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.

Punch Robusto

Stars: 4.0
Purchased: Boston, MA, USA
Smoked:London 25/08/14
Country: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto

Notes: Picked this up offhand on a walk around Boston and was quite pleased. The shop wasn't even a tobacconist, just a bottleshop with a cupboard humidor, but it was fairly well kept and they did have a little box of matches and a ziplock bag to give me with it so they're obviously used to trading in cheroots. The smoke itself hit the spot sweetly. The burn was just at that temperature where its warming the mouth but not burning, and the aroma was spicy and intelligent. Will buy again.

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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Oliva Robusto

Stars: 3.5
Purchased: Stockholm
Smoked:London 25/08/14
Country: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto
Notes: By the look of the end of this cubist cigar you might think it was an amateur product, but you would not be correct. The Oliva Robusto was an incredibly enjoyable 27 minutes which I would gladly re-endure. It wasn't something to be raved about, but the temperature was perfect, the flavours both kinky and subtle, and the duration was spot on. I also think the price was very reasonable so will keep my eyes wide open for more of these delights.

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.

http://www.febodelekkerste.nl

Macanudo maduro

Purchased: Stockholm, Sweden
Smoked: 26/7/2014 London
Size: small torpedo
Stars: 1.5
Notes: quite a damning score but remember this rating is for this particular experience. The lowness is due primarily to the wrapping coming off throughout the smoke making it impossible to finish, even though I wasn't ready for it to. The flavours evolved quite drastically throughout - hints of Armagnac at one stage - but was difficult to get past the physical detriment. It had a slightly uneven burn as well, which leads me to think this cigar wasn't made with love. I don't want it to taste like love, but I do want to enjoy it still

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.