LGC Medaille D’Or No.3 (OSU JUL 02)

[BlackFriar]

La Gloria Cubana Medaille D’Or No.3 (Panetelas Largas)

Box Code OSU JUL 02

Length 175 cm, Ring Gauge 28

This is my first review, so I sincerely wish for both criticisms and advice from all of you who have made this forum a second home.

So let’s look at the wrapper… These gals have been sitting in the humidor for 3-4 months now and it is amazing how a little bit of rest can make a difference. Where once these cigars reminded me of rough parchment, I now have that lovely damp brown paper / silk feeling. There is a firm but giving feel when squeezed and the wrapper has only a couple of minor blemishes. All of the bands in this box have a green discoloring.

Clipped the cap and have a firm and reassuring draw. I torched the foot using a Crème Brule torch. I like this method because I can toast the foot evenly and get it lit without ever having to draw on the cigar. With a quick blow through the cigar, I begin to inhale.

Mild… a touch of honey and almonds and I get no pepper at all exhaling through both nose and mouth simultaneously. From the get go this is a smooth and light bodied smoke. I really love it but it requires concentration to classify the ever so subtle tastes. There is a bit of acrid aftertaste on the mid to back tongue but we are talking 45 seconds after exhaling.

1.5 cm into the burn now and the delicate almond flavor is predominating. Something else that I am having difficulty classifying. The burn is immaculate, off white to dark grey in perfect circles. The burn brings correspond to intakes. I am careful to draw very slowly as this is only a 28 ring gauge cigar. I am not sure but the flavor I am having difficulty classifying is citrus?

2 cm into the cigar and the smoke volume is prodigious. The smell of freshly saddle soaped leather shoes is now apparent. The butt just dropped off on its own.

Lovely evening by the way in Southern Arizona time now is 1930 and the stray monsoon clouds are wispy with a change, showing dramatic reds with no wind. What a perfect night for a cigar! Cats are keeping me company.

One thing I have learned from this cigar is that it likes a bit of ash to hide behind. May sound a little strange, but I think it needs the ash to help keep the kernel cool. Too hot and everything lovely about this narrow ring gauge goes up in an all to fiery hell. I’ve given it a minute to rest, there is 0.5 cm ash on it now and I’m going to take a very slight but long pull now…

Ugh, first draw is disappointing, although there are a few wisps of roasted coffee. Very few. Let’s give it a second chance. Little f***er went out! Relit using the torch and am taking a long and slow 10 second draw. There is some pepper on the nose finally. For those of you who eat a great deal of sushi, it is akin to the mild tickling of wasabi in the nasal cavity. I personally love this. The acrid is back on the mid-tongue though.

Wow! The complex leather, mild citrus and almond flavors with a mild tannic / bitter background are back. Having smoked half a box of these I would say this combination is the characteristic mark of this particular cigar. Note to all of you who might be interested in these little gems: An ash between 1 to 2 cm is a must to bring out these flavors. This is my humble opinion though.

This cigar requires maintenance! You have to time your pulls right. Too frequent and all the subtle flavors are lost, if you do not pull frequently enough you get the acrid taste. Be forewarned!

I’m mid way into the middle of the second third and loving this mild but flavorful cigar. It is dark out now and I can see the beautiful blue tinge to the smoke off the foot. What a wonderful smoke producer. The last few pulls have been more simplistic on the flavor profile though. Another deep pull and the mild leather, faint citrus flavors predominate. The burn on this cigar has been immaculate. The absence of wind for a change has made for a remarkable smoking experience.

What a cigar! More than just a smoking experience, this gal has me reminiscing. The only thing I could want to complement this would be the lapping kiss of the Pacific upon my feet, and my wife at my side. Did I ever mention how much I miss La Jolla and Del Mar, California?

Ugh, the acrid is back and I sadly remember I am in the high desert again. So we begin the final third and the ash has dropped off. This cigar without that ash on the end is annoying. The cats jumping at bugs are making up for it though! I blow hard through the cigar in hopes of clearing the foulness, here is hoping that cures the final third woes.

There is 1 cm of ash on the end again. Light but enjoyable pepper has returned! The mild leather, citrus, and almonds are back. The saddle soap and maybe slight cream tastes are here again, gods what a subtle mix of flavors.

Wow, what a remarkable evening and the perfect cigar to accompany it. The only beverage I have had is a Perrier to help cleanse my palate. Having smoked about ten of these I would only recommend them if you have them time to nurse them without interruptions. They are difficult but extremely rewarding if you persevere.

I love these unforgiving bastards! If babied they bring out what I deem the best of Cuban Cigars, balance and a mélange of subtle flavors.

I give this experience a 91, but I have hurried this cigar in the past and been utterly disappointed. This vitolas has taught me the pleasures of discipline and patience. If you are up to those challenges I would highly recommend this cigar, if not stay away!

I want to thank all of you for both encouraging and educating novitiates such as myself in sharing our experiences with Cuban Cigars. I cannot begin to tell you all how much this site means to me.

Chris

PS... Having the computer in front of me to capture my experiences has made the difference!

[SmokinAl]

:clap:

Thank you BlackFriar for a great review.

Room to improve: None.

Desire to get a box of 3's: Substantial.

Excellent job and you've cheered my afternoon.

[El Presidente]

» I give this experience a 91, but I have hurried this cigar in the past and

» been utterly disappointed. This vitolas has taught me the pleasures of

» discipline and patience. If you are up to those challenges I would highly

» recommend this cigar, if not stay away!

Well done grasshopper. You have nailed what it takes to extract the best of these fine vitola's.

Senbloodysational review

[demiurgic]

your Writing is a pleasure to read blackFrair.

Nice in depth review with some good pointers on nursing a small ring guage cigar.

Hear a lot about the No. 2 & No. 4, and was nice read about the 3'z.

thanks!

[Smallclub]

» I torched the foot using a Crème Brule torch. I like this method because I can toast the foot evenly and get it lit without ever having to draw on the cigar.

You need to torch a 28 RG foot?

Excellent review of a "difficult" cigar that needs patience and concentration :-)

[aavkk]

That was a pleasure to read and especially of a cigar I havent heard much about. Thank you very much. I feel the 3 and 4 play second fiddle to the 2. Does anyone here have comparable thoughts on the #4?

[Colt45]

Great job Chris!

[Tampa1257]

Great review Chris!

One coment that I'll make especially when smoking thin ring cigars, is that in my experience I have been able to keep the cigar lite and the flavors more intense by purging the cigar around every 5-6th draw. Your analysis of keeping the ash on the cigar to keep it smoking cooler is dead on! Suburb flavors happen when a cigar is not too hot.

Again, thanks for a wonderful review, so when is the next one?

Tampa

[patrick]

Very nice review. Thanks.

[crasmith]

Thanks for the sweet review! :-)