I'm a conservative cigar smoker. I stick with what I have discovered I like.
I invariably return to robustos because I like their girth and overall consistency, and this is a smoke size-wise and time-wise that suits me.
I vow to experiment with longer and shorter cigars as I perceive fellow stogiemen's enthusiasms on this site.
I rate the Cohiba robusto as my favourite smoke (so far). After that, I prefer a Partagas Serie D4. Third and successive places are harder to fix, but in joint third place for very pleasurable smoking I would cite Ramon Allones and Bolivar, with Hoyo de Monterrey in there but as a far milder example of the form.
I'm just finishing a Bolivar robusto in my study now, and I will face divorce proceedings as a consequence later tonight.
Cigar smoking does have definite built-in advantages.
Ratings for this particular smoke:
Appearance 5 out of 5
Beautiful mid-dark hue. Very oily texture and feel. Extremely squashy. I love being able to really squeeze a springy cigar, and my model tonight was immensely pliable.
Aroma 5 out of 5
The aroma of this cigar is wonderful and would excite me were I to get my nostrils tweaked when out playing with the band, for example. A beautiful scent in a house - even though she will dispute that - and on previous occasions non-smoking friends have come close to acquire a close smell of this model.
Burn 20 out of 20
Supremely slow-burning tonight. My cigar has been at rest between my fingers a lot, and has never gone out. I have not had to 'work' at keeping this Bolivar going between tokes. With other similar cigars, I've had to keep them alive with occasional deep puffs. I have not had to put effort in with this cigar even when I have knocked the ash off. The ash has been compact and solid throughout the smoke.
Taste 65 out of 70
Strong but not over-powering throughout. I find the D4 stings my gums - which I love. The tangy strength of the Partagas is not present in the Bolivar at all. This part is very subjective, but my Bolivar tonight has been creamy - almost chocolate-y. There has not been any point at which it became bitter or hot. The taste has been rich and manageable all the way down. It hasn't delivered any taste 'surprises'. No changes of tone or pleasant excesses - like the Padron 1926, for example - but it has given me robust (yes - an appropriate adjective) dependable taste quality from start to end, and it hasn't varied in punch. I fear that by stressing its dependability I might make it seem dull as I write this, but that's far from the case. If you haven't smoked one of these cigars, the Bolivar robusto will deliver you a manly and delicious treat. That is exactly why I like to return to it.
Branch out and try one some time!
Overall score: 95
I invariably return to robustos because I like their girth and overall consistency, and this is a smoke size-wise and time-wise that suits me.
I vow to experiment with longer and shorter cigars as I perceive fellow stogiemen's enthusiasms on this site.
I rate the Cohiba robusto as my favourite smoke (so far). After that, I prefer a Partagas Serie D4. Third and successive places are harder to fix, but in joint third place for very pleasurable smoking I would cite Ramon Allones and Bolivar, with Hoyo de Monterrey in there but as a far milder example of the form.
I'm just finishing a Bolivar robusto in my study now, and I will face divorce proceedings as a consequence later tonight.
Cigar smoking does have definite built-in advantages.
Ratings for this particular smoke:
Appearance 5 out of 5
Beautiful mid-dark hue. Very oily texture and feel. Extremely squashy. I love being able to really squeeze a springy cigar, and my model tonight was immensely pliable.
Aroma 5 out of 5
The aroma of this cigar is wonderful and would excite me were I to get my nostrils tweaked when out playing with the band, for example. A beautiful scent in a house - even though she will dispute that - and on previous occasions non-smoking friends have come close to acquire a close smell of this model.
Burn 20 out of 20
Supremely slow-burning tonight. My cigar has been at rest between my fingers a lot, and has never gone out. I have not had to 'work' at keeping this Bolivar going between tokes. With other similar cigars, I've had to keep them alive with occasional deep puffs. I have not had to put effort in with this cigar even when I have knocked the ash off. The ash has been compact and solid throughout the smoke.
Taste 65 out of 70
Strong but not over-powering throughout. I find the D4 stings my gums - which I love. The tangy strength of the Partagas is not present in the Bolivar at all. This part is very subjective, but my Bolivar tonight has been creamy - almost chocolate-y. There has not been any point at which it became bitter or hot. The taste has been rich and manageable all the way down. It hasn't delivered any taste 'surprises'. No changes of tone or pleasant excesses - like the Padron 1926, for example - but it has given me robust (yes - an appropriate adjective) dependable taste quality from start to end, and it hasn't varied in punch. I fear that by stressing its dependability I might make it seem dull as I write this, but that's far from the case. If you haven't smoked one of these cigars, the Bolivar robusto will deliver you a manly and delicious treat. That is exactly why I like to return to it.
Branch out and try one some time!
Overall score: 95
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