FOH'ers Daily Smoke

[Raskol]

Thank you kindly. Incidentally, I reflected on this today as I caught up with Trevor Leask, the founder of Cuban Cigar Website. These little mini-reviews began innocently enough as a expression of gratitude for receiving cigars to sample. Some of them have been aged, Limited or Regional Editions, discontinued or simply rare and much sought after. As a result I figured that the information I gleaned from smoking them would benefit other enthusiasts too.
Leave it with me. I intend to investigate if exporting posts collectively with FoH's technical staff assistance is possible, otherwise, I'll explore other options.

John, it would be great if it can be done. Always looking forward to your reviews. Thank you.

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[SonGoku]

Romeo and Julieta - Cedros de Luxe No. 2 (ASO MAY 16). I initially bought these for long term aging as MRN suggests these have great aging potential. But when I got the box last year I found half of the sticks in the box had a little mold on the wrapper. Nothing that can't be brushed off and make them smokeable but enough that I fear keeping them with the rest of my stock and let them age. So I've been keeping them in a separate ziploc with a boveda. So I'm probably just gonna go through the box during this summer or the following. I think that I read somewhere on the forum here that this is a common problem with cedar wrapped sticks. Too bad though as I would have loved to see how these would be smoking 20 years down the line provided I would still be living at that time.

Continuing my R&J theme today with this Cazadores (GAT SEP 13). Just lighting it I can tell from the smell of the smoke that this one is going to be a lot more powerful than the Cedros de Luxe No. 2 smoked earlier.

[BoliDan]

Bolivar Corona Junior. Not much thinking required, just a reliable earth bomb to go with a coffee.

[nc6789]

Had to wfh today, so burning my last CH 2014 TAA - its a sad day

[Lotusguy]

That Punch from the jar was divine.

This gifted Opus X isn’t bad either - I think it’s a Magnum O?

[Stogiepuffer]

Time for a quickie

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[bigbwalls]

 

PSD4 June 18

[BenW]

First Juan Lopez No1 for me, from the Corona sampler. Rested for 3 months.

Really really nice, a solid 90pts.


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[JohnS]

Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat (thanks @Çnote)

From what I understand, this Drew Estate release was once a Limited Edition which has now become regular production, but is hard to source. Its dimensions are ideal, 46 ring gauge x 159 mm in length (6¹⁄₄ inches) and the pig tail was amongst the easiest to unwind on a cigar that I've encountered, no need for a cutter here! It started off strong in flavour and was full-bodied until the second third, when it settled into a mid to full-bodied cigar. Flavours were the same throughout...dark espresso coffee, dark chocolate, wood and dried raisin (a little), it was like an amplified Ramon Allones Specially Selected with a hint of the sweetness.

Viaje White Label Project Birthday Blend (2016 - again thank you @Çnote)

Again, this is a harder to source Non-Cuban, from what I understand, based on the limited release 12 year-old Old Forrester’s Birthday Bourbon. It started off full of pepper and then settled in the middle third and thereafter into a dark chocolate, pepper and earthy cigar until the end. The strength was full-bodied all the way.

I'd like to again thank @Çnote for making these available for me to sample. He gave me some other Non-Cubans to sample along with these ones and suggested that I was moving through them from most likely to emulate Cubans to least likely. I started off with the Warped Don Reynaldo and Relatos, moved onto the La Flor Dominicana 1994 and Santa Muerte and then finished with these. Yes, they did indeed progress in a linear fashion from most like Cubanesque to least, but I say this tongue-in-cheek, I swear it was just a coincidence folks!

 

 

[TNT009]

[inter4alia]

Got this back in December as a free bonus stick so not sure of the date. I absolutely love the unique flavor of Sancho Panza. Nothing else like it. 

[Chucko8]

On 4/23/2019 at 6:29 AM, JohnS said:

Montecristo Leyenda UBM Sep 2018

This is my second Montecristo Leyenda in the last six months. Below are my notes from the first one...

"This Montecristo Leyenda is part of the new Linea 1935 series, a group of three cigars (the others are the Dumas and Maltes) which are the Montecristo version of the Cohiba Behike series. Its dimensions are identical to the 2017 Montecristo 80th Aniversario release, that is big...55 ring gauge by 165 mm in length. These have been marketed as been fuller in strength (or is it flavour, or possibly both?), but I found this to be suitably medium to medium-mild. Sure, it wasn't as light as an Especiales No.2, for example, but it was nowhere near as strong as some Petit Edmundos or even Montecristo No. 4's I've had.

The reason this cigar was so, so good, in my opinion, was the milk chocolate and cream flavour which dominated the first two thirds. There was also some underlying cedar, which was a little sweet, almond nut and, in my opinion, similarly to the Edmundo Dantes Belicosos, some hints of marshmallow. I was even able to retrohale into the final third, where I was able to get some white pepper. Pepper wasn't really evident throughout the first two-thirds and there was just a little in the last third. The one thing that I must add is how I underestimated how long it would take to smoke this, it must have been at least two-and-a-half hours! Glorious and deserving of high praise indeed!"

This Leyenda was even milder than my first one and took around the same time to finish. There was no pepper notes at the end but flavours were similar. Again, (it was) a great smoke!

Thanks @JohnS this has given me the urge to drag one back out and see the evolution for myself. 

[JACDO]

Fonseca 2014

[mtd057]

I tried, I really did.  I could not get into this Fonscea #1 MEL Jun 2016.  Great construction and burn, but just wasn't for me.  I might try another in a few months but I am not very optimistic.  Now my 2nd choice, a Cohiba Panetelas, was pretty good.  I found it to be much more flavorful than the Fonseca.  Short and sweet.  

Now that I am thinking about it, I might put the Fonseca's up for trade.  

 

 

 

[HarveyBoulevard]

At least the birdbath is in focus...

 

[Guest Nekhyludov]

OCT 18 Papo La Verdad. These are incredible - honeycomb, sour twang, salt. Every time I smoke one, I wonder why the hell I spend money on Cohibas.

[Trimming]

BCE

 

[daleighan]

Mdo no.4

[RDB]

First Sig II from UGO SEP 18 box. Only a few weeks post-transit, and very young, so a bit tight and raucous. Full of promise though. Strong flavours for Cohiba, rich and complex. HQ grade from 24:24, with lovely construction and a smooth thin wrapper. Looking forward to watching this box develop.

[Raskol]

C&C Time.. BBF (2017)- 24:24

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[Luca]

On 4/22/2019 at 12:50 AM, Akela3rd said:

You're welcome sir! How is it?

Sent from 47171 Lempo 
 

It was nice but compared to my last memory (when I had one at Robs deck) smoking this cigar, it was missing a bit of "gusto" if you know what i mean. Still nice..but not all there... yet! Maybe age will help

[IanMcLean68]

On 4/22/2019 at 10:56 AM, THEMISCHMAN said:

I had a MUR OCT 12 Superiores while grilling up some chicken and dogs for the kids.

This sounds a little strange down-under. I was wondering if it was a typo to start with 
Looking again, I remembered that our US friends use dogs to mean hot-dogs - well at least I hope you do!!?

[IanMcLean68]

On 4/23/2019 at 8:25 PM, Raskol said:

John, it would be great if it can be done. Always looking forward to your reviews. Thank you.

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+1 from me! Your reviews are great and make a valuable resource @JohnS!

[Çnote]

22 hours ago, JohnS said:

I'd like to again thank @Çnote for making these available for me to sample. He gave me some other Non-Cubans to sample along with these ones and suggested that I was moving through them from most likely to emulate Cubans to least likely. I started off with the Warped Don Reynaldo and Relatos, moved onto the La Flor Dominicana 1994 and Santa Muerte and then finished with these. Yes, they did indeed progress in a linear fashion from most like Cubanesque to least, but I say this tongue-in-cheek, I swear it was just a coincidence folks!

@JohnSI'm really glad you enjoyed these and greatly enjoyed your notes as they give me better clarity on the CC you review and as your notes match mine neatly give me greater confidence in reaching for what is available out there. Cheers!

[THEMISCHMAN]

This sounds a little strange down-under. I was wondering if it was a typo to start with 
Looking again, I remembered that our US friends use dogs to mean hot-dogs - well at least I hope you do!!

Ha! Sorry, I should have said, “I threw some chook and Frankfurts on the barbie.”