Cuban Cigar Reviews

Start: 11:05 PM Finish: 12:01 PM

Food: Lemon Chicken with fried rice and vegetable potstickers

Drink: S. Pellegrino over ice

Location: Front of my house. No breeze and 72 deg.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was full of chocolate, spice, and the smell of sweet tobacco.

Construction: This was in great condition. It had a beautiful light coco brown color and had no visible veins or discoloration.

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. It was a perfect draw and promised to be a fine smoke even before my lighter ever came close to the foot.

Light: As usual the Xikar cigar made an exemplary cut. Feeling very “Tim the Tool man” I used a food prep blow torch to ignite the stick. No burn correction touch up’s were ever necessary.

Taste: The initial draw was cardamom, leather and allspice. It was as clean as the night I was smoking. There was no change ¼ ways through the cigar. After the first ¼ of the cigar dark coco became more pronounced and grew along with plenty of leather. It had a very tight grayish black ash the clung tight to the stick and was going nowhere. There was ample smoke upon each draw. The smoke started to build at the ½ way point and became a little peppery. This cigar looked like a work of art with its ash still in tact ½ way up the cigar. The ash was a light charcoal grey. Now coffee, leather and heavy spice permeated the air and my neighbor who does not enjoy cigars came out and asked what I was smoking. I replied a great stick and he commented on how wonderful the bouquet was. The spice clung to my palate and intensified through the rest of the stick. The ash finally gave way and fell off to reveal a clean edge that held straight the rest of the smoke. The last ¼ of the cigar picked up intense power. Were talking vitamin “N” here. Rich earthy tobacco, leather, and heavy spice. This mixed with the intoxicating aroma and a healthy dose of nicotine held me in place. I nubed this cigar and only as my fingers were singing did it get a tad harsh.

Synopsis: Phenomenal! From the lovely bouquet to the complex taste I found this smoke a delight. Smoke this cigar on a full stomach. My only complaint would be that it was only an hour. I could have smoked this till I turned green. A must have for any serious cigar aficionado.

URL: http://www.cubanlous.com/ramon-allones-specially-selected-cigars-p-222.html

Food: None

Drink: Caramel Latte

Location: At the park.

Pre light aroma: Floral with hints of spice.

Construction: One word, Flawless

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. It was a perfect draw.

Light: Blazer torch lighter.

Taste: If you have never experienced a Cohiba then you won’t really understand what I am saying. These cigars are works of art. I have never had a genuine Cohiba that disappointed, and I have had many. The flavor profile doesn’t change much through the entire stick although it does build some strength. I do not have the words to really describe the experience so I will use the best adjectives I can to scratch the surface to describe such a fine smoke. Honey, floral aromas, floral taste, like drinking vanilla straight for the mold that God made vanilla from, transports you to a different place, slows time and makes you never want to leave. Rarely needs burn correcting, perfect draw, perfect burn.

Synopsis: Try this cigar if you have not. You will NOT be disappointed. The only regret is that it only lasts 45 min. However, that’s why they make Siglo IV’s and VI.

URL: http://www.cubanlous.com/cohiba-siglo-cigars-p-37.html

Here are the proposed releases for 2008. I have only seen the Magnum 50 and Hoyo Epicure Especial while at the Habanos Festival in February, but the following is suppose to be released during 2008…

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One of the most anticipated releases this year was the launch of the H.Upmann Magnum 50. Some of you may remember the highly sought after Upmann Mag 50 Limitada from 2005. Habanos SA has re-released the Magnum 50 in all of its glory. This years presentation will be in CABs of 50, 25, 10 as well as in the 3AT (packs of 3 Tubos) format. These will be a regular production release. I did have a chance to try one at the Festival and I can say that in my opinion they are just as good as the 05′s. Anyways, here are some pictures taken at Habanos. I apologize as my camera is not the greatest, but I think you can get the idea.

Next: First look at the new Hoyo Epicure Especial for 2008

Just thought I would write a very quick summary of my week at the 10th Annual Festival del Habano in Havana, Cuba from February 25th-29th 2008. As I could not attend last year due to some last minute circumstances, I was excited about going down this year, though it was a very last minute decision. I was not only looking forward to smoking some of the new releases, but getting out of the -20C temperatures was an added benefit. Myself and Jerry were going down and we were meeting a couple of friends there as well. I have to say the trip did not start off on the best note. We booked with Sunwing Vacations (be careful). Our flight was “suppose” to leave at 3:30pm…let’s just say we were the last flight out of Pearson Airport at 12:47am. I wasn’t too pleased with the 9 hour delay needless to say. Three and a half hours later we arrived in Varadero, Cuba…only a 2 hour bus ride to Havana remains. Oh, and by the way, the 9hr delay = $75 travel voucher.

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Ok..before I start, I just want to say that this Blog is a work in progress. We will continually update the software to make this the best and most current from a feature perspective…ok…here we go…

Well, this is something new for us and myself, our very own Blog. This is definitely going to be interesting Over the last few years Blogs have become and powerful tool in presenting opinions, information, and insight while creating discussion amongst its readers. I have read many over the years and found them to be interesting for the most part. I am not sure why I didn’t do this sooner, but I guess I am one of those “first time callers, long time listeners”, if you know what I mean.

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