RyJ Mille Fleurs Abr 14

A review from April earlier this year that had a very long upload phase...

Por Larranaga PC au garage

Trinidad Reyes Salvation

The weather was a bit driech (as they say in Scotland), so I thought I'd try out my garage as a smoking venue. Nae bad. I took a risk on a Reyes, which as you may recall were super strong in their youth (2014 box?). They were so firecracker strong that the only thing that gave me hope that they had mellowed out to elevensies acceptability was past experience and a bit of faith. Past boxes have been through two distinct stages - voluminous creamy smoke and meaty full bodied strength for the first 6-18months evolving to fuller-medium biscuity cedar after 3 years. 

The beautiful dark wrappers and intense filler in this particular batch amounted to Islay-level requirements in whisky parlance. (In fact I may have some photos of Matt, Naomi and Bryony demonstrating this a couple of years ago.) But once again Los Reyes have proven their ability to mature and become more of a versatile pleasure of the breakfast, lunch and tea variety. In fact they remind me of those San Cristobal piramides (La Punta) that we have had, with a cumin, nutmeg and cedar sweetness. Very impressive.

Although well constructed, the piggy tail capa was no match for my garage cigar cutter.

Sweating with Sancho on ABs replay

Sancho Panza Belicoso for and Indian Summer's day

Autumn has arrived but thanks to Climate Change in Wellington, this is no obstacle to enjoying a big belligerent (well actually, medium-bodied, smooth, salty and creamy with a cedar kick)  habano with a cup of coffee...

RyJ Petit Royales - Half Corona

 

These are the latest trend out of Habanos - short but thick cigars for the time-pressed aficionado, first released just a few months ago. Cute. Pretty much half coronas although this vitola is officially a Capricho, a little caprice. Less than 10cm long but ring gauge 47, the same as a Churchill, but half the length. So a Half-Churchill? 

Smoke on a whim but ye gods, be careful not to puff too fast. 

At present these have almost the same body as the mighty Cazadores, so pretty damn full, but they are a little damp and packed full of tannins. All the best of the RyJ profile is there, charred cherry, coffee grind and a hint of burnt sugar. Perfectly enjoyable... But these need a little rest and a little dry-boxing (i.e. 50% humidity for a week or so) to relieve them of the excess moisture. They were rolled less than 6 months ago I think. As it is, I had to clip and reclip and reclip again to avoid the tannins building up around the slightest hint of saliva at the tip, which pushes out a pretty strong ligero hit more reminiscent of Syrian Latakia pipe tobacco than anything in the cigar world. They have a wonderful white ash and relatively thick smoke, great for smoke rings, but keep going out.  

I will dry box these, bring them back up to 65% humidity, and try again. And maybe with real port rather than red wine mixed with cheap cooking sherry (which to be honest does the trick if you're short!)

Cunning summer whisky

Found this tiny hip flask the other day, probably a gift from my aunt in law, was very useful on the golf course with Greg.

I put it in the fridge as it is a windless 28deg here. And pulled it out with a bandless and slightly plugged por larranaga. The chill is good but it definitely takes away from the flavour... (Aberlour).