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