Macanudo 1968 Rothschild

Stars: 2.5
Purchased: P.G.C. Hajenius, Amsterdam, NL
Smoked: Amsterdam 18/10/14
Country: Dominican
Size: Short robusto

Notes: Can't say I enjoyed this cigar, but then it wasn't the cigar's fault. Had the urge to stop smoking it a couple of seconds after lighting up. May have had something to do with the time of day (mid-afternoon), in the sun, not after a meal or with any alcohol. Just wasn't really in the mood. Kept half of it and returned to it (not advisable) after a meal at one of my favourite restaurants on earth. The ash had instilled a terrible burnt flavour into the rest of the stick, so that's a remind for next time, IF thinking of stopping a cigar and keeping it for later (again, highly not advisable), to cut off the ash end as soon as possible. In terms of notes, it was pretty light and nutty, but my tastebuds just weren't in the right state to appreciate it. For the price, the Titan is certainly a better buy.

Partagas Corona

Stars: 2.5
Purchased: Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy
Smoked: Elba Island 31/07/14
Country: Cuba
Size: Corona
Notes: Do you like Febo? You know, the Dutch fast food chain where you deposit your spare change into a slot and pull your slumping, 4-hour-old burger from a metal box. I fucking LOVE Febo. It just goes to show that something stored in a metal and glass box doesn't necessarily taste like shit. The same cannot be said for cigars, and that's why I'm always weary of cigars sold on counter of a shop that also sells, say, gelati. Or greeting cards. Or scratchies. Or all of the above.

Enter the tabacchi. What is a tabacchi, you ask? This is a type of store found in Italy and a few other European countries where you can buy all the above. They're quite popular with geriatrics as well as tired and weary Australian tourists who has forgotten to pack his cigars on holiday.

The Partagas Corona is a lovely sized-stogie. Not irritatingly thin like some coronas out there (Cohiba I'm looking squarely at you) and not annoyingly long either. Aged well and kept in a proper humidor, this cigar could go a long way. The flavours would mature and wouldn't be too suppressed as it's quite a quick smoke. I remember thinking of cherries while smoking this, but that might have had something to do with the wine tasting we'd done earlier in the week. We strolled around the docks peering into luxury yachts, and puffed smoke into the dark starry night. Sometimes, it's not the smoke that matters.

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