Sancho Panza Belicoso (cigar review) Box Date Sept 08

               I've been wanting to buy a box of these cigars for years. This was one of the first boxes of cigars I bought on my very first trip to Cuba many years ago. I loved them then but haven't had one since, it's not a cigar most people have or that you'll find selling in singles. However, on my current trip to Havana I had put it in my head that not only was I going to pick-up a box, I was going to look for something with a little age. My first and only stop was the 'Club Havana' LCDH in Miramar that was not far from where I was staying. This Cigar Shop is known for having some gems in the way of Limited Editions & aged stuff. I wasn't wrong, they had 3 boxes of the Sanchos that were from last year and this one that I purchased. It had been opened, several times, but nobody wanted them and I wondered why. Looking at them....they weren't too pretty and I imagined that may have been a turn off. The cigars were covered with a dusting of plume, the foot looked moldy and it smelled as such. I took a gamble thinking a store as prestigious as this one would not be selling a bad box of cigars. I was being taken care of by Jorge, the shop's master roller. He was kind enough to grant me an interview which I will post on a later date.
                 As I mentioned above, this wasn't a pretty cigar and the cap was no better. It was dry and hard to the touch but almost veinless. The pre-light draw gave me hints of earth, wood and tea and left a peppery taste on my lips. As soon as I lit this cigar I got a whiff of caramelized sugar and the pepper left my mouth. After a few puffs the cigar settled down and I got solid flavours of tea and wood. This was starting out as a big and strong cigar, it was very much as I remembered it taste-wise. Past the first half inch, the edge comes off and it begins to mellow out. Earthy is the dominant flavour now with wood in the background. Passing the first inch and it continues to get milder.....another 1/2" and the burn is perfect.....flavour unchanged.
                  Just before the halfway mark I flicked the ash. I had a feeling that the cigar was being stifled by the ash and I was correct, it was burning a little hot through the middle. The burn was still bang on but the flavours still hadn't changed. It picked up a bit of strength through the last quarter and then eventually got a little too bitter for my taste.
                  I enjoyed this cigar and I'm happy I bought the box. It wasn't very complicated nor was it strong. It started out with a bang but quickly settled down to become a relatively mild cigar. I don't know if any more age will make them any better but it is unlike any of the other Piramides I've smoked...the Monte #2 might come close. Will smoke another one soon so I can compare. Enjoy the pics.

Cars of Cuba (May 2013) Havana

             Since nobody gets tired of pictures of Classic Cars of Cuba and since I haven't had time to organize all my other pictures of my current trip, I'm gonna hit you with another batch of pictures I took over the past 10 days. There's some beauties in here. I hope you enjoy them.

Montecristo Double Edmundo (cigar review)

              This is a great vitola for my favourite brand next to Cohiba. I like almost everything Montecristo does so I'm always happy when they come out with something new. This 50 gauge, 155mm (6.1") long Robusto Extra is a perfect size as far as I'm concerned, especially after a good hardy dinner. I'm not quite sure when they'll be released or what the packaging will be but one site I visited says they'll be sold by 5s & 25s. This particular one that I smoked was handed out during the Habanos Festival this past February.
               It wasn't a pretty cigar although it looks better in the pictures. I love the new band with the gold trim. I haven't heard any news on whether or not the rest of the vitolas will get the same band. It was smooth and bumpy all over, cap included but veinless with a dark caffe latte coloured wrapper. Rock hard to the touch but on the pre-light draw it was unbelievably perfect, an absolutely outstanding roll. Before lighting it the taste was mildly sweet and vegetal, nothing big or overpowering. Once lit the flavours were woody, very mild up to the first inch. Through the next inch I picked up some mustiness finishing with hints of chocolate. It tastes like a mild, smooth Montecristo and it's smoking really good right now....very smooth. The burn up to now has been pretty straight.
               Reaching the half this cigar is still mild with not too many changes. The wood is still there and so is the sweetness but it's not a very exciting cigar. By the last quarter it begins to pick up strength and become a bit bitter but it goes away shortly after that. It does remain a bit stronger at the last quarter but was still very smokeable. I was able to smoke it almost to the end.
               In conclusion: I like it but it's a very mild cigar and probably not for someone who prefers a big and powerful taste that some of the other Montecristos give you. It was a pleasure to smoke, it was perfectly rolled. If I had to guess, it was rolled in Monte's mother factory, The 'H.Upmann Factory'. I will definitely pick up a few when they're finally released. Maybe I can have one gifted to me from the Upmann factory when I visit next week, if they're being rolled now.