Simon's Precis Reviews

[Simon-JG-hr]

Bolivar Tubos No3

Bolivar's addition to the 'morning coffee' line-up of cigars is very often overlooked. When my trip to the tobacconists for a Wide Churchill yielded no luck, I left with a Boli No3. How would it pan out? It's a small panatela, but lasts a surprising 45 minutes plus. It's got an industrial profile at this age - good strong flavours of nuts and coffee with side-parts from earth and leather. This lacks the round edges of the big name Bolivars, and occasionally hits you with a big stick. A decent cigar and one that needs to be tried more often than it is. That said, I'd still pick a Trini Reyes for a 40 minute break with a coffee.

**Full Review, including pictures!**

Overall Score: 84/100

[HabanoSy]

Nice little review Simon...

In agreeance, re the Trini Reyes selection when on a coffee break...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[J Cano]

I really enjoy the Bolivar #3 when time is short. This cigar needs to age in order for the latter half to develop. It is not a stick for beginners as they may find its come on too strong but when traveling in tourist areas these are one of the better tubos to go with. Plugging has been a problem in the past but i have a box that is A1 right now on draw.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Kristoff Maduro Robusto

This is a rustic looking cigar, with a thick pig-tail at the head and a shaggy foot. It's got a maduro wrapper, but the flavours don't quite create your traditional maduro profile. It's well balanced, but doesn't quite have that excitement factor that some cigars give you - it developed, but never really offered anything 'new' as it progressed. Nit-picking aside, this was a remarkably good cigar, and alongside the Cain maduro I sampled at Dunhill, the Kristoff Maduro Robusto is vying for the title of 'Best Non-Cuban I've Had'. Definitely one to try if you get the opportunity.

**Full Review, including pictures!**

Overall Score: 89/100

[HabanoSy]

Good review Simon...

May well have to try and source myself one of these...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Cheers Sy. They are definitely worth trying to get hold of. I doubt there will be anyone saying they're the best cigar ever, but a very nice cigar none-the-less.

La Gloria Cubana Gloriosos

What a great cigar. Complexity throughout with excellent flavour development. It's a medium bodied cigar with good flavours. It's a UK RE measuring in as a double robusto - for me, an excellent size which is excellently proportioned. It smokes well, though was a little disappointed after it went out a couple of times near the end. I ended up allowing it a dignified death just a little earlier than I'd have liked.

**Full Review, including pictures!**

Overall score: 93/100

PS. If anyone wants to enter my blog's competition (write a review to potentially win some cigars), click on the link in my signature...

[HabanoSy]

Great, great review of the Gloriosos Simon...

Im with you, it is simply a wonderful cigar...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Juan Lopez Petit Corona

This cigar starts wonderfully - good burn and good flavours (nuts, honey, leather and chocolate). Unfortunately though, it finished poorly, with deteriorating burn and flavours. Overall though, not a bad, slow burning, petit corona.

**Full Review, including pictures!**

Overall score: 85/100

[tippexx]

I love the JL Petit's Si. The flavours and burn generally stay pretty constant throughout the smoke. Maybe you just smoke an 'unlucky' one!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Yeah, the first half was really nice. It started to go a little astray about five minutes after I'd left it for a couple of minutes. Odd really, as I was really impressed by how well it had stayed lit. I'm still wondering if it was just coincidence or not.

[Lionhound]

I love the JL Petit's Si. The flavours and burn generally stay pretty constant throughout the smoke. Maybe you just smoke an 'unlucky' one!

Well said Arf. Nice review as always Simon. JLPC one of my favourite in that size range and would rate it a bit higher than you have done. We all have our own tastes though and, as Tipp says, the one you smoked was maybe slightly poorer than the norm.
Delighted that my own notes on taste etc are similar to yours. Maybe I know more than I thought about taste etc.................or maybe you........no only kidding, always enjoy your reviews and put a fair bit of faith in them.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Punch Petit Punch (1998)

This was a gratefully received trade from DeadBase (thank you very much sir). Generally a sweetish profile, with honey, citrus and cinnamon elements playing to the fore, as well as a little bit of a floral influence around the middle. It was, to me, an English afternoon tea in a cigar. Construction was good throughout, but not stellar. It would be fair to say that Habanos was not of sound mind when they deleted this delightful vitola from their lineup.

**Full Review, including pictures!**

Overall score: 89/100

[davidruddell]

Nice review sir, damned shame these were discontinued, exactly the size of smoke I'm looking to buy for those cold winter nights where a 1hr+ smoke will end in frostbite.

Punch Petit Punch (1998)

This was a gratefully received trade from DeadBase (thank you very much sir). Generally a sweetish profile, with honey, citrus and cinnamon elements playing to the fore, as well as a little bit of a floral influence around the middle. It was, to me, an English afternoon tea in a cigar. Construction was good throughout, but not stellar. It would be fair to say that Habanos was not of sound mind when they deleted this delightful vitola from their lineup.

**Full Review, including pictures!**

Overall score: 89/100

[r0lan6]

Blimey you're definitely a pro when it comes to reviews! Great stuff!

[HabanoSy]

Great review as always Simon...

Top work...

Cheers, HabanoSy