Another Review Thread on Cubans? Really?

[cabaiguan juan]

2021-14 Romeo y Julieta Belvederes (2018) *Second Edition is up!

2021-14 Romeo y Julieta Belvederes (2018) *Second Edition

In this edition, the draw was perfect! I was excited to see what the difference in draw would do. 1/3: Coffee, or espresso with some faint pepper. Possibly some (milk?) chocolate. This edition was way different that the first go-round where I tasted wood, salt and must. I prefer this...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-15 Quintero Tubulares (unknown year or code) is up!

2021-15 Quintero Tubulares (unknown year or code)

So I had one or two of these last year, when I was doing this. I remember them being pretty good but rather ugly to look at. After reviewing last years reviews, I decided to not even try to compare notes. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed them last year, but still had mixed feelings. Now that I...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-16 Por Larranaga Petit Corona (LGR October 2019) *Second Edition is up!

2021-16 Por Larranaga Petit Corona (LGR October 2019) *Second Edition

I feel as if I'm getting used to this flavor profile at this point. These are really good, but lets see how this one held up to the first. 1/3: Salt and mineral. So in looking back to the first example, I had salt, but I also had melon, and rind. None of that on this version. 2/3: Salt and...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-17 Trinidad Reyes (unknown year or code) is up!

2021-17 Trinidad Reyes (unknown year or code)

This is another one which I was lucky enough to have for last years review. I just reread my review, and well..., it is not something where I can compare apples to apples. Go back and read it if you can find it, and you will see why. Anyways... 1/3: This took a good half dozen puffs before I...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-18 Partagas Short (unknown year or code) is up!

2021-18 Partagas Short (REG September 2019)

This cigar is another work horse in the cigar world. I have had these before, but couldn't tell you anything about them, other then they are something you need. This time I actually paid attention to it: 1/3: Chalk and red pepper of the bat. About halfway through the first third, I begin to...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-19 Bolivar Petit Belicosos LE (ERO AGO 2009) is up!

2021-19 Bolivar Petit Belicosos LE (ERO AGO 2009)

This is the first of a very special package I received. Actually the remaining sticks in this review experience are all from that package. In that package was a letter and on that letter I was asked if I could figure out the predominate flavor from this, and I think I did. 1/3: Dark chocolate...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-20 Bolivar Coronas Gigantes (POS ENE 2007) is up!

2021-20 Bolivar Coronas Gigantes (POS ENE 2007)

Another cigar from Yoda! "aged for the just right amount of time for these". So yeah, my expectation level is starting off kinda high. And just to put the age into perspective, I joined CP a year before these were boxed. 1/3: This starts off a tad bit tight, so I have to use my "sipping"...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-21 Diplomaticos No. 2 (OEB May 2007) is up!

2021-21 Diplomaticos No. 2 (OEB May 2007)

I don't know how much over lap the Diplomatico blend and the Montecristo blend have, but I have heard folks say that the Diplomaticos #2 is similar to the Montecristo #2. I don't have one to compare but just this statement had me pretty excited to try a Diplomatico. Again, notice the age! I...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-22 Por Larranaga Petit Corona (EML ABR 2014) is up!

2021-22 Por Larranaga Petit Corona (EML ABR 2014)

So in the name of science, this is the first of this review series to forgo the flavor wheel. I feel like I have reviewed these enough times that this would be a good litmus test. So here we go: 1/3: Chalk and spice. The first half inch in, produces nutmeg and vanilla, while the spice begins...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-23 Montecristo No. 4 (Pre-Embargo) is up!

2021-23 Montecristo No. 4 (Pre-Embargo)

Just having the opportunity to smoke this is a treat! Pre-Embargo, I mean how cool is that?!?! 1/3: Chalk, which I think translates to "old book" or "musty attic" in Bill speak. Oh, and a little bit of sweetness. This is amazingly delicious. A quarter inch in and I get a little bit of...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-24 Montecristo No. 1 (1970) is up!

2021-24 Montecristo No. 1 (1970)

A cigar from 1970! What more can I say? I wasn't even born yet. It smells a little leathery and the cold draw is a bit of old hay left in an old barn. 1/3: The milk leftover from a bowl of Golden Grahams cereal is what I'm getting for most of the first third. About half way through the...

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[Thoughts]

2021-24 Montecristo No. 1 (1970) is up!

2021-24 Montecristo No. 1 (1970)

A cigar from 1970! What more can I say? I wasn't even born yet. It smells a little leathery and the cold draw is a bit of old hay left in an old barn. 1/3: The milk leftover from a bowl of Golden Grahams cereal is what I'm getting for most of the first third. About half way through the...

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It must be my birthday!!!

 

[cabaiguan juan]

2021-25 H Upmann Coronas (PVC ENE 2003) is up!

2021-25 H Upmann Coronas (PVC ENE 2003)

As always, I am excited to smoke something that has history behind it. I don't know about you, but something with age like this does has me reflecting on what I was doing in 2003, and where I was: Junior year of college. I think I was playing lacrosse for CU's team that year too. My...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-26 H Upmann Sir Winston (OME MAY 2014) is up!

2021-26 H Upmann Sir Winston (OME MAY 2014)

To say that I am excited for this wouldn’t be doing this situation justice. Cohiba's and Monti 2’s get all the glory, but you will never find someone who does speak of the Sir Winston without reverence. 1/3:Great flavor and draw right off the bat! Maybe some baking spice. It is a little...

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[cabaiguan juan]

2021-27 Behike BHK 56 (unknown year or code) is up!

2021-27 Behike BHK 56 (unknown year or code)

This one is 5 to 6 years old, so I am told. I had a couple of the smaller versions 9 years ago on a kickass business trip but I don't remember anything from that. There is some level of Baller status that comes with this. Even the band is flashy. I felt like I was wearing ostrich leather...

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[cabaiguan juan]

And with that, it is with some sadness to say that this closes out this years Cuban cigar review thread for me. I had an absolutely awesome time doing this. So thank you to all of the contributing members on this forum to help make this possible.

Oh, and on the note of Flavor Wheel or no Flavor Wheel- while I like the diversity of flavor options spelled out on the flavor wheel to augment by Billy goat palate, I did enjoy the ability to smoke the cigar and not be constantly referring back to a sheet of paper trying to pick out the next flavor. I think not using the Flavor wheel made the experience more natural and closer to what a regular smoking experience is. Now don't be mistaken, smoking all of these cigars and trying to pay this level of attention is work. I've mentioned at least once that there are some of these cigars which I would like to smoke without the responsibility of reviewing them hanging over me. But, someone's gotta do it, and I'll be your Huckleberry.

 

[ggiese]

And with that, it is with some sadness to say that this closes out this years Cuban cigar review thread for me. I had an absolutely awesome time doing this. So thank you to all of the contributing members on this forum to help make this possible.

Oh, and on the note of Flavor Wheel or no Flavor Wheel- while I like the diversity of flavor options spelled out on the flavor wheel to augment by Billy goat palate, I did enjoy the ability to smoke the cigar and not be constantly referring back to a sheet of paper trying to pick out the next flavor. I think not using the Flavor wheel made the experience more natural and closer to what a regular smoking experience is. Now don't be mistaken, smoking all of these cigars and trying to pay this level of attention is work. I've mentioned at least once that there are some of these cigars which I would like to smoke without the responsibility of reviewing them hanging over me. But, someone's gotta do it, and I'll be your Huckleberry.

View attachment 44974

One of my favorite stories about tasting flavors in cigars... Many years ago a group of us would routinely meet at a local cigar lounge. We often traded our observations about the tastes and smells we encountered - and compared notes. We had amongst us a compadre who generally enjoyed smoking with us, but never really offered any opinions about taste or smell. He said he left it up to us "experts" because he never tasted anything other than cigar smoke, but instead just chose to smoke the cigars he liked. On one particular day everyone was chatting away, talking about the smells and tastes. I watched our compadre intently as he was clearly either processing what he tasting/smelling - or REALLY enjoying his cigar. The looks on his face were classic. Suddenly - and without warning - he blurted out "GRAHAM CRACKERS!!! GRAHAM CRACKERS!!! THAT'S WHAT I TASTE - GRAHAM CRACKERS!...." He carried on for the next hour about how he could never taste anything, until he finally tasted graham crackers. He was clearly very proud of himself that he finally was able to taste something other than cigar smoke. To this day he swears the only time he's ever tasted anything smoking a cigar was when he first tasted graham crackers...

 

[cabaiguan juan]

I just realized that this journey lasted 3 and a half months.