Cigar news:
Writing long reviews for cigars has not happened for quite some time. It appears I rather smoke cigars than write about them. However , there are always exceptions so at the end of the year, I needed to put a few words down about two cigars I recently indulged in.
Isabela Cigars has been a favorite for years and one of the best boutique brands on the market today. I would match their products with any of the heavy hitters in the industry. It’s always a treat to smoke one of their cigars.
The cigar in question was their Fire Cracker , a feisty smoke with a sweet tip and a fabulous array of flavors. The barber pole look is enticing enough but once you light it , and puff a bit, the flavor profile stands out.
Black pepper, cocoa, malt and cinnamon hits the palate. Keep smoking and the brilliance of the blend becomes more evident as the complexity open up with added flavor of coffee and maple adds to the mix.
Construction is top notch and for a small size cigar , you are going to smoke for about 45 minutes to an hour. I shared the Fire Cracker with a friend of mine who never has smoked any Isabela Cigars. He was duly impressed.
While rating numbers often are over stated, my numbers are not going to be shy . The Fire Cracker is a 4.8 out of 5 in all aspects of the cigar.
Now for cigar number two.
I have a friend who is a collector of Cuban Cigars but rarely smokes them. His stash is mind boggling and quite extensive.
In my desire to get some of his collection , I made him an offer for a box of Partagas Shorts, vintage 2007 and we made the deal.
Cuban cigars are always considered the cream of all cigars. I don’t necessarily agree with that assessment, but if I can smoke an outstanding Cuban blend , I will grab that opportunity.
Partagas Shorts are a powerful , full bodied smoke, rich in spice , very earthy and an intense smoking experience . You need to sit back , take your time and focus on the cigar. Its power is well beyond the short size of the cigar. 45 minutes of full blast, hard rock music.
This is not a beginner’s cigar, actually even the seasoned cigar smoker might need a careful introduction if they are not familiar with Partagas blends..
Other flavors include, dark chocolate, and expresso. Despite the intensity of the smoke, it’s very smooth, a cigar can be strong but not harsh. Construction is excellent with no flaws or issues. The opening puffs were a bit tight but that soon became of no concern.
Here is my overall number: 4.75 out of 5. The only issue was the tightness in the opening salvo.
Keep smoking
