Oliva Maduro Robusto

Stars: 3.5
Purchased: XXX - Stockholm

Smoked: Edinburgh 30/5/14
Country: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto (box-pressed)

Notes: The term 'finger burner' is usually applied to short cigars, with the HDM Petit Robusto the most obvious example. This was my first Oliva - I hadn't heard the name before and originally thought it was a typo. Quite a dark, box-pressed little number, the Maduro Robusto was pleasantly surprising. Not too strong and certainly not light, spicy, complex, rewarding. Would match with a coffee or similarly-based cocktail. Construction was very good with no burn issues. The only irk was there seemed to be some empty space between the wrapper and the tobacco, but perhaps that is the nature of the box-press (the Punch Punch doesn't seem to have this issue though). I would go there again. And yes, it was a finger burner.

Macanudo Titan 1968

Stars: 4.5
Purchased: Robert Graham - Edinburgh

Smoked: London 12/04/14
Country: Dominican Republic
Size: Petit Robusto

Notes: When I first met Señor Titan he was staring up at me lazily from within his plastic tomb - a first encounter that rarely bodes well. Little did I know, that lifeless and placid this stick was anything but. Let's start with the size - the ring gauge is fatter than anything I've ever smoked, even wider than most robustos. Don't be deceived by the length - this looks like a 40min run but it's more like a 65min short marathon through the greatest cities in human civilization. With each draw I felt I was racing through Babylon, Damascus, Athens, a quick detour through Muscat and Casablanca, and winding up somewhere along the Dutch East India Company's spice route. This is truly a cigar that you do not want to end, and thus you do not want the night to end. Thank God they didn't make just one.

http://cigarbreaks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/macanudo-1968-titan.html

Cohiba Maduro 5

Stars: 4.5
Purchased: A la Civette - Paris

Smoked: London 25/1/14
Country: Cuba
Size: Secretos

Notes: Seemingly small and innocuous, the Cohiba Maduro 5 surprised me after a few minutes of correct lighting. Wholesomely flavoursome and friendly with surprising longevity. I enjoyed this stick with some Baileys and managed to get through 3 glasses of the stuff. Ultimately a very enjoyable smoke and will be keeping my eye out for these in future. 

Punch Punch

Stars: 3.5
Purchased: A la Civette - Paris
Smoked: Edinburgh 4/1/14
Country: Cuba

Notes: A good companion, stalwart and reliable, but not overly creative. This is how I think of the Punch Punch. 5 star for build and burn, but nothing overly exciting about the flavours. 

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2

Stars: 3.5
Purchased: Gift from Darsh to Jem (London 9/13)
Smoked: London 4/9/13
Country: Cuba
Size: Robusto

Notes: Imagine there are two brothers. They grow up together, one has a stocky build and appears confident and bold; the other is shorter, pudgier, and is overlooked when basketball teams are picked because the captain assumes size and height is everything. The larger of the brothers is good-looking, tanned, and knows how to attract potential suitors with his appearance, but in reality it is the smaller of the brothers who has the complexity and style, the depth of character and quality and dignity that surprises most people who bother to take the time to get to know him. Now imagine the bigger of the brothers is the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2, and his shorter brother is the Petit Robusto of the same name, and you'll come close to understanding what it was like to smoke the No. 2. Now to the actual fucking tasting notes: a great burn, very even. Not as spicy as the PR, but still very creamy and smooth as most HDMs are known to be. Nutty afterthoughts, somewhat like Frangelico but without the sweetness or ice. A very enjoyable smoke that would benefit from another trial before deciding to add it to the repertoire. Would suit an intermediate smoker or a smoke on the beach in the heat with a cocktail after some tasty fish and chips; it would not likely be as rewarding with a glass of whisky in the depths of the Scottish winter after a plate of roasted grain-fed bovine.

Partagas - Serie D No. 4

Stars: 4
Purchased: Gift from Darsh (London 9/13)
Smoked: London 4/9/13
Country: Cuba
Size: Robusto

Notes: I was interested in this particular cigar as soon as I laid hands on it. It was that perfect level of moistness and hardness to feel fresh without being damp. After a little hestitation lighting it (still haven't fully mastered the lighting process), had initially strong, deep flavours, which matured into a consistent, coffee-tinted taste til the non-bitter end. The roll seemed very good but it did go out without my permission at one point before I was quite done with it which was perhaps the only smirch on an otherwise very enjoyable cigar.

Bolivar - Royal Corona

Stars: 4.5
Purchased: London 1/13
Smoked: London 20/7/13
Country: Cuba
Size: Robusto

Notes: The last of the four cigars given to me as a present for my 30th birthday by my sterling friends. This particular cigar actually suffered from a fungal infection and nearly had to be tossed but amputated the foot and was just able to save it. Very glad we did. Almost flawless. Smooth, tasty, interesting, cool, burned well. A genuine pleasure.