Sunday 21st October 2012

[smokin_e2011]

Started off the day with an '02 Ramon Allones Belvedere and big mug of tea shortly after breakfast....

Snapshot_20121021.JPG

[Wid3y]

I smoked an upman robusto 2012 ltd edition. Haven't tried one but didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

Had a very peppery / bitter taste although produced a lot of smoke and the draw was quite pleasant..

[jeepferret]

Had an Upmann Robusto.... very disappointed.

Maybe i just expected too much. Don't get me wrong, this was not a sh*t cigar it was just not there.. (yet???)

It was well constructed, lovely dark wrapper, so far so good.

Please forgive the rest of this description as it isn't something i'm good at but this is what it tasted like to ME, i'd love for someone with a more refined palette and better vocabulary to describe what they tasted or review it properly.

When i lit it it just had this very strong, bitter, burnt pepper taste for the first inch... Nearly gave up on it there and then, Bloody awful.

After that it mellowed a bit (or my tastebuds just commited suicide) but it developed a slight ammonia taste (needs some age??)

This continued for the rest of the smoke but there was just something about it that made you want to finish it. It just had some substance to it.
There was a good bit of smoke to it, but not a creamy thick mouth feel (oooo errr) just smoke.

I know it sounds like i hated it but this is not the case, there was something about it that kept me interested in it all the way through, like good things were just around the corner..... It was more like Biting a mouth ulcer.... you know it hurts but it feels sort of good.
Anyway, rant over, time for another G&T.

[jeepferret]

LOL.. it took me so long to write my sh*t someone came on and summed it up in 2 lines.

I bet Wid3y hasn't had as many G&T's.

[monkey66]

The most important thing you guys need to know about Cuban cigars is that they often taste nasty straight off the boat. Rest a year or two old and things will be much better.

For me the only reason to try the new Upmann Robusto EL would be to asses if to buy a box to lay down. TBH the EL's are very hit or miss for me, and almost never good very young. (I suspect both of you would have preferred a regular Mag46)

I know it is a tough thing to hear but very young Cubans do not (on the whole) smoke well. Cuban cigars need to rest and ferment before they taste nice (regardless of the age of the tobacco used).

[PoohBore]

I gave away almost a whole box of monte sublimes because I didn't know about the cc sick period. Build up your stocks so that you only smoke cigars with a couple of years on them is my advice

[jeepferret]

I know you're right Monkey,

I think that's why it always seemed that it had more to give... But I never found this with the Behike range.. especially the 52.. i know they'll get better but i just found them amazingly smokeable right from day one.
I'm off to Turmeaus Chester on Saturday and will pick up a few more for laying down if they've any (i have 1 left).

[crusse]

A very nice ERDM PC and a drop of Havana Club 7 year old for me tonight.

[Wid3y]

Had an Upmann Robusto.... very disappointed.

Maybe i just expected too much. Don't get me wrong, this was not a sh*t cigar it was just not there.. (yet???)

It was well constructed, lovely dark wrapper, so far so good.

Please forgive the rest of this description as it isn't something i'm good at but this is what it tasted like to ME, i'd love for someone with a more refined palette and better vocabulary to describe what they tasted or review it properly.

When i lit it it just had this very strong, bitter, burnt pepper taste for the first inch... Nearly gave up on it there and then, Bloody awful.

After that it mellowed a bit (or my tastebuds just commited suicide) but it developed a slight ammonia taste (needs some age??)

This continued for the rest of the smoke but there was just something about it that made you want to finish it. It just had some substance to it.
There was a good bit of smoke to it, but not a creamy thick mouth feel (oooo errr) just smoke.

I know it sounds like i hated it but this is not the case, there was something about it that kept me interested in it all the way through, like good things were just around the corner..... It was more like Biting a mouth ulcer.... you know it hurts but it feels sort of good.
Anyway, rant over, time for another G&T.

Completely agree. Not sold at all. Didn't come even close to the epi2 I smoked last week, which kept me wanting for more.

[senor_robusto]

The most important thing you guys need to know about Cuban cigars is that they often taste nasty straight off the boat. Rest a year or two old and things will be much better.

For me the only reason to try the new Upmann Robusto EL would be to asses if to buy a box to lay down. TBH the EL's are very hit or miss for me, and almost never good very young. (I suspect both of you would have preferred a regular Mag46)

I know it is a tough thing to hear but very young Cubans do not (on the whole) smoke well. Cuban cigars need to rest and ferment before they taste nice (regardless of the age of the tobacco used).

hey monkey,
whilst i agree with most of what you say, i've noticed that the last couple of boxes i bought (2011 & 2012) have been remarkably good from the get go! this much i believe is true of the recent production of bolivar and h upmann cigars! EL's on the other hand are hit and miss, the last party EL2010 i had about 2 months ago was harsh and nasty...... and most here found the bolivar El2009 unsmokable!!!

as you said, it's best to try one, if anything, to get an idea of where they are heading......

alex

[monkey66]

You'll get no argument from me regarding EL's. hit or miss at best for me.

Worth remembering that there are several stages of fermentation. Some great cigars a good after a year, flat after 2 and then only come round after 5 or 6. There are no hard rules here.

[senor_robusto]

......also, the last couple of reviews i read of the 2012 EL's have said they are too strong/ harsh at the moment!
http://www.cigars.ie/?p=4206

alex

[Wid3y]

I was going to ask one thing. The ash had very odd faint white spots, didn't look like normal ash. Any ideas? Piccy prob doesn't help...ImageUploadedByTapatalk1350933232.554539.jpg

[monkey66]

I was going to ask one thing. The ash had very odd faint white spots, didn't look like normal ash. Any ideas? Piccy prob doesn't help...[ATTACH]10936[/ATTACH]

Often happens, I wouldn't worry.

[Wid3y]

Thanks for confirming monkey.