REVIEWS
CIGAR REVIEW
Henry Clay Regalia Aromatica c.1950’s. Date smoked: 13th July, 2013; Size: 4 1/3 inch, appears to be about 40-42 RG
I purchased five singles and after letting them acclimatize for a few weeks felt it was time to try one.
It always amazes me that the aroma of a real vintage cigar is so far removed from the flavor of the cigar. These Henry Clay cigars, as with all good cigars I’ve had the privilege to smoke, have a wonderful musty, floral scent, hints of lavender and a touch of sweet spice with these. The box press has rendered these rustic sticks almost square.
They have a rounded head, making it easy to clip only a little bit off the top. This works out well as the cigar has quite an open draw, with just a bit of resistance, perfect. The pre-light draw is sweet, almost sugar cane?
The well packed foot lights easily, and from the get-go this cigar is so smooth. Maybe a touch of liquorice, I’m amazed by the complex subtle flavors. There’s a sweetness that lingers. The burn is razor sharp; it’s by no means a light cigar. The Henry Clay is medium strength, and full flavoured. It’s a gem of a cigar.
The ash is very light and tight, with no flakiness. Towards the end of the first third (and I think I can divide this small cigar into thirds as it has some good defined changes), there’s a slight sweet kind of spiciness, like nasturtium and a musky edge is coming through.
Into the second third the muskiness stays for a little while and the flavours become quite complex, but the sweetness is still there in the background. The burn has become a little ragged but is of no consequence. This cigar is a joy to smoke. A candy apple kind of flavour seems to hang around towards the last third.
In the last third the flavours intensify with a touch of tanginess, almost a citrus note coming through. It’s still so smooth and complex, never letting up with a great draw and burn.
This was a fantastic cigar for me. I have only enjoyed a handful of well aged pre-embargo hand rolled Cuban Cigars, and this was how I found my first experience with Henry Clay cigars. I would have to rate this wonderful smoke 97/100. Your mileage may vary, but I would definitely recommend grabbing a couple of singles. Thanks for making these cigars available for people like myself to get the opportunity to try & enjoy them. Looking forward to the next one!
Brendan
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Cigar Review 1901 Black Hawk
Visually, the Black Hawk had a smooth, flawless wrapper with a consistent color and shape. When held, it felt firm but not stale. It looked great and upon inspection it was hard to believe it was 100+ years old!
This cigar had a distinctive taste with a smooth and rich draw (emphasis on “smooth). The smoke left no bitter or harsh taste on my lips, tongue or mouth. Just an all around good tasting cigar.
The cigar was quite obviously stored properly; amazing considering this was 113 year old smoke. It lit and burned easily and evenly the entire length of the cigar. I did not have to re-lite it once. The draw was mellow and the same throughout the cigar. The smoke was cool in my mouth and burned remarkably cool to the end.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of smoking a cigar of the Black Hawk's era. The fact that this cigar was from 1901 certainly added to the enjoyment as I puffed and considered its age.
Thrilled to have found Nick’s Gotham Cigar Museum! Thanks again Nick!
Joe C, Boston, MA
Visually, the Black Hawk had a smooth, flawless wrapper with a consistent color and shape. When held, it felt firm but not stale. It looked great and upon inspection it was hard to believe it was 100+ years old!
This cigar had a distinctive taste with a smooth and rich draw (emphasis on “smooth). The smoke left no bitter or harsh taste on my lips, tongue or mouth. Just an all around good tasting cigar.
The cigar was quite obviously stored properly; amazing considering this was 113 year old smoke. It lit and burned easily and evenly the entire length of the cigar. I did not have to re-lite it once. The draw was mellow and the same throughout the cigar. The smoke was cool in my mouth and burned remarkably cool to the end.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of smoking a cigar of the Black Hawk's era. The fact that this cigar was from 1901 certainly added to the enjoyment as I puffed and considered its age.
Thrilled to have found Nick’s Gotham Cigar Museum! Thanks again Nick!
Joe C, Boston, MA
As, I sit down to experience this over a hundred year old cigar, I'm not sure what to expect.
The aroma of this tightly packed cigar is a light sweet tobacco scent. The cigar looks and feels as if it were constructed this year, let alone not a century ago.
The pre light draw is nice feeling, not too tight, as I had expected. You enjoy a soft, earthy, tobacco flavor through it.
As I begin to toast her a familiar scent fills the air, yet there's something I can't place in it.
On the first draw, the pull is nice and very smooth, creamy in texture with nice subtle earth and tobacco flavors. A tingle of spice, only because that's the only word I can use to describe it, softly wraps around my tongue. Through the nose, there's a earthy tinge, and a subtle sweet must. The first third follows this suit, keeping ahold of the very light grey ash well into the second third.
As the cigar progresses into the second third, it transforms. I'm not sure if it's the differences in the ring gauge, or just the warmth. But the tobacco flavor mellows to a hint and a sweet, chocolatey, marshmallow flavor shows itself, accenting the cream. A hint of spice and vegetation through the nose. With a progressing sweet finish that I have yet to be able to place.
In the final third, the sweet earthy flavors return with just a hint of a tingle, resembling alcohol on the palate.
Overall, I enjoyed this cigar. I smoked it until I couldn't hold it any longer. The burn was as close to perfect as modern cigars get.
The flavors, though mellow, were great, unexpected, and meshed and matured beautifully through the stick.
The aroma of this tightly packed cigar is a light sweet tobacco scent. The cigar looks and feels as if it were constructed this year, let alone not a century ago.
The pre light draw is nice feeling, not too tight, as I had expected. You enjoy a soft, earthy, tobacco flavor through it.
As I begin to toast her a familiar scent fills the air, yet there's something I can't place in it.
On the first draw, the pull is nice and very smooth, creamy in texture with nice subtle earth and tobacco flavors. A tingle of spice, only because that's the only word I can use to describe it, softly wraps around my tongue. Through the nose, there's a earthy tinge, and a subtle sweet must. The first third follows this suit, keeping ahold of the very light grey ash well into the second third.
As the cigar progresses into the second third, it transforms. I'm not sure if it's the differences in the ring gauge, or just the warmth. But the tobacco flavor mellows to a hint and a sweet, chocolatey, marshmallow flavor shows itself, accenting the cream. A hint of spice and vegetation through the nose. With a progressing sweet finish that I have yet to be able to place.
In the final third, the sweet earthy flavors return with just a hint of a tingle, resembling alcohol on the palate.
Overall, I enjoyed this cigar. I smoked it until I couldn't hold it any longer. The burn was as close to perfect as modern cigars get.
The flavors, though mellow, were great, unexpected, and meshed and matured beautifully through the stick.
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Received the box today. Thanks! Couldn't resist so I already smoked one and they're WONDERFUL! I wrote a review as I smoked it..here it is......
CIGAR: La Prosa Kings c. 1946
PRELIGHT: Well constructed. Firm to the touch, no soft or hard spots at all. Nice wrapper, still had oil on it. Prelight draw was perfect. Sweet taste on the lips and I think a Pear flavor in the mouth. I knew I was in for an awesome experience. Paired with water.
1/3: Lit it and perfect draw. Huge amounts of extremely, extremely smooth smoke, light-medium light. Initial flavors are very sweet, tasted like cotton candy and nectar from flowers. No harshness whatsoever. Coffee coming through the nose.
2/3: Tons of smoke with a perfect burn. Plenty of milk coffee through the nose. Flavors similar to 1/3, but a bit more pronounced. No harshness at all! The smoke smells like burning caramel.
3/3: Ash fell at about a 1 1/2 inch for the second time. Flavors are even louder. Lots of pepper on the tongue. Sweetness in the back of the mouth. I even felt sweetness on my teeth! Some leather kicking in. More smoke than ever. Lots of sweet milk coffee on the palate and through the nose. Hints of Nutmeg.Towards the end, the cigar is getting quite spicy but not harsh at all.
My thoughts: Wonderful cigar! Extremely sweet. Nearly perfect burn. I expected the wrapper to dry out and crack but nothing of that sort happened. I loved the final third. The whole place smelled like someone was burning caramel!
98/100 points
CIGAR: La Prosa Kings c. 1946
PRELIGHT: Well constructed. Firm to the touch, no soft or hard spots at all. Nice wrapper, still had oil on it. Prelight draw was perfect. Sweet taste on the lips and I think a Pear flavor in the mouth. I knew I was in for an awesome experience. Paired with water.
1/3: Lit it and perfect draw. Huge amounts of extremely, extremely smooth smoke, light-medium light. Initial flavors are very sweet, tasted like cotton candy and nectar from flowers. No harshness whatsoever. Coffee coming through the nose.
2/3: Tons of smoke with a perfect burn. Plenty of milk coffee through the nose. Flavors similar to 1/3, but a bit more pronounced. No harshness at all! The smoke smells like burning caramel.
3/3: Ash fell at about a 1 1/2 inch for the second time. Flavors are even louder. Lots of pepper on the tongue. Sweetness in the back of the mouth. I even felt sweetness on my teeth! Some leather kicking in. More smoke than ever. Lots of sweet milk coffee on the palate and through the nose. Hints of Nutmeg.Towards the end, the cigar is getting quite spicy but not harsh at all.
My thoughts: Wonderful cigar! Extremely sweet. Nearly perfect burn. I expected the wrapper to dry out and crack but nothing of that sort happened. I loved the final third. The whole place smelled like someone was burning caramel!
98/100 points
HARVESTER MAY 2010 - REVIEWED BY JOE OF BOTL
I recently scored some of these & decided to do a quick review on one.
As with most clear Havanas the cello is bright yellow & the band is on the outside of the cello. The sweet smell of perfectly aged tobacco rose up as I unwrap it. The stick has a slight box press & is a little rough in appearance. The clip & pre draw tasted of sweet grass. I can't wait to burn this!
The first third was all sweet. Lots of honey & at times a hint of vanilla. The sweet grass was there, but faint. The ash held on but pieces flaked of the sides. I'm loving this cigar!
The second third the vanilla picked up a tiny bit. Still lots of honey & great big clouds of creamy smoke. I got a couple tiny tastes of light spice. The burn has stayed razor sharp even in the wind.
The ash held fast for about an inch then dropped off.
The last third & I'm really sad to see this smoke winding down. It's so creamy & sweet. Like having a piece of candy in your mouth while smoking a cigar.
The honey & vanilla are equal tastes now & there is no more sweet grass. Good & perfect until the last puff.
This was by far the best clear Havana I've ever smoked. It blew all others out of the water. I'd give it a 10/10!
I recently scored some of these & decided to do a quick review on one.
As with most clear Havanas the cello is bright yellow & the band is on the outside of the cello. The sweet smell of perfectly aged tobacco rose up as I unwrap it. The stick has a slight box press & is a little rough in appearance. The clip & pre draw tasted of sweet grass. I can't wait to burn this!
The first third was all sweet. Lots of honey & at times a hint of vanilla. The sweet grass was there, but faint. The ash held on but pieces flaked of the sides. I'm loving this cigar!
The second third the vanilla picked up a tiny bit. Still lots of honey & great big clouds of creamy smoke. I got a couple tiny tastes of light spice. The burn has stayed razor sharp even in the wind.
The ash held fast for about an inch then dropped off.
The last third & I'm really sad to see this smoke winding down. It's so creamy & sweet. Like having a piece of candy in your mouth while smoking a cigar.
The honey & vanilla are equal tastes now & there is no more sweet grass. Good & perfect until the last puff.
This was by far the best clear Havana I've ever smoked. It blew all others out of the water. I'd give it a 10/10!
Webster Goden Wedding Cigars Circa 1940's
I smoked my first Webster Golden Wedding circa 1946 from the box you sent me.
Here are my tasting notes:
From the moment I opened the box an amazing and very powerful smell came out. Cinnamon, honey, sugar cane, cedar and many other smells I could not identify. The flavors melted together (as often in vintage cigars) with an overall impression of a very "old" and "sweet" feeling.
I decided to try the first one after a week on a separate humi with 70% RH.
The cello was yellow and the capa was very smooth and without veins. Perfect construction for this corona sized/perfecto shaped cigar!
The draw was easy (to easy for my taste!) and the smell still wonderful at pre-light.
From the first puff it was "what you smell is what you get": Melted powerful flavors of cinnamon, honey sweetness, sugar cane and even butterscotch!
The cigar was mild, the flavors became more delicate and complex with hints of cedar wood & cocoa.
It increased in strength and the last third was so powerful that I was shocked! A cigar older than me and at the same time so fresh, like it just came from the factory!
The end was impressive, I literally burned my fingers. Excellent balance, long and staying aftertaste, great white ash and good burn.
Great cigar, thank you!
I smoked my first Webster Golden Wedding circa 1946 from the box you sent me.
Here are my tasting notes:
From the moment I opened the box an amazing and very powerful smell came out. Cinnamon, honey, sugar cane, cedar and many other smells I could not identify. The flavors melted together (as often in vintage cigars) with an overall impression of a very "old" and "sweet" feeling.
I decided to try the first one after a week on a separate humi with 70% RH.
The cello was yellow and the capa was very smooth and without veins. Perfect construction for this corona sized/perfecto shaped cigar!
The draw was easy (to easy for my taste!) and the smell still wonderful at pre-light.
From the first puff it was "what you smell is what you get": Melted powerful flavors of cinnamon, honey sweetness, sugar cane and even butterscotch!
The cigar was mild, the flavors became more delicate and complex with hints of cedar wood & cocoa.
It increased in strength and the last third was so powerful that I was shocked! A cigar older than me and at the same time so fresh, like it just came from the factory!
The end was impressive, I literally burned my fingers. Excellent balance, long and staying aftertaste, great white ash and good burn.
Great cigar, thank you!