OK, I jut got back from a week-long cruise on a boat with a cigar bar. Since it was my birthday week, I decided to treat myself, both with cigars and booze. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a notebook, but do remember the more memorable cigars, so here goes:

First night on the ship I went with the Graycliff 1666. This was a great little cigar. What impressed me the most was the distinct notes of vanilla and caramel. These two set this cigar apart from a lot of other cigars I've had lately.

Next night was my birthday, so I went with my Gurkha Royal Salute, which I'd been saving for a special occasion. Since it's infused with Remy Martin King Louis XIII, I thought that would be a nice drink to pair it with. I decided to treat myself to a glass of KLXIII for a mere $77 a glass (believe it or not, that's about half of the price you'd expect to pay on land). Both the cigar and the cognac were wonderful. The cigar had an initial sweetness to every draw, both on the pre-light and while burning. It wasn't overbearing and didn't make the cigar taste flavored. Just a nice grape-like sweetness on the draw which was immediately replaced by notes of wood, coffee and cocoa. Truly a great cigar. The cognac, while wonderful, was not that far above Remy XO to justify the 10x price difference. Still, it was worth it to say I've tried it.

Next was my God of Fire 2005 Carlito Churchill. While this was a great cigar, I don't know if it really lives up to the hefty price tag. I remember notes of wood and coffee along with a nice lingering spice on the tongue long after the draw. I was lucky enough to meet some other cigar lovers who also happened to be directors on the ship. We got to talking shop and one guy offered to bring in a bottle of Don Julio Anejo Real (tequila), which was absolutely amazing. Didn't taste anything like any tequila I'd ever had before. More like a scotch. Great bunch of guys running that boat, so I promised to send them some of the local hand rolled cigars from around here that some of you guys have tried and loved so much.

I also picked up a Cohiba ISOM while I was in Grand Cayman (Georgetown) at Casa del Habana (apparently one of the only trustworthy stores, as it's owned by the Cuban government). Another nice cigar, but I can find legal cigars much easier and much cheaper that are much better. In case any of you happen to travel down there, Casa del Habana isn't the easiest to find. Aside from that, nobody knows about it or where it is. There's also a Churchill's cigar shop in a small strip mall where Margaritaville is. If you walk out of Margaritaville and take a left, look for a small red sign that says "cigars". Casa del Habana is near that, set back in a little alley-way, so the storefront is hardly visible from the street.

Sounds like you had a great time and some great smoked. In my opinion I think the Carlito might need a little more ago to it even though they are supposed to be aged 2 years. I had a Royal Salute last week and it got bitter near the last 2 - 2 1/2 inches. I also have a Graycliff 1666 that I have been saving. Maybe I'll smoke it in a couple of months.

Hmmmm, I am going to have to get my hands on one of those Greycliff 1666's. That discription of Vanilla and carmel are two flavors I love to find in a cigar.

I am not talking about the overdone or completely phoney flavors of most infused sticks. I am talking about a natural flavor which comes thru in certain cigars and it just makes me smile when I get this from a new cigar I haven't tried before.

The Perdomo Lot 23's have this flavor to them.

Also I smoked one each of the VigllantE (C.Com's one day special last week) and can report that even fresh from the box both the natural and the Maduro's are very tastey smokes for the money. They are both mild in body but nicely balanced in flavor and they too develop a hint of these carmel flavors. Great deal for the price !!

I do have some more 2005 Carlitos and a 2004 Carlito. I'm planning on aging those as long as I can. At least now I know they're a good smoke and it'll be worth the age.

I personally really enjoyed the greycliff 1666. And the notes are definitely natural notes, not infused or artificially flavored/dipped types of notes. I actually found the perdomo lot 23 to have a slightly cinnamon or baked sweet cinnamon/sugar bread flavor to it. It could have even been hints of vanilla and caramel that I was hitting and just didn't recognize them for what they were at the time.

Rob, you know how so celebrate a birthday .. Sounds like an amazing vacation..The 1666 is a fine cigar that I always enjoy, I think I need to pick up a few now that you mention them.. I am so impressionable.

was in grand cayman feb 07 - did not buy any cuban cigars - but regret that. at an island party we did have a cigar roller present supposedly rolling cigars with "cuban tobacco" which i seriously doubt- but was free (paid for by employer) whatever they were they were absolutely delicious . anyway sounds like a great birthday - when you wern't smoking cigars did you get to do any of the cool island stuff like the submarine dives or swimming with the 'rays ?

sounds like the 1666 will be one of my next purchases

We did parasailing in Labadee and snorkeling in Grand Cayman. Both were awesome.

Rob1110:

I do have some more 2005 Carlitos and a 2004 Carlito. I'm planning on aging those as long as I can. At least now I know they're a good smoke and it'll be worth the age.

I personally really enjoyed the greycliff 1666. And the notes are definitely natural notes, not infused or artificially flavored/dipped types of notes. I actually found the perdomo lot 23 to have a slightly cinnamon or baked sweet cinnamon/sugar bread flavor to it. It could have even been hints of vanilla and caramel that I was hitting and just didn't recognize them for what they were at the time.

I got a bout 7 of the 2005, 8 of the 2006 but my 2004s are Don Carlos. I am also aging as long as possible. Are your 2004's in Cedar coffins?

Yeah, the 04 churchill is in a coffin as well as two of the 05 carlito robustos. Along with 4 carlito 05's not in coffins. Unfortunately, no don carlos.

gmill880:

at an island party we did have a cigar roller present supposedly rolling cigars with "cuban tobacco" which i seriously doubt- but was free (paid for by employer) whatever they were they were absolutely delicious .

I recently had a hand rolled that a friend brought back from Aruba that sounded like the same deal - supposedly cuban tobacco. I had my doubts, but nonetheless it was a great cigar.

Sounds great/Yea they can call them whatever as long as I enjoy it thats what it's really all about

Rob1110:

Yeah, the 04 churchill is in a coffin as well as two of the 05 carlito robustos. Along with 4 carlito 05's not in coffins. Unfortunately, no don carlos.

If you get a chance, try toe GOF Don Carlos and let me know what you think. I like it better.

Finally tried my first Pepin last night. I have a blue label and a cuban classic in my humi at home, but tried a cuban classic petit corona at the local cigar bar. I had already had a bucanero (see review in the bucanero thread) and some great pizza and just wanted a stronger cigar to finish the night off.

The cap was very spicy and tasty before lighting, so I thought I'd be in for a ride with this one. Even upon lighting, there was a burst of spice and wood notes that was really nice but there was some serious punch to this one as well. Unfortunately, that all faded after about a quarter inch. The spice was almost gone and a sweet (maybe vanilla?) note joined in. This lasted for a half inch before changing to a more coffee/cocoa dominated profile. So in short, this was a great, complex little cigar, but the initial taste and light are a bit deceiving.

Latest cigars:

Bahia Blue Robusto - gifted to me by a friend. I wasn't expecting much from this as I haven't heard much about the brand and he picked up 20 for about $30, but I was pleasantly surprised. Very nice mild cigar, fairly consistent throughout. Burned evenly all the way through. Notes of sweet roasted nuts and coffee with cream. Not the most complex, but it might give the 5 vegas gold a run for its money.

La Aroma de Cuba Edicion Especial Robusto. I loved the original blend and I loved this blend. Spicy on the pre-light draw with spicy tobacco on the head of the cigar - left a nice tingle on the tongue and lips. Spicy upon lighting which eventually mellowed and lead to woodsy, leathery characteristics and a distinctly sweet but pleasant undertone. This was a great cigar and very reasonably priced.

Fuente Anejo No. 48. I picked up a few of these a while back at a pretty steep price and stuck them in my aging humi. Just stopped by another local shop yesterday and they had them considerably cheaper so I picked up a few more. I have to be honest, I wasn't entirely impressed with this cigar. Notes of black coffee, wood and....well, not much else. Maybe they need to age a bit before smoking, but I wouldn't recommend them on this particular stick. Performed well, but there's better out there for the money.