Dunhill Estupendos

Produced: 1984
Made by: Julieta No. 2
Size: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 47
Length: 7 inches
Purchased: Bogart’s House of Fine Cigars, Sydney, July 2006.


Date: July 22nd, 2006
Time: 11:30 am Pacific
Location: Walking from Nob Hill through Russian Hill down to Crissy Field, San Francisco, California
Conditions: Clear sunny skies, Hot, 82 degrees, light ocean breeze





The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Bogart’s House of Fine Cigars in Sydney, Australia. To learn more about Bogart’s and my buying experience, please refer to this post. There is only a partial box left of these Dunhill’s as they were discovered in the collection of a deceased patron of the store. Out of respect (or was it stupidity) I only bought two.


The Location
It is another hot day on the Nob. Temps are scorching and I decide to take Amber for a walk down to Crissy Field. To get there, we will need to pass by some interesting neighborhoods (Russian Hill, North Beach, Fisherman’s)

I have to judge on what hill I will light up. I want to make sure that I am on my downhill trek toward the beach before I start inhaling…. At the top of Russian Hill we start the slow descent.









The Smoke!
According to some, this is the best Dunhill Habanos ever made. It is well-known for it’s ageing potential given it is packed in a lovely white metal tube, airtight and wrapped in Spanish cedar.

The Cuban Dunhill brand unfortunately did not last long. These cigars were only available from 1984 to 1991. As a result, not many of these cigars can be found in stores or even private collections.

The cigar is medium firmness out of the tube. Oily feel with no blemishes. After I cut with a cat’s eye, there is a small rip in the side of the tip. A quick lick and it appears to be repaired. Extremely well rolled there are some small veins running the length of the stick. It is in excellent condition after being locked up for 20 odd years.

Medium in strength it has a very rich and sweet taste. I can taste honey, beans and nuts, wow… this is incredible! As we take a breather in the park near the Buena Vista, I let the smoke smolder out since we will need to walk up the hill at Van Ness.

We finally reach Crissy Field 40 minutes later and we sit on a bench by the bay and watch the endless yacht races underway near the Golden Gate. I relight the cigar and it is still as smooth as it was 40 minutes before. This has to be the best smoke I have had in the 20 years I have been sampling habanos. I immediately lament as I realize I only have one left in the humidor…. That will be a saved for a special occasion.


Rating: (5) CLASSIC
(5) Classic, (4) Outstanding, (3) Very Good, (2) Average, (1) Don’t Bother

Humidor: SMOKE NOW
Smoke Now / Smoke Soon:1–3 Years / Put Away:3–7 Years / Vault:7-12 Years / Inheritance Gift:12+ Years

Cohiba Coronas Especiales

Produced: 2001
Made by: Laguito No. 2
Size: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 38
Length: 6 inches
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, 2006.


Date: July 21st, 2006
Time: 5:00 pm Pacific
Location: Huntington Park, San Francisco, California
Conditions: Clear sunny skies, 80 degrees, light ocean breeze


The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Baranows Lounge in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia. To learn more about Baranows and my buying experience, please refer to this post.


The Location
Finally had some time overcome the jet lag from Sydney. This is my first cigar since getting back stateside. Summer has finally come to the city. The rest of the US is baking under a heat wave…. Today in the city it reaches all of 80! I catch the cable car up California Street straight from my office to Huntington Park.

The park is jammed!! I manage to find a shady spot near the kids’ playground to setup shop. I get some side glances from some nervous parents. Don’t worry I tell one of them, I’m a regular smoker here…. The comment made them even more nervous….. must be my blackberry, briefcase and Wall Street Journal that is spooking them.

There are all sorts of people (and characters) out today. The homeless guy in the trench coat, a very old dude with no shirt on, the middle-aged woman wearing the thong bikini, the pit-bull devouring the shitzu by the fountain… yep, should make for good people watching as I smoke my cigar.


The Smoke!
Created in 1969 and marketed internationally in 1982, the Coronas Especiales is a shorter version of the Lanceros and tastes roughly the same.

This is a very elegant and rich cigar. The size is much more civilized and gentile to the monsters I have been trying lately. One should almost be wearing formal wear in lighting up this smoke.

The cigar does feel awfully soft, especially at the tip, almost loose. I have heard about problems with the draw and mixed quality and wonder if this will be questionable experience. It has no blemishes or veins and has some plume.

This cigar has been aged only 5 years, and I understand that very young ligero and seco leaves are used, which can be porous. If this is the case, the cigar should be aged for at least 8 – 10 years in order to get an acceptable draw.

I cut the cigar and I am very careful in my lighting. Judging the size and the length, I anticipate it will take some skill not to draw too hard or too frequently. I don’t want this to overheat and ruin the taste.

The taste is strong, spicy and has touches of cedar and chocolate. There is also a “grassy” herbal taste that has a strong finish. After about 30 minutes I realize that this is an extremely pleasant and calming smoke. Subtle tobacco flavors are emerging and my fears on the condition have evaporated.

I have some surprise visitors join me….. Leslie and Amber decide to come by. Amber runs off to protect the Shitzu from the pit-bull. The smoke is almost over and I decide to head home and then onto to dinner to Garibaldi’s a local, intimate restaurant. Looks like the weekend is going to start great!

Score: 90

San Cristobal de La Habana Muralla

Produced: December 2005
Made by: Nueva La Corona
Size: Muralla
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 7 inches
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, 2006.


Date: July 8th, 2006
Time: 1:00 pm Australian Eastern Time
Location: Double Bay & Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia
Conditions: Clear sunny skies, 70 degrees
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, Australia

The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Baranows Lounge in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia. To learn more about Baranows and my buying experience, please refer to this post. Spencer recommended this cigar as something I would enjoy.

The Locations
Another gorgeous day in Sydney. After breakfast we decide to walk across to the Opera House (watched the Mexican Naval ship docking) and then through the Royal Botanical Gardens. A really amazing place with bats (flying foxes) everywhere…. Watch out for the guano!

Leslie wants to see an art exhibit on contemporary botanical paintings (yawn!). After that delight, we walk over to the NSW Gallery to see more art…. Boyd’s, Olsen’s, Nolan’s…. It is at this point I start the negotiations…. “Honey, if I let you shop in Double Bay can I light up this cigar??” Done deal! No more art, however, it’s going to cost me!

On our way over we swing by 100 Wolsely Road, Point Piper to reminisce about our stay in Sydney back in 2000 - 2001 and then we hit Double Bay. The house, now owned by the guy that built Monster dot com has been torn down and replaced by a monstrosity.

We arrive in Double Bay and as Leslie darts in and out of stores like Christensen, Belinda and other trendy boutiques, I settle down on a shaded bench in this small park to finally light up this Muralla.


The Smoke!
This cigar is large in girth and length. Well made construction with no visible flaws (some small veins) it feels surprisingly comfortable to hold. Spongy, firm to the feel and the cap is very well rolled. A medium brown color, I make a standard cut with my Zino. It cuts crisply with no unraveling…. A good sign of freshness.

Once again I feel a little intimidated putting this large stick between my lips. I prime the cigar and take my first few puffs. The draw is surprisingly easy for such a large stick. The burn is even and the ash medium grey and very firm. It grows to 4 inches before it falls (on my lap!).
The first 45 minutes I spend on this comfortable bench in this beautiful setting in Double Bay. As I watch the trendy well-to-do go about their Saturday morning shopping I am enjoying this smoke which is quite mild. It has a woodiness flavor and the aroma reminds me of the leaves we would sweep up and burn in bonfires on those Autumn days growing up as a kid. This is a sweet smoke with no bitterness.

Three quarters through, I let the smoke die as we catch a cab to our favorite restaurant in Rose Bay. The Pier restaurant is situated on (you guessed it) a pier in a small marina. They only serve the best seafood in Sydney. I re-light the smoke as we sit on the deck savoring the incredible scene on the harbor…. Boy, does life get any better? The cigar re-lights well and there is no loss in flavor. We finish our champers (aka Champagne) and retreat into the restaurant to have Sydney rock oysters, lobster and blue eye.















As we linger, I realize I am running late for a very important appointment. Bogart's has some aged Dunhill’s I might be able to acquire. I leave Leslie to shop Oxford street as I head back to the city search for more great habanos!

Score: 89

Cohiba Limited Edition 2004 Sublime (2nd Review)

Produced: 2004
Made by: El Laguito
Size: Corona Gorda
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 6 5/8 inches
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, 2006.


Date: July 7th, 2006
Time: 2:30 pm Australian Eastern Time
Location: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, Australia
Conditions: Clear sunny skies, 70 degrees
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, Australia
Link to first review of this cigar.

The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Baranows Lounge in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia. To learn more about Baranows and my buying experience, please refer to this post. I explained to Wal that I have not been impressed with these sublimes. He insists that these are destined for greatness and convinces me to try his selection. This cigar was from his horde.


The Location
We arrived in Sydney from Melbourne today on our way back to San Francisco. Leslie is off visiting a friend and so I decide to go for a walk along Circular Quay. It's a brilliant sunny Sydney day.

The Smoke!
I approach this cigar with some angst. Although there are many reviews online that indicate that this is a great cigar, my experiences have been to the contrary. I have a "bullet" punch as the cut. The cigar looks like it is in great condition. Spongy, firm to the feel and the cap is very well rolled.

I sit down on a bench facing the harbour bridge and carefully fire up the cigar. This is a monster of a cigar. Just putting something this big in your mouth would scare any self-respecting male! The draw is satisfactory and the burn is even. The ash is light grey and firm.

The taste.... well, it is aromatic and strong... perhaps too pungent. As I progress through the smoke I start to sense some bitterness in the finish. Oh no! It appears that this sublime is somewhat better than the last review.... but not much.... I'm sure this will spark some debate. My opinion is that the sublime is an excellent example in construction the habanos art form that "looks good on paper" but just does not reach it's anticipated result. Perhaps it needs more ageing? If I had my choice, I'd stick to the Siglo VI....

Score: 89

Cohiba Panatela

Produced: 2001
Tobacco Provence: Vuelta Abajo
Factory: Partagas (Fernando Perez German factory)
Length: 4 5/8 inches
Ring Gauge: 26
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, 2006.

Location: Baranows Lounge, Victoria, Australia
Date: July 6th, 2006
Time: Noon Australian Eastern Standard Time
Conditions: Sunny and Cool, 60 degrees


The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Baranows Lounge in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia. To learn more about Baranows and my buying experience, please refer to the post on the Ramon Allones double corona.


The Location
Wal joined me at the bar as I lit this little smoke. Spencer prepared a "short black" coffee for us and we spent some time chatting about cigars and the business.

The Cigar!
I could count on one hand the numberf of panatelas I have smoked. They are small and remind me too much of smoking a cigarette. After smoking predominantly large gauge sticks, it takes some adjustment to smoke these smaller habanos.

This panatela is old (2001) and lights up well. It draws easily (surprise!) and burns quite evenly. It has a smooth flavor and it is aromatic. The smoke lasts all of 20 minutes and was quite enjoyable. As a quick morning smoke, especially with coffee, it was surprisingly good.

Score: 90

Cohiba Siglo VI Tubos

Produced: August 2005
Tobacco Provence: Vuelta Abajo
Factory: Partagas (Fernando Perez German factory)
Length: 7 5/8 inches
Ring Gauge: 49
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, 2006.

Location: Rocheford Winery, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Date: July 4th, 2006
Time: 2:30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
Conditions: Sunny and Cool, 60 degrees


The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Baranows Lounge in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia. To learn more about Baranows and my buying experience, please refer to this post.


The Location
Leslie and I decide to escape the city of Melbourne for one day and drive out to the Yarra Valley. Our first stop is the Healesville Santuary. We spend a couple of hours walking around looking at emu's, dingos, etc... I'm bored and want to smoke this siglo I have in my pocket. Of-course it is illegal to do so in the pristine location in the foothills of the Great Divide Ranges.


So I suggest we head for one of the wineries to grab a bite to eat (and drink!) and hopoefully light up a nice smoke.

The Yarra Valley has spawned many new wineries over the last 10 years. According to Nick (my Melbourne wine guru), most of these have mediocre product and were created in the image of "Napa" to satify "the bloody tourists.



We stop off at Rocheford and have a glass of wine with some cheese and greek salad. Once finished, I walk outside onto an expansive verandah to survey the incredible view of the vineyard and the rolling mountains in the distance. The weather is perfect as I reach for the siglo....







The Cigar!
This has to be the consistently best cigar being made. If one was forced to smoke only one cigar, this would be the one.

The wrappers are a smooth light brown with no blemishes or veins. They are perfectly constructed and the cap is a piece of art. It feels spongy and comfortable to hold. Opening the tube and the aroma is quintessial cohiba. I'm sitting on the verandah surveying the vines as I light this smoke. It lights easily. Only one attempt is required and I'm on my way.

It draws easily on the first puff and starts to burn very evenly. It has a complex flavor and it is mild and aromatic with coffee, wood and vanilla. I get halfway through and the ash has still NOT broken.... it's pure white and compact. As we walk down to the vines I'm thinking this is as good as the aged esplendidos tubes I have... not as mild, but just as flavorful. It's certainly better than any sublimes I have tasted... you cannot go wrong with this cigar.

Score: 94

Ramon Allones Gigantes

Produced: June 2003
Tobacco Provence: Vuelta Abajo
Factory: Partagas
Length: 7 5/8 inches
Ring Gauge: 49
Purchased: Baranows Lounge, Melbourne, 2006.

Location: Toorak Village, Toorak
Date: July 3rd, 2006
Time: Noon Australian Eastern Standard Time
Conditions: Partly Cloudy and Brisk, 50 degrees


The Purchase
It's a cold and cloudy day in Melbourne and I decide to run out to Hawthorn to visit Baranows Lounge before we start the shopping in Toorak and South Yarra.

The Cigar!
Ramon Allones established this brand under his own name in 1845. Extremely stylish cigars, whose sizes and shapes are carefully selected to be elegant. Similar to Bolivar, these cigars are strong and pungent. They are medium to full flavoured, extremely complex with rich chocolate and leather overtones. Smooth, rich cream and peppery spice are present, with a pungent floral aroma.

Tasting Notes
I have never been overly impreseed by these cigars in the past.... but this one is a delight. Ben prepared the cigar with a cat's eye cut and I made my way to Toorak (with Leslie) to do some shopping and fire this up.

This gigantes is a very well balanced and impressive cigar. Floral, nutty and herbal flavours are present with a sweetness to it. Possibly the best Double Corona in production today. It also is very well rolled and the wrapper was oily, and somewhat spongey. The draw was perfect although the ash was very grey and spotty.

I walk along Chapel Street enjoying the smoke. The street is filled with people shopping and I'm content to stand in the cold as Leslie darts in and out of stores. The smoke last at least 2 hours and I finally decide to toss it so we can get some pasta at Cafe e Cucina.

Score: 92