ggiese
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2004
- Messages
- 5,091
Ok, boys - I had a chance to sit down with the two "mystery" cigars last night (it was a balmy 85 degrees here, and it I just HAD to barbeque)...
I smoked M-18 first, which I use as a timer for the meat on the grill (Robusto or Corona sizes are just about right!).
The construction was very nice - clearly non-ISOM, (with a connecticut shade wrapper, instead of the Claro). I used a punch (I couldn't find my cutter anywhere - because momma had it!!!). Pre light draw was very nice - a pleasant sweet taste to the unlit cigar (vaguely familiar).
The cigar burned very nice - razor sharp. Tons of smoke, with a bit more bite to it than I would have expected for a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar. This baby stayed lit all the way down to the end, without any need for additional touch up. That taste was hauntingly familiar... I know I've smoked these cigars before - it was a very pleasant flavor. I've just never had this cigar in this particular vitola... I'm guessing it was most likely a Hanostia cigar, possibly the signature 101!?!???
The second cigar I smoked (M-21) was a much bigger ring gauge. A "beefy" cigar. The construction was nice but rough looking, with a darker wrapper (some kind of criollo, possibly?). It started to unravel a bit after I cut it, but went back together nicely with no other problems.
I'm glad I made up some strong apple martini's, because this cigar had a serious bite to it initially! The spice simmered down just a bit after the cigar got going... This was a perfect after dinner, smoking in the backyard with a martini kind of smoke! The burn was just a little funky, but not bad (little minor touch ups here and there). Tons of smoke, but I had a little trouble keeping it lit after about the half way point. I would have loved to have nubbed this one, but I couldn't keep it lit at all towards the end.
I don't believe I have ever tried one of these before. The flavor did not seem familiar to me. I'm not sure what it was, other than it was probably of Nicaraguan origin...
I smoked M-18 first, which I use as a timer for the meat on the grill (Robusto or Corona sizes are just about right!).
The construction was very nice - clearly non-ISOM, (with a connecticut shade wrapper, instead of the Claro). I used a punch (I couldn't find my cutter anywhere - because momma had it!!!). Pre light draw was very nice - a pleasant sweet taste to the unlit cigar (vaguely familiar).
The cigar burned very nice - razor sharp. Tons of smoke, with a bit more bite to it than I would have expected for a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar. This baby stayed lit all the way down to the end, without any need for additional touch up. That taste was hauntingly familiar... I know I've smoked these cigars before - it was a very pleasant flavor. I've just never had this cigar in this particular vitola... I'm guessing it was most likely a Hanostia cigar, possibly the signature 101!?!???
The second cigar I smoked (M-21) was a much bigger ring gauge. A "beefy" cigar. The construction was nice but rough looking, with a darker wrapper (some kind of criollo, possibly?). It started to unravel a bit after I cut it, but went back together nicely with no other problems.
I'm glad I made up some strong apple martini's, because this cigar had a serious bite to it initially! The spice simmered down just a bit after the cigar got going... This was a perfect after dinner, smoking in the backyard with a martini kind of smoke! The burn was just a little funky, but not bad (little minor touch ups here and there). Tons of smoke, but I had a little trouble keeping it lit after about the half way point. I would have loved to have nubbed this one, but I couldn't keep it lit at all towards the end.
I don't believe I have ever tried one of these before. The flavor did not seem familiar to me. I'm not sure what it was, other than it was probably of Nicaraguan origin...
