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Tasty afternoon treat

Flavours, tastes, complexity are all part of a language most aficionados agree upon to understand each other. I'm not saying this is BS or trying to belittle those who speak it, i'm just saying it's only one way to read and enjoy cigars and it doesn't work for everyone, some of us just can't speak it or don't see the point of it (it's a bit of both for me). @El Presidente talks about that in his recent interview with Dave Dude and about how Hamlet "speaks" cigars, when i have time i'll create a topic, i find this matter very interesting and i'd like to find out how you all feel about it.

TEB OCT 08 Gigantes

Some Burg, Beaujolais, Riesling and Sparkling

I am sweetheart , one day I'll come back and drink vodka with you at Havana Dreams 😉 big hugs my friend

San Cristóbal de la Habana El Príncipe LGR Jun 2018 This is my ninth SCdLH El Principe from this box since opening it just over two years ago, but I've had other San Cristobal de la Habana El Principes in the meantime from other box codes. In fact, I've had three: the first was from a newly acquired LGR Jun 2019 box code which was too strong and spicy for my liking, and two others from my TOS Jun 2016 which were much more in-line with my expectations. My last San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe from this box started off with that beautiful pancake-texture again. This time the middle was more coffee and molasses. The last third continued to be more dominant in cocoa until the halfway point of the final third saw the cigar become all cocoa and coffee, without any sweetness we come to normally adore in the San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe. This one, smoked two months later, was outright terrible. It started off with a burn issue which I had to correct due to bunched leaves, and was bitter throughout. Somehow I persevered in to the last third but honestly, I shouldn't have bothered. Sadly, I would say that this was quite possibly the worst San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe I've ever smoked, and that's saying something, on account of how many I've smoked over the years. Surely, the next one can't be this bad...surely!

Partagás Presidentes SUL Jul 2023 Prior to acquiring a 10-count of RSG Mar 2023 singles and this SUL Jul 2023 25-count box, the last time I smoked a Partagas Presidentes was from the 2018 Friends of Habanos Xmas Sampler. Do you remember them? Ah yes, the good old days when our forum host could actually access a guaranteed supply of Habanos cigars and subsequently could provide Sampler packs around the end of each year to try the best cigars of that year. What memories, folks! That particular Partagas Presidentes from the 2018 Xmas Sampler had a pleasant mix of Partagas sourdough and coffee with a Fonseca-type marshmallow sweetness. By contrast, I remember my previous forays into sampling the Partagas Presidentes revealed a more typical 'old school' blend of Partagas Earth and Forest Floor and perhaps even leather and I remember at that point of my journey within this hobby that it didn't really connect with me. My previous early-2023 Partagas Presidentes reminded me of recent Partagas Serie D No.4, the one cigar that I would have to nominate as being the best in its flavour delivery and construction since the advent of the Covid era in early 2020. The varieties that I've had of the PSD4 have been simple concoctions of Partagas sourdough, coffee and leather, intertwined in a seemingly perfect balance. Unbelievably, that Partagas Presidentes was much like that. Yes, I couldn't fathom it. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. So how was this mid-2023 Partagas Presidentes, the second one smoked from the box, acquired as a box purchase in the meantime on account of good that one RSG Mar 2023 Presidentes was? Well, it smoked slightly longer at 90 minutes and had more strength and body. There were similar simple Partagas flavours of coffee, sourdough and leather in the first third, but from that point on, it was 'Earthy' and spicy. Yes, I would say that the early-2023 Presidentes was better. By comparison, this particular Partagas Presidentes was more typical of the type I had in the distant past that were much stronger in body and strength, with old school flavours of Earth, Forest floor and leather. Still, I'm intrigued to find out how the third cigar from this box will turn out, so I figure I will be returning to this box soon.

Puro Desnudo N6 Cañonazo Amante VI The FOH Puro Desnudo N6 Cañonazo Amante VI was among the initial offerings of the current generation of Nudies cigars. It shares the same dimensions as a Cohiba Siglo VI (or near enough) with a 52 ring gauge x 152 millimetres or 6 inches length. I believe the blend took El Pres and Hamlet a little longer to refine due to the larger ring gauge. The size was conceived as an everyman's stock-standard cigar option after the price of the Cohiba Siglo VI (which is a Canonazo) increased markedly after the middle of 2022. El Pres description of the Nudies N6 Canonazo reflects its intention of being a quality option as a potential Cohiba Siglo VI replacement (or supplement), in my view. In his words... Honey opening. Under Medium. Aroma of coffee beans, toasted tobacco, molasses. The cigar strolls slowly through the first third and builds intensity. The second third is all bakery/croissant and espresso with a dash of cream. In the last third, a little bit of magic comes into play. Bread and butter pud, almonds and leather all come together. We love this cigar. The tobacco is all 4+ years of age. Please ensure you rest your cigars the 30 days as you will notice a large difference in the smoking experience. I first smoked this cigar two months ago. It was so good, in my view, that I acquired a 5-pack to sample some more in the meantime. As the recommendation by El Pres was to let these rest for at least 30 days, I aimed for this mark, but only made it to twenty. A number of you have had the chance to smoke this cigar, and the response on our forum has been universally positive. This is quite a popular cigar! The Puro Desnudo N6 Cañonazo Amante VI is said to be a combination of Upmann shortbread, coffee, leather, nut and light cream flavours. In other words, a suitably impressive Non-Cuban cigar on account of its complexity. This isn't a bad description. This cigar continued the fine tradition amongst Nudies cigars by producing plenty of smoke, flavour and being constructed well and this was quite pleasing. What more is there to add? Quite simply, once you manage to burn through the shaggy foot, you'll quite possibly find a cigar that sought to replicate the Cohiba Siglo VI and has done a darn good job at doing so. Yes...indeed, it has done quite a fine job at that!

Cuaba APAC 2020 - Edición Regional Asia Pacifico LTO Mar 2021 Pacific Cigar Company (or its more common abbreviation, PCC) brought out the 2020 Cuaba APAC in mid-2021 as an Asia-Pacifico Regional Edition, the very first Cuaba Regional Edition since the program was conceived in 2005. The Cuaba APAC is packaged in a 10-count box, with PCC distributing a run of 8888 boxes. The cigar is a Tacos vitola, a 47 ring gauge x 158 mm (or 6¼ inches) in length Perfecto, the same size as the LCDH Hoyo de Monterrey Elegantes, 2020 Mexican Regional Edition Ramon Allones Perfecto and the regular production Partagas Presidentes. The Tacos vitola differs a little from regular production Cuaba Perfectos in the shape of the head, which in the case of the APAC, is more conical (or streamlined/straighter at the head and foot) than your standard Cuaba. This is my sixth Cuaba APAC, but my first in sixteen months after I smoked two in 2022 and three in 2021, which I found quite impressive. Those cigars shared a typical Cuaba peanut and orange Cointreau citrus profile with a smooth, mild and refined strength and body. They also had a quality cedar aspect to them together with some quintessential Cuaba toasted tobacco and even vegetal flavour on the edges. For Cuaba, these flavours are complex and I have admired that about this cigar, thus far. My last Cuaba APAC was uniformly excellent. It had a core Cuaba peanut and orange Cointreau citrus, together with a herbal and toasted tobacco note which made it very different to a Cuaba Distinguidos, for example. I finished the cigar after close to two hours quite satisfied. This one was still herbal, but had nowhere near the amount of toasted tobacco. It did thankfully shine with its orange Cointreau citrus. I do wish I had a few more in my humidor as I recognise now that these won't be easy to locate. Even so, if I do find them available, I know it will be costly, as aged Regional and Special Editions traditionally are. The Cuaba APAC is a solid cigar, that there is no doubt, but if I had a choice I would put my disposable income into acquiring other cigars, most probably regular production.

So many years ago! Time flies by! Hope your doing well.

Hi all, I've posted a first taste review of the Robusto Trinity below at just 10 days after receipt. I will do a follow up review at 30 days and another at 60, then a final return review after 6+ months - all sampled from the same bundle. Bundle photos along with some other related article posts also to come. https://www.instagram.com/the_cigar_resource/ Hope some folk here enjoy.

I was only thinking of you the other day 🙂 I was telling a friend about the fun I had in NY with you at Havana Dreams 🥰 Lisa

So far we heard the news is: Reduction in Germany 30%, Switzerland 18% (but the article mentioned 40%), France 20%. What I heard that the main reason is the drop in harvesting...and for sure rise of Asian market.

A 2020 Monte 2 from our host

2020 and 2021 seemed to have some of the most quality tobacco of the previous 10 years. I know the years were top on a lot of lists at the time for quality and smoking well young. I have not sampled much of current production. But I fully understand how things have declined on the island exponentially year over year since the pandemic. Not to say the situation was not already in decline since the cruises and tourism changes but it seems far, far worse.

Congratulations! Enjoy. 🙂

Have another drink.

Eventually I will stop mixing bourbon and poker.

Enjoy your time Rob you have moved up on the meetups from the early days back when I did it. I am impressed with the views. I can’t even top them these days. Some don’t realize how much goes into these events. But always good times when everything goes right. I miss the good old days.

Great review! I have been thinking about the CS600.

You are correct, the 60 second dial at 9 is a piece of hesalite with the printing. Here you can see it more clearly.

San Cristóbal de la Habana Harimau Malaya 2020 - Edición Regional Malasia RAT May 2021 The San Cristobal de la Habana Harimau Malaya is the first Regional Edition cigar that Asia-Pacific distributor PCC (Pacific Cigar Company) have released with a secondary band denoted to the country of Malaysia. The cigar is named after the tiger that comes from the region of Malaya, is unique in its characteristics, looks and size and is protected as an endangered species. In the same way, the SCdLH Harimau Malaya is unique for a San Cristobal special release because it is the first Montesco-sized cigar for the marca, even though Montesco vitolas are now quite common for Habanos Special releases. The packaging is unique too. It comes in an ornate outer cardboard carton box which neatly houses a 10-count semi-boite nature box, of which of course there were 8888 produced (for good luck - this is a Chinese cultural reference). As mentioned, a Montesco-sized 55 ring gauge x 130 mm or 5⅛ inches length cigar now no longer seems as grand or intimidating to cut at the head as it once used to. This is my fifth SCdLH Harimau smoked from this box; the last one was smoked six months ago. You see, I have smoked many, many San Cristobal de la Habana El Principes over the years; they are a favourite 'go-to' Habanos cigar of mine, for sure. My first two SCdLH Harimau I smoked were quite different to the SCdLH El Principe in their 'feel' on the palate. Those SCdLH Harimau were much fuller in their 'mouthfeel' and simpler in flavour. Perhaps this is the antithesis of the ScdLH El Principe and that is why I struggled to connect with this cigar, previously. Construction-wise; again, it was 'spot-on' (in other words, fine). Yet, like when the Rafael Gonzalez 88 first was released nearly five years ago, the initial SCdLH Harimau Malayas I smoked were 'closed' in their flavours...a little one-dimensional but I wouldn't go so far as to label it 'offensive'. No, rather, I would advocate that being an Asia-Pacific Regional Edition surely it needed more time to develop to my preference. So did particular SCdLH Harimau 'open-up', as my last one did six months ago? In a word, no. Frankly, and this is most unlike me, but this was just a 'muddled' mess. I wouldn't go so far as to say I despised it, but it wasn't exactly redemptive. It simply lacked appeal. Where were those gorgeous notes of baking spice, walnut, cocoa and raisin I had noted last time?. Last time, I got more of a cake-like texture. However; this fifth cigar, at just under three years of age, had a lovely grass/hay and cocoa to it in the first few puffs but never evolved over 95 minutes. I have two sticks left from this box (as I've traded/gifted a few away). I don't see the point in re-visiting this for another two years after today. I'm hoping my next stick is very different to this one, most definitely!

Vegas Robaina Famosos ARS Ene 2019 I've really enjoyed an AEM May 2015 aged box of Vegas Robaina Famosos since I opened it in mid-2019 and I've come down to my last three sticks of that box, so like the last time I smoked a Vegas Robaina Famosos from this box code four months ago, I figured I'd smoke some fresh samples of this vitola, at the present time, and let my 2015 sticks rest a little longer. Today's cigar actually showed signs that it was approaching its next stage of development. My almost nine year-old AEM May 2015 Vegas Robaina Famosos box has tended to have sticks replete in quality lush tobacco and grass, dates, baking spice, bitter or rich milk chocolate and floral notes here and there. This now five year-old VR Famosos (by comparison) had a touch more rich milk chocolate but it also had subtle signs of baking spice and floral notes. Like my last cigar from this box, this particular example demonstrated signs of development, especially in its softer feel on the palate and its baking spice. Normally a Hermosos No.4 of this size (i.e. 48 ring gauge x 127 mm or 5 inches in length) would take me around 70 minutes to finish. This one took closer to an hour. What can I say? It was again, very easy on the 'senses'! I now have under half a box of Vegas Robaina Famosos across three box codes. I would have to think that this vitola simply must be replaced down-the-track, despite the price. The reason? These sticks are so different to other Habanos cigars, they simply need to be 'on hand'!