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I'm afraid that I haven't got any pics of the SIGLO I - though I may take a photo of the delightful tube that it came in at some point this afternoon.
After a really shocking day of being messed around by Sky and builders I needed something to relax with. Thankfully everything was sorted in the end, but it took a whole afternoon of faffing rather than the hour that it should have taken.
So, after a trip to the gym (
), and a swift glance at the forums, I headed to the hotel next door to drink a pint of Caffrey's and light up a SIGLO I on their smoking terrace. (Believe me, it is not as good as the word 'terrace' might imply...)
This little stick gave me an exact half-hour of enjoyment after a rough day.
Appearance /15
(Size: 4" x 40)
Well. what can you say about the SIGLO I? The tube it is nestled in is simply gorgeous! What an excellent first impression. Then, as you remove it from its cosy cedar lining, you witness the full beauty of tobacco. The wrapper for this cigar was a well applied sheeny, dark brown leaf and nice cap. However, there were a few small veins, which just precluded a perfect score. 14
Smoking Characteristics /25
The aromas given off by this cigar before lighting were hard to pin-point. But they were pleasant - perhaps reminiscent of a lightly roasted coffee bean? The cigar lit first time and quickly got into its stride. There was only one, slight, period when it went off-kilter slightly, but otherwise it burnt well and evenly. The draw was almost perfect, providing just the right amount of resistance, and voluminous smoke. Overall, pretty good, with just a few minor isses around the half-way point. A well constructed cigar. 23
Flavour /25
This is a small stick. If I've said it before, I'll say it again... Small sticks aren't renowned for their complexity. This SIGLO I seems to be a pleasant exception. On lighting it gave me a nice welcome with those distinctly Cohiba flavours - a wonderfully rich and creamy flavour, which had a lovely texture on the tongue. This developed into something which made me think of a rich, cocoa butter, possibly with hints at smooth spices. These soft spices continued as the cocoa butter resemblance gave way to the slightly spiced leatheriness. However, the slight spiciness disappeared and the leather faded to a slightly woody taste, it went a little bit bland for a few minutes in this middle section
. Through this middle section a slight butteriness returns, but it is still a little uninteresting. I likened this particular butter intervention to I Can't Believe It's Not Butter rather than some delicious Jersey butter. This butter gives way quite quickly to something which makes me think of a lightly infused chili oil - like you'd get at a pizzeria in Italy. For a few puffs this takes a slightly sweet character. The stick finishes with a smooth peppery flourish, without going harsh at any point. Overall, a nice little cigar with different stages, but let down by a slightly uninteresting few minutes in the middle. 22
Overall Impression /35
Whilst not having the drifting variation of complexities that a robusto can provide, this tiny little cigar was still able to produce a solid three stage smoke. Consider it Macbeth, to a robusto's Hamlet (if you're not into your Shakespear just compare the length of the plays next time you're in Waterstones...
). This is a brilliantly constructed cigar which is well presented and provides some nice flavours. Definitely one to stock up on (if you've got the cash). Definitely better than the Monte 5, but the San Cristobal El Principe is a challenger which is almost as nice but quite a bit cheaper. I'll definitely be buying again! 30
Grand total... 89/100
After a really shocking day of being messed around by Sky and builders I needed something to relax with. Thankfully everything was sorted in the end, but it took a whole afternoon of faffing rather than the hour that it should have taken.
So, after a trip to the gym (), and a swift glance at the forums, I headed to the hotel next door to drink a pint of Caffrey's and light up a SIGLO I on their smoking terrace. (Believe me, it is not as good as the word 'terrace' might imply...)This little stick gave me an exact half-hour of enjoyment after a rough day.
Appearance /15
(Size: 4" x 40)
Well. what can you say about the SIGLO I? The tube it is nestled in is simply gorgeous! What an excellent first impression. Then, as you remove it from its cosy cedar lining, you witness the full beauty of tobacco. The wrapper for this cigar was a well applied sheeny, dark brown leaf and nice cap. However, there were a few small veins, which just precluded a perfect score. 14
Smoking Characteristics /25
The aromas given off by this cigar before lighting were hard to pin-point. But they were pleasant - perhaps reminiscent of a lightly roasted coffee bean? The cigar lit first time and quickly got into its stride. There was only one, slight, period when it went off-kilter slightly, but otherwise it burnt well and evenly. The draw was almost perfect, providing just the right amount of resistance, and voluminous smoke. Overall, pretty good, with just a few minor isses around the half-way point. A well constructed cigar. 23
Flavour /25
This is a small stick. If I've said it before, I'll say it again... Small sticks aren't renowned for their complexity. This SIGLO I seems to be a pleasant exception. On lighting it gave me a nice welcome with those distinctly Cohiba flavours - a wonderfully rich and creamy flavour, which had a lovely texture on the tongue. This developed into something which made me think of a rich, cocoa butter, possibly with hints at smooth spices. These soft spices continued as the cocoa butter resemblance gave way to the slightly spiced leatheriness. However, the slight spiciness disappeared and the leather faded to a slightly woody taste, it went a little bit bland for a few minutes in this middle section
. Through this middle section a slight butteriness returns, but it is still a little uninteresting. I likened this particular butter intervention to I Can't Believe It's Not Butter rather than some delicious Jersey butter. This butter gives way quite quickly to something which makes me think of a lightly infused chili oil - like you'd get at a pizzeria in Italy. For a few puffs this takes a slightly sweet character. The stick finishes with a smooth peppery flourish, without going harsh at any point. Overall, a nice little cigar with different stages, but let down by a slightly uninteresting few minutes in the middle. 22Overall Impression /35
Whilst not having the drifting variation of complexities that a robusto can provide, this tiny little cigar was still able to produce a solid three stage smoke. Consider it Macbeth, to a robusto's Hamlet (if you're not into your Shakespear just compare the length of the plays next time you're in Waterstones...
). This is a brilliantly constructed cigar which is well presented and provides some nice flavours. Definitely one to stock up on (if you've got the cash). Definitely better than the Monte 5, but the San Cristobal El Principe is a challenger which is almost as nice but quite a bit cheaper. I'll definitely be buying again! 30Grand total... 89/100
.
I agree...very nice review, chico. May I suggest you also include the box date of the puro reviewed, if you know it. The age of a puro makes a big difference in how it rated.
), ahem, made the suggestion that they include box dates in the their reviews of Cuban cigars. Also, the author of the Puro Holy Grail also mentions in his book the impact of age on reviews of fine habanos.
Anyway, just a thought. 
don TJ and the 
Coros
. But since yours already has more than 1 year on it
, 
! 
Depends on what you're going for, senor RubaDub. 
kool resting in your glass-top humi, and are great for tossing in your pocket or gifting to sus amigos mas buenos, but they usually cost a wee bit more. Cabs are better for 
aging, IMO. 
) a few weeks back. I will of course add box codes in future, provided that I know them. 
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