JohnS' Smoking Diary 2020

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Half Corona RAE Sep 2014

I just love these for a quick 1/2 hour H.Upmann 'pick-me-up'. Shortbread, toasted tobacco, a little spicy sometimes, it's Upmann but just fuller-bodied. And aren't they easy to smoke through a box? Thank you @Thirds for gifting me this special PCC Aged cigar to review from 2014.

How was it? Surprisingly potent...well, at least in flavour. Despite being five-and-a-half years old this dominated in espresso coffee and white pepper. Cedar and shortbread was minimal. Ironically, I've had H.Upmann Half Corona younger than this (around three years of age) and they've had more of the quintessential H.Upmann shortbread we all know and love in them.

No matter, it was all fine to smoke down to the nub. So it was a little stronger than I expected. If I had a box I'd just give it more time until I had the next one.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robustos LUA Sep 2014

The last time I had this cigar, I was surprised at how fuller-bodied in comparison to other Hoyo de Monterrey cigars this was. It had a dominant cocoa flavour which put any other cedar/wood and cream flavours in the background. The best way to describe this, in my opinion, is that this vitola is the Montecristo Petit Edmundo equivalent petit robusto within the Hoyo de Monterrey marca. If you are looking for a stronger Hoyo de Monterrey experience lasting 45 to 50 minutes in smoking time, I'd say, go for this!

This PCC Aged from September 2014, gifted by @Thirds (thank you kindly!) was remarkably similar despite its age. It had a strong flavour of cedar, a touch of cinnamon spice and toasted tobacco but very little 'soft' or powdered cocoa flavour. In terms of strength I'd distinguish it as mild-medium.

So there you have it! If you like your Hoyo de Monterrey a little more potent go for this vitola. If you like it milder and more creamy I'd suggest you invest in the Epicure Especial or something similar.

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Petit Coronas LUB May 2014

Well it's been a little over 12 months since I've had the opportunity to enjoy a H.Upmann Petit Corona. Below are my notes from my recent ones...

June 2016 (ROA Sep 2006)

Well, well, well...these have been a sensation. The first one I had from this box split was medium in strength and peppery, the rest have been milder, creamier and pleasant in shortbread and that 'Upmann' aged tobacco we all know and love (together with hints of coffee and cedar). I have seven left, but I don't plan to rest them!

November 2016 (ROA Sep 2006)

You may not keep your stash of H.Upmann Petit Coronas around long enough to truly savour how special this cigar is at this age. Truly outstanding. Coffee, cream, cocoa, tobacco, cedar and shortbread throughout, I wanted another immediately after I nubbed it!

December 2018 (TOS Nov 2006)

Approaching 2-and-a-half years of age, how does this compare to some superlative examples I've had closer to 10 years rested? Simply put, the melding of flavours is still to come, but in the meantime one can very much enjoy the complexity in these as they age.

As a result of the H.Upmann Petit Corona being discontinued in 2017, this means that the last boxes bought in late 2016 (perhaps early 2017) would have been quite strong upon initial smoking, especially in espresso coffee flavours. As they age to around the 3-year mark, there will most likely be a buildup of cream and shortbread flavour, something for which H.Upmann is known for, with the espresso coffee and pepper still evident, more towards the back half. This was the case exactly with this cigar.

I have a few boxes resting for the long-term of this, in my opinion, hugely under-rated cigar (as I doubt it ever sold anywhere near in the huge quantities the Montecristo No.4 sells) and my aim is to smoke them at the point where they are like mellow cedar and cream shortbread sticks with a hint of coffee and white pepper. I know this will take awhile but the payoff will be worth it.

How was this one, at three months short of six years of age? Quite good, but not as creamy as I like it. This still had a little potency, the type you find when these are in the three to five years rested stage. Flavours were espresso coffee, a little cedar, shortbread, a hint of white pepper and a some licorice sweetness. Creaminess was evident but just a little at this stage. Perhaps one can equate that licorice sweetness as the flavour one gets in the crossover period when these have more leather in their youth and more creaminess in their long-term age.

[JohnS]

Sancho Panza Non Plus RUM Abr 2018

Like my last RUM Abr 2018 Sancho Panza Non Plus, this cigar had no draw issues. This is not something I can unequivocally say about Non Plus from other box codes. Unfortunately, I've found them prone to being rolled tight from time-to-time.

In regards to flavour, this had a nice balance of wood and salt and a hint of floral notes on the edges. Each draw produced a good amount of smoke. Give this another 3 to 5 years and those floral notes and/or creaminess may come into play.

In the meantime, these are okay as they are smoking now. I'm likely to leave this box and come back to it down the track. After all, I still have 4 sticks left of my 2011 SP Non Plus box to smoke!

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Petit Coronas LUB May 2014

The H.Upmann Petit Corona. You may know that it's discontinued, it has a simple and unremarkable blend and when it was a regular production cigar until sometime in 2017 it was never a big seller. In fact, Alex Groom, who runs Cuban Cigar Website, had this cigar as the 81st most popular cigar as listed in users' inventories in 2016. You'd agree, surely, that the H.Upmann Half Corona at 8th and the H.Upmann Magnum 46 at 9th are more well-renowned.

The thing is, like many a cigar deleted by Habanos S.A since the early-2000s, the H.Upmann Petit Corona can become a nice cream and shortbread delight with age on it, you just have to give it time. It was a great pleasure to share one with the two gentlemen responsible for Cuban Cigar Website; Trevor Leask, the founder and Alex Groom, the current proprietor.

Naturally, this was not complex. At just under six years of age it had some clear shortbread flavours coupled with some sweet hay and licorice notes. A little coffee and here and there and some creaminess starting to come to the fore and this was easy to nub.

I've said this before, but if you have this cigar on hand, do yourself a favour and give it time. I'm confident that your patience will reward you.

[JohnS]

La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.2 MUR Abr 2013

I never thought that I would have a La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.2 after its discontinuation in 2014 so I do need to acknowledge Alex Groom, the proprietor of Cuban Cigar Website, for gifting this to me to smoke. Throughout 2019 I've had a 2009 La Gloria Cubana Tainos which I've enjoyed and shared with dear friends so it was nice to have this Dalias-sized cigar to compare to the Churchill-sized Tainos.

In regards to the Medaille d'Or No.2 vitola, only the Partagas 8-9-8 and Cohiba Siglo V in regular production share its size. Gone are the Ramon Allones 8-9-8, Bolivar Inmensas, Partagas de Partagas No.1 and Seleccion Privada No.1 and the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.2 itself since the early-2000s. How did it compare to an aged Tainos? Simply speaking, this Medaille d'Or no.2 was more fruity and earthy, the Tainos has been more 'cake-like' for me in texture. Both shared some floral notes, nuttiness and creaminess (at times) which necessitated nubbing this to the very end.

If only some Regional distributor was willing to bring this out as Regional release, like the 2014 German Ramon Allones 8-9-8. Wouldn't that be nice? Yes, the thought alone is nice indeed!

[JohnS]

El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse MLU Dic 2018

Ok, so I am enjoying the time to smoke through the 2019 Xmas Sampler currently, but in-between, well...sometimes I just like to smoke the wee little ones. I had a small window of time this morning so I decided to smoke this small panatela. Quite a few of these Demi Tasses from this box have been tight but thankfully I didn't need my PerfecDraw tool. The flavours were quite good; shortbread, honey and some almond nut. I enjoyed how mild this was for its size but I don't think I'll age this box as too many have been tight in the draw. I have another box from 2016 for that purpose.

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Maire TEO May 2018

When you have less than half an hour and you feel like a cigar you are invariably left with few options. I had an El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse for my last cigar, why not try the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Maire? This was not as mild as the ERdM Demi Tasse but it was a nice combination of cocoa and vanilla spice from start to finish. I'm almost halfway through this box and they are just under two years old. I wonder if I'll have any left after three?

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.4 UEB Ago 2018

It seems that this UEB Ago 18 box is turning to be every bit as good as my UEB May 18 box that I quite enjoyed throughout 2019. Every stick I'm having from it is superbly constructed, smokes well and is full of flavour. These flavours mainly consist of light cocoa, milk coffee, nut and a citrus twang that is both patently apparent and endearing.

I gave one to my cousin a few days later and he was suitably impressed, and without any hints from myself in regards to a smoking profile, he commented on the nuttiness and spice he savoured. Paradoxically, he mentioned that he hadn't smoked a Montecristo No.4 before despite enjoying an array of other Habanos cigars such as the Partagas Serie E No.2, Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2 and Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill. Just when you think the Montecristo No.4 (or Partagas Serie D No.4 for that matter) is ubiquitous amongst cigar enthusiasts, this anecdote proves otherwise. I guess you are always learning something new in this hobby!

[JohnS]

Diplomáticos No.2 EML Ago 2014

I've really enjoyed this box in the last year since I've 'cracked' it. In fact, today I have 40% of the box left, in other words, 10 sticks. What a ride it's been!

This Diplomaticos No.2 was more rounded in capsicum and wood flavours and light on the sourdough. There was also a touch of cloves spice. At 5½ years of age, this was very mild and easy to smoke. I wouldn't say it was as flavoursome as other cigars I've had from this box, but that's mainly because it was so light on sourdough, which is very much a distinctive flavour when it comes to the Diplomaticos No.2. Nevertheless, I nubbed this piramide as far as I could take it, again on account of it being so easy to smoke.

What I've found interesting about this box is how some Dip 2's have been toasty, some have been capsicum or bell pepper-laden, others have been paprika spice bombs. I suppose it makes for a heightened anticipation the next time I reach for a cigar from this box. One thing I do know is how consistently good these have been thus far!

[JohnS]

Punch Short de Punch TPO Sep 2019

The Punch Short de Punch is a new release by Habanos S.A. but in my opinion there's nothing 'short' about it. Firstly, its length is only 4 mm (or ⅙ of an inch) shorter than a robusto and secondly, it takes quite some time to smoke. A robusto would normally take me around 70 minutes to smoke but this took me closer to two hours!

I would imagine that the youthful nature of this cigar has to be taken into account for its smoking time. This was spongy, in other words a little wet, and I had to smoke it slower to appreciate it I guess. However, in regards to flavours, it was all classic Punch...the sour cream, leather, cedar and Cuban twang was all there from beginning to end. Sure, it wasn't a complex cigar, but if you like Punch in general then I'd recommend that you give this a try, after all, they do come in 10-count boxes.

This was the second one I've tried and it was similar to the first. Both cigars were on the young side and took longer to smoke, but I had no issue smoking them down. Flavourwise, they were quite sound. I intend to dry these out in my humidor and light one up when they have had more time to settle.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Churchills ASO Nov 2016

Whether it's been my ASO Nov 2016 or my GOM Ago 18 box, a Romeo y Julieta cigar from either box code has invariably been great to outstanding for me in the last 12 to 18 months. Many of you are on-board with this notion and have realised this for yourselves. Tonight's cigar was no exception.

Despite the weather being humid outside due to intermittent showers, this RyJ Churchill still delivered solid flavours of cherry, anise or licorice sweetness, rosewater essence, dried cocoa and strong tobacco flavours. The combination was consistent over 2 hours and 15 minutes of smoking time, but I still nubbed this as far as I could go.

I think I have 5 sticks each from either box. Perhaps soon it will be time to re-invest in a new box?

[JohnS]

Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas UGO Dic 2019

It's only three months old and no, I didn't let this rest thirty days in my humidor but these have been quite reputable lately and after smoking it today, I can easily see why.

It was of course a little wetter than I like, but I was willing to forego that to sample its flavours. The Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona is a long smoke, anywhere up to three hours needs to be set aside for it. This one took a good two-and-a-half. When the HdM Double Corona is 'off' for me, its all cedar and potentially bland. This was not like that all. From the 'get-go' this was cream, biscuit and light cocoa. Of course it remained mild and towards the back half it built up in cloved spice, but only just a touch.

I picked this up from a recent 24:24 in a quarter pack and I'm glad I did, but it has been challenging to acquire recently due to the fact they've been in higher demand. After two-and-a-half hours I understood why. If you've picked up the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona this year from 24:24 I do sincerely hope your cigars smoke as well as this one today. After all, if you set aside three hours for a cigar you would hope it keeps you interested and is flavourful. Thankfully this was the case today.

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay No. 54 TOU May 2019

This was my first cigar from the 2019 Xmas Sampler and boy oh boy was I looking forward to it! The Quai d'Orsay No.54 is one of those cigars that I've lucked out on and I was eagerly hoping that today's QdO No.54 would be different. Alas, it was not to be!

In Ken and El Pres' video review on this cigar in mid-2019, Rob mentioned that the Quai d'Orsay No.54 was the hottest selling cigar in the world, 75% of members raved about it and 25% wondered what the hype was all about and some even compared it to a Cohiba Siglo VI. Of course, many of us experienced challenging times even procuring a box from a 24:24 sale!

The first half of this cigar was every bit as good as the very best Quai d'Orsay No.50s I've had. It was all creamy cedar, hay and butter and egg brioche...you know, wondrous soft pastry flavours. However, the burn started to go askew around half way through the first third, yet the taste was still on point. It was around the mark where the cigar reached halfway that I concluded that a new flavour; namely burnt wood and spice, wasn't really to my liking and the cigar thence became a real struggle to smoke through.

Well, yes sure, Charles Dickens best captured the moment when he began his novel 'The Tale of Two Cities' thusly, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Yeah...that about sums up this cigar today. I really couldn't put it any better myself.

That's not the end of the story though. I've now had three ordinary Quay d'Orsay No.54s in a row. Surely an exemplary QdO No.54 is just around the corner?

[JohnS]

Bolívar Belicosos Finos MSU May 2019

The Bolivar Belicosos Finos comes from a marca I don't readily identify with as a Habanos cigar enthusiast, yet from time-to-time I continue to challenge my preferences (and biases) by smoking one. This Bolivar Belicosos Finos was included in the 2019 Xmas Sampler and it was the second cigar I had from that 12-pack sampler.

Your average Piramide (also known colloquially as a Torpedo) is 52 ring gauge x 156 mm (or 6⅛ inches) in length, the BBF is a Campanas and so is slightly smaller at 52 ring gauge x 140 mm (or 5½ inches) in length. I've found them quite reliable in construction and flavour delivery over the years, on the odd occasion I have one. This one continued that fine tradition!

Unlike recent BBFs I've enjoyed, this did not have a gorgeous soft cocoa and marshmallow texture to it from the 'get-go'. Rather, it had a bitter malt, nutmeg and slight cream with a build up in earth and leather flavours in the back half, which made for a wonderfully complex and ideal choice for a change from my usual 'go-to' cigars.

[JohnS]

Nudies N1 Lancero

Do you remember how excited our FoH forum was when we heard the news that El Pres was developing some new cigars in collaboration with master Cuban roller, Hamlet Paredes? It doesn't seem that long ago, does it? For those of you unfamiliar with the Nudies releases, the intention was to blend more than the eventual two cigars produced, but this wasn't possible to achieve for commercial reasons, so El Pres and Hamlet settled on tweaking a blend which was close enough to replicating the 2010 discontinued Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.1 and Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3.

The Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.1 was a lancero size with 38 ring gauge by 192 mm (or 7½ inches) in length dimensions. I gave my N1 Lanceros the recommended 90 day rest period to allow them to settle and keenly lit up my first one today. The first thing I noticed was that the smell of the cigars when I broke open their packaging was very different to the standard Habanos 'barnyard' smell that I've become accustomed to. This was more akin to grass rather than hay. The cold draw was quite inviting though, there was lashing of a sweet cocoa which had me intrigued and excited to light it up. And so I did.

It didn't take me long to realise what El Pres and Hamlet were trying to achieve when I smoked through the first third. For me, it was plainly obvious that they were attempting to bring back the classic Habanos deeply rich leather-blended cigars of the early 2000s. This, together with notes of sourdough and mild sweet cocoa made me appreciate how good Partagas-type cigars like this once were. There was also a touch of Partagas spice here and there, but overall this cigar was pretty consistent in its flavour.

The ash and construction were consistent, the cigar was sufficiently full in flavour and medium in strength. What more could you want? It makes it hard to believe it was blended with Non-Cuban tobacco, but knowing that there's no Nicaraguan ligero leaf in these makes me understand and appreciate the muted bite and the sweet flavours. El Pres himself said that the small factory, small team (6 rollers), Hamlet blending, Cuban factory manager, choice of good aged tobaccos and great chemistry made things all come together well for the 2019 edition. I couldn't agree more!

[JohnS]

Nudies N3 Carlota

If you aren't familiar with the Nudies releases on our FoH forum, I can tell you that they are a 2019 collaboration between El Pres and master Cuban roller, Hamlet Paredes using Non-Cuban leaf. Specifically, the filler is made up of Nicaraguan quality aged seco and volado, there is no ligero which means no strong pepper and less 'kick'. The Nudies N1 Lancero was designed to replicate the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.1, the Nudies N3 Carlota was designed to replicate the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3. Both Partagas cigars were discontinued in 2010.

The Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3 was 35 ring gauge by 143 mm (or 5⅝ inches) in length. The N3 Carlota is slighter bigger and longer, 38 ring by 152 mm (or 6 inches) in length. The reason for this was the difference in blend and taste once it got down past the 38 ring gauge mark in testing. Hence why the N3 Carlota is slightly bigger than the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3.

In comparison to the N1 Lancero, which is the same ring gauge but 40 mm (or 1.6 inches) longer in length, the N3 Carlota had similar flavours but was much more bold in its leather and more diminished in its sourdough. There was some mild sweet cocoa and Partagas-type spice at times. In summary, this N3 Carlota was even more full-flavoured than the N1 Lancero yet I'd still label it every bit as classy an effort as the N1.

I was fortunate enough to discuss the N3 Carlota with El Pres whereby I noted, in my opinion, that the Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.3 tended to be more 'toasty' or crispy from my memory. He agreed, but they did what they could with the resources they had. By those standards I concurred that El Pres and Hamlet did a fine job. Yes, a fine job indeed!

[JohnS]

Quai d'Orsay No. 50 MSA May 2019

This Quai d'Orsay No.50 today made me appreciate what a good run I've had with this cigar in the last twelve months. It was slightly underfilled and as a result it gave off large plumes of smoke per draw and hence I needed to smoke it very slowly.

The usual toffee-like sweetness and soft hay flavours weren't there, in their place was the charred wood and spice which in comparison I tolerated but lamented missing. There was some ginger shortbread to redeem the cigar, even if that redemptive value was relatively minor.

Overall, this cigar was a disappointment but I've had so many good to great Quai d'Orsay No.50s that I envisage the next one I have will make me forget this one!

[JohnS]

Cohiba Espléndidos UAO Jun 2019

The Esplendidos is the type of cigar I find that I don't have a preference for its age, I can equally enjoy it 12 months or under, at the 5 year mark and even well over 10 years. This Cohiba Esplendidos from the 2019 Xmas Sampler had very typical Esplendidos flavours, consistent with the Cohiba Clasica line, such as milk coffee or mocha, butter, honey and some hints of vanilla. There was no real spice nor Cohiba grass/hay, which you can get in these Clasica line cigars at times, but which I find more consistent in the Siglo line.

If you are a Cohiba fan, then this is the type of cigar that would appeal to your senses, especially when it smokes like this one did!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Fundadores ARS Jun 2019

The 2018 Xmas Sampler included a Trinidad Fundadores as they've been a 'hot' cigar for a few years now. In my review from that Sampler series I wrote the following...

The eighth cigar I've had from the 2018 Xmas Sampler Series, this was every bit as consistently good as the combined seven or eight ARS and RAG '17/'18 box code cigars I've sampled in 2018. This was milk coffee, dough and a touch of spice which picked up a little more in the last third. Again, as I've mentioned in previous reviews of Trinidad cigars, this milk coffee and dough combination is unlike the more complex wood, grass, honey, coffee flavours I've picked up in Trinidad cigars I've smoked in the last 3 to 5 years. Less complex, as every bit as good!  

I thought it was extremely generous of El Pres to include the Trinidad Fundadores (as well as some other up-market prestigious cigars) in the 2019 Xmas Sampler. I found today's cigar having more bite in those milk coffee flavours, in fact, they were more akin to roasted coffee flavours and there was less of the softer dough, cake and almond nut flavours. There was no spice but the dough remained consistent throughout. The intensity of the cigar didn't build up at all which allowed me to nub this to my fingertips. Obviously this was a telltale sign that I enjoyed this Fundadores quite a lot, even if it had more strength and intensity of flavour than what I'm used to. In fact, I can still summon the aftertaste of the cigar on my palate as I type this, around six hours after I finished it!

[JohnS]

H. Upmann Sir Winston EOS Jun 2019

This is the sixth cigar I've had from the 2019 Xmas Sampler and at just on 10 months of age, this smoked a little harsher than the previous H.Upmann Sir Winston I had late last year. The H.Upmann shortbread and espresso flavours were there, combined with a sweet woodiness and leather in the back half. There were hints of dark or bitter chocolate in the last third, still, this was a great smoke, very easy to nub!

[JohnS]

Trinidad Vigia SLE Oct 2016

This was my last Trinidad Vigia from this box code and it continued the recent trend of all the others I've had in the past year. Namely, the strong buttered texture to the cigar which made it so appealing today. The other flavours were a bit more intense than the average Vigia I've had, so instead of coffee, dough and hay flavours I had stronger mocha and wood throughout. Strangely enough, there was no indication of spice.

Yet again, I smoked it as far as I could go. I must admit one thing, I've gotten used to the ring gauge on this. It just meant smoking it a little slower than a sub 50 ring gauge cigar.

[JohnS]

Romeo y Julieta Churchills BUP May 2019

Do you ever feel that for every marca, vitola or specific Habanos cigar you always seem to luck out on when it comes to smoking, on the flip side, there always seems to be one marca or specific cigar that keeps on delivering, no matter what. In the last 24 to 36 months the Romeo y Julieta Churchill has represented that cigar for me.

It's not like I'm a Romeo y Julieta apologist. Far from it, as there are other Habanos brands I'd gravitate to first, but the RyJ Churchill just seems to be batting 1000 lately, to borrow a well-known baseball saying.

So what is about recent Romeo y Julieta Churchills that have made their consistency so remarkable? I'd say it would have to be the fact that, for me, since 2016, across a number of box codes, the RyJ Churchill has delivered in construction and in flavour. In regards to construction, I can't recall one overly tight or loose in the draw or burning inconsistently. (Although I have had one or two requiring multiple re-lights!) In regards to flavour, they just seem to always be full of those fruit and cocoa/chocolate flavours. Whether you call it cherries, berries or so on, they just always seem 'fruity' and I need to mention their consistent delivery of sweet flavours too such as anise or licorice, rosewater and turkish delight.

This Romeo y Julieta Churchill was the seventh cigar I smoked from the 2019 Xmas Sampler and I must admit that thus far, it's been the best. This is saying something when one compares it to the Cohiba Esplendidos, H.Upmann Sir Winston and Trinidad Fundadores. (Please note, that at the time of writing, I haven't smoked the Cohiba Robustos, Bolivar Silver Jubilee, Ramon Allones Silver Jubilee, Punch 8-9-8 or El Rey del Mundo Tainos yet) I wonder if this will still be best when I finish smoking the Sampler series. I guess we'll see.

[JohnS]

Montecristo No.2 GOS Ago 2018

If I asked you to think of Montecristo as a brand you are likely to think of one or two things; one, how inconsistent they can be at times (depending on the vitola) and two, they have a number of regular production vitolas (currently it's 24 including the Linea 1935 series and the Habanos Specialist release, the Herederos) but the main ones that most people know about are the Montecristo No.2 and Montecristo No.4.

This Montecristo No.2 was from a quarter pack I acquired from a 24:24 listing at some point in late '18/early '19. I specifically wanted them because they were listed as being light-wrappered. I have a 10-count box that I've been going through from 2015 in my inventory and these Monte 2s are dark-wrappered. So what's the difference, in general? I guess I've tended to find the light-wrappered Monte 2s more nutty, creamy and milk chocolate; the dark-wrappered Monte 2s alternatively have been more dark cocoa and stronger notes of coffee. This hasn't been the case for every single example of these, however, I am speaking in generalisations.

I've had two recent examples of UEB '18 Montecristo No.4 box codes and both these boxes have produced a remarkable consistency in delivering a distinctive 'citrus' twang to them. This Montecristo No.2 was not like that. Rather, it was very simple in its flavours; these being a light powdered cocoa, milk coffee and rich smooth leather. It was simple delicious from beginning to end!

Not all Montecristo No.2s are going to smoke like this today. If you've smoked a number over the years you'll know exactly what I mean. But when they do, 'boy oh boy' are they great!

[JohnS]

Bolívar Silver Jubilee 2017 - Edición Regional Hong Kong LGR Jun 2019

The Bolivar Silver Jubilee was announced as the 2017 Hong Kong Regional Edition by the Asia Pacific Habanos cigar distributor PCC, along with the Ramon Allones Silver Jubilee, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Pacific Cigar Co Pty Ltd. The cigar first came onto the market a little over a year later in early-2019. It's a gordito-sized 50 ring gauge by 141 mm (or 5½ inches) in length with a tapered head, which is incidentally the same size as the Ramon Allones Hunter and Frankau Aniversario 225.

You may have heard it oft-said that Asia-Pacific Regional cigars require significant rest to blossom, so-to-speak, somewhere in the vicinity of five years. After smoking the Bolivar Silver Jubilee, from this year's Xmas Sampler, and at only eleven months of age, I would venture to say that five years would serve you as a guide on these. In my opinion, a good 36 months would be ideal.

The reasoning for this is in the blend. This cigar was strong on certain flavours such as bitter malt, leather and light on cocoa. It was that combination of Bolivar-like bitter malt and leather which made this cigar a little too intense for me at this point, but the sweet caramel or toffee flavours did keep me interested.

I would envisage that some time down will diminish those stronger Bolivar flavours and promote the sweeter ones. If I had a box I would reach for another one in 12 months to see how they are progressing.