Cigar Weekly

sd_smoker · 02-16-2004, 07:01 AM

I just received a box of these from Feb 02 as part of my first box order. I hadn't heard much about them, so I pretty much just ordered them on a whim. The fact that these are being discontinued had something to do with it. What little I had heard seemed to indicate that they were on the mild side, which also had me a little nervous since I prefer fuller bodied cigars. I figured, worst case, I could trade them off.

The cigars came bandless as they are one of the few PC's you can get in a 25 count cabinet. I wish more smokes were available this way. They all have a very nice medium brown wrapper, with a reddish hue. The texture of the wrapper on these is like nothing I've ever felt. They are so smooth, they feel downright velvety. It made me wonder how these would burn, but it turned out not to be an issue. I decided to pair this cigar with a dark ale from Big Hole Brewing that reminded me of a little of Guiness, though a little "bitier".

Upon lighting I was greeted with a slightly toasty flavor that was mild, but quite nice. I was a little nervous that it would remain this mild, though the flavor was good. It had that "twang", but at about 1/10 the level you would find in a Boli PC, for example. It just kinda hung out in the background, but it was there if you were looking for it. As far as naming specific flavors, I've found that it takes practice. When I first started trying to identify flavors I would first have to pick out a flavor I was tasting, then think long and hard to try and identify it with something recognizable. I'm finding that the descriptions are coming to me a little easier now, but I'm still working on it.

As I moved past the first inch, the flavor picked up a notch and was becoming quite good. I noticed a flavor that reminded me of graham crackers. It alternated between this toasty graham craker flavor and a sweeter flavor that reminded me of toffee. It was unbelievably tasty! The flavor pretty much stayed along these lines, but I wouldn't say that it was a one dimensional cigar by any means. There were enough changes to keep me very interested, though I don't think I could quite describe them. At least not well enough to do them justice. The beer contrasted enough with the cigar that it cleansed my palate and really let me experience the flavors of the cigar with each draw, but not so much that it conflicted in any way. A very nice pairing!

By the end of this hour long smoke, I had decided that this was one of the best cigars I've ever had! Boy did my gamble ever pay off! By the end I noticed that I was getting a bit of a nicotine buzz... sneaky little bastard! I never would have labeled this cigar as full bodied, but it was full flavored. I suppose that, perhaps due to my inexperience with Habanos, I still associate full bodied with harshness. I couldn't believe how incredibly smooth this cigar was right down to the nub! I couldn't believe this cigar was only two years old. I would think this is what a 10 year old cigar would taste like...

I haven't developed a rating system yet, but this would have been way up there! Very highly recommended! Even though my collection of Habanos consists of only 3 boxes at this point, I am very tempted to grab another box of these. The thought of running out of this cigar and not being able to attain more is just depressing!

flyfishtn · 02-16-2004, 07:18 AM

Very nice review!

jazznut · 02-16-2004, 08:18 AM

Fine write-up, JL.

Hungry and thirsty now!

mroptimistic · 02-16-2004, 08:29 AM

Great review, man I have a single one of these from 98 coming, your review is gonna make it really hard for me to hang on to it for any length of time. 6 years is a good ammount of time, not quite ten but it just sounds so good :P

olateone · 02-16-2004, 08:49 AM

Ok, I'm sold

DocRKS · 02-16-2004, 10:10 AM

I enjoyed your review - so much in fact that I'm reaching for one of these right now. Thanks

Raine Moor · 02-16-2004, 12:55 PM

Nice easy reading, another grab your money and get a box review.

eduardo · 02-16-2004, 01:19 PM

I just received a box of 98's that are

I'll probably sit on them for some time to come

althekillr · 02-16-2004, 01:34 PM

just got a box of 98's as well. eager to see how they are.

DaveC · 02-16-2004, 02:29 PM

glad i got some enroute, great review!

02-16-2004, 07:01 AM	#1
sd_smoker Club Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: OKC Posts: 4,336	Punch Royal Selection #12 I just received a box of these from Feb 02 as part of my first box order. I hadn't heard much about them, so I pretty much just ordered them on a whim. The fact that these are being discontinued had something to do with it. What little I had heard seemed to indicate that they were on the mild side, which also had me a little nervous since I prefer fuller bodied cigars. I figured, worst case, I could trade them off. The cigars came bandless as they are one of the few PC's you can get in a 25 count cabinet. I wish more smokes were available this way. They all have a very nice medium brown wrapper, with a reddish hue. The texture of the wrapper on these is like nothing I've ever felt. They are so smooth, they feel downright velvety. It made me wonder how these would burn, but it turned out not to be an issue. I decided to pair this cigar with a dark ale from Big Hole Brewing that reminded me of a little of Guiness, though a little "bitier". Upon lighting I was greeted with a slightly toasty flavor that was mild, but quite nice. I was a little nervous that it would remain this mild, though the flavor was good. It had that "twang", but at about 1/10 the level you would find in a Boli PC, for example. It just kinda hung out in the background, but it was there if you were looking for it. As far as naming specific flavors, I've found that it takes practice. When I first started trying to identify flavors I would first have to pick out a flavor I was tasting, then think long and hard to try and identify it with something recognizable. I'm finding that the descriptions are coming to me a little easier now, but I'm still working on it. As I moved past the first inch, the flavor picked up a notch and was becoming quite good. I noticed a flavor that reminded me of graham crackers. It alternated between this toasty graham craker flavor and a sweeter flavor that reminded me of toffee. It was unbelievably tasty! The flavor pretty much stayed along these lines, but I wouldn't say that it was a one dimensional cigar by any means. There were enough changes to keep me very interested, though I don't think I could quite describe them. At least not well enough to do them justice. The beer contrasted enough with the cigar that it cleansed my palate and really let me experience the flavors of the cigar with each draw, but not so much that it conflicted in any way. A very nice pairing! By the end of this hour long smoke, I had decided that this was one of the best cigars I've ever had! Boy did my gamble ever pay off! By the end I noticed that I was getting a bit of a nicotine buzz... sneaky little bastard! I never would have labeled this cigar as full bodied, but it was full flavored. I suppose that, perhaps due to my inexperience with Habanos, I still associate full bodied with harshness. I couldn't believe how incredibly smooth this cigar was right down to the nub! I couldn't believe this cigar was only two years old. I would think this is what a 10 year old cigar would taste like... I haven't developed a rating system yet, but this would have been way up there! Very highly recommended! Even though my collection of Habanos consists of only 3 boxes at this point, I am very tempted to grab another box of these. The thought of running out of this cigar and not being able to attain more is just depressing! __________________ "Personal charisma is a force that undermines institutions as often as it sustains them. Political institutions need the more reliable buttresses of tradition and duty. Mass emotionalism and celebrity-worship are hostile to any constitutional system."

02-16-2004, 07:18 AM	#2
flyfishtn Club Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashvegas Posts: 4,906	Very nice review! __________________ Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a sledgehammer. - Maj. I.L. Holdridge, USMC

02-16-2004, 08:18 AM	#3
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	Fine write-up, JL. Hungry and thirsty now! __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

02-16-2004, 08:29 AM	#4
mroptimistic Club Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 1,135	Great review, man I have a single one of these from 98 coming, your review is gonna make it really hard for me to hang on to it for any length of time. 6 years is a good ammount of time, not quite ten but it just sounds so good :P __________________ --Doroga k Zvjozdam Otkrita-- The way to the stars is open

02-16-2004, 08:49 AM	#5
olateone Club Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,246	Ok, I'm sold __________________ olateone.....never early.

02-16-2004, 10:10 AM	#6
DocRKS Herf Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sailing Between Scylla & Charybdis Posts: 5,096	I enjoyed your review - so much in fact that I'm reaching for one of these right now. Thanks __________________ For Country and Corps - 2004 Keeping Freedom Alive - 2005 America - Home of the Free - Because of the Brave All Gave Some --- Some Gave All ......... DTM - XVII

02-16-2004, 12:55 PM	#7
Raine Moor Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: USofA Posts: 690	Nice easy reading, another grab your money and get a box review.

02-16-2004, 01:19 PM	#8
eduardo Club Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in a Cloud of Smoke Posts: 1,371	I just received a box of 98's that are I'll probably sit on them for some time to come __________________ "The most futile and disastrous day seems well spent when it is reviewed through the blue, fragrant smoke of a fine cigar."

02-16-2004, 01:34 PM	#9
althekillr Club Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cancuuuuuuuuun Posts: 1,506	just got a box of 98's as well. eager to see how they are.

02-16-2004, 02:29 PM	#10
DaveC Club Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nueva York.... Posts: 1,384	glad i got some enroute, great review!