Cigar Report -- Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1

Added on by C. Maoxian.

I got a box of these for Father's Day. I used to smoke a lot of Juan Lopez in the old days, but they were real Cuban cigars, not made in Nicaragua like these. The draw was hard to start and the burn was raggy, but eventually the burn went even and the draw improved around mid-smoke. Burn went uneven again toward the end. 

It wasn't an unpleasant smoke all things considered, took just under 60 minutes, which I expect from a Robusto (5 x 54), but I've been so spoiled lately with "super premium" cigars that when I have an average "decent" cigar, it's a disappointment. I will end up giving away most of these, no doubt.

Take 2: Draw still hard, burn still uneven. Took 60 minutes to finish because of the hard draw. "Sweet spot" finally appeared about 2/3rds of the way through the smoke. I wouldn't rate these below 70 ("Don't waste your money"), but they're right on the line. Putting these out under the revered Juan Lopez name is kind of shameless. 

Cigar Report -- Rocky Patel Edge Habano

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Torpedo-shaped with a single blue band tastefully at the tip ... dark (maduro) Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder/filler. Good draw, even burn ... took a little longer to mellow but I've been spoiled of late by these cigars. Very pleasant, though at 70 minutes to smoke (6 x 52) a bit longer than I like to spend. I think I prefer a torpedo-shape, feels a bit more natural in the mouth. I haven't had one bum cigar in this bunch (except for the flukey Alec Bradley Sanctum trouble).

Cigar Report -- My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Press

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Torpedo shaped and dark wrapper (Oscuro) ... box pressed,  6 1/8 X 52, not one but two fancy bands and a pretty orange wrapper at the tip. Nicaraguan everything (wrapper, binder, filler), I believe ... smelled nice, spicy, looked good. Easy draw, perfect burn ... only harsh for the briefest moment before mellowing and becoming very nice.

It took me 90! minutes to smoke this and once again a too-long ash caused it to go out and I needed to re-light it.  This is a special cigar, Don Pepin Garcia knows what he's doing. If you can find a box, get it, but as a Robusto guy I really hate to spend over an hour on a single cigar ... it's just too decadent. 

Tweets for June 15, 2016

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Tweets for June 14, 2016

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Cigar Report -- La Boheme Pittore by Boutique Blends

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Didn't light it particularly well despite the still night, but it was forgiving. 5 1/8 x 52 -- Robusto, this is the size and shape I prefer to smoke. Good draw, even burn. Bit harsh at first but quickly became mellow, very nice, very pleasant.

Then about two-thirds of the way through an odd thing happened. The ash grew so long that it actually put the cigar out and I had to relight it!  This has never happened to me before.

Took me 75 minutes to finish it, which is much longer than I usually take for a cigar of this size. It has an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper with the binder/filler from the Dominican Republic. Never heard of "Boutique Blends" before, but this is a special cigar. 

Cigar Report -- Nub Cameroon 358

Added on by C. Maoxian.

I had trouble lighting this one too (very windy, user error), but once it got going all was well. Good draw, nice even burn. Bit harsh to start but *quickly* mellowed and became very nice. I've never smoked a stubby (3¾ x 58) cigar like this one, but it took me 53! minutes to finish it. The wrapper is from Cameroon and the binder/filler is Nicaraguan. 

As I've said before, I don't have any "palate," but I did taste some leather in this one. It was a really pleasant surprise!  A good smoke and unexpected, which made it even better.

Tweets for June 13, 2016

Added on by C. Maoxian.