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Outcome on this is more or less a forgone conclusion now Ross.
I take it that you know all too well how good the Boli is then? I'm looking forward to it, but will try and not let my excitement affect an unbiased review.
Licky Licky before Sticky Sticky. - Puff Scotty 22/03/14
Ok so on with the second of my Entreacto reviews, this won't actually be the first time I have smoked one of these but when I'm not reviewing I don't tend to critique cigars so I'm sure I will pick things up that I didn't in the past.
Again the wrapper is on the lighter side but this time the veins are not so evident, in fact this cigar has an almost flawless wrapper, the stick is firmer to the touch and has a dry smell of earth and tea.
Using the same guillotine cut I find that the draw is absolutely spot on with exactly my preferred resistance. Flavour wise I'm getting the tea but sweeter than the aroma and quite mild and not particularly forthcoming.
Toasting light was woody with a bit of that freshly put out match smell. The first lit draw was pure tobacco with a subtle woody aftertaste and none of the pre light sweetness. The smoke coming off was pretty average, not billowing and immensely satisfying but not disappointing either.
First third the flavour is quite subtle but is mostly woody with other less distinguishable earthy tones. The ash was quite a clean white ish grey and very firm/dense and fell of its own accord at around 1.5cm.
Getting up to the half way mark and the flavour finally started to ramp a tad, cedar started to show up and this was certainly a welcomed improvement. The flavours this cigar were giving were quite short lived and didn't leave much of an aftertaste. At this point, flavour body and strength are all light to medium. At almost exactly the half way point I started to get that classic leather flavour I get from quite a few Cuban sticks.
Home stretch starts slightly chalky but not in a bad way at all just in the earthy way this stick has been from the start. It soon gives way to a slight and fleeting green bell pepper just popping out of the still predominantly woody tones.
The last couple of CM and the smoke finally starts to get pearly and satisfying, also the heat doesn't seem to increase and the RyJ is certainly more tolerant of stronger draws than the ERdM
1.5cm left and big flavours of floral cedar finally kick in strong and these couple of draws are like a totally different cigar. Unfortunately the ash is just about to touch my fingers now and I'm not one for sucking every last second out of a cigar so I push it into the tray and let it be.
Overall this was a decent small cigar and in the past I have really enjoyed these. Unfortunately for the RyJ, I had the ERdM yesterday and in comparison the RyJ is simple uninspiring. The RyJ doesn't actually do anything wrong it just doesn't do anything special either. It lasted almost exactly the same length of time as the ERdM
The RyJ is a an absolute testament to rolling skill IMO and is simply a showcase of how a cigar should be constructed and a wrapper chosen. The burn was also flawless from start to finish.
It's pretty hard to recommend this cigar against the ERdM, yet I would still happily smoke these. But given the choice of the two I would choose the El Rey every single time.
The wrapper on this one is darker than the previous two and in total opposition to the RyJ it has very pronounced veins.... So much so that it kind of looks like a Frankenstein's monster, the stick is spongy like the ERdM and has a dry smell of musty leather and old books.
Guillotine cut again, the draw is the loosest yet. Flavours that I'm getting are wood and a similar sweet tea to the RyJ though more pronounced.
Toasting light is like a wood burning stove. The first lit draw is very pronounced wood with a hint of freshly cut grass. The smoke coming off is fairly impressive and quite pearly.
First third flavour is mostly the wood and is very pronounced and quite a surprise for such a small stick. The ash is dark grey to black and quite fine/powdery it fell precariously at around 1cm.
Getting up to the half way and it starts to get creamy and more leathery, it's certainly got more body and strength than the last two and is certainly a bigger stick in a small body. The burn isn't the most even. The ash is hanging on much better now.
Home stretch continues to be creamy wood and the flavour is very smooth and rounded. There are some hints of floral tones sitting in the background which add nicely to complexity of flavour. The stick go's out once at this point but a quick relight and it right back on track.
The last couple of CM start to give me a little pepper, the heat stays in control similar to the RyJ and just like it I'm not too worried about taking bigger draws.
1.5cm left and the heat finally starts to be noticeable just as the floral tones start to take over. I get a couple more draws of the floral tones before I pout it down due to the heat.
Overall this was a lovely tasting cigar that definitely gave the closest to a big cigar experience in a small package. The build quality of this cigar was quite poor IMO but didn't detract too much from the overall experience.
Compared to the beauty (RyJ) I think that the beast (Hoyo) was overall a better smoke, which just shows that it's not all in the rolling.
I think the ERdM was overall a more unique smoke but as a smoke the Hoyo was equally as good and I suspect that some of you guys who like a more full flavour and body cigar might actually prefer the Hoyo.
I would buy these again, but if they are all as ugly it might put me off a little bit. It's certainly not a total deal breaker though.
Great idea Marc. I thought when I read this originally, that you were getting confused with the RG Cigarritos, which of course is a Laguito No3 & not an entreacto but I checked up & your right they did make one but it was officially discontinued in '96, but possibly production ceased before that (some lines aren't officially discontinued for many yers after production stops). I have never even seen one but perhaps a member has has one lurking in the back of their cave?
Great idea Marc. I thought when I read this originally, that you were getting confused with the RG Cigarritos, which of course is a Laguito No3 & not an entreacto but I checked up & your right they did make one but it was officially discontinued in '96, but possibly production ceased before that (some lines aren't officially discontinued for many yers after production stops). I have never even seen one but perhaps a member has has one lurking in the back of their cave?
I once did a similar comparative review on Laguito No3's (spot the odd one out?), perhaps Martyn will remember it?[ATTACH=CONFIG]15569[/ATTACH]
And there, Simon is my fatal error..... No group photo! Luckily you have guided me while I still have the Boli, as the others are easily replaceable!
Licky Licky before Sticky Sticky. - Puff Scotty 22/03/14
Great idea Marc. I thought when I read this originally, that you were getting confused with the RG Cigarritos, which of course is a Laguito No3 & not an entreacto but I checked up & your right they did make one but it was officially discontinued in '96, but possibly production ceased before that (some lines aren't officially discontinued for many yers after production stops). I have never even seen one but perhaps a member has has one lurking in the back of their cave?
I once did a similar comparative review on Laguito No3's (spot the odd one out?), perhaps Martyn will remember it?[ATTACH=CONFIG]15569[/ATTACH]
Ok I see a Cohiba Panetalas, Rafael Gonzales Cigarritos and a Montecristo Joyitas.
I wasn't aware that Ramon Allones or Hoyo had a Laguito No. 3, the others I was aware of were the El Rey Senoritas and Por Larranaga Eduardos.
I'm assuming that the Hoyo is a Margaritas and the Ramon Allones is the Ramonitas which are both the Carolina Vitola.
Licky Licky before Sticky Sticky. - Puff Scotty 22/03/14
Aye, your right there Marc & so is the Punch Margaritias.
I picked up a Punch Margaritas the other day, I am really enjoying this RG and so the extra length will be welcome.
Im starting to think these small cigars are brilliant, especially for my lifestyle at the moment where I often only get 30 or so minutes spare. It certainly doesn't hurt that they are a bit easier on the wallet too.
I also got the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No. 4 (32x152 Palmita) and Por Larranaga Montecarlos (33x159 Deliciosos) to try as slightly longer smokes.
Licky Licky before Sticky Sticky. - Puff Scotty 22/03/14
Now for the fourth and final of my Entreacto reviews.
The wrapper on this one is light and has a couple of mildly pronounced veins.... The stick is firmer than he others but still reassuringly spongy, it has a dry smell of rich tobacco and leather.
Guillotine cut yet again, the draw is spot on. Flavours that I'm getting are tea again but not so sweet as the previous sticks and to be specific I would say English Breakfast.
Toasting light is already creamy and buttery. The first lit draw is the most pronounced by far, rich and full bodied cream and wood. The smoke coming off is pearly and thick.
First third flavour is creamy wood and toasted oats it is still very bold flavours. The ash is very dark grey to black and fell precariously in my lap at around 0.5cm.
Getting up to the half way and leather is becoming more dominant, the after taste is lasting for an age and it's very buttery. I said the Hoyo was a big cigar in a small body.... Well this cigar is even bigger in flavour and body.
Home stretch and a hint of fresh roasted coffee starts to pop up. For some reason the ash just doesn't want to hold on, but the burn is nice and straight. The flavours are very fresh and clean.
The last couple of CM give me toast and something mildly floral I can't quite name it but it's an evolution of the fresh coffee and not directly floral as in flowers perhaps even ripe coffee fruit if you have ever experienced that, heat never becomes an issue.
1.5cm left is when the burn finally starts to go lop sided. I just let this ride and I get a few more precious draws before this stick goes out peacefully just on the nub...... Then I did something I have never done before, I lit that little sucker back up to finish off every last iota I could suck out of it and I'm so glad I did because the tip game me hints of salted liquorice.
Overall this was a wonderful experience, seriously what a smoke!
To say that this was the best Entreacto is an under statement, it crushed the others into insignificance. Which makes it all the more sad that this cigar is all but lost to the annals of time.
I'm going to go a bit further than saying this is the best Entreacto...... Flavour wise, this is the best cigar I have had full stop and if this is a suggestion of what I can expect from other Bolivars I have resting then I might have found a life long partner in the Bolivar brand.... Watch this space and you might yet see a MarcBolivar hanging around the forum as an adopted member of the Bolivar family (if Simon will have me.)
It goes without saying that if I ever see these for sale I'm going to try my damnedest to buy them up.
Now if I can get this flavour journey in something close to the Piramide vitola then I could have found my absolute perfect cigar.
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