JohnS' Smoking Diary 2023

[cgoodrich]

@JohnS brilliant reviews as always. I appreciate so much your diary, the words you find to describe the experience. I hope you never stop.

Now with that said, I wish I could find the same connection with H.Upmann Connoisseur series as you do with the AF Hemingway (I love the Hemingway). I do admit I’ve only tried the Connie A from a 1/4 box (4 of 6 tried so far), and none of the B/1/2. I have not enjoyed the Connie A at all; chemical bitterness from the start, construction and burn issues on all four. This has made me shy away from trying the other three vitolas. It may be my bad luck on this one box the sixer came from.

Keep the reviews coming, just love reading them.

[LLC]

On 6/4/2023 at 7:12 PM, JohnS said:

Por Larrañaga Galanes RAT Nov 2020
The Por Larranaga Galanes is a 52 ring gauge x 120 mm (or 4¾ inches) in length Robusto. I'm not sure why it has a unique size but if it was slightly smaller in girth I'd like to think it to be like a Punch Short de Punch, which is 50 ring gauge, but the same length. Why it's not is anyone's guess. One thing I do know, I've quite enjoyed the Punch Short de Punch and I've taken a serious liking to the Por Larranaga Galanes too.
I went through five cigars of this 10-count box (and so half-a-box) in the first twelve months of opening it but I've had only two in the last twelves months, at six-month intervals. I have written in previous reviews that some of my PL Galanes have been quite 'buttery' upon their opening and some have exhibited a core butter bread flavour; something akin to a recent Quai d'Orsay no.50 or 54 with its brioche characteristics. Other Por Larranaga Galanes have also had a milk coffee flavour in their opening to compliment that brioche-type butter bread taste on the palate, whereas others have had a characteristic dull oak wood flavour come to the fore.
This seventh cigar from the box again attested to the notion that this regular production Por Larranaga release is currently quite brilliant. The flavours I got were a typical combination of milk coffee, brioche bread and a butterscotch sweetness with hints of dull oak wood flavour in the last third of the cigar.
I still maintain that the best way to characterise a PL Galanes would be to state that it is like a Punch Short de Punch with a butterscotch sweetness, if you could imagine such a thing! The last two PL Galanes I've had were pretty much like this. So, if you are looking for that typical Por Larranaga caramel sweetness, I would advise to look elsewhere as again it wasn't present in this cigar.
I am disappointed that the Por Larranaga Galanes has not been easy to source for some time now, but if you have a box or two, then I'm confident that you can relate to my acclamation of this outstanding cigar.

I had one from the same box code this morning with an Americano and agree these are very good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JohnS]

7 hours ago, cgoodrich said:

@JohnS brilliant reviews as always. I appreciate so much your diary, the words you find to describe the experience. I hope you never stop.

Now with that said, I wish I could find the same connection with H.Upmann Connoisseur series as you do with the AF Hemingway (I love the Hemingway). I do admit I’ve only tried the Connie A from a 1/4 box (4 of 6 tried so far), and none of the B/1/2. I have not enjoyed the Connie A at all; chemical bitterness from the start, construction and burn issues on all four. This has made me shy away from trying the other three vitolas. It may be my bad luck on this one box the sixer came from.

Keep the reviews coming, just love reading them.

Thank you @cgoodrich. To be fair, the H.Upmann marca is too broad to equate it with the Arturo Hemingway Series without clarifying further. I suppose the AF Hemingway series reminds me of what a good H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1 can be like. When you rest them (HU Connie 1s) a little and they soften in their coffee and cedar aspect and become a little sweeter, that is, more dominant in shortbread. I guess that's more precisely what I mean.

Yes, I should be more specific. After all, let's be honest, imagine trying to compare the H.Upmann Half Corona to the AF Hemingway series. I mean really, you can't.

As for the H.Upmann Connossieur A, I haven't had one for years but I do have an unopened box that I'd like to look at soon. I must also state my bias in regards to H.Upmann as a marca. In general, I like them aged more than I like them younger (think easily five to ten years minimum), but that's probably due to my relationship to the marca prior to the wave of new releases within this brand that are smokable younger (such as the H.Upmann Magnum 54, or even the H.Upmann Connossieur No.2 and Connossieur B). You see, I like a H.Upmann cigar to be light on spice, have quality leather and even have a cream aspect to it in its texture. Sometimes one can get that across the various vitolas within the H.Upmann repertoire earlier or later in the shelf life of the HU cigar. I guess it all depends on the individual HU cigar.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial TOS May 2016

The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial was the first Limited Edition to be re-released as a regular production cigar. Like the 2004 Limited Edition, the regular production Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial, released in 2008, is a 50 ring gauge x 141 mm (or 5½ inches) in length Gorditos vitola. Like the HdM Epicure No.1 and No.2, it was released in a 25-count and 50-count Slide lid box, as well as a Display box of 15 aluminum tubed cigars in 5 cardboard packs of 3. The HdM Epicure No.1 and No.2 also come in a Display box of 15 cigars in 5 cardboard packs of 3 whereas the HdM Epicure Especial comes in a Slide lid box of 10 cigars. The Epicure No.2 is the only vitola of these three still released in 50 cabs. (The Epicure No.1 50 cab was discontinued in 2010 and the Epicure Especial 50 cab was discontinued in 2012.)

The Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial is noted for being the 'king of cream' amongst Hoyo de Monterrey vitolas. For me, when they lack that creamy texture their appeal wanes. On the contrary, when the HdM Epicure Especial is 'on', both in terms of flavour and construction, it will invariably give you a light cocoa, cedar and vanilla core flavour often mingled with some spice, with a consistent cream texture throughout. And this is what you really want from this cigar, in my opinion.

My last Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial lacked lustre, was ordinary, boring and 'ho-hum'. The construction on it was sub-par, quite frankly. It did not burn consistently, I had to re-light it a few times and there was a section at the end of the first third and into the middle third that didn't burn at all due to bunched leaves, which I had to correct with my lighter. I mentioned in my review on that cigar that I would most probably take some time to re-visit it in the future... another year perhaps. It turns out that this cigar from the same box code was smoked nine months later.

This HdM EE was better today, but I wouldn't say it was great. Flavour-wise, it had light cocoa, cedar, some spice and vanilla but the creaminess was practically non-existent. In my opinion, a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial that lacks a creamy texture can never reach great heights, And indeed, this particular HdM EE was just average overall.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills LAT Feb 2018

I wrote in my last review on this cigar that there's an adage in our hobby whereby a cigar can improve over time and become great, but only after they start off being good. In other words, if you encounter a box of Habanos cigars that are smoking ordinarily within the first twelve months, don't count on them to 'blow you away', so-to-speak, after the three to five year mark. It can occur, but it's not likely. I still believe this to be the case, generally-speaking.

The last Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill I had was at the beginning of 2023.  Today's example was a again better than my previous Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills smoked from this box code, but still not up to the class of my ABO Ago 2018 Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No.4 box.

What I liked about this RyJ Short Churchill robustos-sized cigar was the combination of some nice turkish delight, anise and berry notes, with a coconut texture on its edges. Unlike my last cigar, this was lighter overall on the palate on account of not being overly woody or containing bitter chocolate. My last RyJ Short Churchill cigar also took two-and-a-half hours to smoke as it was slightly tight on the draw. The draw here was within the standard range, but even then it took around 100 minutes to smoke through. A normal Robustos takes me 70 to 75 minutes to finish.

Again, in comparison to other Romeo y Julieta cigars I've smoked, this Short Churchill was medium-mild but still faithful to its marca profile, yet still I smoked it while doing some yard work. I guess that's the type of cigar it was, a 'yardgar' as we cigar enthusiasts colloquially call them. (I.e. A cigar you'd smoke while doing errands or outdoor work around your house.) I guess that overall, the cigar wasn't bad but it should have been better that the quality of a generic 'yardgar'.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 BUP Mar 2018

When one thinks of robusto-sized vitolas they may think of the Partagas Serie D No.4, Cohiba Robustos or perhaps even a Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2 or Ramon Allones Specially Selected. Yet the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 pre-dates all those cigars. In fact, it is the only Robustos that dates from prior the Cuban Revolution in the early 1960s. (N.B. There was a pre-revolution Partagas Serie D No.4 which was was discontinued in 1965. The Partagas Serie D No.4, which we all know and love as the current No.1 best-selling Habanos cigar in the world currently, was introduced in 1975.)

I've only had three BUP Mar 2018 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 from my humidor in the last two-and-a-half years, but in the meantime, I've had eight UTL Jul 2019 HdM Epi 2s which have been consistently good. In comparison, I found these BUP Mar 2018 box code a bit slower to develop but thankfully they've smoked better each time.

This HdM Epicure No.2 had cedar, powdered soft cocoa and some vanilla malt but I wouldn't say it had a cream texture which I've come to appreciate in my UTL Jul 2019 HdM Epi 2s. In general, these BUP Mar 2018 HdM Epi 2s have been heavier on the palate and more woody than my higher-rated UTL Jul 2019 HdM Epi 2s. If you have smoked Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No.2s on a regular basis, you know the difference. It is that self-evident.

[JohnS]

Juan López Selección No.2 MEL Dic 2016

I acquired this box around the turn of the New Year in 2019. In four-and-a-half years since that time I've gone through sixty percent of the box (in other words, twelve cigars smoked with three given away) and today's JL2 was just the second one I can confidently say that I was really enamoured with.

So what has been the problem with the greater majority of Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2s from this late-2016 box? In summary, most of these cigars have been dominant in toasted tobacco which didn't allow the chocolate and/or citrus characteristics to shine in those cigars. Today's cigar had a wonderful chocolate, orange citrus and Cointreau from beginning to end, underscored by a coffee and oak spine. It was simply brilliant, which made me elated because I didn't figure I'd get one from the box as good as this today when I picked it out of my humidor.

A few months ago I mentioned to El Pres (our esteemed Friends of Habanos Host) that I had struggled for some time with this particular box of Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2s. He noted that the boxing date of these JL2s coincided with a stronger batch of cigars produced out of Cuba, within this marca and vitola, that were more potent in strength than normal. I felt a 'lightbulb' moment envelop me upon learning this and felt relieved in the knowledge that there was hope yet for this specific box of Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2s. Today's cigar was proof enough of that.

[JohnS]

Punch Punch RAT May 2020

I think whenever one hears the phrase, "Let's talk about...." it signifies two things. One, the subject has form in terms of history and two, the subject's present circumstances are no longer within its halcyon period. Both of these things are true of Punch as a Habanos marca. So, without further ado, let's talk about Punch.

I'd like to acknowledge Alexander Groom's impending release of 'El Habano Moderno' for the summary that follows as the information has been gleaned from that reference work. Punch began life around 1840, when it was formally registered as a brand. The name is an allusion to the character of Mr. Punch in the Punch and Judy puppet show but it quickly became connected with the popular weekly Punch magazine that was released a year later. Both these cultural references are British in origin and in fact, Punch was traditionally a popular UK brand. The marca bears Manuel Lopez Fernandez's name on their cigar bands to this day as he owned the brand from 1884 to 1925.

Punch was once a major brand but two events have seen it redefined in the present day as a 'value' brand with many fewer regular production offerings than in the past. Firstly, the blue mold crisis of 1980 eventuated in many vitolas been put into hiatus and ultimately discontinued. Secondly, when Habanos S.A. went into partnership with Altidis in the early 2000s there was further rationalisation on account of the fact that Punch carried a number of cigars with the same size and therefore cigars were deleted to abet market brand awareness. For example, the coronas gordas vitola once had six offerings available in the 1980s; the Punch Punch de Luxe, the Royal Selection No.11, the Super Selection No.2, the Black Prince, the Nectares No.2 and the Seleccion de Luxe No.1. The last two were discontinued in the 1980s. In the mid-80s the Punch Punch de Luxe was renamed the 'Punch Punch Punch' (yes, it actually has three 'Punches' in its name!) and between 2002 and 2010 the other aforementioned Punch coronas gordas were deleted.

The Punch Punch, with dimensions of 46 ring gauge x 143 mm in length seems somewhat small in girth nowadays than what it used to. 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! The 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! This sixth one today was more like the fourth one, a wonderful example of how good Punch can be when everything 'aligns', so-to-speak.

I've said this in previous reviews on this cigar, but to me, the Punch Punch 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 opened with typical Punch flavours of sour cream, leather and cedar and remained that way until its end. It was simply a beautiful smoke. Whereas my last Punch Punch took me one hundred and ten minutes to patiently endure through, with its construction issues, this was a breeze to smoke around ninety to ninety-five minutes. Ironically, I punched the cap before I lit up. The smoke output and draw were both fine.

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. This sixth one represents the first cigar since the box has reached the three-year mark and I am well-satisfied with it, in terms of blend and flavour. Here's hoping the final four Punch Punch Tubos continue the upswing in trend!

[JohnS]

Partagás Serie D No.4 ROP Feb 2020

I know, I know...you're probably thinking, "didn't I see a Partagas Serie D No.4 within this Smoking Blog recently?" The answer is a simple...yes! The fact is I smoked a Partagas Serie D No.4 from this box a week ago and now this 10-count offering only has two cigars left. Apart from one cigar, which had construction issues, all the Partagas Serie D No.4s have been outstanding thus far. I would rate this box as perhaps my most reliable and best acquisition currently within my humidor.

So what is there left to say about this eighth cigar smoked today? Not much really other than it was the perfect choice to close out the working week. Of course, it didn't let me down.

I don't think I need to harp on its flavours or how it smoked because it was very similar to my last one. All that's left to say is that there's a reason why the Partagas Serie D No.4 is the number one selling Habanos cigar in the world today and this cigar today encapsulated it perfectly. And to think...if I had the choice, I probably wouldn't nominate the PSD4 as one of my preferences within the small circle of my favourite Habanos cigars of all-time, but I would certainly choose it as amongst the very best options from my Humidor right now.

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Montecarlos LGR Ago 2018

The Por Larranaga Montecarlos...the fact is that it is a popular cigar amongst cigar enthusiasts but it remains little-known elsewhere. So why is that? Maybe because of the simple fact Por Larranaga is lesser-known as a marca. Also, long-and-skinnies have never been overwhelmingly popular in the history of Habanos cigars and now they are virtually down to their two last-known examples (of this size and length). Of course, I am speaking about the Por Larranaga Montecarlos and La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4. (Which incidentally has enjoyed a lengthy hiatus in production in the past few years to make enjoyment of this cigar even more challenging for the average cigar enthusiast. Of course, I am being 'tongue-in-cheek' here in my insights!)

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

Personally-speaking, I quite enjoy the Por Larranaga Montecarlos but keep in mind that it is the type of cigar that can vary in its smoking based on factors such as its wrapper shade. In other words, the darker-wrappered varieties are very different in my view in comparison to light-wrappered examples. I've been smoking from three different box codes in the last few years and they each tell a different story. My LGR Oct 17 box has been by far my favourite because it is the most light-wrappered and has been consistently caramel in its profile. This box is sadly now finished on account of how brilliant it was, overall. My LGR Ago 18 box has been best described as dependable. I've gone through half this box and the wrappers in this box are darker. My third box, a TOS Mar 17 example has the darkest wrappers and has been the woodiest of the lot. I've gone through 60% of this box but they are nowhere near their peak so I haven't reached for one for a few years now. Neither do I intend to re-visit this last box soon. Maybe I will in another year or two.

This LGR Ago 18 PL Montecarlos is just the third I've had from this box since the beginning of 2020 and the first in twelve months. In regards to construction, it was not under-filled like my last one so naturally it burnt a lot better. It had a nice balance of milk coffee and honey sweetness and it wasn't dominant in woodiness. I quite enjoyed it over seventy minutes, especially for how its smoking at three months short of five years.

Still, I would have liked this LGR Ago 18 PL Montecarlos to be more like my LGR Oct 17 box. Perhaps, I will need to wait a little longer still for that outcome to eventuate.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Especial LTO Mar 2021

Together with the Cohiba Lancero (and perhaps the Trinidad Fundadores), the Montecristo Especial is the epitome of the 'long-and-skinny', a Laguito No.1 with a slender 38 ring gauge by 192 mm (or 7.6 inches) in length. I had the first cigar from this LTO Mar 2021 box in mid-2021, and maybe another three cigars within two months after that, but this was only my fourth one in the last eighteen months since. Still, I must admit that I very much look forward to these when I get the chance to light them up, especially because I just love to smoke a long-and-skinny cigar now and again.

This particular Montecristo Especial opened up with a rich and soft cocoa/milk chocolate aspect with some citrus twang to compliment the soft cocoa. There wasn't a creamy aspect to the cigar again, like other cigars from this box, but the citrus twang smoked like it had a ginger element to it at times. I found it all intriguing.

In the middle third, the texture of the cigar became a bit heavier on the palate, but there was no less flavour with every draw of the cigar. Unfortunately I encountered issues with keeping the cigar lit at this point and I must admit that I found the re-lights quite frustrating.

In the last third, I had to draw on the cigar a little more to prevent it from going out. I found the ash-length increased significantly but the cigar in the last third felt quite dry and heavy on the palate. Still, I persevered and completed the smoke after one hour and fifty minutes.

I've said previously that these are by no means complex cigars, but that hasn't affected how enamoured I've been with the simple blend of flavours I continue to experience when I smoke them. I very much like the rich cocoa/chocolate and citrus twang blend but I guess it's all a moot point when one can't keep the cigar lit!

I still consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to smoke this cigar as the Montecristo Especial was in 'semi-hiatus' for quite some time prior to my acquisition of this box. Personally-speaking, I can't see more been produced, at the present time, given the current state of the Cuban Cigar Industry and the fact that the longer Habanos cigars in general are not been currently rolled.

[gormag38]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

Unfortunately I encountered issues with keeping the cigar lit

Hate to hear this happen. My last CoLa I smoked (MOL MAR 19) had the same exact issue (coupled with the fact the draw was like sucking a golf ball through a garden hose). About halfway in, I regret to say, I tossed it. 

Sucks that these types of cigars aren't really offered anymore; sucks even more that the construction quality isn't on par with their pricing. Hope the rest of your box is better than your most recent one. 

[99call]

7 hours ago, JohnS said:

re-lights quite frustrating.

Nothing more frustrating than a Monte Especial that has the right tobacco, but wrong construction.  Along with the Fundadores, there is not another cigar i'm desperately willing to be 'ON' and performing more than the Especial.  When they are on,  they are a 'giggle to yourself in spellbound appreciation' wonderful cigar.   Once you've had a good one.....you are forever wanting to scratch that itch.   

[JohnS]

17 hours ago, gormag38 said:

Hate to hear this happen. My last CoLa I smoked (MOL MAR 19) had the same exact issue (coupled with the fact the draw was like sucking a golf ball through a garden hose). About halfway in, I regret to say, I tossed it. 

Sucks that these types of cigars aren't really offered anymore; sucks even more that the construction quality isn't on par with their pricing. Hope the rest of your box is better than your most recent one. 

Thank you kindly!

11 hours ago, 99call said:

Nothing more frustrating than a Monte Especial that has the right tobacco, but wrong construction.  Along with the Fundadores, there is not another cigar i'm desperately willing to be 'ON' and performing more than the Especial.  When they are on,  they are a 'giggle to yourself in spellbound appreciation' wonderful cigar.   Once you've had a good one.....you are forever wanting to scratch that itch.   

Exactly. When you have a superlative cigar of this ilk, every other one you smoke henceforth is invariably compared to that standard. It can make the disappointment one feels 'run' even deeper.

[Chucko8]

On 6/14/2023 at 9:32 PM, JohnS said:

Still, I would have liked this LGR Ago 18 PL Montecarlos to be more like my LGR Oct 17 box. Perhaps, I will need to wait a little longer still for that outcome to eventuate.

I recall we both opined that the LGR boxes from 2017 had been quite special. The OCT and JUL boxes from that year which I had have still been the top of the class on the Montecarlos for me.

[JohnS]

6 hours ago, Chucko8 said:

I recall we both opined that the LGR boxes from 2017 had been quite special. The OCT and JUL boxes from that year which I had have still been the top of the class on the Montecarlos for me.

Indeed, they were. Maybe I need to revise my expectations of the remaining Por Larranaga Montecarlos I have, by comparison, as that box was quite exemplary.

[JohnS]

Saint Luis Rey Regios circa mid-2000s

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

According to Cuban Cigar Website, "Saint Luis Rey is a current pre-revolution brand, established around 1940 by a British firm. It was imported exclusively into the UK market until the 1993. Production was always fairly small, and starting in the early 2000s the line has been gradually reduced to a single cigar produced for copyright reasons." That one cigar is the Hermosos No.4-sized Regios (48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches in length).

The Saint Luis Rey Regios is somewhat different to the other vitolas within this marca, that have since gone 'by the wayside' over the years (such as the Serie A, Churchills and Double Coronas, for example), in that it's generally noted as a cigar that doesn't need time to develop or 'peak' and therefore can be appreciated much, much sooner within its shelf life. Perhaps this explains why the Saint Luis Rey Regios is still in production.

This is only my sixth SLR Regios I've smoked in the last six years. I have three other sticks in my humidor but it goes without saying that it's never been a cigar that has enjoyed time in my rotation or even as a change-of-pace. The main difference with today's Regios is that it's the first one I've had in some time that is aged. This particular example comes from somewhere around the mid-2000s.

What I've come to appreciate from the few examples of SLR Regios I've had in recent years has been distinctive Saint Luis Rey flavours of cocoa, hay and a stonefruit (think dried apricots) core, combined with an apple citrus tart flavour. At times, I've experienced a cake-like texture and this has really appealed to me.

This SLR Regios had a bread and hay aspect to it but any cocoa or stonefruit and citrus profile has since disappeared. It was rather generic. In my view, its best years have passed and it was nothing like a similarly aged SLR Serie A or Double Coronas in terms of potential complexity.

I didn't have any construction issues and I still smoked this down to its end. However, there's no doubt I've had better examples of Habanos cigars over the years.

[JohnS]

Punch Punch circa 2008

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

This Punch Punch came from a 2008 50 Cab. This explains the fact why it was bandless. It didn't exactly glisten in the sun in its wrapper hue nor was it even symmetrical in its edges (i.e. the cigar was not precisely straight from head to foot). Thus, its appearance belied just how good it was in its smoking. And what a cigar it was!

The opening was amongst the sweetest first puffs I've had in a cigar in some time. It was something akin to honey. This lasted until the middle of the first third. After this, those typical Punch flavours of cedar and leather 'kicked in' with some spice here and there. This continued until the conclusion of the cigar.

It wasn't complex in any way. In fact, it was somewhat rudimentary in its flavours but I suppose after fifteen years the flavours have diminished in intensity and blended within each other. This didn't detract whatsoever from how good a cigar this was, though.

If I was to consider, though, what I'd prefer in terms of aging when it comes to the Punch Punch I would have to honestly answer that I don't have a preference either way. The fact remains that I value equally the exemplary examples of Punch Punch I've had over the years, both young and old.

[JohnS]

Punch La Isla 2018 - Edición Regional Cuba circa late-2018

The Punch La Isla is a 50 ring gauge x 124 mm (or 4⅞ inches) in length Robustos-sized 2018 Cuban Regional Edition that was released in mid-2019. It came in 10-count slide lid boxes, of which 10000 were produced. Incidentally, it is the last of six Cuban Regional Editions to be released to date.

Upon release, initial critical consensus was highly positive. In general, they were noted for having an interesting combination of peppery, bread and cream-textured flavours, even nuts. They were medium to medium-full in body with the potential for development over a number of years. Fast forward five years and I can tell you that this cigar has not diminished in its smoking ability at all. In fact, it's developed quite nicely, in my view.

I'd like to acknowledge @madandana for gifting me this cigar, and even more so for the fact that this was the first cigar from Mike's previously unopened box! This cigar opened with the most pleasant feel of almond nuts one could imagine in a Punch cigar. Along the way, it was joined by a combination of wood, citrus twang, clove spice and cream to truly represent a fine, fine example of a Regional Edition cigar. I'm honoured to have sampled it!

So, in summary, as this cigar approaches five years of age, I wonder if our members have any of their initial acquisitions left in multiple quantities? After all, it's not unreasonable to assume that these were quit fine to smoke in 2019, but right now they are even better, in my opinion.

[JohnS]

Vegas Robaina Unicos 2003 - 5 Aniversario Humidor circa 2003

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

Vegas Robaina is a marca that admittedly doesn't enjoy a notable profile, is unlikely to be in your 'go-to' rotation and like the other brands ironically re-classified in the last few years by Habanos S.A. as "other brands", has had a few regular production vitolas deleted since its inception as a brand in 1997. It was named after the famous Cuban tobacco grower, Alejandro Robaina, whom the Cuban Government decided to honour as the pre-eminent tobacco grower in Cuba in the 90's by naming a marca after him. A little over 20 years later there is only the Piramides-shaped vitola, the Unicos (52 ring gauge x 156 mm or 6.1 inches) and the Hermosos No.4, the Famosos (48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches) left. Like many other Lonsdales, Coronas and Double Coronas in the last 15 to 20 years, the Clásicos, the Familiar and the Don Alejandro have since been discontinued.

In terms of special releases, Vegas Robaina hasn't had one since 2014, but in the seven years prior it did see eight Regional Editions released. There were also five unique special releases in the ensuing years since the advent of the marca, including a Cuba-only 83rd Anniversary Humidor to commemorate Alejandro Robaina's birthday and an ornate 5th Anniversary Humidor of 100 cigars consisting of 20 x Clasicos (42 rg x 165 mm or 6½ inches in length Lonsdales), 20 x Don Alejandro (49 rg x 194 mm or 7⅝ inches in length Double Coronas), 20 x Famosos (48 rg x 127 mm or 5 inches in length Hermosos No.4s), 20 x Maestros (50 rg x 141 mm or 5½ inches in length Gorditos) and 20 x Unicos (52 rg x 156 mm or 6⅛ inches in length Piramides). This Vegas Robaina 5th Anniversary Humidor was universally lauded upon release in 2003 as containing the very best Vegas Robaina cigars ever produced. After smoking this 20 year-old example today I can attest that this is not an understatement.

The smell of this piramides was sublime. It filled the air of a scent of quality Spanish Cedar and the cold draw tasted of much the same, which I admit is a little unusual in a cigar. The opening in the first third was like smoking the finest, luscious Swiss chocolate, if you could imagine such a thing. This did not let up in any way well into the final third.

In the middle third, the cigar opened up completely to introduce a touch of honey, cinnamon and baking spice. In the final third, the more traditional Vegas Robaina earth, oak and leather came to the fore. Construction was impeccable in its ashing as each ash-length was a consistent one inch with 'stacked-dimes' cylindrical rings throughout. The wrapper did fray at the seams twice but this self-corrected and the cigar did not split. Honestly, one doesn't mind when the cigar smoke as brilliantly as this today, it simply becomes a 'moot' point in comparison to how 'other-worldly' this was.

Quite simply, this is the best Vegas Robaina cigar I've ever had. Following on from this acclamation, I wouldn't hesitate to say that it would be the best Vegas Robaina cigar you'd ever smoke also, if you had the opportunity to do so. I don't think I could thank the benefactor who gifted me this cigar enough for providing me the opportunity to smoke this Vegas Robaina 5th Anniversary Humidor Unicos. I am unlikely to replicate the experience. At the very least, I'm unlikely to ever forget it!

[JohnS]

Sancho Panza Eslavo 2014 - Edición Regional Serbia circa 2014

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

The Sancho Panza Eslavo was released in 2015 as the first Serbian Regional Edition (and only one so far). Kalian Caribe is the distributor for the domestic and duty free market of Bulgaria, Albania, Armenia and Macedonia, Republic of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Eslovenia. Faced with the choice of what marca to choose and vitola for this Regional Edition, most retailers would opt for safe choices such as a Petit Robusto or similar in the Ramon Allones (39 releases since 2005), Bolivar (32 releases since 2005) or Punch (22 releases since 2005) marcas. Sancho Panza is not a marca one associates with Regional Editions, and for that matter, neither is the Nro.109 size. (Having said this, since 2014 there have been four further Regional Edition releases in the Sancho Panza marca, including the recent Laguito No.1-sized Asia Pacifico El Rey, and these have rated well amongst cigar enthusiasts.) Furthermore, distributing these in a 50 cab box had the hallmark for a marketing disaster, yet, the exact opposite occurred, 1000 boxes (some sources state 1200) of 50 cabs sold out quicker than the proverbial 'blink of an eye'.

I believe it's this quality Nro.109 vitola that caught the eye of enthusiasts with this release. The dimensions of a 50 ring gauge cigar by 184 mm or 7¼ inches in length with its distinctive tapered head used to be the size of the Partagas Lusitanias and Ramon Allones Gigantes until 1976. In 1995 it came back with the Partagás 109 that was part of the 150 Aniversario Humidor, with repeat appearances in 2000 and 2010 for the 155th and 165th anniversaries, respectively. Hoyo de Moneterrey received a Lusitanias of its own in 1999 as part of the Siglo XXI Millennium Humidor, and then in 2003 the Hoyo de Monterrey Extravaganza used the format. Since that time it's been used in nine Regional Editions:

    2007 — Edmundo Dantes El Conde 109 (ER Mexico)
    2009 — Bolívar 5ta Avenida (ER Alemania)
    2011 — Punch Clasicos (ER Suiza)
    2014 — Diplomáticos Bushido (ER Asia Pacifico)
    2014 — Sancho Panza Eslavo (ER Serbia)
    2017 — El Rey del Mundo Kon Tiki 1973 (ER Los Andes)
    2018 — La Gloria Cubana Orgullosos (ER Suiza)
    2020 — Ramon Allones 40 Carat (ER Paises Bajos)
    2020 — Quai d'Orsay Sélection Royale (ER Suiza)

There was also a 2018 50-count Replica Antique Humidor Series special release of Ramón Allones Emperadores Extra. This release was unique, rare and came in quite an elaborate and ornate humidor.

Like the Diplomaticos Bushido released in the same year and with the same dimensions, the SP Eslavo was reputed and hyped at its original release date. Having smoked one most recently gifted by @ayepatz four years ago, how does it compare to a normal Sancho Panza release? Well, in comparison to an aged Sancho Panza Molinos, Non Plus or Belicosos, for example, you may expect some floral notes and/or creaminess, however, that Eslavos cigar was closest in character to a SP Belicocos in my view. This was evident in the quality toasted tobacco and bread flavours, combined with the typical wood and salt one gets from Sancho Panza. One thing that was unique was the deeper roasted walnut or cashew nut flavour.

Fast forward four years and this particular Sancho Panza Eslavo was quite similar in its flavours and its strength has only diminished a touch. It smoked at a medium-mild strength, but it was replete in classic Sancho Panza flavours of wood (like a heavy oak) and salt from beginning to end. The same nutty flavour was evident too. Despite the wrapper being a touch dry and flaky, as is evident in the image above, this smoked well as ashing wasn't a problem and the smoke on the palate was quite fulsome. In other words, each draw was not wispy or light; there was a plethora of flavour to be had and it lingered for hours after the cigar came to its natural conclusion.

If you ever have the chance to source this cigar, kindly do yourself a favour and don't deny yourself the opportunity. You'll be glad you were so kind to yourself, trust me!

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Encantos 2010 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico circa 2010

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

According to Cuban Cigar Website, the Por Larranaga Encantos was released in 2010 exclusively for the Asia Pacific region with a standard B style band and an Exclusivo Asia Pacifico second band. They were packaged in varnished numbered 8-9-8 boxes of 25 cigars, of which 4,000 were produced. They were the second Asia Pacific Por Larranaga release after the 2007 PL Robustos.

The PL Encantos is a dalias vitola with a 43 ring gauge x 170 mm (or 6¾ inches) length. The only two remaining dalias in regular production are the Cohiba Siglo V and the Partagas 8-9-8. These remain reputable cigars, as is the vitola itself. Along the way we've seen the Bolivar Inmensas, La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.2, Partagas de Partagas No.1 and Seleccion Privada No.1 and Ramon Allones 8-9-8 discontinued (and much missed) in the last twenty years.

Apart from the Montecristo D 2005 Limited Edition, this vitola has also had special releases with the Ramon Allones 8-9-8 German Regional Edition in 2014 and the Punch 8-9-8 Asia Pacific Regional Edition in 2018.

The Por Larranaga Encantos, much like the 2006 German Regional Edition Por Larranaga Lonsdale, was muted and closed in its flavours for some time after its release. If you were to do a dedicated search on our forum on this cigar you'd find that it wasn't until some time between 2012 and 2014 that the Encantos started to open up in terms of that softer, aged caramel note that Por Larranaga is renowned for. Recent reviews on our forum, however, have been almost universally effervescent and united in praise in remarking what a quality cigar this has become, especially in the last two to four years.

So how did I find it? I'm going to come out and simply admit that I too was 'singing from the same song sheet', to borrow a well-known idiom, after smoking this today, much like my last one smoked three years ago. Similarly, this cigar exuded a quality refinement all the way through, with its core wood, baking spice, honey and caramel/butter toffee velvety texture. And once again the only (very minor) criticism I could offer would be that in the last third the cigar picked up in its woody intensity; otherwise, it was absolutely superb, exactly like last the last time I smoked a PL Encantos.

If you have this cigar in your humidor then you'd know just how well this is smoking now. It's the type of cigar that you wish you had ten more boxes of.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Maravillas No.1 2005 - Colección Habanos circa 2005

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

According to Cuban Cigar Website, in 2001, Habanos S.A. introduced the Habanos Collection (Colección Habanos) series. This series consists of special large format cigars packaged in numbered boîte nature boxes in the form of a book. The 2001 release contained 10 cigars, but most releases since then contained 20 cigars. The number of books released has varied from 300 to 2,000. Normally, the cigars wear the standard band for their brand.

After the series had released ten cigars, the 11th edition in 2011 comprised three cigars from each of the first ten releases. The series then began again, with new cigars from each of the same ten brands in the same order as before.

The Habanos Collection cigars releases are listed below:

2001 - Cuaba Salomónes
2002 - Partagás Serie C No.1
2003 - Hoyo de Monterrey Extravaganza
2004 - Romeo y Julieta Fabulosos No.6
2005 - Montecristo Maravillas No.1
2006 - Trinidad Torre Iznaga
2007 - H. Upmann Magnum Especial
2008 - Cohiba Sublimes Extra
2009 - San Cristóbal de la Habana O´Reilly
2010 - Bolívar Gran Belicoso
2011 - Bolívar Gran Belicoso, Cohiba Sublimes Extra, Cuaba Salomónes, H. Upmann Magnum Especial, Hoyo de Monterrey Extravaganza, Montecristo Maravillas No.1, Partagás Serie C No.1, Romeo y Julieta Fabulosos No.6, San Cristóbal de la Habana O´Reilly, Trinidad Torre Iznaga
2012 - Cuaba Bariay
2013 - Partagás Serie E No.1
2015 - Hoyo de Monterrey Maravillas
2016 - Romeo y Julieta Fabulosos No.2
2017 - Montecristo Gran Pirámides
2019 - Trinidad Casilda
2020 - H. Upmann Super Magnum
2021 - Cohiba Ideales
2022 - San Cristóbal de la Habana Reinas

The Montecristo Maravillas No.1 comes from a numbered book-shaped boîte nature box of 20 cigars of which 500 were produced. It's a huge cigar, with a 55 ring gauge x 182 mm or 7⅛ inches length. A cigar of this size would normally take 2½ to 3 hours to smoke. The original Maravillas cigar was a Hoyo de Monterrey Giant Robusto 9 inches in length that was discontinued prior to the Cuban Revolution. It was re-released in the same vitola in a 2015 Habanos Collection special release. A 2019 eight-count special release Romeo y Julieta Maravillas also came in the same 55 ring gauge size.

The cold draw was classic refined barnyard, consistent with aged cigars such as this one. It opened with a wonderful hit of cream coffee, like cappuccino and baking spice. Towards the end of the first third the cigar became more 'woody' and 'spicy' but there was a sweetness to the cigar well into the middle third. The strength remain mild to mild-medium. In the last third, the strength and body ramped up a bit as the wood and spice drowned out any cappuccino-inspired pleasantness to be had. Despite almost twenty years on the cigar, there was certainly no diminution in flavour.

This started off as potentially a great special release Montecristo cigar but for me it finished off as an average one. If this behemoth Maravillas No.1 continued its cappuccino creaminess into the last third I would have rated it much higher. As it was, I'm glad I had the opportunity to smoke it.

[JohnS]

Punch Super Robusto 2006 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico circa 2006

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

Along with the Ramon Allones Estupendos, the Punch Super Robusto was released in 2006 as the first Asia-Pacifico Regional Editions. While the RA Estupendos was a Churchill-sized cigar, the Punch Super Robusto was a 50 ring gauge x 155 mm or 6⅛ inches in length Dobles. It doesn't seem quite as large a cigar now, but in the mid-2000s this was a big, big cigar. The only regular production cigar that has the same dimensions is the Montecristo Double Edmundo, but the long-deleted and much-missed Trinidad Robustos Extra was the same size. Apart from been one of the initial Asia-Pacifico releases, the Punch Super Robusto was released in 25-cab and 50-cab options in both 2006 and 2007.

Like other Asia-Pacifico releases, the Punch Super Robusto was closed in its flavour delivery for a good five years or more. As a result of this, the RA Estupendos has enjoyed a more 'loftier' reputation over the years, by comparison. It probably wasn't until the mid-2010s that the Punch Super Robusto started to experience a re-evaluation in its stature.

This Punch Super Robusto opened with a delightful combination of sweet cedar, hay, leather and a delicious sour lemon citrus twang. It continued like this well into the middle third, when the sweetness 'dialed back a bit'. In the final third, the leather aspect of the cigar took over but the strength didn't alter too much over the course of the smoke. In fact, I wouldn't state that this cigar was mild, rather; I'd say it was around the medium-mild mark but it had plenty of body to suggest that there were a good number of years left in this cigar. In other words, it certainly didn't lack in terms of flavour.

The construction was absolutely spot-on, to borrow a popular Australian colloquialism, that means ideal. Both the ash-length and ash rings were what one aspires for every time they light a Habanos cigar and the smoke volume per puff was more than generous.

Upon finishing the cigar, I didn't think it was overly complex. It also only took me 70 minutes to smoke but that's the way it goes sometimes with aged cigars, they can smoke faster than when they are initially rolled. In my view, this was an excellent cigar but only if you connect with Punch as a marca. Otherwise, one might find them one-dimensional, For me, this certainly wasn't the case.

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Belicosos Extra 2008 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico circa 2008

I'd like to acknowledge our hosts, Rob and Diana in providing this cigar as part of a Wedding Gift Pack for International and Interstate guests to their wedding in May 2023.

The Por Larranaga Belicosos Extra was a 2008 Asia-Pacifico Regional Edition. It's a 52 ring gauge x 140 mm or 5½ inches in length Campanas, with a tapered head that meets at an apex, like all piramides cigars. It has the same dimensions as the regular production Bolivar Belicosos Finos but I've often wondered how Habanos S.A. and Regional Distributors come about naming their releases? After all, what exactly is the difference between a BBF noted as been 'fine' and this Por Larranaga Belicosos noted as been 'extra'. What exactly is 'extra' about this release?

A quick search on Cuban Cigar Website for cigars with the term 'extra' in their names suggests that releases such as the Cohiba Piramides Extra, Bolivar Coronas Extra and Trinidad Robustos Extra all had in common a larger length or ring gauge than their standard counterparts, by comparison. The Por Larranaga Belicosos Extra is the same size as its peers that are named 'Belicosos' so was the 'Extra' a reference to more quality, perhaps?

It's interesting to note that the three Por Larranaga Asia-Pacifico Regional Editions all enjoy critical favour currently at the present time. Despite this, it's been thirteen years, in fact, since we've had a Por Larranaga Asia-Pacifico Regional Edition. I would say the 2007 Por Larranaga Robustos de Larranaga and 2010 Por Larranaga Encantos are more favoured, slightly but only because the 2008 Por Larranaga Belicosos Extra took somewhere in the vicinity of five to eight years to 'open up' in its flavours.

In general, the Por Larranaga Belicosos Extra was noted as having a sweet opening, replete in caramel and then becoming more toasted tobacco in its middle third onwards. After fifteen years, the hope that the pleasant sweet caramel notes of this cigar, usually found in its first third, making its way throughout the whole cigar with the passing of time remains elusive. The fact is, that toasted tobacco element has developed, but it's not sweet.

This particular specimen of a PL Belicosos Extra opened with a gorgeous dollop of caramel, toffee, honey and baking spice in its opening third. It was all supremely marvelous. In the middle third, some cedar and coffee kicked in and the profound sweet concoction mentioned in the first third receded a touch. In the last third, the cedar became more of a heavy oak wood feel on the palate and the smoke picked up in spice. Along the way, the construction of the cigar was great as ash-length were a consistent one inch all the way.

If this PL Belicosos Extra could maintain its caramel dominance into the middle third I would have opined that this cigar would have been amongst my best Por Larranaga cigars I've smoked. As it is, it was very, very good. At least one can't say that it was one-dimensional!