Piedra Blanca de Veras Diplomatico

I got this beautiful cigar from a friend at our fencing club, who had this one in his possession for a long time. The cigars have not been stored properly, so a lot of flavors have gone. After a few months of carefull rehydration in my humi, they are now smokable again.

This smoke, a dominican Diplomaticos measuring 6 by 44, branded with the number 15, is a long veiny smoke with a good constructed cap.Presented in red label, it has "Olor Dominicano" and "Piloto Cubano" filler, Dominican binder, and Connecticut shade wrapper.




After clipping, the dry draw was effortless, not even the slightest resistance. It burns evenly after lighting it, giving the feeling of a good constructed cigar.

The taste itself is dry, don't know if that has anything to do with the age and the improper storing during the years. The cigar is very light and burns quite fast at first. However, a few times a correction was necessary.

Tastes are primarely nutty, with a hint of spice. In the second halve, the spice comes out very strong, but that can also be because I had to relight it alot of times.


The ashes are not very solid, so keep an ashtray close!

La Aurora 1495 Series 4

My parents brought me a lovely box of La Aurora 1495, Series 4 for me from Canada.

The box looks very different from "normal" boxes, but I do enjoy it very much, with the lion. Also the closing mechanism is a double pass, which gives the box an authentic medieval look!

 

 

These Dominican cigars are a bit darker, and have a strong, great perfume.

  

After trying one, I am really feeling good. These are decent cigars, especially for the price tag! Too bad I cant get them in cigar shops in Belgium, or these would be my next favorite everyday-smoke !!

A lengthier review will be due in a few weeks.

Cigar review: Gurkha Regent

I remember when I got this cigar: My sister brought it with from San Francisco after I gave her the Top2005 list from Cigar Afficionado. I clearly remember when she gave me the plastic bag with the cigars, the Gurkha sticking out.
It was big, it had an odd shape, not round, but squared with round edges, and it smelled a lot..not good, just a lot..I dreaded the day I had to smoke it, and I tucked it away far below in the humidor.

Then came the day I was aching to see the Godfather (Part I ofcourse) again, and I was looking in my humi for a matching powerhouse cigar.
The Gurkha laid there, with its dark wrapper.


I picked it up, and smelled it: the stench was gone, and a flowery dark odeur came flowing in my nose. This was the chosen one for tonight.
It felt perfect in my hands, and I lit it up: it drawed great for such a big and heavy cigar, and the strange shape felt quite good in my mouth. it even tasted sweet, and the smoke was very complex, feeling buttery and sweet.

Some sidenotes I found online for this dominican cigar: the blend is comprised of Dominican Piloto & Cuban Ligero, an Indonesian binder and an exquisite, Nicaraguan Havana 2000 wrapper. It has aged for 5 full years.

This was such a great cigar, I have to admit one of the best cigar experiences I ever had..But I dont know if it comes because it had laid in my humidor for 18 months or because it is a great cigar..if someone can find any, please stop by at my house to give me some ;)