February seems to have come and gone faster than usual this time around. For many cigar aficionados, this is the month that rewards us with a little break of sorts with a trip to the Habanos Festival and / or Pro Cigar Festival. The latter is currently on its way at the time of writing Feb. 22 to 25. However, it has been a few years now since the annual cigar journey to Havana has been cancelled.
One of the factors that is re-occurring during the pandemic is the shortage of cigars. In many cases, the cigar boxes we receive from Havana, are only a few months old. In the past, we used to receive cigar boxes with dates that were at least 5-6 months old, minimum. Now, we are getting boxes that are only a couple of months old, and we can taste the different. If you have the luxury to do so, it might be wise to sit on those fresh boxes for another couple of months as they finish settling in.
Having said that, there were some beautiful cigar boxes received in the last few months, and so we have this month’s cigar picks. All but one are piramides shaped cigars.
CUBAN
Hoyo De Monterrey “Le Hoyo De San Juan”.
Size: 54 x 5 7/8
FACTORY NAME: Genials
This cigar, along with the Hoyo De Monterrery “Rio Seco” are special in the Habanos portfolio. Both bring back memories of a trip to a certain tobacco farm in Pinar Del Rio. During one of our training sessions with Habanos, our class spent a few days in the Vuleta Abajo region of Pinar Del Rio. One of the stops was the famed Hector Luis farm. For those of you that have visited, you’ll remember getting the cigars individually wrapped in a newspaper.
When we lit up and tasted these cigars, we all noticed something very distinct in the flavor profile. It was explained to us that all the tobacco used for the cigars that were custom rolled for us, was tobacco solely from the Hector Luis farm. I can tell you that I still remember the flavor of those cigars for how different and fantastic they were.
With that idea in mind, the Hoyo “San Juan”, as it is commonly known, is made solely from tobacco coming from the San Juan y Martinez region. While it is not exclusive to one farm, it narrows down to an area in which the soil will be extremely similar and offers identical characteristics.
The result makes a favorable taste that is very noticeable and stands apart from the other Habanos, most of which are made from tobacco leaves that come from the various farms in Vuelta Abajo in Pinar del Rio. ie: When a roller gets the leaves on their cigar rolling table, they all come from different farms.
With the San Juan, and the Hoyo Rio Seco, the tobacco is only from that one region.
The flavor is rich, mild to medium bodied and is one of the best cigars on the market today. They also have great ageing potential.
NEW WORLD CIGAR
Gurkha “Celler Reserve” Hedonism Aged 18 years.
Wrapper: Corojo
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country Of Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 58 x 6
FACTORY NAME: Grand Robusto
Batch Number: #72493M
Being very much involved in vintage cigars, this line of cellar reserve aged Gurkha had caught my attention and intrigue since the moment I first saw them. After having tried them, this is the one that sticks out from the Gurkha releases.
According to my understanding, both the wrapper and blend used has been aged 18 years. While I find these cigars interesting and fun to discover, they do not at all taste like any vintage cigars I have tasted, Cuban or otherwise.
The construction for these Gurkhas is wonderful, marked by their distinctive curly pig tail finish. The cigar starts off medium and proceeds quickly to a full-bodied cigar. If mild is your preference, I am not sure this line will work for you.
From the perspective of someone specializing mainly in the Cuban cigar world, there are some brands from the New World section that pop out. This Aged 18 Years Hedonism cigar shows why Gurkha is one of those brands.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH CIGAR
Sancho Panza “Belicosos”
Size: 52 x 5 1/2
FACTORY NAME: Campanas
This is my favorite section. Cigars that fly under the radar! Many times, when we go hunting for cigars in various shops, we will find boxes of some of these uncommon cigars that are a few years old for the simple reason that they are not so popular and they are left unpurchased for a longer period of time.
This is one of my personal favorite brands, Sancho Panza. This brand is tiny. While it receives very interesting Regional Edition releases, there is only one cigar by Sancho Panza in regular production, this one. The Belicosos.
The Belicosos is always a treat. If you have the chance to pick up a box, you will notice that a high percentage of the cigars taste the same, are rolled the same and have a consistency that is not found in the highly popular Partagas Serie D No. 4s and Montecristo No. 2s of the world.
This Cuban is also mild to medium, very earthy and with lots of almond and nut flavors. A regular production one is top level, and if luck comes your way and you find an aged one, it is without exaggeration, hard to beat.
SPECIAL CELEBRATORY CIGAR
Cohiba “Piramides Extra”
Size: 54 x 6 1/4
FACTORY NAME: Piramides Extra
