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Connoisseur's Corner, December 2006

Posted: Monday, March 19, 2007

By CA Staff

Three cigars joined the ranks of "classics" with this tasting. Two of them are exceptionally rare, and the best of the bunch is a well-aged cigar that's one of the world's most popular robustos. A Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 with a decade of box age nearly achieved perfection, earning a rating of 99 points. Long packed without bands, these full-flavored fat cigars are immensely popular -- having the patience to age them is rewarding. Cigar Aficionado editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken called it "one of the finest cigars I have ever smoked." The Flor de Cano brand is a small one, and the Diademas size (which is actually a Churchill) isn't seen often. The very rare Partagas 155 Salomones 1 figurado, a limited-production smoke, showed bold flavor.

Reprinted from the December 2006 issue of Cigar Aficionado

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Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 (1996)
99
This cigar has a beautiful, dark wrapper. It smokes with a smooth, easy draw that leaves a full, gray ash. In its full, tangy tobacco flavor, there are hints of tea, nuts and herbs. This is one of the finest cigars I have ever smoked.
--Marvin R. Shanken

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Flor de Cano Diademas (1992)
97
This is an absolutely gorgeous cigar. It has a deep, reddish-brown wrapper and it is almost flawlessly constructed, with a near perfect draw. It is 100 percent smooth on the palate, with hints of nuts, a core of toasty flavors and a hint of cocoa beans on the finish. As it warms up at mid-length, there are flavors of earth and leather. A great cigar.
--Gordon Mott

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Partagas 155 Salomones 1 (2000)
95
This was released in 2000 to celebrate the 155th birthday of the brand. It part of a special humidor filled with 155 cigars -- 50 were this large perfecto-shaped smoke. It's an intense smoke with lots of minerals and a fresh herb and tobacco character. Medium to full bodied, with great finesse. It starts off fabulously and goes on and on.
--James Suckling

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Cohiba Lancero (1991)
94
An almost perfect draw, which is very hard to accomplish with a panatela. This 15-year-old cigar has mellowed to a wonderful smooth taste, with strong hints of toast and a light pencil-lead core of flavor. On the long finish, there are notes of wine, like a Cabernet. An exquisite cigar from El Laguito.
--Gordon Mott

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Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Corona Gorda (2000)
93
Big humidors need to be organized, and every so often a cleanup leads to a surprise -- finding forgotten cigars. These six-year-old VSGs were such a prize, and they're smoking wonderfully, with a full complement of power, good leather and black pepper flavors and fine balance from the years of aging. A rich, lovely smoke.
--David Savona

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Bolivar Inmensas (1997)
93
This "dalias"-shaped smoke is how Bolivar used to be: a powerful, flavorful, blockbuster of a smoke. The guy I smoked it with had to put it out due to the strength. Full bodied, with spicy, tobacco and cedar flavors. Long finish.
--James Suckling

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