While I was down in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, I started the day off with a Montecristo Petit Edmundo. Ironically the reason I did this was because I wanted to get the crap out of the way early. As much as some reviewers go apey over these smokes, I rarely have any good results. But I will say that I have been lucky in one way. When I really have to have a performer, the cigar DOES come through. When I am just sitting out on my porch with a beer and a digital camera, they SUCK in masterful ways. But when I am someplace where the cigar just has to be great, I have to admit that the MPE fills the bill. I can recall a fantastic MPE I had up by Sandusky Bay in Ohio while herfing with a hundred of my closest friends. And just last week, I had a great smoke in Luling, LA for Mardi Gras weekend at the Krewe of Lul. (clever name, huh?) It cut and drew perfectly, lit a bit slowly, and gave up tons of creamy, cocoa-ey smoke with a wily little spicy core. The Monte Petit Edmundo burned slowly and allowed me to smoke it very close to the band, and I even pushed it up for a bit of extra time. This was a clutch time for the cigar to perform, because I had just offered what I deemed to be a relative Premium Cigar Novice his choice out of my humidor, and he picked the Montecristo No.5, which left me without a cigar I considered key to a great time and a great series of smokes, on a personal level. So without that Monte 5, things had to start looking up fast, and they did. I can't say enough about the MPE and its performance. If there was one tic in the negative column, it might be that it burned a little crooked, but never badly as a whole. Once the cigar passed halfway, it developed a smoky herbal undertone to the cocoa that I found really enjoyable. I am not going to go out on a limb and say "Well, Skipper, from here on out it looks like smooth sailing...", but I will say that I often judge a vitola harshly by how it treats me from week to week, but I DO try to admit it when over the long haul, things even out, and that I have to give this MPE it's due, it came through in the Mardi Gras Clutch..........90 points.
I can't be there for the Fat Tuesday celebration, but I managed to make a trip down south for the weekend BEFORE Fat Tuesday, and while I DID get a rock peck in my windshield which will end up costing me $150 one day soon, it was a nice trip. I saw things I can't UN-See, and did things I can't un-do, but on balance, sure, it was a good time. I started off with my traditional (thanks, Tina) seafood feast that I get treated to when I arrive. This one was not as good as the others I have had in the past, too much salt in my fried oysters and the shrimp were wrapped in bacon with a jalepeno tucked in there and broiled. Sounds great, but I like SHRIMP, and as much as I love bacon, it DOES overpower something as delicate as the taste of good shrimp. Tater tots were good, lol. And before I go off on it and make it sound BAD, it was delicious. It only stands out against the backdrop of PERFECT meals I have had in Randy and Tina's house in the past, all of the past. But I digress as usual....
A almost first....a great Montecristo Petit Edmundo at 9:30 am.
Beer to follow at 9:35.
Rained out two years in a row, Bill and Edie rolled at last.
Ched the Head and Paul the host
Damn fine meat, and there was a LOT more.
Scratched out art
When is that damn parade gonna get here?
Damn Right, son...
Never EAT food the same color you are....is that King Cake?
No, I see, it's just some shirt design behind the plate.
Kittys
Put this in the bag
Throw me somethin, Mister!......(She DID get that tiger/leopard.)
Hawses!
This girl is gonna milk that giant Tweety for two blocks,
you watch...she won't throw anything for ten minutes.
This guy, HE WILL.
Happy Mardi Gras!
That's a snapshot of the Krewe of Lul, a little local parade that hasn't been little in 20 years. They should be proud of it. They need to spring for a few more bands though, because marching bands are what makes Mardi Gras complete for me. I should have taken pictures of the jello-shot lady that put me down hard. I drank no more beer than usual, but I got a headache way too early and had to stop drinking. I blame the jello shot lady, Vickie. She always puts a hurtin' on those things, and this year they were Absolut-ely gasolinic. The pudding shots Tina made were great. it was a good day. Everybody had fun like they usually do, no scuffles or trouble, lots of good food, Mr. Lionel's Jambalaya, Ched's chicken legs and boudin, and I think he had some deer backstrap poppers that were in demand. Can't believe I missed this trip two years running.
I have not been wandering in the wilderness for 40 days, but it sure seems like it sometimes. I have tried many cigars out of my massive aged stash, and for all my trouble, have gotten very little pleasure to report to you here. That all changed tonight. I set aside two 'long and skinnies' in the dry box for this weekend's blog posts, a 2005 Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.1 and a 2002 la Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.3.
Sounds like a can't lose lineup, but given the past performances you have read about here, I was not holding my breath. What I WAS doing was opening up the fridge and mixing up a nice cold White Russian which I knew would not melt out and dilute, given the 40 degree night. I put on the trusty LSU watch cap, a LSU hoodie and a pair of sweats and my warmest slippers, took my drink out to the porch, popped open my folding chair and cut and lit this great stick.
I picked up this box of smokes when it was announced that the entire Partagas Serie du Connaisseur line was going to be cut. Not only were these smokes being cut, but a knee jerk reaction by Habanos S.A. to cut out all the 'problem smokes' from their massive catalogue was going to mean the demise of the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or line as well. In the ridiculously bad cigar boom in Cuba (1997-2000), cigars that were difficult to roll were being returned to shops in great numbers because they WOULD NOT DRAW. So HSA decided that these superb smokes were just too difficult to roll by all but a few torcedores, and what's more, they didn't sell well at all. It was an easy decision for them to get rid of these problem children. What they failed to realize is that a closet group of smokers was addicted to these great cigars, and just because they were not 'popular', they were very much appreciated by a loyal following of smokers in the know. But HSA did have one plan that they intended to follow no matter what the cost. They decided that a fixed amount of tobacco would generate MUCH more revenue if they slashed the catalogue to just the most in-demand smokes they offered. The best tobacco would be split up to create only those smokes that were chronically out of stock on store shelves and the greatest number of smokers asked for. This would lead to more happy customers when they entered the shops. So the long and skinnies HAD to go. And go they did. And the majority rejoiced. While the minority lamented the loss of their own favorites. And tonight I would smoke the very first one of these cigars I had ever had. I have had these cigars since they were officially discontinued. They are 2005 vintage, and I got them around 2008. I was all set to buy any number of other boxes, but my priorities shifted quickly when these began to disappear everywhere. I ended up being forced to buy them from a vendor that was FAR from being a discount vendor, and I paid dearly for the two boxes I was able to get, but get them I did.
The cigar drew a LITTLE tight, but was very smokeable, and in fact it helped me to not over-puff on the cigar and heat it up. And when I had my first ever puff of a Serie du Connaisseur of any number, I actually spoke the words "oh-ho, this is gonna be good." This might not be anything odd to the average smoker, but I live alone and I was speaking to no one. But I was definitely right. The smoke that poured forth from this cigar was different from almost any cigar I have had to this point in my long smoking life, but at the same time, very familiar to me. The Partagas pedigree was quite evident, a nice flat spicy core, with a roasted nut and toasted tobacco taste that FORCED you to puff too much, just to get more of this wondrous taste. I have had many cigars that share this profile, in fact, I would say to the well-rounded smoker, it was a delicious blend of the Partagas Super Partagas hand-rolled cigars, and the Partagas Presidente, very classic in style, and as much as I know how hard this is to read, I'll still say it, "old-school Partagas". The cigar tasted like a throwback to the old times I talked about the other day, when EVERY cigar you pulled out of a box of havanas was a special experience, filled with unique flavors and indescribable exoticity. The flavors that made havana cigars the best in the world, no comparison to the cigars that were available from other countries, and sadly, no comparison to the current lineup from Habanos. The compliment of the White Russian was right on time, maybe the perfect drink to accompany this smoke. The cigar drew so well, burned so straight, and offered such hypnotic flavors that I was very close to proclaiming this the finest cigar I had ever smoked. But for one thing. The flavor progression was nothing special. The flavors were perfect, and they kept me coming back for more, nearly to the point of constantly over-heating the cigar. But in terms of what most people would call flavor changes, there were not a lot to be had. And let us all remember that I do NOT have a good palate. So most people would give this cigar MUCH more respect in that category, but as I cannot discern flavor progression unless I am hit over the head with it, we'll just say that this cigar was not as good as the best Fundadore I have ever had, and even a bit below the stunning Partagas Churchill Deluxe I had a few years ago. But wow, what a cigar. About as enjoyable and infectious a cigar as a person could smoke. The ash fell at a consistent 1.5 inches each time, the draw did tighten up a bit near the end, and it was only the cold that began to creep into my feet and legs and hands that forced me to stop smoking this cigar. As it was, I still smoked it further than my traditional halfway. The bands on this smoke were placed lower than usual, and that helped me to feel like I had indeed wrung the last of the great flavor out of the cigar. But it was difficult to let it go so soon. What is it about these old-style long panatelas that just makes the magic happen? There is no abundance of fillers for torcedores to work such magic with. But somehow they consistently impress the true connoisseur. And THAT'S why people are so upset about the demise of this style of cigar. Well, the people that know a good smoke when they smoke one, anyway.
TOP CLASS CIGAR, I have no trouble in the least scoring it a 95. Were it a bit more complex, it could have easily notched the highest score I ever gave a cigar on this blog, currently standing at 97. THIS smoke COULD have been a 98. But who's complaining?
I wanted to make popcorn, and did not want to use a microwave or even eat microwave popcorn. But the only pot I had to use had no lid. It was an old Revere Ware pot....but not that old, mid 80s, and NOT part of the real American tradition that was Revere Ware. Back in the late 30s, a company began to make a type of cookware that was created with stainless steel and had a bottom section covered in copper. It was for decades, one of the finest cookeware lines in the history of American cookware, famous for it's very even heat distribution across the bottom of the pot. But after 1958, an effort was made to save money in production, and the cookware's patented electroplating process was shortened to lessen the amount of copper that would adhere to the stainless steel pot. This was by far NOT the death of Revereware, but it ceased to be 'your granny's Revere Ware' after that decision cut the thickness of the copper layer in half.
ANYWAY, I wanted a lid for my pot, so I started hitting up the Goodwill store in the neighborhood where I work, hoping to find a Revere Ware lid. I didn't find one, but I ended up finding something that would work. What I DID find was a couple of Revere Ware frying pans. I found one of the amazing 12 inch skillets just like my mother had. What I would find out after buying three frying pans though, once I got back to work and searched the internet, was that...well, all the info I passed on above plus a lot more. The pots I had were great, but they were NOT the same as the REALLY good stuff. And if I was gonna waste time buying used pots and cleaning them up, I wanted the best used pots I could get, or I would just do what I had done for 30 years, make do with the crap selection of cookware I had. But one thing DID happen that day, I found out what to look for on the bottom of the pot that told me what to buy and what to leave on the shelf. And in the span of 3 weeks or less, I found a GIANT selection of pre-1958 Revere Ware cookware: 2 more frying pans, 2 medium stockpots, 4 small stockpots, 1 4-quart pot and two lids (finally got my matching LID!) Plus a couple of spare lids, because one thing I found out about thrift stores is that you grab what you find, even if its only a lid. If you don't, the next time you go, you will invariably find the matching piece for the lid you saw yesterday, but in that one day span, someone else WILL snatch your lid. If you buy lids and no pots, eventually the pot will show up. You can also find nicer Bakelite knobs and handles on stuff and swap them onto your best pieces.
Some of the stuff I bought was just WASTED, covered in cooked-on gunk, electric eye scorches, bad scratches....and many would require several hours of hard work to get back into prime condition. In the end though, I have totally filled out my collection of stuff, and now if I pick up anything else, it will only be because the pots I find are best bought by someone who knows what it is and what its worth and is willing to bring it back to prime form. And sure, maybe sell it to someone on Ebay. Its REALLY true about this product, they DON'T make em like they used to, and if you want the best, nowadays you have to go online and find it second hand.
What a rare treat. To pull out a smoke, drybox it and cut and light it, knowing all the time that I can actually attribute this to the right person. And I was glad to get it. I saw my friend Greg at THE herf in Ohio over the summer and offered him some cigar or other and in return, he told me to pick one out of his herfidor. I selected the one cigar I could not get, did not buy on release, and had precious little more time to ever have a CHANCE to smoke it, the Por Larranaga regional edition from Germany released some 7-8 years ago. He did not wince, although I imagine inside he regretted NOT saying "Choose any cigar in my box except the regional PL Lonsdale."
I know herf etiquette, however, and I know he would not give me free rein if he did not MEAN to take free rein. So I took it. I was glad to get it. I am a big fan of the factory size, of the brand, and in this one case, a fan of the release. I am not won over by regional releases by any means. But honestly, I have not had many at all, and the other I loved was the Punch Superfino. An exquisite cigar.
But back to the smoke at hand. I had poured a half a Maredsous the other day with another cigar, and still had the remains in the fridge. I had removed the cap in such a way as to guarantee a good seal should I use it again, and I did. The beer retained much of it's original character and carbonation. A little of both was undoubtedly lost with the half bottle's air space over a few days, but the beer was still very tasty. The cigar featured a draw that was superb and a flavor of nutty cream with some leathery spice. It had wonderful burning qualities and stayed lit the entire time I had to smoke, and gave NO trouble with an even burn throughout. It was a perfect candidate for smoke-sipping. I would give it a firm draw about every 5 draws and then just barely sip the smoke for the other draws, which offered very subtle and quite sublime flavor. Hints of everything from cherry to cotton candy and lemon and cane sugar and dirt and hay, very similar to the Fundadores I have recently smoked in the dizzying array of flavors offered once, never to return. Not a bad thing at all, but there is a feeling of loss, certainly, when you get something great and immediately try to grasp at it again to help give it a name, and its gone.
The cigar burned for over an hour to the point where it was photographed again, (and granted, I HAD pushed the bands UP in anticipation of smoking this one to an inch, but once I saw that Downton Abbey was about to start, the remaining inch or so I intended to smoke was left to the devils and angels to fight over. I love me some Downton Abbey, and this episode was crushing to me, spoiler alert, but Lady Sybil is no more. That fine bit of crumpet is now free to take on another role where she may prove to be even hotter. She died after giving birth to a little girl.
The cigar was just a treat to smoke, and I am glad that the only one I had on hand was absolutely perfect in every way. The cigar itself, from the standpoint of personality, however, I won't give elevated marks to. It was a really good smoke, but nothing so special as to demand a higher price and limited availability. As I have said many times here, Havana smokes seem to be losing that special edge they once had. The smokes seem to all taste the same to me, and have been for a decade or more. This cigar was outstanding, but it needed to be. I have been smoking so many standard-line havanas lately, and the taste is just appalling. The draws are bad, the filler, lackluster, the combination, just awful. People lamented during the beginning stages of the limited and regional special cigars, why Havana was attempting such a thing when their regular line-up of cigars was still so poorly quality-controlled. What they have basically said to the consumer is, "YES, you can still get an excellent cigar out of Cuba. The trouble is, now you have to pay extra for it." There was a time when just the word Havana, Cuba on the box meant you were in for something special. Those days are gone. This was a really fine cigar. But my last 5-6 were just weak and actually made me a little bit angry.
My apologies to Greg in NC for wasting an inch or more of this fantastic cigar. I will not get another one, and this one was certainly a real treat. Your generosity is boundless. I would score it highly just on the fact that I finally got a good smoke out of my collection. But that is letting my last 5-6 cigars color my impressions of THIS smoke. So before I score it, let me say one thing unequivically. This cigar was PERFECTLY rolled and the blend seemed to be quite well done. I wish they were all like this. Still great, but the score does not reflect the special nature of the release. Too many of the points are being awarded on the sheer perfection of the construction....87 points
Well from time to time, letting a cigar dry out for awhile is NOT the best idea. I tend to like em better a bit dry, but I should have cut and tested this one before I let it dry for a week in a desktop humidor. I saved it for this weekend's smokal activities. After I tested it on Friday night, I decided I could only hope to let it sponge up some moisture for a day, and put it into an ice chest for 24 hours. I pulled it out on Saturday night and it was still a bit of a stovepipe, but what are you gonna do? I was looking forward to the smoke, I have been smoking my worst cigars lately it seems. I had to ice ax arrest my fall down the glacier. So I poured a half a Maredsous ale and headed outside to try the evening air.
The cigar was of course, way too airy on the draw, but it was lit now, and I wasn't going to put it off any longer anyway. It was tough to pinpoint as many great flavors as I had the last time out on this smoke, but in the cigar's defense, it was not as bad as the Montecristo Edmundo I had on Friday night as a consolation for the BHK52 not working out. THAT cigar was terrible, too tight to enjoy any flavors outside of the standard "tight cigar taste". With this BHK52, there were light, sweet and cedary tastes, with a little cocoa, but on the whole, this cigar was going to have to tighten up a bit for me to get anything great out of it. And in time, it did. I kept pushing the band up, which for me is always a good sign. For a $30 cigar, these are WAY short. So if its GOOD, you have to push that band WAY up there. And I did...twice. As the cigar burned and tightened up slightly, the flavors became more round and sweet and candied, and I mean that in a good way, not overly sweet, more of the white russian-type flavor I had tasted when the first one got smoked last year. I can't give this one a high score per se, but it was one of those cigars I have had lately, where I feel kind of bad that I have to even say things like this, but it was good enough to be a welcome breath of fresh air in a dearth of good smokes lately.
To hear people tell it, I need to be smoking the FRESH cigars out of Cuba these days, they say they are great. But I don't really HAVE any, so aged ones it is. Oh the humanity, lol.
I got a call from my mother regarding the death of my Uncle Edgar over the weekend. My family is so scattered and so far from Louisiana that its not possible that they make all the funerals that arise from a LARGE family as our favorite aunts and uncles get older. But I am not SO FAR away that I can't take time off work if I have it to spare and get down there are rep the family. My uncle Edgar prided himself in being a great host. And a great singer, too, but let's just cover the hosting. If our relatives from up north came down, they may have stayed with other relatives, but he made sure to always throw a HUGE crawfish boil or some other event for them so that they knew they were down the bayou for sure. And then we would take the 40 minute drive over there, too and bask in the glory of the yankee relatives we loved so much. It as always quite the bash. He always had a giant smile on the giant face on the top of his giant body. He had a comical face and a comical demeanor. He was a really great guy. But like many big guys, his heart gave out in the end. Not to mention he didn't miss many good cajun meals. He as not a FAT man, he was just a BIG man. So I got up at 2 am and drove 7 hours to go and extend my condolences to his family. His wife was my dad's sister. My dad's been gone a LONG time now, but that's another story. I saw many of my relatives that I normally do not see unless someone dies. And sadly, we get together every couple of years now. So as I drove back home, I figured Pontchatoula, LA was as far north as I dared drive and still expect to be able to find a shrimp po-boy. It's north of Lake Pontchartrain, and almost to Mississippi. I exited the interstate and drove through a few red lights and finally came upon "BOOTSY's Gas & Deli." Never been there, but any deli in that town ought to have po-boys. As luck would have it, they had 6 kinds. And that's all it takes to assure me at LEAST a shrimp po-boy, and MAYBE an oyster po-boy. I COULD eat two, but I knew I would save one for work tomorrow. I tore open the double-wrapped delicacy on crusty french bread and I swear, as soon as the cruise control was set, I man-handled that thing. It did not make the state line. A ten inch fried shrimp po-boy, gone in 20 miles....while driving. And as they sang in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, "There's ALWAYS Tomorrow.".............
Well I can edit this post now, just finished the last bite and I am sure glad I saved this one for last. Even warmed over it was spectacular. I should have picked up that sack of oysters when I was down there. And now I KNOW I am going to pick up a sack over the Mardi Gras weekend that I will be down.
