rzaman:

Hi Rudy, I knew that you would enjoyed it the second time because it is a good cigar. We should always smoke 3-4 cigars to understand its performance. However, at the same time, there are also few cigar can wow us from the first puff but they are very rare. Thanks for sharing the picture.

The Kid:

rzaman:

Your welcome Rudy. Sometime we miss some elements when we smoke a cigar the first time. It is always a good idea to smoke at lest 2-3 cigars before we determine our like or dislike of a cigar. Please share you opinion when you smoke the second. I am really curious.

The Kid:

Thanks for the review
Tried this very stick little over a year ago, was underwhelmed and didnt think it warranted the price tag. May give it another shot as I only tried the one.

Well, just tried another, this one was found in my humi and had a year on it.. This was a very good smoke, so much so I'm beginning to think my memory is failing me.. The first third really stood out and was very flavorfull,, Damnt rip now Im gonna have to get a couple more, purely for experimental reasons,,,,;o)

And there are some cigars that are just dogs. I guess it also comes down to $$ when some cigars are at a certain pricepoint I dont feel lthat it should warrant an expenditure of 3 or 4 to determine if its a keeper. But I do agree on trying more than one if possible. WIth that being said, after I read your review I was really excited about trying another.. I'm really wondering now if I tried a differnt blend. I dont take notes anymore (something I used to do) so I may have mistakenly presented my opinion. I'll try not to do that again especially if I only have one sampling under my belt. Thanks again for the review without which I wouldnt have focused on the cigar and now keeping an eye open for more.

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Team Prima Donna

"If You Are Going Through Hell, Keep Going" Winston Churchill

San Cristóbal de la Habana was the original name of Havana, Cuba’s capital city, when it was founded in 1519; San Cristóbal (St Christopher) in honour of Columbus and La Habana after an Indian name for the site. San Cristóbal de la Habana cigars were introduced in 1999 as a tribute to the city’s long history on the threshold of the new Millennium. Its range is composed of four vitolas with a light to medium flavour using tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region. Each is named after one of the fortresses that defended the city in the days when it was the hub of Spain’s Latin American Empire. All are "totalmente a mano, tripa larga"—totally handmade, long filler and two sizes, El Morro and La Fuerza, are not found in any other Habano brand. Mercaderes, Oficios and Muralla are vitolas available in exclusive at La Casa del Habano. Casa Del Habano has three speciality and niche Brands- Trinidad, Cuaba and San Cristobal De La Habana. They have added in CDH’s portfolio in 2004.[Source: CDH]

This is from 2006 release and got full six years of age in it. I collected a full box during my Cuba trip. The cigar is almost like a Churchill size. The wrapper is copper brown, smooth with few visible veins here and there. It has no soft spots and has the good feel of holding a Churchill shape in hand. The wrapper has barnyard, hay, dry wood scents. The Pre-draw has strong cocoa powder, sweet hay, bit of spice and a slight floral hint at the back. The cold draw is perfect not so tight or loose. Majority Cuban cigar lovers undermine SCDLH cigar. However, I love it for its distinctive peanut, coffee flavors, aged sweetness and strong aromatic floral notes. It is an extremely complex, rich, round cigar with long finish. It has all the good elements of a top quality Habano. The flavor profile is the combination of damp-sweet earth, sweet hay, wood(oak), cocoa, toasted nut(peanut), cream, cinnamon, coffee, milk chocolate, biscuits-cookie, mochachino(Cappachino + milk chocolate) flavors with tons of clear, crisp notes of Cuban signature aromatic fruity- floral Aroma, citrus, orange, nutmeg, cloves hints from the start to finish. It has a wonderful caramel-molasses-brown sugary aged sweetness from the start to finish. The retrohale has an amazing delicate black peppery spiciness through the nose. There is no sign of harshness at all- this is a perfect example of a properly aged Habano cigar. The draw and burn is perfect. It is straight medium bodied but gets full at the final/3 stage cigar. This is one of my top ten Habano cigars.

Wrapper: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Filler: Cuba

1/3: It starts with strong aromatic floral aroma with damp-sweet earth, sweet hay, oak, cocoa, toasted peanut, cream, milk chocolate flavors. The finish has a clear and strong caramel-brown sugary sweetness. There is also a super milk sweet leathery hint at the back without any harshness. The cigar woke me up from the first puff. The smoothness immediately invited me to retrohale and I am getting many background notes and hints. This is simply a gorgeous and welcoming smoke. It declars its superior taste from the start. The top of my tongue has a mild touch of delicate black pepper spiciness; the middle of my tongue is full of cream, butter, round and mouthful texture with above flavors, aroma and back notes. The back of my tongue is completely clean. It is super rich, complex with long finish. I can feel the aromatic flavors and aroma with a mild tingly feel in my mouth. The strength is straight medium. The retrohale gives a nice delicate black peppery spicy kick through the nose. This is a wonderful 95 points start. How many cigars can start like this?

2/3: Going towards the 2/3, the creamy nuttiness is dominating the texture with 1/3 flavors and aroma but I can also feel milk chocolate, coffee(cappuccino), biscuits-cookies, aromatic cinnamon flavors are coming forward with a hints of clove at the back. The retrohale has the delicate black peppery spiciness but also added a layer of sweet creaminess. There is also a mild but crispy citrus, orange and tangy hints at the back. It is an ever-changing, complex and flavorful smoke with loooong finish. The tingly feeling is getting more intense in my mouth. The smoke is very smooth but at the same time very sharp, crispy and clean. This cigar deserves another point here for complexity. Interestingly the cigar loss some strength but the flavors and aromas are there which is even more enjoyable to detect further complex back notes. This is the reason why a good cigar should be less in strength because it allows us to retrohale and enjoy the layers and layers of back ground notes. In this case, I am detecting more aromatic fruity-floral signature Cuban notes with distinctive toasted creamy nuttiness at the back. This cigar is packed with intense and complex flavors and aroma. I am in love.

Final/3: it is interesting to see that the cigar ramp up with a combination of 1/3 and 2/3 flavors and aroma profile at this stage. For an example, the dominating flavor is more into mochachino coffee which is the combo of Cappuccino, milk and creamy chocolate. This is the optimum complexity and example how a top quality cigar combin its layers and layers of flavors and aroma with in different stages. The complete 1/3 and 2/3 flavors, aroma, back notes are there but they are coming back and forth with different level of intensity and strength. It is like a difference between hot cups of mocha coffee with an iced Frappuccino. Both are quiet the same but taste different in hot and cold. The retrohale black peppery spice gives the delicate kick with more strength but still enjoyable. It is like when we eat Japanese food, the wasabi spiciness gives a quick spicy kick then fade away. However, at the same time we enjoy that quick moment. At this stage there is a clear hint of aromatic cinnamon-cloves-nutmeg note at the back each puff. There is also a wonderful aged caramel-molasses-brown sugary sweetness to it. My entire mouth if covered with intense tingly feeling with super long finish. The cigar never gets bitter or hot until the last puff. The strength of this cigar gradually picks up the strength and releases layers and layers of complex flavors and aroma. Its never get boring. I can write an entire book about the complex flavors and aroma of this cigar. Almost seven years of aging added a heaven like smoking experience. We will never have this feeling from a newly rolled cigar even if it is a San Cristobal De La Habana. Indeed, aging adds some magic to certain cigars. This cigar has been added to one of my precious collection and I am proud of it.

Final Thought: It is truly a very enjoyable smoke. The weather in Managua is windy with wavy tropical breeze. The sounds of breeze through the long coconut leaves and the cigar covered me with a wonderful meditative peaceful moment. God bless the San Cristobal De La Habana. I am truly blessed to have the chance to smoke this aged cigar. My friends, sometime I like to blend my soul with nature. This is one of those moment when I withdrawal myself from the real world and go to hibernation. I cannot type anymore. It is my time with my world. I highly recommend you to collect few sticks and a box and age them. Life is too short so enjoy the rest of the weekend!!!

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Lord Ripon

As usual, excellent review brother!

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"The pride and tradition of Notre Dame Football will not be left to the weak, timid, or non-committed."

Hey Rip, SCdlH has been on my radar for quite some time, but sadly I've yet to try one. I've been wanting to order some... so my question is this for ya... what regular production vitola do you think is the best out of thia line? I know a lot of folks like the belicoso (La Punta I think). Is that a solid choice in your opinion? …

Great review, btw!

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EAST COAST BOMBING CREW

Thanks for your kind words Rich.

rburke1129:

As usual, excellent review brother!

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Lord Ripon

Hi Todd, SCDLH is a great cigar. Some people are missing the unique taste and flavors because of the fame of Cohiba and some other popular brands. I know many smokers like La Punta. In my opinion, if you want Cuban belicoso size then go for Montecristo No.2, Robina Unicos, Partagas Series P No. 2 or the recent Cohiba Pyramides Extra.

In my opinion, the top SCDLH regular line cigar is – El Principe not the La Punta. If you can find anything thing from 2004 or 2008 release then you are the winner. SCDLH is a slow item so there is a chance to find them. Good luck!

BigT06:

Hey Rip, SCdlH has been on my radar for quite some time, but sadly I've yet to try one. I've been wanting to order some... so my question is this for ya... what regular production vitola do you think is the best out of thia line? I know a lot of folks like the belicoso (La Punta I think). Is that a solid choice in your opinion? …

Great review, btw!

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Lord Ripon

wow rip. another beautiful write up. i can't wait for it to be a cigar i have in my collection so i can see if i taste any of the things you mention. you have a hell of a pallate my friend. just to be able to pick up all those flavors is actually amazing.

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wish list in bio

rzaman:

Hi Todd, SCDLH is a great cigar. Some people are missing the unique taste and flavors because of the fame of Cohiba and some other popular brands. I know many smokers like La Punta. In my opinion, if you want Cuban belicoso size then go for Montecristo No.2, Robina Unicos, Partagas Series P No. 2 or the recent Cohiba Pyramides Extra.

In my opinion, the top SCDLH regular line cigar is – El Principe not the La Punta. If you can find anything thing from 2004 or 2008 release then you are the winner. SCDLH is a slow item so there is a chance to find them. Good luck!

BigT06:

Hey Rip, SCdlH has been on my radar for quite some time, but sadly I've yet to try one. I've been wanting to order some... so my question is this for ya... what regular production vitola do you think is the best out of thia line? I know a lot of folks like the belicoso (La Punta I think). Is that a solid choice in your opinion? …

Great review, btw!

Thanks for the advice Rip. I will give the el Principe a try. I already have the other belicosos you suggested (except the new Cohiba) and enjoy them all very much. The San Cristobal is what I'm really interested in currently. Thanks again!

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EAST COAST BOMBING CREW

I had no idea this blend existed. Though the only San Cristobal I like is the original.

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"If there are no cigars in heaven, I shall not go." - Mark Twain

Todd...I'd be down for a split on mercaderes...

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Follow my cigar reviews @CatfishBluezz

www.robbyrasreviews.com
www.cigarfederation.com
AKA El Presidente

catfishbluezz:

Todd...I'd be down for a split on mercaderes...

PM me the details and we'll get it working!

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EAST COAST BOMBING CREW

Great write-up as usual, Rip. The SCDLH is at the top of my radar as well. I'm looking forward to having some El Principe in the cooler some day, I've read nothing but positive things about them.

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Favorites are in my bio

I grabbed a box of the Principes last year. Not ready yet but I still enjoy opening the box and smelling it every now and then. And the SCdlH's are really dark usually. Can't wait until they're ready in a few years.

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j0z3r:

How am I supposed to say no to this? Le Bijou AND EP Carillo. F*ck you cigar.com, stop taking all my money.

blurr:

I grabbed a box of the Principes last year. Not ready yet but I still enjoy opening the box and smelling it every now and then. And the SCdlH's are really dark usually. Can't wait until they're ready in a few years.

Those are dang good! Got a box resting as well, can't wait.

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Four Herfsmen of the Apocalypse
LBTW
Get lit, son!

Haven't been on all that much but I'm happy your keeping up the reviews! Very stunning and a true pleasure to keep reading on your experiences. Thanks for keeping all of our butts on the edge of our seats!