Tuesday, July 06 2010
It often takes a holiday weekend for cigar smokers to haul out their best cigars for the occasion. Like many of you, I sifted through my humidors looking for the most apropos cigars to enjoy over the July 4th holiday. As you can see by the photo, it was a natural to include a Camacho Liberty 2009, but "the best laid plans," as they say, don't always turn out the way you expect.
I planned on smoking my selections on Saturday during a barbeque at a friend's house. But before I get to those, my holiday weekend officially began on Friday in the Famous Smoke Shop retail store with a complimentary Artorius Grand Robusto. The smoke was pretty heady with plenty of pepper and spice. Not my usual cup of tea, but very well made and lots of flavor if you like dark, full-bodied cigars.
When I arrived at my friend's house on Saturday, one of the guests had brought two packages of Casa Magna
Oscuro cigars; one
Toro, the other Belicosos. Of course, after he offered, how could I resist? I had smoked the No.1 award-winning Casa Magna
Colorado a while back, and it was pretty awesome, but this Oscuro selection totally blew me away. The smoke was thick, creamy, naturally sweet, and riddled with sweet spice flavors. I picked up hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa and coffee bean in the mix. It was full-flavored, ultra-smooth, and never quit from beginning to end. I paired it with a
Corona, not what I would have normally chosen, but it worked out nicely.
During the party, I met a gentleman who was somewhat of a newbie and we got into a long conversation about premium cigars. (I was also happy to show him the proper way to clip and light a cigar.) He took one of the Casa Magna Oscuro Belicosos, which got us talking about figurados. I showed him the two figurados I brought with me: the Camacho Liberty (rolled to Camacho's "Diploma" shape) and a La Gloria Cubana Reserva Figurado. It was at about this time that I was also ready to light up cigar number two. Having remembered it fondly, I reached for the La Gloria.
Later that evening, the host offered me another favorite of mine - an Avo LE '08 Tesoro. Lest we not refuse what we are offered, I lit it up and wound up finishing it on my ride home. It was during my ride home that I realized I hadn't smoked the Liberty '09. So I figured I'd just smoke it the next day, July 4, which would be more appropriate. That's also when I discovered I'd left my cigar case at my friend's house, and there was no turning back.
I spent July 4th down the shore with my family and brought a Royal Nicaraguan Oscuro Belicoso (by Jesus Fuego) with me. This cigar had been in my humidor for quite a while, and it really aged-up beautifully. The smoke was very smooth, woody, robust, and offered a pleasant earthy sweetness throughout.
I eventually got my case back, but it looks like I'll have to wait another year to fire-up that Camacho Liberty '09. Thing is, I don't think I can hold out that long. And so it goes...
How about you? Please share your July 4th cigar smoking experiences by leaving a comment.
~ Gary Korb
