Alec Bradley Magic Toast, Gran Habano Gran Reserva2012 and Assorted Dark Cigars

I found myself on a dark cigar kick this week. All I was reaching for were the darker wrappers, Partagas Black. Leccia Luchador, Perdomo 20th Maduro, incidentally, all favorites over many years that fall into the “comfort food” category, so I guess that says something about the time of year and my frame of mind. One night I work late, and my new job does have me working the occasional closing shift, I grabbed an old Chateau Real Maduro Small Club Corona, one of the remaining few from a box I bought when they discontinued these back around 2011, I guess. This is still a fantastic blend, and it’s a darned shame it was discontinued. I had occasion to ask Jonathan Drew personally why it was dropped, and he blamed me for not buying enough! I tried, sorry folks. I smoked a lot of these in this size and the perfecto size, and really liked the maduro and shade versions, but I think they were maybe too expensive for the time they were introduced, and, at that time, they were one of the first non-infused cigars Drew Estate sold (people seem to forget about La Vieja Habana). Happy to say that the Chateau Real Maduro held up nicely over the years, I still have a small stash, and if you see these in the wild, pick them up!

I also smoked the RoMEo San Andrés again, which continues to be my favorite in that line, and one of my favorites in the Altadis portfolio, as well as smoking the La Gloria Cubana Esteli in the toro size. Oddly, the LGC Toro didn’t captivate me as much as the little robusto did, but maybe with some humidor time my mind will change, or maybe it just wasn’t the right cigar for me? It happens.  A Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo El Martillo always hits the spot and is an all time favorite.  Like I said, I didn’t really stick to one wrapper type this week, but they were all darker, on the fuller side cigars, I craved full flavored cigars this week for some reason, whether it’s the weather, or the stresses of the season. I’ll try out a Connecticut wrapped cigar today and see if I find it satisfying!

One of the new-to-me cigars I picked up last week was the Alec Bradley Magic Toast in a 6″ x 52 Toro size (who woulda guessed I’d buy the Toro?). This came recommended by Kevin, the manager at the CigarCigars shop in Downingtown, PA. If you mention CigarCraig to him he’ll add 10% to your total at the register! 🙂  I’ve been wanting to try this cigar, named for raising a glass to honor someone or something, rather than bread browned on both sides, presumably by supernatural forces. The cigar has a Honduran wrapper, one would think it’s from the very special crop of tobacco which was shown to Alan Rubin by flashlight on night which prompted the opening of a rare bottle of whisky prompting the toast for which this cigar is named, bound with both Nicaraguan and Honduran leaves, with Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The results of the blend delighted my palate. While I love a cigar that has a balance of the bitterness of espresso with some semi-sweet chocolate sweetness, this had the coffee flavor, with some earthiness, and it worked really well. There was spice there too, and I really liked it.  I want to put some more of these in my humidor. (Jon, are you reading this? Just checkin.) I suppose when I stop by the shop next Ill grab some more of these, as well as Alec and Bradley’s Blind Faith, which I’ve been wanting to try as well. The Magic Toast is a winner, if you like cigars I like, give this one a try.

Last night I lit up a Gran Habano Gran Reserva No. 5 2012, which was announced last month.  This is what they have to say about the cigar:

Gran Habano’s Gran Reserva cigars are made using the top 10% best leaf from the yearly crop and aged for an extra seven to eight years prior to the cigar being rolled. It is then aged for a period of four to six years additionally as cigars. The 2012 installment has been aged an additional three years longer than any other prior Gran Reserva release.

I smoked the Gran Robusto, which is the perfect size for me, 6″ x 54, and it’s nicely presented in a cedar sleeve. Looking at said sleeve, there’s no mistaking this from the Gran Reserva 2011, this is for certain, as it has “Gran Reserva 2012” printed on it several times around the circumference of the sleeve. not a criticism, just an observation. Just like the 2011, it’s got a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder and Nicaraguan and Costa Rican fillers. The cigar smoked brilliantly, the draw and burn were perfect. For a mid-December evening in PA, it wasn’t freezing cold, but it was damp out, raining outside, but the cigar was unaffected by this. Ironically, George Rico was in Philadelphia doing an event at Twin Smoke Shoppe the night before. I might have been able to make it there if I wanted to spend hours mired in traffic on a rainy night after a long day at work. I wimped out and opted for an evening with a cigar at home. Anyway, The Gran Reserva 2012 is another cigar that I found to be very enjoyable and one I’d happily smoke on the regular.

That’s enough for today. I guess I need to start scraping together some stuff to give away starting this week!  I have a few things in the vault that are pretty nice, unfortunately just a shadow of days gone by. It’ll still be fun!  Stay tuned!  I’ll dust off my Santa hat.  Until the next time,

CigarCraig