baldheadracing
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- Joined
- Nov 6, 2008
- Messages
- 245
I have no idea how to pronounce 'Hajenius.' However, P.G.C. Hajenius is a B&M in Amsterdam - a B&M that goes back to 1826, and has been in the present location since 1915. "P.G.C." stands for Pantaleon Gerhard Coenraad Hajenius, who was 19 years old when he opened his cigar store in an Amsterdam hotel 183 years ago. The special "House Brand" at Hajenius means a very different cigar than, say, a generic Nicaraguan.
Being around since 1826 means Hajenius does things its own way, not the ways of the Cuban diaspora. For example, there is no triple-cap, and the cigar is pre-cut. Hajenius says to store the cigar at 55% RH. Hajenius also says that only the first two-thirds are supposed to be smoked. (I nubbed the ones I had.)
As befitting a Dutch cigar, the wrapper is from the former Dutch East India island of Sumatra. The cigar is short-filler. Why? According to Hajenius:
- the coarse veins of the leaf can be removed;
- 15 to 20 (!) different tobaccos can be in the blend, with the goal of consistent flavour over the years; and
- the same quality leaves as long-fillers can be employed.
Removal of coarse veins is appealing, as I have experienced a few big vein tunnels lately in other cigars. It makes one question why we demand long-filler cigars ...
Hajenius cigars are sold in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, and Switzerland. A fiver of these unique cigars was my prize in a spur-of-the-moment contest by Renefatdude. Six sizes are available; Rene sent the largest, the Corona. Here is Hajenius' description: (from http://www.hajenius.com)
Leaving aside the hyperbole, I will say right off that this has been the weirdest cigar that I have ever smoked. I have to agree that it was an after-dinner cigar. It had a unique richness of flavour. There were shades of richness - not a Joya de Nic richness, but hints of that JdN goodness. The whole cigar was like that - a draw hinting at leather, a draw hinting of dried fruit, but always with the Sumatra wrapper providing spicy sweet overtones. No pepper here! The cigar was always changing but never developing into distinctive 'thirds' like many cigars. Fifteen to twenty different fillers doesn't mean that one will smoke them all at the same time, after all.
Originally, I thought the cigar had an overwhelming mildness, but that wasn't quite right. The Hajejius has an overwhelming smoothness. a kind that isn't seen in cigars of Cuban heritage. As Cuban-style cigars are what I'm used to, it is weird - but in a good way. Definitely something to try if one gets the chance. Thanks Rene! :thumbs:
Being around since 1826 means Hajenius does things its own way, not the ways of the Cuban diaspora. For example, there is no triple-cap, and the cigar is pre-cut. Hajenius says to store the cigar at 55% RH. Hajenius also says that only the first two-thirds are supposed to be smoked. (I nubbed the ones I had.)
As befitting a Dutch cigar, the wrapper is from the former Dutch East India island of Sumatra. The cigar is short-filler. Why? According to Hajenius:
- the coarse veins of the leaf can be removed;
- 15 to 20 (!) different tobaccos can be in the blend, with the goal of consistent flavour over the years; and
- the same quality leaves as long-fillers can be employed.
Removal of coarse veins is appealing, as I have experienced a few big vein tunnels lately in other cigars. It makes one question why we demand long-filler cigars ...
Hajenius cigars are sold in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, and Switzerland. A fiver of these unique cigars was my prize in a spur-of-the-moment contest by Renefatdude. Six sizes are available; Rene sent the largest, the Corona. Here is Hajenius' description: (from http://www.hajenius.com)
Leaving aside the hyperbole, I will say right off that this has been the weirdest cigar that I have ever smoked. I have to agree that it was an after-dinner cigar. It had a unique richness of flavour. There were shades of richness - not a Joya de Nic richness, but hints of that JdN goodness. The whole cigar was like that - a draw hinting at leather, a draw hinting of dried fruit, but always with the Sumatra wrapper providing spicy sweet overtones. No pepper here! The cigar was always changing but never developing into distinctive 'thirds' like many cigars. Fifteen to twenty different fillers doesn't mean that one will smoke them all at the same time, after all.
Originally, I thought the cigar had an overwhelming mildness, but that wasn't quite right. The Hajejius has an overwhelming smoothness. a kind that isn't seen in cigars of Cuban heritage. As Cuban-style cigars are what I'm used to, it is weird - but in a good way. Definitely something to try if one gets the chance. Thanks Rene! :thumbs: