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Home > What's New > Connoisseur's Corner, February 2003
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Connoisseur's Corner, February 2003
Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Reprinted from the February 2003 issue of Cigar Aficionado
Pre-embargo cuban cigars are rare, commanding premium prices at auction. This 98-point rating of a 1958 Bolivar Belicoso Fino may justify the royal cost. Despite being older than the Cuban revolution, the American space program and some of you reading this page, the cigar remains a full-bodied powerhouse. It led our latest tasting of rare and aged cigars.
Cuban Davidoffs haven't been made in more than a decade, and the Davidoff 4000 certainly seems to have aged well. This 1988 vintage scored 96 points, a classic on our 100-point scale.
A quartet of Cubans rolled in the 1990s scored in the 90s, rounding out our collection of these pieces of smoking history.
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Boliver Belicoso Fino (1958)
98 A fantastic-looking cigar. It's hard to believe that it is this old. Beautiful and rich-looking with a dark wrapper. It shows gorgeous aromas of spices, flowers and mint. Full bodied. Fresh. Very long finish.
--James Suckling
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Davidoff 4000 (1988)
96 Lovely. Sexy. Rich and cedary. It's got loads of character. Sweet and nutty. Full bodied and very opulent. A glorious smoke.
--James Suckling
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Cohiba Siglo I (1994)
94 This was always said to be the replacement cigar for the Davidoff Haut-Brion, and this little smoke, measuring 4 inches by 40 ring gauge, delivers loads of character, just like the former Davidoff. It's full bodied, with spicy, black coffee flavors and an aftertaste that lasts for minutes.
--James Suckling
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Hoyo De Monterrey Le Hoyo Dex Dieux (1994)
93 Classic light brown, in the Hoyo de Monterrey wrapper style. A perfect burn and draw lead into sweet, almost red wine-like flavors on the palate, with a hint of black cherry. It has a wonderful, balanced texture, smooth and easy on the palate.
--Gordon Mott
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Partagas Churchill Deluxe Tubo (1994)
92 I didn't think that this cigar would be up to much. Then bam! Wow. Blockbuster. Super, big and spicy with loads of character and notes of roasted coffee and tobacco. It goes on for minutes on your palate after each puff.
--James Suckling
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H. Upmann Super Corona (1997)
91 This is a size that is always a pleasure to smoke -- corona gorda. And this CG is super fine. It shows glorious floral aromas and flavors that turn to sweet cedar. Like honey in your mouth.
--James Suckling
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