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SAM_4177.jpgSo having posted the photos of my half of Ade's collection I was asked to mention when I smoked them & I'll add a line or two of a review.
Nearly two wks before purchase & smoking the first one due to sickness but on Sunday 16th I finally got to clip the first. I had just dropped the wife off at St Pan. for the Eurostar & I treated her to Welsh rarebit at Fortum & Masons, with the largest pot of Earl Grey I have ever been served. Having seen her safely off, I went across the road & up to O'Neills, where I grabbed a coffee & a pint of Stella Black & took them outside to there smoking area. SAM_4249.jpgThe first smoke in nearly a month was a R&J Presidente over a decade old. I clipped this & the pre-light draw was tight. I toasted the end & it proved very difficult to get it going. Smoke came out of the foot only & I had to keep lighting it until it was past the taper before things improved. I was seriously considering ditching it at that stage & chosing something else but eventually my persiverance was rewarded.SAM_4250.jpg The burn improved with the draw & the Party profile flav started to come through. By the time I had finished the coffee, the cigar was into the 2nd third & it proved to be a well aged smoke but the poor start had taken the shine of this stick.SAM_4251.jpg I gave it a very modest 79pts.
The following day visitng Mother dearest, I was hoping to have an afternoon smoke in the back garden but as soon as I got out there the wind picked up & I retreated into the garage. With the door open & facing the street & took out a Fonseca Invictos '98.Fonseca.Invictus.2014.02.17.SAM_4256.jpg My first of this vitola. I carefully removed the tissue white wrapper & stared at this unusal stick. It was discontinued in '02 & apperently one of the reasons was that there were few rollers who could get the left twist to the foot. Can't imagine it was a high volume seller either. But lying there naked, I tried to decide if it was ugly or unique, proably a bit of bothFonseca.Invictus.2014.02.17.SAM_4257.jpg. Anyway I punched the cap & lit the tapered foot & was greatly releaved to find the draw was great from the start.
Now I have never warmed to the Fonseca brand, so much so I didn't even bother looking out the Belgium LE. I had found, as generally acknowledged, that the No1 was the best of the line but I never brought another. So I was pleasently surprised to find I did enjoy this smoke. Fonseca.Invictus.2014.02.17.SAM_4258.jpgThe age had mellowed the harshess I have found with other Fonsecas & the taste was more palatable to me. Whilst I wouldn't buy a box at auction, I wouldn't mind having a few singles in my humi. 76pts
I took a chance & followed up with a R&J Petit Corona 70'sR&J.PC.80s.2014.02.17.SAM_4259.jpg. This stick really showed it's age but I have had some great 60/70's R&J's prev so I kept hopeful & punched this one. Of the three delivered a steady satisfactory smoke from begining to end, the only thing that let it down was the flav was rather muted. And I remembered that the best of the aged R&J's I'd had were tubed & maybe that had made a significant difference after so many years. Still I had started with the roughest looking one so I'll see how the others smoke but I won't wait too long, these like a fading wine, these need to be consumed sooner rather than later. 79pts.
So last smoke of my leave was back at O'Neill's, waiting to catch the Aberdeen train back to work. I had brunch of pork & leak sausages & got seated outside just about to light up & a light shower started. No worries though beacause they have a large awning, which kept me totally protected last time I was there in the rain. Went inside & asked them to wind the awning out, 'sorry it's broken.' Going back outside I noted a broken support. Perhaps they have left it extended in some of the recent high winds? So I sat tight to the wall & was ok for half an hr or so, after that it got heavier & I had to shelter in the far enterance. I noted they did have a covered area to the side but when I tried the door from inside the pub it was locked. Too late by then to make a fuss but luckily I managed to finish the cigar in the door way without any one telling me to move.
I had chosen to try another first, a Hoyo Corona, discontinued '03.Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4260.jpg This cigar looked fresh despite it's decade of age & looked very attractive model; I liked the old label too. Started with a cooffee & followed with another pint of Stella Black. Lit easily & burned without relights. So as the most ordinary looking ciagr of my four smoked so far I wasn't expecting much, just a pleasent smoke & a new vitola ticked off but this stick surprised me. It really was a decent Hoyo & I wish I had enjoyed it in a more clemant climate where I could have drawn it slower & enjoyed it''s refinement even more.Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4262.jpg If you see any of these about I & you like Hoyo's I'd recommend you give it a try. 86pts.
I hope to be trying a few more when I get off the rig on the 12th March.
Nearly two wks before purchase & smoking the first one due to sickness but on Sunday 16th I finally got to clip the first. I had just dropped the wife off at St Pan. for the Eurostar & I treated her to Welsh rarebit at Fortum & Masons, with the largest pot of Earl Grey I have ever been served. Having seen her safely off, I went across the road & up to O'Neills, where I grabbed a coffee & a pint of Stella Black & took them outside to there smoking area. SAM_4249.jpgThe first smoke in nearly a month was a R&J Presidente over a decade old. I clipped this & the pre-light draw was tight. I toasted the end & it proved very difficult to get it going. Smoke came out of the foot only & I had to keep lighting it until it was past the taper before things improved. I was seriously considering ditching it at that stage & chosing something else but eventually my persiverance was rewarded.SAM_4250.jpg The burn improved with the draw & the Party profile flav started to come through. By the time I had finished the coffee, the cigar was into the 2nd third & it proved to be a well aged smoke but the poor start had taken the shine of this stick.SAM_4251.jpg I gave it a very modest 79pts.
The following day visitng Mother dearest, I was hoping to have an afternoon smoke in the back garden but as soon as I got out there the wind picked up & I retreated into the garage. With the door open & facing the street & took out a Fonseca Invictos '98.Fonseca.Invictus.2014.02.17.SAM_4256.jpg My first of this vitola. I carefully removed the tissue white wrapper & stared at this unusal stick. It was discontinued in '02 & apperently one of the reasons was that there were few rollers who could get the left twist to the foot. Can't imagine it was a high volume seller either. But lying there naked, I tried to decide if it was ugly or unique, proably a bit of bothFonseca.Invictus.2014.02.17.SAM_4257.jpg. Anyway I punched the cap & lit the tapered foot & was greatly releaved to find the draw was great from the start.
Now I have never warmed to the Fonseca brand, so much so I didn't even bother looking out the Belgium LE. I had found, as generally acknowledged, that the No1 was the best of the line but I never brought another. So I was pleasently surprised to find I did enjoy this smoke. Fonseca.Invictus.2014.02.17.SAM_4258.jpgThe age had mellowed the harshess I have found with other Fonsecas & the taste was more palatable to me. Whilst I wouldn't buy a box at auction, I wouldn't mind having a few singles in my humi. 76pts
I took a chance & followed up with a R&J Petit Corona 70'sR&J.PC.80s.2014.02.17.SAM_4259.jpg. This stick really showed it's age but I have had some great 60/70's R&J's prev so I kept hopeful & punched this one. Of the three delivered a steady satisfactory smoke from begining to end, the only thing that let it down was the flav was rather muted. And I remembered that the best of the aged R&J's I'd had were tubed & maybe that had made a significant difference after so many years. Still I had started with the roughest looking one so I'll see how the others smoke but I won't wait too long, these like a fading wine, these need to be consumed sooner rather than later. 79pts.
So last smoke of my leave was back at O'Neill's, waiting to catch the Aberdeen train back to work. I had brunch of pork & leak sausages & got seated outside just about to light up & a light shower started. No worries though beacause they have a large awning, which kept me totally protected last time I was there in the rain. Went inside & asked them to wind the awning out, 'sorry it's broken.' Going back outside I noted a broken support. Perhaps they have left it extended in some of the recent high winds? So I sat tight to the wall & was ok for half an hr or so, after that it got heavier & I had to shelter in the far enterance. I noted they did have a covered area to the side but when I tried the door from inside the pub it was locked. Too late by then to make a fuss but luckily I managed to finish the cigar in the door way without any one telling me to move.
I had chosen to try another first, a Hoyo Corona, discontinued '03.Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4260.jpg This cigar looked fresh despite it's decade of age & looked very attractive model; I liked the old label too. Started with a cooffee & followed with another pint of Stella Black. Lit easily & burned without relights. So as the most ordinary looking ciagr of my four smoked so far I wasn't expecting much, just a pleasent smoke & a new vitola ticked off but this stick surprised me. It really was a decent Hoyo & I wish I had enjoyed it in a more clemant climate where I could have drawn it slower & enjoyed it''s refinement even more.Hoyo.Corona.2014.02.18.SAM_4262.jpg If you see any of these about I & you like Hoyo's I'd recommend you give it a try. 86pts.
I hope to be trying a few more when I get off the rig on the 12th March.
Still I think the R&J suffered a little due to the cold, although I was wrapped up warm enough, it wasn't the temp that cigars were made to be smoked in. I'll be sure to smoke the next one inside the cafe at home & see if I can taste some more subtle flav's that may be have lost in the cold stick.
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