Romeo y Julieta Duke Edicion Limitada 2009

RyJ Duke is One of 3 Edicion Limitada 2009 releases from Habanos. and as we all now the EL series comprises cigar vitolas that are not in current production and they are manufactured using 2 years old wrapper from the top of the plant that usually darker in color and stronger in taste. i the past i didn’t really paid lot of attention to the EL’s how ever when i became more passionated to the Cigars i really cant wait to put my hand on the releases of every year. About this particular cigar “DUKE” it was unique in the shape to attract any cigar lover. I’ve already smoked a full box and kept another for aging so here what i found:

 

Size: 5 1/2″ X 54

 

Initial thoughts:

A very well made cigar, with well rounded solid body. The wrapper is very nice looking brown/red color oily and vein less. The prelight draw was good but harder than what I prefer contains flavors of fruit and bread!! The burn is not the best could be expected. The ash is nice gray that holds well on the cigar.

1st third:

This guy starts with very well balanced smoke that is at most medium body and flavors of sweet tobacco and coffee. Sweet smoke keep on with notes of decent spiciness and leather. Just a little of earthiness by the end of this third with delicious complex smoke contains all of the above flavors.

2nd third:

I guess this part waked this giant up to show the power the it has. The smoke here got more deeper and complex. The flavors more spicy leathery and richer coffee and sweet cocoa. Notes of cinnamon and cedar in the back ground. A very sweet aged Cuban tobacco flavor by the half way point.

Final third:

The body got to full however there is no harshness. The flavors here on the peak with some changes. Less sweetness and more spicy, cedary and leathery smoke with notes of earthiness and coffee on the background.

Final thoughts:

Very good cigar that I can say one of the best came out of Cuba. Smoking a young cigar with no harshness is a great thing because it shows how proper these tobacco leaves were aged. In fact you can enjoy them right now but one year in the humidor will make it superior.

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial 08

This is one of the 08 releases from Habanos. I was very happy to see this format because I like my cigar to be longer the normal robusto. I’ve smoked lots of these cigars and I always keep them in my humidor. So here what I think about it.

Size: 5.5″ X 50

Initial thoughts:
A well constructed corona gorda. Dark brown oily wrapper, it is a little veiny but still silky smooth. Well placed cap. The pre light draw excellent contains fruity tobacco taste. The burn was very good. The ash was very dark gray and flaky.

1st third:
Initial puffs came with medium body and rich flavors of sweet tobacco and hints pepper and earth. Down it show a pleasant spicy sweet kind of chocolate flavors and hint of leather. The flavors goes deeper specially the chocolate sweetness, the earthiness and the rich tobacco taste.

2nd third:
The smoke gets more complex richer but still no harshness. It is spicy sweet in general but has lots of other hints of earth chocolate, and cuban tobacco. more spicy tobacco and leathery flavors at the midway point.

Final third:
Its about to be full body smoke but not harsh. The flavors seems to be the same but more spiciness and earth keeping the rest in the background.

Final thoughts:
I personally prefer this one to the other epicures 1 and 2. Very pleasant smoke for any time and every where. They do very well with age but they really need 3 years to get the peak.

The Indian Tabac (ITC) 10th Anniversary Toro by Rocky Patel

This cigar alike with the RP Decade was released in the celebrating of Indian tabac the name that Rocky started with 10th anniversary. The blend as I read was to be the Decade but then rocky made the other blend and decided to keep this one for the ITC because he wanted the decade to be stronger. Well I tried 4 sticks before reviewing it and here what I found:

Size: 6 1/2 X 52

Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

pre light and construction:

The construction is no better perfect hand work on this solid stick. full of tobacco and beautiful placed cap. The wrapper is nice light brown and vainless. a very nice looking cigar. Prelight draw was very good and had light tobacco taste. the burn was perfect “Razor Sharpe” with no complaint. beautiful white solid ash holds for very long.

1st:

peppery medium body at first then mellows to show more flavors to it like spice,​
earth and some leather notes. an inch down it shows some creamy sweetness. very nice aroma from the smoke that comes out of the cigar. nothing much going on mild spiciness and more sweetness with an earthy back ground with body mild to medium.

2nd:

more creamy sweet spices mixed with hints of pepper. subtle medium body smooth on the palate.​ later on it adds some noticeable enjoyable leathery. get stronger by the half way point to show some sharpness with peppery cedary like taste but not over powering. the creamy thick smoke comes with more pleasant flavors to keep you attracted. that is all about this third

3rd:

more flavors coming and some are disappears. some chocolate and cinnamon like flavors with spicy peppery background. still no change in the body medium. by the last 2 and 1/2 nothing much to report just got hotter. no more change in the profile just hot sour smoke.

Final thoughts:

Yes it was nice but not my kind of cigar. I was little bit disappointed with the flavors profile and body. I love my cigars more complex and stronger that this one. To be honest I’m not going to get another one for the coming couple of years.

Vegas Robaina Unicos 07

 

 

One of the best cigars that “Hecho En Cuba” now days and my favorite stick made by “Don Alejandro Robaina” the creator of the Vegas Robaina Cigar and alive cuban cigar legend. I first smoked this cigar when I was newbie and trying every thing and it didn’t let me down at that time. Yes its very good cigar however it some times not the right choice. I’ve smoke many of those guys and I like the ones that come with darker wrapper color. Want to know about it here we go:

 

Pre Light and Construction:

 

Very well made torpedo that well packed with tobacco. Beautiful brown oily wrapper that was veinless. The pre light draw was just the best I can imagine with Mild tobacco and oily sweetness aromas. The burn was pretty good even if it was little bit windy. The ash was nice light gray kind of flaky but holds well.

 

1st third:

 

Sweet tobacco flavor with hints of cocoa and coffee beans. The body is medium at most with smooth smoke. Some nice spices here to make it more pleasant. With sweet base the smoke I found peppery kick with rich tobacco flavors.

 

2nd third:

 

The smoke get deeper flavors sweetness, pepper and cocoa. Caramel like sweetness coating the tongue  with a bite of pepper. Still I can feel a richer tobacco flavor.  With each puff you can feel the quality and passion Don Robaina paid to come out with such a complex tobacco blend.

 

Final third:

 

Very rich tobacco and complex flavors. All the above flavor comes here to make a magical puff contains caramel, sugar cane, pepper, spices, cocoa and hint of leather and coffee.

 

Final thoughts:

 

This is a must try cigar. I pick it when ever I want a well balanced smoke and flavorful smoke. No doubt the reason of the quality of this cigar coming from the creator that still alive.

Oliva Serie V Ligero Especial Figurado

 

Back in April i got a box of these from one of my friends who was visiting Dubai from the USA. I was pleased and confused at the same time because these cigar looks just amazing and  i haven’t had any Oliva before. By now I’ve smoked few and found here what i found:

Size: 6 x 60

Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero

 

Pre Light and construction:

this cigar is a real peace of art. well made with no soft spot. the wrapper is very oily and almost flawless. the pre light draw was little tight do to the foots shape but if opens to be perfect after an inch. the flavors here Woody, sweet and spicy. The the burn wasn’t good at1st but win you pass the beginning if goes so evenly. the ash was very nice solid and white that hangs for long.

 

1st Third:

 

Sweet spicy smoke from the first puff with back ground of dark chocolate and earthiness. Medium to full body but still smooth smoke with no harshness. More spices and pepper one inch down with delicious sweet smoke. Hints of wood and sweet leather  shows by the end of this third.

 

2nd Third:

 

Shots of leather and more chocolate here with balanced amount of woodiness and spiciness. Amazing floral aromas of chocolate and espresso complement the complex smoking experience. The body is full by the midway point with of flavors of espresso leather and earthiness shows how good the habano goes with the ligero.

 

Final Third:

At this part this cigar gets very Nicaragua and show every thing about it, spicy peppery smoke loaded with sweetness chocolate leather espresso, earthiness and rich tobacco flavors. Very complex smoke that doesn’t give you any chance to be bored. Full body and smooth complex smoke.

 

 

Final Thoughts:
Beautiful cigar and flavorful smoke. this cigar not for the newbies but for the experienced ones. it ages very well to get mellower and more complex.  i guess this is a must try cigar.

Cigar Sizes, Shapes “VITOLAS”

Cigars Come in many different Sizes and Shapes “VITOLAS” and that is very interesting right!! Every cigar Aficionado got his or her own preferred Size or Shape of Cigars. When some one asks another why do you prefer this “Vitola”?? Will get Different answers. Some will say the availability of time and some about flavors and others about personally. So every one has an opinion and this if Right.

 
Let’s have a look at the Size:

 
According to the shape you can have different size of a cigar. The size of the cigar is about the length X diameter. Length which is mostly measured by “Inch” and diameter designated in “ring gauge”.The PAREJOS Most popular size is the corona = 5 1/2 to 6 inches with a ring gauge of 42 to 44. The longer the cigar the cooler the smoke, and the thicker the cigar the richer the flavors and the stronger the body.

Now it’s the time to see the shapes:

 
PAREJOS:
They are straight-sided cylinders and generally have an open foot for lighting and a closed, rounded head which you cut before smoking. Popular shapes here with the sizes:
Corona: 5 1/2 to 6 inches X 42 to 44 ring gauge.
Robusto: 5 inches X 50 ring gauge.
Churchill: 7 inches X 48 ring gauge.
Double Corona: 7 1\2 to 8 inches X 49 to 52 ring gauge.

FIGURADOS:

They are unusually shaped cigars and have a pointed head and some times the foot too. Popular shapes are:
Torpedo: 6 inches X 52 ring gauge.
Perfecto: I don’t think it has a standard size but it’s cigar that has pointed head and foot. How ever the large perfecto called DIADEMAS

Paul Garmirian (PG) thoughts:

Paul Garmirian is the owner of the PG cigar and the Author of the very interesting book “The Gourmet Guide to Cigar”.
“Although selecting the right shape of the cigar is a measure of personal choice, there are some general aesthetic guidelines which can be followed. The cigar ought to blend harmoniously with your size and frame. The following is a list to match   men with their cigars. Although this has not been done before by any author on cigars, it is only suggested as a rule of thump”. The Gourmet Guide To Cigar page 33.
And then PG followed by a table contains three columns the 1st is height, 2nd is weight and 3rd is recommended cigar size. For Example:
H=5.5 – 6, W=180, Recommended cigar size is Belicoso/Torpedo and so on.
As PG said it is a suggested rule so nothing necessary to be followed. How ever I have an opinion that I would like to share it with you Aficionados. Instead of weight and height I see it from TIME and MOOD.

TIME:

The word time here is very general so I would love to go and make the long story as short as possible. It is all about the time you want to or willing to spend smoking the cigar. Corona cigar takes me no longer then 35 minutes how ever if it was a double corona it will take at least 1 hour 45 minutes and some times 2 + hours. The bigger the cigar the longer time it takes from you to smoke. So here you can’t say I want to smoke a Churchill in 45 minutes because in that case you’ll be rushing the cigar and driving it very hot, and once it’s hot the purpose of being here is gone. Cigar should be smoked nice and easy because its part of the relaxing time so don’t miss it up. Estimate your time before lighting up a cigar to ensure the full satisfaction of cigar smoking.

MOOD:

What I want to say here is about the occasion of smoking cigar is it really in the morning? After a light or a heavy dinner!! When I go to a cocktail party for example I like to smoke a long cigar but not very thick like a the lanceros which have a ring gauge of 38 and a 7 ½ and if I ask why? I feel it’s easy more elegant and cooler to smoke. If the dinner was a 350 gm  steak sure I would love to get some strong flavorful cigar to go with the situation I’m in lıke torpedo robusto or so.
About my self ı lıke the bıgger and longer cıgars. I know most of the people loves the Robustos but ı don’t do very much. I love the Fıgurados more the parejos and ı love the thicker ones. All ın all ı my favorite shapes are the Torpedos and the Churchılls.

I know i didn’t cover every think but i believe you guys are going to share your thoughts. All the above are personal thoughts and ı respect all other thoughts, so please feel free to share your thoughts wıth me here.

J.L. SALAZAR Y HERMANOS MADURO TORPEDO

Two weeks back I’ve posted a review of the Cuban Crafters MEDINA 1959 MIAMI Robusto and today i have another creation by Cuban Crafters the J.L. SALAZAR Y HERMANOS.

J.L. SALAZAR Y HERMANOS are one of the best cigar brand made by Cuban Crafters. They come in both Ecuadorian Habano and Maduro wrapper. Those which comes with the Habano wrapper are one of my favorite Non Cuban Cigars. but today im talking about the maduro one. J.L. SALAZAR Y HERMANOS is made by Jorge L. Salazarand his brothers whom belonging to a family that has long history with tobacco and cigars back in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba according to Cuban Craftes website.

J.L. SALAZAR Y HERMANOS Maduro were introduced early this summer. When i first smoked these cigar i was shocked!! what a powerful cigar it made me dizzy and shaking, i couldn’t exceed the half way point. I decided to give them some age and i did for few months. now I’m out of them and here what i found:

 

Size: 6 1/4″ X 54

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro

Binder: Cuban Seed Habano

Filler: sun-grown Cuban Seed Habano from Esteli

 

 

Pre light and appearance:
It is a real good looking cigar that has real soft boxpressed edges. The wrapper got some veins on with a toothy feel.
The aromas that came from the foot are very sweet with dark chocolate and leather and hints of earthiness.

 

1st Third:

Very strong Peppery Spicy chocolate flavor with a full body smoke come with the first couple of puffs. Few minutes in the smoke calms down to show some medium body smooth smoke. Sweet leathery with real Esteli tobacco taste. The flavor profile is stable through the first third with smooth medium to full body strength.

 

2nd Third:

Keeps on with fuller body that has lots of cocoa leather sweet spicy peppery flavors and more. Even thought the smoke still smooth with no harshness at all.

 

3rd Third:

The cigar gets more aggressive here with mostly spicy, earthy and leathery smoke and that requires very slow smoking How ever it still enjoyable.

 

Final Thoughts:

This Cigar gets very beautiful with age. fantastic after dinner smoke or with stronge spirites. J.L. SALAZAR Y HERMANOS Maduro very good choice for full body cigar fan. It’s the most complex, and it’s not a PADRON 64 but i still love it. I’m thinking to get another box and give it long aging process and see how far it goes to.

Montecristo Edmundo 05

When Talking about Montecristo Cigars we are talking about one of the best tobacco blends in the world if not the best. It is considered One of the Best Cuban Cigars due to the exceptionally consistent quality. the Flagship of the Montecristo is the No.2 “TORPEDO”. Today I’m reviewing the EDMUNDO which i don’t smoke regularly as much as the No.2s. here is about it:

Size: 5.3″ X 52

Pre Light and Construction:

The Construction on this cigar is very good with no soft spot. the Triple Cap is beautifully placed . Nice brown oily wrapper. the aroma that come after cutting the cigar were very cool tobacco and earthy with little sweetness.

1st Third::

Initial delicious flavors out of this cigar,Sweet spicy creamy smoke with a Medium to full body. Very big flavors Profile 1/2 inch down. Hints of sweet Spicy Wood and nuts.

2nd:

More flavors in here contains Spiciness, Cocoa, and leather with full body smoke. the cigars showing lots by the midway point. here where to meet the generosity of the Monte Blend with Rich Cuban tobacco and black tea like taste.

Final Third:

It is the peak here when all the flavors mentioned before comes together. complex profile of Sweetness, Spiciness, Cocoa, Leather and coffee shown in here. Very Creamy smoke with no harshness at all.

Burn:

The Burn was good During the First And Second thirds but start to lose bit at the final. No relight needed. The Ash was lite gray soled holds for an inch before it falls.

Final Thoughts:

A Power house of flavors, is the right description to this cigar. I found it to be very difficult to identify the the flavors due to the high Complexity. 4 years of aging enough to let the tobacco to give every thing it have. yes i like the edmundo but they really need to be aged.

Cuban Crafters MEDINA 1959 MIAMI Robusto

This Cigar was introduced By Cuban Crafters last November as i remember. as mentioned in their websiteit was called after the Master Roller “Manuel Medina who played a formidable role in Cuba’s cigar history. He started as a roller at the H. Upmann factory in Cuba. His talents were quickly recognized and he eventually became the factory’s Master Cigar Maker, overseeing hundreds of master cigar rollers. He was then promoted and became the Master Cigar Maker in Cuba’s Davidoff factory. His talents were showcased throughout Europe, leading him to travel extensively. During one of those trips, he decided to seek freedom instead of success. Medina made Miami, Florida his new home. He is now in charge of cigar production at Cuban Crafters’ Miami factory. Some of the Master Rollers who make the Medina 1959 Miami Edition cigars even worked for him in Cuba”.

According to the WebSitethis cigar contains Cuban-seed Habano long-filler and binder that aged for 6 years and the super-premium Cuban-seed wrapper is aged for at least 5 years. Actually i’ve smoked lots of this cigar in many different places and Times and here what i found:

Size: 5″ X 50 Ring Gauge

Pre Light & Construction:

The construction is what I call perfect, No soft spot with beautifully triple cap. The wrapper is vein less with little oil sheen on it. After clipping the cap the draw was easy and more than my preference however good. The aromas that came off were Fruity with little bit of earth and hints of coffee. Lite tobacco and wood flavors too.

1st Third:

The 1st couple of draws were very mild creamy with hints of earth however it quickly change to show what it got. Sweet creamy smoke with background of wood and coffee that was pleasantly come with every draw. Some spiciness shows later on here. Then it has some more flavors of nuts and the body was Almost medium.

2nd Third:

More complexity in the flavor profile. Mouth watering creamy nutty smoke with More caramel sweetness, coffee and spices kick off this third. Some earthiness, wood and leather hints with medium body. In The midway point the Cigar shows more spiciness with hints of cocoa.

Final Third:

As smoking down the cigar have lots to give with flavorful profile keeps you attended to every puff. Found here more than before, spiciness, leather, coffee, and earth that Was not harsh by any mean. Still can find creamy nutty cool smoke with a rich cocoa background.

 

Final Thoughts:

A Beautiful Cigar that could be smoked any time. in fact i’ve smoked all the Sizes available.  I like it and i consider it as the Best cigar produced by the Cuban crafters. yes if is little bit price but worth the money. the only thing i didnt like in this cigar that didn’t change much with aging.

Rocky Patel Decade Toro

Actually I’ve been very excited to put my hands on a Decade cigar, especially after the classic rate of the CA magazine “95″????

I’ve smoked 4 cigars before writing, every one was in different time and place and here what I found so far:

Size: Toro 6 1/2 x 52
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Pre light & Construction:

Due to the high reputation of RP cigars I knew that it will be easy draw so I used both the cut and the punch cut. The pre lit aromas were of chocolate, earth and tobacco. The construction is perfect with firm body. The press on this cigar is beautiful.

 

1^st Third:
After torching this stick spicy sweet puff. Couple of minutes it mellows and show some chocolate with spices and bit of earthiness made my mouth watering with Medium body. More spice and sweet back ground that feels like chocolate. Roasted coffee flavor jumped in to add more pleasure of smoking.

 

2^nd Third:
Zesty flavor mixed with sweet spiciness to start this third. More spices and coffee flavors drives the body to full. Earthy strong taste by the end of 2nd third. Delicious mouth watering smoke. No a lot of complexity.

 

Final Third:

It starts as Full body but not harsh. Very good amount of sweet, spice and coffee with less earthiness. Later on the cigar gets very spicy and earthy. Neither very complex nor boarding so I had to put it down regard to the hot temperature.

Burn:
Faster then usual but fine. No need to relights.

Final thoughts:

I smoked it and now what? Does it worth the 95!!

I can say it confidently “NO” and if I were in the place of rating I wouldn’t rate it more then “89″. however it wasn’t a bad cigar and i enjoyed it