All tagged Cuban Cigar Reviews

The Fraser Island Mix - Part 2 (with photo gallery).

The Fraser Island Mix - Part 2 (with photo gallery).

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

We made the trip up the Island on the Saturday and the first real chance for a good cigar was back at the lodge on the Sunday. A Trinidad Fundadore. Anyone hoping for detailed and considered reviews of these cigars will have surely realised that this is not the column for that, at least not this time. Over the afternoon, as I continued with ‘Lords of the Fly’ and also the latest in the Sam Wyndham series by Abir Mukherjee, ‘Death in the East’ – cracking series for those who enjoy a good detective read. This is the fourth, and perhaps his best. Set in India back in the '30s. But the drinks for the Fundie – Domaine Chandon Blanc des Blancs 2015, Grant Burge Rose and a Stonier Chardy but the exact one escapes me – these are…

The Fraser Island Mix –  Part 1. 

The Fraser Island Mix –  Part 1. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

For decades, I've been making the annual sojourn to Fraser Island with the guys. Occasionally, get up there twice a year, but normally, 6 to 10 of us head up just the once. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The usual format, these days, is that we sort out vehicles etc, we have a treasurer and a quartermaster (although many is the year we have gone up with 25 different cheeses, 16 different olives etc etc, and forgotten the toilet paper). Most of us go to a mate’s fabulous house on a hill behind Cooroy for the Friday evening, a couple of hours north of Brizzy. A cigar overlooking the lake, dinner, drinks, and then we all crash and head up the next day. Another couple of hours to the tiny town of Rainbow Bay and on to Inskip Point, nothing more than a spit of sand, where we catch the car ferry to the bottom of the Island. The trip is only about 15 minutes and some years see queues of many, even hundreds, of cars on one side or both. The things you see waiting or while on the ferry can be spectacular and…

Bolivar Belicosos Finos – Shichida Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Bolivar Belicosos Finos – Shichida Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

nteresting combo this week. A popular and well known cigar with something a little more leftfield – a cracking sake.

The Belicosos. A pyramid, 52x140mm. A cigar which, according to Trev’s magnificent site, has been with us since pre-1960.

This example smoked very well. rich, chocolatey, dark fruits. It took a little time to get into stride but went well when it did. It was more Christmas cake than the typical earthiness one thinks of when one smokes Bolivar. This smoke had what seems to be referred to as ‘the elusive perfect draw” but what is that? Over to Ray, I think? Slightly tight is pretty close for me. And this was.

Overall, a long slow smoke. Always like that. Quite powerful as would…

Punch Punch 48 – Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz 2008. 

Punch Punch 48 – Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz 2008. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Right, I have no idea where this one came from, the Punch Punch 48. I suspect that it was leftover from a video Rob and I did a few years ago. Anyway, it seemed like a good thing to try with a style that I think works way better with cigars than ‘straight’ red wines.

Grand corona sized – ring gauge of 48 (no surprise there) X 140mm. Has the secondary band – the first to receive it, I believe – as a Habanos Specialist release. It certainly was in superb condition when I came to it. Looked a joy. Opened with lovely caramel notes. Good power here. Some woody notes. And then with a hint of chocolate emerging. The flavours were excellent throughout. Unfortunately, the burn raced…

Trinidad Coloniales – Lola y Vera Gin. 

Trinidad Coloniales – Lola y Vera Gin. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

The Santamania ‘Lola y Vera’ Gin comes in a bottle which looks a bit like a cross between a bottle of kids’ medicine and a bottle of Malibu on acid. It was released a few years ago as a collaboration between the Spanish distillery, Santamania, and our own Four Pillars, though the latter rarely appears in any info on it. Spain is a huge consumer of gin and they do it extremely well.

‘Lola y Vera’ is a fine example. Named after their stills, it is described as a Madrid Dry, based on the juniper-flavoured London Dry with which most are more familiar. The Spanish spirit which Santamania contributed is based on Spanish Tempranillo. It was made in sadly limited quantities. Each distillery contributed gin which was blended. The result is terrific. I suspect it sold out ages ago.

It is clean, zesty and flavoursome with

The Corona Gorda Crush - Punch Punch (REG ENR19) – Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz 2020 Gin - Glenfarclas 15-Year-Old Malt Whisky. 

The Corona Gorda Crush - Punch Punch (REG ENR19) – Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz 2020 Gin - Glenfarclas 15-Year-Old Malt Whisky. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

The Punch Punch will surely be a cigar familiar to most, as we come towards the end of our little journey through the Corona Gorda world, as brief as it has been.

And what a joy it turned out to be. They come in good old-fashioned boxes of 25 (none of the ten or eight or whatever malarkey). 143 x 46mm.

Opened with a good draw. The construction looked fine, though obvious box press. A fine wrapper with plenty of those attractive russet notes. The opening flavours were dominated by a lovely walnut character. Some earthy tones, woody, spicy and perhaps even a smidge of vanilla. Some leather. Richly flavoured and sitting above medium-bodied. Earthy notes emerged more and more. This is a cigar which…

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 – Seppeltsfield Savoury Allsorts Gin -Navazos PX Gran Solera

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 – Seppeltsfield Savoury Allsorts Gin -Navazos PX Gran Solera

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

I really am living in the wrong era. If the equivalent to Mr Jordan for arrivals, not departures, could check his records and shift me to the appropriate century, I'd be grateful. Or even decade.

Technology. Isn't it supposed to make one’s life easier? I think it is simply compelling evidence the divinities have a sense of humour.

I decide to head down to the family beach shack in northern NSW. Need to get my nephew to do the permit as otherwise, the pumpkin that runs our State will not let me back across the border – 30,000 jammed together to protest is fine but a bloke, solo, in his car going from one place to the other without bothering anyone or even talking to anyone, and I need paperwork. George Orwell, come on down.

Anyway, plan on being here for a week. Supposed to do a zoom review with…

The Corona Gorda Crush (the last of the line-up so no more struggling to get a better name) – Juan Lopez Seleccion No 1 (UTC May 19) – Pol Roger Blanc des Blancs 2012

The Corona Gorda Crush (the last of the line-up so no more struggling to get a better name) – Juan Lopez Seleccion No 1 (UTC May 19) – Pol Roger Blanc des Blancs 2012

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Another, indeed the final corona gorda in our mini line-up and another cigar that smoked very well. A fine example.

The Juan Lopez Seleccion No 1 is the same size as our previous CG (not surprisingly), with a ring gauge of 46 and length of 143 mm. Again, may the heavens resonate with the trumpets of glory for such sizes. Again, a slide lid box of 25.

Mine was perhaps in not quite the same condition as the previous CG, with one leaf doing its best to unravel, but it managed to hold together for our purposes. A nice earthy brown colour with hints of russet. Looked good. Firm with a perfect draw.

Started beautifully with…

The Corona Gorda Crush (still struggling with that name) – Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 (JUS OCT17) – Pol Roger 2012

The Corona Gorda Crush (still struggling with that name) – Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 (JUS OCT17) – Pol Roger 2012

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

For the last two cigars in the Corona Gorda reviews, I matched both with Pol Roger champagnes. I was doing a review of the 2012s, brilliant stuff, and so did not want to waste the bottles. Isolation had prevented the usual vultures descending to scoff my good stuff! So I made the sacrifice to slog through the bottles myself. As I write this, I'm forced to wade through some fabulous 2016 Barolos for the same reason (but the is cigar long finished).

The Epi 1, as the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No 1 seems to be universally dubbed, is a 46 ring gauge (cue a crescendo of applause) and 143 mm in length, coming in slide lid boxes of 25.

My example was of superior construction, firm and yet with a good draw. Opening with some nice toasty notes, quite rich. A touch woody. Some coffee grinds. For me, this is all along the Hoyo DNA. Quite powerful throughout. Good strength. Richness prevailed throughout and then…

Robusto Rumble – Cohiba Robusto – Sullivans Cove American Oak Old and Rare Whisky - Holgate ‘Gate Series’ ‘Double Trouble’ 2015 Release. 

Robusto Rumble – Cohiba Robusto – Sullivans Cove American Oak Old and Rare Whisky - Holgate ‘Gate Series’ ‘Double Trouble’ 2015 Release. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

We are coming to the end of the Robusto Rumble (I will finish with one from my own humidor, an aged Partagas D4). Next, we’ll look at some Corona Gorda cigars but first, the legendary CoRo. I had put this one aside to finish the Rumble, as by reputation, it should have been our star. And I wanted some special Aussie drinks to try and match.

First, the CoRo. Apols, but I have no idea of code, but it is a young release. It opened with everything one could have hoped for – a gorgeous creamy coffee note. There was dense velvety smoke, real length of flavour here. Could not have hoped for more. Sadly, it did not persist as much as one would wish. Remained an excellent cigar, but it went from one…

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especiale LE 2004 (FJN Feb 05) – Navazos La Bota 88 de Malt Whisky - Navazos La Bota 87 de Gin

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especiale LE 2004 (FJN Feb 05) – Navazos La Bota 88 de Malt Whisky - Navazos La Bota 87 de Gin

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Sometimes, the stars simply align. Sadly, that might just mean one whopping black hole.

Decided last night, that with the rugby league back and isolation finally on the skids, I needed, nay I deserved, a cracking cigar. Plus, a couple of spirits I have been chasing for a long time, eventually successfully getting a bottle or two of each, that these could be the drinks. All of this was to offset the possible humiliation that the local footy team was likely to cop. And didn’t they get bent over and proverbially… It was almost bad enough to ruin the cigars and drinks matches.

Nuff said on that. We shall move on.

The cigar suggests that dodgy labelling on Limited Edition cigars is not new. An 05 code on a box of LE’s from 2004? No matter. This was a box I picked up many…

Por Larranaga RR Reino Unido UK ‘Regalias de Londres’ 2010 – Montecristo Edmund Dantes 25-Year-Old Rum - Yamazaki 12-Year-Old Malt Whisky - To’ak Tequila Cask (4 Years) Ecuadorean Chocolate.

Por Larranaga RR Reino Unido UK ‘Regalias de Londres’ 2010 – Montecristo Edmund Dantes 25-Year-Old Rum - Yamazaki 12-Year-Old Malt Whisky - To’ak Tequila Cask (4 Years) Ecuadorean Chocolate.

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Forgive this break in the scheduled programming. I still have several of the Corona Gorda series to go but as many will know, our Lord and Master posted a thread about a few cigars he knew nothing about. Turned out, thanks to the amazing generosity of our good friend, Alex, I had one in the home humidor. So Presidential decree meant it was to be withdrawn and smoked. I serve at the pleasure… (and also because he promised me something exciting in its replacement, although I would most happily have done so without the mercenary element to this).

I thought, as we have descended into bitter winter (yes, all relevant) and I finally got the full set of Game of Thrones DVDs so Winter really is coming, I should binge and match it with some of the good stuff.

Cigar first. I need to confess that…

The Corona Gorda Crush (well, I still can’t think of a better name) – Cohiba Siglo IV (HRS Mar 19) – Monkey 47 Sloe Gin.

The Corona Gorda Crush (well, I still can’t think of a better name) – Cohiba Siglo IV (HRS Mar 19) – Monkey 47 Sloe Gin.

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

To be honest, I have used this gin with a number of cigars as it is proving an allrounder of sublime ability. In fact, I really struggle to think of another individual drink which has worked so well with such a wide array of cigars.

The cigar is a legend – no one needs me to tell them that. The Cohiba Siglo IV (HRS Mar 19). And it more than lived up to that reputation. As I mentioned in Rob’s last video, it was as good as, if not better, than any Sig IV I can ever recall. If this is current form, then load up!

Looked immaculate and there was a firm draw. It was rich and dense from the very start. Honey crept in. A hint of milk chocolate. Richness here. We then moved into creamy coffee, cinnamon and citrus touches. Dense and rich, it continued. For me, this was smoking as a little fuller and richer than most Cohiba. The flavours got darker and (yes, a most overused word here) richer as we progressed. An absolute cracker. I thought it was worth 96. It was that good.

And as I mentioned, a wonderful…

Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 – Lagavulin 8-Year-Old - Chateau Thivin Beaujolais. 

Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 – Lagavulin 8-Year-Old - Chateau Thivin Beaujolais. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Okay, this one might be cheating a little. Well, perhaps not cheating – fudging.

It is not that long since we did this cigar on video (I am delighted/amazed that I remember it – perhaps the memory is not quite so poor), so I would encourage anyone interested to have a look as there was not much change. Also, as many might be aware, I think matching red wine and cigars would like pouring ice-cream over wagyu. Actually, I would prefer that.

So why? Why would I try something I know to be a trainwreck? Well, because I had a look through a range of absolutely cracking Beaujolais recently and had some left, so shoehorning them into this review allows me to expound on them. Didn’t want anyone missing out.

Right, first, the cigar. The Punch…

Robusto Rumble – Por Larranaga Robustos de Larranaga. 2007 Regional Release Asia Pacific. EMA Oct 07 – Zacapa Royal - Palo Cortado

Robusto Rumble – Por Larranaga Robustos de Larranaga. 2007 Regional Release Asia Pacific. EMA Oct 07 – Zacapa Royal - Palo Cortado

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Well, this is a bit embarrassing. Was doing some isolation cleaning up yesterday and came across an empty half-bottle of Palo Cortado sherry, amongst full bottles on the kitchen bench. So of course, I tossed it in the rubbish. Collected. Gone. Forgotten.

Today, I sit down to do the next Kenfessions and remember why I kept the empty – to remind me which Bodega made it, plus details. Whoops. So all I can tell you now is that it was a palo cortado.

This, the Por Larranaga Robustos de Larranaga. 2007 Regional Release Asia Pacific. EMA Oct 07, is also a cigar we looked at recently. A post on the forum recently revealed just how extensive the number of Robustos were, so we are not going to get through them all for our Robusto Rumble, but we are doing our best (and yes, there is a valid…

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