Goodies

I managed to pick up two packs of very, very fine cigars at the Heathrow duty free.

First off, the Davidoff Short Perfecto. A handsome 5 by 52 zeppelin.

Next up, the Cohiba Siglo III.

Hopefully I'll find a good occasion to smoke some of these.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Robusto

Released in 2003, Rocky Patel's Vintage features two cigar lines with different aged wrappers. For the Vintage 1992, the aromatic 10-year-old Ecuadorian Sumatra tobacco is used. Beneath the oily wrapper is a Ligero blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. Rewarded with a 90+ score from Cigar Aficionado, I had high expectations from this 50-gauge.

I slipped off the cellophane sleeve, and the rich earthy aroma of this cigar filled my nostrils. This box-pressed beauty possessed an extremely waxy texture, it is a tantalizing visual feat. The chocolaty brown wrapper was coated with a sheen of oil.

The cigar felt balanced and spongy. After clipping the head, I took a deep pre-light draw, revealing a sweet earthy note. I noticed that the cigar was quite long for its vitola. The moment arrived. With a few strokes of my torch lighter, the foot was glowing orange, releasing the aromatic smoke I was expecting. The first few draws were perfect, offering distinct notes of cocoa, followed by a spicy kick. The burn was razor sharp and the ash was snow white. I was impressed.

However, by mid-way, the wrapper cracked and unraveled. I had to do some sculpting with my lighter to restore the '92's former glory. The flavours remained constant. In some ways, I was glad that it remained, but I was also hoping for something different, something a little more interesting. The final third had really let this stogie down. The rich flavour that had me arrested became sour; it tasted like burnt cocoa. Each draw became increasingly bitter. Burning my tongue, the stub became extremely hot as I tried to keep this little monster under control. I decided to let it sit for a while, hoping that it would cool down. However, this bastard of a cigar refused to behave. The smoke became too hot, bitter, and acrid. I had to put it down.

I feel that the vintage hype is overrated, but then again this was my first cigar in the series. I'll definitely have to smoke more to make a better judgment.

Welcome to the Perfecto

Hi and welcome to the Perfecto, my cigar blog. I have been smoking cigars for a few years now, and have enjoyed every billow of smoke. Cigars have become a part of my life; they alter my mood, and provide the perfect kind of relaxation one needs after a long day. I know that everybody has their own opinions on how their cigars taste, but I would just like to offer my own experiences with you. I see this blog as a medium to record my adventures, and at the same time, share it with those who are interested.