spice

The Vegas Rabaina has allways been a favorite brand of mine. It is a brand on the medium earthy and spicy side of the flavor spectrum. A perfect after-noon or apéritif cigar if you like strong cigars for a main course.

A delicious salty wrapper. The first puff is nutty and with lots of coffee flavors. A bit of cocoa on the draw and some caramel and pepper in the aftertaste. There is a scent of honey and lovely roasted coffee which is really dominating in this smoke.

A medium bodied smoke and primarily the flavors stays on the sour side through the entire smoke ranging from coffee to caramel to burnt. For me, the robusto size is a perfect length and makes a good 40 minutes smoke. I rate it 90 from a box dated 07/2008.

There is something about this cigar from 10/2009. It is one of the most famous cuban cigars and the amount of these coming out of Cuba each year is just amazing. I have been through allot of these, each time finding myself in a conflict with taste and fame. Yes, it is a very good cigar, but I must admit that there are other, really good cigars out there, both in taste and price.

There is caramel on the draw, oak on the tongue, licorice/toast in the aftertaste and cedar in the scent. An overall bitter and salty smoke. Just lovely. I don’t smoke these very often because the taste is not one of my favorites. But once in a while you just got the urge for one of these and it is just heaven. Compared to the Partagas Series P #2, this cigar is a bit more dry, where the Partagas is a mixture of soft and spicy notes. I always compare the Montecristo brand to the Trinidad, because they are similar in taste but worlds apart in price… and with a good reason. I rate it 90.

I bought a box of 10 from 09/2009 and without any rest I smoked the first one. Just wonderful without any humi time. But now a couple of weeks has gone by since they arrived and the time for a true tasting is at hand.

There is something about the shape that I find mesmerizing and this is my first time trying out this figurado. Do I lit it as it is, or do I clip the bottom? I took it as it was and lit the narrow end of the cigar.

The first couple of puffs was spicy and very peppery. After the cigar opened op, I got alot of floral and sweet fruit. A bit of vanilla and sudden occoasions of leather. There is almond on the draw, pepper on the tongue and floral in the aftertaste. This is a beautiful and oily smoke. And each cigar releases hidden treasures. Very complex. The burn, the wrapper, the size is just perfect engineered. I will rate it 92.

The Partagas brand is a true favorite of mine and when in doubt, Partagas! The D #4 and the P #2 is just some of the best premium cigar on the market if your are looking for a smooth spicy/earthy cigar. It’s a shame that D #1 and D #2 are limited editions (2003/2004). I am so wishing for them to be regular production cigars.

I like the pyramidas, it’s a great shape and makes a good hour go by in the company of a fine smoke. And the best of the best pyramidas is surely this Partagas P #2 from 06/2008.

First puff delivers coffe, pepper, milk and hazelnut. A wonderful creamy/earthy start. Second puff transform this cigar into what it’s really about, heavy on coffee, almost espresso, with lots of pepper and almond. There is almond on the draw, pepper on the tongue, espresso in the aftertaste and cocoa in the scent. An overall creamy/earthy bitter, sour and in moderations, a sweet smoke in a full body. I will rate it 92.