JohnS' Smoking Diary 2024

[karp]

Thanks for the reviews! It sound like you are enjoying some aged boxes recently, I liked hearing about them. In particular, the ERdM and HU2 and PLPC. Monte no1 is my favourite Monte. Reading your reviews is relatable, fun, informative, please keep it up!

[JohnS]

7 hours ago, karp said:

Thanks for the reviews! It sound like you are enjoying some aged boxes recently, I liked hearing about them. In particular, the ERdM and HU2 and PLPC. Monte no1 is my favourite Monte. Reading your reviews is relatable, fun, informative, please keep it up!

Thank you kindly, @karp!

[gormag38]

On 5/25/2024 at 5:46 AM, JohnS said:

H.Upmann No.2 LUB Oct 2014

Legendary box code indeed. I know I was one of the few 'dinner guests' that would've chosen this cigar at your dinner. 😉

With all the love LUB14 code/year gets on this forum it's hard for me to envision a better smoking HU2 than the late 21/early 22 boxes. Then again I'm sure I'm biased due to my age.

By chance have you had a chance to smoke a more recent year of this stick? Just curious of your thoughts and how you think it'll stack up over time. 

[JohnS]

On 6/6/2024 at 10:30 PM, gormag38 said:

By chance have you had a chance to smoke a more recent year of this stick? Just curious of your thoughts and how you think it'll stack up over time. 

@gormag38, I edited this reply tonight because I misread your reply this morning while I was in a rush to head off to work. (Hey...it happens!)

To answer your question correctly, I've not had a chance to smoke a H.Upmann No.2 in recent times. The last H.Upmann No.2 I had before this LUB Oct 2014 box code was a BRE Sep 2017 stick from a multi-brand release in mid-to-late 2022. Before that I had a few LUB May 2014 H.Upmann No.2s in 2019/20.

I must admit my bias by stating that I prefer H.Upmann as a marca to be aged, in general. However, I've recently acquired some H.Upmann Half Coronas and Connoisseur No.1s that are both aged less that two years to challenge my predisposed preferences. We'll see how that all goes, I guess.

In the meantime, yes, I've had another H.Upmann No.2 from this box code and it was excellent. I will have the review published here within the next week or two.

My personal view is that after smoking two sticks now, at this stage, they will continue to develop. They're still quite flavoursome.

[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 around seven months ago. Currently, I am aiming to smoke two SP Molinos a year, from the ten cigars I have left in this box, but admittedly I think I may slow down to aged them even a little more, now that they've reached twelve-and-a-half years of age.

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 definitely much more interesting than my 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 ninth SP Molinos from this box. (The discrepancy in the number of cigars I have left in the box is easily explained by the fact that I have gifted some away to other cigar enthusiasts who haven't had the opportunity to sample this cigar.) Very much like the last time I smoked this cigar, it was 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. Once again, the cigar was a tale of two halves; the first half was floral, sweet and replete in cream, the second half was more wood and salt but still maintained a core element of the flavours found in the first half. Of course I nubbed it and as I stated in my last review on this cigar, I felt that after smoking it, it was nowhere near its expiry date. In my opinion, based on how these have been smoking, in general, it's not even a question I'd consider for another four or 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.

Having said this though, since this SP Molinos was so similar to my last one seven months ago, perhaps I will slow down a touch so that I can see how it will develop even further.

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 (and reintroduced) 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]

Partagás Serie D No.4 UEB Feb 2019

It's hard to believe that I finished a superb ROP Feb 2020 10-count box only eight months ago ago. All, apart from one PSD4 that had construction issues and the last one that gave me a 'nicotine buzz', had been exemplary or 'nigh on' close to that point. Interestingly, they were all simple in flavour blend; basically a combination of sourdough, coffee and quality leather with perhaps a touch of paprika spice here and there.

In the meantime, I've opened two Partagas Serie D No.4 boxes; a 10-count UEB Feb 2019 box and a PMS Nov 2013 box. I've had three cigars from the latter in short time and I figured it was time to re-visit my UEB Feb 2019 box today.

This therefore is the second Partagas Serie D No.4 from that 10-count UEB Feb 2019 box. Again, it continued the trend of been a simple combination of sourdough, coffee and leather from beginning to end over about an hour or so, perhaps even seventy to seventy-five minutes. I would add further that this cigar, differed from my first one from the box in that it had some paprika spice to it, which is a common flavour found in Partagas Serie D No.4s, but of which I have noted less of, in the last few years that I've been smoking them more often than in the past. That being said, it was still a very fine smoke. After all, I still maintain that the Partagas Serie D No.4 is one of the most consistent Habanos cigars currently available, and furthermore, no doubt it is keeping the Cuban cigar industry afloat, given what's happened since the price re-structure of mid-2022.

In comparison to those three late-2013 Partagas Serie D No. 4s I've smoked in the last six months, this 2019 PSD4 was more spicy and had more strength, but honestly not too much. Those initial 2013 PSD4s also had a touch of honey sweetness on the edges. In contrast, this 2019 PSD4 definitely had none.

Despite this Partagas Serie D No.4 not been up to same mark as the greater majority of other PSD4s I've enjoyed in the last twelve to twenty-four months or so, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to acquire more, even at the present time when prices are higher than in the past. As it stands, thankfully I still have quite a few to explore from my 10-count UEB Feb 2019 and 25-count PMS November 2013 boxes first.

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro ETP Mar 2016

Quai d'Orsay is the only marca founded outside of Cuba and by request. The story goes that French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing wanted a uniquely French luxury cigar product to compliment other synonymous French luxury items such as French champagne, perfume and foie gras so he asked the French tobacco monopoly, SEITA to come up with the product. Tobacco Executive Gilbert Belaubre, rarely credited in these Quai d'Orsay origin anecdotes, was really the man responsible for the brand being light and Habanos as he was adamant that a French luxury cigar could not be machine-made and utilise Sumatra and Cameroon leaves (as one of the other project teams planned to do). Belaubre worked with Cubatabaco to come up with the brand in 1974. At first the brand consisted of light-wrappered cigars; in fact the Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro had two versions as the lightest-wrappered product was called 'Claro Claro' and was marked 'Clarismo' on its box. This lightest-wrappered product was discontinued in the early 1980s as the extra expense didn't translate into an extraordinary cigar-smoking experience in comparison to the other cigars in the marca such as the Coronas Claro, Gran Corona, Imperiales and Panatelas.

For many years the marca utilised light wrappers in keeping with its light and mild strength and herbal, shortbread and citrus flavour profile. Quai d'Orsay became the second largest Habanos marca behind Montecristo in France but it didn't really dominate other non-French speaking markets. Fast forward a number of years, and with the brand down to one cigar in regular production; the QdO Coronas Claro, a change in using light wrappers and an upgrading of blend has meant that the Quai d'Orsay would have to be the hottest marca outside the current Global (Cohiba, H.Upmann, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo, Partagas and Romeo y Julieta) and Value brands (Bolivar, Punch, Ramon Allones and Trinidad) in the world today.

The one characteristic common to the very best Quai d'Orsay Nos. 50 and 54 and Coronas Claro that I've enjoyed in the past five years or so has been without a doubt a rich egg-and-butter brioche bread pastry texture. Other flavours of note include, quality hay, cedar, cream, ginger or cinnamon spice and toffee. When these new-blend Quai d'Orsay cigars have not been on-point it was usually due to the cigar being unbalanced, often with flavours of oak wood and/or spice dominating and detracting from those sweeter cake-type aforementioned flavours.

I'd like to thank @Luca for providing me this ETP Mar 2016 Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro to smoke today. This started off with a delicious and delectable orange citrus and tang flavour which was the main flavour of the cigar until the end of the middle third. In the middle third, I got classic 'old school' flavours of cedar and shortbread that came through as the orange citrus (or even Cointreau-type flavour) receded. In the final third I got a noticeable oak wood and spice. Wow...what a wonderfully, complex cigar!

Yes, it seems to me that the days of the QdO Coronas Claro being a light, floral smoke are in the past now. Those were the times where one could get a bland smoke or two out of the box (if not more). I don't think one could say that's the case these days. However, this Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro from early 2016 is a reminder in what way they could 'shine' when they were 'on song', so-to-speak, in contrast to the way that current Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claros smoke nowadays.

[JohnS]

Diplomáticos No.5 Circa 2009

I'd like to thank @baragh for gifting me this cigar because this has long been discontinued. Along with the Diplomaticos No.4, the Diplomaticos No.5 was last seen in 2010 and is much missed amongst cigar enthusiasts. After smoking this perlas-sized cigar tonight I must say I miss it even more! It was certainly different in its flavour profile to other common regular production minutos and perlas such as the Partagas Shorts, Montecristo No.5, San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe, Cohiba Siglo I and Rafael Gonzalez Perlas.

What can one say about the Diplomaticos No.5? In general, they just age well, it seems. This cigar was again no different. Very much like the last time I had this cigar around eighteen months ago, there were typical Diplomaticos flavours of light cocoa and sourdough, capsicum or bell pepper, baking spices and an orange citrus sweetness. It was by no means a complex cigar and it stayed fairly consistent in strength throughout the thirds, just like last time. It's a shame the cigar finished after forty-five minutes!

I do wish that the Diplomaticos marca had more Regional Editions in this smaller ring gauge (under 46 ring gauge would be ideal). There has been thirteen such releases (and two furthermore on the way), including the famous and highly-regarded Diplomaticos Bushido from 2014, but only one of these have been under 50 ring gauge, the recently released (in early-2024) 2021 Alemania Regional Edition Diplomaticos Grandes, which is a Laguito Especial-sized cigar with a 40 ring gauge x 192 millimetres (or 7½ inches) length.

If there ever is a future release with a thin ring gauge in the Diplomaticos marca, I for one would be inclined to acquire it just for the opportunity to age it and replicate this wonderful smoking experience with this Diplomaticos No.5 today.

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Petit Coronas EML May 2014

Yes, I know...I only had a Por Larranaga Petit Coronas from this EML May 2014 box last week, but it was so scrumptious I simply had to have another one! I mean, we've all been "there", right? You know, when a cigar starts off so well after first 'cracking' open a box, you simply have to go back to it to see if you can replicate the experience.

This second cigar from this 50-count box (obviously as Por Larranaga Petit Coronas only come in 50-count packaging, paradoxically. They were once available in a 25-count option, but this was discontinued around 2002) began with some caramel and honey in the first third. Unlike my first PLPC, this one did have some notes of coffee and wood, alongside light toasted tobacco. It was in fact quite 'toasty' in its texture on the palate, very easy to smoke and with plenty of smoke per puff, I finished this particular PLPC in under an hour! But that's the way it goes with aged cigars sometimes, they can be a touch drier than younger cigars and hence smoke down faster.

In summary, I would say that this Por Larranaga Petit Coronas was not as exemplary as my first one from the box but it was still very, very good. I can see myself becoming quite accustomed to this aged Por Larranaga Petit Coronas box!

[99call]

On 6/8/2024 at 1:32 AM, JohnS said:

ETP Mar 2016 Quai d'Orsay Coronas Claro

One of my biggest cigar regrets. I remember being sat at the computer for hours, having 15 boxes in my cart with Ravi at $147 a box with a discount to come on top. Talking to myself. "you are buying at that rate anyway, 3 boxes at a time!!!...why not just cut to the quick, and get 15? You'll be saving on transaction fees...it's never going to get any better than this...DO IT!" I passed. 

What an idiot. I still have 2x ETP 2016 boxes tucked away, but would dearly like another 13. That said, would I cherish them as much? Who knows?

So funny to think right now there will be thousands of cigar enthusiasts all over the world with carts full of various websites, and they are negotiating with themselves, with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. How I wish I had given in to the darkside. 

[JohnS]

On 6/11/2024 at 8:43 PM, 99call said:

One of my biggest cigar regrets...How I wish I had given in to the darkside. 

Stefan, nothing at the time could make you foresee two things:

1. The change in the Quai d'Orsay blend with the introduction of the Nos.50 and 54 in late 2017.
2. The mid-2022 sharp increase in pricing of Habanos cigars as a result of its on-going, current supply crisis.

Put your regret to the side. We all wish that we bought up Cohiba, or Trinidad or Bolivar or whatever marca while we had the chance in the past. You are not alone, dear friend.

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Galanes RAT Nov 2020

The Por Larranaga Galanes is a 52 ring gauge x 120 mm (or 4¾ inches) in length Robusto. I 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 four in the last two years, at six-month intervals. That is, until today as I had this last cigar from this 10-count box one month after enjoying my last PL Galanes.

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 tenth and last cigar from this box was a tad different from my last one that I had one month ago. The cigar opened with a brioche-type butter bread which I found quite appealing. From then on the cigar settled with a typical combination I've found in a number of PL Galanes from this box; that being flavours of milk coffee, butterscotch, dull oak wood. This time there was no spice. The cigar was quite different to the aged Por Larranaga Petit Coronas I had before this one. Whereas that PL Petit Coronas had a 'toasty' feel on the palate and was easy to smoke down, this PL Galanes was more 'rounder' and 'fulsome' on the palate, took more effort to draw down and took quite a while to smoke, some ninety minutes in fact.

Now that I've finished this 10-count box, I have no qualms about acquiring more of this Por Larranaga vitola in the future. I consider the PL Galanes a decent 'change-of-pace' cigar, it's different to the Por Larranaga Montecarlos and Petit Coronas but no less interesting, in my view.

[JohnS]

Montecristo Petit Edmundo ESO Sep 2014

The Montecristo Petit Edmundo is a Petit Robusto (52 rg x 110 mm or 4⅜ inches in length), released in 2006. It was the second regular production Petit Robusto-sized cigar (and by that I am referencing its Common Name) after the Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto was introduced in 2004. The Cohiba Magicos came soon after in 2007. After a spate of Regional Edition cigars were released from 2009 to 2011 utilising this vitola there's been a number of additions ever since to the regular production catalogue.

I only opened this ESO Sep 2014 box of Montecristo Petit Edmundos late in 2021. Overall, they've been consistently mild and smooth. Today's Montecristo Petit Edmundo was also as similarly mild and light-bodied as my last Montecristo Petit Edmundo I smoked seven months ago.

I wrote in my last review on this cigar a few months ago that in general, as this box enters its now tenth year, the fullness of flavours (especially when it comes to the Montecristo cocoa and coffee) has greatly diminished and now these have been mainly been nutty, leathery and there's been more room for any citrus twang to 'shine'.

These aged Montecristo Petit Edmundos have also acquired an additional creamy texture to the cocoa, nut and light coffee blend, which I quite like. If you desire stronger coffee and/or cocoa in your Montecristo cigars, then you are best to have them before the 3 to 5 year window, depending on the specific vitola of course. This is a generalisation of course. Today's Monte Petit Edmundo opened with a combination of hazelnut and leather flavours, had a creamy texture and took around an hour to smoke.

In regard to typical Montecristo flavours of milk chocolate and milk coffee; well, there was barely any of it here. No, this Montecristo Petit Edmundo has well and truly progressed to the next stage of its development in its tenth year.

At the 10 to 15 year mark, the Montecristo brand can begin to develop floral notes and the nuttiness becomes more generic and less savoury, something akin to walnut or similar. At that point, you aren't likely to be enjoying any dominant coffee flavours. As this was my last Montecristo Petit Edmundo from this box, I won't find out how they'll develop further. However, I have no regrets whatsoever as I feel that these cigars, smoked over a period of two-and-a-half years, smoked solidly well in general, according to my palate.

[JohnS]

H.Upmann No.2 LUB Oct 2014

I've only just 'cracked' open this box recently, smoked my first cigar from it and concluded my review by stating: "I can certainly see myself returning to this box sometime very soon!" I didn't think it would only be a week though.

I waited until this LUB Oct 2014 approached its tenth year before opening it. That may sound bizarre, especially as the LUB box code from 2014/15 is known amongst cigar enthusiasts as producing a higher quality run in H.Upmann vitolas around that period. Still, for me, I love H. Upmann cigars that have melded in their flavours and have become more refined, hence therefore why I took so long before 'cracking' open this box.

In relation to box codes, the question of their consistency, quality and thus their desirability, the issue was brought up recently in a FoH ZOOM meeting. The consensus amongst the more experienced cigar enthusiasts in that meeting was that 'runs' of 'hot' box codes were a feature of Habanos cigars up until the advent of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. Thereafter, with supplies in decline, the question of box (or factory) codes is not quite the same as it was before.

Once again, there was no white pepper at all in this cigar today, unlike younger examples of H.Upmann No.2s I've enjoyed in the past. It had a combination of cedar, nut, cream and leather until the last third whereby it ramped up in intensity, especially in its coffee and wood flavours. This piramides-shaped cigar this time took me two hours to smoke!

Even with the change in the last third, this was another example of a great H.Upmann No.2 cigar. I wonder if I'll be writing another review on a cigar from this box in a week's time? Hmmm...I wonder!

[JohnS]

Cohiba Siglo II LTB Feb 2013

This is my second Cohiba Siglo II from this LTB Feb 2013 box. It's only been a week after I had my first one. I guess I'm a sentimentalist who can't get enough of those 'old school' Cohiba flavours!

What I am referring to of course is the balance between the grassiness and the cream texture that was again evident in this second cigar. This time there was less spice, perhaps a little in the final third but some hints of vanilla bean and a touch of honey complimented the cigar very well. As I mentioned in my last review recently, this core 'herbaceousness' was a common element of Linea 1492 cigars in the 1990s and 2000s. Currently, I would advocate that Linea 1492 cigars (i.e. Cohiba Siglo I, II, III, IV and V specifically) have more of a mocha coffee element to their blend.

I shared this cigar with Trevor Leask, the founder of Cuban Cigar Website, because we have savoured opportune moments in the past smoking Cohiba cigars that dated from the mid-2000s until the mid-2010s that had distinctive Cohiba profiles intermixed with the benefit of long-term aging. When that happens, well...they become something else, so-to-speak. This Cohiba Siglo II reminded us of previous cigars enjoyed that harked good memories.

On account of the age of this Cohiba Siglo II, I knew that the cigar would smoke down quite quickly. The mouthfeel was once again very, very easy on the palate. Yes, indeed the Linea 1492 line of the present day has changed and remains popular, despite recent price changes, but still, I'd take a eleven year-old Cohiba Siglo II like this one any day. This was fantastic to smoke, from the first puff until the last!

[JohnS]

Puro Desnudo N7 Ninfa

The Puro Desnudo N7 Ninfa came about because El Pres himself lamented the discontinuation of the Punch Ninfa in 2002 and his 50-count box had long gone. Sure, one could say the Quai d'Orsay Panetelas lasted until 2010, or even the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Gourmet until 2013 (although this cigar was one-third of an inch shorter in length the the traditional Ninfa size), but did anyone care about these cigars in the same way as the Punch Ninfas? I'd say no, mainly because the Punch Ninfas was an 'everyday' smoking-type cigar, a potential regular in one's rotation and that is what the Puro Desnudo N7 Ninfa has been designed to be.

In El Pres' words, the cigar was blended to be "mid bodied and rich. There is a purveying raisin/fruity sweetness that melds well with other nuances of tart cooking chocolate, sourdough and just a touch of spice on the retrohale. The cigar builds progressively but never loses it’s composure. The aroma is indeed something special and reflects the flavour profile. Only two sets of rollers/bunchers from our Fabrica 5 team are permitted to roll the Ninfas. They have been hand picked as the best of the best from our high performance Fabrica 5 unit. The construction quality reflects this. The blend is 100% Honduran and includes a special leaf that has enthralled us but until now we were at a loss as to how best to use. We found the right cigar for it to shine."

I've had two of these in short time and now this is my third one smoked two months later. I shared one with Trevor Leask, the founder of Cuban Cigar Website to try. We both agreed that it was very well-rolled, and elicited an impressive resemblance to a 'Cubanesque' flavour profile, especially in how sweet it was. This sweetness was somewhat fruity. Yes, you could call it a raisin sweetness and it went well with the baked bread and light chocolate and hazelnut-type texture that was all so simple, yet exquisite at the same time.

After smoking this N7 Ninfa today, it's not hard to figure why they sell so well. They're a simple, yet quality Non-Cuban long and skinny that goes well in one's rotation. Now, how many Non-Cuban cigars can we say are like that, especially in terms of the vitola of the N7 Ninfas? That's right, not many...not many at all!

[JohnS]

H.Upmann Half Corona Circa 2011

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. I'd like to thank @Trevor2118 for gifting me this original release H.Upmann Half Corona to smoke from 2011.

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. This HU Half Corona really had none of those characteristics. On the contrary, this HU Half Corona has reached its thirteen-year mark and its flavours were light, with some light coffee, leather, sandalwood 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.

Despite been quite 'packed' in terms of tobacco and having a tight draw, the cigar was not plugged. It only took thirty-five minutes to finish. However, that sandalwood note suggested to me that the cigar has reached the end of its 'peak' years as I noted some chalk on the edges at times, which is a flavour that suggests blandness in the future. I'm glad I was able to therefore smoke this HU Half Corona today, as it was.

[JohnS]

Ramón Allones Allones Superiores 2010 - La Casa del Habano Exclusivo Circa 2010

The Ramon Allones Superiores (commonly abbreviated to RAS) would have to be on the lighter or milder side of the regular production cigars within the Ramon Allones marca. This original release RAS from 2010, was graciously gifted to me by @Trevor2118.

This Ramon Allones Superiores was more vibrant than the last one I had only a few weeks ago. The cocoa medium-bodied, the typical 'stewed fruit' Ramon Allones profile was very light, and these flavours were complimented by some wood, Earth and mushroom flavours. In comparison to my last few RAS, smoked from a ULA Sep 2014 box, I wouldn't go so far as to say that there was notable walnut in the blend this time around. Construction-wise, I must add that the ash here was just about perfect, with each one reaching a consistent one inch or over and having cylindrical, dime-stacked rings.

I didn't think I would be smoking a Ramon Allones Superiores so soon after I smoked my last one. In fact, I had mentioned in my last review on this cigar that I awaiting to 'crack' open another 10-count ULA Sep 2014 box at some point. I'm still planning to do that, I'm glad though that I got the opportunity to smoke this original release RAS from 2010 in the meantime.

[JohnS]

Illusione Original Documents 33

Illusione cigars have been around since 2006. They were created by Dion Giolito, who is a cigar retailer based in Reno, Nevada. In that time there have been some re-brandings but overall, amongst members on our forum, I would say that the Epernay Serie 2009, Haut 10 and Fume D'Amour are the most popular lines. This Illusione 33 comes from the Original Documents line and was first introduced in 2015.

Original Documents cigars utilise Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98 and Corojo ‘99 and are packaged in a rustic, rosado wrapper. It comes in a number of vitolas, but the 33 itself is a curious 32 ring gauge x 158 mm or 6¼ inch length size. This equates to a pantelas size in Habanos terms but the cigar itself has been marketed as a 'ninfas'. Given that the N7 Ninfas has been the most popular DesNudos release in 2024, you probably have heard of a ninfas, but if you aren't aware, this is an iconic Habanos vitola that was always produced in 33 ring gauge x 178 or 7 inch length. There have been ten regular production cigars in this vitola post-revolution, with the last ones discontinued in 2002 (Punch Ninfas) and 2010 (Quai d'Orsay Panatelas). So, despite its marketing, the Illusione Original Documents 33 is not a classic ninfas.

I last smoked this cigar nine months ago. It opened with a hit of wood, earth and leather but it was quite smooth and its flavours did not overwhelm the palate. Construction-wise, the cigar smoked very well, the draw was ideal and there was no need for re-lights so I finished that cigar quite satisfied for having smoked it. This time around, I had no such luck as this cigar was a touch overwhelming in its smoke output in the first half and frankly, it couldn't stay lit in the second half. I suspect that the cigar was under-filled in the middle and as is usual in these cases, it's hard to redeem the cigar when it's like this.

However, it's been suggested, amongst members on our forum, that the Illusione marca is 'Cubanesque' in its ambition. For me, at the very least, the Illusione Original Documents 33 I smoked nine months ago did remind me a little of some younger La Gloria Cubana Medaille d"or No.4s I've smoked, especially in relation to its woodiness and even more savoury flavours. Still, it's not a Habanos cigar but at least it is a Non-Cuban cigar that is available in a rare panatelas size and for that I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to smoke it not once, but twice! Thank you again @Perla, for allowing me to do so!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Tubos No.1 ULA Jun 2015

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 two-thirds 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.

I had two superlative examples of Bolivar Tubos No.1 in a row about a year 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, and like the last time I lit up a Bolivar Tubos No.1 six months ago, this cigar 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 again it had an underlying mushroom core. I also got some Bolivar flavours of leather, Earth and forest floor 'funk'. 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.

I think that if this Bolivar Tubos No.1 had more caramel sweetness, evidence of floral notes and a soft marshmallow texture, I would have rated it higher. As it was, I still didn't mind it too much. With almost nine years down I must say it was certainly easy to smoke down. In fact, I think I finished it in under an hour. I now have just seven left, and as we know, it's not like I can replace them once I've finished them all. So, in saying that, I think it would be prudent to no longer continue my trend of smoking three or four Bolivar Tubos No.1s a year from hereon in. I owe this box the chance to age further, in my opinion.

[JohnS]

Padron Family Reserve No.46 Natural

In 2010, Padron made available the third release of their Family Reserve Series – the Padron Family Reserve No. 46. The Family Reserve series was launched in 2008 with the release of the Padron Family Reserve No. 44. The Padron Family Reserve No.44, No.45 and No.46 commemorate the anniversary of patriarch Jose O. Padron launching Padron in 1964. As with the greater majority of Padron releases, the line was released in a Nicaraguan natural and Nicaraguan maduro wrapper. The Padron Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro won Cigar Aficionado’s 2009 Cigar of the Year award whereas the Padron Family Reserve No.45 Natural was the Cigar Aficionado No.4 Cigar of the Year the following year in 2010.

The tobacco leaves for the Padron Family Reserve series are aged a minimum of ten years. Since the release of the No. 44, there have been five versions of the Padron Family Reserve series – each in a Natural and Maduro. Following the 2009 No. 45 release, there was the Family Reserve No. 46 in 2010, the Padron Family Reserve 85th to honour Jose O. Padron’s 85th birthday in 2011 and the Family Reserve No.50 in 2014, recognising the company’s 50th anniversary.

The Padron Family Reserve No.46 has a 56 ring gauge and is 140 millimetres or 5½ inches long. Like the greater majority of Padron cigars, the No.46 has a notable box-press to it. I acquired this cigar in a 5-pack Sampler box, together with the Nos. 44, 45, 50 and 85. Family Reserve cigars are also available individually in 5-count and 10-count options.

I took my punch cutter and applied it to the head of this cigar prior to lighting this time. Last time I took out my straight cutter but the ring gauge on this No.46 was bigger, hence why I punched the cap. As usual, the draw was a touch loose (as is typical for Padron cigars) and it was effortless to smoke from the first puff to the last. There was also plenty of smoke output per puff. Again, this is quite typical for a Padron cigar. As for flavours, as I've mentioned in my recent review on the Padron Family Reserve Nos.85, 44 and 45 (all Natural), overall it's been said that the Family Reserve Series is not as flavoursome as other Padron lines. This is categorically untrue. What should be stated is that the flavours are much more subtle, more nuanced. This No.45 Natural had notes of light cocoa, coffee, cedar with again an anise sweetness throughout not too dissimilar to the Padron Family Reserve No.45 I smoked six-and-a-half months ago. There wasn't really any notable pepper of spice to be had in this cigar, although; paradoxically I did get some bunched leaves around the midway point which caused an uneven burn for half an inch. This would have to be about the only instance of a construction fault that I could note amongst the last twenty-five Padron cigars that I have smoked.

I've really enjoyed smoking these Padron Family Reserve cigars of late. In comparison to fuller Padron cigars, the No.46 was again easier to smoke, in my opinion. They are quite simply put, great cigars that represent a quality option when one is looking to smoke a Non-Cuban cigar.

[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 only smoked two in 2023 and now this is my second one in 2024.

Once again, the opening was sweet. This time around it was like a mixture of white chocolate, sweet shortbread and honey in the first third. Thereafter, the cigar settled into its usual pattern. There was cedar, some shortbread and hay in the middle third, which saw the addition of some white pepper dominate in the last third.

In summary, I've smoked enough Arturo Fuente Hemingway Series cigars, and more so since Habanos S.A.'s price re-structure in mid-2022, to warrant a guarantee that these cigars have become a welcome feature of my humidor. They'll continue to do so well into the future, no matter what that same future brings in store for Habanos S.A.

[JohnS]

Trinidad Topes 2016 - Edición Limitada TOS Sep 2016

The Trinidad Topes was first released in late 2016 as a Limited Edition with a large 56 ring gauge x 125 mm (or 4⅞ inches) length. It was such a great seller and well-reputed amongst aficionados that in my view, it wasn't too much of a surprise to see it being re-released in 2019 as a regular production cigar. Incidentally, the Montecristo Dantes and Romeo y Julieta Capuletos were also released in early 2017 as 2016 Limited Editions. Fast forward to mid-2024 and these two latter cigars are not as reputable nowadays as the Trinidad Topes LE is.

I've mentioned in previous reviews that the 2019 regular production Trinidad Topes that I've sampled since their release have tended to be a combination of spice, coffee and butter pastry, some slight gingerbread-type sweetness and even some salt. The Trinidad Topes 2016 EL had more cocoa and sweetness to it upon its release in its youth. In other words, I've found the regular production Topes more savoury in comparison to its Limited Edition 'elder brother'.

Having said this, I need to be transparent and admit that I haven't had a regular production Trinidad Topes ever since Habanos S.A. rationalised their pricing structure in mid-2022. In fact, it was in the latter half of 2021 that I last smoked one, thus it's been two years and nine months since I've had a regular production Topes. I have had regular production Trinidad Esmeralda and Media Luna in that time, though. The reason for this is quite simple...I have much less stock of the Topes in comparison to the Esmeralda and Media Luna on-hand. By contrast, I've smoked two Trinidad Topes 2016 LE in 2021, three in 2022 and two in 2023 from the same box. Since I can't replace the Limited Edition box, realistically-speaking (unless I am willing to pay an exorbitant price via auction or similar), I haven't felt as encumbered in smoking Topes Limited Editions rather than regular production ones.

I smoked my last Trinidad Topes 2016 LE almost eleven months ago, and since now these are four months short of eight years of age, I believe that this is the peak time to enjoy them (Well...at least according to my palate!). If you aren't aware of what the concept of a box of cigars 'peaking' is, quite simply, it's the notion that a box of cigars develops to a point whereby the cigar enthusiast decides that the cigars have reached a time where they have changed to a desired state and therefore is at its best for smoking. Any further changes with more time down may be deemed as less optimal for smoking the cigars.

So what is it about this cigar that I found optimal? As usual, there was a coffee-cream cappuccino, cocoa, dough and some oak wood quality to this Trini Topes LE, but it was the hints of caramel sweetness that I've found quite irresistible the last few times I've smoked these 2016 LEs. Today, there was plenty of that latter note and believe me, I very much appreciated it. I would go further and add that the 'caramel sweetness' is like a salted caramel note at times. It's all simply stupendous, trust me! Again, construction-wise, this cigar had a 'stacked-dime' ash and was rich on the palate from beginning to end. This is another aspect to the cigars from this box that I have found quite amazing to behold too.

My last Trinidad Topes LE took a whopping 120 minutes to finish, this one took around the same time! I only opened this box once it reached the five year mark. Incidentally, I must say it's no coincidence that I haven't had a regular production 2019 Trinidad Topes since, these 2016 Limited Editions have been that enticing, apart from the fact of the price re-structuring of Habanos cigars in mid-2022. I suppose there's a reason these are still highly sought after and valued by cigar enthusiasts and it all has to do with class and quality. This cigar shines in both those characteristics.

The only factor that could dissuade someone of smoking this fine Trinidad cigar today is the knowledge that these now retail for around the same price as a Major League Baseball annual television subscription. In other words, $US140 to 150 a stick. If you acquired these when they were first released, aren't you glad you purchased a whole box when its entire contents (i.e. 12 cigars) was worth the price of two cigars nowadays? Then again, this Trinidad Topes LE would have to be one of the very best cigars I've smoked in 2024 (if not the best). Furthermore, if you peruse the pages of this 2024 Smoking Blog on a regular basis, then you would know that is saying something indeed!

[JohnS]

Rafael González Perlas UBM Feb 2019

After having only smoked two or three Rafael Gonzalez Perlas from 2020 to 2023, I have now smoked four in the first half of 2024 alone! I acquired this box code seven months ago and I waited until it was five years of age to smoke the first cigar. So this is my second cigar from that box code. In the meantime, I've since acquired a younger SOP Ene 2022 box and smoked an initial cigar from it too. Today, however, I was more interested to see how this second cigar from this UBM Feb 2019 box code would compare to the first cigar smoked.

The Rafael Gonzalez Perlas is probably the mildest minuto/perlas/reyes option one could go for. Habanos cigars this size are a little more intense in flavour delivery than their larger brethren, but the Rafael Gonzalez Perlas (and Petit Coronas) tends not to be as intense, generally.

This RG Perlas again had a core and dependable cocoa, earth and tobacco, but I wouldn't say that it had much in the way of floral notes or baking spice, like the first cigar from this box code did. Instead, it was quite vegetal or 'grassy' in its first half; even herbal. This made the flavours a tad sharper on the palate.

Still, I can conclude that this RG Perlas offered forty minutes of satisfactory smoking. And so I'm glad I acquired more Rafael Gonzalez Perlas for my humidor collection.

[JohnS]

San Cristóbal de la Habana El Príncipe TOS Jun 2016

This is my third San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe from this box code, but the first one I've had from it in the last eighteen months. Since that time, I've been exclusively smoking from from LGR Jun 2018 box. As my last SCdLH El Principe from this mid-2018 box was so poor in its smoking performance six weeks ago, I figured I need to re-visit another box code of this vitola from my humidor. In 2021, I had two outstanding examples from this TOS Jun 2016 box and one very good one (it was a little unbalanced otherwise it would have been outstanding too).

This box has now hit almost the eight-year mark and in my opinion its age didn't diminish its quality. For me, it exemplified why I smoke Habanos cigars. Pancake and molasses treacle, together with no spice, no harshness or edges which made this 60 minutes of time well-spent!

After having such a poor SCdLH El Principe from my LGR Jun 2018 box the last time I smoked this vitola, this TOS Jun 2016 SCdLH El Principe was certainly a welcome 'return-to-form'.

Yes, I was quite satisfied with how this San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe smoked today. It reinforced why this cigar remains in my regular rotation and it would classify as one of the limited number of Habanos cigars I would continue to invest in, even after the price re-structure since mid-2022.