Cohiba Siglo V (2001)

Technorati Profile


Produced: 2001
Made by: Dalias
Shape: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 43
Length: 6 3/4 inches

Date: August 31st, 2006
Time: 5:30pm Pacific
Location: Gilroy Caltrain Station and Salinas, California
Conditions: Warm and dry 82 degrees, light breeze
Purchased: Baranows, Melbourne, Australia

The Locations
It’s leading up to Labor Day and this is the first of two excursions for the weekend. I board the 3:07pm

Caltrain in SFO for the 2 ½ hour trip down to Gilroy where Leslie and Amber will pick me up to spend a couple of days in Salinas.

One really gets to see the best and the worst traveling by train. For most of this trip, I am exposed to the “under-belly” of society as the train weaves it’s way down the Peninsula, through the backyards of Silicon Valley and past San Jose to Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World (and the end of the line)! On the train, the wifi and cell reception is awesome and I clear my inboxes in between naps and calls…. I just love seamless connectivity…

I arrive early and wait for Leslie on the deserted platform. As the train is positioned for it’s overnight stay, a number of suspicious shadows emerge from the bushes and start foraging in the trash bins. Hmmm, how can I blend in and not be noticed? I decide to light up this Cohiba…

In 20 minutes Leslie arrives, just as the “locals” start to move in for the kill. I jump in the car and wave nonchalantly to my new friends as we speed away toward Salinas… before we hit the mother-in-laws we stop at Gino’s to pickup some Manecotti and some meat balls. Maria at the front counter is extremely rude but you can’t beat the red sauce. Although know as the "Salad Bowl" of America, Salinas has a scarce number of decent eateries.


The Smoke!
Introduced in November 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World by Columbus, the Siglo Series are much milder than the rest of the Cohiba models.

This cigar is well made and the construction has no flaws. There are one or two minor green tinges on the wrapper. I apply a traditional cut and the cigar lights up easily. The smoke is mild with some sweetness to it. There is a subtle tobacco taste coming through and a hint of the herbal / grassy flavor. The draw is satisfactory but is uneven as I make why through.

The ash is not impressive… charcoal grey spots and very loose so it doesn’t hold for more than half an inch. I keep waiting for this puro to develop into the traditional mellow Siglo, but alas, it starts to become bitter about half way through. Never a great poker player, I start to grimace which is taken as an invitation by one of the “locals” to converse.

As I toss the unfinished smoke and jump into the car, I look over my shoulder and notice the “shadows” dive into the trash and start smoking the Cohiba. They seemed to be enjoying it more than me…. Before you invest in these Siglos, I would recommend either the Siglo IV’s or VI’s.

Rating: (2) AVERAGE
(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

Punch Double Corona Cabinet (1997)

Produced: 1997
Made by: Prominentes
Shape: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 49
Length: 7 5/8inches
Purchased: TomTom Cigars, London UK, 2006.


Date: August 25th, 2006
Time: 9:30 pm Pacific
Location: San Francisco, California
Conditions: Fog rolling in from the bay, Cold 53 degrees, freshening breeze


The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at TomTom Cigars, London, UK. To learn more about my buying experience, please refer to this post.


The Location
It’s been a long week in the corporate quagmire…. Slashing heads, kissing babies, slapping backs. I’m looking forward to a quiet Friday evening with Leslie at some intimate restaurant. I arrive home and she announces “I have a surprise reservation that just came on OpenTable”…. Oh dear me thinks, its going to be one of those evenings.

We make our way across town and end up in “The Avenues” to 41st AV where we park outside an establishment that is a cross between a Disney Imagineering façade of ancient Egypt and a fish & chip shop. We have arrived at Al Masri, the best (and only) Egyptian restaurant in San Francisco…. Just what every good Jewish boy is looking forward to on a Friday night, a belly dancer that also does the cooking.

In reality the food was very good and the dancer, Samar, who was introduced as the "best in the world", was incredible....who am I to judge? The owner, Dr. Something is very welcoming and announces that only 8% of his revenues come from the restaurant, the rest comes from the dancing school.... An interesting introduction to the menu? Geez, I'm impressed that he has such visibility and analysis into his revenue stream... wish I could say the same for some corporates.

The Smoke!
Punch has a long Pre-Revolution history and was first registered as a brand in 1840 by a German named Stockmann. As the Punch name suggests, the strength of these cigars is their claim to fame. Production has remained uninterrupted after the Revolution and there has been many changes in the sizes and shapes being offered by the brand over the years.

At first sight, this is an intimidating double corona, it’s long and substantial. This particular artifact is in great condition for being 10 years old. It had been meticulously cared for at TomTom and exhibits no flaws or blemishes.

I have applied a cat’s cut and light this up on the way home. At the beginning it has a wood and earthy taste and starts to get more spices as I smoke through. Near the end it becomes almost sweet pepper and nutmeg…. An unusual combination. The draw is exceptional and it appears that it will not take as long as I would have anticipated to enjoy this smoke.

This is a very strong cigar and is best after the heavy meal I just had at Al Masri. The Cabinets are aged at least 6 years before being released onto the market which makes this a well-aged smoke of at least 16 years.

This smoke lasted about 90 minutes and was very tasty, although, it did take me some time to clear the smoke out from the neighborhood. No question about it, this is a great double corona that ages extremely well.


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

Humidor: PUT AWAY: 2009-2013
Smoke Now, Smoke Soon:1–3 Years, Put Away:3–7 Years, Vault:7-12 Years, Inheritance Gift:12+ Years

Bolivar Supremas Churchill (1980)

Produced: 1980
Made by: Julieta 2
Shape: Parejo
Ring Gauge: 47
Length: 7 inches

Date: August 18th, 2006
Time: 4:45 pm Pacific Time
Location: Calistoga Ranch, Calistoga, California
Conditions: Sunny skies, 80 degrees
Purchased: Davidoffs, London, UK, 2006


The Purchase
This was purchased at Davidoff's off St. James in London. I obtained two of these from the back humidor in the store. They were the last two in a box that had been in the store since 1985. Apparently the original box had been acquired at auction.


The Locations
It's the eve of my 6th wedding anniversary and Leslie has made plans for us to spend the weekend in Napa. The three of us (including Amber) jump in the car and head north to Calistoga. On the way we stop at a couple of wineries in Napa.

The best of which is the private tasting at Far Niente. Not only were the wines great, we also wandered amongst the collection of incredible Ferrari's in the barn. At the tasting we sampled the following incredible wines along with some great cheese pairings. Ofcourse it didn't take much to make some acquisitions and waive our tasting fee.

We visited two other wineries: Miner and Sinskey. We were not impressed with either of them. Sinskey's wines are mediocre and tailor to the tourist buses, and our experience at Miner was nothing short of horrific. A young in-experienced sales woman (Salesperson NP) obnoxious, abnoxius and attempted to overcharge us for a half-case of their Pinot. We decided to retreat to our accommodations for the weekend, The Calistoga Ranch. For more on our experience at The Ranch, checkout this special review.

The Smoke!
This was a tubed cigar re-packaged in the UK by the then distributor Joseph Samuel & Son (taken over by HunterÂ’s and Frankau in 1993). It was distributed in a silver tube with Spanish cedar inside.

I have come to expect a spectacular smoke with these older cigars in tubes. And I was not to be disappointed with this one. I unscrewed the tube and the aroma that wafted out was distinct yet subtle, a very woody and aromatic smell. I carefully tipped the tube and the 25 year old Habanos emerged.




As you can see the condition of the cigar is almost flawless. It has a tan brown wrapper with a few bright yellow veins. The cap has a triple ring and is smooth and even. Pressing the tip I notice a fair amount of "give" indicating the draw will be easy. The cigar is firm and somewhat elastic to feel. The wrapper is oily and very smooth to touch.

I apply a traditional cut and light the smoke with a stick of cedar. The first few puffs are effortless and there is no need to relight. The burn starts evenly and the ash is a silver beige. At the beginning, the flavor is distinctly earthy where I can taste leather and even coffee. As I settle back I notice the flavors start to change and become more aromatic and woody. I start to sense cedar and even some pine in this smoke. Within 15 minutes the character and experience has totally changed.

I was reading the latest issue of Baseline magazine, and after 30 minutes with this Bolivar I have laid the magazine to one side entering an almost zen-like trance.

This is an amazing smoking experience. As I reach the last third of the Churchill the taste becomes stronger (but not bitter). I have only lost ash once getting to this point and realize I will be enjoying this right down to the very end.

The sun is starting to set behind the hills of the Napa Valley. As the twilight starts, this beautiful Bolivar comes to an end. Oh well, I now need to get dressed and head down to the Lakehouse for a gourmet dinner with the wife.

Rating: (4) OUTSTANDING
(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

Ramon Allones Belicosos

Produced: 2005
Made by: Partagas
Size: Belicosos
Ring Gauge: 52
Length: 5 1/2 inches
Purchased: Cigars Unlimited, London UK, 2006.


Date: August 14th, 2006
Time: 4:30 pm GMT
Location: Hayfield Manor, Cork City, Cork, Ireland
Conditions: Clear skies, Warm 75 degrees, light breeze


The Purchase
This cigar was purchased at Cigars Unlimited, London, UK. To learn more about my buying experience, please refer to this post. Adrian strongly recommended this cigar.


The Location
I finally escaped the Hell at Heathrow and arrived in Cork. It seemed like touching down in Heaven when I arrived at the brand new Cork airport. The weather was uncharacteristically sunny, warm and frankly, so un-British and far-away from the security nightmares back in Britain.

After conducting my business meetings I made my way to the Hayfield Manor, a delightful old world establishment near Cork City and tucked away in it’s own secluded garden. It’s a balmy afternoon and sunset will be late this evening…. A perfect opportunity to have a single malt, check my email and….. light up a smoke.

I made my way to this delightful garden setting and was immediately assisted by Ann, a friendly Polish gal who delivered my drink and the largest ashtray on the planet…. I think it doubles as a salad bowl!











The Smoke!
I must warn you that this cigar is NOT aged. In fact, it is rather young. However, I couldn’t wait to try it. It is especially rare and you will have a hard time finding this one outside of the UK. These belicosos were made exclusively for the UK market and Adrian was instrumental in getting them produced when he was last in Cuba. The production has been very limited and is available only in a select number of locations in London.

So why am I reviewing this in the public domain? These cigars are styled after the old world Habanos that the English used to enjoy when the Empire was, well, an Empire (apologies to my Pommie friends).
As I listened to Adrian’s description of these cigars, I realized that these quite possibly are the blend of cigar my maternal grandfather (Sydney Kaufman) used to smoke back in the day. The thought that I could be smoking something that Syd may have enjoyed in his billiard room in the old house in Brighton really peaked my curiosity. They looked very close to a handful of dried out puros my Grandmother gave me after Syd passed away some years ago.

Adrian warns me that these have a subtle taste and one needs to sample a few to really start to appreciate them. The cigar is a dark brown and a very comfortable size somewhat between a Torpedo and a Churchill. I make a traditional cut and light it up. The draw is smooth and the aromas mild, subtle and somewhat eloquent. This cigar has great constructions and balance.

As stated earlier, it is a young habanos and would benefit from some ageing. I plan to acquire a box and put it away for at least 5 years. I enjoy this smoke for approximately 2 hours as I watch a beautiful midsummer sunset in Cork.

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

Humidor: VAULT: 2010-2015
Smoke Now, Smoke Soon:1–3 Years, Put Away:3–7 Years, Vault:7-12 Years, Inheritance Gift:12+ Years

TomTom Cigars, London, UK

Date: August 12, 2006
63 Elizabeth Street
London SW1 W9PP

Before I head over to Cigars Unlimited, I dropped in on this trendy little store near Buckingham Palace.

I enter the store and Mariana, a young, tall and sultry Serbian lass looks up from reading her newspaper…. Oh boy, this is going to be an interesting visit!

I ask the standard question and she indicates they opened in 1997 and their inventory on aged product is limited. I follow her nervously into the humidor and she begins to unlock closets full of boxes of every brand imaginable. Partagas’s, Cohiba’s, Hoyo’s, Bolivar’s, Punch’s, Sancho Panza’s, on and on…. Where is Leslie when I need her??

Mariana proceeds to tell me that she will only sell aged cigars by the box. Being persistent I try to convince her that I am not her normal “fly-by-night” yank tourist, but a serious connoisseur that appreciates fine aged puros. She’s not impressed, but relents and lets me select two boxes from which I can make some limited selections. I dip into some Punch 50 Cabinets (1997) and Sancho Panzas Belicosos (1997).







After I make my purchases, Marianna starts to become very helpful and recommends Cigars Unlimited for aged product. She gets online and prints out directions to a number of other stores for me to consider.

If you are into fresh high quality product, lighters, fountain pens, cases, and, erhhh…. Tall sultry Serbian women, I would recommend Tom Tom’s.

Leslie, honey…. I’ll be home soon!!

+44-020-7730-1790
http://www.tomtom.co.uk/

Cigars Unlimited London, UK

Date: August 12, 2006
129 Walham Green Court
Moore Park Road
London SW6 2DG
Proprietor: Adrian Lesley

It’s raining this morning and I decide to grab a taxi from Mayfair over to this store just off Fulham Road. The sign on the front door says it will be a late opening today because the staff is on vacation. Around 10:55am Adrian, the proprietor, shows up with his cute dog and apologizes for keeping me waiting.

Adrian (and the dog!) welcome me into the store along with another regular. It’s a tidy, contemporary space with a great walk-in humidor. The regular settles himself down in a plush chair as Adrian warms the espresso machine. We exchange pleasantries and I begin with my standing opening line…. Do you have any aged Cubans?

From that one question, what followed was a fascinating education and journey of discovery into aged Habanos. Adrian is not your average tobacconist. He is a passionate aficionado, and is extremely well-connected in the international cigar community. He travels each year to Cuba, is a regular at the auctions and has extensive relationships at all levels of the industry. The store is dotted with photographs of rollers, factories and Adrian standing in tobacco fields in Cuba.

The location of the store is within walking distance of the exclusive Habanos distributor in the UK, Hunters & Frankau.

I was invited into the humidor and he opened up his personal lockers to share what has been maturing over the years. I’m astounded, not just at the age of the cigars, but the quality. He takes the time to demonstrate how he selects the “best of the best”. It’s a fascinating lesson in smell, feel and inspection from cap to tip.

At his recommendation I make some Limited Edition selections as well as a box of Trinidad Robusto Extras. As we are winding up the selections, he asks, “Would you be interested in some pre-revolution cigars…. My jaw drops…. Erhhhh, sure I stutter….

He shows me a collection that are dated from 1945. Punch Inimitables and Hoyo de Monterey Serie C’s. Both are extremely rare and in great condition. Would I be interested in purchasing? Needless to say I will be reviewing these in future reviews if I can acquire them.







I spent an hour and half with Adrian and his dog in this great store. I will definitely keep in contact with him and make future visits as this has been one of my best retail experiences.

+44-207-386-9000
http://www.cigarsunlimited.co.uk/

London Calling!

Heathrow Airport

Date: August 11th, 2006

Time: 3:30 pm GMT

Location: London, UK

Conditions: Overcast, rain threatening, Muggy, 80 degrees

The Situation
Has my passion for finding the best Habanos ever been in doubt?

My plans to attend a Board meeting and conduct some business in Cork Ireland have been in the works for over four months. It made perfect sense back in March to stopover in London to pounce on the "golden quadrangle" of habanos: Sautter's of Mayfair, Davidoffs', JJ Fox of St. James, and Alfred Dunhill's. Little did I know that the UK had turned into a terrorist quagmire.... a five hour departure delay in SFO, followed by the "mashup" of humanity at Heathrow. To give you a flavor of the "Hell at Heathrow", here is what I witnessed outside customs hall today after arriving:

• A small child probably about 6 years old crying hysterically looking for her mother... and nobody stopping to help her;
• A small indian gentleman convulsing on the floor having what appeared to be a cardiac arrest;
• Two women fighting over a trolley cart with luggage contents being spewed everywhere;
• The Pakistani cricket team (or a group looking like them) roughing up a Virgin Airlines luggage assistant.... (probably warranted)....

All I could I do is search for my driver to get me into the city. I did stop to help the little girl. I took her by the hand and left her with a female security guard packin the largest automatic machine gun I have ever seen (I haven't seen that many).

After an hour and a half drive, I finally arrived at the Connaught Hotel (right across the street from Sautter's). I checked in and immediately headed across the street.

John welcomed me in. He said that Desmond had some aged product "in the back" but he needed to have Desmond determine what I could acquire. I love this little establishment. It's a pity that Desmond isn't around that much anymore. Apparently he has "valve issues" and only comes into the store when he is visiting his doctor. I picked up a couple of Cohiba Siglio V's and started to walk down Mount Street toward Davidoff's.

I had better luck at Davidoff's. I scored in finding some pre-1981 Montecritso Especial No. 2's, Gonzalez Corona Extra's and some Bolivar Churchill Tubos... all in great condition and well aged. I moved onto JJ Fox and they had some aged product but Bill would only sell them by the box. He said he would look in storage and get back to me.... I won't hold my breath. Both JJ Fox and Davidoff are catering very much to the tourist trade and frankly, they have lost there appeal to me for aged product. These stores concentrate on higher margin items such as lighters, cases, etc.

I was making my way back to the hotel when I decided to stop into Alfred Dunhill's. It's a good clothing and accessories store and has a wide selection of new recent habanos. They showed me what aged product they had... some tired 1998 Hoyo de Monterey Double Coronas.... I decided to pass.

There was a group of regulars in the lounge enjoying a smoke. I decided to join them. Some young well-to-do turks that were sipping single malt and enjoying some new Cohiba's from their lockers. I spent the next hour chatting about our shared exploits, as well as taking calls from the US.... Apparently there is a worm outbreak and Microsoft has issued their highest alert level ever... looks like everyone will be patching their servers and desktops over the weekend....

It's starting to rain and I head back to the Hotel. I need an early start tomorrow as I have a number of stores I need to hit. I plan to visit the top establishments from the Hunter's & Frankau listing....