Mega Review - The 12 Robustos of Christmas

[MaledettoToscano]

Great thread and fantastic reviews Yorgos, a pleasure to read.

[monkey66]

A late contender for post of the year ...keep up the great work.

[jdawg]

another wonderful review!

I have yet to try this one, but I do love the Upmann line.

[snooky]

7 more to go , keeps me guessing. Great reviews .

[Big J]

Another great review!

[whisky77]

First class.

Smoked a cab of these pre 2005 and they were some of the best Upmann I have been lucky enough to smoke.First class review mate.

[Seriesteve]

Lovin the Reviews
The Connie No1 is a long time favorite of mine, always forget about them, dont know why but a pleasent surprise when I come across them in the Humi.
Looking forward to the rest of your reviews
SS

[satch]

This is really good work Yiorgis. The only downside is you could end up costing me a fortune. Oh well, can't take it with you. What's next?

[tippexx]

This is really good work Yiorgis. The only downside is you could end up costing me a fortune. Oh well, can't take it with you. What's next?

Ditto that. Looking forward to your next .... if you ain't too wind battered!

[yiorgos]

Ditto that. Looking forward to your next .... if you ain't too wind battered!

Tonights one will be a bit late, I am still stuck into work

[Ryan]

It's a great thread Yiorgos, great reviews.
Well done. You're a horse of a man.

[yiorgos]

Day 6: Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure no.1

12 Robustos of Xmas, Day 6:
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No.2

The Epicure No.2 is one of the most popular vitolas of Hoyo de Monterrey and one of the most popular Robustos in the market. It happens to be one of my favourite cigars too, but it can be very inconsistent. When you smoke a good Epicure #2, not many cigars can be compared to it. However, you have to go through quite a few until you get that good one. Those few can be very bland in taste or very poorly constructed. The latter productions seems to have brought back the high standards of this robusto, that seemed to have gone in the 2003-2006 productions. The Epicure I will be reviewing today is quite young (March 09).

Appearance & Prelight 12/15

The Epicure #2 has a cinnamon/brown wrapper with a few light veins and some wrinkles. It is smooth to touch and a little oily. It is generally spongy, with a few harder spots, and strong aromas of earth are present on the foot. The prelight draw is good, slightly on the looser side.

Flavour & Body 23/25

The initial burst has a strong earthy flavour, full body and plenty of spice. It takes no more than a few puffs for the cigar to mellow and become more balanced. The spiciness is gone, being replaced by vegetal and sweet floral flavours, still trailing the earthy profile of the cigar. The Epicure gets sweeter as you smoke though the second third, with flavours of leather, honey and cocoa, and a long creamy finish - definately its sweetspot! On the last third the body gets fuller and the cigar gets slightly hot, with most of the flavours in the array of the second third being muted. No need for burnt fingertips!

Draw & Burn 22/25

The cigar has a slightly loose draw from the very beginning, that remains consistent all the way through, and produces clouds of smoke. The burn is mostly even, but seems to be changing in those couple of hard spots in the cigar, where the burn gets slower and the flavour smokier. The ash has a thin texture and does not reach more than an inch in length.

Overall impression 33/35

After lighting up the Epicure #2, I thought I should have gone for a D4, one of my favourite cigars of the year, as my last cigar of 2009. After taking a few puffs, I realised I was lucky enough to hit one of the better Epicure #2?s. Although it didn?t knock my socks off, its medium body and the sweet earthy flavours made it very enjoyable. Not the best Epi I have had, but still good enough to score 90 points. If it wasn?t for the loose bunch, it could have scored a couple more points.

TOTAL 90/100



Happy new year to all of you and thank you for following this thread with my scribbles

[Big J]

Another great review! I like the HdM#2. Very nice stick.

[saggel]

I got one of these as a present. I am gonna let it in the humi for a while before smoking it...

[yiorgos]

Day 7: Partagas Serie D No.4

12 Robustos of Christmas, Day 8:
Partagas Serie D No.4

The new year is now with us, the old one has been and gone and what a year it has been! Having smoked some great cigars in 2009, the bar for 2010 has been raised pretty high. One of the cigars that I enjoyed the most in 2009 was the Partagas D no.4. Beautiful every time, the D4 has been extremely consistent and every year?s production has been getting better and better. Even though our smoking shed is covered in snow, the three heaters seem to manage to keep the temperature up to a humain level, and the scenery is perfect for a good smoke.

Appearance & Prelight 14/15


This D4 is a prime example of what a cuban cigar should look like! The construction is flowless and the wrapper is chocolate brown and very oily. The veins are hardly noticeable and the bunch is good and solid. Strong sweet and floral aromas are present on the foot of the cigar and the prelight is good, with just the right amount of drag. This D4 looks so good that makes you want to eat it!

Flavour & Body 23/25

After spending a few minutes just staring at it, it is time to light up? The D4 starts with a medium body and strong taste of wood and earth. A few minutes later, more flavours join the mix; nuts, honey and vanilla, all in good balance, offering an ususual sweetness. On the second third, the sweetness disappears, leaving its place to a pleasant dark, bitter chocolate flavour, as well as the saltiness of freshly roasted almonds. The D4 finishes as strong as it started, easing off on the compexity, with spicy flavours of earth and peat.

Draw & Burn 23/25

Even though the cigar is tightly packed, draw is slightly loose. A hefty amount of thick and creamy smoke with a long creamy finish is delivered. The ash is grey in colour and solid, reaching more than an inch in length before it falls off, leaving a perfectly pyramid shaped coal on the foot of the cigar. The burn is even all the way through and any minor inconsistencies are being corrected quickly.

Overall impression 33/35

This D4 is a good example of why this vitola is - in my opinion- one of the best ?value for money? robustos. Its medium to full body and it complexity make this cigar a pleasure to smoke. Altering so much from the beginning to the end, the D4 has something different to offer in every puff. Its construction has always been good and I have yet to smoke a bad D4 from the ?08 batch. A solid 93 point cigar and a major contender for the winner of this review?

TOTAL 93/100