ggiese
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2004
- Messages
- 5,145
Ok, boys - I had a chance to sit down with the two "mystery" cigars last night (it was a balmy 85 degrees here, and it I just HAD to barbeque)...
I smoked M-18 first, which I use as a timer for the meat on the grill (Robusto or Corona sizes are just about right!).
The construction was very nice - clearly non-ISOM, (with a connecticut shade wrapper, instead of the Claro). I used a punch (I couldn't find my cutter anywhere - because momma had it!!!). Pre light draw was very nice - a pleasant sweet taste to the unlit cigar (vaguely familiar).
The cigar burned very nice - razor sharp. Tons of smoke, with a bit more bite to it than I would have expected for a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar. This baby stayed lit all the way down to the end, without any need for additional touch up. That taste was hauntingly familiar... I know I've smoked these cigars before - it was a very pleasant flavor. I've just never had this cigar in this particular vitola... I'm guessing it was most likely a Hanostia cigar, possibly the signature 101!?!???
The second cigar I smoked (M-21) was a much bigger ring gauge. A "beefy" cigar. The construction was nice but rough looking, with a darker wrapper (some kind of criollo, possibly?). It started to unravel a bit after I cut it, but went back together nicely with no other problems.
I'm glad I made up some strong apple martini's, because this cigar had a serious bite to it initially! The spice simmered down just a bit after the cigar got going... This was a perfect after dinner, smoking in the backyard with a martini kind of smoke! The burn was just a little funky, but not bad (little minor touch ups here and there). Tons of smoke, but I had a little trouble keeping it lit after about the half way point. I would have loved to have nubbed this one, but I couldn't keep it lit at all towards the end.
I don't believe I have ever tried one of these before. The flavor did not seem familiar to me. I'm not sure what it was, other than it was probably of Nicaraguan origin...
I smoked M-18 first, which I use as a timer for the meat on the grill (Robusto or Corona sizes are just about right!).
The construction was very nice - clearly non-ISOM, (with a connecticut shade wrapper, instead of the Claro). I used a punch (I couldn't find my cutter anywhere - because momma had it!!!). Pre light draw was very nice - a pleasant sweet taste to the unlit cigar (vaguely familiar).
The cigar burned very nice - razor sharp. Tons of smoke, with a bit more bite to it than I would have expected for a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar. This baby stayed lit all the way down to the end, without any need for additional touch up. That taste was hauntingly familiar... I know I've smoked these cigars before - it was a very pleasant flavor. I've just never had this cigar in this particular vitola... I'm guessing it was most likely a Hanostia cigar, possibly the signature 101!?!???
The second cigar I smoked (M-21) was a much bigger ring gauge. A "beefy" cigar. The construction was nice but rough looking, with a darker wrapper (some kind of criollo, possibly?). It started to unravel a bit after I cut it, but went back together nicely with no other problems.
I'm glad I made up some strong apple martini's, because this cigar had a serious bite to it initially! The spice simmered down just a bit after the cigar got going... This was a perfect after dinner, smoking in the backyard with a martini kind of smoke! The burn was just a little funky, but not bad (little minor touch ups here and there). Tons of smoke, but I had a little trouble keeping it lit after about the half way point. I would have loved to have nubbed this one, but I couldn't keep it lit at all towards the end.
I don't believe I have ever tried one of these before. The flavor did not seem familiar to me. I'm not sure what it was, other than it was probably of Nicaraguan origin...
). Thanks for playing, George. :thumbs:
