Rafa en el pueblo Monte Edenito

Sam in the Garden of Eden

Enjoyed a Rafael Gonzalez Perla with my bro at a Mt Eden village caf. Matches a long black with its own blend of coffee grinds, touch of leather and some vegetable notes (unlike the darker wrapper box we had of these which was slightly sweeter when young). Reliable and satisfying when offset with a sweet pastry for dessert.  

J.Lo

Zahn and I had a Juan Lopez each while waiting for Joel to finish in a poker tournament (Joel came third and won a healthy prize). These cigars have proved to be so reliable, straightforward but flavoursome, and relatively more manageable for one person than other big cigars. They're sort of the Merlot of cigars really, I think: quite smooth and you can consume the whole thing in one sitting. Given that we were at a bar, we were drinking beer, but it wasn't the worst match. The highlight of the evening was when a waitress came over to tell us to move out of the empty, secluded part of the courtyard we were in because it was a designated 'family' area through which children come through--never mind the fact it was 10.45 pm. OMG TYPICAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CIGAR SMOKERS. #SAFESPACESFORCIGARHERETICS

Bolivar by Halloweenight

On All Hallow's Eve, it was so warm and still that I decided to take a stroll with a Bolivar Petit Corona and a glass of whisky (Benriach 20y.o. from a sample bottle). Tis a while ago now, but I do remember enjoying the signature leather-and-orange peel blend of el Bolivar, which melded seamlessly with the venerable highland dram. Although the cigar was still hefty in body, time had enriched and mellowed it nicely (this was from a box about 3yo I think).

I shared my smoke with someone's dressed up letterbox

The sugary legs of a mature scotch and the wispy smoke of a well-aged Bolivar PC - a match made in heaven

The sun's blessing warmed my glass

I tried out an appropriately titled French detective novel whilst lying on the grass and staring out on the harbour

Classy cigar accessories

Courtesy of Geoff's emporium. A dollar well spent.

Bolivar

Couldn't resist a little art project before sending these on down to Wellington HQ. Simon Bolivar's campaign trail marked with Bolivars.

Romeo

A good drink match before a good test match. Smoking Romeoyjulieta and drinking Father with me father.

Update: We followed up with Quai d'Orsay & 10 y/o Taylor's Tawny last night. 

Youz fellas need to get smoking--I'm clogging up the bloody page with all me updates.

Spring

Backyard baseball and partagas

Humedor too humid these days. But after a couple of days in hot water cupboard this puppy came out perfect.

Punch Punch on a perfect winter golf day in Wainui

Punch punch ... such a lovely lighter body ... cloves and a touch of honey... a perfect match for the speyside in your hipflask

Juan Lumberjack Number Two

Flash visit to Sam's back porch where we discovered that Juan Lopez no.2 actually goes OK with morning cup o'Joe. 

And this was evidence of Sam's woodchopping prowess after the huge tree in his front lawn fell over... no wonder he had a sore back after all that... 

[Erratum: This was actually a J Lo no.2]

7 anos

Had a good catch up with Scott on the weekend... a few of us went down for whiskies on the beach... poor Matt was home sick (I threw some whisky on the fire for you buddy - not wastage tho as i'd dropped some ash into the dregs of my cup ha ha)

Nick the Great Dane generally carries the flame for us

I tried a Partagas Short which has mellowed a bit thankfully but still rich and full of that reddish leathery flavour (hard to remember in hazy campfire smoke), and also sampled Scott's Juan Lopez no.1 (from 2010 box) which was tasty and mellow, with many hues of deep cedar, but also a bit harder to discern with the smoke from the fire about.

Anyway a question from Zahn this week made me realise that this club has been going for 7 years. We'll have to have a party with all present, former (and future?) members. Suggestions? if you have a line on a bach/crib somewhere let me know.  

 

Por Larranaganaganaga

Getting old and can't handle staring at computer screen for too long to type assignments, so writing by hand first. Thankfully, por larranaga is here to help.

Hey Joe

Now you probably don't realise that this guy was in the club for the last year, his name is Joe, and he's my cuzzy. He's just left the country on his OE but Sam and Greg managed to get a picture of him first:

And as you can see Joe is having a good time on his OE, getting his degree at Trump University (looks like he got in on a golf scholarship):

Enjoy your travels, Joe!

El Canelo numero Cuatro

Enjoying this last Monte#4 while Canelo aka "the guy ducking GGG" destroys Liam Smith. We've had a few boxes of MC4 now and this is def the heaviest bodied one we have had, even with over 4 years of age on it. Has plenty of cocoa, coffee grinds, and peaty gunpowder but well balanced now. A bit like Canelo, it has matured nicely, with plenty of angles to it, but packs a solid punch, slowly breaking you down. And smart enough to avoid a fire cracker like GGG. ;-)

 

A pity they're all gone. Adieu, Montecanelo!

Sandwedge Challenge

... With por larranaga PC. Up and down over the cactus and into the Bin. Even when attempting such a huge challenge the Por Larranaga is too grunty to be forgotten. And leaves that lingering orange peel goodness.
[posted this a few months ago "live" but i just found it - on my work team blog - oops!!]

A Salutary Lesson

If you ever needed a reminder of how sensitive cigars are to changes in temperature... This is a little el rey del Mundo that I left in the car by mistake for one night

Trinidad Reyes

I tried to post this on my phone and lost the review a couple of weeks ago ... Needless to say, from memory it was ready to smoke, and apart from a youthful kick of mega tannin and raw leather in the first few puffs, it quickly subsided to elegant Italian leather (sounds better!) with bread and digestive biscuit, and a touch of spices.. Was it cumin? And maybe the slightest bit of brown sugar. Anyway it stayed satisfying throughout. It will improve even more over the next couple years. A beauty for the eye to behold... Fit for a King or even three kings ! Enjoy. 

Easter Zahnday

Monte 2 strikes again

Tournament Cool off Romeo

Sam and I got knocked out early from a $60 turbo Holdem tournament. Zach is still fighting in there. Enjoying a Romeo no. 2 while we wait at a tapas bar with Carchelo 2013. Old Romeo speaks of wood, hay and apricot. Happy new year everyone!

Port pigs and Mexicans

My uncle Pierrito joined me in a Monte 4 and showed me this neat little port pig glass - you suck it out of that tiny sliver of  a pig tail to instantly aerate it. It definitely enhances enjoyment and slows intake! Another magic evening in Wellington.

RyJ Exhibicion no.4 and Partagas Serie P no.2

Had a nice Boxing Day lunch and did away with these beauties. This RyJ robusto is my favourite port cigar right now, and we noticed how it had stepped up a notch in the last year with more pepper, charred cherry, and coffee grinds. It's getting more like those RyJ petit coronas we had last year. Brilliant.

Petanque Twilight...

[Here's a draft review from 2012 that i never posted!! at least it deals with a cigar from your last batch]

Had a ERDM demi-tasse over petanque last night. Brief but remarkably pleasant experience, there is now a richness to the cedar that warms the heart and the citrus zing complimented our lemon cake quite nicely. To my surprise my better half Bryony tried a couple of puffs - her first ever first hand smoking experience. She thought it taste a bit leathery like a tack room (this apparently is the room where they store all the saddles bridles etc for the horses). I looked around but the only pigs flying were the cochonets getting lost in the evening twilight... (Greg started winning when it was established that none of us could actually see the target)