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Connoisseur's Corner, August 2001

Posted: Wednesday, August 01, 2001

August 2001

What a great lineup of older cigars. It's almost mind-boggling to see how these smokes are holding up over time. The Cuban Cohiba Torpedo made in 1994 was an overpowering smoke at the time, and remains so today. The little Fuente Fuente OpusX Perfeccion No. 5 is an incredibly complex smoke for such a small cigar. The H. Upmann cigar from 1979 is highly complex, and the Laras and Dunhill cigars, both over 30 years old, illustrate how well a fine cigar can age. They're both smooth and delicious, and are practically unblemished after decades of humidification.

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Cohiba Torpedo (1994)
95
This variation of the benchmark Cuban brand was produced for the 1994 Cigar Aficionado Dinner of the Century in Paris. A cigar with almost overpowering flavors and strength; it tastes as if it was made within the past year. There are deep, strong pepper and leather notes, with a solid core of sweet, cedary woodiness. It may be another five years before it reaches its peak. --Marvin R. Shanken

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Fuente Fuente OpusX Perfexci�n No. 5 (1995)
95
What a terrific little cigar. This petit corona is jam-packed with deep, sweet spiciness. It has strong notes of cinnamon and leather on the palate, and an amazingly long finish. One of the great small cigars.
--James Suckling

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H. Upmann Lonsdale (1979)
92
A gorgeous, mellow smoke. It is loaded with sweet woodiness, which becomes a solid cedary taste, with an almost vanilla character. Medium body. It has a fresh and tangy finish, like a good fine sherry.
--James Suckling

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Laras (1960)
91
A beautifully made petit corona from Por Larra�aga in Jamaica. It has a crisp box press, and is in remarkable shape. The smoke seems a bit dry for the first puff or so, then warms and opens up with a cedary, leathery flavor and a very spicy, remarkable floral nose. Rich, dense and complex, this must have been a real powerhouse in its day.
--George Brightman

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Dunhill Flor del Punto (1968)
90
This petit corona is medium bodied with a pleasant almond and cedary character. As it lingers on the palate, there is a light note that flirts with menthol. Fresh and clean for such an old cigar.
--James Suckling

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