Montecristo No. 2

 

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 52

Length: 6.0

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: None

Construction: Good - slight peel of the wrapper at the foot

Draw: Easy pleasant draw

Strength: Light initially and then developed to medium after the first third

Taste: Mild spicy, creamy, old wood fire smokiness, vanilla developing into creamy butterscotch

Burn: Burn was excellent

Guy's rating (70-100): 91

General comments:

 

This is just a pure quality cigar. The aroma is sweet and woody, fantastic construction, excellent draw, excellent burn and superbly balanced flavours. The start of the smoke the body was possibly light to medium with this developing to a solid medium from after the first third. The flavours were so smooth and creamy that I had to consciously slow my self down. The spicy sweetness that started off developed into a spicy creamy butterscotch that became a manly spicy butterscotch after the second third. Fresh earthy woody tones maintained throughout the smoke and completely balanced with the spice, cream and sweetness.

 

Wow, I struggled to put this one down. Being a beginner I don't think I'm giving the complexity of the flavours the justice they deserve. I'm so glad I have another two in my humidor, I'll let them sit for a bit of time and then look forward to seeing how they develop and hopefully so does my pallet for such a fine cigar. I highly recommend giving this a go.

 

 

 

Punch Coronations

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 42

Length: 5.0

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: None

Construction: Poor - wrapper coming loose, bumps (Cigar was dry so probably not stored well)

Draw: Fair

Strength: Light to medium

Taste: Light, smooth, creamy with some spice

Burn: Burn was fair, possible a bit quick but due to dryness

Guy's rating (70-100): 75

General comments:

This cigar started off a bit slow, the aroma was good with hints of cinnamon and vanilla, fresh and gentle. The flavour was smooth, creamy with some spice but very very light. The taste only really started to develop after the first half of this cigar with the spiciness becoming more prominent. The last 3rd of this cigar was definitely the most exciting and interesting but construction let this one down with the wrapper starting to unfold at this point, it also lacked a bit of sweetness all through.

This smoke did however highlight the quality in flavour difference between hand made and machine made cigars - so my recommendation is stay away from machine made cigars. I'm also looking forward to something a little more fuller, maybe a robustos or short churchill next.

Romeo y Julieta: Romeo No. 1

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 40

Length: 5.5

Manufactured: Machine made

Maturity: None

Construction: Excellent

Draw: Poor

Strength:Medium

Taste: Woody and herby dominant

Burn: Burns well and uniform

Guy's rating (70-100): <70

Approximate price: £10.00

General comments:

Out of the tube this cigar gives the impression of a fantastic smoke, gentle sweet aroma with superb construction. However, when lit up the draw is awful, the taste is very woody and herb dominant that doesn't develop as the smoke goes on. The dominance of the woody herby taste ruins the experience - at times I thought I was smoking charcoal. I don't recommend if you're looking for a quality smoke.