Cigar Weekly

kosmen · 03-05-2006, 02:51 AM

San Cristobal de La Habana La Fuerza:
Cuban. (Stored in cabinet humidor 70deg/65RH)

Friday 03/04/06: Start: 11:15 PM Finnish: 12:50 AM

Food: Proscuitto de Parma layered over fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on a bed of arugula with a splash of balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper (I love this salad and had to have it again tonight). Breaded 1 inch thick baked pork chop with sautéed spinach and an Indonesian rice pilaf. Desert was simple. 2 oz of organic dark chocolate and a 50 year tawny port.

Drink: S. Pellegrino over ice & Glenmorange 15 year old single malt scotch. Neat with 3 drops of water.

Location: Garage at my computer with the door ½ inch up.

Pre light aroma: This cigar was earthy with a healthy wallop of sweet spice.

Construction: This cigar appeared to be in good condition. It was ever so slightly box pressed. I was a little concerned with a small tear in the leaf near the band. My vendor removes the bands and I believe that the cigar was slightly damaged during the removal. It had the look rich leather and reminded me of a fine desk pad. When pinched it had just the right amount of give and felt properly humidified.

Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. The pre draw revealed my second desert. Tastes of nutmeg and sweet earth rush to my palate! I was thinking that if this is the initial pre lit draw that I could hardly wait to toast this beauty! The draw was a tiny bit tight but was certainly acceptable.

Light: I used a Colibri torch lighter and toasted the foot. The cigar lit splendidly.

Taste: The initial draw was, well….heavenly. I was surrounded in sweet spice with the taste of Madagascar vanilla permiating the air. I was encircled in an aroma of syrupy ethereal smoke. I took each draw slowly as to savor each and every moment in time. I thought that if this was just the first 1/8 of the cigar I can’t wait to see how the rest unfolds! The tight grayish white ash was held in place with tiny black slits in contrast. While not as beautiful as the ash of the RyJ Ex#4 I had smoked earlier, it was a close second. The 15 year old single malt was a faultless accent to this cigar. It accentuated the hints of vanilla from the cigar. It was clean and had the taste of a refined smoke that is destined to improve with age. I smoked the entire stick without much of a change in the flavor profile. The strength was medium and never really developed into anything stronger. The flavor was maintained through the whole smoke and while I was hoping for something amazing to happen it never did. This was a fairly young stick and with a little age I could see that this could have some great potential. I must admit that if I were to buy a box I would want to lay these down for probably 3-5 years and revisit them. I only had the one but would surely consider them for a box purchase. Still, this was a joy to smoke and I could see myself procuring a box relatively soon. I smoked to the last ¼ inch and then allowed it to expire.

Synopsis: This cigar is destined for my humidor as a box purchase. While I may not rush to purchase a box right away, it will make it on my short list of smokes to buy. This is certainly smokeable now, but I could only imagine what 3-5 years could yield! The argument for smoking right away is that you know what you are getting. You don’t have to concentrate on a complex flavor profile and can just enjoy the stick without worry. This was a great cigar that can only improve with time.

03-05-2006, 02:51 AM	#1
kosmen Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California Posts: 374	Review: San Christobal de La Habana La Fuerza San Cristobal de La Habana La Fuerza: Cuban. (Stored in cabinet humidor 70deg/65RH) Friday 03/04/06: Start: 11:15 PM Finnish: 12:50 AM Food: Proscuitto de Parma layered over fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on a bed of arugula with a splash of balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper (I love this salad and had to have it again tonight). Breaded 1 inch thick baked pork chop with sautéed spinach and an Indonesian rice pilaf. Desert was simple. 2 oz of organic dark chocolate and a 50 year tawny port. Drink: S. Pellegrino over ice & Glenmorange 15 year old single malt scotch. Neat with 3 drops of water. Location: Garage at my computer with the door ½ inch up. Pre light aroma: This cigar was earthy with a healthy wallop of sweet spice. Construction: This cigar appeared to be in good condition. It was ever so slightly box pressed. I was a little concerned with a small tear in the leaf near the band. My vendor removes the bands and I believe that the cigar was slightly damaged during the removal. It had the look rich leather and reminded me of a fine desk pad. When pinched it had just the right amount of give and felt properly humidified. Pre Light: I made a clean cut with my Xikar cigar cutter and took a pre light draw. The pre draw revealed my second desert. Tastes of nutmeg and sweet earth rush to my palate! I was thinking that if this is the initial pre lit draw that I could hardly wait to toast this beauty! The draw was a tiny bit tight but was certainly acceptable. Light: I used a Colibri torch lighter and toasted the foot. The cigar lit splendidly. Taste: The initial draw was, well….heavenly. I was surrounded in sweet spice with the taste of Madagascar vanilla permiating the air. I was encircled in an aroma of syrupy ethereal smoke. I took each draw slowly as to savor each and every moment in time. I thought that if this was just the first 1/8 of the cigar I can’t wait to see how the rest unfolds! The tight grayish white ash was held in place with tiny black slits in contrast. While not as beautiful as the ash of the RyJ Ex#4 I had smoked earlier, it was a close second. The 15 year old single malt was a faultless accent to this cigar. It accentuated the hints of vanilla from the cigar. It was clean and had the taste of a refined smoke that is destined to improve with age. I smoked the entire stick without much of a change in the flavor profile. The strength was medium and never really developed into anything stronger. The flavor was maintained through the whole smoke and while I was hoping for something amazing to happen it never did. This was a fairly young stick and with a little age I could see that this could have some great potential. I must admit that if I were to buy a box I would want to lay these down for probably 3-5 years and revisit them. I only had the one but would surely consider them for a box purchase. Still, this was a joy to smoke and I could see myself procuring a box relatively soon. I smoked to the last ¼ inch and then allowed it to expire. Synopsis: This cigar is destined for my humidor as a box purchase. While I may not rush to purchase a box right away, it will make it on my short list of smokes to buy. This is certainly smokeable now, but I could only imagine what 3-5 years could yield! The argument for smoking right away is that you know what you are getting. You don’t have to concentrate on a complex flavor profile and can just enjoy the stick without worry. This was a great cigar that can only improve with time.