Okay...been out of touch for a couple of weeks busy with work and lots of business travel (god I hate when work actually interferes with cigar pleasure). But thought I’d post a few on some of the recent smokes I have enjoyed. Burned the pair of 2004 Toast Across America cigars on 2 consecutive nights and both were really splendid. Both of these babies are 7 inches and I’m gonna guess at 48 ring gauge (any confirmation or correction here?). Some thoughts.
Diamond Crown Maximus Perfecto: This was a truly splendid smoke. Started out sweet and aromatically spicy. A mixture of honey, cinnamon, brown sugar. The first third was almost a little to mild for my taste but this stick kept improving the longer I smoked it. Toward the middle of the burn, the sweetness gave way to a spicier, peppery toasted nut flavor, though the sweetness was there in the background. The strength and spice of the cigar increased and improved the whole way to the nub. A true pleasure. I actually think this was better than an off-the-line DCM, but that’s probably all in my head as I sure the blend is the same. I smoked this pre-dinner in a hotel lobby bar in New Orleans, twinned with a few glasses of Zinfandel (don’t ask, I don’t remember) while chatting with a few other travelers. Very relaxing.
Opus X Perfecto: Awesome. I smoked this on the last day of a business trip to New Orleans, and a day that was completely free of work responsibilities. It was the 2nd of a 3 smoke day; the first being a post-lunch PAM Torpedo. I sparked the Opus post a huge New Orleans dinner and after a few bottles of red and more than a few cocktails. I twinned this with cherry Jell-O shots and fun colleagues at the Cat’s Meow karaoke bar on Bourbon (no, I did not sing). While the choice of alcohol may not have been exactly right, this cigar held its own. Typically Opus jalapeño and what I believe to be a really pleasant vinegar taste that you can get even before sparking up. The stick lasted a good 90 minutes. I would say this was spicier than a Robusto and not quite as flavorful as a Perfection X (my favorite size).
BTW…the 3rd cigar was a 1926 maduro #9, smoked between 1-2 AM and more than 3 sheets to the wind. This is a righteous smoke that really held its own despite being the 3rd of the day and twinned with massive alcohol intake. Overall a great day.
Diamond Crown Maximus Perfecto: This was a truly splendid smoke. Started out sweet and aromatically spicy. A mixture of honey, cinnamon, brown sugar. The first third was almost a little to mild for my taste but this stick kept improving the longer I smoked it. Toward the middle of the burn, the sweetness gave way to a spicier, peppery toasted nut flavor, though the sweetness was there in the background. The strength and spice of the cigar increased and improved the whole way to the nub. A true pleasure. I actually think this was better than an off-the-line DCM, but that’s probably all in my head as I sure the blend is the same. I smoked this pre-dinner in a hotel lobby bar in New Orleans, twinned with a few glasses of Zinfandel (don’t ask, I don’t remember) while chatting with a few other travelers. Very relaxing.
Opus X Perfecto: Awesome. I smoked this on the last day of a business trip to New Orleans, and a day that was completely free of work responsibilities. It was the 2nd of a 3 smoke day; the first being a post-lunch PAM Torpedo. I sparked the Opus post a huge New Orleans dinner and after a few bottles of red and more than a few cocktails. I twinned this with cherry Jell-O shots and fun colleagues at the Cat’s Meow karaoke bar on Bourbon (no, I did not sing). While the choice of alcohol may not have been exactly right, this cigar held its own. Typically Opus jalapeño and what I believe to be a really pleasant vinegar taste that you can get even before sparking up. The stick lasted a good 90 minutes. I would say this was spicier than a Robusto and not quite as flavorful as a Perfection X (my favorite size).
BTW…the 3rd cigar was a 1926 maduro #9, smoked between 1-2 AM and more than 3 sheets to the wind. This is a righteous smoke that really held its own despite being the 3rd of the day and twinned with massive alcohol intake. Overall a great day.
