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What a great day I had today with family. Travelled to West Malling for my Cousins 40th birthday and they had hired "Its A Knockout". I have not laughed like I did today for a long while.
So, on my way home back to Essex and I thought to myself, "I really fancy a cigar tonight". For all those that are not aware, I am new to this cigar smoking and this was my first stab at my newly found hobby. Finally get home and sort everything out including the dog (thats not an affectionate term for my wife, we actually have one, my beautiful Choc Lab, Jenna) So, I find myself in a bit of a predicament. Basically I have all that is needed to enjoy my new passion except fire. Now after watching countless youtube vids of how to do this and how to do that I decice to take a trip to my local Asda to buy a cooks jet lighter. This however was cut short because my golfing neighbours were outside having a chat about tomorrows round. I decided to pose the question if any of them owned such a thing. Within a minute, one was staring at me straight in the eye and I thought game on, I am finally fully kitted up to enjoy my first proper experience.
It was now time to open my humi and decide what expertly crafted smoke I should go for. I had in mind earlier the one to go for and upon opening, the Monty #4 came out from its resting place ready to be cut from my virgin palio cutter (credit to my boy for such a wonderful birthday gift x) There were others that were calling at me like the Punch pc, Upman, Bolivar etc, but I decided on the most popular, as I am led to believe, to have my first encounter.
A note to newcomers, why should we not give cigar reviews? I can think of many reasons. Not qualified to, frightened of the responses, not being able to put into words the flavours you have just experienced. Well, thats just a few reasons, but what I am trying to say is, we all have to start somewhere. Lets be honest, its not going to be as comprehensive as the reviews from more experienced aficionados, those that have a wider diversity of taste than us virgins. But as I have stated, we have to start somewhere so why not now! Just think of the fun when looking back at your own reviews, when you do finally become accustomed to those amazing tastes that somehow you can put into words, giving the reader no option but to spend the day searching for those gems you have just so eloquently described.
Well, that time has come. Just for the record, my humi has been around the 67-62% RH for the last week or so and the reason I say this will be revealed as a question later.
I finally get around to taking my cutter to the cigar and a short sharp swift action just below the shoulder reveals a nice clean cut. A cut that I stand back and admire my good work thinking, "you done good there virgin boy"!
Whats next? Oh yeah, a pre draw. I found the pre draw good in the fact that it had a slight resistance, flavour wise it seemed slightly sweet on the lips which I liked but cant describe much else. It was now time to set this baby alight and as silly as it may sound, I felt quite nervous in the thought of, am I doing it right, but rotating the cigar whilst holding the jet around 3cm away it started to toast nicely. I then decided to firstly blow out then get it lit by sucking on the god damn thing. After all thats what I paid the money for to do so!!
My initial puffs seemed to spell a sweet taste, very mild and pleasant. This became the norm in the first third, however towards the end of the first third I got something totally different that threw me way out of bounds. I suspect it was my eagerness to taste something I could descibe and write down. Without any smoke in my mouth, I started to circulate the air in my mouth and this is where it gets a bit personal and weird. How does Walnuts grab you? Not just that but memories of my dad at Christmas. I used to as a kid sit there with him sharing and watching him as he shelled them whole, well the memories came flooding back of my childhood and bought a big smile to my face. My father passed away 6 years ago so sitting there smoking a Monty and reliving memories through that just sort of blew me away.
The sweetness seemed to fade into the halfway stage and it got a little more intense, stronger in some sort of way but I cant seem to describe a taste. The walnut had dissapeared but the memories didn't!!
The smoke got a little heavier at the halfway-last third stage and I must say it was a pleasant smell. I now have noticed what is descibed (I think) as a spice, well it was on my lips anyway. Im sure I detected some milky like chocolate a few times towards the end also.
Going back to my humidity question I mentioned earlier, I did notice towards the end that the wrapper started to break up and ending in parts unravelling. I was near the end so did not bother me that much. Now, should I have my RH higher or is this just something that occurs from time to time?
Other thing to note is the burn as I have seen to be correct was very good. I ashed 3-4 times during the smoke which lasted around the 45 minute mark.
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar and many thanks to certain guys that advised me on my first starter pack which consisted of the Monty #4
I will be certainly smoking this again.
Apoligies for it being long winded and not much of a review as such (more of a ramble) but to all you newbies, post up your first thoughts. What you got to lose!
Today has been wonderful!!!
So, on my way home back to Essex and I thought to myself, "I really fancy a cigar tonight". For all those that are not aware, I am new to this cigar smoking and this was my first stab at my newly found hobby. Finally get home and sort everything out including the dog (thats not an affectionate term for my wife, we actually have one, my beautiful Choc Lab, Jenna) So, I find myself in a bit of a predicament. Basically I have all that is needed to enjoy my new passion except fire. Now after watching countless youtube vids of how to do this and how to do that I decice to take a trip to my local Asda to buy a cooks jet lighter. This however was cut short because my golfing neighbours were outside having a chat about tomorrows round. I decided to pose the question if any of them owned such a thing. Within a minute, one was staring at me straight in the eye and I thought game on, I am finally fully kitted up to enjoy my first proper experience.
It was now time to open my humi and decide what expertly crafted smoke I should go for. I had in mind earlier the one to go for and upon opening, the Monty #4 came out from its resting place ready to be cut from my virgin palio cutter (credit to my boy for such a wonderful birthday gift x) There were others that were calling at me like the Punch pc, Upman, Bolivar etc, but I decided on the most popular, as I am led to believe, to have my first encounter.
A note to newcomers, why should we not give cigar reviews? I can think of many reasons. Not qualified to, frightened of the responses, not being able to put into words the flavours you have just experienced. Well, thats just a few reasons, but what I am trying to say is, we all have to start somewhere. Lets be honest, its not going to be as comprehensive as the reviews from more experienced aficionados, those that have a wider diversity of taste than us virgins. But as I have stated, we have to start somewhere so why not now! Just think of the fun when looking back at your own reviews, when you do finally become accustomed to those amazing tastes that somehow you can put into words, giving the reader no option but to spend the day searching for those gems you have just so eloquently described.
Well, that time has come. Just for the record, my humi has been around the 67-62% RH for the last week or so and the reason I say this will be revealed as a question later.
I finally get around to taking my cutter to the cigar and a short sharp swift action just below the shoulder reveals a nice clean cut. A cut that I stand back and admire my good work thinking, "you done good there virgin boy"!
Whats next? Oh yeah, a pre draw. I found the pre draw good in the fact that it had a slight resistance, flavour wise it seemed slightly sweet on the lips which I liked but cant describe much else. It was now time to set this baby alight and as silly as it may sound, I felt quite nervous in the thought of, am I doing it right, but rotating the cigar whilst holding the jet around 3cm away it started to toast nicely. I then decided to firstly blow out then get it lit by sucking on the god damn thing. After all thats what I paid the money for to do so!!
My initial puffs seemed to spell a sweet taste, very mild and pleasant. This became the norm in the first third, however towards the end of the first third I got something totally different that threw me way out of bounds. I suspect it was my eagerness to taste something I could descibe and write down. Without any smoke in my mouth, I started to circulate the air in my mouth and this is where it gets a bit personal and weird. How does Walnuts grab you? Not just that but memories of my dad at Christmas. I used to as a kid sit there with him sharing and watching him as he shelled them whole, well the memories came flooding back of my childhood and bought a big smile to my face. My father passed away 6 years ago so sitting there smoking a Monty and reliving memories through that just sort of blew me away.
The sweetness seemed to fade into the halfway stage and it got a little more intense, stronger in some sort of way but I cant seem to describe a taste. The walnut had dissapeared but the memories didn't!!
The smoke got a little heavier at the halfway-last third stage and I must say it was a pleasant smell. I now have noticed what is descibed (I think) as a spice, well it was on my lips anyway. Im sure I detected some milky like chocolate a few times towards the end also.
Going back to my humidity question I mentioned earlier, I did notice towards the end that the wrapper started to break up and ending in parts unravelling. I was near the end so did not bother me that much. Now, should I have my RH higher or is this just something that occurs from time to time?
Other thing to note is the burn as I have seen to be correct was very good. I ashed 3-4 times during the smoke which lasted around the 45 minute mark.
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar and many thanks to certain guys that advised me on my first starter pack which consisted of the Monty #4
I will be certainly smoking this again.
Apoligies for it being long winded and not much of a review as such (more of a ramble) but to all you newbies, post up your first thoughts. What you got to lose!
Today has been wonderful!!!
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