Review These - Reviews

[CgarDan]

Hey St JOhn did you get a chance to smoke the sticks I sent you

[stjohnroe]

Dan, hell of a busy at the moment, but this is at the top of my todo list. If the weather is reasonable tomorrow I plan on going for a long walk with the dogs and smokin one of the monsters that you sent. Review soon.

Cheers

Stjohn

Hey St JOhn did you get a chance to smoke the sticks I sent you

[stjohnroe]

Finally got a chance to spark up one of these and I decided to start with stick #2.

Curchill like in size (7") but hard to determine the true ring guage do to a triangular cross section. Lovelly colarado wrapper with a matt finish and fairly evident veins.

Popped the cap with a double guilotine and the pre light draw was good, not to free, not to tough. Slightly dusty under the cap, but that was easily solved with moistening from the lips.

Took my time to get a nice healthy and even burn and then set off on a walk with the dogs.

Initially this cigar was a bit of a beast, dry and harsh. This lasted for the first inch or so, however as the stick warmed up a more pleasant body started showing through.

The first third mainly tobacco with an overtaste of liquorice, reminiscent of the Sancho Panza Double Maduro.

The second third added a nice mollasses flavor to the mix and the smoke became a lot more juicy.

The last third of this cigar settled into a nice leather and pepper combo.

For the most part an even burn, though about half way it started tunnelling but quickly recovered. Right at the end developed a major pair of antlers, but nothing bad enough to spoil the smoke.

Not a bad smoke for an hour and a half.

All in all, OK but I wouldnt travel far or pay much to smoke one.

[Newfie]

These sticks arrived sometime last week while I was in Cuba, and my daughter opened the "package from the UK" per my instructions and laid it to rest in my coolidor. Last night things slowed down so I got a chance to smoke both, back to back with some time in between.

CIGAR # 1:

This was a very nicely constructed ciger, Petite Corona size (~ 4" X 40) with a medium brown wrapper that was very smooth & oily feeling with no prominent veins. The cap looked almost perfect and snipped off easily and cleanly with my Xikar revealing a very nice roll pattern. The pre-light draw was almost perfect with flavours reminding me of many of the cigars I smoked in Cuba last week.

It lit easily and initial impressions were a little harsh, but that's possibly because I wasn't expecting (or ready for) either the amount of smoke or the power in this little beast. . It settled down to a nice, strong, flavourful smoke after the first 1/2 inch or so.

The burn was a little wonky on this, but easily self-corrected. The ash was on the light side of med-gray with a little flaking but held it's shape very well.

1/2 way found the flavours of Cubans (cedar & leather) very prominent, but the strength seemed a little milder with still a wonderful amount of smoke for a cigar of this size.

Getting to the end, the strength picked up a bit again, but still a very smooth smoke. It started burning my lips so I let it go out. This smoke lasted 25 minutes.

Cigar # 2:

Another Petite Corona size, ~ 4-1/4" X 42 with a wrapper slightly darker then #1, and a little rougher with some veins showing. It also had one tiny white spot about 3/4" from the foot. This one also had a near perfect cap that snipped cleanly to once again reveal a nice roll pattern. The prelight draw on this one was tighter, but not to the point of being uncomfortable and also showed some "Cuban" flavour characteristics.

Lit easily, and with the tighter draw, I found it milder with less smoke. It showed a much cleaner burn than the other with no hint of even needing a correction. The ash was slightly darker, but smoother and firmer than #1.

At 1/2 way, it seemed like it was going to plug, but after a few more puffs, the draw settled out again. The flavours became more pronounced at this point and started to become a little stronger with more smoke. It strengthened close to being harsh by the end of the smoke. This stick lasted 35 minutes.

OVERALL:

Here's a picture of the nubs side by side with corresponding caps. #1 is on the left and this picture doesn't really give the slight colour difference justice.



Dare I say that I think both these cigers were Cuban in origin?? I thoroughly enjoyed both, but I have to say I enjoyed #1 more, mainly because I liked the draw better. Both had their good points, but I would have to give #1 a slightly higher mark. I don't know if I was sent two ISOMs to play with my skull or not, and maybe neither is Cuban, but I would buy either as a short smoke (depending on price, of course). In spite of my preference, I may have to say #2 may be the higher priced smoke.

So, what are they??

I can't wait!

[stjohnroe]

These sticks arrived sometime last week while I was in Cuba, and my daughter opened the "package from the UK" per my instructions and laid it to rest in my coolidor. Last night things slowed down so I got a chance to smoke both, back to back with some time in between.

CIGAR # 1:

This was a very nicely constructed ciger, Petite Corona size (~ 4" X 40) with a medium brown wrapper that was very smooth & oily feeling with no prominent veins. The cap looked almost perfect and snipped off easily and cleanly with my Xikar revealing a very nice roll pattern. The pre-light draw was almost perfect with flavours reminding me of many of the cigars I smoked in Cuba last week.

It lit easily and initial impressions were a little harsh, but that's possibly because I wasn't expecting (or ready for) either the amount of smoke or the power in this little beast. . It settled down to a nice, strong, flavourful smoke after the first 1/2 inch or so.

The burn was a little wonky on this, but easily self-corrected. The ash was on the light side of med-gray with a little flaking but held it's shape very well.

1/2 way found the flavours of Cubans (cedar & leather) very prominent, but the strength seemed a little milder with still a wonderful amount of smoke for a cigar of this size.

Getting to the end, the strength picked up a bit again, but still a very smooth smoke. It started burning my lips so I let it go out. This smoke lasted 25 minutes.

Cigar # 2:

Another Petite Corona size, ~ 4-1/4" X 42 with a wrapper slightly darker then #1, and a little rougher with some veins showing. It also had one tiny white spot about 3/4" from the foot. This one also had a near perfect cap that snipped cleanly to once again reveal a nice roll pattern. The prelight draw on this one was tighter, but not to the point of being uncomfortable and also showed some "Cuban" flavour characteristics.

Lit easily, and with the tighter draw, I found it milder with less smoke. It showed a much cleaner burn than the other with no hint of even needing a correction. The ash was slightly darker, but smoother and firmer than #1.

At 1/2 way, it seemed like it was going to plug, but after a few more puffs, the draw settled out again. The flavours became more pronounced at this point and started to become a little stronger with more smoke. It strengthened close to being harsh by the end of the smoke. This stick lasted 35 minutes.

OVERALL:

Here's a picture of the nubs side by side with corresponding caps. #1 is on the left and this picture doesn't really give the slight colour difference justice.



Dare I say that I think both these cigers were Cuban in origin?? I thoroughly enjoyed both, but I have to say I enjoyed #1 more, mainly because I liked the draw better. Both had their good points, but I would have to give #1 a slightly higher mark. I don't know if I was sent two ISOMs to play with my skull or not, and maybe neither is Cuban, but I would buy either as a short smoke (depending on price, of course). In spite of my preference, I may have to say #2 may be the higher priced smoke.

So, what are they??

I can't wait!

Newf:

All cuban, but not intentional to screw with you mind.

#1 Cohiba Siglo1 (apr $9)
#2 Partagas Short (apr $5.50)

To be honest I think that the cohiba is overpriced, but it still is a nice cigar. The cohiba might have been a bit young.

[slcraiders]

Great reviews, Jim.

[Newfie]

Great reviews, Jim.

Thanks James.

Cool, I'm not losing it!!! I figured at first the #1 was a Monte Cristo, but I've never had a small MC with a nice draw. I find 'em too tight. I didn't think of the Party Short for #2 because of the "milder" start.