Montecristo No. 5 (7 year old)

This is my second smoke of an aged cigar...and I hope it goes better. My initial review of a monte 5 was not great so I guess I'm not expecting great things...I suppose this then serves as an experiment. This Monte is about 7 years old, been looked after in a cedar humidor but has sat for awhile.

Oh...and this is my first mobile review, enjoy!

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 40

Length: 4

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: about 7 years

Construction: Still excellent

Draw: Easy

Strength: Medium at first and developing to full

Flavour: Bitter cocoa from the start and right through 

Burn: Below par

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

General comments:

Wow okay...nothing fruity nothing creamy. Pretty much bitter from the get go. Burnt tobacco and burnt toast is all that's coming through. Not harsh but still not in the category of Cuban pleasant. 

Half way through and I'd put this as bitter...I think aging cigars is a whole art on it's own...such a disappointment. Oh well! Just an excuse to buy another Monte 5 and do a review as a comparison. I'm going to just end it here.

Bolivar petit carona

Wow! Two in 2 days, aren't I lucky! So, today, after my 7 year old HDME2 yesterday, I though I should try something fresh as a comparison. To be entirely honest I wasn't entirely satisfied with the Hoyo yesterday, I'm really trying to look for positives. I found the aged Hoyo bold in flavours, but tending ever so slightly on harsh!

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 42

Length: 5 1/8"

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 1 week

Construction: Good

Draw: Fresh, oily and easy

Strength: Mild

Flavour: Creamy mild coffee and fresh grass/straw

Burn: good

Guy's rating (70-100): 89

General comments:

 Initially, the smell of the wrapper on the "fresh" Bolivar is sweet and almost floral. The dry draw is fresh and oily.

On lighting up its pure creaminess...this is why we smoke Cubans. My whole mouth and teeth are just oily and creamy. The flavours are tender earthy pepper and grass. Already I'm preferring a fresh Cuban. Most of the reviews I've watched on this cigar have put it as bold but I'm not tasting it off the bat.

The first third is just a continuation of the earthy cream. The draw and burn is really good.

The second third of the smoke is distinctively smooth. The flavours are balanced and I'm struggling to distinguish. I'm going to use the fact that this is my first proper cigar smoke in 7 years as an excuse for describing something more creative. Currently it's the kind of smoke that is easy and something I would recommend to first time cigar smokers. Not difficult to enjoy.

In the last third there are no real transitions in flavours. The coffee/espresso perks up a bit with some pepper but very mild. It's an easy smoke that I like but not complex... maybe something for the golf course or BBQ - doesn't need a lot of attention. In my opinion maybe it needs some ageing :)

I'll definitely be getting more for my humidor. Its an easy smoke that is very enjoyable. I think for my next smoke I may try a classic like a Cohiba Robusto - get the taste of a winner Cuban and something to compare against.

I think I may apologise to the aged cigar haters out there...they might be right! I'll give this an 89 just because of the lack of flavour development...but still a good cigar! Any everyday type cigar.

Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure number 2 (7 year old)

My fist cigar in a while (saving to buy a house you see). I've had several in my humidor for over 7 years and after doing some research found that aged cigars get some bad press. Apparently 2 to 3 years is about max for ageing time and maintaining taste quality. I hoped I hadn't ruined mine by keeping them so long and not smoking them but thought I'd better give them a go and see how they've turned out for myself. I've stored them in a cedar lined humidor and maintained relatively stable temperatures and kept humidity's between 65 and mid 70s.

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 50

Length: 4 7/8

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 7 years

Construction: Not bad for 7 years in my humidor

Draw: Perfect

Strength: Bold for the start

Flavour: Rich coffee and pepper - the creaminess is almost gone

Burn: good

Guy's rating (70-100): 90

General comments:

 Off the bat the flavours are full. Mostly coffee and peppery toast. The creaminess that I've tasted before is largely gone. I'd put this as bold from the start. From the research I was expecting the flavours to tone down but I've found the opposite.

The first third introduces some bitterness and full tobacco flavour, the coffee and pepper tone down.

The second third slight creaminess has come back. The full flavours from the start have relaxed and are more balanced. Maybe a hint of sweetness and still earthy. Burn is still fantastic at this point.

 Some pleasant oiliness has developed and the peppery toast is back with some coffee bitterness. I'd still put the cigar as full bodied but smooth enough to enjoy and not harsh. 

The only disappointment I suppose is the loss of creaminess but it appears to have kept good flavour. I'll have to give some fresh Epicure No2s ago to have a better comparison...keep you posted.