Macanudo Maduro Diplomat

Stars: 4.5
Purchased: Stockholm
Smoked:London 05/09/14
Country: Dominican Republic?
Size: 4.5"
Notes: Juxtaposition. If there's a word most overused in high school English classes, this would certainly be it. 

noun

1. the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

If juxtaposition were to grow as trees, and the leaves of those trees were cut, dried, cured, and rolled into a cigar, they would call it the Macanudo Maduro Diplomat. This brown, smooth-talking civil servant is anything but diplomatic. He is a creamy delight of a smoke and one who requires no time to warm up. Notes of coffee, cream, Brazil nuts, chocolate, and brandy. And yet, he still manages to look like a dark lump of shit. If that's not juxtaposition, I don't know what is.

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Toscano Del Presidente

Stars: 3
Purchased: A tabacchi, Siena
Smoked: Siena 25/07/14
Country: Italy
Size: Toscano
Notes: When in Rome, right? The same has to be said for Tuscany. This was my first European smoke, though certainly not my first non-Caribbean (Mexico, Philippines before). The great thing about these Toscanos is they're cheap, and comfy to hold. Rolled right here in Tuscany with Kentucky shade leaves. I hate to say it tasted like a cigar, but it did. Quite a medium taste. Draw was a little tough but the burn was even and long. Indeed, this tiny finger-burner took the better half of 35mins to finish. I would certainly try one again; there's something appealing about the notes - very chocolatey, perhaps a hint of coffee bean. Would go great after a Tuscan meal of wild boar ribbon pasta and a hearty Brunello. Absolutely.