CAO Brazilia Gol Robusto

Purchased: Stockholm
Stars: 2
Size: Short Robusto
Smoked: London, 23/01/15
Notes: Much like their country's dismal performance at the 2014 World Cup, the CAO Brazilia Gol Robusto was a huge letdown. I had high expectations for this Honduran cigar, mainly due to its dark appearance and healthy-looking shape. Perhaps it had not been stored in perfect conditions, but still, you'd expect there to have been more flavour than burnt tobacco leaves. It was not a subtle or complex taste at all, somewhat like the outside of a burnt marshmallow on a campfire. The construction was tight and I had no issues with lighting, although I didn't have the same confidence it wouldn't go out that I get from other cigars like the HDM Petit Robusto, or the wonderfully packed Bolivars you can get. For the price and size, the Macanudo Titan would be a much more satisfying smoke.

At least the conversation and rum saved the evening. Damn tasty stuff that El Dorado.

Vegueros Tapados

Purchased: 31/12/2014, Casa Havana, Melbourne, Australia
Stars: 3.5
Size: Corona Gorda
Notes: Spying the date, one will conclude this particular cigar smoking event was not centred around appreciation. Nonetheless, a satisfactory experience was pulled from this smoke. Consistent burn, nice if plain flavours, appreciable appearance. What is more interesting to mention is the buying experience of the cigar. I had not bought in Australia since two years prior. When I was being shown around the walk in humidor at the Casa Havana, I nearly asked the attendant if the cigars I was being shown were actually real. Why? Because they all had a plain, brown strip across where the label would normally be. Literally as I opened my mouth I remembered something about new laws being brought in around tobacco packaging. This turned out to be the reason behind the bland cigar library in front of me. Happily, the actual label is hidden behind these dull brown strips, so the cigars can be enjoyed as they should. The same privilege is not granted to cigarettes, which seems unequal, but they are evil creations anyhow, so fuck em

Bolivar Centenary Selection Robusto

Stars: 5
Purchased: Robert Graham
Smoked: Edinburgh 7/11/14
Country: Cuba
Size: Robusto
Notes: I have to turn the music down to write this review so I can clear my mind of all distractions and take myself back to the joy of smoking this cigar. Beauties like these are why we smoke cigars: they are the epitome of cigar smoking's motto--"The Good Life". They reassure us that this pursuit we have, of travelling the world in search of the perfect cigar, of meticulously blogging, of keeping up to date with everything in the world of cigars, subscribing to its magazines and websites, having conversations with shop staff and constantly building up knowledge about the cigar world, all this is not in vain when you come across sticks like the Bolivar Centenary Selection robusto. It doesn't just taste like a cigar, it tastes of all the love and perfection that has gone into the cigar, from the seeds planted in the rich Cuban soil, to the sun beating down on its leaves, to the time spent being cured in the shade, to finally being cut and dried and rolled by master craftsmen in the factories of Old Havana and finally shipped around the world and matured in my lovely humidor for 11 months having received this as a Christmas gift from my beloved. I dare say it developed plume too, which is a first for me. It was well worth the wait and I'm giving it the highest accolade possible.

Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill

Stars: 3
Purchased: P.G.C. Hajenius, Amsterdam, NL
Smoked: Amsterdam 18/10/14
Country: Cuba
Size: Short Churchill
Notes: difficult to judge this one, had ingested half a tub of truffles about 15 minutes beforehand which kicked in mid-smoke wasn't in the usual frame of mind. This did make me was appreciate the visual qualities more than usual though, which werey very pleasing.

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.

1.