Christmas Eve cigar (Padron 80th maduro)

Padron 80^th perfecto maduro is in my opinion one of the best cigars in the market right now, although they are not available all the time are a real treat if you can find them.

I have been keeping in my aging humidor some boxes of these dark beauties for special occasions cigars, since their price does not allow me to smoke them on an every day basis no matter how much I would love to.

The cigar i am going to review comes from the first release one year ago, so it has some aging on it!

Appearence

This is a fantastic cigar measuring 6 ¾ x 54 and has a box pressed perfecto shape that makes it even more appealing to the eye.

It feels very well constructed to the touch, without soft spots and the wrapper has a beautiful oily shine on it. It looks like it has some “bite” on it and it doesn't feel fragile to the touch.

Cut and cold draw

Cutting a perfecto can be done in two ways; some people like cutting it from both sides, hear and foot.

They say that by removing a small part of the foot helps the cigar to “open up” easier.

I decided to cut just the head off since I remember from the first time I smoked this cigar that “opening up” was not a problem!

Once cut the cold draw was easy, maybe it felt like a bit loose for such a big cigar.

Cold draw brought to my mouth taste of leather, coffee and very strong tobacco.

Very promising...

Light and first third

Lighting the cigar was very easy, although I took it slow toasting the foot first since I didn't want to heat it up too fast, risking a cracked wrapper.

Once lit the cigar started with a strong leather flavor, producing tons of smoke.

Very tasty, strong with a full body and divine taste.

The burn line is very fine and also even, so no need for touch ups!!

After in inch into the P80 the initial flavor has changed into a peppery coffee taste, strong but very balanced.

Padrons are known to make great cigars and P80 was made to celebrate the birth day of the patriarch of the family J. O. Padron so quality is superb!

The loose cold draw is now just perfect so no fear of over heating.

Second Third

More than thirty minutes after the first light and this perfect is burning perfect!!

loads of tasty smoke on the palette and in the air.

The cigar now gives off a creamy cocoa spicy taste that seams to never leave the palette. Fantastic!

Burn rate is medium but it feels like fast since I don't want to end this smoke.

Balance and consistency are the main features of this top end smoke. It has picked up in body but this is something expected from a Padron cigar.

Now black cherry taste is present along with a nutmeg hint on the after taste. Very complex smoke even for the most experienced smoker.

Third and last part

The 80^th anniversary is a fabulous smoke and the same complex character keeps on going on this last third too.

Although it is only 1 ½ of an inch from the finish it hasn't got hot or harsh. This is a cigar you dont want to put down in the ashtray.

Close to the end and leather is back and strong but with loads of pepper.

It has been almost two hours and sadly I have to let it die in dignity.

Overall impressions

Padron 80^th is a novelty smoke but that's not just it.

It is a prize! It is one of these little things that make an ordinary day special, let alone if this day is Christmas Eve. Then it's even better.

It might not be cheap($30 per stick) but it is one of these boxes worth having for special occasions.

Aging potentials are big, but Padrons use aged tobacco so smoking the cigar young is no problem.

I wonder how these cigars are going to taste like in two or three years and I know many of you have the same question.

My Father Belicoso by D.P. Garcia

My Father cigars are one of the latest creations of the Garcia family and in particular Jamie Garcia, who created this blend to honor his father Pepin.

Word has it that they are been produced in small quantities in the family's new factory in Nicaragua.

My father Belicoso is a nice looking cigar. It feels tight to the touch firm rolled,without soft spots wearing an oily brown wrapper.

Cut and cold draw

Cutting the pointy head of the cigar was an easy task for Xikar's cigar tool. Taking some cold draws the first taste that comes to the mouth is light coffee with a nice cream feeling to it.

First third

After lighting the cigar and getting into the first quarter inch of it a wonderful leather taste emerges

smooth and balanced.

Very light spice, pepper and nutmeg are present on the background!

Draw is tight but not hard and the burn line is a bit uneven with no need for touchups so far.

Smoke production is not to big but the produced smoke is very tasty and pleasant without been offensive to people around me.

Flavor profile os very similar to a cuban Ramon Allones Specially Selected I had some time ago.

The Pepins really pay tribute to their Cuban heritage once again with this cigar.

Burn rate is slow. Body is medium to full with a progressing leather taste as it's been smoked towards the second third.

Second third

Into the second third and it is obvious that this is a very well constructed and consistent cigar.

It has opened up. The draw now is a little easier but still has this welcome resistance.

Leather has taken one step back and now the most characteristic “Pepin” flavor has taken the main stage. That's right PEPPER!! Not too intense but very clear.

Burn rate is still relatively slow and burn line has corrected itself into razor sharp.

Ash is holding very well and although the cigar is close to its last third there is no need to use the ashtray.

Third and last part

On this last part of the cigar flavor has turned into creamy spice with intense tones of coffee beans and cinnamon. Very complex!

The cigar has picked up in body but never out of balance.

Blowing smoke through the nose is now a little harder, but doing it gives a very strong peppery taste.

That is very appealing to those who love bold full bodied cigars with spicy taste.

The flavor lasts long on the palette, leaving a nice creamy feeling.

Nubbin this belicoso is not hard since this is a very delicious cigar

Over all impassions

I love all Pepin creations and this is no exemption.

I would definitely buy some more of these cigars. They might no be cheap but they are so good that they are worth it!!!

Opus X Perfection X ( 2007 )

Opus X is one of the most controversial cigar bands out there right now. Many say there is nothing more to it but a marketing strategy, others believe that Opus x deserve the hype.

One thing is beyond any doubt, Opus X are one of the best cigars available and a well aged X is one of the most rewarding smoke.

Appearance and Pre light   

This cigar looks beautiful. The wrapper has an oily shine on it and the brown reddish color is very appealing to the eye.

The constriction is impeccable and there are no soft spots when feeling the cigar with the fingers.

Cut and cold draw 

The head of the cigar was easy to be removed using my Palio cutter.

Cold draw had a perfect amount  of resistance giving strong cinnamon, spice and dry nut taste.

First third

First half inch into the cigar and strong taste of nuts is present along with some espresso notes that are not clear yet.

The burn line is thin and sharp and the Perfection X produces vast amounts of smoke.

Draw resistance is spot on, not to tight not very loose so the cigar is burning cool.

I had been  resting this cigar in my humidor since May 2007 at 65 F- 65% RH and although Perfection X is said to be one of the strongest cigars of the Opus family.

Still after this R & R time there is a smoothness in this cigar that really amazes me!

Second third 

35 minutes after the first light and into the second third.

The taste of this stick is fantastic. Taste of nuts is still present but not as strong as before. Now leather is the dominant taste. Leather and the cinnamon taste I found on the cold draw. Finally this cigar NOW is an Opus X.

Its picking up in body and the volume of smoke is still very big.

At this point some burn issues have occurred but nothing the cigar did not corrected itself after some puffs.

Third and last part.

Perfection X into the third part and cinnamon and coffee beans are now very much alive.

Blowing smoke from the nostrils gives a full blast of strong leather and pepper.

This is definitely NOT a cigar for the faint hearted.

Very smooth and balanced but still has that kick in the ass of its youth. The taste goes on and on on the palette. Fantastic!!

Getting to the end of the cigar all i can think of is how great this cigar is. These are wonderful smokes right out of the box, but even better if you allow them to rest for some years.

Rich, bold but also smooth with an almost decadent taste and feel to them.

If only I could get more!!

All I hope for is to have the patience to age the ones I own for some more years.

It looks like a decade is  a very realistic approach... 

La Aurora 100 Anos Belicoso

Today I found the time to smoke something special out of my humidor so I thought I should write a review on it.

I am fortunate enough to have four boxes of La Aurora 100 Anos belicosos from the 2004 release that I have been keeping them for aging. I know that now it is not very easy to find them so I smoke them every once in a while.

Appearance: 

The cigar looks great, with a perfect wrapper oily and firm to the touch. No soft spots and it looks like a well rolled, top quality smoke. There are no veins or any other visible defects on it.

Cut & cold draw:  

Cutting the top of this beautiful Belicoso was a very easy task for my Xikar cigar tool. Nice clean cut, without any loose tobacco  falling from the top(good humidity level thank God!).

On the first cold draw I got hints of pure tobacco but I have to say that there was a very floral twist in it, I believe from aging it for almost five years.

I could tell that I was up for a great smoke, with lots of strong but delicate flavors.

Lighting: 

Lighting the cigar was very easy with a Prometheus torch lighter, but I was very careful not to raise  the heat of the cigar to fast. When the foot was evenly lit I was ready to go...

Taste: 

The cigar started with subtle tastes of great fermented tobacco with some leather on the background but always with this “floral twist” that was very pleasant.

The first third of the cigar went like this.

When I moved on into the second third the taste became that of pure tobacco leaving a nice creamy sensation in the mouth that lasted for a very long time. It felt like the after taste of a great red wine that never seams to leave the palette.

On the third part of the cigar the floral twist came back and stayed there until the nub.

The cigar was very consistent all the way through and I think this is the result of proper aging.

The Aurora 100 Anos was a great cigar when it came out and now, after five years it's even better.

The taste profile was very much alike a cuban Partagas P2 with a lot of aging.

I very strongly believe that if you can find them, one box is a must have!!!

I hope you'll enjoy this review and maybe read it over smoking a great cigar.

Cuban Bolivar Royal Corona

I just received a box of Bolivar Royal Corona from the on line store I usually buy my cigars from and even though I do not try them as soon as I get them in , this time I thought I should give them a try and compare them to the RASS I got from the same place ten days ago.

Well to my surprise the Bolivar smoked great and it was humidified perfect. Usually they are a bit over humidified for the journey.

The cigar had a date March 2008 so I thought that it would have all these characteristics young Cuban's have.

That was not the case here!!!

The cigar was perfect. It was like smoking a much older cigar.

Looks:

The cigar had a nice milk chocolate brown color , with a beautiful oily shine. It felt smooth and elastic and it didn't feel fragile. A real robusto!

Pre light smell:

Bringing the foot of the cigar close to the nose I could smell great tobacco and also a hint of dried flowers !!??

Cold draw:

When I clipped off the cap of my cigar and took a draw before lighting it it felt very nice. The amount of resistance was just right,not loose but not too tight. All the aromas I felt  were there and I had an intense sense of more dried flowers...

Lighting and  smoking:

Lighting the cigar was not a problem. After torching the foot for a few seconds I took the first puff  and it was awesome! The cigar started strong but not overwhelming with a pure flavor of leather and tobacco. After an inch the strength pulled back, don't fool yourself it was in the full body range all the way, and tobacco flavors along with dried flowers kicked in.

The cigar stayed like this all the way to the last inch and a half where strong leather and coffee were the dominating flavors.

Needless to say that I smoked the cigar all the way 'till the end. It burned cool so no problem getting burned.

Over all impression:

That was one hell of a cigar. Great performance  from the start until the last  puff. My guess is that in two or three years it will be a wow cigar.

I don't know about you but I will stock some more boxes in my aging humidor.   

Coronado By La Flor Lancero

For some time now, I think since the El Triunfandor came out, I find my self been attracted by Lancero.
I know it is a strange and difficult size but if you get a good box then it can be a very rewarding smoke.

Few days ago a friend of mine send me a box of Coronado by La Flor Lancero so I thought it would be a good idea to give them a try. So here is my review of it.

Appearance:
This is the first cigar I smoked from this box so upon opening the box I couldn’t help noticing that this is a very dark colored cigar.
The wrapper had a dark milk chocolate color with very good oils. It was shiny and smooth with no veins and a perfect pig tailed head.

Cut and cold draw:
The cup was very easily removed with my Xikar cigar tool.
The cigar was in perfect condition and on the first cold draw I instantly knew I was up for a treat.
The cigar had a perfect draw, not just for a Lancero but even for a larger cigar, not tight but not too loose and there was a very intense earthy and chocolate flavor that were really nice.

Lighting and first half:
It was very easy to light the cigar and since this is a thin smoke I did not use my torch lighter, been afraid that I might heat up the cigar more that I should.
The draw when the cigar was lit continued to be perfect and after an inch or so I started getting very strong earth, leather and worm spice flavors that were very satisfying.
The cigar had a full body, full flavor profile, definitely not for the fainthearted, all the way through the first half. The burn line was razor sharp and I never had to touch it up with the lighter.

Second half:
The second half of the cigar continued much like the first.
The cigar was at the full body, full flavor range all the time and the complexity was something that really amazed me.
The aroma was great, even my non smoking mother in-law liked it, and the taste of the cigar, given the fact that the wrapper / filler ratio is in favor of the wrapper was fantastic.
I have to say that I smoked it to the nub and not even did I had to relight it or the cigar got harsh.

Overall impressions:
This is a fantastic smoke.
I have a box of Coronado since they were rated No 2 cigar of the year and I know they age very well.
The same will happen with these slim beauties, so I have to get me some more boxes!

If you like Lancero sized cigars I guarantee you will love these.