For some time now, the prestige and a certain social consideration of Habanos have led to the inclusion of Cuban cigars in the luxury sector, among the most sought-after products to enjoy and taste, such as champagne, fine wines or certain gourmet products.
In certain social circles, the tasting of a Havana cigar attracts a certain distinction, depending on the occasion and the places where it can be afforded, whether in a cigar club in London, Paris, New York or in the capital of Spain itself, where the Club Pasión Habanos is located in the very Plaza de España.
Businessmen, lawyers and many other professionals (including some doctors) not only appreciate the lighting of a cigar, but also consider the right moment, such as a social gathering or after-dinner conversation, whether at work or during family meals.
In the same way, the owners of cigar shops in our country – where there are about 60 tobacconists catalogued as Habanos specialists – have noticed that recently there has been a return to the custom of including cigars from Cuban factories among certain gifts of a certain distinction.
For this reason, and in view of the dates that are approaching, in order to celebrate some moments that we consider to be special, I have created a chamber symphony with the quartet for this occasion, which includes different formats of different Habanos brands, as well as different strengths, according to the tastes of each aficionado.
The first of these is the Juan López Selección No. 2, which has been one of the most requested formats by aficionados for years, since the Robustos offer the guarantee of a perfect draw, good smoke density in the mouth, a smoke that usually does not exceed three quarters of an hour, and especially this month it has reached the main Spanish cigar cellars with a special presentation in a wooden box of five cigars.
The second is one of the best-selling vitolas of all time, since the format called in Galera Mareva is the Hoyo de Monterrey Souvenir de Luxe, which belongs to the Retro Line with an exclusive presentation in metal tins of five cigars, recalling the designs that were fashionable in the seventies of the last century.
The third is a Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill, a vitola that has captivated many habanos aficionados in recent years and continues to do so, because with its medium strength it offers and guarantees an extremely pleasant taste, a magnificent draw and a great balance of flavors and aromas.
The last one chosen for this month – and not for that reason the least outstanding – is the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 3, a figurado whose world launch was held in Madrid for the members of the Club Pasión Habanos, and which responds to the perception of an extremely smooth and richly nuanced cigar.
The ensemble of this quartet is validated to ensure the different tastes of fans, since in terms of their respective strengths the Juan Lopez has the highest (five out of five), while the Romeo y Julieta is of medium type (three out of five) and the two Hoyo de Monterrey is the lowest (one out of five).
JUAN LÓPEZ SELECCIÓN No. 2
Format: Length: 124 mm. Diameter: 19,84 mm. Strain: 50. Weight: 11.83 gr.
Tobacco: Vuelta Arriba (Pinar del Río, Cuba)
Before lighting: Color: light. Aroma: vegetal.
Combustion: First third: smooth but with character at the beginning. Second third: some black pepper emerges and blends perfectly with the earthy notes. Third third: the spicy notes moderate, but are joined by some bitterness.
Smoking time: 45/50 minutes
Shot: Perfect
Ash: medium gray with darker stands
Commercial presentation: Boxes of 25 cigars
Comment: This Robusto is certainly a very pleasant experience in terms of intensity of flavors and tobacco notes, without aggressiveness in the mouth, but with a medium/high strength character.
HOYO DE MONTERREY SOUVENIR DE LUXE
Format: Length: 129 mm. Diameter: 16,67 mm. Strain: 42. Weight: 8,53 gr.
Tobacco: Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Río, Cuba)
Before burning: Color: colored. Smell: hay.
Combustion: First third: good and tasty, smooth and slightly spicy. Second third: very slightly spicy with sweet notes. Third third: finishes in the same tone and without any astringency in the mouth.
Smoking time: 35/40 minutes
Shot: excellent
Ash: Medium gray with black stands
Commercial presentation: Boxes of 5 cigars in 70’s metal packaging.
Comments: A splendid Mareva that comes to us endorsed by belonging to the Retro Line, with the addition that its tobacco traces appear somewhat more defined than the rest of the brand’s vitolas, although within a low character strength.
ROMEO Y JULIETA WIDE CHURCHILLS
Format: Length: 130 mm. Diameter: 21,83 mm. Weight: 18,26 gr.
Tobacco: Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Río, Cuba).
Before burning: Color: carmelite. Aroma: well aged tobacco.
Combustion: First third: character without great incidence of its strength. Second third: the wood makes an appearance along with spicy touches. Third third: perfect finish for a well-balanced cigar of flavors and aromas.
Smoking time: 55/60 minutes
Shot: Optimum
Ash: Medium and consistent gray
Commercial presentation: Boxes of 25 and 10 cigars, packs of three in a tube.
Comments: With a strength rating of three out of five, this cigar from a galley vitola called Montesco offers a great smoking experience, with a good blend of wood and some mild earthiness.
HOYO DE MONTERREY EPICURE No. 3
Format: Length: 125 mm. Diameter: 21,43 mm. Strain: 54. Weight: 12,32 gr.
Tobacco: Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Río, Cuba).
Before burning: Color: light carmelite. Aroma: fresh woody hay
Combustion: First third: wood and some soft cocoa are immediately perceived. Second third: light spicy touches appear along with spicy notes. Third third: The strength of the flavors increases significantly, and even a bit more strength.
Smoking time: 55/60 minutes
Shot: Excellent.
Ash: Mid-tone gray.
Commercial presentation: Boxes of 25, 10 and boxes of three cigars.
Comments: Exquisite and round in the mouth, this cigar achieves synchronized results with a balance of flavors and very pleasant aromas, without any edges and with the guarantee that its strength, rated one out of five, is not at all impetuous at the time of tasting.
