Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto

Just the other day, I received my box of HdM Petit Robusto in the mail. With all the positive reviews I've seen floating around, I figured that it would be best to fire one up immediately. The Petit Robusto is the latest addition to Hoyo de Monterrey's stable of very respectable cigars. Released in 2004, the Petit Robusto has one of the most interesting vitolas in the industry; measuring slightly more than 4 inches long with a whopping ring gauge of 50.

This rather stout and chubby little cigar sported a dark and oily wrapper with relatively little veins, a combination that is hard to come by as darker wrappers tend to be roughened by the sun. The Petit Robusto was a tantalizing visual. With premium leaves from Hoyo's fertile valley in the Vuelta Abajo region, it gave off an interesting sweet and grassy aroma, though slightly more muted than I would have imagined. With all that's going for it, the Petit Robusto should and would live up to the Hoyo de Monterrey tradition.

The cigar was velvety to the touch and quite spongy when squeezed. Once snipped, the head showed how tightly the tobacco was bunched, which inevitably raised my concern for an unforgiving draw. An actual draw test relieved some of my worries but it was still slightly too tight for me, nevertheless, it offered a pleasant tingle to my nose. Lighting up was surprisingly pleasing for such a fat cigar, as it emitted copious amounts of woody smoke.

Straight from the get-go, it was flavour, flavour, and more flavour. I was by stunned how fast the cigar came to life, as most Cubans have a subtle progression of flavours that become more complex over time. The Petit Robusto delivered cool smoke with sweet and perfume-like flavours. Towards the middle, a subtle honey flavour was picked up, though it was rather fleeting.

At this point, I would like to point out that I encountered somewhat frustrating burn problems that required retouching with a lighter. I also found it hard to regulate my smoking rate due to the tough draw. Until the end, there were erratic burn patterns that made this little trouble-maker a hassle to smoke.

Towards the end, punchy notes of earth and spice surfaced, finishing the cigar nicely. This cigar is definitely a flavour shotgun, relentlessly delivering complex flavours that pleasantly hits your palate. I'm sure that some time in my humidor would straighten out the burn issues. I believe Hoyo de Monterrey has succeeded in creating a cigar that offers the perfect Cuban experience - an impressive flavour profile in a small and presentable package.

C.A.O. Black Storm

It's been a while since I have updated this blog; partly due the vacation I spent in Hong Kong, but also due to curricular related activities that I've been occupied with in the past months. Nevertheless, recent stogie talk with a few close friends have rekindled my interest and focused my attention to what's really important.

I christened my re-entry into the depths with Storm, a signature cigar from the C.A.O. Black series. This relatively new addition first caught my eye with their striking and contrasty boxes that looked like it was out from a Jackson Pollock painting. Black is actually a rebirth of a classic from 1995 that C.A.O. was proud to bear, now, as a limited edition series, the line would only add praise to C.A.O.'s already well-recognized collection. Storm features an Ecuadorian wrapper with a blend of Nicaraguan, Honduras, and Mexico for the filler, all of which have been aged for over five years. The credentials of this C.A.O. gem offer a sure-fire impression that should not disappoint. And it certainly doesn't.

This cigar is all about presence. The aroma that oozed out this stick is monumental and the wrapper its dressed in was absolutely flawless. Hidden behind the cedar sheet was an oily sheen that gives this cigar its character. As with most C.A.O. cigars, the pinch test revealed a construction that is unparalleled, something that is to be much desired for in Cubans of late. Under the nose, the cigar gave off with scents of cedar, spice, and cream.

A brief draw test became another testament to the superb construction of this cigar; easy draw, with just enough resistance to remind you that you are smoking on a cigar. Lighting the Storm was a breeze, within an instance a glowing ring was visible. After a few draws, the room was filled with velvety smoke that pillowed endlessly. Notes of caramel and spice became rather prominent until it reached halfway. At that point, the bomb dropped as a load of nutty and creamy flavours rushed in. Flavours became slightly more complex towards the end.

Overall, the cigar performed outstandingly. There wasn't an instance where the burn was anything less than perfect; not once did I need to correct it. The cigar delivers an unique and lasting flavour that is medium in strength and lipsmackingly good.

A perfect way to celebrate the end of the hiatus then. C.A.O. Black Storm makes a perfect cigar for anyone who wants to indulge in the natural current of flavours without digging through layers of fluff. The cigar offers just enough complexity for you to mouth on without being overly intense. In every department, the Storm is absolutely remarkable and highly recommendable. With only two left, I wonder how would I survive.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story

Introduced in the late 80s, Arturo Fuente's Hemingway was a rebirth of the Cuban perfecto shape that was once lost in history. Adhering to the authenticity of the popular 1920s shape, the Fuente family used original molds to achieve the unique design of these cigars. Like the Short Story, most of the Hemingway cigars were originally made for personal consumption only. And to make these rarities even more special, Carlos Fuente opted a choice of Cameroon and Maduro wrappers as a standard to complement the Dominican filler. The Hemingway Short Story is the smallest vitola in the series. Even with its miniscule size, it does not shy away from delivering a world full of flavor.

Just by being a Fuente cigar, the Short Story exudes refinement and quality. Even with the presentation, Arturo Fuente shows 110% attention to detail. The Short Story was packed in a flared varnished box containing a Humidipak and a pledge to quality. The cigars were wrapped in cellophane and bundled with a blue ribbon emblazoned with gold calligraphy. Despite the difficult birth of these cigars, the Short Story wore a flawless wrapper with the slightest amount of tooth and featured a consistent perfecto tip throughout the box. The Fuentes should really hold a crash course for Cuban cigar makers on quality control and presentation.

Slid off the cellophane sleeve and this shortie boasted a sweet berry-like aroma that reminded me of perfume. With a foot no larger than a dot, the cigar was easy to light - a flick of a flame, a couple of puffs, and it fired up perfectly.

The initial flavor profile was dominated by peppery overtones with a note of sweetness. As I smoked on, the draw loosened up and burn became razor sharp. It was definitely a well constructed cigar. By mid-way, notes of sweet cream and vanilla opened up, accompanying the spicy overtones. The Short Story finished off with a nutty note.

This cigar certainly scores superb marks in all regards. As expected, this cigar is excellent, not just for a short occasion, but for anytime where quality and perfection is demanded. The Short Story shall be remembered as a true classic.

X Siglo VI

Just in the mail: Cohiba Siglo VI. The VI is the thickest cigar in the current Siglo range, with a ring gauge of 52. It's hard to ignore the sheer presence of these beauties; if the price tag doesn't capture your attention, then the divine Cohiba aroma will.

Xikar Desktop Humidor

Over the years, Xikar has established itself as a signature for both quality and value. Specializing in cutlery, it is the maker of the Xi line of guillotine cutters. The Kansas based company also features hand knives, cigar cases, lighters, and now humidors. Xikar has developed two different boxes for the discerning cigarist; one for the carry-on suitcase and the other for the office desk. And as a tradition, you would expect Xikar's humidors to be nothing less than solid quality.

You would be right.

The desktop humidor sports a very sleek design. The curvy sides, slanted edges, and polished hardware remind me of an old school roadster straight from a Dunhill poster. The rounded silver press-button compliments the matted finish beautifully. The whole thing is aesthetically astonishing! My only complaint is the tacky and rather comical Xikar logo emblazoned on the front.

Once you open the lid of this humidor, you will discover its party piece. Xikar has cleverly fused a desktop humidor with a dresser organizer, allowing you to store your Rolex along with your prized Habanos. The organizer is essentially a felt-lined tray balanced on two ledges from the side of the humidor; creating a small cigar compartment underneath. The tray is trimmed with leather and sectioned into four areas of different sizes. The largest section fits your wallet, and the other three would fit a watch, lighter, and spare change. Two leather tabs are placed on either side of the tray, so it could be lifted out with little effort. The interior is, of course, lined with spanish cedar.

One thing I really like about this humidor is its hinges. These stainless steel quadrant hinges have holes punched into them; giving it a retro sporty feel. As a person who is quite keen on aesthetical beauty, this humidor does not disappoint. However, I am rather ticked off by the joineries. As a Xikar product, I would expect them to be seamless. Sadly, that is not the case. Nevertheless, the humidor redeemed itself by its secure and tight seal.

The humidor comes with a short rectangular humidifier with a synthetic canvas that covers the openings. Unfortunately, the real problem with this seemingly perfect box is its storage capacity. With the organizer tray down, it can hold no more than ten 50 gauge cigars.

Fortunately for me, I have no use for another desktop humidor and no use for an organizer tray. With the tray tossed, I can store up to 25 cigars. The humidor also comes with a velvet bag that protects the beautiful box finish. Perfect.

Both Xikar humidors come at a retail price of $79.99, though there are places where you can get them for less.