It's mid-winter in Finland, and lately it has been quite cold - too damn cold for cigar smoking. This has cut down my smoking (and posting) quite a lot. Despite this, my cigar log shows that this year I have still managed to smoke six cigars that deserve the perfect score of 10/10 in my totally subjective scale:
* Cohíba Lancero (2000): This comes from a fiver I bought in a well-known Geneva shop about a year ago. It was the third of the set; each has hovered close to the perfection in performance and style. Fine start of 2007.
* Trininad Fundadores (1998): Another classic, but oh so totally different from the Lancero in its extravagant opulence. These too seem to be getting better and better.
* Montecristo No. 3 (1998): I never realised just how good Montes can be before getting this box. Super smooth, silky, creamy. I'm glad I bought a second box of these too.
* Punch Super Selection No. 1 (2001): This cigar comes from an American cigar friend's lot. Strong full aroma from the start, and then some more and some more ... all the way to the very end, and it's a long way. Incredible crescendo that left me nearly speechless. Thanks!
* Cohíba Coronas Especiales (2001): I thought I was no big fan of Cohíba, but this cigar proved me wrong. Perfect construction, burn, and draw. Fine and intensive aroma. If 2001 was not stellar for some Habanos, that surely does not apply to this El Laguito product.
* Vegas Robaina Famosos (1997): These cigars have been an enigma to me. They have quite light draws and must be smoked very carefully. So perhaps giving perfect score is too much, but the aroma ... Strong, pure tobacco par excellence. To bad that I did not get more than one box when they still were available.
Not such a bad year so far, eh? "Smoke less, smoke better" is sage advice indeed.
