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Partagas
Topper
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 6 1/4 x 39
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $4.50
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Wrapper a bit uneven. Some spots of vegetable
glue? We used to call it Schmutz. Color of wrapper
seems to vary from almost a rosado to oily. Good.
Roger said - One big ass vein dominated the middle, but
otherwise this is a nice looking lonsdale. Again,
some color variation in the wrapper.
Owen said - Rather veiny - "rustic" look. Sample had small
crease in it.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx ----- xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - A bit loosely constructed. Some soft spots.
Wrapper began to unravel when I snipped off the
end of the cap.
Roger said - Long and lean with no obvious lumps or bumps. Some
small soft spots, but altogether a well-made
stick. I like the pyramide cap - nice touch.
Better than average.
Owen said - One soft spot spot near head of cigar.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Ted : xx
Roger: xx xx
Owen :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Taste =
Ted said - Had a nicer taste than it looked. Rich flavor for
a mild cigar. Flavor changed as I smoked further.
Roger said - Two words - nass tee. This cigar had a powerful
chemical taste that was harsh and unpleasant. This
was the worst tasting cigar of the lot. I would
have to be paid to smoke more of these.
Owen said - Sharp immediately after lighting, got milder as
smoked - underlying bitter taste.
Overall Impression =
Ted said - First half was better than I expected, very
pleasant. Had problems with burn after that, maybe
this is a 2nd of a pretty decent cigar! Maybe just
a bad example of a good cigar?
Roger said - I was almost glad that this cigar was plugged
because what smoke did come through was offensive.
Owen said - Very forgettable smoke.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your
blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a
clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.)
Ted said - yes to maybe
Roger said - no
Owen said - no
Partagas
Topper
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy <--- Ted
Ho-Hum <--- Owen
Blah...
Dog Rocket! <--- Roger
Editor's
2 Cents - The Cuban Partagas brand has more
machine-made cigars in their line than any other marquee. It
contains forty-eight different machine-made vitola with half
of them being hand-finish. They range from the miniature Chicos
at 4 1/8 x 29 to the 5 1/4 x 44 Petite Coronas Tubos and even
includes the rare Partagas Culebra.
The Partagas Topper at 6 1/4 x 39 is the longest of all
the machine-mades within the line. This thin vitola is very rustic
in appearance with splotchy vein ridden wrapper. It is a strong
spicy cigar with a distinct earthy core. The first few puffs
sting the palate, but typically it settles down after the few
minutes. It has significant body with much denser smoke than
is common for machine-mades.
Although our tasters disliked this cigar, I must admit
I have a personal affinity for these panatelas. Although it is
a strong biting cigar with many rough edges, I find that it tends
to satisfy my occasional craving for an in-your-face smoke. It
is definitely not a cigar for most smokers, but if you like an
occasional snootful of gut wrenching whiskey then this is one
to give a spark.
La
Corona Perfectos
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 5 x 44
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $4.10
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx ------ xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Some large veins in wrapper. Cute little pigtail
finishing cap.
Roger said - The best looking of the bunch, this cigar had a
pleasant overall appearance. Smooth, well-applied
wrapper and a slight box press lent real character
to this stick.
Owen said - Rustic wrapper with numerous water spots, not
pretty, but not ugly either. Kinda like looking at
your sister.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Firm throughout.
Roger said - Nicely done. Evenly filled and well-rolled. This
is an excellent sample of a difficult to roll
cigar. Makes no difference to me whether machine
or hand-rolled, this was a good cigar.
Owen said - Solidly made - machine-made??
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Ted : xx
Roger:
Owen : xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Ted : xx
Roger: xx ---- xx
Owen : xx
Taste =
Ted said - Not a great taste for me. Dry taste. Left a burnt
aftertaste.
Roger said - I saved this one for last because I liked its
looks and I'm glad I did. This was by far the best
of the bunch with a sensational flavor and finish
that strengthened and solidified as it smoked.
Great medium - full cigar, chockfull of pleasant
taste. This cigar had a medium - full flavor, but
was a powerful smoke.
Owen said - Rich flavor right off the bat - increasing as the
cigar progresses. Hints of cocoa and spice.
Overall Impression =
Ted said - Not enjoyable for me. Kept going out. Not my kind
of cigar.
Roger said - Very nice cigar. Well-rounded flavor and a perfect
draw made this a pleasure to smoke. Where can I
get some more of these?
Owen said - Terrific, would highly recommend.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your
blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a
clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.)
Ted said - no
Roger said - yes
Owen said - yes
La
Corona Perfectos
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Roger & Owen
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Ted
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - La Corona was establish in 1845
and remains one of Havana's oldest brands. At one time it was
considered one of the great marquees, in fact the Miguel Fernandez
Roig factory was the La Corona factory prior to nationalization.
Regretfully all that remains of this great cigar line is a limited
selection of small machine-cigars.
The La Corona Perfectos is in like a lamb, and out like
a lion. The first inch is incredibly smooth really allowing you
to enjoy the rich tasting Havana tobacco. From there it builds
in peppery spice so that by the end it is like gulping down red
hot chili peppers. It is a lean and racy smoke with an acrid
aftertaste that will be an affront to most palates.
The cigars used in this taste test were well over three
years old and had lost some of their zip. In its youth, this
cigar will set your palate afire and will prove to be too much
of a cigar for most smokers. However for some on the cheap, the
La Corona Perfectos will be a real treat.
Por
Larranaga Lolas en Cedro
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 5 1/8 x 42
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $3.65
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Nice looking cigar. Rich looking wrapper.
Roger said - There couldn't have been more colors in this
wrapper if Crayola had rolled it. The prominent
veins and mottled appearance dominated my first
impression. I saw green, sienna, umber, with
blonde highlights on the claro wrapper.
Owen said - Slightly veiny but nice colorado shade of wrapper.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Firm, tightly rolled. Had just a little trouble
getting it started (went out a couple of times),
but then smoked it down to band.
Roger said - Lumps and bumps, a pronounced bend and a "close
enough" cap indicate that this cigar is mass
produced and not intended for glamour. With looks
like this, it had better taste great!
Owen said - Nicely made.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Ted :
Roger: xx
Owen :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Ted : xx
Roger: xx ------ xx
Owen : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Ted : xx
Roger: xx ---- xx
Owen : xx ---- xx
Taste =
Ted said - Pleasant mildly complex taste. Tasted a bit "new."
I don't like to use words like "chocolate" or
"coffee" to describe cigars, never have quite
understood what "creamy" tastes like. This one, to
me, had a "relaxing" taste. See what I mean?
Tastes like some LGCs I've had.
Roger said - Solid middle of the road flavor that gained
strength as it went. Some spice, but it was
tempered by a residual harshness that never stood
out, but never really went away.
Owen said - This cigar is what I smoke cigars for -
straightforward, knock your socks off flavor. The
only thing that kept this smoke from rating higher
is a short finish which is probably due to the
fact that it had a tight draw.
Overall Impression =
Ted said - Draw was a bit tight. Pleasant taste, would have
liked to age this one to see if the flavor got
more describable. Overall an enjoyable cigar. I'd
rate it between a "good" and a "great smoke" (good +).
Roger said - This was a reasonably good tasting cigar, but the
taste never distinguished itself, and certainly
never overcame the construction problems nor the
major butt-pucker required to smoke it.
Owen said - Fantastic - Steve, I'll take a box of these for
Christmas.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your
blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a
clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.)
Ted said - yes
Roger said - no
Owen said - yes
Por
Larranaga Lolas en Cedro
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Owen
Good Cigar <--- Ted
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Roger
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The Por Larranaga Lolas en Cedro
is a petite corona with a mottled wrapper of various shades and
pronounced veins. The cap is mess and the roll of the samples
felt far too tight beneath the fingers. This cigar is much better
looking in it cedar sleeve with its over the cellophane thin
black ring and unique gold embossed cap folded over the foot.
It possesses a smooth easy going flavor that begins surprisingly
mild for a machine bunched Havana - almost like a buttery leather.
As you reach the mid-point it builds to a medium-full strength.
This small vitola leaves a somewhat harsh salty flavor against
the palate on the finish. Its pale blue smoke lacks density,
but still remains enjoyable. These are typically densely packed
and smoke cooler than many other machine mades.
Like all the tasters, I found the samples smoked to be
too tight and wished the draw was better. Btw, I hope your posterior
has recovered Roger. Regardless of Rog's personal problems <cough>,
I consider the Por Larranaga Lolas en Cedro as one of the better
Havana machine-mades and recommend it as a cigar to try.
Jose
L. Piedra Nacionales
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 5 1/4 x 42
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $3.15
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Nice oily, rich brown wrapper, even cap. Looking
forward to smoking it.
Roger said - This baby looks old. Some tooth and light
discoloration near the foot. Medium veins but they
look at home on this unassuming cigar.
Owen said - Nice dark brown wrapper with several water spots.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Even throughout, no soft spots.
Roger said - Well-rolled with an evenly applied wrapper and a
nice flat cap. Some lumps inside, but overall a
decently constructed sample.
Owen said - Beautifully made and solidly built. Can't wait to
spark this up!
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Ted :
Roger: xx (some)
Owen :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Ted : xx (a bit)
Roger: xx ----- xx
Owen : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Taste =
Ted said - Nice taste, not terribly complex.
Roger said - Flat, earthy taste. Uni-dimensional in flavor that
has a cardboard overtone. Evergreen, almost
juniper-like flavors with harsh bite. Rather
unpleasant finish - harsh edge.
Owen said - Rich core tobacco flavors straight from the start,
not terribly complex. The flavors stayed constant
throughout.
Overall Impression =
Ted said - Decent smoke. Again, I'd like to have the time to
age this one. Got a feeling it's a lot better than
this. Bottom line, I liked it, but wanted more,
based on it's looks and construction.
Roger said - Rather blah, run-of -the-mill cigar. Decent roll,
but no substance. I'll pass on these, thanks.
Owen said - Good midday smoke. A "one-note symphony." Not much
change, but what is there is great.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your
blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a
clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.)
Ted said - yes
Roger said - no
Owen said - yes
Jose
L. Piedra Nacionales
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke
Good Cigar <--- Ted & Owen
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum
Blah... <--- Roger
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Jose L. Piedra was until just recently
an all machine-made line comprised of only six vitolas. Made
in the provincial factories in the Santa Clara region this brand
has been a perennial favorite among Cubans themselves for their
own consumption. In a quest to increase their exports, Habanos
S.A. has just begun shipping three new handmade sizes under this
trademark.
The corona sized Nacionales is one of the most popular
vitolas of the line. Compared to most machine-mades it overall
quality and appearance is considerably better than most. Medium
strength with a solid earthy core, but as all of our tasters
noted it is very one dimensional with little complexity. However
there is an odd note of juniper on the finish - kudos to Roger
for noting this peculiar taste sensation.
All three of our tasters really nailed this cigar for
what it is: a simple straight-forward smoke. Although it isn't
a great cigar, it is a decent one that is also consistent from
smoke to smoke. Personally I find it a bore to smoke, but given
its price, its popularity, and fair flavor the Jose L. Piedra
Nacionales is a machine-made vitola worth trying.
Romeo
y Julieta Sport Largos
made in: Havana, Cuba
size : 4 5/8 x 35
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $2.95
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Not a real smooth roll, veiny.
Roger said - This cigar was quite rustic in appearance with a
dark colorado wrapper. The wrapper showed some
veins and small holes, but had a nice toothy
"experienced" look.
Owen said - Nice, silky, chocolate looking wrapper.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Ted : xx
Roger: xx --- xx
Owen : xx
Ted said - Although the appearance wasn't the nicest, it
seemed to burn pretty evenly. No soft spots.
Roger said - Lots of glue holding this guy together. The cap
looks like the roller had a bunch of leaf left
over and just crumpled it at the head. Not a
looker.
Owen said - One small soft spot near head of cigar.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Ted :
Roger: xx (small)
Owen :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Ted : xx
Roger: xx ------ xx
Owen : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Ted : xx
Roger: xx
Owen : xx
Taste =
Ted said - I believe most of the taste and aroma comes from
this cigar's maduro wrapper.
Roger said - Small gauge focused serious flavor through the
cigar. Some coffee and spice, but overpowered by a
rather heavy papery finish.
Owen said - Sharp starting out, but rounded out nicely. A
powerful cigar that holds its own with any Scotch
or full-bodied beer. Rich tones of earthy spice
with a nice finish.
Overall Impression =
Ted said - Reminded me of little cigars I used to smoke 20
years ago (when I was a kid) traveling in Europe.
Nice to smoke when you're doing something else
(not to just sit relax and smoke). Got better
further down. Hopefully not a real expensive smoke.
Roger said - A rather quick smoke, this one went in about 20
minutes. Which was, unfortunately, about 10
minutes too long. Lots of other small smokes look
and taste better.
Owen said - This smoke is the girl your mother warned you
about which only made you want her more.
Would you recommend this cigar as one to try based on your
blind taste??? (Editors Note - remember these guys don't have a
clue what cigar they just smoked or what it costs.)
Ted said - yes
Roger said - no
Owen said - yes
Romeo
y Julieta Sport Largos
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Owen
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy <--- Ted
Ho-Hum
Blah... <--- Roger
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Romeo y Julieta is one of Cuba's
best known brands and in turn, one of the most highly sought
after by novice Havana smokers. The line is immense with over
sixty different vitolas and nearly forty of them are machine
made cigars. There is a great diversity of flavor, strength,
and quality between the many different cigars under this hallmark.
The Romeo y Julieta Sport Largos is a diminutive smoke
measuring 4 5/8 x 35 making it the smallest machine-made cigar
of the entire line. Its wrapper is dark chocolate brown color
and is coarsely grained like sandpaper. The cap is poorly applied,
and the draw is tight due to its narrow ring. Cedar and pepper
on the palate with a tangy acerbic finish that leaves the smoker
with some cotton mouth. This little sucker heats up quick and
burns hotter than a road flare so you have to be careful to not
smoke it too fast. Of course this is a common trait of most machine-made
Havanas.
This is a gritty little cigar that packs quite a bit of
flavor, sadly most of it is harsh. It is good for a quick nicotine
fix, but otherwise I regard the Romeo y Julieta Sport Largos
as a cigar to skip.
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