zeedubbya

Revive some legends from years past. 1.) 6 3/4 (172mm) by 50 in the best representation a blending panel can come up with of a blend similar to the PL Magnum. Yeah I know it’s been done, but why not do it again, only nude! 2.) 7 1/2 (192mm) by 38, Woody, Clean, Slighlty Floral Sweet Tobacco taste. Think aged Boli Tubos 1 and 3 combined. Replica of Bolivar Especiales 2 or Partagas SDC1. 3.) 4 1/2 (116mm) by 40, make it taste like a 10 year old Choix Supreme crossed with a Sancho Panza—Nuts, and Honey and Saltiness. Replica of EDRM Lunch Club. Have to have a small one.

The most dramatic change to Habanos has to be in the EL and later the RE program. In my opinion, a lot of great cigars were discontinued to make room for an EL program and then an RE program. Just go to CCW and look at the list of discontinued in 2002/2003 and then in 2006-2010. Would we still have Punch Ninfas, RG Lonsdales, Partagas SDC, Bolivar Coronas Extra, Upmann Super Coronas, ERDM and LGC Tainos if it wasn’t for the EL and RE program? Who knows, just seems a bit too coincidental? Maybe they needed all that tobacco to roll Siglo 6s? The most obvious EL that changed pricing is the Talisman. And it makes sense from a marketing perspective. What do they cost wholesale from Havana to distribution? $25-$30 USD a stick? I would say that’s likely double the price of ANY cigar we’ve seen before. Even BHK were likely 1/2 that when it debuted. The Talisman craze is just plain pricing madness.

There’s nothing more beautiful in the cigar world than a 50 Cab of Double Coronas. I think it has something to do with how much smoking enjoyment is there. I wish they made all Double Coronas available in 50 Cabs.

Cohiba Short (and now event Trinidad Short). They last me a bit longer than 15 min but not by much. Perfect for what you’re looking for. You can keep a pack in your jacket pocket if you want. I’m certain I’ve smoked more of these than any other cigar this year. Thanks again to @Lotusguy for the original recommendation.

Me too...😉

Your phrase of the year my friend! Tops last years “little brown mouse” by only a smidge. 😁

And now for some actual advice. As has been discussed here many times (but not lately as much it seems) some cigars suffer “travel sickness” worse than others. A while back @PapaDisco and myself agreed Sir Winston’s are some of the worst offenders. I would also say, in my experience Epicure Especial, Upmann PC, RYJ Short Churchills and the smaller size Bolivars do as well. My guess is he’s is experiencing this rather than the negative effects of freezing. In a reply email I would reassure the person that many many members have frozen cigars with absolutely no effect on taste—pre freeze or post freeze. Also make sure to mention that all Cuban cigars for export are frozen by HSA thus people all around the world buy cigars which still taste great. Recommmend that the person allow them to rest for a few months and try them again. Even better, introduce him to dry-boxing. Everyone who’s been at this for even a small amount of time knows freezing in the proper way makes no difference in taste, and also that travel sickness is pretty common in some cigars.

1.) Except for the SLRDC, and this is completely counter to my belief about cigars, but I would like to see BHK come back to a price, blend, and availability in which it would make sense to pick up a few boxes to actually smoke! ....No wait I came to my senses at the end of that run-on. Screw the BHK bring back around the SLRDC, so I could get just one more Cab to put away for 20 years. 2.) TAINOS—Bring back LGC and ERDM. Please. How many Julieta 2s are left? 3? Reeeeeeefrickindiculous.

Haha. I don’t hate it! Your review was fine my friend @Nekhyludov, Recounting a couple vivid memories I think is awesome! Well done.

This is how it seems to me as well. I understand using a set of base flavors to identify flavors or aromas coming from a cigar or even a memory of something else unrelated to food, but to use specific foods such as charred gyro meat, cookies broken down with milk, and the outer part of a pistachio seems highly unlikely to be accurate or useful in my opinion. It’s all very diffuse different parts of the flavor/smell sprectrum. Maybe I have a poorly trained palate, but I cannot imagine ever being able to relate smoking a cigar to such a diverse range of flavors. @Ken Gargett uses “old lady’s handbag” (attributed to wine legend Len Evans), and this I understand. If however, one said—this cigar tastes like leather, makeup, partially chewed wrigleys spearmint gum, dust and fingernail clippings with dollar store red polish, I can’t relate. @PigFish talks of the “bowling alley” smell coming from a cigar. I get it. If one said it smells like Cheap Bowling Balls, Petroleum based oil, leather shoes freshly sprayed with deodorizer, old smoke laden AstroTurf style carpet, and a sort of rotting, dank old mustiness I can’t quite put my finger on—it just doesn’t make sense. Rob says Driftwood—I get it (sort of). If one said—it tastes like a late spring salty ocean breeze, along with the ever present essence of a surf tumbled date palm branch washed onto freshly groomed white gypsum beach sand—nope. Its all too specific for belief, not well defined—just my two cents...again.

Can anyone here tell me if they possess the ability to discern this many flavors from a cigar? I can understand someone getting maybe upward of 9-10 flavors, but a constant stream of such specific flavors. I’m extremely skeptical. With all due respect to the good people at Halfwheel, I enjoy your reviews and articles, but this seems just....impossible. If it IS possible, how does one train a palate to this level. Maybe this would be a good FOHrensics topic—can a person with a refined palate actually blind identify such a vast array of food flavors/smells? https://www.google.com/amp/s/halfwheel.com/herrera-esteli-miami-edition/135477/amp

I’m seemingly getting a divorce for Christmas this year. Worst or best gift ever? To be continued....

PL Lonsdales RE 2006...very very special seam of tobacco...98,99...maybe even (dare I say) 100? With Ceylon tea. At or near cigar perfection.

Only if you don’t trust your vendor. ASO MAY16 by chance? I have a box of D4 with that code and I have no concerns.

Those 2014s are just great smokes. Need to revisit them soon! Nice review my friend.