Cigar Heretics Poker

Brief reviews of Bolivar, San Cristobal, Cohiba and Hoyo- Epicure Especial.
PS- The Bolivar made Joel and I a bit nauseous. Even though it's not strong in a harsh-smoke sense (the San Cristobal was more this type of 'strong') its presence is overwhelming; its earthy, farming taste layers your mouth for hours and its raw draw numbs your brain. A challenge. Veni, Vidi, Vici (whatever the plural is in Latin).
The Cohiba felt like a sweet child after the 'Macho Grande' as Andrew called it [special mention to Andrew who dictated his tasting notes subliminally to the camera... Words are wasted when you're deeling with an exquisite mouthful of Cuban tobacco].
We also shared a Montecristo, which didn't make it to the video. I lost my notes for that one. Maybe one of the boys can fill us in.
Very enjoyable game of Poker- won by Zach- who successfully played the 'I'm new to this, what should I do? Please advise me. Hmm? What? Oh I won again!' card and came away laughing! I think milder drinks would have been more enjoyable than whisky to go with the cigars. Next time Port, coffees and teas will have to be on the menu.

Ageing and the humble cigar

Age tends to mellow flavours slightly as well as give added complexity to the taste as the various oils and aromas in the blend of leaves mix over time - ie the 1998 "Hoyo des Dieux" you just smoked probably has more discernable flavours (e.g. plum) than if you had smoked it in 1999.

Like wine however, more age does not necessarily mean a better cigar - cigars need to have a decent body to start out with or their flavour will die out too quickly. Generally speaking, larger cigars are better candidates for ageing as they have a wider variety of different leaves (volado, seco, ligero) rolled into them, so there is more potential for the exchange of oils between these to "marry" and produce more complex flavours.

Many cigars are made to be smoked straight out of the box, but most aficionados of the cuban leaf agree that a year or 2 can do wonders (In recent times, Habanos S.A. has upped its quality control and ages the leaves for a decent amount of time before sending them off to the rolling factories - so it's no longer always necessary to age for a year before smoking). Going beyond 5-6 years of ageing is a gamble for most cigars, as their flavours can fade quite quickly after that - but it all depends on the cigar.

Hard out connaisseurs will check each box of cigars and only age those which have oily, aroma-full, leaves; they might also smoke one every 6 months to check how things are progressing (hence they tend to buy 50-cigar cabinets rather than boxes of 10 or 25!). Many agree that most cigars "peak" between 3-6 years of age, but there are also those who prefer the strong flavours straight out of the box. As usual, theories and rumours abound, but a lot of it is down to individual experimentation and preference.

And if you don't have a stable humidity environment for your cigars (ie a humidor), ageing probably won't do them any good - they are most likely to dry out and lose their tasty oils... Cigars are like women - always beautiful, often fragile, but troublesome and even downright frustrating some days, and agreeable and understandable on others. Generally with no apparent reason for either state of affairs (well to us men at least). These challenges, however, are part of what makes them unique, attractive, and downright interesting - hehe.

Hoyo de Monterrey des Dieux - a portal to your senses

Hoyo de Monterrey - Le Hoyo des Dieux
Reviewed by Greg & Sam 15 Jan 2010

Wonderful cigar:
tastes include plum and wood; pleasant draw; well-packed; nice with wine.

Great quote from Sam:
'instead of invading your mouth with smokiness, it uses the mouth as a portal into your senses'

[Ed. note - These particular cigars were rolled in 1998, so the most aged cigar you will taste this year]

Quote of the Month

"When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name."

Charles H. Spurgeon

El Rey del Mundo - Choix Supreme

"Sweet and fruity, this cigar is mingles honey and orange in a creamy smoke giving it a ubiquitous quality able to be smoked first in the day or later on after lunch."

I had one of these and I was blown away by how different it was to any of the other cigars i'd ever tasted. A very citrus-fruit flavour which sets it apart. Really enjoyed mine as per comment on this post (full review that i wrote that day). Perfect for a sunny afternoon.


45mn - 1hr15mn smoke
Size: "Hermoso no.4" (roughly known as a "Robusto" size)
Length 12.7cm Ring gauge 48
Strength: Medium-bodied
Drink match: something white and sweet- e.g. Martini Bianco
From a box dated June '08

Brand: This brand whose name means "The King of the World" was developed in 1848 and under the direction of Antonio Allones, it was celebrated as one of the great Havana brands.

Here's Sam smoking one with the 3 Reyes del Mundo for company.

Tasting Batch no. III - happy holidays

Yes I'm reliably informed that Sam has passed out your next batch for Dec. - Jan.
These are (in escalating order of compensation):

• Hoyo du Maire and/or Romeo y Julieta Petit Julieta (I am satisfied with the size of my willy)
• Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story / Oliva Serie G (I have a pale John Thomas but would like a darker Juan Tomas)
• Hoyo de Monterrey - Le Hoyo des Dieux (if it was longer i'd feel like a god among men)
• El Rey del Mundo - Choix Supreme (this girth makes me a Supreme Choice for any lady)
• Bolivar Belicoso Fino (*cough* ... no comment)

The Petit Julieta is a variation on the small theme, the Fuente and Oliva are both non-cubans (Dominican Republic and Nicaraguan) with West African ("Cameroon") wrapper leaves, the Hoyo des Dieux is vintage from 1998, the Choix Supreme is your first robusto (most popular size/format in the cigar these days), and the Belicoso a pretty powerful pyramid.

- Mild-ish cigars (no strong drinks or heavy meals before these):
Petit Julieta, Choix Supreme (a treat with martini bianco in the sun!!), Hoyo des Dieux

- Stronger cigars:
both non-cubans and especially the BBF - that baby packs a spicy punch!

Happy holidays!

Note: the Arturo Fuente is reviewed in the Cigar Blues Faceoff vid, and the ERDM Choix Supreme is reviewed in a comment on the eponymous post.

Blues n' Cigar Face-Off

IN THE LEFT CORNER,
MATT "Mannish Boy" BONDI...

IN THE RIGHT CORNER,
XAV "Mousquetaire" HERESIARCH

Bluesman Matt "Mannish Boy" Bondi reviewing an Arturo Fuente Hemingway - Short Story faces off against amateur counterpart Xav "Musketeer" Grand Heresiarch with his La Gloria Cubana - Medaille d'Or no. 1 in an intense mano a mano wrestle for Smoking Supremacy.

We talk about Blues, Women, Grand-Pappies and just about everything other than cigars in this hard-hitting contest. Note that you will get to smoke both of these cigars at some point, and that Arturo Fuente is the first non-cuban (Dominican-made, West African wrapper leaf) cigar mentioned on this site!

San Cristobal de la Habana - El Principe

"An aromatic smoke, with prevalent notes of spice, hazelnuts and chocolate. The evolution of flavours is so smooth you’d wish this cigar would never end. The Principe is the smallest cigar of the brand and should be over and done with in a lunch break."

The ones we have a very young - had one shortly after the box arrived and could detect the caramel/cream notes that will become the dominant flavour of the cigar once it has some age. At present, just solid young tobacco flavours. Take some notes when you taste these now and in 8months time I will send out some more and you can compare - they will have changed!

20-40mn smoke.
Size: "Minuto" - Length: 11cm; Ring Gauge: 42 (110mm x 16.67mm)
Strength: Medium-bodied.
Drink match: Something with a bit of body to it
From a box dated August 2008.

Brand: The latest and probably the last of the new series of Havana brands launced since 1996 has been given the original name of the city of Havana when it was founded by settlers back in 1519 - San Cristobal (St. Christopher) de La Habana. The brand boasts four sizes, each of which is named after one of the fronts that defended the city in its heyday, as the hub of the Spanish empire in Latin America. Two of the sizes, La Fuerza and El Morro, are entirely new and are unique to the San Cristobal brand.

Cigars... dissected

Take a look at this link:
http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=95668

... to see some cigars cut up and annotated for the three types of filler leaf (seco, volado, ligero).

Will save you wasting your own with a scalpel.

Sir Euan on Caol Ila 25 y.o. Single Malt

... one of only 225 bottles distilled in 1982 and independently bottled in 2007 - "Adelphi Selection" Coastal Highlands Single Malt.

Sir Euan on the Clynelish 14 y.o. Single Malt

Andrew asked for Whisky tips ... cometh the Hour, cometh the Man: Euan "the Great" Hoskin is our new Spirits (spiritual?) Consultant.

Montecristo No.4

The Montecristo No.4 is consistently in the top 3 of cuban cigar sales around the world. Its a pity that this demand has also resulted in below average consistency of construction - I've experienced plenty of disappointing examples. But when you get a good one, they are great-tasting short smokes for all occasions and all palates.

Taste: Leather, oak, chocolate, and a hint of earth.

30-50mn smoke.
Size: Marevas Length: 5" Ring Gauge: 42 (129mm x 16.67mm)
Strength: Medium bodied.
Drink match: Most things will do.
From a box dated Apr 2008.

Brand:
What a gorgeous name, probably inspired by the 1844 novel "Le Comte de Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. Readers were employed to keep the cigar rollers entertained, and this novel was apparently a favourite in the factories, perhaps leading to the inspiration for the brand name. The brand was established in 1935 by Menendez, Garcia y Cia, the then owners of H. Upmann, and heavily marketed by Alfred Dunhill of London. It became the most popular of all Havana exports and a standard against which all others are now judged. They have well earned their reputation from the art that is portrayed in the manufacture to the balance and rounding of the flavours. Their range is extensive, amongst them the finest pyramide in the world, the no. 2. There is a distinctive Montecristo taste that manifests itself with complex earthy tones, rich and chocolatey, and an almost brooding aroma of roasted spice, vanilla and patchouli.

Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos

The US market (ie no cuban cigars allowed) has long been saturated with 'maduro' cigars - ie cigars that have only one shade of wrapper - a dark one. The cubans have never been too fussed about giving their cigars one specific colour - they would just select wrappers that were consistent with the blend and model of cigar and make sure that these were homogenous throughout every cigar box. So a box of Hoyo du Maire could be a light shade, and the next one a dark shade (so we have seen). With this cigar, first released in 2007, Habanos S.A. have responded to the demand for models exclusively dressed in maduro wrappers.

However, as a model of the luxury brand, Cohiba, not only is it a wrapper aged 5 years, but the filler leaves are also aged 2-3years and have undergone an extra fermentation (3 instead of 2 for all the other brands). So here is a rather expensive little cigar with a bit of a pedigree for you.

Taste: A well constructed cigar with a deceptive strength. Vanilla and chocolate underscore the usual Cohiba layers of flavour. Enjoy the clouds of cedar smoke, with a touch of burnt cinnamon.

20-40mn smoke.
Size: "Reyes" - Length: 11cm; Ring Gauge: 40 (110mm x 15.87mm)
Strength: Full-bodied (or heavy-medium).
Drink match: Something with a bit of body to it
From a box dated Jan 2008.

Brand:
The word "Cohiba" is derived from the Taino (caribbean "indian" people) word for tobacco. A new brand which was introduced only in 1968, Cohiba quickly became the flagship brand of the Cuban cigar industry. Developed initially as a medium bodied protocol cigar for presentation only by officials of the Cuban government, Cohiba was marketed widely beginning in 1982 as The luxury brand. The third fermentation of the filler leaves makes for a unique flavour and the mystique associated is used to command a higher price.

Punch Royal Selection No12 - Reviewed by Greg

Marginally the largest cigar of Batch #2, here is the Punch RS12 reviewed for you by Gandalf Greg.

DESCRIPTION:
Classic cuban flavours in one balanced package. Peppered cream gives way to floral, earthy tastes all of which is encased in a sweet woody envelope of toasted medium tobacco.

30-50mn smoke.
Size: "Mareva" - Length: 12.9cm; Ring Gauge: 42 (129mm x 16.67mm)
Strength: Medium-bodied, on the fuller side. Probably best after a meal.
Drink match: Anything fruity with a bit of sweetness e.g. Port
From a box dated Feb 2007.


Brand:
Created in 1840 by Manuel Lopez, this line takes its name from the popular character of Punch so widely seen in English puppetry in the 19th century. Today's lithographed boxes still show the comically-dressed Punch enjoying a cigar while his faithful pet stands by, questioning why he is wearing a rainbow-coloured collar.

Tasting Batch Numero II ...

... was hand-delivered while i was up on the weekend.
Go to Sam if you haven't already got them!

1 - Punch Royal Selection No 12
2 - Cohiba Maduro 5 Secretos
3 - Montecristo No 4
4 - San Cristobal del Habano El Principe x2
5 - Hoyo de Monterrey - Le Hoyo du Maire x2

Details on these and a video review with Greg will follow later...
(as will some video reviews by our new Grand Whisky Consultant)