for each vitola. I acquired a Colorado Maduro and Colorado Rosado version of both the N1 Lancero and N3 Carlota in March 2022 and left these cigars to rest for around eight months prior to smoking my first DesNudos N3 Colorado Rosado and Maduro Carlota and nine months to smoke my first DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado Lancero, a 38 ring gauge by 192 mm (or 7½ inches) in length vitola. This DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado Lancero was smoked after letting it rest a further twelve months.

Notice that the DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado and Colorado Maduro Lanceros both have pig-tails. This is no doubt a reference to the cigar that these were both blended in homage to, the Montecristo Especial. The only difference between the Rosado (keep in mind that if these were Cuban cigars we'd be calling these 'Natural' instead of the Non-Cuban term 'Rosado') and Maduro versions is the wrappers themselves. The same blend of seco and volado leaf go into both cigars.

Unlike the DesNudos N1 Colorado Maduro Lancero I smoked prior to this cigar, I found this DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado Lancero more 'rounded' when I smoked it, yet still noticeably 'grassy'. In fact, it was every bit as herbaceous as the last time I smoked it, twelve months ago. Again, that's a colloquial 'feather in the cap' for consistency of blend. It reminded me more of a Cohiba Lanceros than a Montecristo Especial. It also has a cocoa and nutty sweetness to it, but no spice.

These 2021 Version Two DesNudos releases were blended with a sweetness profile in mind that differed slightly based on their wrappers. In regards to the DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado Lancero the sweetness was aimed at imparting a creamy/nutty sweetness on the palate, whereas the DesNudos N1 Colorado Maduro Lancero was intended to leave a cocoa-type sweetness in its mouthfeel.

In regards to this DesNudos N1 Colorado Rosado Lancero I can safely affirm that it did succeed today in being a sweet creamy/nutty textured long-and-skinny cigar. In comparison to a Montecristo Especial, however, it still 'sharper' in mouthfeel and not as complex as that Habanos cigar, of comparative age. Yet, I'd still opine that it's not a bad option if the Montecristo Especial is a challenge to acquire for you, at the present time.

[JohnS]

Rafael González Coronas de Lonsdales SUL Jul 2023

The Rafael Gonzalez Coronas de Lonsdales was presented by Habanos S.A exclusively in Portugal in mid-February, 2023. Empor, S.A, exclusive distributor of Habanos, S.A. for Portugal, launched the new vitola Rafael González Coronas de Lonsdales (and also the new Regional Edition for its market, El Rey del Mundo Templários) at the Habanos Gala Dinner Portugal.

According to Habanos S.A.'s official press release, the guests were able to get to know and taste the new Rafael González Coronas de Lonsdales 48 ring gauge x and 127mm (or 5 inches) length at first-hand, characterized by their soft flavour, and made “Totally Handmade with long filler” after a careful selection of leaves coming from the Vuelta Abajo region, the area where the world’s best tobacco is produced, paired with an extraordinary port wine, Sandeman Tawny 30 years old, of Sogrape S.A.

They added further in the press release that 2022 was marked for being the year when the brand Rafael González stepped into the worldwide market with a new image. Its packaging complies with the requirements of the European Union and is presented with a redesigned band and has significant improvements in its printing technology, resulting in accurate colour shades allowing for a more proficient view of the graphic details.

The official tasting notes for the event are below:

Tasting notes

Brand: Rafael González

Commercial Name: Coronas de Lonsdales

Measures: 48 ring gauge x 127mm length

Strength: Light

Wrapper: oily with a delicious aroma

First third: balanced, subtle and delicate expressions, with a perfect draw and combustion

Second third: with a very uniform progress, grassy and dark chocolate notes greatly balanced with medium tobacco taste

Third third: nice draw and tight ash, and enticing aroma, chocolate was definitely in there

Pairing proposal: Sandeman Tawny 30 years old

Source: https://www.habanos.com/en/news/habanos-s-a-presented-rafael-gonzalez-coronas-de-lonsdales-exclusively-in-portugal/

It's interesting that Habanos S.A. chose to launch the Rafael Gonzalez Coronas de Lonsdales alongside the Portuguese Regional Edition El Rey del Mundo Templários. You see, this is an indirect reference to these two brands' shared history. Rafael Gonzalez was founded in 1928 and named after its founder, but it did cease production post-Revolution in the early-1960s. According to Alex Groom in his recently published, El Habano Moderno, in 1965, Rafael Gonzalez was re-launched alongside El Rey del Mundo and was considered a sister brand of that marca. Both were high end luxury brands. I can't help but feel that Habanos S.A. is implying that with these releases, they are intended as an homage to those halycon days of luxury.

As for the name of the cigar itself; yes, I admit that it is strange. I mean, 'Coronas de Lonsdales'? Is it a Coronas or is it a Lonsdales? Is it named after the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, Hugh Lowther, who gave the vitola its name? Is it a reference to the fact that the Rafael Gonzalez Coronas de Lonsdales is a Hermosos No.4 and its common name is a 'Coronas Extra'? No, quite simply, I believe the name of this new addition to the Rafael Gonzalez marca is a reference to the discontinued, in the 1970s, Rafael Gonzalez Coronas Lonsdales which had a similar length but was 4 ring gauge sizes smaller in girth. (I.e. 44 rg instead of 48 rg)

I acquired a 10-count box of mid-2023 Rafael Gonzalez Coronas de Lonsdales recently and obviously I was eager to sample one. I knew things were immediately amiss when I took quite some time to toast the foot as there were spots that were not lighting. This was a harbinger of things to come. Apart from two or three initial puffs whereby the cigar was quite good, my struggle to smoke through this cigar was akin to the Patriarch Jacob wrestling with God and having his hip thrown out-of-joint thereafter in the Book of Genesis. Yes, it was like that! I could not get this thing to stay alight or hold too long an ash. Furthermore, the culprit was some under-filling down the middle, so there were times when the smoke was simply acrid on my palate and was too intense in smoke output.

Despite all this, the times whereby I got flavour indicated that there were promising signs here. For me, it is obvious that there was a Rafael Gonzalez blend of cocoa, Earth, leather and floral notes but perhaps slightly bolder, less subtle than a Rafael Gonzalez Petit Coronas. In my opinion, this new cigar is like what the Montecristo Petit Edmundo is in comparison to a Montecristo No.4 or in comparison to its marca, if you know what I mean (and I'm quite confident that I think you do).

Unfortunately, we will need to wait until early 2024 to see if the next cigar from the box is similar, or alternatively, sublime as I think it was intended to be. Or will it be a case of having to wait for the box to develop, as is normal for the Rafael Gonzalez marca? I wish I could say, like the famous TV show we all know, "tune in same Bat Time, same Bat Channel" to find out. Alas, 'rassurez-vous' (i.e. rest assured), I will let you know.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 (Circa 2023)

The cigar you see pictured above is no ordinary cigar. Yes, sure in a sense it actually is an ordinary cigar. However, when one realises that El Presidente has nominated this as FoH's No.1 cigar for 2023 for performance and consistency and, on top of that, this cigar I'm smoking today was coincidentally gifted by a work colleague as an expression of gratitude for service at my workplace over fourteen years, then yes, one can understand that it's no ordinary cigar.

Fourteen years is a long time to dedicate oneself to a work organisation. Sometimes, there is a need for change simply because a new challenge is required to safeguard one's motivation for improvement. Yes, I was content and secure in my teaching role, but it was time for a change. I know a great many of you can relate to this predicament. In a similar way, maybe my penchant for Cohiba and Montecristo as preferred marcas needs to evolve too in light of the recent changes we all know too well by none other than Habanos S.A. I never thought I would admire Partagas Serie D No.4s, Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2s, Arturo Fuente Hemingway and even Padron 1926 and 1964 cigars as much as I currently do if the price rises of the considered-luxury brands of Cohiba and Trinidad had not occurred in mid-2022. What more could we say about all this? Et voilà, c'est la vie ! (Literally-speaking 'And see there' or There you have it, such is life!)

This was such a nice way to finish off 2023, especially after smoking a thoroughly disappointing Rafael Gonzalez Coronas de Lonsdales immediately prior to this. It didn't have that overtly sweet cream and vanilla malt essence that HdM Epi 2s are known for, but it certainly shone in its soft cedar and cocoa profile. I really enjoyed this cigar over ninety minutes, which is about twenty minutes longer than the time I take to smoke a Robusto cigar.

Sometimes, maybe all you need is a good, simple dependable Habanos cigar to appreciate things. Certainly, this would be a true summary of the best Partagas Serie D No.4s and Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2s I've had of late. And this was a nice way to commemorate my time with my work colleagues. I really couldn't think of anything better.

[JohnS]

On 12/23/2023 at 4:38 PM, GoodStix said:

@JohnS, as ‘23 nears a close, thank you for another great year of reviews. The huge amount of time you commit to sharing here is truly impressive, and very much appreciated. Again, thank you. Merry Christmas to you and yours 🙂

Thank you for the kind sentiments, @GoodStix. Honestly, I've been so busy with managing a job transfer during December that once I stopped for the holidays I fell unaccustomingly ill. It took me about a week to shake off a sore throat and cold and I was eager to finish this year's series with the new Rafael Gonzalez Coronas de Lonsdales and the No.1 FoH cigar for 2023, the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2. I'm grateful that yesterday the weather was consistently sunny, I felt better and I got my chance!

Of course, I would like to extend my gratitude to all our members who peruse this blog series. I hope it has served you well. I wish you all a Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you again after taking a customary break for my summer holidays. Until then...happy smoking!