All tagged Cuban Cigar Reviews

El Rey del Mundo Regional Release Asia Pacific ‘Aniversario’ 2012 – Sullivan’s Cove French Oak Old & Rare Whisky HH0600.

El Rey del Mundo Regional Release Asia Pacific ‘Aniversario’ 2012 – Sullivan’s Cove French Oak Old & Rare Whisky HH0600.

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Long time since I have done a Kenfessions and my apologies for that. Largely as the last four – five months, I have smoked about one cigar a month, thanks to circumstances. Shingles laid me flat out for several months, unable to do anything, and that led to hospital. On the mend, infinitely better than I was. And exile should be coming to a close, so I will be able to relocate and set up the new home shortly, fingers crossed.

So at the moment, still at Hastings Point and Sunday arvo, I thought what a good time to have a crack at a Kenfessions. I have lamb shanks cooking for dinner and got some work done this morning, so to my favourite spot in the world for a cigar – outside, not far from the Ocean. The plan, as always, a good cigar and then something worthwhile to match with a top book or two.

I was going with an old Talisman which…

Romeo y Julieta Churchill – Chimay Blue Label Beer 2017

Romeo y Julieta Churchill – Chimay Blue Label Beer 2017

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Still trapped down south of home but some days are better than others. Today, a parade of humpbacks passing by, leaping presumably for the sheer joy of it. Great to watch.

On those all-too-rare occasions when I do drag myself outside for a cigar, I am often joined by either the local scrub turkeys or the magpies. Neither show any fear and will wander around or even, for the magpies, fly onto the table next to me. All very nice although the magpies do have a fearsome looking beak that could do a lot of damage if you got on the wrong side of one. As I was to witness.

Upstairs looking down and I noticed a magpie in the bushes next door. Thought it might have trapped a small bird in there and was trying to get hold of it. Next thing, it pulls out a reasonable sized snake. Hard to tell what it was but I suspect either a green tree snake or a whip snake. The latter would presumably be poisonous to something the size of a magpie. Did not matter. The poor snake stood no chance. The magpie tore it to shreds. Chopped it up and flew off with pieces for the family, I assume.

I shall be very careful when next the…

Montecristo Especiale No 1 – Rutherglen Muscats

Montecristo Especiale No 1 – Rutherglen Muscats

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Our dear friend Fuzz recently chastised me for not having a better filing system in my life. I figure I have many filing systems so that has to be a better way to do things than just one. However, it does mean that ever so occasionally, things slip through.

As I am certain that anyone who has gotten close enough to me to hear me whinge of late, you’ll be aware that I am stuck south of the Queensland border unable to get home and having contracted an unbelievably painful case of shingles followed by what is known as postherpetic neuralgia, which one gets if one does not diagnose the shingles soon enough. Although I am sure some doctors on the site could provide more, and more accurate details. Anyway, as I have probably bored half the world with, as my rash did not appear until later in the proceedings, shingles was not considered. We went from possible blood clots (I have form with this, though not for fifteen years) to some form of bursitis to a prolapsed disc to an arthritic hip to, when finally the rash deemed to show itself, shingles. I'd had all sorts of orthopods and specialists slinging advice so when…

Partagas Lusitania – Chichibu Ichiro’s Wine Wood Reserve Malt Whisky – “I Love Lusi”

Partagas Lusitania – Chichibu Ichiro’s Wine Wood Reserve Malt Whisky – “I Love Lusi”

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

As the otherwise largely obscure (now) French poet, Paul Claudel, said, “Gentlemen, in the little moment that remains to us between the crisis and the catastrophe, we may as well drink a glass of champagne”.

Yes, it has been that sort of week (and forgive me but there have been a few spoilers already on the forum).

What a nightmare few days. Edging closer to settling a new house, but it still seems as though it is a million miles away and with a vendor keen to crash the contract and a bank trying not to keep stumbling over its own twisted incompetency, there is still every chance I’ll be on a park bench.

Over a year ago, with the burglary and the old place crumbling, I knew I needed to sell and move. Loved that old place, but it needed way too much work and I had neither the ability nor the dosh. The sale took months before and after the contract. Including 8 extensions – not all of them caused by my Bank, or their bank, but my bank lost the docs twice, theirs lost theirs once; mine sent the docs to the wrong branch on…

Ramon Allones Superiores – Husk Bam Bam Spiced Rum, plus apps.

Ramon Allones Superiores – Husk Bam Bam Spiced Rum, plus apps.

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

May I take this opportunity to point out how delighted I was to see our lord and master stuff up and wipe, not one but two video reviews, thanks to technical incompetence. I am not the only technosaur involved in this chaos.

I will confess that technology and I are not always close.

Apps. Lord spare me, why does the world needs apps? We all got along perfectly well without them. Now, apparently, you can’t go anywhere without using apps. Generations lived and died without apps and did so perfectly happily. We invented phones, air-con, television, cars and so much more and those people had never been weighed down with apps. Before we had apps, we did not have Covid!! Think about that.

We got to the moon without apps. Granted we got to the moon before someone had the brilliant and so simple idea to put little wheels on suitcases, so we didn’t get everything right.

But now I apparently need apps to travel and to park. Spare me.

The annual release of the Penfold's Collection is going ahead this year, and it will be followed by a dinner for some of the hard workers to celebrate the…

Cohiba Siglo 1 – Glenfarclas 25-Year-Old

Cohiba Siglo 1 – Glenfarclas 25-Year-Old

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Well, this was interesting. I assume that in these days of weird and wonderful technology, something would or could be inserted here to allow that ‘do do do do do do’ riff which is the theme to the ‘The Twilight Zone’ to play. If not, could we all join in a rousing rendition. It would be most appropriate.

Why? This was a cigar of two halves, if I may plunder one of sport’s worst cliches.

First, small cigars. For me, so rarely do they have a place. What is the point? I really don’t get it. Today, sort of. I sort of wanted a cigar but sort of didn’t, if that makes any sense – it makes no sense to me so don’t feel alone! Not had one for ages as been trying to catch up on work and drag myself out of chaos, self-imposed and otherwise (down at the beach shack, I try and do a spell of mother-sitting back in Brizzy every week and also collect all the samples – who is going to whinge when one is the Flor de Cana V Generaciones, their astonishing 30-Year-Old rum). But trying to head back to the shack, on a good run it takes around an hour 40. This time? Four hours. Peak hour and road works. Nightmare. Still have not found…

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure One – Fossey’s Barrel Gin.

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure One – Fossey’s Barrel Gin.

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

This morning, I saved a turtle. I really thought that might give me some positive karma because the divinities know, I need it. I won’t go over the last six months of crap – I know others have things much worse, but spare me, I must have been a really bad person last life. Perhaps I’ll get to all that soon.

Anyway, after today’s endless farce (actually farces), I hit the wall. Gave up. As someone who normally reads every day, even if only 5 minutes before crashing, or a couple of hours if the opportunity arises, it has been January since I opened a book. So this afternoon, down at the beach shack – my fave place for a cigar as I have mentioned before, I took myself downstairs it the outside, pulled out the couch and fired up an Epi 1. Been here about three weeks and this was my first chance.

Was going to pull out some you-beaut whisky or rum but I thought, no, a gin. It was very much a gin afternoon.

I've been fortunate to have seen a large chunk of the world and I say without hesitation or without any belief that this can be contested, the weather in south-east Queensland/northern NSW in April/May is the best in the world, anywhere, anytime. Put simply, I know this because it cannot be better. Of course, as soon as I think that, although I have said it for years, the gods giggle and…

Romeo y Julieta Churchill - Four Pillars Negroni Gin and Mt Franklin Sparkling Water with hint of Mango - Superbowl. 

Romeo y Julieta Churchill - Four Pillars Negroni Gin and Mt Franklin Sparkling Water with hint of Mango - Superbowl. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Along with many members, watching the Superbowl is a tradition which cannot be tampa’d with (you see what I have already done there). I remember the old days. The only game we’d get all year would be the Superbowl and it would be shown about 3am, between teams we’d never heard of, with rules that made no sense. I do remember Bradshaw. Liked him. And they looked a bit like giant bumblebees, which appealed to a kid – not that I would have ever told Joe Greene that. I'm sure I ale=ready hated Dallas back then but I'm not too sure about that.

These days, things are so much better and I can watch as much as I want.

But Superbowl Monday cannot be interfered with, for any reason. And these days, with a cigar and a drink.

Like many Aussies, happy to watch any…

Juan Lopez No 1 - Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Juan Lopez No 1 - Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Let me start by assuring everyone that this was in no way a nod to dry January. Indeed, I find the very concept an affront to civilisation, or what is left of it after our elected officials have trashed the concept beyond repair.

I am reading a fantastic book, ‘Black Leopard, Red Wolf’ by Marlon James, an African fantasy (this is a real love it or hate it book and I suspect many will fall into the latter category). It took me a little while to get into it but when you do, brilliant. There was one line (well, there are many) which I really loved – “As bored as a god waiting for man to surprise him”. Well, if the gods were not surprised by recent events, they have a very high threshold for astonishment.

The match for the very lovely Juan Lopez No 1 was Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Nothing to do with the famous

Punch 48 - Asahi Super Dry Beer - ‘Havana Requiem’

Punch 48 - Asahi Super Dry Beer - ‘Havana Requiem’

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

I'm sure we all have a favourite place, or two, to enjoy a cigar. Personally, I have two.

The first is the deck at Waddy Lodge on Fraser Island, but as we only take the fishing trip for one week a year, it is a rare privilege.

The second is the family beach shack at Hastings Point in northern NSW.

The place has family history. Before I was born, the folks were coming down here. Dad was an extremely keen fisherman, and an exceptional one – I've still not seen better. Sadly, I am not in his class. There was an old shack on the headland if you could struggle through the sand tracks – remembering that…

Bolivar Royal Corona - Buller’s Calliope Rare Muscat

Bolivar Royal Corona - Buller’s Calliope Rare Muscat

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

Sometimes, you just know it is not going to be your week.

Had to duck into my GP. I have the best GP in the world but he does tend to view time as a somewhat flexible construct (my appointment was for 9. He opens at 8.30 but these days of phone consultations, the 8.30 went in at 9.10 and I went in at 10 and a long queue forming). And I was only there because his idiot temp receptionist insisted I come in for my cholesterol prescription and that I simply could not collect it – waste of time. But I digress.

I step into the waiting room and what is he playing? Dylan's ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’.

I mean, seriously? And I was twenty years younger than the…

Bolivar Belicosos Finos - Taylor's Vintage Port 2018

Bolivar Belicosos Finos - Taylor's Vintage Port 2018

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2021

An ever-popular cigar, matched with something that is a bit special.

First, the cigar – the Boli Beli (why does no one call it that?). It does sound like the aftermath of a dodgy Indian takeaway. These have been with us since pre-Revolution. Not surprising, as it is an ever-reliable and good value smoke. Pyramid in shape, with a length of 140mm and a ring gauge of 52mm, they come in boxes of 25.

If I may jump ahead, after smoking and doing all my notes, I did the usual thing of checking reviews on FoH and the internet to see what others thought. Was reading one internet review with interest when…

Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 2018 - Limefinger ‘The Learnings’ Riesling 2020

Punch Regional Release Asia Pacific 8-9-8 2018 - Limefinger ‘The Learnings’ Riesling 2020

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

One of the tough things about judging cigars is the extraordinary variation that bedevils attempts to do so. It is why that one should smoke as many examples of any particular cigar as possible before giving judgement. Of course, when Rob and I do our videos, we do exactly the opposite. We might, in some cases and more often Rob than myself, be able to bring past experience of a cigar to the table to provide a basis for comparison. But sometimes, it will be the first time either of us will have seen a cigar. Should we really be making definitive judgements based on that?

Well, yes. Otherwise, we would not get to spend our thoroughly enjoyable afternoons, together or zooming, discussing the world, solving problems, enjoying a drink and a smoke. But in reality, these reviews…

Cohiba Medio Siglo - Pyramid Valley Wines

Cohiba Medio Siglo - Pyramid Valley Wines

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Not often I go for a short, fat cigar but surely if anyone is going to do it well, that would be Cohiba. So, the Cohiba Medio Siglo. Honestly, if I may allow my prejudices to take over for a moment – and haven’t we seen enough of that from everyone this year – it looks more like a parody of a cigar than a real one. But I am always prepared to take one for the team.

The Medio Siglo was introduced in 2016 as part of the celebrations for Cohiba’s 50th anniversary. It was one of a trio, along with the ‘Cohiba 50 Aniversario’ and the ‘Cohiba Majestuosos 1966’. It was the first new vitola to join the Siglo series since 2002 when we saw the Siglo VI get on board. This one was dubbed No 19 in the Cigar Journal’s Top 25 from 2016. I'm sure that is very impressive.

The Medio gives a nod to two of the famous…

Partagas E2 – Seppeltsfield Barossa Savoury Allsorts Gin - Hennessey Master Blenders No 3. 

Partagas E2 – Seppeltsfield Barossa Savoury Allsorts Gin - Hennessey Master Blenders No 3. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Couple of very interesting matches here, one quite bizarre.

But first, as is traditional (when I remember), the cigar. The Partagas E2. The more I see Partagas, the more I love them. And I have seen a fair whack, so I love them a lot.

This Kenfession is from back just before Premier Pumpkin (very cruel to call her Princess Penelope, even if she is the spitting image) slammed the borders shut. Down at Hastings Point in NSW. Was down there for some quiet to get some work done, but also a bit of fishing, which went well. could not resist a few pics.

The Partagas E2 – surprised to learn that they…

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