Partagas Series D No. 4

Partagas Series D No. 4

6 1/8 × 52 Robusto
Made in Cuba
Paid: Gifted
Drink: Jack Daniels, and Diet Pepsi

After smoking the Partagas Series P No. 2 yesterday, I knew this would be my next cigar.

My cigar had abou a 3/4 inch split in the foot, that caused it to start off with a wonky burn.

I notice that the flavour is consistent with a Partagas cigar.  This one had a definitive floral flavour, and lots of pepper.  It isn't nearly as sweet as the P2, so I think that's why I'm not getting that kind of vanilla flavour mixed with the floral.  I hardly detect any wood to it either.  It also leaves a nice subtle cream flavour on the tongue.

By the second third, the pepper dies off, and it's really relaxing to sit back, and enjoy the smoke.  The aroma it gives off is very pleasant. 

While not as strong, or full flavoured as a P2, still a very good quality smoke, and great switch up from the Montecristo Edmundo's that I usually go to when I want to relax and smoke a Cuban robusto.  

One little annoyance was a little to much glue on the band that tore open the wrapper on the last third causing it to unravel. Had to be careful with from there out.

Partagas Series P No. 2

Partagas Series P No. 2

6 1/8 × 52 Pyramid
Made in Cuba
Paid: $27 CDN
Drink: Jack Daniels, and Diet Pepsi

I reached for my last Montecristo No.2, and thought I would save it, and instead give the Partagas Series P No.2 a shot.  I've heard so many good things, and was curious.  I also heard good things about the Diplomatico No.2 which was OK, but not rivaling the Monte #2.

I lit this up, and my mind was blown.  The first half was an amazing very sweet woody, slight earth, and creamy flavour that I went back and forth on, deciding if it was floral, or vanilla. Just delicious.  The second half changed up a bit, getting less woody, but continuing with the floral/vanilla, and some nutty taste's sprinkled in.  The whole cigar is rich, and smooth.

A lot of reviews state this is not a beginner smoke, and describe it as overwhelming, or strong.  Was not the case here.  Definitely medium strength, and full of flavour.  Very similar to the Partagas Mille Fleur, just exponentially flavour filled.

This cigar really WOWed me.  If this one cigar sample is the consistent experience you get, then this cigar certainly rivals the Monte #2, and perhaps bests it.  I have a Series D No.4, that I can't wait to try.

I'm definitely getting more of these, and would absolutely get a box if I get more of the same.

Diplomatico No. 2

Diplomatico No. 2

6 1/8 × 52
Made in Cuba
Paid: $20 CDN
Drink: Jack Daniels, and Diet Pepsi

I haven't smoked a Cuban in awhile, after a tear trying to find some Non-Cuban sticks I like.  Needed the break, and contemplated a Montecristo Edumndo.  Reached for this one after a recent post comparing the Montecrsito No. 2 and the Diplomatico No. 2.  I have a few Monte 2's under my belt, and absolutely love that cigar.  This is supposed to be a cheaper alternative, that many prefer over the Monte.

The construction is good, but seems ever so sub par to a Monte 2 with veins, and bumps in the wrapper.    I love the feel of a pyramid in the hand.

I get a good amount of earth, but this cigar also has a nutty flavour to it, which I'm not sure I get with the Monte.  Very smooth.  Burned like a champ.

The taste, while similar to a Monte 2, is not as full.  The flavour profile seems more like a Guantanamera brand cigar (Cheap), minus the horrid construction, and draw issues.  Overall I can't say anything bad about it.

I'll make this comparison.  It's like drinking Coke, or Pepsi, or any other name brand product, and then going out and buying the no name brand.  Even though their marketing it as cola, it just doesn't taste like the real thing.  If these were significantly cheaper, like a no name, I would consider it an alternative, but I'm pretty sure this was only a couple bucks cheaper then a Monte 2.

Punch London Club EMS

Punch London Club EMS 

5 x 40 Petit Corona

Made in Honduras          

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler:  Dominican, Nicaraguan, Honduran

Paid: $10 CDN)

Drink: Diet Pepsi with Jack Daniels

I smoked one of these yesterday for the first time, while I was out and about.  I was so impressed I decided to light this one, and see if it really was that good.  So this review will encompass the experience of both sticks.

I've had a couple of them sitting in my humidor for a few months now.  They were purchased from different locations, and I noted that one had darker wrapper then the other, and it wasn't the maduro version.

They both are made well, and burn perfect.

The first stick started out with a strong wood flavour, with a mild floral taste in the background.  At the halfway point it switched up to strong floral, and the wood took the back seat.  Very pleasing.  The best of the two sticks.

The second stick I got a strong earth, mixed with some floral, and woody tastes.  The taste was similar to a Cuban Hoyo de Monterey.  By the last half, the earth subsided, and all I was getting is floral.  I don't know what tobacco gives that flavour, but it's great.  Kinda tastes like soap, which sounds bad, but not in this case.  

This cigar is nothing mind blowing, but a very enjoyable stick.  The tobacco strength is mild, and the taste is just right, and leaves no aftertaste.   

A box of 25 can be had in the US for as little as $50-60, and I'm going to pull the trigger on one in the near future, as they tend to go for about $10 a stick here.  This is one of the better Non-Cuban cigars I've smoked, and probably the first I can definitively say I would smoke on a regular basis, if I can get them for $2-3 a stick.

Frank Correnti Maduro Robusto

Frank Correntti Maduro Robusto
4 3/4 x 50
Hand Rolled in Toronto, Canada
All Imported Cuban Tobacco
$11.50 CDN

Frank Correnti is the only maker of Cuban hand made cigars.  He's located at 606 King St W, Toronto.  You have to walk down a laneway to the very back where you'll find the door leading up to his second floor factory.  Like you're doing something illegal, and need to know the secret knock to get in.

The place is nice, and you can see where they hand roll, and store them.  There is also a lounge.  The cigars are unbanded, and unboxed, though you can purchase those options for extra if you want.

They sell each vitola in a Claro wrapper, or Maduro.  In my opinion the Maduro is the best. I have not had good luck with the Claro's in construction, and taste.  Very Bland.

This Maduro Robusto you can see is not well constructed if that matters to you.  I find all his cigars have an overall poor construction, and loose draw when compared to a brand name cuban.  It's really hit or miss, however I don't smoke them for looks.

This cigar I got nice flavours of sweet wood, mild earth, pepper on the exhale, and a nice caramel creamy after taste. None of these flavours are overwhelming.  The wood is really pronounced.

He claims all tobacco is aged five years, but occasionally I get a slight ammonia in the smoke.  I find all his cigars on the mild to medium side of strength.

While I don't think these cigars come close to standing up to a cuban cigar like Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo, Partagas, etc... they are still really good, especially when you factor in the price.  A single robusto from the aforementioned brands will garner $20 and up in Canada.  So not a bad trade off.  I would certainly rank them well above the Guantanamera, and Quintero lines of Cuban cigars.

You can check them out online at http://www.correnticigars.com/, and if your in Toronto certainly take the time to visit.  I like to go buy a few cigars every now and then, just to support the cigar business in general.

Montecristo Edmundo

Montecristo Edmundo

5 3/8 × 52 Robusto

Made in Cuba

Drink: Diet Pepsi

Box date: Sept 09

In continuation of my great run at the Montecirsto line, I'm smoking a Edmundo.  I split a box of these with a co-worker, so it better be good.  I wasn't to worried.  I smoked the Petit Edmundo yesterday, and was expecting an identical experience, just a half hour longer.

I found the draw on this thing a little tight, and it opened up to a normal draw by the half way point.  The smoke is thick, and creamy, coating my mouth with flavour.

The flavours were the same as the PE, but far more mellow, and spread out.  You get the woodiness, and the earth kicks in after an inch or so.  By the half way point I then get the chocolate/cocoa flavour on the back my tongue.

This is not a powerful stick.  I usually can't take a robusto to the nub, but did it with ease here.  I loved the Bolivar Royal Corona, which is a little shorter then this, and couldn't finish it due to the strength.

Overall a really great smoke, and I'm happy I have a dozen of these waiting.  If I had to choose based on now smoking one of each, the PE would get the nod. The PE had a stronger flavour, which I got from start to finish.    Perhaps the PE would get equally as mellow with a year and half of age.

Another great Monte, I highly recommend. 

Montecristo Petit Edmundo

Montecristo Petit Edmundo

4 1/3 × 52 

Made in Cuba

Paid:  $19

Drink: Diet Pepsi

I'm quickly becoming Monte fan boy.  I have a half box of Edmundo's that I splt with a co-worker, and planned on lighting that up today.  I reached for this instead, as it's been sitting in the humidor alone for awhile.

Like with all Monte's, I find the construction, and feel of the cigar to be perfect.  It lights nicely, and burns even start to finish, without ever getting to hot.

Right off the bat I'm hit with strong wood cedar flavour, that can't be mistaken.  About an inch in, the wood softens, and lets a slight earth in, if I exhale a little out the nose.  It's very creamy, and coats the entire mouth.  There is a definite cocoa or chocolate in there, but I don't get it every draw.   The smoke is nice and thick. 

By the last third all the flavours mellow out, and I get a slight fruity taste added in.

Now a lot of reviews also describe pepper, and spice.  I don't really ever taste those in a cigar, other then the tingling sensation similar to pepper in the nose, if I exhale out the nose.  If that is indeed what people are talking about, then there is a slight pepper in the nose, that gets stronger in the last third.  The spice thing I still don't get.

I would consider this a mild cigar.  I've smoked a Hoyo Petit Robusto, and Bolivar Royal Corona.  The Royal Corona was very strong, and I feel that this was more mild then the Hoyo.

Another great Monte, I highly recommend.  Having not smoked the Edmundo yet, my thinking right now is to try and see if I can get someone to split a box with me.  

Montecristo No. 2

Montecristo No.2

6 1/8 × 52

Made in Cuba
Paid: $22 CDN from local B&M.

Drink: Spiced rum, and cola.

I've smoked a few cigars since my last review that I have notes, but have not yet posted.  I smoked this cigar tonight, and couldn't wait.  I had to post right away while it was fresh in my mind.  What a great cigar.  The best cigar I've smoked to date.

I've been wanting to smoke this cigar for awhile, but was a bit worried, as I get pretty buzzed off a robusto size, and was unsure if I could handle a cigar of this size, and enjoy it.  Not quite the case here. While I was feeling the nicotine by the end, the overall experience was amazing.

The size is perfect.  It rolls around in the hand with a natural fit.  Great construction, and draw.  It does not quite give off the thick smoke I would expect from a cigar like this, but who cares.

This Monte #2 was so smooth, and earthy from start to finish.  It had a very slight ammonia scent by the half way point, but very subtle.  Overall, start to finish the flavor was consistant, and left not even a trace of aftertaste in the mouth.

The burn was amazing.  It canoed slightly in the middle, but corrected itself when I set it down for a couple of minutes.  I don't know what else to say about this cigar.  I hope this is the common experience for the vitola.

Hopefully I can get back to the place I bought it from soon, and check the box date, to buy a box with close to the same date.

Cohiba Siglo II

Cohiba Siglo II

5" × 42

Made in Cuba
Paid: $17 CDN from local B&M.  Just cracked open the box for me.

Drink: Diet Pepsi

After trying my first Cohiba last night, the Panetela, I was very excited to get this one lit.

Once again, the construction is perfect.  The draw is great, and smoke is very creamy.  This cigar pretty much gave me the same experience as the Panetela.  The taste is identical, of rich tobacco, leathery flavour, though the Panetela seemed to have a stronger flavour.  The same spice was left on the tip of my tongue when it was finished.  The only addition was that of wood to the profile.  Again, no harshness, or ammonia at all.

Very nice cigar from start to finish, though I expected more in the way of flavour.  That may be due to how young the cigar was.  Definitely a medium strength cigar, that needs to be taken slowly to avoid getting overwhelmed by the tobacco.  I will try, and get my hands on several of these to put away and age.

In my opinion, as a new cigar smoker, I would recommend these to others new to cigars.  You won't be turned off.

Cohiba Panetela

Cohiba Panetela

4½" × 26

Made in Cuba
Paid: $9 CDN

Drink: Water

I set out with the intent to smoke a Siglo II, but already smoked a Bolivar Corona Junior today, and decided to grab this one instead, as I didn't want to over due it.

This is my first Cohiba, and I am very impressed.  The construction is flawless.  It lights, and burns flawless.  Everything about this smoke was flawless.  The draw seemed a little tight near the beginning, but opened up quickly. 

The flavour was a nice, smooth, rich leathery-tobacco.  I have never had a cigar that tasted like this.  Very distinct.  Not even a hint of harshness, despite it smoking so fast, and being a very small vitola. In the end, it left a nice taste of spice and sweetness on the front of my tongue.

I have one more of these, but don't think I'll buy anymore, only because it's to small.  It felt like it had a 15 minute smoke time at best.  Great smoke, just not enough of it.  Plus the price is a little steep for such a short smoke.

  

To date, this is the best cigar I've had.  I don't know what else to say.  I now understand why the Cohiba is the pinnacle of cigars.  I can't wait to try Cohiba's other cigars.  I would recommend this to any beginner.

Bolivar Corona Junior

Bolivar Corona Junior 
4 3/8 x 42

Made in Cuba

Paid: $7 CDN
Age: Purchased yesterday from local B&M

Drink: Water

In my hunt to find a petite corona to buy a box, and put away, I'm giving this one a try based on good reviews.

The draw, and construction looks perfect.  The burn was was fairly uneven, and had to be corrected drastically twice.  The smoke was really thick, and cloudy.

The inhale was much better then the exhale.  The dominant flavour was a toasted sawdust aroma, much like cutting a bunch of 2x4's.  Not quite that pleasant but close.  I could tell this cigar was young, as I did detect a slight ammonia aroma throughout, but it didn't nearly detract from the smoke, like I had with the Montecristo Open Junior the day before.  Pretty one dimensional flavour wise.

This cigar left a mild mushroom after taste on my tongue, which I was unsure if I enjoyed or not. (EDIT: I've finally come to learn that mushroom taste is earthiness.  Had a buddy help me out with that, cause he thought I was crazy, so we shared a cigar.)

It felt like a mild strength smoke, and the last third seemed the most enjoyable.  Despite the burn issues, and slight ammonia odor, I found this smoke pleasant, and would consider revisiting again down the road.  I think a little time on this cigar would make a huge difference.

Right now I would rank the Montecristo No 5 way ahead of this one, but I have still yet to try the Partagas Short, or Siglo I, which are next on my petite cigar hit list.

Montecristo Open Junior

Montecristo Open Junior
Petite Conona 4 1/3 x 38

Made in Cuba

Paid: $10 CDN
Age: Purchased today from local B&M
Drink: Diet Pepsi

These have been sitting at a local B&M in an open box for awhile.  I've checked out the reviews, and the common theme was it's a beginner cigar.  As such it's received poor reviews from everyone who is a seasoned cigar smoker, but I've never heard from a new smoker... which I am.  My local B&M tried to steer me away from this purchase, as he thought it was too mild, and has not had good feedback from customers.

The draw was fairly tight, and the burn was uneven from start to finish.  Gave off decent smoke.  It burned quick, and lasted about 45 minutes.

The first half was OK.  It's very mild.  There was no harshness to it, and has a predominant woody flavour, and that's about it.  By the second half, it went out about 4 times, which ruined it for me.  I ended up putting this cigar down at the last inch.  The second half appeared to have no flavour at all.

I don't know if I would call this cigar smooth.  My main beef with this smoke was the unbelievably strong ammonia odor it gave off.  I have heard people complain of the smell with other cigars, but yet to ever experience it myself.  Made it very difficult to be around the lingering smoke, and made the experience on the whole unpleasant.  I understand this is from being a young smoke, but it's been sitting in his humidor for about a year now.

I simply cannot recommend this cigar.  If this was handed to me a year ago as an intro to cigars, I would not think to continue, and assume cigars were not for me.  Perhaps with a few years of aging the ammonia will go away, and become enjoyable. With the Montecristo No. 5 in the same size and price range, the Open Junior is disastrous, and really doesn't have a niche if it lack's flavour for a seasoned smoker, yet to young to be enjoyed by a new comer.

Quintero Londres Extra

Quinter Londres Extra

Petite Conona 4 7/8 x 40
Made in Cuba

Paid: $5 CDN
Age: Purchased  about 6 months ago at Holy Smokes (Run out of Loblaws Superstore)
Drink: Ice Water & Diet Pepsi

I'm not going to bother going long on this one.  It's a piece of crap. Move on with your day, if you don't care to read more. 

The guy recommended these, along with the Guantanamera brand as a 'good beginner smoke'.  So I bought two.  I smoked one that day, and I was disgusted.  Had this been my first cigar, I would have never picked up another cigar again.  Anytime I here someone at a cigar shop recommend me these, or the Guantanamera brands, I immediately do not trust their opinion.  I think they are just trying to move a crappy product out on the back of my inexperience.

Six months did nothing to change my opinion, or make this cigar any better. It's really, really bland, and flavourless.  By the end you just taste cigar ash.  It's very mild, and if you told me it was filled with paper, I would not be surprised.  I didn't even taste a hint of tobacco, nor feel the affects. 

I will give it some positive feedback.  The smoke is super thick, and the ash hung on till the half way point, as you can see in my pics.  The smoke left no lingering bad odor (Thank God), and it left no bad after taste in my mouth.  It didn't hurt the pocket book to much either.  

Another positive... it's no longer in my humidor!!!; There will never be another.  I still have two Guantanemera's left, and I'm not looking forward to smoking them. 

In my opinion, if your new to cigars, spend the extra $5 to $10, and go with the respected names, like Bolivar, Montecristo, etc...  The Por Larranga Panetela's, while slightly smaller, are super cheap in this cigar's price range, and far superior, if your looking for an everyday decent cheap cigar.