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.

Casa Magna Colorado Pikito

Casa Magna Colorado 
Pikito 4 3/4 x 42
Made in Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Paid: $9 CDN
Age: Purchased late 2010 from the Cigar Studio.
Drink: Ice Water & Diet Pepsi

Bought this a couple months ago on the recommendation of my local cigar store, with the tag of being Cigar Aficionados 2008 Cigar of the Year .

The First Two Thirds
Very smooth.  I was told it's a medium to full strength, but it came across as mild.  I had no problem taking in deep long draws, and got very subtle peppery sensations in the nose on the exhale.  Overall I got a mild woody, and sweet flavour, but it was for the most part bland, and unexciting.

Gave off nice thick smoke, but the burn was pretty uneven, and I made numerous corrections.  The draw was also very tight.  Twice I got the cutters out, and opened it up a little more, but it didn't seem to help much.

For the most part uneventful, and I was left very unimpressed.

The Final Third
This is what made the cigar a happy ending.  For the first time I actually tasted subtle, very sweet caramel tastes every few draws.  I've never had that taste in any cigar, EVER!!!  I was very excited.  The lingering smoke also turned very sweet with a caramel aroma.  I ran to my small powder bathroom, and hot boxed myself for a bit to fully enjoy it.

This was also my undoing.  By the very end I was really feeling the nicotine, as I was drawing to quickly to re-experience the caramel flavours.  I never had a sick feeling, but went to bed shortly after.  I woke up the next morning with a hang-over type headache, deep in the center of my eyeballs.  I've never had this happen before, and not sure if I can attribute it to the cigar.

Overall
I was happy to finally taste a caramel flavour in a cigar.  If the whole cigar was like that I would do my best to obtain this cigar in quantity.  For now I'm going to go by another pikito, and the Robusto version, and let it sit in my humidor, and revisit this cigar again next summer perhaps.  Maybe age will make it even better.