Trinidad Reyes

Not many more weekends before I consult a wife about where and what one will do with their time off work. I decided on a drive up north to see family. Future wife also decided. We learn decisions together. I was eager to drive the 3 hours of northbound roads saying adiós to that lovely place we call Auckland. We arrive at a not so late time in the evening to talk and laugh and share stories while sipping on green tea. Checking the surf report I'm not so sure about heading out in the morning but I take my chances. The dawn, or alarm wakes me and I scramble together some food, water and a brother to go out on this adventure. Less talking, more music as we set east. I get butterfly's looking at the ever so increasing speed and direction of wind in the trees. But still, can only hope. Those hopes were soon crushed as we met the beach in all it's onshore glory. I start to think about where I would like to be. Not here. We go for a walk then a slow drive home arriving just as the heavens open and heavy rains pour down. I think what better time for a late morning coffee and cigar. Picking up my pace I find the fresh beans to grind which teases my nostrils giving the first satisfaction of the day. While brewing on the stove top the search begins.

Trinidad Reyes. Will you disappoint?

Short but nicely fitting between fingers having a slight silk from the oils in the wrapper, it almost slides away from my grip. Pour coffee. I bring the twisty ended stick to my nose and take in light wood, almost tea leaves. Snip goes the twist and draw in some nice simple fresh flavours. Once lit I draw in a perfect amount of smoke not being too hard or too easy. Perfect. And while not determining anything complex I thoroughly enjoy it's smoothness all the way through to the last third. It did burn uneven but I think this was only to do with the knotty vein in one part sadly near the beginning. Coffee was good. Cigar was good but undecided if they were best friends. Still friends but I'm sure this cigar would be good on it's own. Favourite part was the sweet leafy taste on the lips.


On the Deckchair

Cigar and coffee take a breather
They watch the midwinter rain
Daring to imagine holidays in Tuscany
The Caribbean or some foreign place
If they could afford it
They might share a laugh
With cross legged elephants
And Turkish rugs
There is a sip, a sigh, a snip
A taste of earth in an unlit kiss
Coffee drink the virgin plume of smoke
Cigar's bitter-sweet ash clings to its throat
They take a breather
And watch the world slow down
If only for a moment

Poetry by R.H (aka brother)

Love & Marriage

Celebrate your one year anniversary with an easy-draw licorice tasting dark spice Montecristo. Blow in each others faces and you'll follow each other everywhere.

Diplomaticos no.4

This is an intriguing little mareva with quite a different flavour profile from its cousin the Montecristo No.4. Whereas the latter could be the tip top cookies and cream of the cigar world, the Diplomaticos is more of a chef-designed palate cleansing sorbet: subtle floral nuances of darjeeling played around a leather and cedar core. If you want to take some time out for a half hour or so and concentrate on a cigar, pull this understated petit corona out of the humidor.

And to add to the aura of this cigar, one should say that it will be an ephemeral experience: production of this particular vitola was cancelled this year, so beyond this box we might never get to try it again. It would probably respond well to ageing, but hey - ars longa, vita brevis.


30mn-50mn smoke.
Size: Mareva (aka Petit Corona)
Length 12.9cm. Ring gauge 42.
Strength: Light Medium-bodied
Drink match: Tricky. Try smoking it first and then decide - tea or sherry or [something that doesn't overpower the complex flavour]?
From box dated Mar '09.

Brand: This brand was introduced in 1966 as essentially a second, value line of the Montecristo brand, primarily aimed at the French market. One of the few Havana brands which is exclusively devoted to handmade cigars, the sizes and names essentially mirror the Montecristo nomenclature and for many years, the Diplomaticos line was produced at the old Jose Marti factory, as was most of the Montecristo range.