Davidoff Special "R"

This is my first non cuban cigar and it's definitely up their with the best cubans. In fact in terms of appearance and construction it's probably better than a larger majority of the top cubans.

Cigar summary

Origin: Dominican Republic

Ring gauge: 50

Length: 4 7/8

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 6 Weeks

Construction: Very good

Draw: Easy draw with dominant aniseed dry draw

Strength: Light to medium

Flavour: Creamy espresso developing to a rich spicey pepper

Burn: Fair

Guy's rating (70-100): 90.5

General comments:

The wrapper has a fresh grassy aroma with some oiliness. It's very light off the bat with some burnt creamy espresso and some sweetness coming through. The draw was light with a good smoke volume. What is appealing with this cigar is the felling of quality - it's appearance, feel in the hand, draw, flavour, construction, the whole package is really good.

 

Early on in the cigar and it already gives a taste sensation, after the first third some spiciness starts to develop. The second third the creaminess starts to fade but it maintains some oiliness. At this point the cigar is just really fresh and cool, it feels like it's the type of cigar that you would smoke at a sporting event maybe like a posh horse race event. It doesn't demand to much attention but does it's job really well.

 

The last third spiciness dominated with a pleasant tobacco flavour, burn and construction were superb. All in all a very good smoke.

 

 

 

 

Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill

This is my second Romeo Y Julieta and based on the other reviews that one can find on the web my expectations are high. Unfortunately my previous experience with a R&J is not particularly good, admittedly that was a machine made cigar and this is hand made, but this is going to be interesting!

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 50

Length: 4 7/8

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 1 month

Construction: Very good at first but fell apart towards the end

Draw: Easy, mild aniseed dry draw that firmed up after toasting

Strength: medium to full

Flavour: Nutty, coffee, pepper

Burn: From bad to worse

Guy's rating (70-100): 87

General comments:

Very nutty off the bat with some oiliness and some spiciness coming through. In addition the first 1/3 had some smokey barrel flavours coming through. Second third had the espresso coming through with perhaps some light earthy sweetness. The last third coffee and peppery spice were coming through stronger but the construction was starting to fail miserably. All in all the flavour is not too bad - but expected more, maybe that's a bit unfair, it's really solid. Maybe it's a personnel preference type taste, but it's just not for me. I wouldn't recommend this to a first time smoker. It will be some time before I get another R&J in my humidor.

 

Mowing the lawn with a Monte 4

This is a test run of posting from my mobile phone. And how brilliant - while I'm mowing the lawn. I don't think I've done an official review of a MonteC 4 before but they're just excellent so will do one soon.

Anyway, let me get back too it.

Later!

Cohiba Robustos

This was my second Cohiba and I think I may have set my expectations a bit high before smoking it, because I was a little disappointed. Compared to the Siglo I it just didn't quite have the sweetness and creaminess in the flavour and the flavour didn't develop into anything much. Still a great smoke but just not quite as dynamic as I had expected - and if you check out the other reviews online it's a very highly regarded cigar.

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 50

Length: 4 7/8

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 1 month

Construction: Not great, veiny, a bit flackey

Draw: Easy draw with a fruity dry draw

Strength: medium "ish"

Flavour: Espresso, grass and mild spice dominant with hints of cream and sweetness

Burn: Fair

Guy's rating (70-100): 90

General comments:

Off the bat there was a light oiliness and sweetness, coffee, cream, peppery spice were all present. These flavours became slightly richer after the first third but really didn't move anywhere. At this pointed I would have easily swapped it for an HDM Ep2. After the first half possibly some earthy tones coming through but nothing significant. Flavour wise it may be a good cigar to occupy you while you do something else like cut the lawn or watch the game with a few beers because it's not really complex and doesn't require attention to appreciate the smoke, but then again you could have something half the price and smoke a Punch Coronation or something like that instead. I think this one is probably worth another go - purely based on it's reputation, so I'll buy 3 for the Humidor and see how they go. But for the price - sorry this just didn't cut it!

 

Hoyo De Monterey Epicure No. 2

 

This was my first over 42 ring gauge cigar, 50 to be precise, and the size and weight and all round feel in the hand felt the most comfortable. The first impressions when cut and toasted is just quality, the aroma is a bit more earthy than other cigars I've reviewed almost like fresh sawdust, but the flavours are amazing. I think this one is going to be hard to beat.

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 50

Length: 4 7/8

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 1 month

Construction: Not great, veiny, a few tears in the wrapper

Draw: Loose

Strength: Light at first and developing to medium

Flavour: Coffee with mild pepper and spice and creaminess all through

Burn: Not great, 5 or 6 patch ups

Guy's rating (70-100): 93

General comments:

Off the bat as I've mentioned you pick up immediately that this is a quality cigar. Flavours are sweet and creamy with very mild pepper and spice and hints of coffee and cocoa. First third was a sweet espresso with creaminess. This developed into almost a honey coated nut flavour with some dried fruit, still on the light to medium side of body. At this point the cigar was really really smooth and probably one of the best I've smoked. At this stage it was starting to develop a rich creaminess and was maintaining a really good smoke volume. The last third introduced possibly a hint of pepper and spice but just a the right time - this cigar seems to hit all the right notes - I was very impressed at this point. Construction was not great but completely made up for with all the flavour. Creaminess was still there with pepper and espresso coming through strong at the end. All in all this is an excellent well balanced cigar and my recommendation is BUY!!

Montecristo No.5

I was initially banking on the MonteC No. 5 coming out tops on my review of short cigars - of course bringing the factor of price into the equation and not just all round quality. But unfortunately it was beat...Yes, by the Cohiba Siglo I. But the exercise wasn't a complete wash out as I've discovered that it's not a case of having a regular smoke available in your humidor because moods and requirements change depending on the situation, in fact maybe it's about having a variety available in your humidor to fulfill your cigar craving needs when they arise. So, below is the review of the MonteC No. 5:

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 40

Length: 4

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 2 week

Construction: Excellent

Draw: Easy

Strength: Medium at first and developing to full

Flavour: Coffee with mild pepper and spice

Burn: Fair

Guy's rating (70-100): 89

General comments:

Once again the dry draw of this cigar was the best part with hints of a fresh fruity citrus.

Off the bat there was a mild spice and coffee but no sweetness or creaminess that I've come to associate with montec's. This flavour seemed to maintain through the smoke and although not a bad flavour just didn't develop any further - maybe this is what they aim to do with short sticks, I don't know? A real positive with this cigar is the smoke volume which is great and I really enjoy together with the fairly easy draw for such a small stick. I'll be getting some of these for the humidor at some point but will be buying some Siglo I's first.

Next review is the HDM Epicure 2 - moving on to the big boys:) Watch this space!

 

Cohiba Siglo I

Wow, the big day arrived and I smoked my first Cohiba...rolling drums, in the form of the Cohiba Siglo I. Following on from my previous post, I'm trying different short cigars hoping to find one to add to my humidor as a regular smoke. I suppose the only down side to the Cohiba's are their price, for the price of a Siglo I you can get a MonteC No. 4 and an extra 1". Oh well, on to the review:

Cigar summary

Origin: Cuba

Ring gauge: 40

Length: 4

Manufactured: Hand made

Maturity: 1 week

Construction: Very good

Draw: Slightly firm

Strength: Medium at first and developing to full

Taste: Sweet and nutty developing into pepper and spice

Burn: Not the greatest but only needed two patch ups

Guy's rating (70-100): 91

General comments:

 

The dry draw on this is just brilliant, it has this sweetness that I just can't place. After toasting it off the bat you have sweet nut flavours, almost like a creamy peanut butter with hints of vanilla.

 

The first third developed richer woody earthiness that was exceptionally smooth and fresh. The sweet nuttiness remained but more as an undertone. In the second third a fresh grassyness started to come through with a raw nut flavour becoming more prominent. An oiliness also started to come through which you can feel on you lips, almost like a nut oil. In the last third the pepper and spice that I've come to know with Cuban cigars started to dominate, but not harsh.  It had an oily finish at this point which seemed to make the strong pepper and spice more palatable. Strangely I also seemed to be picking up a hint of berry in the finish and the aroma - weird as it may be!

 

Overall this smoke was great, the aroma is like no other, it's like a burnt fruity toffee - just brilliant. Although the Siglo I is slightly expensive for such a small cigar I will definately be keeping a couple of these in the humidor.