La Escepcion Longos OAUA (1986)

[Mike33]

This is for you Rob

I found a box of these a while ago that was the second to last box this vendor had left. After reading Atuck's review and several other's on other boards, I decided to get a box. The La Escepcion brand was discontinued in the late '80s and has amongst it's vitolas some very rare cigars. Among them, the Cazadores Miramar and the Gran Gener. The Longos are not nearly as rare and were fairly easy to find up until several months ago (I'm sure for some of us, they are still easy to find). The Longos is a Ninfas vitola measuring ~7x33. A very elegant cigar and this particular box has held up very well over the years. A mustiness is present on all of them as well as the box, but does nothing to take away from the cigar itself.

Upon lighting the cigar, the draw is perfect and the smoke very plentiful. I smoke it carefully so as to not get it too hot and ruin it. This is a tough balancing act as I have it go out on me within the first two inches. Flavors are a cross between a well-aged Ramon Allones and a well-aged H. Upmann. Very earthy and dank dried fruit and musty coffee bean start off the cigar. Burn is fantastic throughout and the finish is extremely long. Full bodied at this point, but not as strong as my previous example.

The flavors remain much the same entering in the middle third with the addition of some faint citrus notes. Much like orange peel, though very rich and decadent. The smoke picks up a little strenghth, but retains fantastic balance and character. It is a perfect cigar to smoke with some ice water or any other light drink that allows you to enhance the subtleties to it. Still very earthy and heavy on the dried fruit and mustiness.

The cigar is now packing a little more punch. Nothing to make you queasy or sick, just enough to get your attention. Strangely, not as strong as I remember it to be. While retaining the earthiness, it now becomes very woody and somewhat spicy. Not a typical Partagas spice, but a lighter, not over-powering spice. The ash does not hold very firm and needs to be knocked off every inch or so. Turning out to be a fantastic cigar down to the last inch :cool:

Overall: Solid 96. Very balanced and youthful despite being 21 years old. It delivered an hour and half of damn-near perfect smoking. Never a dull moment and never leaving me wishing for more. Not much more to say other than a wonderful cigar!

[Ginseng]

Nicely done, Mike.

I wonder how much of this cigar's magic stems from the age as opposed to the blend itself.

Wilkey

[El Presidente]

What a great and timely review. Brian gifted me one of these recently and I am looking forward to reviewing next week. :-D

[tigger]

Very nice review!

I'm a big fan of this vitola.

[croatan]

I've only had a couple of these, but I've really enjoyed them. Deep flavors unlike anything else I've smoked.

[bassman]

I just picked up a fiver of these & can't wait to try one. Quite frankly, I never thought I'd get a chance to try this brand.