FOH'ers Daily Smoke

[havanaclub]

Going with a NC tonight. These are a rerelease of a limited tatuaje run that created a huge frenzy. I think the OG little boris box of 10 easily go for 350-400.

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[Ej456]

[BoliDan]

8 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Game Creek Bowl and Northeast Bowls are open.  The whole front side of the mountain is open, pretty much.  Some runs have great powder, others are mixed.  Some ice.  They are saying we are getting a big storm tomorrow, so we’ll see.

Well l at us know next time you come through, and can stay in denver a day. I know @Habana Mike has been looking for an excuse to come here and see his son. We can put a brown palace visit together with enough plan time.

[SigmundChurchill]

9 hours ago, BoliDan said:

Well l at us know next time you come through, and can stay in denver a day. I know @Habana Mike has been looking for an excuse to come here and see his son. We can put a brown palace visit together with enough plan time.

We usually fly direct to Vail/Eagle or Aspen airport.  You guys should come up here and we can smoke cigars and ski!

[SigmundChurchill]

There are a bunch of soldiers stationed outside our lobby.  We were told Mike Pence is staying here, and that they were closing off a section of the mountain for him to ski.  

2013 RyJ Petit Churchill

[SigmundChurchill]

3 hours ago, Lrabold89 said:

How was the smoke?

They are good, but not spectacular.  Age hasn't done much for these cigars.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Rio Seco ABO Abr 2019

Ever since its release in 2018, the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Rio Seco has been one of the hottest sellers within the regular production Habanos catalogue and it's smoked that way too! What is it about the HdM Le Hoyo de Rio Seco that has made it so popular?

I would say that its the creamy texture at a youthful stage which most appeals to enthusiasts who invest in this cigar. In comparison to other cigars within the Le Hoyo line, which traditionally have been woody, spicy and containing forest floor flavours in youth and requiring long-term rest to build in cream, the de Rio Seco has been much sweeter and creamier at an early age.

This HdM Le Hoyo de Rio Seco today had a cedar, spice and cream core with some ginger sweetness; I just wish it had more. It still smoked well and I envisage I'll be reaching into my humidor for another HdM Le Hoyo de Rio Seco soon!

Montecristo Especiales No.2 REG Nov 2018

If there's one Montecristo cigar in my humidor that I reach for when I need a dependable and excellent example of the marca, it's the Montecristo Especiales No.2.  For many years the Montecristo line, founded by Alonso Menendez in 1935 and named after the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, had just the famous five cigars in its line-up (i.e. the No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4 and No.5) but after the Cuban Cigar industry was nationalised in the early 60s, Jose Manuel Gonzalez, a top grade torcedor promoted to factory manager after Menendez left Cuba, fatefully introduced the Montecristo Especial, Especiales No.2 and Joyitas to the marca. Today Montecristo has been expanded to 24 regular production cigars.

The Montecristo Especiales No.2 is a Laguito No.2-sized cigar with a pigtail, 38 ring gauge and is 152 mm or 6 inches in length (the same size as the Cohiba Coronas Especiales). Because of the pigtail, I dispense with a normal cutter on this cigar and I tend to use a 'Cuban cut', which is a simple method of dispensing with a cigar cap from the head by using one's thumbnail, albeit carefully.

The wrapper on the Monte Especiales No.2 was a light colorado claro and it smoked supremely well, The flavours were a combination of milk coffee, cocoa, almond nut, cream and citrus twang and they were truly delightful from beginning to end.

If I could, I would reach for a Montecristo Especial more often. Alas, and sadly, this Laguito No.1-sized cigar (the same vitola dimensions as the Cohiba Lanceros) has been in hiatus in 2015. Thankfully, we still have the Montecristo Especiales No.2.

Montecristo No.2 REG Ene 2020

Recently the Montecristo No.2 was nominated as the No.1 cigar of 2020 by El Pres on our forum. Considering that a number of 2019/2020 cigars have been smoking so well of late, and seemingly soon after their boxing dates, this appraisal is even more noteworthy, in my opinion. Despite having a few Montecristo No.2s from separate box codes in my humidor, I fortunately picked up a quarter pack offering of 2020 Montecristo No.2s in mid-2020 to sample some recent examples of this piramide cigar.

This Montecristo No.2 was dark-wrappered, somewhere between colorado and colorado maduro in shade. I mention this because I much prefer lighter shades in Montecristo cigars, in general, because they tend to emphasise citrus twang, nut and creaminess in their blends, in my view. Darker-wrappered Montes tend to dominate in cocoa, coffee and leather flavours, according to my palate, and I tend to compensate by resting them longer.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this Monte 2, although medium in strength, was nuanced in body and shone with quality dark milk chocolate flavours, as well as citrus twang and some leather. I greatly enjoyed this Montecristo No.2 and was well-pleased to have sampled it.

When Monte 2s smoke as well as this, and I mean somewhere in the 95 point range and above, there's no advantage to be gained in aging the other cigars from the box code. In my mind, they are smoking outstanding well right now and I aim to smoke my other five cigars from this box within the next 12 months.

[Trimming]

 

 

@SigmundChurchill remodeling, place is a mess

But modern up here, even have running water !

 

 

Hope you have a great time. Roughly 30 miles from you but daughter in law tested positive, I have no symptoms but still quarantined till the 11th of January 

Next time around, timing might be better for a gathering.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

This is smoking WAY better than the QdO 54 last week. All sugar cookies, exceptionally sweet!

Funny thing this cigar tastes more like a Trinidad than a h upmann. This probably won’t find a spot in my rotation due to price and vitola, but definitely one I’ll pick a 6er here and there for a good morning cigar. 

[SigmundChurchill]

25 minutes ago, Trimming said:

 

 

@SigmundChurchill remodeling, place is a mess

But modern up here, even have running water !

 

 

Hope you have a great time. Roughly 30 miles from you but daughter in law tested positive, I have no symptoms but still quarantined till the 11th of January 

Next time around, timing might be better for a gathering.

Thank you.  Sorry about your daughter in law.  Too bad.  Would have been nice to meet up for a smoke.

[Trimming]

15 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Thank you.  Sorry about your daughter in law.  Too bad.  Would have been nice to meet up for a smoke.

I seem fine at this time, she ate well seemed good but time will tell. My concern is she is pregnant. My Son seemed good also, but viruses affect each differently.

I too would of enjoyed your company. I am sure it will happen sooner or later

 

[Rupe]

[TheFullMontecristo]

[Bijan]

Partagas Mille fleurs.

Most of the snow gone after a rainy day today. But back to -2C now.

[Dusk]

[FatherOfPugs]

A delicious RyJ Capuletos EL 2016 today. These are coming along nicely.

[JZBdano]

LUB OCT 14 No. 2

Second cigar out of this box of claro wrappers, green spots here and there with no sheen. Good construction and aroma though.  Great natural light makes it look way better in the pic than with the eye.  Definitely bottom 5 in appearance out of a couple hundred boxes I've cracked in person.  BUT It's what's on the inside that counts.  This was a great cigar.  First one I had a couple weeks ago was good, this one's had more time at lower rh and flavors were more crisp and clean.  

[Ej456]

[Raskol]

C&C time. RASCC (2018) - 24:24

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[Chucko8]

Glorious afternoon and magical stick to boot

Followed by an evening of quality literature whilst trying to stay classy ?

[X-Man]

Nudies no.3 smoking beautifully now.

[GVan]

On 12/20/2020 at 12:04 PM, Fabrice said:

Sunday treat Vegas Robaina and Glendronach 18 bottled in 2019

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Based on this picture (and some research) ordered a bottle of the GlenDronach 18 Allardice -- wow, it's sensational!  Thanks for the inspiration; I'm going to enjoy this bottle.

[J-Slay]

RAT NOV 19

What a little cigar! ???

[zigarrenziggy]

Holiday weekend line-up!

Cohiba Corona Especiales REG Sep 19

Vegas Robaina Famosos BSM Dic 19

H Upmann Magnum 54 BRE Nov 19

Punch Short de Punch RAT Ene 20

QdO Coronas Claro TUA Ago 20

[JohnS]

Por Larrañaga Petit Coronas LGR Oct 2019

Rudyard Kipling, in his 1890 poem 'The Betrothed' wrote "There’s peace in a Larranaga, there’s calm in a Henry Clay; But the best cigar in an hour is finished and thrown away—" I think if Kipling were to write this poem for his fiancé today to explain his passion for cigars he might write, "There's caramel in a Larranaga, don't worry too much about Henry Clay, nor throwing them away in an hour. After all, they smoke so fine and so well!"

Caramel is the one characteristic that defines Por Larranaga and this attribute has been noted in cigar literature for a good twenty to thirty years in my research. The Por Larranaga Petit Coronas is noted amongst enthusiasts for needing five to eight years of aging before it starts to peak in its quintessential soft, caramel flavours. What I like about this late 2019 box is that they've had wonderful lashings of caramel at such a young age; yes, just 12 months!

This cigar had caramel, baking spice and herbal flavours throughout. I'd describe those herbal flavours as not been quite 'woody', nor was this PLPC 'toasty'. To me, it smoked like a PLPC may smoke at the three or four-year mark and the lack of 'bite' or 'mongrel' only makes this box currently appeal even more for my liking!

At one time Por Larranaga was the sixth highest-selling brand in the Habanos catalog (around the period when the Cuban government nationalised Habanos cigar production in 1960) and it certainly has fallen from its peak days due to machine-made cigars and cellophane packaging been phased out 20 to 30 years ago, along with trademark disputes; but I'm glad we have cigars like this around today!

Punch Short de Punch TPO Sep 2019

The Punch Short de Punch has only been around since 2019 but it's made quite a mark since been released. I think the reason is because of how true its been to the Punch marca and how well its smoked thus far.

Punch as a marca is noted as a brand that's certainly not for everyone. Polls on FoH consistently mark it as a cigar that enthusiasts either love and adore or don't connect with at all. Punch also takes time for its signature flavours to come to fore. For example, I have a cab of Punch Punch still resting in its fourth year; the Punch Short de Punch has demonstrated these indicative flavours from the 'get-go' seemingly.

The flavours I got from this cigar, and the greater majority of this 10-count box, were leather, sour cream, a clove spice which picked up in the last third as well as some cedar, which also picked up in the last third. Of course there's also the Cuban twang which Punch is known for, which can be best described a sour citrus tart unique to Habanos cigars.

Punch is a brand that was founded in 1840 and was named after the Punch puppet character from 'Punch and Judy'. At the time of the Cuban revolution it was the fifth largest Cuban brand behind Montecristo, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta and H.Upmann. Due to the blue mold crisis of 1980 and the rationalisation of sizes when Habanos S.A went into partnership with Altidis in the early 2000s, forty-four vitolas have been discontinued in the meantime. However, it still holds brand value as Habanos S.A has designated it as a Value marca alongside Bolivar, Ramon Allones and Trinidad when they re-classified Habanos brands in 2019. If they continue to release vitolas such as the Punch Short de Punch I can only see the brand continue to grow in profile in the near future.

Quai d'Orsay No. 54 MSU Jul 2018

The resurgence of Quai d'Orsay as a marca in worldwide Habanos markets since its re-branding in 2017 is something quite remarkable to reflect on. In my mind, it's akin to the Filet-O-Fish usurping the Cheeseburger as the second most popular hamburger for McDonald's behind the Big Mac worldwide. I mean, it's just not possible, is it? So what has caused Quai d'Orsay to become so popular in the last few years? I would advocate that the reasons why have to do with excellent marketing emphasing new releases that are a class above standard regular production Habanos cigars, new bands and excellent leaf going into those new releases; namely, the Quai d'Orsay No.50 and No.54.

Despite recent larger price rises for Quai d'Orsay of 8% they are still very much in-demand. In fact, they've been colloquially termed the 'poor man's Cohiba' by enthusiasts and judging by how well the QdO No.50 and No.54 have smoked of late I can understand why. The Quai d'Orsay No.54 has been the more popular of the two new releases than the No.50, both on our forum and worldwide. Personally, I've connected more with the QdO No.50 than the No.54 in the last two years, but my last few QdO No.54s in 2020 have shown a large improvement for me in quality.

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.

This Quai d'Orsay No.54 had quality hay, light cedar, cream and spice together with a brioche texture which made it smoke superbly. As I progressed through the thirds I got more cedar/woodiness and spice but the brioche egg-and-butter texture to the cigar remained and solidified for me why this cigar is currently so popular amongst enthusiasts and is selling so well.

I have no doubt that the Quai d'Orsay No.50 and No.54 will continue to sell well in the near future. The re-branding has been so successful that Habanos S.A released a Hermosos No.2-sized Limited Edition Senadores in 2019 and Intertabak AG, the Swiss distributor of Habanos, is planning to release a Regional Edition Nro. 109 cigar to commemorate its 25th anniversary soon. Could it be possible that a similar resurgence could happen to Fonseca? It's not likely but with Habanos S.A I would reckon anything is possible!

Bolívar Petit Coronas ETP Mar 2017

This is my fourth Bolivar Petit Coronas from this box and it smoked similarly to my second one.

This BPC was similar to recent BBF in its profile, especially in its maltiness and stout flavours. Along the way it had that cocoa, wood and leather alongside a touch of earthiness (something like gravel, although this wasn't unappealing) and a little creamy texture to it.

This Bolivar Petit Coronas was so good that I again I became pre-occupied with researching the internet this afternoon and didn't notice the end of the cigar coming up well into the final third! I smoked it down nonetheless and reconciled myself to pay more attention to the next Bolivar Petit Coronas I smoke, which no doubt will be sooner rather than later!