JohnS' Smoking Diary 2023

[GoodStix]

@JohnS as always very much enjoying your diary reviews.  In-depth commentary, no doubt takes quite a lot of your time.  Very kind of you.  Thanks for sharing it with us all.

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, GoodStix said:

@JohnS as always very much enjoying your diary reviews.  In-depth commentary, no doubt takes quite a lot of your time.  Very kind of you.  Thanks for sharing it with us all.

Thank @GoodStix, I very much appreciate your feedback! 👍

[Cigarsmoker81]

Hey John 

just wanted to say I enjoy your reviews and I always learn something new from them even if they’re in my regular rotation 

 

 

[JohnS]

Thank you kindly, @Cigarsmoker81! 😉

[jimjim]

I also very much appreciate your reviews.

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, jimjim said:

I also very much appreciate your reviews.

Thank you also, @jimjim!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Fundadores (circa 2002)

It was only a little over a week ago that I enjoyed an aged Trinidad Fundadores, so I must again thank Trevor Leask, the founder of Cuban Cigar Website, for gifting me this pre-2004 specimen. I say that confidently on the evidence of the band. Notice the basic black and gold cigar band with the name, TRINIDAD? It wasn't until 2004 that the now familiar embossed black and yellow label with TTT TRINIDAD came into existence.

I must admit to you that I consider myself very, very fortunate to even have the opportunity to smoke this cigar and share its vices and virtues with you. I would think that there aren't many original 1998 to 2003 original vintage Trinidad Fundadores around. 'Word' was that they were pretty good when first released. I aim to convince you that this 'word' remains much the same twenty years later!

I mentioned in my last review that the Trinidad Fundadores, prior to 2003, were produced solely in the El Laguito factory and that Fundadores from 1998 to 2003 is generally considered the best of its kind, especially the original run of 1997-98. I also quoted an instance whereby I had smoked a 1999 Trinidad Fundadores which was a complex cigar replete with a myriad of flavours: Coffee, Spice, Wood, Floral, Grass, Vanilla and Citrus all melded together beautifully like cake.

Prior to 2003, Trinidad Fundadores were also known to have more strength and were fuller in flavour, as well as being complex. Frankly, they were perfect for aging. My last post-2004 Trinidad Fundadores had a succulent combination of Tea, Condensed Milk and Nutmeg with a little cedar. It was sublime. This pre-2004 example was not like that, on the contrary, it was more like what Trinidad Fundadores from its era were like. That is, noticeably fuller and possessing more impactful flavours.

The Trinidad Fundadores from this era has been known to impart Cedar, Earth, Coffee and Butter textures. If you were to add some grassiness and vanilla then you'd have the hallmark of a classically-flavoured cigar. This was all that and more. Perhaps the grassiness was more evident in the first half and the Earthiness and coffee in the back-half, but I can only imagine the strength this cigar would have conveyed on its host enthusiast twenty years ago. Trust me, it was still flavoursome but the complexity on show here was somewhat unique in comparison to the Habanos cigars we smoke today.

I can't say though, that this pre-2004 Trinidad Fundadores was better or worse than the post-2004 example I smoked a bit over a week ago. I can definitely say it was markedly different. As I write this I do wish I had another. And I have every confidence that you wish you had another one for yourself, too!

[JohnS]

Punch Punch RAT May 2020

The Punch Punch is a Corona Gorda, 46 ring gauge x 143 mm in length. I find this medium ring gauge ideal (or even a little lower as I consider 42 ring gauge, which coincidentally is 2/3 of an inch, perfect). I had acquired a 10-count box of Punch Punch Tubos in May of 2022 and had the first one 'right-off-the-truck' (or ROTT) and it was quite 'run-of-the-mill' or average. I had the second and third cigars from the box at two month intervals thereafter and both of those were a bit better than average. The fourth one, smoked again two months later (and so six months after having the first right-off-the-truck) was very different to them all. It was simply sublime! This fifth Punch Punch was smoked five months later. It wasn't as ethereal (or other-worldly) as my last one, but if it had been a little bit better constructed, who knows?...it may have been!

I've said this in previous reviews on this cigar, but to me, the Punch Punch (Punch - yes, it actually has three 'Punches' in its name!) is always a cedar and classic 'Cuban Twang' affair when its at its best. I esteem it as perhaps one of the few Habanos cigars to encapsulate the ideal of perfect 'Cuban Twang' within a cigar which makes Habanos cigars so distinctive.

This Punch Punch had so much potential on the cold draw. It was the closest I ever remember to experiencing what our dear and esteemed 'compadre-of-the-leaf' @99call terms as 'Wrigley's juicyfruit chewing gum' flavour. Yes, trust me, it just was. I immediately thought that this was going to maybe be the best Punch Punch I will ever smoke. Instead, it became the best Punch Punch I ever salvaged. Please, let me explain.

Immediately after lighting, I noticed a small tunnel in the middle of the cigar. This meant that the cigar was slightly under-filled and I knew from experience that if I continued to smoke at a normal pace the cigar would be bitter and perhaps unpalatable. The typical Punch flavours of sour cream, leather and cedar were there but the slower pace I smoked meant that the spice I got was only minor on the edges.

Whereas my last almost-perfect Punch Punch took me seventy minutes to enjoy, this example took me one hundred and ten minutes to patiently endure. Still, it ended up okay. I say that because I can confidently tell you that I've had worse (as no doubt you have had too!).

So, in summary, my first cigar from this box was ordinary whilst the next two were similar in been simple-blended typical Punch-flavoured cigars, perhaps marginally better than average. The fourth one was a revelation and the fifth one was a little below average. So, in essence, half this 10-count box of Punch Punch tubos has been consumed with varying results. I wonder how the next half of the box will turn out?

[JohnS]

Padron 1964 Exclusivo Maduro

Since the pricing re-structure of Habanos cigars was announced in April 2022, I've become grateful for the opportunity to explore Non-Cuban options to supplement my cigar smoking. Padron is one of those brands I've enjoyed sampling. Padron is considered amongst enthusiasts as one of the most consistent Non-Cuban brands in both construction and blend. Every Padron I've had seems to effortlessly evoke a smooth flavour delivery on the palate. This Padron 1964 Exclusivo Maduro was no different when I smoked it today.

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 smell of this cigar of the cold draw was again sublime, consisting of a unique musty, cedar smell that in itself doesn't sound appealing but in a cigar like this, trust me, it's ideal.
    
The first few puffs of this cigar greeted me with some chocolate, coffee, earth, and leather. The flavours were smooth. The draw was a tad loose (as is normal for Padron cigars) and huge plumes of smoke enveloped me with every puff. This was not as full-bodied as my last Padron 1964 Exclusivo Maduro I smoked about six months ago, nevertheless I didn't seem to mind that much.

Into the second third the leather dominated the blend. The burn and draw continued to be as reliable as ever.

At the start of the last third, as I've experienced in previous Padron 1964 cigars, the blend was mainly coffee, earth and leather. I finished the cigar around the 100 minute mark. This is what I would expect from a cigar of this size (50 ring gauge x 141 mm or 5½ inches; similar to a Habanos Gordito vitola).

In conclusion, with a medium to medium-mild strength and being medium full-bodied in its flavour made this cigar very, very easy to smoke. Again, I wouldn't rate the blend as overly complex but this Padron 1964 Maduro Exclusivo turned out to be a quality smoke. I wouldn't be surprised if the next Padron 1964 Maduro cigar I reach for proved to be more robust in its strength and body.

[JohnS]

Sancho Panza Molinos ABR Oct 2011

I mentioned in my first review upon opening this box of Sancho Panza Molinos in late-2021 that 2006 was a bad year for Sancho Panza. Four vitolas, the Bachilleres, Coronas, Coronas Gigantes and Sanchos were deleted that year. In 2012, one of the last remaining regular production Lonsdales was also deleted, the Molinos. Why, oh Habanos S.A, why?

Indeed, if we turn our attention to the Lonsdale, a 42 ring gauge x 165 mm (or 6½ inches) in length cigar, 2006 also saw the discontinuation of the Diplomaticos No.1, Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale and Saint Luis Ray Lonsdale. In 2012, alongside the Sancho Panza Molinos, the Vegas Robaina Clasicos was also deleted. Even the Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No.1, an inconspicuous cigar within that marca, saw the 'chopping-block' in 2017. Lamentably, only the Montecristo No.1 survives to this day in this vitola in regular production. Given that Montecristo cigars (and Cohiba) tend not to get discontinued, I have every confidence the Montecristo No.1 will remain, but to think there's only one cigar left of its kind seems quite incredible. Nowadays, we can see Habanos S.A.'s commitment to ceasing the release of any more cigars of this size in the Bolivar Gold Medal, a cigar that enjoyed a LCDH special release in the 2000s for a time on two occasions, recently become available again with an increase in its girth to 48rg. Personally, I find it all too hard to fathom.

The last ABR Oct 2011 Molinos I smoked was four months ago. In general, these aged Sancho Panza Molinos have had a nice balance of salted cream and wood, yet they've been light on the palate. They've varied in their floral notes but they've been fantastic to smoke and much more interesting than recent Sancho Panza Non-Plus!

The last Sancho Panza Molinos I had acquired, prior to opening this box, was from a Family Cruise holiday I took throughout the Caribbean. The boat docked in port in Jamaica on the trip and I visited the LCDH there at Falmouth in December 2018. In the shop was a box containing around six to eight sticks, that's how long they were in the shop from 2011, so that may explain why they were deleted.

Ten years is a long time to wait before opening up a box of Habanos cigars but when it comes to the Sancho Panza Molinos, it's a cigar that benefits greatly from having significant time down. This is now my seventh SP Molinos from this box. It was again very easy to smoke, easy on the palate yet it still had significant body and flavour to suggest that it had plenty of life in it. In other words, like I stated in my last review on this cigar, it was nowhere near its expiry date. In my opinion, based on how these have been smoking, it's not even a question I'd consider for another five years. By then, I'd think I would have finished the box! If so, it's a pity, naturally, that I can't re-stock this now discontinued lonsdale cigar.

The one caveat I must add to this review is that it is important to keep in mind that aged cigars of this type will burn faster than cigars of a similar ilk that are younger. This only took me 80 minutes to smoke, yet I didn't feel that I was rushing it.

It's a shame though that more cigar enthusiasts are not familiar with how well Sancho Panza ages and how uniquely good they can be. If you have Sancho Panza in you humidor, excepting the SP Belicosos, and especially the recently discontinued SP Non Plus, then keep in mind to give them time to develop. I'm confident you'll be glad you did in the long run.

[JohnS]

Padron Serie 1926 #2 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.) Padron's website confirms the following; The award-winning Padrón 1926 Serie premiered in 2002 to commemorate José O. Padrón’s 75th birthday, with ten sizes available. Continuing our tradition, this series is offered in a box-pressed format. These cigars are individually hand-crafted from tobacco aged five years, then blended to create an exceptionally smooth, complex, balanced and full-bodied flavor. For protection, a double band with an individually numbered guarantee label is applied to every cigar to safeguard against counterfeiting. Available in both sun-grown natural and maduro wrappers.

This Padron Serie 1926 No.2 is about the same size as a Bolivar Belicosos Finos (i.e. 52 ring gauge x 140 mm or 5½ inches in length). That's where the similarities end, however, as the box-press on the Padron Serie 1926 No.2 make it look and feel quite unique.

The cold draw offered a distinct musty Earth and barnyard aroma.

The first third saw the usual plethora of smoke and flavour, which mainly consisted of a musty Earth, wood and pepper. The cigar was quite rich on the palate, yet as is typical of Padron, it was quite smooth and effortless to smoke. The draw was, as usual, sightly loose (they are normally rolled this way).

The middle third had those core flavours of Earth and wood but the pepper diminished into the background. I got a some coffee in the mix, but overall the cigar was quite dry on my palate and mainly Earth and leather.

The final third had that musty wood, coffee and Earth with only some slight pepper. The strength ramped up in the last third and I slowed down to savour it on the palate.

This Padron 1926 No.2 had an ideal construction and smoking characteristic, it was well-balanced. A full-bodied smoke, thanks to the aged leaves, the strength overall was comfortably at the medium level.

It wasn't complex and for the price, naturally there are better options out there amongst Non-Cuban cigars, but this Padron Serie 1926 No.2 still delivered in flavour and construction. I was satisfied after smoking this cigar, after all; it took five minutes short of two hours to finish. Just remember how powerful it can be; you probably wouldn't follow it up with another cigar immediately afterwards!

[99call]

13 hours ago, JohnS said:

I noticed a small tunnel in the middle of the cigar

Sorry to hear this Punch Punch, showed you a bit of ankle and then failed to satisfy. how often if that the way with CC's!? we as enthusiasts are reduced to trying to salvage moments or glimpses of greatness, and you just think "Jesus Christ!..... the farmer has done his bloody job, the tobacco is fantastic, it just needs rolling right". 

Anyway, those moments of greatness are truly great.......and no matter how many times we get out for a duck, or smashed in the ribs, we always return to the crease for more moments of glory/punishment. 

[99call]

12 hours ago, JohnS said:

Trust me, it was still flavoursome but the complexity on show here was somewhat unique in comparison to the Habanos cigars we smoke today.

One of my all time best cigar experiences.  back in 2004 I had been on long break from cigars, but a good friend of mine was going to Habana and I had asked if she had the time she could pick me up a few sticks. Anyway it was a very loosey goosey ask, (of which I 100% expected her not to pull through on).  To my surprise and with no direction whatsoever (as to what to look for in quality) she returned with some of the glossiest, most perfect cigars i'd ever seen. 

I must caveat by saying she is very beautiful, and there is a good chance whomever picked these cigars for her, was beguiled into doing their best to impress. 

Anyway, the old band Fundadores was mesmerising.  Like quite a few memorable cigars it did have a bit of nic buzz to it, which added to the feeling of being blown away by the sheer quality, and flavour. 

I currently have most of a box of 2019's left, and whilst lovely cigars, they are not a patch on that experience in 2004.

keep up the good work John, always a great read.  Hats off to you

[ha_banos]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

One of my all time best cigar experiences.  back in 2004 I had been on long break from cigars, but a good friend of mine was going to Habana and I had asked if she had the time she could pick me up a few sticks. Anyway it was a very loosey goosey ask, (of which I 100% expected her not to pull through on).  To my surprise and with no direction whatsoever (as to what to look for in quality) she returned with some of the glossiest, most perfect cigars i'd ever seen. 

I must caveat by saying she is very beautiful, and there is a good chance whomever picked these cigars for her, was beguiled into doing their best to impress. 

Anyway, the old band Fundadores was mesmerising.  Like quite a few memorable cigars it did have a bit of nic buzz to it, which added to the feeling of being blown away by the sheer quality, and flavour. 

I currently have most of a box of 2019's left, and whilst lovely cigars, they are not a patch on that experience in 2004.

keep up the good work John, always a great read.  Hats off to you

I've some 2011. Also been through a few 2003 and a few 1998s. Caveat I don't have the most discerning palette. Loved them all. Not tried any post 2011. And at current pricing I won't. But happy to churn through what I have. Lovely cigar. Will revisit the 98 and 11's that I've left and see if it still holds.

[99call]

10 hours ago, ha_banos said:

I've some 2011. Also been through a few 2003 and a few 1998s. Caveat I don't have the most discerning palette. Loved them all. Not tried any post 2011. And at current pricing I won't. But happy to churn through what I have. Lovely cigar. Will revisit the 98 and 11's that I've left and see if it still holds.

From very vague recollections (that have no doubt sweetened over time). The that old band Fundy seemed to have more body, more opulent smoke/mouthfeel. One of those cigars that the smoke just hangs in front of your face and almost has to be wafted away so you can catch a breath. My faint but sweet memories remembered something that was both very floral, but also quite strong. Very different to the donut/pastry fest of Trinidad is today. The only similarity I can suggest that's not changed is sandalwood, they've always had that aromatic sandalwood thing going on. 

[JohnS]

11 hours ago, 99call said:

Anyway, those moments of greatness are truly great.......and no matter how many times we get out for a duck, or smashed in the ribs, we always return to the crease for more moments of glory/punishment. 

Definitely, it's the only way!

11 hours ago, 99call said:

I currently have most of a box of 2019's left, and whilst lovely cigars, they are not a patch on that experience in 2004.

keep up the good work John, always a great read.  Hats off to you

Indeed, I know what you mean!

10 hours ago, ha_banos said:

I've some 2011. Also been through a few 2003 and a few 1998s. Caveat I don't have the most discerning palette. Loved them all. Not tried any post 2011. And at current pricing I won't. But happy to churn through what I have. Lovely cigar. Will revisit the 98 and 11's that I've left and see if it still holds.

Yes, it would be interesting to see what strength is left in those 98s.

17 minutes ago, 99call said:

From very vague recollections (that have no doubt sweetened over time). The that old band Fundy seemed to have more body, more opulent smoke/mouthfeel. One of those cigars that the smoke just hangs in front of your face and almost has to be wafted away so you can catch a breath. My faint but sweet memories remembered something that was both very floral, but also quite strong. Very different to the donut/pastry fest of Trinidad is today. The only similarity I can suggest that's not changed is sandalwood, they've always had that aromatic sandalwood thing going on. 

Yes, very different.

[JohnS]

Partagás Serie D No.6 UTL Abr 2019

The Partagas Serie D No.6 was released in 2014. It's a mercurial addition to the Partagas marca, firstly due to its size (50 ring gauge x 90 mm or 3½ inch length) and secondly (and I believe foremost) due to its packaging. The square wooden single-tiered box made this awkward for Habanos S.A to price competitively in comparison to other similar cigars of the same size and as a result these have been a slow seller. Prior to the pricing re-structure announced by Habanos S.A. in April 2022, and put into effect a few months later, the Partagas Serie D No.6 had only just come into some discounting in the last few years and honestly it was overdue.

Perhaps the price re-structure has made the Partagas Serie D No.6 more appealing too, at the present time, as these come in a secondary packaging option: a five-count aluminium tin pack. This is how I picked up my present acquisition of Partagas Serie D No.6, for example.

In the meantime, if you've sampled these then you'd know that they pack a ton of flavour in an oft medium-strengthed small cigar. Sourdough, coffee and leather, variously with pepper or spice; in other words, standard core Partagas DNA flavours. This Partagas Serie D No.6 was full of flavour, had no spice or pepper to it and was milder than usual...around the medium mark. It had sourdough and leather aplenty. The coffee was more cream-like than espresso-like.

My last lot of Partagas Serie D No.6s would take me about 50 minutes to smoke but this one once again took me longer than that; a whole 70 minutes in fact! That's quite something considering that a Partagas Serie D No.4 usually takes me in the vicinity of 70 to 75 minutes to smoke.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales SMA Jun 2019

I've had a remarkable run of consistency with the Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales, across four different box codes, that as with all things Habanos one has to factor in that such a streak must come to an end. Unfortunately, today was that day.

The SMA Jun 2019 Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales box code has been generally excellent to outstanding for me thus far. The last one certainly was, it had 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 appreciate its sublimity from beginning to end.

This one started off on-track, but because of a construction fault caused by bunched leaves, this cigar never stood a chance. There's not much room to manoeuvre when one gets an uneven burn measuring a bit over one inch in a cigar measuring just under four inches. I got through it in forty-five minutes but instead of lamenting the desire for the cigar to last longer, as is usual, this time I was glad it was over.

It doesn't bear mentioning what flavours I got from this RyJ Petit Royales. They were tolerable but they didn't compare to the many excellent and enjoyable examples I've enjoyed on previous occasions. Surely the next one must be better, surely!

[JohnS]

San Cristóbal de la Habana El Príncipe LGR Jun 2018

I smoked the first and second cigars from this LGR Jun 2018 box within the first week of delivery, late in 2021, and the third one six months later in April 2022. My fourth one was smoked in November 2022 and it had a sweet cocoa/coffee and molasses flavour combination and was more 'opened up' or 'pancake-like' in its texture quality than the third cigar. This is therefore my fifth one from this box after a period of around eighteen months, but I've had other San Cristobal de la Habana El Principes in the meantime from other box codes. In fact, I've had three: the first was from a newly acquired LGR Jun 2019 box code which was too strong and spicy for my liking, and two others from my TOS Jun 2016 which were much more in-line with my expectations.

This fifth San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe was somewhat mercurial in its staid cocoa/coffee and unique herbal qualities. It wasn't overly sweet, nor savoury but at least its spiciness was minimal and confined to its edges. I guess you can say that it wasn't the best San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe I have ever smoked, but then again, it wasn't the worst either.

So, in general, I was a tad nonplussed with how this performed today. I suppose it was just average. It smoked it in around fifty minutes, which is a little more than the usual time I take to smoke a minuto such as this one.

[JohnS]

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

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

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

This is my third SCdLH Harimau smoked from this box; the last one was smoked nine months ago. You see, I have smoked many, many San Cristobal de la Habana El Principes over the years; they are a favourite 'go-to' Habanos cigar of mine, for sure. My first two SCdLH Harimau I smoked were quite different to the SCdLH El Principe in their 'feel' on the palate. Those SCdLH Harimau were much fuller in their 'mouthfeel' and simpler in flavour. Perhaps this is the antithesis of the ScdLH El Principe and that is why I struggled to connect with this cigar, previously.

Construction-wise; again, it was perfect. And yes, I mean perfect. Yet, like when the Rafael Gonzalez 88 first was released nearly five years ago, the initial SCdLH Harimau Malayas I smoked were 'closed' in their flavours...a little one-dimensional but I wouldn't go so far as to label it 'offensive'. No, rather, I would advocate that being an Asia-Pacific Regional Edition surely it needed more time to develop to my preference.

So did particular SCdLH Harimau finally 'open-up'? In a word, yes. There were gorgeous notes of baking spice, walnut, cocoa, raisin and cake throughout the cigar which I quite liked. Last time, I got distinct notes of wood and bitter chocolate in the last third...nothing like what I'd prefer. However; this third cigar, at close to two years of age, was much lighter in 'feel'. I still got some wood and bitter chocolate, but it was nothing like what I experienced on previous occasions.

It wasn't a classic 93-point cigar or above...no, nothing like that. But this smoke today certainly bodes well for the rest of the box into the future.

[JohnS]

Partagás Serie P No.2 TLE Feb 2022

This is my third Partagas Serie P No.2 I've had from a 10-count TLE Feb 2022 box and the fourth Partagas P2 I've had in the last eighteen months. I had three in a short time in the middle of 2021 and rated them all highly, as there was a nice interplay in balance between their savoury and sweet flavours.

I had mentioned a little over a year ago that amongst Piramide cigars, you would have to say that the Montecristo No.2 and Diplomaticos No.2 have the most following, with the latter of these two more so amongst cigar aficionados. The Partagas Serie P No.2 and H.Upmann No.2 would be in the next tier of following, if we were to categorise in terms of sales, in my view, with the Cohiba Piramides Extra and Vegas Robaina Unicos enjoying the least appeal. So, in terms of Piramides, the Montecristo No.2 would stand out by far, one would think, whilst the Cohiba Piramides Extra negates more of a following on account of its cost (which has appreciated even more in the meantime) and competition from alternative choices within the Cohiba marca. The Vegas Robaina Unicos might not garner more publicity due to Vegas Robaina being a minor brand within the Habanos catalogue. I wonder why, therefore, does the Partagas Serie P No.2 and H.Upmann No.2 not have more of a following? Maybe it's simply a case of the fact that there are other more high profile cigars within the Partagas and H.Upmann marcas. Having said this, I can confirm that both the Partagas Serie P No.2 and H.Upmann No.2 have enjoyed a loyal following amongst our forum members this year in 2022. This can be attested from the response to these cigars in recent 24:24 listings. (This may all change, of course, with the recent announcement of the H.Upmann No.2 being named in first place in the annual Cigar Aficionado Top 25 cigars of the year for 2022.)

The Partagas P2 stands out in within its marca due to its flavour profile. For me, the P2 emphasises a strong milky coffee base more and the sourdough is not its core feature. El Presidente has remarked in the past eighteen to twenty-four months that the Partagas P2 has been outstanding in 2020 and 2021 and he has been enjoying them due to their milk coffee, raisins and salted nuts profile. I would concur that this description is a wonderful parameter or guide to help us understand as to what tasting notes an average Partagas P2 has to offer.

My first Partagas P2 I smoked from this box six months ago had no chance to 'shine' due to its rolling. Sure, the wrapper had a wonderful Rosado hue and the leaf quality was 'top-notch' due to being flavoursome, but when a piramide is rolled with a slight under-filling around the centre, one will have a hard time preventing an acrid and bitter outcome. Thankfully, the second Partagas P2 was not like that at all.

The second Partagas P2 I smoked three months ago, I can confirm was an excellent 92 to 93-point cigar. I especially enjoyed the sweet flavours of chocolate hazelnut (think Nutella), caramel and dried fruits, complimented by a milk coffee and sourdough bread core which made it quite easy to smoke on a mild Summer's day.

This third Partagas P2 smoked today was fuller and had more of a 'salted nuts' flavour profile. It had a sourdough bread core with dried fruits and chocolate hazelnut (like Nutella). I wouldn't rate it as highly as my second Partagas P2 smoked three months ago but it was still a nice cigar enjoyed on a warm weekend afternoon.

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.2 PMS Abr 2015

Around seven 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.

So, now we've come to the fourth cigar today, smoked five months later after the third and we've 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, this 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.

It's all very interesting to follow 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!

[Chucko8]

Thank you John. As always it’s a pleasure to read your insightful reviews. I along with many others obtain great joy and knowledge from them. Happy Easter to you and the family my good man. 

[JohnS]

Thank you kindly, @Chucko8. I too wish you a good rest and much joy over Easter with your friends and family!

[GoodStix]

On 4/7/2023 at 6:25 PM, Chucko8 said:

Thank you John. As always it’s a pleasure to read your insightful reviews. I along with many others obtain great joy and knowledge from them. Happy Easter to you and the family my good man. 

Ditto.  Thank you John.