Hemingway - January 2024
Each month we receive a selection of the best, hand chosen, cigars delivered to our door via Hemingway. This is what we got this month!
CAO Zocalo Toro (2021 vintage)
Origin: Nicaragua (STG Esteli)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan
Way back in 2018 this was the first time CAO had turned to Mexican wrapper tobaccos; I'm pretty certain we had the original Gigante Zocalo many years ago... Well, in 2021 they released two further vitolas (cigar sizes), so I grabbed 3 boxes and hid them in the HEMINGWAY Humidor drawers.
As you'll see in January 2024's release, I've gone and dusted off some boxes and 3 of the 4 cigars are nicely aged.
This is a full-bodied, full-flavour cigar; though it has mellowed wonderfully I must say from the one I smoked recently before selecting it for this month.
Fratello Pennsylvania Belicoso (2020 vintage)
Origin: Dominican Republic (La Aurora)
Wrapper: U.S.A. Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaraguan & U.S.A. (Pennsylvania)
Another vintage one for your pleasure; these have been patiently aging away just for you. That lovely U.S.A. Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper has just come of age and with the rest of the unique blend; these are smoking exceptionally well.
HVC Black Friday 2023 Petite Gordos LE (new release)
Origin: Nicaragua (Fábrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. de Reinier Lorenzo)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
A new favourite of mine - this is the perfect cigar if your only having one cigar after dinner. Chocolately deliciousness! My only complaint is - why isn't it 6" long (hold your jokes... honestly... lol)
Rocky Patel Hamlet Tabaquero Bala (2021 vintage)
Origin: Nicaragua (Rocky Patel)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Brazilian and Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Now this is one of my top cigars of 2023 - I've smoked a box of them and I don't regret it at all. Out of that box, I had one dud, well; I managed to smoke it all but it was like trying to suck a golf ball up a garden hose.
This is an absolutely unique shape - one I love; one I would absolutely use if I ever got around to pulling the trigger on my own cigar. Last year I managed to buy quite a few boxes of 2021 release Bala's and I was a pretty happy aficionado and even more so when smoking them, as they are just epic.
